[Ecosystem Lore] Arctic and Tundra

[Songwitch 1447]

 

Arctic and Tundra

 

With poor soil for farming, with winds frigid enough to strip flesh from bone, and colds deep enough to freeze blood, there are precious few regions less hospitable to the Descendants. Only the now-lost civilization of the Mali’Fenn have ever endured the arctic cold, though others such as the Kingdoms of Haense and Norland have managed to contend in the harsh tundras of the world.

 

Arctic regions are always cloaked in thick snow, an ocean of arsenic white that stretches as far as the eye can see. While the sky is often veiled in swathes of thick grey snow clouds, spewing out fresh flurries of snow, when the sun appears, the snow reflects its light to gleam almost blindingly. Those who venture out into the arctic and are fortunate, or prepared, enough to endure may even find themselves blessed to behold the aurora borealis at night, like ribbons of pale green rippling in the sky.

 

The tundras, then, often encompass the arctic as if to ward off wayward Descendants from the danger that lies beyond. Not that the tundras are drastically more hospitable; while in the summer months snow might only be found in the shadows of trees and mountains, the grass will still often turn stiff with frost, and the only tree to hold much leaf are evergreens. While a hardy farmer may be able to eek a harvest of gourds or some other durable crop, the living is far from easy -- when there is not the bitter winters to contend with, many beasts roam the tundras, from wolves to bears, all of which do not take kindly to Descendants.

 

Flora

 

Athin

 

 

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Thundermaw Raven

 

 

Physiology

 

The Thundermaw Ravens are quite large and imposing beasts, standing at around 10 ft tall with a wingspan to match. These creatures seem to have originated from the Great Storm surrounding Aevos, flocks of Thundermaws migrating from within the storms to settle in the frozen tundras to hatch their eggs.

The most distinctive feature about a Thundermaw Raven and the reason for its name is they seem to be imbued with a latent static charge that builds within their bodies, specifically around their throats. This high concentration of static charge and the great wind power they are able to produce from their wings seems to create small localized storms wherever they nest. The Thundermaw Raven is quite an imposing predator, though it won’t go out of its way to harm Descendants unless disturbed.

A terrifying feature of the Thundermaw Raven is its ability to utilize that latent static energy within its body to produce a beam of shocking electricity. Though it has little control over where it goes, these arcing beams are drawn towards any metallic substances and those wearing plate armor are bound to suffer worse consequences.

 

Behavior

 

Thundermaw Ravens migrate from the Great Storm around Aevos to hatch their eggs and nest in the mountains of the frozen tundras. Whatever reason they have to do this remains to be seen, but it is likely to give their young a chance to learn to fly and be one with the storm before they return back to wherever their home within the Great Storm resides.

Thundermaw Ravens, while not innately hostile towards descendants, will not be afraid to defend themselves if provoked or cornered. They choose to hunt the wide variety of game animals and prey upon larger beasts such as the Stoneback Avetta that are native to the frozen tundras.

These fearsome avians are often found in flocks of up to three or four at a time.

 

Abilities

 

A Thundermaw Raven is able to produce an electrical charge over three emotes before unleashing a wild electrical beam that arcs out from its maw, in a shriek. It is also capable of using its wings to produce gusts of wind to knock over lightweight individuals.

 

– Thundermaw Ravens can only be used in DIY, player-hosted events.

– Thundermaw Ravens cannot be tamed.

– Any harvested material from a Thundermaw Raven is wholly aesthetic and player-signed, and does not retain any of its electrical properties.

– The feathers of a Thundermaw Raven are also player-signed, but make for wondrous plums and such articles.

– While localized storms may be produced when playing these creatures, only the Event Team may utilize their ability to use electricity offensively.

 

Stoneback Aveta

 

 

Physiology

 

The Stoneback Aveta is a towering creature covered in a glacial carapace of ice and stone upon its back, hence the name given to it. This glacial carapace of ice and stone forms a thick protective shell upon an existing layer of hard chitin  that offers the stoneback a natural defense from birth. The glacial carapace is developed gradually over the Stoneback’s life as it grinds down the chitin on its back to help encourage it to grow back harder and stronger, these self inflicted wounds up its natural chitin producing a thick mucus that helps bind the ice and stone together and heals over time into further chitin. Otherwise referred to as The Armored Bull, the Stoneback Avetta stands at around 7ft tall and far outweighs any other creature in the Arctic Tundras they are found.

 

 The Stoneback has four large horns towards its front, two emerging from its back and two from either side of its head; these horns are its primary method of defense and attack. The Stoneback also has an extremely thick coat of hair all over its body and large cloven hooves to help it traverse the otherwise challenging landscape it calls home.

 

Behavior

 

Stonebacks are relatively docile creatures unless provoked, sticking together in large herds of up to fifteen to twenty at a time. Although they have safety in numbers, the Stonebacks themselves are also very capable in a fight and should they be provoked or feel threatened they will not be afraid to charge repeatedly and skewer whatever predators have decided to aggress upon their territory. Stonebacks don’t tend to stay in one place for long, often traversing great distances over the snowy north of Aevos in search of food and water.

Despite their nomadic nature, they are relatively easy to track as Stonebacks have a habit of scoring stone with deep scratches and marks as they grind their carapace upon any stone boulders or cliffs they can find in order to encourage their armored back to grow and harden. This process is done repeatedly from a very young age in a Stonebacks life as it allows ice and stone to gradually collect upon their carapace and slowly hardens with the thick mucus that forms from the self inflicted wounds upon their natural chitin.

 

Taming

 

If taken from a Stoneback herd at birth or from an extremely young age, they can be raised in captivity and harvested for their meat and the self healing mucus they produce. However, this may prove difficult as adult Stonebacks will defend their young at all costs.

 

Abilities

 

The Stoneback Aveta is very durable in combat and will only be damaged by blunt, heavy weaponry or otherwise tools that do well cutting stone. It can charge and crush victims to death with ease within three to four emotes.

 

– Stoneback Avetas can only be roleplayed during DIY, player-hosted events.

– Stoneback Avetas can be tamed to be like a farm animal but may never be weaponized or used to defend a location.

– The skin of a Porculon Bear is as strong as stone and makes great honing rocks when harvested (player-signed).

 

Neveli Boar

 

 

Physiology

 

The Neveli Boar, otherwise known as the Northern Mule or Loyal Mule is a hardy animal capable of surviving even in the harshest of blizzards. These sturdy beasts were bred by Descendants living in the harshest climates of the world, to be used as companions to help transport goods and people across the desolate tundra and frozen wastes of the north.

The Neveli Boar stands at just over 4-5 ft tall on all fours, while smaller than most horses they are capable of traversing the tundra and frozen north far more easily and with less difficulties than a normal horse is able to. Covered from head to toe in a thick white wool that can be described as similar to that of a sheep, this wooly coat helps keep both the Neveli Boar and its rider warm.

While not built for speed, the Neveli Boar has a rather muscular and sturdy frame that assists it in traversing the difficult landscape and proves capable of carrying heavy loads over large distances.

 

Behavior

 

The Nevili Boars that are bred by Descendants are incredibly loyal animals and establish deep bonds with their riders if trained and nurtured from a young age. These loyal animals seem to be highly intelligent, able to sense the feelings and emotions of their riders and even seem to want to offer them comfort and support.

Even when traversing the frozen north and if forced to camp overnight, a Nevili Boar will go as far as seeking to curl up next to their riders in order to keep them warm, such is the bounds of their bonds and loyalty.

 

If not trained properly however and left to be neglected over their life these creatures can develop a sense of distrust for descendants and will be quick to defend themselves or flee from captivity if the opportunity presents itself.

 

Abilities

 

Neveli Boar can be used as horses for riding. 

 

– Neveli Boar can be only used for DIY, player-hosted events and as a reskinned version of a horse (which must be represented by a mechanical horse and whistle).

 

Frostrum Viper

 

 

Physiology

 

The Frostrum Viper, the dreaded bite of winter. These serpentine creatures are distant relatives to their cousins, the Deepsnake, that is often found deep in the caverns and caves of the world. The Frostrum Viper shares many similarities to the Deepsnake, while still maintaining several differences. For starters, unlike the dull gray colourations of its cousins, the Frostrum Viper can be found in all manner of cold hues, from a deep azure all the way to stark white.

The Frostrum Viper is smaller than its Deepsnake cousins though not by much and is far more numerous in comparison. The most distinctive features of the Frostrum are its ice blue eyes that seem to carry within them the very bitter cold of the north and its sharpened spike upon the end of its tail. Within its maw are several sets of elongated fangs dripped with a chilling venom that is capable of freezing a person from their very core and snuffing the very last vestiges of their inner flame.

While its hardened spike is capable of puncturing plate with ease, its fangs however seem to struggle against such, only managing to go so far as dent and deform on initial strikes. With repeated effort however, even the most hardened set of armor will succumb and break beneath the fangs of a Frostrum as its venom seems to freeze anything it touches, weakening the integrity of steel before it eventually shatters.

 

For how dangerous and potent its venom is, the Frostrum carries with it something far more dangerous. With a few moments to concentrate, the Frostrum is able to charge up a deadly blast of chilling winds from its maw, capable of freezing any caught within it multiple times or for a prolonged period.

The Frostrum Viper has several layers of interlocking hardened scales upon its body that help retain any internal body heat and help defend it against attacks. These hardened scales are also used to help a Frostrum Viper dig small tunnel networks, a process that involves the creature constantly moving around and coiling in on itself as it slowly but surely grinds away at a wall to create a lair of its own. This process takes days, sometimes even weeks at a time and normally proceeds a long period of hibernation as the Viper settles in to recover its strength.

 

Behavior

 

Frostrum Vipers are solitary creatures and usually abandoned at birth. An adult Frostrum will lay its eggs within its lair and when it comes time for them to hatch will abandon its nest in search of new hunting grounds, letting the yet to be born Frostrum Vipers to fend for themselves in a world where only the strong survive.

Frostrum Vipers will not wait within their lairs however for prey to come to them, they will venture out into the snowy wastes and bury themselves beneath the snow in wait for sometimes several days before ambushing whatever unlucky prey stumbled upon its position. Once feasted upon the corpse, the Frostrum will return to its lair to hibernate again before repeating this cycle again and again.

 

Abilities

 

These creatures have the innate ability to produce venom, though this same toxin is unable to paralyze or instantly kill another. It can however lower their body temperature and make movement sluggish.

 

– Frostrum Vipers can be used and played only for Event Team-hosted events.

– Frostrums cannot be tamed.

– Frostrum venom cannot be contained or harvested as it will dissipate when exposed to air.

– Frostrum Viper teeth may be player-signed reskinned versions of kitchen knives.

 

Volopo Fowl

 

 

Physiology

 

The Volopo Fowl, otherwise and quite often referred to as the ‘Feathered Menace’ by Descendants, is a scavenger and opportunistic creature. This feathered avian prowls the frozen tundra in search of any food it can find, be that long discarded corpses or Frostrum Viper eggs left unattended. The Volopo Fowl has a high capacity for intelligence and is able to track and learn the patterns of other animals and creatures in its vicinity so that it can pick the perfect opportunity to strike at unattended nests to steal eggs or even the young of other animals.

While the Volopo Fowl has wings of its own, these prove incapable of sustaining flight and this avian instead uses those wings to support its ability to traverse the mountains via gliding instead. Standing at around 5 ft tall, the Volopo Fowl is not built to be a hunter that goes toe to toe with other predators, though if forced into a fight will use its sharp talons to ward off attacks while it attempts to flee. These creatures are rather fast and agile, able to jump great heights or use its claws to scale trees and walls.

 

Behavior

 

By their very nature and build, the Volopo Fowl is a scavenger creature and will tend to avoid traveling in large packs, opting to instead remain solitary or with one or two other relatives. Creatures of opportunity, they use their high intelligence to monitor Descendant settlements and other predators in their region so that they can sneak into to steal crops, food, animals or eggs.

They will not actively choose to get into fights and tend to try to sneak into and out of settlements and nests undetected, quickly fleeing if they are found.

 

Abilities

 

This creature is incredibly adept when it comes to tracking; any and every prey that has caught its eye will be eventually caught up. It tends to rely on ambush-like attacks for hunting, and it will always attempt to flee when overwhelmed or under direct threat. 

 

– Vopolo Fowls can be used and played only for Event Team-hosted events.

– Vopolo Fowls cannot be tamed.

– Any material extracted from a Vopolo Fowls, including their lustrous feathers, is wholly aesthetic and player-signed.