History Main / CarbuncleCreature

Although originally described as rodent-like and having shells, most modern works depict them resembling a cat, rabbit, fox, [[MixAndMatchCritters or a mix of the three]]. They often show up in fantasy media, but are particularly common in [[EasternRPG Eastern RPGs]], especially MonsSeries. Expect them to be an [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter adorable]] [[SeriesMascot mascot character]]. Occasionally they will be treated as a rare MetalSlime style of monster, alluding to the association with wealth. Note that a creature doesn't need to explicitly be called a carbuncle to be an example, as long as it still fits all the other criteria. The gem must be an organic part of the creature, animals wearing jeweled accessories on their head do not count.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' has the Helmasaur King, a giant reptilian beast whose helmet hides an emerald-like gem embedded in its forehead. This is the creature's only weak spot, and Link must [[BrokenArmorBoss break off the helmet]] in order to expose it and be able to damage it. ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' has the Gemesaur King, which looks and acts much the same as its predecessor, with the exception that while the Helmasaur King is red with a green gem the Gemesaur King is dark grey with a red gem-like organ.

* In Medieval Europe, there was the toadstone. Toadstones were said to be jewels that reside in the heads of toads and protect them from their own poison. By extracting the toadstone, a human could protect against and cure themself from poison, and so they were often incorporated in (luxurious) jewelry. Earlier myths described similar stones as growing within the brains of dragons, which had a number of magical properties but only if extracted from the skull of a living beast -- otherwise, they'd lose all luster and power. These days, it's known that toadstones are actually the fossilized teeth of Lepidotes, an extinct genus of fish.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' has the Helmasaur King, a giant reptilian beast whose helmet hides an emerald-like gem embedded in its forehead. This is the creature's only weak spot, and Link must break off the helmet in order to expose it and be able to damage it. ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' has the Gemesaur King, which looks and acts much the same as its predecessor, with the exception that while the Helmasaur King is red with a green gem the Gemesaur King is dark grey with a red gem-like organ.

Although originally described as rodent-like and having shells, most modern works depict them resembling a cat, rabbit, fox, [[MixAndMatchCreatures or a mix of the three]]. They often show up in fantasy media, but are particularly common in [[EasternRPG Eastern RPGs]], especially MonsSeries. Expect them to be an [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter adorable]] [[SeriesMascot mascot character]]. Occasionally they will be treated as a rare MetalSlime style of monster, alluding to the association with wealth. Note that a creature doesn't need to explicitly be called a carbuncle to be an example, as long as it still fits all the other criteria. The gem must be an organic part of the creature, animals wearing jeweled accessories on their head do not count.

* ''Anime/CardcaptorSakura'': The Dash card takes the form of a [[MixAndMatchCreatures fox/cat/rabbit hybrid]] with a blue jewel on its forehead. The Dash also makes an appearance in ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle''.

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' has the cabbit species, [[MixAndMatchCreatures half-cat, half-rabbit]] with jewels on their foreheads. Most of them have red jewels, but Ken-Ohki has a yellow one.

The carbuncle is a creature described in Creator/JorgeLuisBorges's ''Literature/BookOfImaginaryBeings''. Allegedly sighted in 16th century South America, the carbuncle is described as a small animal with a jewel or small mirror on its forehead. Depictions vary between quadrupedal and bipedal, and is most often depicted as a mammal, though reptilian carbuncles are not uncommon. The gem in question is almost always red, often a ruby or garnet, since the name of the creature is derived from a word for red gemstones, which were once thought to have magical powers. That said, variants with other gem stones are not unheard of. Carbuncles are said to bring great wealth and fame, and in some works, [[PowerCrystal the gem may be a source of magical power]].

* ''Literature/BookOfImaginaryBeings'' is the TropeMaker. Like some other creatures in the book, Creator/JorgeLuisBorges made the carbuncle up more or less from whole cloth. The carbuncle is described as a small animal reported by conquistadors in South America. They were never seen clearly, so nobody actually knows if they are birds or mammals. They have small red stones or mirrors in their foreheads, similar to opals or to actual carbuncles, a name used for rubies or garnets, which are reputed to bring luck if obtained. Many hunted for the creature and its gem, but no-one succeeded. Borges further compares the carbuncle to the dragon and the toad, which were reputed to also bear precious stones in, respectively, their brains and their foreheads.

-->--'''Dan Avidan''', ''WebVideo/GameGrumps'', ''VideoGame/SonicShuffle''