[Ecosystem Lore] - The Tropics & Jungle

[squakhawk 7872]

The Tropics

Lush and sprawling with life, the tropics and jungles of the realm serve as the most lively of all the biomes. Varying from jungle to jungle, these biomes are filled with every manner of life, from ugly and dangerous, to pretty and fragile. Jungles vary greatly on habitability, from oceanside jungles with bounties of coconuts and fish, to a tropical paradise within the center of a wallowing marshland, the former often far more preferable than deep inland jungles.

Flora

The tropics are filled with a variety of flora, though are particularly for their affinity with medicinal herbs and potent alchemical reagents. Make no mistake, however, for just as the creatures themselves, these reagents may be anything from benign to dangerous.

 

Beardweed

Grobsnopper

Night Sap

Ponderlot

Atheros

Crimson Vase

Shade Leaf

Diddyfunkle

Gislocinovni

Mushnooman

Lumber Juice Cactus

Flash Fruit

 

Fauna

The jungles are often the most populated biome, inhabited by monkeys, lizards, snakes, and a wide variety of other such common animals. However, one should be cautious treading through such an environment, for the unprepared scavenger may be overwhelmed by the many creatures that dwell here, and if they are not careful, perhaps taken advantage of.

 

 

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Bush Tortoise

Physiology

Bush Tortoises are large creatures, generally ranging from the size of a dwarf to that of an elephant, though the largest recorded have scaled up to the size of a house! They continue to grow in size the longer they live, allowing for moss, flora, and even small fauna to make their homes atop the turtle’s verdant back. Generally, how long the turtle has lived is told by their size and the foliage on their back. This makes for decent camouflage for smaller tortoises, though larger ones can appear like walking hills. They are incredibly slow, regardless of size.

Habitat

Bush Tortoises live in their shells, which are hard and sturdy, requiring a few hits from a steel hammer to crack. They have often been used by goblin tinkerers as homes, assuming one can manage to clear out the turtle themselves. These creatures tend to roam where foliage is dense, leading them to reside deep within tropical and warm forests.

Behavior

Despite their size, Bush Tortoises are relatively docile. They generally tend to leave most things alone and will retreat within their shell to hide should they believe danger to be near. Oftentimes, they don’t care for smaller creatures and will ignore people should they come close. Though gentle, it will fight back with its powerful jaws should it feel threatened.

Abilities

While slow, the sturdy shell of a Bush Tortoise allows a decent amount of protection. Should the tortoise still feel threatened, it will attempt to snap back at its aggressors with powerful jaws much like snapping turtles, capable of cutting a man clean in half if large enough. Still, it is slow and often can be outmaneuvered with sufficient awareness.

Redlines

- Bush tortoises may range widely in size. Player-event ones cannot scale larger than that of a hut. Regardless of size, they will still move slowly.

- Bush tortoise flora have no unique or special effects/properties.

- Bush tortoise shells can be used for aesthetic housing, at most equating to concrete.

- Bush tortoise shells cannot be used to make armor.

- Bush tortoises cannot be tamed or controlled, though druids can speak with them.

 

Spined Feasle

Physiology

These “outlandish” creatures resemble the shape of a small fox, albeit with a body like that of a ferret or weasel, with quills alike to a porcupine. The color of their fur can range from deep red mahogany to soft pale orange hues. It has lighter-hued rings of fur around the muzzle and eyes, and its fur tends to “tighten” around the tail and muzzles. Were it to stand on its hind legs, it would range up to two feet tall, though are otherwise a little over half a foot in height. The inside of its fur is incredibly soft and is valued highly for its fashion and warmth.

Habitat

The Spined Feasel prefers to reside in areas that are generally shaded from the sun, like dense forests, or occasionally swamps. The Spined Feasel tends to live in burrows that vary in their size, forming entire mazes which span along the earth. These burrows are generally found at the base of trees, where the creatures are able to actually eat the roots of the tree for sustenance in a case of emergency. The species has also been known to live in small caves (small enough that no large animals could get in) and in the hollowed out remains of trees. Burrows are, however, the most common form of home.

Behavior

Due to the fragile nature of the Feasel, the young of the species are very mellow and calm in temperament, versus the unruly nature that many young fauna have. They spend most of their time sleeping, and eating. It may be worth noting that the children tend to nurse until the age of three, which works well, as it is in the mother's nature to stay at home and protect her young. They are very skittish in nature, so it is rather rare for them to live anywhere near main roads that are commonly traveled, oftentimes fleeing upon meeting larger descendants or predators. The feasels are gentle, however, and can be coaxed and potentially tamed.

Abilities

Feasel’s are generally very weak, though they are quick. Along with their swiftness comes the spines that trail along their back, pricking obnoxiously at any creature that may try to take a bite out of it. Despite the quills, they almost never use them offensively, and are oftentimes only encountered if one is attacking the Feasel directly. These quills may perk up when the Feasel is in danger, and while a hound or bear might be warded away by the prick, a descendant would feel nothing more than the equivalent of a large bee sting.

Redlines

- Feasels are incredibly timid and often run away at the sight of descendants. With gentleness and patience, they can be tamed and learn to like descendants.

- Feasels will scamper away or hide should combat ensue. They cannot be used in combat.

- Feasel quills may be able to at most draw a very minute amount of blood with a harsh prick. They would not be able to pierce completely through flesh.

 

Throqal

Physiology

Similar to that of large alligators, the Throqal is a gigantic beast with black and green scales. It possesses four legs and two “arms”, each of them being webbed, though it may crawl and swim upon all six. It can hold its breath for tremendous amounts of time, and its rigid skin helps it to blend in with swampy water. Generally the Throqal grows up to the size of an adult orc, though some older ones have even grown to the size of small ologs. Their difficulty to defeat in combat has made them ideal targets for coming-of-age rituals among the orcs.

Habitat

The Throqal lurks in murky jungle or swamp waters, easily blending in with its surroundings. It often choses muddier areas to make its dens, and lays its eggs underwater.

Behavior

Throqal are vicious creatures who often prowl waters seeking prey. Though they may attack smaller creatures when desperate, most Throqal are ambitious for animals and oftentimes can aspire to take on creatures twice their size. Though most generally range around the size of a fully grown orc, Throqal may choose to even attack young ologs and devour them with ease. They generally tend to be cunning and are surprisingly patient despite their aggression, capable of waiting hours for prey to fall into its trap.

Abilities

The Throqal possesses powerful jaws that can gnaw at iron and even bite through bone, making it best to keep one's distance when fighting these creatures. Lastly, their tail is capable of swinging back and throwing even orcs to the ground, knocking the wind out of them easily with a direct hit. Paired with their raw strength, they can be quite formidable foes that can require an entire squad of men to effectively take down.

Redlines

- Throqal scales are generally no stronger than regular alligator skin. It might be able to resist slashes and stings, but a sword could still pierce it with some difficulty. If harvested to make armor, it is water resistant but is no stronger than regular leather.

- Throqal cannot be tamed nor controlled by druidic influence.

- Throqal can rival, if not exceed an orc in terms of raw strength. Taking one down would require a fairly prepared squad of at least three strong men.

- Throqal are not at all gentle or docile. They often cannibalize their young before they hatch, and the young that do live are quick to consume whatever they can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Panashea 2644]

I still don't know who wrote in my Throqal, but I love them dearly for it.