[Atheran Wildlife] Northwest Flora, Fauna, Bestiary

[Booklight12 477]

Atheran Wildlife

Flora, Fauna, and Bestiary

Northwest Athera

By Booklight12 and Shady_Tales

The following has been put together with lore from Lord of the Craft as well as created lore from Shady_Tales, and Bookligh12 in an attempt to best utilize the land in Athera.A lot of this was taken from existing lore. Most of these we don’t claim as our own and all belong to the respective creators that brought them to LOTC.

 

Special thanks to Shady_Tales though, he made most of this and I don't want to claim the glory from his idea. I am but a loremaking slave, and writer.

Fauna - Plantlife

Monsters - Monsters/Oddities

Flora - Animal Wildlife

The second part will discuss marine life including sea monsters.

Normal sea life

Sea Monsters

______________________________________________________________________

The wildlife of Aesterwald - Aesterwald is a diverse Kingdom and composed of five significant biomes. Each will be discussed.

The Northern Mountains

This is the main part of Aesterwald where most of its settlements reside in - Vanderfell, the Barony of Blackwood, Nerezza, Old Hanseti and Casoria. A primarily mountainous region with high spruce trees and snowy peaks year round. The fauna has adapted to the cold climate but for the most part retain the aspects of any normal forest - rabbits, deer, ferrets, wolves. Unlike other mountainous regions, reptiles such as rattle snakes are near non existent save for sightings of a drake above Old Hanseti.

• The Hansetian Bear [somewhat Rare] - a solitary, territorial bear making its home in the caves around Northern Mountains. They are highly aggressive and are large in size, ranging from 8 to 9 feet in length. Because of their size, they need lots of territory for themselves which makes their numbers fairly low in the Northern Mountains.

• The Hansetian Boar [uncommon] - Hansetian boars travel together in a group known as ‘a sounder’. They have wooly coats and follow an alpha boar who is by far the biggest of the sounder. The alpha boars are a rare sight though as they are few sounders in the Northern Mountains. The Hansetian Boar reaches lengths of five feet in length but the alpha boar reaches seven feet in length and towers over the rest of the sounder. Domestication of the Hansetian Boar has been attempted but researchers are unsure of how the alpha boar reaches its size. The alpha boar is also difficult to kill because of the protection generally provided by the sounder. They are known to leave the Northern Mountains to nearby regions in search of food.

• Frederick’s Elk [uncommon] - Previously the ‘Northern Elk’ named after the First Konig of Aesterwald when spotted shortly after the landing from Thales, Frederick’s Elk stands at 50-60 inches tall at the shoulder and its rack of antlers grow to about 6 feet in length. Frederick (Jack) Rovin was said to have frequently went on hunts for this elk leading people to believe he laid a claim to them himself.

• Alabaster Seabird [Rare, Very rare outside Vanderfell] - Water fowl which is a common sight near the coast of Vanderfell and the neighboring mountains, the alabaster seabird feeds off fish and has a massive wingspan of 17 feet. Despite the size, they weigh only 30 pounds and live only up to 10 years in the wild. They reach 30 years in captivity. Adults are hard to train but hatchlings can be trained to be messenger birds. They are very smart but useless for combat. People commonly watch them dive into the water to hunt for fish.

• The Waldenian Eagle [Rare] - A black eagle that was adopted as the royal animal of Aesterwald. They are extremely rare, either due to their absence of color in the thick forests or because of hunting from previous inhabitants. The Waldenian Eagle is sometimes used for messages by the royal family. Hunting the bird is against the law due to its rarity.

• The Frost Troll [somewhat Rare] - sometimes friendly and helpful, other times violent and hungry. The Frost troll lives in caves during the day and goes out to hunt at night. Sunlight turns it to stone and trolls are sensitive to other forms of light such as light from clerics. Long exposure to fire light makes them uncomfortable.

• Habgotsnits [Common] - a lightly shaded grass that when squeezed, excretes juices that can numb the body. It can be smoked as well to get a “clarity high”.

• Autumn Crocus [somewhat Rare] - found at the tops of of the northern mountains in the mid summer to autumn time, the Autumn Crocus flower bulb when digested is poisonous causing nervous excitement and vomiting.

• Daphne [Very rare] - A plant that produces poisonous berries. A few can kill a young child and a handful can kill a grown man.

Canyons of Eruthos

Parts known as the “Abandoned Duchy of Polaris” and “No man’s land”, Eruthos is a desolate wasteland with sparse pockets of acacia trees along its river flowing through the canyon. Little thrives in this environment. It is said a heavy mining operation once took place here but it has long since been abandoned.

• Bighorn sheep [uncommon] - herds of sheep get by in Eruthos, living off shrubs and Acacia leaves. Male bighorns are territorial and tend to lead the herds. Males can grow big in size though exact measurements are rarely gathered due to the violent behavior of them. It is confirmed by the Order of the Black Eagle that these can indeed become corrupted and reach massive lengths.

• Harpies [uncommon] - Harpies are known for picking up and dropping their targets from great heights. Their nests are filled with human skulls. Blunt weapons best handle the brittle bodies of the harpy. Harpies are known to be very ugly with oily skin. This does not affect flight however. Their feathers can be used to make arrows. They have a lethal screech known to rupture eardrums.

• The Afflicted [Rare] - Usually humans but includes dwarves and elves. What makes them special is they are infected with the A’er disease which is a mental disease brought about from intentional cannibalism. Trolls, orcs, and kharajyr are immune. Humans have commonly gotten this during desperate times or eating Darkhaven Souse Stew, a House Winter recipe, ill prepared (The stew’s recipe asks for dark elf ears from a live dark elf. Sickness can be caused from eating ears off a corpse). Depending on the progress of the A’er disease, Afflicted sometimes kill each other and other adventurers. They are commonly hunted by Harpies.

• Vourukh [Common] - Giant birds of prey commonly living in hot climates. They are commonly mistaken by dragons or drakes for their leathery skin that resembles the scales of a dragon. They are a suprisingly social creature that live in a strict hierarchy akin to that of a wolf pack. When outstretched the Vourukhs powerful wings reach a length of 5 meters long. They are a predatory creature, and if they spot a good meal in their territories, they tend to attack with a mighty swoop. Though, due to their size and the numerous cracks in the canyon, it may be quite easy to evade them.. That is.. If you see them first.

• Limpwurt Root [Rare] - Found under acacia trees, limpwurt root helps build up the body faster when eaten raw after ingesting protein. Though the reason is unknown, in reality it speeds up protein synthesis which helps enhance lean muscle mass. Ingesting too much can cause minor poisoning.

Greater Hanseti

West of Old Hanseti is a mostly unexplored forest harboring towering mushrooms and large insects and other critters. Full documentation has yet to be made but giant grasshoppers, giant ants, and the infamous Das Ungetium which was a flesh worm, have been spotted. (This will be expanded on later).

• The Adunian Flesh Worm [Rare] - Commonly mistaken as the northerner flesh worm, the Adunian flesh worm is a rarer variant. They are less hostile and generally only attack when someone gets too close to their tunnels. They grab on to their prey with their mandibles to crush or sometimes use their body to crush a fleeing target. They grow to gigantic sizes surpassing the northerner flesh worm and feed off anything from living organisms to minerals and luminescent fungi in the earth. A particular flesh worm famous for devouring Prince Shaw Rovin was Das Ungetium

• Giant Insects [Common] - A common sight in these dastardly lands, many sightings tell of giant ants trampling their kids, or giant bees plaguing farmlands. It is highly reccommended to stay away from these creatures, they are known to be unable to commune with druids and it is stressed that you clear away if you see them. Though, they tend to have simple travel patterns akin to animals of their normal size, because of their sheer number and bulk, proves them dangerous. Kill one, 2 more come, kill the two, a dozen are in their place.

• Grefloots [Common] - found in the forests of Greater Hanseti, they resembles fungi but are spiral shaped plants that contain a deadly toxin. Small dosages cloud the mind and judgment while large doses cause fatal injury. To ‘milk’ grefloots, one would need a large upon of these to get the right doses.

• Bittercap Mushrooms [uncommon] - found only in Greater Hanseti, Bittercap mushrooms are used in cooking. Eaten raw they are very bitter but when cooked they lose their bitterness. They are often cooked with steak.

Ayr Forests

Once plains, the Ayr Forests also known as the Polarian Forests have given and taken life. Waldenian encroachment has created new dangers for both man and animal in the old plains. Ayr Forests see a variety of flora and have great conditions for farming. Off the coast of Ayr, fishermen have said there have been sightings of an aquatic dragon. Ayr Forests experiences heavy rainfall in the winter and is known to very humid at times.

• The Ayrian Fox [Common] - once more rare in the plains, The Ayrian Fox has become more abundant. It commonly hunts farmer livestock, preying mostly on chickens. The Ayrian Fox is revered for its beautiful dark orange fur and hated for being a nuisance to farmers. They are hunted for bounties and their pelts.

• The Vodnik [somewhat Rare] - Thought to have been zombies, they are dead corpses that had drowned and been made hosts to a specific parasite. Vodniks have sharp claws and knife like teeth and carry several sets of these teeth. Vodniks are blind but have very good sense of smell, touch, and hearing. They do not speak, they have gurgled howls. Upon death they hack up the parasite which swims back into the water in search of another host. The Vodnik can ignore severe injuries such as the loss of limbs, bleeding, poisoning, and falling from high places.

• Slimes/Oozes/Blobs [uncommon] - Non sentient creatures made of gelatinous substances, these three creatures are mainly spotted by locals, and are rarely aggressive though there are stories of these creatures attacking travelers, no deaths have been reported..Though recommended to stay away from them unless for research, as not much is known of them besides that they dislike fire.

• Night Sap [Common] - found on deformed growths on sturdy oak trees, night sap appears to be honey. It tastes amazing, reminding one of fond memories of past and fine meals. Near instant, the person who tastes the night sap is drifted into a deep sleep where they are whether that’s a stone, cold floor or a soft grassy bed. They have about three to five hours of good sleep with pleasant dreams only to wake up with a painful headache and inability to move oneself equal to the amount of sleep obtained. Night sap is highly addictive, especially to war veterans and those suffering from depression. It is used as a sedative during surgery usually.

• Sugar cane [Varies] - Sugar cane, after refinement, is made to use the sugar you use for baking and sweetening your tea. Sugar cane was discovered growing along the coasts of the Ayr forest far from the Northern Mountains due to the increase of temperature and heavy rainfall in the winter.

• Numbristle[Common] - A small leafy plant commonly found is more humid climates, it resembles that of poison ivy, though has more rounded tips as opposed to edges. These fine plants have commonly been used in medical use, and are more potent than those found in the Anthosian wilds. Commonly ingested for treating injuries it works as a sedative, with a few leaves being able to numb the body, with a large dosage, it has the abilities to make someone fall unconscious, which makes it especially popular with those who have sleeping disorders.

• Mandragora [Common] - This little plant is roughly shaped like a parsnip and tends to grow in wetlands. The plant is known for producing highly narcotic and hallucinatory spores. The spores are also highly toxic and death due to harvesting the plant while it is still in the spore production phase of its life can be fatal. When the plant reaches full maturity it releases the spores into the air around it. Two weeks after the spores are released is the plant safe for harvesting. The plant is fairly nutritious and provides a high amount of antioxidants, The leaves or “Head” of the Mandragora goes particularly well as a garnish for soups or tea’s. The “Meat” of the plant can be ground up and used for the creation of potions that revitalize the body and mind, as well as support Regeneration of damaged tissue.

Karamjan Jungle

When Frederick Rovin I laid claim to the jungles north of Vanderfell and Nerezza, struggling groups had already made their home in the jungle but quickly disappeared, perhaps dieing out from either A’er disease or the horrors that lurk in there. Today the jungle is rarely ventured into but holds many of the most important herbs

• Karamjan Boar [Common] - Similar to the Hansetian Boar, Karamjan boars travel in a sounder. They’re of a much smaller variety however and most boars do not reach lengths more than three feet with alpha boars reaching four. They have a very thin coat of fur and tend to have smaller tusks than the Hansetian Boar. Generally, these are considered pushovers. Without too many natural predators other than Leaf Apes, they are very common.

• Karamjan Ocelot [Common] - Karamjan ocelots are no different than other ocelots found in other jungles. They tend to hunt smaller creatures such as rodents, insects, and birds. Ocelots are solitary and highly territorial. They are hunted for their pelts but rarely eaten.

• Giant Apes [uncommon] - Normally passive creatures, they are giant apes growing to heights of 15-17 feet tall when full adults. They travel in small colonies and tend not to pay attention to travellers as long as they keep away from the main colony. They are organized well, with colony elders and other structures, commonly having a colony alpha which commands the rest of the apes. They cherish newborns with much care which is why they may be very dangerous if you get too close to their colonies. If you are found they will surely attack. Though, even though they are passive, they are commonly considered the disgusting bane of travellers, having a rare fungus growing in their buttoxs’. They have a tendency to scoop up travellers using them to pick at the fungus’ like a tool.

• Leaf Apes [uncommon] - dangerous small, wolf like creatures that use stones and sticks to maim prey. They try to aim for the neck and will strangle and bite at the throat. If unable to they will attack exposed flesh. They travel in packs, are agile and very aggressive. They reproduce relatively fast and common iron weapons do little against the leaf apes. Their bodies are quite durable. Some success has been noted using warhammers and pick axes.

• Atheros [Rare] - A white and brown root found under trees in the jungle.Used to relieve pain. Can be made into a potion, used raw, or as a rubbing solution.

Rubbing Solution: Your base is Lard. Two cups of squeezed apple juice with a bit of oil, preferably fish oil. One juiced fruit smelling hop. A pinch of squeezed Salvus sweet roll that has been crumbled. Two Atheros Root. Age for one Saint’s hour.

Drinking Potion: Your base is aqua vitae. Three fruit smelling hops. 4 Atheros roots. A few pinches of a squeezed salvus sweet roll that has crumbled. Age for two saint’s hours.

• King’s Ivy [uncommon] - A stimuli. Eating this raw spikes the senses and allows the consumer to remain alert much longer than they normally could. It is possible to overdose on this however, causing a heart attack.

• Grobsnopper [uncommon] - an herb that’s applied to wounds infected with bacteria. It’s described as soaking up bacteria with the herb itself wilting and taking the bacteria away from the wound. Multiple sessions are needed for large wounds. Found in clusters on the ground.

• Ape fungus [Very Rare] - The white fungus that grows in the buttox of the Giant apes of the Karamjan Jungles, it has a tendency to grow and multiply like a virus, they are white in nature with a mold like appearance, growing in clumps. These plants make great alchemical earth symbols though.. It is rare for the only way to acquire it is from the behinds of these giant apes. If smoked though it gives a extremely powerful psychedelic high, through some research and studies it is said that the tribes long ago used this fungus during ceremonies. For coming to age, where the boy or girl in the tribe smoked the fungus to go on a ‘spirit’ journey. Which is really only hte effects of the fungus putting the person in a comatose state for 1 hour- 1 day, it varies on dosage and purities.

• Rosary Pea [Very Rare] - EXTREMELY rare, the rosary pea is very poisonous and one seed can and will cause fatality if eaten by someone.

• Vanilla [Rare] - Vanilla is the only orchid out of hundreds of species that have an edible fruit. Vanilla fruit, also known as a sweet pod, is used to make vanilla spice which is used for flavoring in cooking and scents. Vanilla is popular amongst women to get rid of horrid odors. Vanilla is fairly rare.

• Cocoa Beans [uncommon] - Cocoa beans are bitter raw but after refinement they become relatively sweet and even more so when made with sugar. Used to make treats for children and adults alike.

Marine Life

Marine life in Aesterwald is as versatile at the wildlife on land is. Much of coastal Aesterwald depends on fishing to feed its people. The Piscatoris River, the Waldenian name for the River Ebunad, circles around the southern coast of Aesterwald, the northern coast of the heartland, and feeds into the Kaelor Seas south of Werdenburg. However, the use of river is incorrect for the most part. The river ends around the northern coast of the shire across from Vanderfell and feeds into a greater expanse of water that is more salty in nature. With this in mind, the name was given to the body of water based upon its geographical shape and not its composition.

• The Karamjan Shark [somewhat Rare] - An ocelot colored shark, the Karamjan Shark does not make for the best ambush hunter and is on the small side, reaching lengths of eight feet. It’s easily seen underwater due to its colors but their speeds are unmatched by the local life. Karamjan sharks are also known to hunt in frenzies and attack large creatures such as King Grey Whales.

• The Pygmy Grey Whale [somewhat Uncommon - varies] - Found in pods, pygmy grey whales are a small species of whale reaching to lengths of sixteen feet. There are times when they are non existent off the shores of Aesterwald and times where they are abundant, all dependent on their migration. They feed off plankton.

• King Grey Whale [Rare] - name derived from its size, the King Grey Whale reaches lengths of 70 feet. They sometimes go up the Piscatoris but because of their size they generally stay in the Kaelor Seas.

• The Waldenian Walrus [Too Common] - The Waldenian Walrus is surprisingly a very passive animal. It is admired by the Waldenian people as a care free animal. It is rather slow on land and oblivious to children playing on their backs. When the Waldenian people first settled in, walruses were beaten for their meat before agriculture was integrated into Vanderfell. Konig Voron Rovin after Frederick’s death took pity on the walruses and declared they were to be protected. It is illegal to hunt Waldenian walruses. Despite being peaceful, they are highly defensive when attacked by whales. They are found off the coasts of Vanderfell and Ayr.

• Monkfish [uncommon] - Monkfish are found solely between Vanderfell and the shire. They are a bottom feeder related to the monstrous angler fish in the Kaelor Seas. Most of the fish in inedible, only the tail and liver can be eaten. The rest tends to be used for chum. Monkfish are cannibalistic and eat almost anything they can fit into their large mouths.

 

• Mirror Carp [Common] - Though there are plenty of fish to eat between Casoria and Nerezza where a lake resides, the mirror carp is by far the most popular freshwater fish amongst the Waldenian people. It is commonly fried and during Saintsmas it is stuffed with spices and vegetables and served alongside a Waldenian Lager.  The Mirror Carp gets its name for the reflective scales it has, albeit there are not many of them on its body.

• The Vander Crab [Common] -If allowed to grow, the Vander Crab reaches a carapace width of 18 inches! Its shell is extremely hard, only walruses being able to commonly eat the Vander Crab if the crab’s shell has soften from molting. Children are commonly hurt rough housing with fully grown Vander Crabs. Vander Crabs are common because they mate very often though VERY few make it to full adulthood. Vander Crabs are difficult to cook, so not many attempt to. They’re at times considered a pest by fishermen as they steal bait. If prepared by a seasoned chef however, Vander Crab can taste fairly decent. Albeit nothing is very spectacular and it tastes like your average crab so the trouble of cooking it may not be worth it.

• Vander Oyster [Common] - found in tide pools, the pier, and plastered on to rocks in shallow waters, the Vander Oyster is actually an invasive species that replaced the now nearly nonexistent blue mussel in Vanderfell. The Vander Oyster was originally the Pilgrim oyster that was commonly eaten by the Waldenians off the shores west of Tempum after their exodus from the capital.Brought over by boat unintentionally on the H.M.S Wilhelm, the Vander Oyster has replaced the native blue mussel’s role in the food chain.

• The Aquatic Dragon [Very Rare-Unknown] - Fishermen off the coast of Ayr have seen what they've explained as a swimming dragon leading those with knowledge of monsters to speculate it to be an aquatic dragon. These have been known to sink ships and devour sailors. Aquatic dragons interrupt species migrations as well.

Thank you for reading, if you have any questions, think more creatures or plants should be added feel free to PM us or place below, this is the first post in our region lore series, which I hope to be used for better organization and to help fuel RP if people wish to go hunting, gather materials and so on. Deus Proditor will be the next region in our series so be sure to check it out. Aswell, look at this post here if you wish to vote for the next region after Deus Proditor to be picked for our series.

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/121215-poll-atheran-flora-fauna-and-monsters/

 

[Travista 1353]

"Diz iz nub'hozh!" Shreck'Dom exclaims, frowning "Wer ar awl ub duh swump animulz?"

[Man of Respect 5431]

"WER AR DAH DRAAKARZ?!" Eath would rudely exclamate.

[Booklight12 477]

Also, if an LM or FM believe this is in the wrong forum, feel free to move this post. Though, I am hoping to keep this and the others in the series available for others to look at in case they need the information.

 

 

Ps: Shreck lives in a marsh not swamp, (Nub)

And Sand.. Well.. No Draakar my friend.. So sad.. :P

[Man of Respect 5431]

eath is sure he'll come after book bc he won't get his Draakars. Eath suggests desert wildlife with DINOSAURS and DRAGONS!

[Reckless Banzai Screamer 11594]

"Diz iz nub'hozh!" Shreck'Dom exclaims, frowning "Wer ar awl ub duh swump animulz?"

 

The Fisher King throws his hands up into the air and shouts back at the Konig of the Swampland.

 

"WHAT FAWK MAN? There ees no swamp up heeyah. Check back anothah time when we covah more region!" The easterner man swings his frozen halibut around, trying to shoo Shreck'Dom away so that he may go look for swamp creatures.

[Jistuma 1995]

I'm sorry to say that this lore has been Denied.

 

While most of the lore is pretty much just placing the existing lore in the right locations, some of the new monsters and animals are a bit overpowered and quite a bit hard to ever appear in roleplay. Some don't make a sense as well.