The world of Elanthia has its own sentience, and as such has begun to try and repair itself post-Sundering. Creatures like the orlisk are examples of the world's attempts to fill the gap that the disruption of magic caused. Though their inherent purpose may be obscure at first - though they may even be a danger to people and homes - there are many Elanthian scholars who believe it is a mistake to hunt or subdue these creatures without first completely evaluating their purpose and place in the world.

The orlisk stemmed from a need for a creature that tied into a complex Elanthian ecology, hatching from a luminous cocoon that grows from a twisted tree. Though its role isn't wholly malevolent, this creature is certainly powerful and has the capacity to inflict serious damage on the unwary.