Qilin

The Qilin is a hooved Gurennese chimerical creature known throughout various Anian cultures, and is said to appear in conjunction with the arrival of a sage. It is a good omen that brings rui; roughly translated as "serenity" or "prosperity"). It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over its body.

The nature of the beast

Although it looks fearsome, the Qilin only punishes the wicked. It can walk on grass yet not trample the blades and it can also walk on water. Being a peaceful creature, its diet does not include flesh. It takes great care when it walks never to tread on any living thing, and it is said to appear only in areas ruled by a wise and benevolent leader (some say even if this area is only a house). It is normally gentle but can become fierce if a pure person is threatened by a sinner, spouting flames from its mouth and exercising other fearsome powers that vary from story to story.

The Qilin is a sacred pet (or familiar) of the deities. Therefore, in the hierarchy of animals, the Qilin ranks highly; second only to the Dragon and Phoenix whom are the highest.

Variations

There are variations in the appearance of the qilin. Some Qilin look like oxen-hooved animals with dragon-likes head surmounted by a pair of horns and flame-like head ornaments. Other Qilin are much more fanciful animals. They have the head of a dragon, the antlers of a deer, the skin and scales of a fish, the hooves of an ox and tail of a lion. Other Qilin are more deer-like. They are dragons shaped like unicorns, only with a horse's tail instead of a lion's.