[✓] Submission for Deep Toad

[Reece Nolan 636]

Name of the creature:

Deep Toad

(Optional) Link to a picture of the creature + name of the artist:

 

Is this creature tamable and if so, how:

 

No.

 

Can you use this in combat:

N/A

 

Habitats - Check all that apply:

Caves/Caverns

 

Summary of the creature:

 

Deep Toads are giant greyish-black bioluminous toads that live in caves and caverns. They are docile and dumb beasts that live lazy lives feeding on the lesser organisms of the underground. Deep Toads serve as the first noticable line of predators to the underground species of Almaris, as well as a basis for more challenging creatures available for player use.

 

 

Characteristics of the creature:

 

The Deep Toad is a giant grayish-black Woodhouse's Toad with faint light gray triangular patterns on its neck and belly. It can grow up to 5 ft tall from vent to snout and weigh between 300 to 400 lbs. Their eyes as well as the inside of their mouth vary between a light baby blue or faded olive color with their tongues usually being darker and more muted. Their tongues have been recorded to go as far as six feet and show incredible resilience to tearing. Their backs are speckled with dull white spots and rocky bumps which continue up to their crest. Their necks contain a gland which produces the luciferase enzyme, the Deep Toad then activates the bioluminous properties of this enzyme when they croak as the introduction of oxygen will cause their swollen necks to produce a brilliant display of colors which is only further emphasized by the patterns on their smoother skin.

 

The Deep Toad mates somewhat similarly to a normal toad in that they require water in order to reproduce, the key difference being that the eggs do not need to float. After fertilization, the eggs sink to the bottom of the body of water they were laid in and allow for fungus and algae to grow on their exterior. The eggs will intake oxygen produced by the algae and steal nutrients from the growing fungus, which after a much longer period of time will result in the birth of a very small Deep Toad rather than a tadpole, effectively skipping the need for metamorphosis.

 

The Deep Toad's diet consists of bugs and slystel, although they will at least attempt to eat anything they see moving nearby. If unimpeded, the toad will continue to feed on whatever it regularly sees its kind eating. This feeding behavior typically stops whenever it observes kin facing resistance or death due to attempting to consume something. This is exactly what happened to the missing dwarves, as they were snatched up by the Deep Toad before they could see it. It was only when the dwarves actually came down to kill one did they collectively stop trying to eat dwarves.

 

The behavior of a Deep Toad is actually quite charming, when not looking for food the Deep Toad is seen doing one of two things. They may either sit on top of something that floats in the water (such as a giant lily pad or boats), or they will look for flat stones they think they can float on and attempt to push them into the water so they can sit atop them. Because stones and boulders do not float, they will do this over and over for the entire day or until they tire. A deep toad usually croaks in order to see in the dark with the help of its glow, however when they do manage to find something they can float on they will begin a mating call which involves long drawn out croaks displaying a dazzling and beautiful ambient glow softly changing colors. This is the very reason they continuously try to float on something, as their glow will reflect and refract all over the cavern they are in as a display of competency for any potential mates watching.

 

 

(Optional) Origins of the creature:

 

Very little was known of the Deep Toad when the descendants first came to Almaris. There would often be rumors of a giant toad circling among Urguan's folk, but such stories were dismissed by the dwed in favor of scarier beasts and thrilling survival tales. It wasn't until more and more workers began to go missing that interest in finding the cause was actually taken seriously. Far into the cavernous expanse they found it, an enormous toad silently regarding them with its somewhat disappointed expression.

 

After the beast had been slain, it became a regular occurrence to find Deep Toads simply watching them or minding their own business rather than trying to eat them. This would provide the opportunity for scholars to learn everything currently known about them.

 

 

Strengths/Weaknesses

 

Deep Toads are the first predator in line on the underground food chain, though this does not necessarily mean they are a threat.

 

Strengths - Deep Toads are remarkablely strong for their size, the rocky terrain has done nothing but favors for their already powerful legs. This coupled with their extremely fibrous tongues allows for Deep Toads to actually drag heavy or resistant prey around, which the frequently make use of to drown struggling prey or bludgeon them by flinging them into a cavern's wall.

 

Weaknesses - Deep Toads as you may have guessed are not very smart. They may learn quickly, but often not for the right reasons. (Lily pads are flat they float, therefore this flat stone should float.) They are quite slow, given that they are giant toads, and are very noisy. The Deep Toad has to croak every time it needs to see, thus being in darkness constantly alerts predators to their location. Deep Toads aren't very defensive either, their bumpy backs may help slightly, but it's all still just skin. They do not have any toxins either.

 

 

Red Lines

 

Deep Toads cannot be tamed, they may ignore you if they deem you too much of a hassle to eat but that does not mean they are your friend. Deep Toads cannot have an expression other than disappointed. Deep Toads are not hard to kill, it may take a few hits but you more than likely will not have much difficulty slaying one. Deep Toads are not toxic, and yes their legs do still jiggle when you put salt on them after death. Deep Toads sound like trumpets increasing in pitch when they croak. Deep Toads do not retain their bioluminous properties on death.

 

 

Availability:

This creature is available for use by anyone in player run events,

Edited July 11, 2021 by Reece Nolan
Updated for pending changes.

[squakhawk 7878]

This Lore has been accepted. Moved to Implemented Lore, it will be sorted to it's appropriate category soon. Please note that if this is playable lore, such as a magic or CA, you will need to write a guide for this piece. You will be contacted regarding the guide (or implementation if it isn’t needed) shortly.