Athera's Savanna

[Ilikefooddude 430]

With 4.0 now out I thought it's about time to post something I made a while ago which should help add some detail to the Orcish homeland. For now it only consists of four entries, but more will most probably be added at a later date. Enjoy, and happy roleplaying!

 

 

Athera's Sweeping Savanna

 

Fauna

 

Stunted Rhinos

Stunted Rhinos, originally an unwanted sub-species of the larger and more favoured Braduk Rhinos, have been sighted since the early days of Aegis and have migrated across the continents following the remnants of the Braduk clan. Once sparse due to their tendency to be killed off at birth by the displeased clan Beastmasters, these stout creates have grown to flourish in the vast savannas of Athera; free from the control of the now disbanded clan.
Appearance
Though similar in most parts to their bulkier counterparts, Stunted Rhinos have a few key traits which set them apart. Most importantly would be their size and stature. While Braduk Rhinos can reach up to nine feet tall, these stand at most half of that height; with shoulders less wide and horns shorter and thicker- Meant more for ramming and causing blunt damage than impaling. Their skin tone is generally dull, and ranges only in different shades of grey, and their hides are just as thick as a Braduk Rhinos’;  the weakest points being beneath the belly, behind the ears, and at the back of the knees. They’re not as slow or as heavy as the larger Rhinos, and as such can keep up a steady pace- which can be a frightening thing should the heard choose to stampede anywhere near your position.
Temperament and Lifestyle
 Compared to a Braduk Rhino, these beasts have a far worse temper. Though this may seem strange at first thought, it’s due to their lack of training that they anger and scare so easily, as well as the fact that only the creatures with the worst temperament were casted away from proper Braduk Rhino breeding programs. They travel around in herds of ten to fifteen, having their own respectable pecking order, which can be found roaming in a nomadic style around the savanna; constantly moving to the various water sources as the year progresses. Their eating habits are similar to a Braduk Rhino’s, though of course they eat a lot less and with less gusto- As they know overeating the grasses one year will result in famine the next. Taming one is next to impossible due to their violent nature, so it should be noted to any hopeful travelling circuses or dim-witted knights that these beasts are not meant for manual labour, and are more likely to attempt to crush you rather than your grain or your enemy’s heads.

 

Lur Wolves
Found roaming the savannas for much the same reasons as Braduk Rhinos, Lur Wolves have been making a striking comeback among the long grasses of the Orcish plains. Once strictly monitored by the Lur clans, they now roam more freely and rarely come to the call of their old masters as they once did.

Appearance
Although similar to their smaller relatives in body shape and build, Lur wolves display a massive array of feral adaptations impossible for those canines which lack the sheer size of Lur Wolves. Their teeth, meant for slashing and tearing at flesh and cracking through hard bones, extend out of their maw in a vicious, ever-present snarl; each fang reaching to about the length of a large, human sized dagger. The fore and hind legs of the wolves show a formidable stretch of muscles and ligaments, honed through lifetimes of big-prey hunting adaptations that allow them to tear across the savanna at a speed that can match even that of a stallion, though they lack the fortitude to keep this up for too long. Their fur can range from grey to brown, and even a dark yellow, which is perhaps a strange adaptation to their new favourable surroundings; with bristles and strange lines darting across the pelt which help camouflage the hunters in their night-time raids against the other hardened inhabitants of this brutal land.

Temperament and Lifestyle
 These savage beasts travel in packs with around ten members- each having a bearing of at least double the height, stature, and ferocity of conventional wolves. Although generally docile towards the two-legged mortal races of Athera, these beasts are dangerously defensive of their land and family; becoming treacherous adversaries for those who stand between food, shelter or safety. They dwell in crowded dens scattered throughout the Savanna hills, well protected from the hard rain and harsh winds that plague the land, and fill them with the bones and carcasses of the prey they drag back there: Stunted Braduk Rhinos and foolish humans alike. Though distant from their Asulon ancestors, the tricks and croonings of a true-blooded Lur can still coax these wolves into lifelong bonds, and are indeed terrifying mounts for this sparse clan to ride into battle.

 

 

Flora

 

Name: Phoenix Feather (Acadia Saplings in Flower Pots/Acadia Saplings (Harvested) )
Symbol: Air (Medium)
Description: A delicate, rarely seen sprout in the more elevated parts of Athera’s dry savanna plains, Phoenix Feather can be quite troublesome to identify due to the bland, murky yellow  leaves that completely cover the stalk and base of this plant; usually causing it to be mistaken as a small mound of discoloured, dying savanna grass. It’s these same leaves from which Phoenix Feather’s worth in alchemy comes from, which must be harvested by careful pruning- and not plucking- only, as this wiry savanna plant has a tendency to be easily ripped from the ground- making re-harvesting it take a lot longer indeed.
Effects: The savanna is filled with plenty of strange plants and animals, but perhaps none are stranger than this bland looking plant. In potions, Phoenix Feather is quite the misnomer; it represents Air, fragility, and although it sounds strange, rebirth or regrowth. This interesting attribute comes from one of the main properties of the Phoenix Feather-its ability to regrow even after being completely uprooted, harvested or burnt to dust. The plant has quite a deep, and somewhat fragile root system that disperses out wide from the first moment it begins growing. Soon after the top of the plant’s been destroyed or removed, the plant’s roots kick into overdrive- rapidly forming bulbs underground at where their points were severed. These grow at an amazing rate, and this process of immense nutritional absorption from the soil generally causes the dirt around it to become dry quickly. After a few days, a stem bursts from the ground- Coming from each bulb. This is the start of the new plant. Leaves spread completely over it after nearly a week, and by then the bulb’s shrunken to nothing noticeable. Phoenix Feather regrows to its full size after no longer than two weeks as if nothing has happened at all, and usually the amount of plants triples- which is why usually they’re found in small fields cleared of other vegetation.  
Use: In addition to being an interesting symbol of Air useful in potions such as mending, Phoenix Feather can be burnt to produce a pleasant, exotic aroma. Though it’s not a drug and neither is it addictive, it’s favoured by horologists, and even monks, as natural incense that portrays a calm and almost spiritual atmosphere. Though no part of the plant is poisonous, it’s no more appealing to eat than any other leaf or stem found in non-reagents. Storing the leaves in a large jug is best, though they’ll last just as long dried and crushed into a fine powder.

 

Name: Sunfruit (Apple/Skulls on trees)
Symbol: Fire (Medium)
Description: The Sunfruit Tree, a brown barked sprig of savanna vegetation, is one of the few fruit bearing trees that grows natively in the populated areas of Athera. Known well enough by the Orcish inhabitants of this harsh land for its shady branches and unusual abundance, this plant’s usefulness in alchemy comes from the pear shaped produce which dangle from its higher branches in the later days of The First Seed. Though they might appear simple enough to harvest upon first glance, these tricky trifles become next to useless in brews if gathered the wrong way; as even when they grow larger throughout the season it’s next to impossible to tell if they’re ripe or not. Removing the fruit from the tree too early results in a dry and unappealing specimen, and a Sunfruit can only be properly prepared for use within the day of it falling naturally from its tree.
Effects: Sunfruit, in an alchemical sense, is one of the interesting pieces of flora you’ll find in the savannas of Athera. In potions, it represents fire; but furthermore strength, passion and concentration, which one could discover easily enough at a simple taste. It’s nearly painfully sweet at first bite, such as an overripe pineapple might be, and indeed some people are unfortunately deterred by the blatant and simple taste of Sunfruit. However, many more find it appealing as a treat to indulge in under the shaded branches of the Sunfruit Tree, and you will find that it is common enough on the plates of merchants with a sweet tooth for the more exotic tastes of Athera
Uses: Apart from its use in potions involving the more controlled type of fire, Sunfruit can be valued as a sweet treat in various otherwise bland potions, but also more sinisterly in poisons or drugs. It should first have its thin grey skin peeled off, along with the white membranes underneath (Similar to mandarins'). It must be juiced and stored in an air tight container within the day of it dropping from its tree, because, as most Regents of Fire do, Sunfruit deteriorates and loses potency soon after being harvested.

[hellfiazz 879]

((Nice post))
 

Frumzum grins in savage glee as he stalks through the long grass, spear in hand, tracking a herd of Stunted Rhino.

[Raptorious 1899]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.