01-04-2013, 09:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 26-06-2013, 12:26 PM by SentaiPink.)
A collaborative effort between Ice and myself. [Pardon the lateness, I put this on the back burner]
During RP on the pilgrimage, many mentioned the creatures of the middle realm that weren't properly represented IG or encountered during RP. To remedy this, Ice and I set about the idea of a bestiary explaining some of the creatures of the Middle realm.
Below, are a few examples of our efforts. These are the most complete of our ideas that we focused on to make a decent proposal for scrutiny and ideas for improvement.
Fjordian Sabre Tooth
Hutchy
Fjordian Sabre Teeth are a type of big cat, found, mostly, in the Fjord region and surrounding areas of the far-north but have been sighted in other cold regions closer to the mainland's Northern provinces.
A species of big cat native to the woodlands of the far-north. In general, they are distinguishable by their thick coats that range in shades from perfect white to light greys, appearing darker around the nose and toes and the large canine teeth from which they take their name. They are quite large; reaching just above a man's waist in some cases and almost double that in length and weigh up to 330 pounds.
Differing from other species of big cats, they generally live in loose groups of between 5 and 12 with the common pride hierarchy of an alpha pair leading, beta[s] seconding with subordinates. Generally, it is the betas that hunt for the pride, with alphas keeping order, teaching the younger members and, obviously, breeding to maintain the pride.
Prides tend toward living in either living in the many caves or in sheltered glades. At regular intervals, groups of up to three leave the pride's territory to hunt. They generally target animals around the size of a cow, taking one or two at a time. Due to the sparse nature of fauna in such conditions, they can survive for a while on one meal, though they generally do not have to wait long, as is explained next.
Due to further mesalian and lucin settlement and expansion in the north, they have begun to raid livestock under cover of darkness, targeting cows, sheep and, in rare cases, mesalians and lucins. They have become more than a nuisance and considered a threat, leading to culling of the numerous prides found. They've become sought after for their fur which is often turned into coats or bed clothes.
Rakk Worm
Hutchy
An atypical kind of creature found mostly in desert regions, although through illegal trading and some taking them as pets when they are small, they have spread to some colder climates and are looked upon as a pest.
Less akin to a worm in appearance, resembling more of a maggot, Rakks, as they are more often referred to as, are quite large for a species of bug, being roughly half the length of a man and with proportions to match. In all sightings, it is mentioned as never leaving the ground completely and instead stretching its segmented body if it's prey tries to escape. What is described is a mass of cream coloured, segmented flesh with a large, fanged lamprey mouth and three clusters of three eyes, two on the sides and one on top. It is unknown how large a fully grown specimen can be, as stated, they don't leave their 'Trap'.
They feed by latching onto part of their prey and using it's coiled muscles, pull it into its 'trap' to drown it. It the distends its mouth to swallow it hole then resets its position to await the next meal while the latest is slowly digested.
They are carnivorous, which is to be expected, hailing from an environment with little to no plant life and attack anything that comes near. As they do not move much, they make every morsel count. They live in little pods of hollowed out ground referred to as 'Traps', they rarely move from these; only when prey is nearby or when they expand it as they grow.
They are loners by nature, given their cannibalistic nature, but, being unable to sense or even see others, some unluckly places can become what are known simply as 'Worm Pits'. These are generally circular formations of worms, the inside of which depresses toward the centre and some small mounds can be visible. They are quite easy to avoid in clear conditions, but caught in a sandstorm or at night when visibility is reduced they pose a considerable threat.
Desert Horned Cat
Ice
The Desert Horned Cat is a species of big cat found in hot and desert regions in areas close to water and living prey, an oasis for example.
They are medium sized, coming up to a man's waist and distinguishable by their short, to help them survive in the heat and desert sun. As their name suggests, small horns protrude from it's skull, these are about 4-5 inches long depending on age, in front and behind of it's ears which it uses to fend off predators and solve disputes over territory and position in a pack.
Packs of these usually number around 6 or 7, with a pair of alphas leading the subordinates, usually the result of the alphas' breeding. The largest of the pack is indisputably in charge of the others, often staying behind to guard the pack's territory. The young stay within the oasis with their mother until they are around 5 months old, by which time they will join the rest of the group to hunt.
In general, they hunt the rodents that live in or nearby to the oasis they live and/or snakes that live in the same areas. One of the more infamous predators of the Desert Horned Cat is the Goliath Elf Owl.
Goliath Elf Owl
Ice
Unlike it's distant, but strikingly similar, relative, the Goliath Elf Owl is one of the larger species of bird put to paper.
As said, it is a large bird, with a wingspan up to, in some cases exceeding, 5-6 feet. Besides its size, it shares many of the anatomical traits of its smaller cousin, being the facial and light bone structure. It has a white and beige colouration to match the desert sand. Their large wingspan and light build helps greatly in travel and hunting, allowing them to travel at high speed.
While roosting, they stick in loose groups of 10 or 12, close to large dunes, oases and mountains, very rarely staying in the flats. While hunting, they fly in formations of 3 as many of the animals they see as prey are quite dangerous and able to fight them off if fought alone. The Desert Horned Cat is a good example of this. Taking the lightness of the bird into account, many instances of encounters between horned cats and a lone goliath usually end in fatality for the bird. Contrary to common belief, they are mostly passive towards anything that isn't prey, unless provoked of course.
During RP on the pilgrimage, many mentioned the creatures of the middle realm that weren't properly represented IG or encountered during RP. To remedy this, Ice and I set about the idea of a bestiary explaining some of the creatures of the Middle realm.
Below, are a few examples of our efforts. These are the most complete of our ideas that we focused on to make a decent proposal for scrutiny and ideas for improvement.
Fjordian Sabre Tooth
Hutchy
Fjordian Sabre Teeth are a type of big cat, found, mostly, in the Fjord region and surrounding areas of the far-north but have been sighted in other cold regions closer to the mainland's Northern provinces.
A species of big cat native to the woodlands of the far-north. In general, they are distinguishable by their thick coats that range in shades from perfect white to light greys, appearing darker around the nose and toes and the large canine teeth from which they take their name. They are quite large; reaching just above a man's waist in some cases and almost double that in length and weigh up to 330 pounds.
Differing from other species of big cats, they generally live in loose groups of between 5 and 12 with the common pride hierarchy of an alpha pair leading, beta[s] seconding with subordinates. Generally, it is the betas that hunt for the pride, with alphas keeping order, teaching the younger members and, obviously, breeding to maintain the pride.
Prides tend toward living in either living in the many caves or in sheltered glades. At regular intervals, groups of up to three leave the pride's territory to hunt. They generally target animals around the size of a cow, taking one or two at a time. Due to the sparse nature of fauna in such conditions, they can survive for a while on one meal, though they generally do not have to wait long, as is explained next.
Due to further mesalian and lucin settlement and expansion in the north, they have begun to raid livestock under cover of darkness, targeting cows, sheep and, in rare cases, mesalians and lucins. They have become more than a nuisance and considered a threat, leading to culling of the numerous prides found. They've become sought after for their fur which is often turned into coats or bed clothes.
Rakk Worm
Hutchy
An atypical kind of creature found mostly in desert regions, although through illegal trading and some taking them as pets when they are small, they have spread to some colder climates and are looked upon as a pest.
Less akin to a worm in appearance, resembling more of a maggot, Rakks, as they are more often referred to as, are quite large for a species of bug, being roughly half the length of a man and with proportions to match. In all sightings, it is mentioned as never leaving the ground completely and instead stretching its segmented body if it's prey tries to escape. What is described is a mass of cream coloured, segmented flesh with a large, fanged lamprey mouth and three clusters of three eyes, two on the sides and one on top. It is unknown how large a fully grown specimen can be, as stated, they don't leave their 'Trap'.
They feed by latching onto part of their prey and using it's coiled muscles, pull it into its 'trap' to drown it. It the distends its mouth to swallow it hole then resets its position to await the next meal while the latest is slowly digested.
They are carnivorous, which is to be expected, hailing from an environment with little to no plant life and attack anything that comes near. As they do not move much, they make every morsel count. They live in little pods of hollowed out ground referred to as 'Traps', they rarely move from these; only when prey is nearby or when they expand it as they grow.
They are loners by nature, given their cannibalistic nature, but, being unable to sense or even see others, some unluckly places can become what are known simply as 'Worm Pits'. These are generally circular formations of worms, the inside of which depresses toward the centre and some small mounds can be visible. They are quite easy to avoid in clear conditions, but caught in a sandstorm or at night when visibility is reduced they pose a considerable threat.
Desert Horned Cat
Ice
The Desert Horned Cat is a species of big cat found in hot and desert regions in areas close to water and living prey, an oasis for example.
They are medium sized, coming up to a man's waist and distinguishable by their short, to help them survive in the heat and desert sun. As their name suggests, small horns protrude from it's skull, these are about 4-5 inches long depending on age, in front and behind of it's ears which it uses to fend off predators and solve disputes over territory and position in a pack.
Packs of these usually number around 6 or 7, with a pair of alphas leading the subordinates, usually the result of the alphas' breeding. The largest of the pack is indisputably in charge of the others, often staying behind to guard the pack's territory. The young stay within the oasis with their mother until they are around 5 months old, by which time they will join the rest of the group to hunt.
In general, they hunt the rodents that live in or nearby to the oasis they live and/or snakes that live in the same areas. One of the more infamous predators of the Desert Horned Cat is the Goliath Elf Owl.
Goliath Elf Owl
Ice
Unlike it's distant, but strikingly similar, relative, the Goliath Elf Owl is one of the larger species of bird put to paper.
As said, it is a large bird, with a wingspan up to, in some cases exceeding, 5-6 feet. Besides its size, it shares many of the anatomical traits of its smaller cousin, being the facial and light bone structure. It has a white and beige colouration to match the desert sand. Their large wingspan and light build helps greatly in travel and hunting, allowing them to travel at high speed.
While roosting, they stick in loose groups of 10 or 12, close to large dunes, oases and mountains, very rarely staying in the flats. While hunting, they fly in formations of 3 as many of the animals they see as prey are quite dangerous and able to fight them off if fought alone. The Desert Horned Cat is a good example of this. Taking the lightness of the bird into account, many instances of encounters between horned cats and a lone goliath usually end in fatality for the bird. Contrary to common belief, they are mostly passive towards anything that isn't prey, unless provoked of course.