[✓] [Creature Lore] Tundrastriders

[Barbog 446]

Tundrastriders
The Ice-Elk of the High North


(Wow, what a beautiful model of a rearing Tundrastrider!)

Physiology

Tundrastriders appear to the casual observer as a ruminant mammalian species, with a build that strikes familiarity to an elk. Their shoulders are broad, backs strong, with a heavy fur coat that a Morko Bear would be envious of. Quadrupedal, with powerful, bowed legs that end in hooves, they possess the same underlying agility of many cervid cousins- though only in short bursts.

With a size somewhere between the common elk and a moose, their greatest threat to descendant species is their mass- the unfortunate mountaineer has on occasion fallen to a stampede of Tundrastriders. Both male and female Tundrastriders have a broad set of antlers, which appear almost crystalline depending on their diet. Tundrastriders who consume a larger proportion of meat to vegetation will develop sharper, more translucent antlers. These rare cases of almost-carnivorous Tundrastriders have given credence to myths and rumors of "Ice Elk" and "Crystal Deer". It has been noted that, oddly enough, the meat of other Tundrastriders produces the strongest reaction...
 

Despite their many similarities to elk and deer, Tundrastriders are omnivorous. They possess a series of small, caninesque teeth, alongside the typical molars of ruminant mammals. As a pseudoruminant species themselves, Tundrastriders acquire nutrients from their food by fermenting plant matter (mixed with meat) in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, in a process known as "foregut fermentation". The fermented food is then regurgitated and re-chewed to break it up- unique microbial colonies in this cud allowing Tundrastriders to consume meat mixed in with plant matter. It is presumed that the presence of these microbials are what cause the antler variety among larger specimens in their species.

Bull (male) Tundrastriders weigh anywhere from 700-900 pounds, and Doe (female) Tundrastriders around 550-700.

 

 

Habitat

As the name suggest, Tundrastriders live among the snow-capped mountains and barren ice plains of norther Almaris. Whilst they are capable of living in more temperate environments and taigas, these are typically domesticated specimens who are tended to by a watchful shepherd. Extra care must be given to Tundrastriders when brought outside their frigid home, as they will overheat quickly in their incredibly dense fur coats.

 

 

Behavior

Tundrastriders are, despite their imposing size, quite mild-mannered and exhibit few, if any, aggressive tendencies. Every death known to have been caused by a Tundrastrider has been during a stampede, or accidental goring in an attempt to flee from a hunter. Even when in great danger, Tundrastriders will flee with few exceptions. This has made many past attempts at befriending or taming Tundrastriders unsuccessful. As a consequence, they are not hunters by any means- any meat they consume has been scavenged, or fed to them by an outside influence (namely, sentient species). They seem to have no inhibitions against consuming meat of related species- and even other Tundrastriders.
 

Due to their incredible thermal regulation, as described below, many Tundrastriders will not only ignore snowfall that will cover their hides in sheets of white- but may also actively run through snow dunes when they believe there may be predators nearby with vision as equally poor as them. This alone shows some degree of intelligence among Tundrastriders- though their true level of intelligence remains unmeasured, and this is presumably a 'one-off' instance of skilled behaviors.

With their docile nature and mild temperaments in mind, there have been some examples of northern nomad tribes domesticating small herds of Tundrastriders for use as beasts of burden, and occasionally mounts.

 

 

Abilities

Tundrastriders, due to the scarcity of food and lack of variety in the tundra for which they are named, have an almost-total lack of taste, and the constant blanketing snowfall has led to weaker vision than comparable mammals such are elk and deer. To make up for this, however, they have an acute sense of smell, able to smell blood on the wind or dew on the blades of grass, even through tumultuous blizzards.

They have a system of thermal regulation that is almost unmatched, even by other mountain- and snow-dwelling species. The fur of their hides only enhances further what their bodies perform. Even furless, Tundrastriders stand a chance in surviving cold climates, and they almost always feel quite warm to the touch- making them incredibly useful for their shepherds to sleep amongst.

The coat of a Tundrastrider is easily tooled by descendent means, providing another use to their shepherds- and these coats can be fashioned into clothing or padding in armor that would help provide insulation against the cold. Armorers be warned, as these will not stand up by themselves to truly hostile chills and harsh frosts (as much of the Tundrastrider's natural thermoregulation is caused by dynamic changes in heat production/loss).

 

 

Redlines

Spoiler

- Tundrastriders can be used in events by both players and ST.

- Tundrastrider armor/clothing is thick, comfortable, and insulative against the cold; however, these will not hold up alone in unnaturally strong colds and deep frosts. Slain beasts and their hides can be used to create player-signed items.
- The 'ice antlers' of Tundrastriders are only as strong as normal antlers, and are not truly ice- they are a relatively brittle crystal.
- Although they do possess a set of canine teeth, these are rather small in proportion to their maw size, and thus are typically only useful for consumption of already-killed prey; in themselves, they are rarely used (and hardly usable) as a weapon.

- Tundrastriders are mild-mannered and cannot develop aggressive tendencies. Except for extreme cases of self-defense, they will to flee from combat (and thus, cannot be ridden into battle).

- In the same vein as above, Tundrastriders cannot be utilized in combat in any manner- this extends to settlement defense, usage in traps, forcing them into combat, etc. They will flee upon the sounds and scents of of descendent-related combat. 

- Tundrastriders lack decent senses of sight, taste, and hearing, but are excellent at tracking by scent. This cannot be used to 'track' other players over long distances (and will be treated as metagaming).
- Tundrastriders are tameable, as beasts of burden or as mounts, but will move no faster than a standard horse found across Almaris- and most will be even slower, except for small bursts of speed. They can carry more than the common workhorse, with bull Tundrastriders able to haul between 350-450 pounds and a doe able to pull around 250-300 (depending on rearing, breeding, growth, etc.)

 

[_Leyd 676]

I love Barbog, Barbog for ST

[Damnit_Delmar 1029]

Barbog based +1

 

[Barbog 446]

7 minutes ago, _Leyd said:

I love Barbog, Barbog for ST

and i love elk
players deserve elk
please ST give elk

[Spindle 651]

I'll take three please.

[deleted111 93]

5 hours ago, Barbog said:

Even furless, Tundrastriders stand a chance in surviving cold climates, and they almost always feel quite warm to the touch- making them incredibly useful for their shepherds to sleep amongst.

 

Spoiler

 

[Evonpire 1816]

 babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog babrog

[warlord of filth 7713]

lore like this will always be better than CA / magic #3473

 

edit: fantastic

[Barbog 446]

8 hours ago, player 67Ui829 said:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I condone this usage of Tundrastriders.

[squakhawk 7303]

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.