Painting Creature



"...something from a world I don't believe in is now trying to kill me."

- Cottings' thoughts as the creature attacks her

The painting creature is a supernatural being first revealed in the second issue of Dishonored: The Wyrmwood Deceit.

Characteristics
The unidentified creature seems to be formed of cloth or a canvas-like material that is able to stretch and move from the frame of a magically prepared painting and attack at will. Its malleable body consists primarily of a skull-shaped head that is missing the lower jaw and with what appear to be eyes and teeth.

In addition it can twist its shape to form sinewy limbs and appendages, including ropey arms, clawed hands, and legs as well. The creature is tethered to the painting that creates it, though, and it does not seem to be able to move a great distance from the painting's surface.

Dishonored: The Wyrmwood Deceit
While following up a lead for Corvo Attano, Martha Cottings travels to Wyrmwood Way. There she learns of a man named Titus Grindle who may have information she seeks. Upon entering Grindle's place of business, the Watch Officer finds the proprietor dead, and is subsequently ambushed by the painting creature in a surprise attack. Though it attempts to strangle her, Cottings defeats the creature by firing her pistol at the frame, destroying both the frame and the creature.

In an effort to learn more about it, Cottings takes a part of the painting to Esmerelda Duggins, a prisoner in Coldridge Prison. Esmerelda guides Cottings into a trap that claims the lives of several City Watch Guards, and Cottings does not discover anything else about the creature. It is later revealed that it was created by a witch of Delilah Copperspoon's coven in an attempt to eliminate Corvo and gather bone charms.