[Ecosystem Lore] The Deserts

[Songwitch 1832]

 

The Deserts

 

Sandy and arid deserts are among some of the most uniform of all biomes. No matter what desert one is in, they will be barren, dry, and hot in the sun. Though some may comprise cracked clay or fine sand, deserts are among the most inhospitable of all biomes. Very few live in the desert, save except by oasis springs, or permanent rivers which scar the sandy mass with wounds of greenery and life. Desert wildlife is hardy, if not somewhat brutal, with nothing being wasted.

 

Flora

 

Drake’s Tail

Desert Burry Bush

 

 

---

 

 

Vinix

 

 

Physiology

 

The Vinix are small primate-like creatures, hosting stark avian attributes and are found within the hottest climates of the southern deserts. Its small stature, measuring at a mere 20 inches in height and weighing a scarce four pounds only emphasizes its diminutive size and vulnerability. Its spindly body with slender limbs, short, coarse fur, allows the Vinix an opportunity of camouflage that blends amongst its arid environment. With its pelt ranging in colourations of light browns and pale yellows. Although such a pathetic creature hosts stark avian qualities, its delicate wings spanning from its shoulders hosts a poor bone structure rendering it unable to maintain substantial flight and instead glides from tree tops, where it seeks refuge from predators.

 

Behavior

 

Being primarily diurnal creatures, the Vinix use the daylight as a sacred time to gather limited resources the south has to offer. Its main diet consists of whatever foliage they are able to source, including leaves, shoots, and berries. If fortunate enough to come across insects, they will often hoard them within their burrows, a necessary form of protein that without renders another cause of death for these vulnerable creatures. However, the Vinix often struggles to find these sufficient sources of nutrients due to the scarcity of vegetation.  The Vinix’s habitat is characterized by vast stretches of dry landscapes with little opportunity for shade or suitable nesting sites. As a result, the Vinix are forced to roam from location to location in search for better territory. Unfortunately this dangerous journeying makes them easy targets for larger predators. Despite their challenges, the Vinix possesses the ability to reproduce rapidly. Litters often numbering from four to eight offspring known as ‘Vinnies’. 

 

However, the harsh environment and the Vinix’s vulnerability contribute significantly to a drastic decline in their numbers within the wild. Often considered the weakest link within the natural food chain, the Vinix lack any innate survival instinct and effective defense mechanisms other than their ability to blend within their environment. When distressed or provoked, it emits an ear-piercing shrill as its only form of deterrence from predators. Unfortunately, this is usually insufficient to protect it from its main predator, the Sectah Lynx, a formidable hunter that often shares its habitat. Due to its susceptibility to predation and the inhospitable conditions of the south, the Vinix face significant challenges in maintaining stable populations, making conservation efforts crucial to ensure the survivability of such a unique species, as the Vinix play a crucial role in the delicate balance of the southern ecosystem. 

 

Vinix share a mutualistic relationship with other large herbivores and migratory animals within the southern desert. When traveling between spots of water and flora.  Capable of loud vocalizations, the Vinix perch themselves atop other herbivores and other passive animals, warning them when dangers may arrive, in addition to feasting upon the pests or parasites that may plague their larger protectors. While most herbivores tolerate the presence of the Vinix, carnivores have no qualms turning on their small warning alarms. 

 

Taming

 

They may be captured and tamed.

 

Abilities

 

There is no notable ability.

 

– The Vinix can only be roleplayed in DIY, player-hosted events or outside of combat as a tamed creature.

– The Vinix can be tamed but may never be weaponized in combat.

– Everything that may be obtained from a Vinix is player signed.

-Vinix, though capable of being tamed, are never intelligent enough for complex command or action. 

 

Sectah Lynx

 

 

Physiology

 

The Sectah Lynx is an agile and curious predator that roams high above the desert sky and deep within its many valleys.  Unlike most predators, the Sectah has been seen to hunt prey in a variety of methods, bombarding targets at impossible speeds, or chasing them down. Agile in both the air and on foot, the Sectah eats and challenges a variety of prey, the desert climate keen on providing small mammals and lizards to devour.

 

The Sectah at maturity grows to the same size as large cats of prey, though far lighter than any tiger and stands around the same height as a descendant while on all fours.  Its powerful wings are capable of allowing it an impressive flight, in addition to strong legs that allow it to run quickly across The Sectah is capable of hunting large aerial predators through its unique physiology. Climbing an intense height, the Sectah dive bombs its targets from above, often killing them upon impact. With incredibly sharp claws, it is capable of ripping through flesh easily and breaking the bones of smaller mammals and birds. 

 

Behavior

 

The Sectah is keen on collecting the trinkets scattered around the desert as a means to bolster its nest. While Sectah only grow to the size of common descendants, their nests are large ornamental structures filled with  the jewels of the desert. These rearing spaces are found both on the ground in sizable caves as well as all peaks and cliff sides should the desert provide it. Sectah roam the land as their curiosity and desire to collect more treasure expands. 

 

Sectah hold a mischievous nature with those who enter its territory and the desert. Travelers who sleep or unaware have belongings stolen or pickpocketed by this dextrous predator. Sectah nests are often ornamented with jewels or lost artifacts, and wary thieves herald the bird as their patron animal.

 

Abilities

 

The Sectah’s dive bombing ability is only used on aerial prey or significantly smaller targets like the Vinix or rodents and lizards, often breaking their bones and killing them upon impact, though would serve little use against the armored beyond knocking them down and severely bruising them. 

 

– The Sectah Lynx can only be roleplayed in DIY, player-hosted events.

– Everything that may be obtained from a Sectah is wholly aesthetic and player-signed.

– The Sectah are too intelligent and their constant need to move prevents them from being tamed or kept in close proximity with descendants and other animals. If given the chance they’d escape or die quickly in captivity. 

 

Bolugar

 

 

Physiology

 

The Bolugar is a massive herbivore, a nomadic creature that travels between what little patches of water and moisture that may exist in the desert. The Bolugar takes decades to mature, going through multiple metamorphosis. Bolugar lay tadpoles, using what little water within the desert to nurse their young, or carrying them within a special pouch within their mouths. The young are also capable of feeding upon the slime the Bolugar all produce, a communal feeding behavior seen within a pack. Bolugar are capable of eating all forms of flora within the desert, stomachs sturdy enough to endure whatever they may graze upon. The slime of a Bolugar is produced either to feed their young, self-preservation techniques, or through husbandry, all of which allow for the attempt for the dauntless to extract it.

 

Bolugar are most commonly seen in their adult form, standing at 7ft tall, and weighing nearly half a ton. While capable of growing larger in the wild, they are capable of reaching this stage after nearly a century of husbandry. 

 

Once it reaches full size, it stands at 10ft tall and weighs over a ton. These large collosi are known as Elder Bolugar, though none have ever been seen within domestic use nor a husbandry person capable of breeding one in captivity. Bolugar grow duller in pigment through age, the sun beating upon their backs for centuries. Elder Bolugar are often mistaken by the unfamiliar as mirages within the sands, shifting mountains that move on the horizon through day and night.

 

While normally docile, the creature possesses an impressive strength and defense, leading those capable of domesticating it as a pack animal. The Bolugar’s flesh and constitution is of unusual nature, leading many to speculate and study the creature for its potential uses. When attacked, the Bolugar possesses a means of defending itself through the colored patches covered all along its body. When a wound or cut forms, the Bolugar’s secretions allow the wound to congeal and recover far faster, clotting injury and sealing them with a sticky slime. 

 

This slime’s wondrous ability has an incredible effect on Bolugar, capable of sealing injuries normally thought fatal within minutes.  These effects only work on the animal, though have been seen to be capable of keeping Bolugar alive through dismemberment and brain damage.

 

Alchemists, the scientific, and wary may freely experiment with Bolugar slime, creating their own concoctions from it. However, regardless of its use in base form or an extracted variant, Bolugar slime will always seal cuts and shallow wounds,  and staunching blood at the same level of other herbs. The strange chemicals and toxins within the slime(of which there are many) prevent the entire limb from being used, and over-use of Bolugar slime could lead to sepsis and shock.  It is incapable of performing the italicized effects on the ordinary descendant, no matter the reaction or chemical concoction performed. 

 

Behavior

 

Bolugar travel in large herds, forming territories through the valleys and pathways it crosses through. Vinix often shelter themselves within these migratory groups, using the shade they provide as a means of escaping the dangerous desert heat. Bolugar are especially defensive of their young, all members of a herd turning to stand their ground rather than lose the next generation.  While Bolugar are sturdy and quite strong, they possess no natural armor or means of defending themselves beyond powerful kicks and swings of their head, easily capable of breaking bones.

 

Abilities

 

Elder Bolugar serve as a difficult creature to fight within the wild, though while not the apex predator, are easily capable of killing careless descendants. Their endurance and slime allows them to endure common physical attacks, in addition to inspiring husbandry people and the curious to explore their slime.

 

– The Bolugar can only be roleplayed in DIY, player-hosted events.

– The Bolugar cannot be tamed.

– Everything that may be obtained from a Bolugar is player signed

– Players cannot wield Elder Bolugar, their domesticated or pack animal variants will always be 7 ft maximum and no more than 800 pounds.

– Domesticated Bolugar are too slow to use in combat and will often flee.
– Bolugar slime does not have any paralyzing effects, nor does it have any use on the unwilling.
– Bolugar slime is player signed. The slime can at most be used to seal and heal small cuts, burns and open wounds.
– Bolugar can only be extracted once a week.
– Due to the slow and difficult nature of raising Bolugar in domestication, a single player may only possess two at a time. 

 

Scalecid

 

 

Physiology

 

The tenacity of the Scalecid allow it to survive within the difficult deserts of its habitat. While far smaller than any of the predators within the desert, its fierce behavior allows it to stand its ground wherever difficult situations may occur. The Scalecid may grow to the size of a large dog, though it possesses an armor and agility unmatched by any other creatures within the desert. Scalecid are seen scraping with all creatures of the desert, doing whatever it can to continue eating and winning difficult encounters.  With a domineering bite capable of crushing bone and claws capable of allowing the creature to disappear within the sand in a moment’s notice, the Scalecid’s swiftness and durability make it difficult to catch and deal with.  The armor that dons the Scalecid is no different from plate, although being made from bone it is far thicker and heavier. This does not slow the creature by any means, though its hunters and poachers would find the bone a serviceable alternative to bone and steel.

 

The whiskers upon a Scalecid are a unique sensory organ to the creature, allowing it to hunt with unparalleled efficiency. It is rumored that the creature could smell a single drop of blood within the sands of the desert, with tens of Scalecid emerging to fight over any corpse that lay unclaimed within the desert. 

 

Behavior

 

The Scalecid have a voracious appetite, eating any Vinix, or any animal capable of succumbing to its attacks. While primarily scavenging the desert remains, the Scalecid is capable of ambushing prey through its numerous tunnels scattered beneath the sands. Scalecid create complex burrows, often intersecting with sand-laiden caves or ancient burial grounds. While Scalecid do not live within packs, it is not uncommon to see multiple within large caves. 

 

Scalecid are extremely aggressive, even to their own kind. They have no fondness for any living creature, and will even tear up and destroy fauna purely out of malice. The path of a Scalecid can be found through the destruction it leaves in its wake, and massive holes within the desert. 

 

Abilities

 

Scalecid are capable of burrowing themselves with sand and other loose materials extraordinarily fast, disappearing and appearing within a single emote. While their claws don’t pose any real threat to the armored, a bite would certainly cause severe bleeding and breaking bones. 

 

– The Scalecid can be used and played for only DIY, player-hosted events.

– The Scalecid cannot be tamed.

– This is a combative creature used for event fights, and cannot be domesticated, tamed, or used in casual player combat.

– The Scalecid possesses no unique features beyond its armor, which may be player-signed as ornamental armor equivalent to plate.  

 

Uguldana

 

 

Physiology

 

The Uguldana possesses six powerful legs, each armed with razor-sharp hooks that allow it to move effortlessly through the shifting sands. Its enormous mandibles are capable of crushing even a Scalecid, However, unlike its smaller relatives, this giant antlion has adapted to become a scavenger, feasting on carrion and decaying organic matter that litters the desert floor.  Far more agile than other insects, the Uguldana quickly grabs prey or carcasses, dragging them deep beneath the sand, either drowning or crushing them from the terrifying hold. 

 

The hairs along the Uguldana allow it to sense vibrations and motion within the sands with unnerving proficiency. It tracks prey through these motions, allowing it to decisively pick out the weakest or most valuable targets within whatever foolishly invades its territory. 

 

Uguldana range in size as they mature and metamorphose. The youngest stage (nymph) will grow up to a maximum of 15ft, molting multiple times to accommodate its new body. Nymph Uguldana lack the strength and digging ability of their massive parents, and so are often seen within their caves scuttling about, or hiding beneath rocks above the surface. They serve as large insects commonly seen throughout the desert. At night, these creatures ambush Vinix, juvenile Bolugar, and other animals within the desert capable of being crushed between its mandibles.

 

In the next stage, the Uguldana buries itself deep within the sand, though is nearly entirely sessile. This Adolescent phase of the Uguldana is indefinite, as they may grow to indescribable proportions. These Adolescent Uguldana hibernate until some movement stirs atop the surface, goading them into bursting out and striking whatever lurks above them with intense proficiency. Rumors exist to prevent one’s travel across the desert from being detected by Uguldana, though no clear answer exists. 

 

Uguldana chitin is unique, though no more durable than standard materials like steel, has the unique property of being capable of filtering out sand and the dust of the environment it was made from. Tinkerers and forgers often craft the chitin into masks and helmets, allowing them to survive the harsh desert storms and difficult environment. This chitin is only made durable and effective in the adult form, often encouraging the bold to battle or scrape pieces from these impressive animals.  

 

Once Uguldana mature, they take on a similar appearance to the picture above, adult Uguldana ranging from 30-40 ft in size. These massive scavengers have been approached by the thrillseekers, riding these massive creatures adorning masks made from their exoskeletons. 

 

Behavior

 

Uguldana are incredibly fast creatures and cunning despite their size and insect physiology. Rather than engaging in direct conflict, Uguldana wait for the perfect time to strike before disappearing as quickly as they arrived. They lack the blind hatred 

 

Abilities

 

Juvenile and Adult Uguldana will only serve as event creatures, and while Adult Uguldana can be ridden, giving them complex commands or using them within standard combat are impossible. Adult Uguldana may be used as siege weapons during events, but they are just as likely to burrow beneath the earth and escape should true danger arise.  

 

– The Junior Uguldana can only be roleplayed in DIY, player-hosted events.

– Uguldana cannot be forced or tamed. Adult Uguldana cannot be used in player events without ST supervision.

– Everything that may be obtained from a Uguldana is player signed.

– Chitin may be harvested from them and experimented with to produce filters capable of allowing a Descendant to breathe more easily in sandstorms and the desert environment. This is the only application for this type of chitin; weapons or armor cannot be made out of it.

– Filters/Masks/Helmets may not allow a Descendant to survive fully submerged in the sand however. At most giving them a couple of moments to escape from being fully submerged.
– A helmet made of Adult Uguldana chitin will only allow the player to filter out sand and dust of the desert, allowing someone to ride the creature and survive when it burrows beneath the sand. It possesses no other combative advantages and has the same durability and strength as weaker metals like bronze.   

 

 

---

 

 

Almarisian Remnants

 

Straadoth

 

 

 

 

Physiology

The desert Straadoth is a curious reptile, often standing at about 4 feet tall and measuring in at a length of 12 feet long. The creature, curiously enough, lacks any sort of eye sight whatsoever - relying on the vibrations of moving prey upon the sands in order to hunt them. With powerful forelegs for digging through the desert, this creature sports powerful muscles for digging and combative applications, while its hardy tail can easily be used as an improvised whip to bludgeon its prey into submission. Its teeth are like needles; numerous and sharp, meant for ripping its prey to shreds rather than chewing, though are easily broken. As well, its tongue is much akin to a dart of sorts, which it may use as a ranged projectile to impale its victims with great force.

 

The Straadoth, uniquely, possesses a sort of camouflage to it, blending into whatever environment it finds itself in with ease, as the color of its hide changes to match its surroundings. Its hide is prized for its resistance to the elements, and the creature is often hunted by Uruk for this quality.

 

 

Habitat

The Straadoth is commonly found in desert environments - sand dunes, vast deserts and the like, as it can not see in any other habitat; thus leading to its eventual starvation if it leaves its home.

 

 

Behavior

The Straadoth is a primarily nocturnal creature, opting to hunt at night. It is decidedly carnivorous, and when hunting, will attack its prey swiftly with no regards to its own well being. It is a vicious creature, and may not be reasoned with or tamed by any stretch of the imagination. It is an ambush predator at heart.

 

 

Abilities

The Straadoth possesses a powerful, dart-like tongue which it may shoot out at a distance in order to impale its victims. This tongue will only strike with the force of a crossbow bolt at the most, though may be retracted in order to pull its victims closer. As well, its powerful forelimbs may be used in order to batter a man or lift objects, the creature easily strong enough to lift a horse and throw it with force. Finally, its large tail can be used to strike targets as a powerful whip, or it may be smacked against the sands to create a sand cloud of sorts, obscuring visibility in the area.

 

 

Redlines

• May not be tamed or reasoned with, as it is an incredibly vicious and violent predator. Communion with the creature would elicit frenzied shrieks, and thoughts of hunger and dominance.
• This creature moves incredibly swiftly in a sandy environment, easily able to move faster than any descendant. Outside of this environment, its movements are slow and sluggish to an extreme.
• The sand cloud the Straadoth creates is only large enough to cover an 8x8 area, at the largest.

 

 

 

Stortfel

 

 

Physiology

Stortfel resemble scarabs the size of large dogs; bearing thick shells on their backs, nearly devoid of all nerve sensations. There are also physical differences between wild Stortfel and domesticated; wild ones have far thicker scales, as they are wounded more often with the scales repairing themselves to a thicker state.

 

Habitat

The creature is most often found within deserts; wandering the surface throughout the day, and crawling into their cave dwellings after sunset.

 

Behavior

They are a peaceful sort, lacking hostility to descendants unless provoked; it is in those instances that they will either flee or attempt to cleave flesh with their pincers. The stortfel favors small rodents and eels in their diet. However, they will eat most anything if you put it in front of them, making them particularly easy to domesticate. They are incredibly hungry creatures, attributed to their size and accelerated metabolism. Stortfels typically eat things that are already dead, as they lack the speed to catch critters. Wild stortfel commonly sharpen their pincers against the stones of the caves they reside in, a habit that fades for those domesticated. This comes from their initial wariness towards descendants, fading once they are made into companions.

 

Abilities

Using their pincers, they are capable of picking up and holding objects, the strength of the grip inverse to the weight of what they carry. The lack of nerves on their shells allows their backs to be carved into with little resistance nor care if domesticated.

 

 

Redlines

-Wild stortfel have pincers as sharp as steel swords, with domesticated ones having the sharpness of butter knives.

-Domesticated stortfel are averse to harming descendants of the same race as the one who tamed them, considering them friend not foe. However, this does not mean the stortfel cannot hold them within their pincers.

 

 

 

Dry Octopus

 

 

Physiology
        The tiger of the dunes, a creature at the center of Farfolkian folklore regarding the greenery of the desert, is certainly a curious beast. Roughly the size of a lion, the Dry Octopus counts with four appendages: three insectoidian legs at either flank and two fluid, mucousy tentacles. It’s circular maw acts as a barbed vacuum to swallow and, interestingly enough, bleed-out prey through, always brought to its maw by those long-reaching, sticky, constricting tentacles until they are pushed against their sharp teeth over and over again until they are bled out. It cannot seem to chew, lacking the bone or muscle structure to move its mouth, and as such is forced to take matters into its own tendrils when it comes to grounding its prey. The Dry Octopus is surprisingly lightweight, allowing it to glide over sand with ease and quickly close the gap between it and food. Ordinarily nomadic, where there are tall cacti -- one runs the risk of confronting an angry and hungry Dry Octopus… though even the safety an oasis provides could be shattered by one, should the caravaneer be disrespectful to the grounds.

        It’s name, however, is misleading. Despite living on land, the Dry Octopus actually necessitates moisture to breathe and is, ordinarily, quite moist. How they survive despite living in desserts is elaborated upon in the Behaviors section. Above liquids, it may hold its breath for a total of seventy-two hours, given it does not move sporadically and needlessly waste energy. Two beady, nub-like eyes are able to dart in all directions to ensure it is both safe and that whatever they hunger after does not leave their sight. In all parts but its legs, rigid with a strong exoskeleton akin to bronze armor -- the Dry Octopus is a squishy, slippery thing that reflects sun and torchlight alike off its greenish, slick skin.

 

 

Habitat
        Dry Octopus live in deserts, particularly tall dunes that cast shade -- or, more preferably -- in whatever caves they might find over the scorching sands. The reason they prefer these hot, hostile environments has still yet to be deciphered, though leading theories suggest the Dry Octopus might have ties to arachnids as they do to octopi. The spots the inhabit sport telltale characteristics: tall cacti with carrion remnants, be they bone or flesh, littering the spaces between the desert foliage and, most importantly, a sizeable hole dug into the sand is a failsafe way to identify a Dry Octopus’ temporary hunting grounds. Pivotally, most oases found in deserts count with one Dry Octopus that lives in it. The reason for this is elaborated within the behavior section.

 

Behavior

There are two schools of behavior among Dry Octopi:

1. Dry Octopi living in the dunes.

• Aggressive, albeit not quite territorial-- these nomadic Dry Octopus are by far the most common. Moving along the sands, they scope out one of two things: an unoccupied oasis, an occupied oasis with the hopes to challenge its custodian Dry Octopus or grounds with large cacti growing. Given the scarcity of oases, the latter are far more common. The source behind the Dry Octopus’ fearsome reputation lies in how they hide behind cacti and use their tendrils to whip, strike at and coil around the limbs of prey, ultimately bringing them to its maw for consumption. It’s an arduous process-- because the Dry Octopus cannot chew, it’s forced to rake its food against its teeth with its tendrils until its ground to a fleshy, bloody paste.
• It then digs a hole. Their quickness is scarcely rivaled in the deserts, able to push sand aside with their pinsir legs quickly and efficiently to dig a hole its size, not unlike how a dog would. Then begins the second phase of its hunt: bleeding what prey it has into the sands to begin making a pool, it will spend its days hunting for flesh and, in especially dire times, cacti juice to pour into its bath. Once half of its body can be covered in either blood, cacti juice, water or a mix of these, it submerges itself and draws a long breath that will keep it moving for the next five days. It will then open its pores, absorbing the liquids collected and using them to hydrate themselves, sate their hunger and produce the foul-smelling mucus that coats its skin.

• This cycle repeats every one to two days. Upon reaching maturity, Dry Octopus who did not find an unoccupied oasis in their early years of life will attempt to find one. Males will challenge the oasis custodian, another Dry Octopus, to a battle in the hopes of seizing the territory whereas females will seek out an oasis custodian to mate with. The female is allowed to live in the oasis until she spawns an egg, at which point she takes it elsewhere -- male oasis custodians think of males, born or otherwise, as competition. Females know this and distance themselves from the oasis, protecting their egg from the environment until it hatches. The time this takes usually costs the female her life.

• In oddball circumstances, an oasis custodian might risk his grip on the oasis to hunt down the female and her egg -- worrying that either of them might come back to challenge his oasis, given they know its location. This is rare.
• It’s speculated that the reason oases exist at all is thanks to the holes Dry Octopi leave behind, allowing for rainwater to pool and give way to flora!

 

2. Dry Octopi living in oases.

• A Dry Octopus lucky enough to find an unoccupied oasis quickly after hatching grows up healthy, as it has access to water to lounge in and shrubbery to eat -- though inexperienced. These types are few and far between: entirely docile and naive to a comical degree, they welcome anything into their oasis… even the Dry Octopi that invariably come to kill it for the territory. Because of their diet and access to water at such an early, developmental point in their life: their skin does not grow green, but rather red! These creatures are so short-lived, however, that sightings of them are few and far between-- often only found by well-rationed wayfarers stumbling by a virgin oasis, unknown even to the animals nearby-- of which there are usually few, if any at all.        

• These are referred to as Naive Dry Octopi.
• Naive Dry Octopi living in oases are totally inoffensive and use their abilities only when they are struck first.
• Naive Dry Octopi show to make up for poor fighting skills with a veritable green thumb, taking excellent care of their oasis and going as far as to sew crops when the flora is dwindling.
• Sometimes, an oasis custodian dies of old age and an adult Dry Octopi is lucky enough to take its place. In this instance, said Octopi retains its pigment though is less territorial than one that had to fight

for its place.

 

• A Dry Octopus that conquers an oasis by way of killing or pushing out its standing custodian rescinds its nomadic lifestyle in exchange for a sedentary, albeit semi-territorial way of living. Welcoming of small animals that seek shelter and water, friendly towards descendants albeit not ignorant of their capacity and outright aggressive towards male Dry Octopi trying to enter the oasis -- the now custodian Dry Octopus lounges in waters, eats shrubberies, accepts donations from passerbys and delights in bloodbaths its spawn supply it… should it not consider the males among them a threat, as well. Intelligent as they are, these sort of Octopi refuse to grow complacent and often train to maintain their strength by lifting felled palm trees, swimming and defending the oasis from adversaries, be they rowdy descendants disrupting its home or another Dry Octopus trying to seize control of it.

• Some custodian Dry Octopus consider male young threats, prompting their mother to either run away or defend them. This is the most common way by which female custodian Dry Octopus come about!

• Female custodians allow males in for mating purposes and -- unlike oases warded by male custodians, -- take in other Dry Octopi as refugees, these being females nigh-exclusively. These are the only places where Naive Dry Octopus can thrive beyond total isolation!

        

Abilities

 

• Dunewalking [Passive]

• Despite their size, Dry Octopi are very light -- lighter than a descendant. Their insectoidian legs combined with this allows them to move quickly over sand and quicksand, negating any movement penalties this would otherwise incur.

• Tentacle-Thrashing [Active]

• Dry Octopi can use the tentacles before their mouth to grapple and strike opponents. They can lift descendants, given they use both tentacles to maintain the grip. They can strike at adversaries with sufficient force to fracture and, at worst, break bone.

• Should a Dry Octopi only be able to grip a descendant with one tendril, they can only constrict and try to immobilize the target rather than raise it off the ground.
• Dry Octopi have a 5x5x5 reach with their tendrils in front and beside them, but no reach at all behind them.
• These are free of emote counts, but one should allow characters confronting it a chance to defend themselves.

• Puncture [Active]

• A Dry Octopus can choose to stand immobile and pick a target around it, lifting one of it’s sharp legs and thrusting it down in its direction. The force behind this attack can be lethal against anyone unarmored, dent steel and deprive one of their balance.

• Over the span of two emotes, a Dry Octopus can use this move. One to aim and one to thrust.

• Rake [Active]

• Should a Dry Octopus seize prey with both tentacles, it will near them to its mouth and push them against its sharp teeth -- moving them back and forth until they’re reduced to a fleshy, bloody paste.

• Over the span of three emotes, a descendant can be properly ground and killed by this method.  Smaller prey can be ground within two emotes.

• Inkcloud [Active]

• A remnant ability from their forefathers, a Dry Octopus out of his league -- or, keen enough to use it strategically, -- can eject a dark, inky, metallic-smelling cloud through its mouth to disorient and blind adversaries.

• The inkcloud can be summoned in a single emote and lingers for three emotes total, covering an area of 5x5x5 before its mouth.
• A Dry Octopus may only use an ink cloud once per narrative encounter.

 

Redlines

• Naive Dry Octopus will not use any of their Active abilities if they are not directly hurt, like stabbing them with a spear or trying to tie it down for capture. They attack only when already struck.
• Any Dry Octopus found outside a desert is considered a Naive Dry Octopus and behaves accordingly.
• Custodian Dry Octopus will not leave their oasis unless its to hunt down a female that’s already laying its eggs.
• Inkcloud blinds only in that one cannot see through it, though it in no way irritates the eyes. The metallic scent is palpable, though not disgusting or abrasive and as such won’t incur penalties if inhaled.
• On Druidic Communion:

• Dry Octopi in the wild, when communed with, display a feverish personality almost wholly concerned with finding its next breath. They don’t seem to have the time or energy to discuss things amiable, acting as blunt, determined and intelligent negotiators, alongside venomous intimidators.
• Custodian Dry Octopi in their oases, when communed with, seem to have a wide breadth of conversational and intellectual ability! Personalities are as varied as descendant’s, though there is one common thread: a familial attachment to their oasis.
• Naive Dry Octopus who are communed with are almost always posh, arrogant and indifferent to all matters save those that concern its luxuries and caring for an oasis. Should the topic veer into the latter, they grow quite friendly.