Flame, Crystal, and Spark

The Three Beasts of Garukavar, also called the Hounds (as the Dutri refers to them as "loyal dogs"), are Raildon, Shyokro, and Gorenku. They breathe ice, fire, and lightning, respectively. Raildon and Shyokro were the first things that Garukavar created, according to the Dutri. Gorenku, though not a part of the original pair, transformed the duo into a dangerous trinity. They all share a similar appearance, and they have been likened to a man that is half dragon, if such a being was to exist. They are of massive proportion, with hides of solid scales and backs of inpenetrable armour. Their bodies are covered with spikes and spines and their horns are like those of a goat. Though they walk on two legs, nothing else about them is humanlike; they have not even been known to speak. They have even been referred to as "wingless dragons" because their reputation and alleged power as the original monsters is so great.

Personality and Ability

Like most of the greater beings in Riiga, they have not been known to reveal themselves to any human. Also similar to the attitude of the greater beings, it is quite possibly because they do not deem humans to be of any significance, unlike, for example, The Enemy. It is known that the Hounds are highly competitive, protective, loyal, and aggressive.

It is common belief that they each breathe their respective element. Since they have never been sighted, there is only the Dutri to go by. It states numerous things, such as "Chiokhroh and Raeldon traversed all of Reage and left trails of fire and ice where they went", "Fire and ice engulfed Iletahv", "they tormented him [Ilertav] with the breath of the underworld" (v.6), "the breath of ice and the breath of fire were competing" (v.17). These terms -- trails, engulfed, breath -- imply numerous angles of assault. It's quite clear that their breath has something to do with their element. As it is believed that they cannot speak, it's unlikely that 'breath' is a reference to talking or some other taunting or ridiculing sound or curse. Instead, it's rather interpreted that their bodies emenant their own elements to a degree. To walk somewhere and leave a trail of fire or ice mostly implies that the trail got there merely by being there or going there, as though fire or frost oozes from their hides.

Also speculated is their ability to use magic. In verse 17, Raildon and Shyokro were merely "competing for the sake of competing" and got caught up in one another's "spells". Also, the reference to magic has caused some to believe that the Hounds are more appropriate elemental spirits than those currently assigned -- She for fire, Kagrouj for lightning, and Iusdiho for ice. As, according to On Magic, there are no plausible reasons as to why the beasts would not be able to cast magic, many struggle to explain why it's not right for the Hounds to be elemental spirits. When Nicolas Carson was asked to explain why the Hounds were not elemental spirits, he explained that they were "too close to Garukavar" and "did not have any great amount of responsibility, role, or 'mortal intellect' as all the others do". In other words, they are Garukavar's powerful minions and personal bodyguards -- nothing more.

Raeldon (Raildon)

Beast of ice, sitting before Garukavar's throne, to his left. Raildon is possibly the most known of the Hounds; his name is recognised by more people, and it is usually named before the other two when listed. Raildon is referred to as a female and is said to be like the left head of Garukavar according to the Dutri: manipulative, sly, and heartless. She was born from a boiling, raging, screaming whirlpool deep in the ocean. Many have attempted to speculate Raildon's birthplace, thinking that her creation would have altered the environment in a significally recognisable way, but no speculations have been taken on as fact. Artists generally depict her with a very long neck and body, a slender head with large, impressive horns, and sometimes a fin or fins along her back.

Chiokhroh (Shyokro)

Beast of fire, sitting before Garukavar's throne, to his right. Shyokro is the second most popular of the beasts. When people speak of fiery demons or anything related to fire, Shyokro is usually mentioned. Shyokro is referred to as a male and is said to be like the right head of Garukavar according to the Dutri: aggressive, violent, and hateful. He was born from a volcanic eruption, and like Raildon, many have attempted to find Raildon's birthplace, believing that such an eruption would be noticable and that his immense fiery presence would surely have left its mark ont he land. Also like Raildon, none have found the place. Artists depict him as standing tall, with broad shoulders, long arms and claws, thick muscles, a short snout and a wide crown of horns.

Gohrenkhu (Gorenku)

Also, but less commonly, Gorenkru. Beast of lightning, sitting before Garukavar's throne, before his feet. Gorenku is the least known of the beasts, and this is possibly due to his later birth and seemingly less significant role in the creation of Riiga. Like Shyokro, Gorenku is referred to as a male and is said to be more like Garukavar's middle head according to the Dutri, that is to say, he is more level-headed and less irrational than his siblings, despite the explosive nature of lightning. He was born from an electric storm, but none have considered finding his birthplace, because a storm can hardly be traced, and they never last very long. Artists generally depict him as having a large tail and large head full of long teeth, small arms, large, muscular legs, and a thick body.

However, Gorenku has an edge of history that the other two do not. Raildon and Shyokro created Gorenku, but nobody else. Gorenku created Gehmakemn and L'orn, as instructed by Garukavar. Buroba turned against Garukavar and The Enemy, so they told Gorenku to create a being who would spawn a race who would then torment Buroba's race, known as the Keid. Gorenku gave birth to Gehmakemn, who then created her own race known as Fanorans. Later, Gorenku created L'orn, but it's not known why or exactly when. Many say Garukavar chose Gorenku to create these Odanon because of his reputation as being clever and having better judgement.

Speculations

In some interpretations of the Dutri, it's emphasised that the Hounds were born from natural disasters: Raildon came from the cold and raging deep of the ocean (whirlpool), Shyokro came from an exploding mountain (volcano), and Gorenku came from a lightning storm caused by a battle between the original two. This causes some to believe that natural disasters causing loss of life are the work of one of the Beasts.

There are fairytales and rumours that the Hounds actually wait in hiding for worthy challengers. These stories usually involve the beast sitting deep under the ground, in a cavern filled with their associated element. To add to the story's impact, a warm sensation while underground is said to be "Shyokro rising", a chill is "Raildon rising", and a static charge is "Gorenku rising". Another debated fact concerning the Beasts is that if one was to somehow be killed, the other two would die. This, however, is not entirely logical, as two were indeed alive before the third one was born. This has all been regarded as mere fairytale by the Order of Dualkedor.

Right, what one artist believes one of the beasts looks like. Though the wings are illogical, the appearance of the helmet and horns is somewhat based on other designs evident in monsters like Giakdon and Chimakor. This beast is supposedly Raildon due to the sleek and somewhat aquatic appearance with the eel-like neck.

And below is another interpretation of one of the beasts. The thick, heavy armour and dog-like stance greatly lend to their being referred to as hounds. At the end of the tail is a jagged blade-like protrusion. Though speculations, drawings like these are what lingers in the minds of many when it comes to the beasts of Garukavar.