Straken, by Willim Hiamshire, amateur naturalist and gentleman scholar.

   For most, the mere mention of Straken evokes feelings of dread and terror. Even though the dangerous creatures are rarely encountered in civilized lands of Gloe, the grim results of those few encounters are enough to make them the most feared creature in all the land. 
   The name Straken is a melding, or some would say bastardization, of the longer and older name Stone Kraken.  The original name is apt for Straken are like the many tentacled sea creatures found in the oceans of the world. Survivors of Straken encounters describe them as jelly like and having dozens of tentacles. Although the number of tentacles may be an exaggeration, it has been confirmed that all Straken do not have the same number. The very few Straken that have been successfully killed had between 8 and 16 arms branching off of a central body which houses the brain and all other organs. 
   Straken possess the extraordinary ability to considerably alter the shape of their bodies. The limbs, torso, brain and organs can all be flattened to a width no thicker than a centimeter, allowing it to move using natural cracks in stone. Many mistakenly believe that Straken can swim through stone as a fish swims through water, but this is simply untrue. Indeed, I have witnessed a Straken emerge from a crevice in the wall of a mine and then seek refuge in another crack when surrounded by fire (fire is the best method known for harming and driving off Straken) lit by the miners to keep it at bay.
   Beyond the shape of their bodies and their dangerousness, little is known. What we do know is this, they come in a variety of colors but this does not seem to indicate a difference in sex or species. They consume stone and reproduce by laying eggs. Egg clusters have been found in the deepest areas of natural caves and sometimes miners have accidentally broken into an egg chamber with disastrous results.

Artist's sketch of Emphalian peach orchard tube

  What is also known is that Straken spend a great deal of their time building randomly but the structures they build are not themselves random. This may seem like a contradictory statement but allow me to explain. Miners and even overland travelers have found tunnels and structures built in isolated locations. The tunnels found seem to have been built for use by humans on foot or the larger tunnels for some kind of transportation device similar to a locomotive, but underground. 
   One of these large tubes was discovered recently in Emphalia and quite literally sprang into existence overnight. A peach grower went to bed and awoke to find the tube in the middle of his peach orchard. The tube stuck out from the ground, sloped at a 45 degree angle, about 3 meters high and descended beneath the ground about fifty meters before narrowing to a small fist sized hole. In Hesp, silver miners broke into a maze of arched tunnels large enough for two men to walk comfortably side by side. The tunnels led nowhere, they turned randomly and intersected one another. In all there were over four hundred meters of tunnels that led nowhere. Most sections ended abruptly, but always there was a small crack or hole through which the Straken exited.
   Why they had made these structures is unknown and until a method can be found for capturing or observing Straken we most likely never will know. Several government have funded expeditions to discover the purpose of these activities and to learn more about these creatures. Indeed, I lead the team from the University of Pyria and next year we have been granted permission to study one of the large tube sections found in the White Caps of Artengia. Hopefully, the current war will not interfer with our research.
   Straken are most heavily clustered in the Crooked Teeth, Dagger, and White Cap mountain ranges and their exact numbers are unknown. Great care is taken by the wiser of mining companies and individuals to scout for Straken before beginning a new dig. If Straken are present, there are methods for driving them away. as stated before, Straken dislike fire and will flee from it, they also seem to react badly to certain sounds and some miners use specially made bells, chimes or tuning forks to keep the creatures away.
  Straken are both beautiful and deadly and this researcher can not help but feel they have some long lost purpose. Some day, if enough effort is made, we might unlock this purpose and discover a way to either tame the Straken or harness their industrious behavior for the benefit of mankind.