[✓] [Creature Lore] – Cobblebonks, the Road Toads

[salamanderfantasy 664]

Spoiler

 

[Cobblebonks, the Road Toads]

There are manythings which lie abandoned in swamps, sodden and mudlogged, sunk to their depths never to be uncovered. Among the bog bodies, lost wellington boots, and mislain murder weapons, is the drenched, near illegible remnants of a half-finished, and ultimately abandoned, ecological survey report. Anonymus, not even initialised, a few sections of it may find itself onto the bookshelves of archivists, perhaps. Or perhaps it will lie abandoned in the swamp forevermore.

Regardless of these writings' fate, all around where it lies in the swamp, the Cobbles continue to Bonk evermore.

Report: The Discovery of a Novel Frog Species, Road Toads
(Origin)

Oft does my choice of study lead me to the empty corners of the earths, un-habited and wild. One steps upon the earth with the explicit knowledge that the footprints one leaves in the dirt may be the first there since its forming, and the last there ‘til seas swallow it away. 

Though no archeologist, it was certainly intriguing when, after trudging through miles of dense mud, my footfalls found themselves not upon dense rock – but rather, brick. Square cobbles set into the dirt, around two metres in diameter, appeared suddenly without a beaten track or road leading towards it. The path stretched out for a good thirty metres more, twisting around the base of a large tree – until thus, it ended as abruptly as it had begun.

Perplexing, of course, but not in my area of research.

It was not until dawning; after a night spent in my leaking tent under torrential rainfall, damp and shivering; and tormented all around by a cacophonous croaking of toads, louder than thunder; before I considered if I had finally given wav to delusion.

What now was the object of my perplexion was not the unexplained road, but its astonishing absence. I dug through dirt, wondering if a sudden mudslide had covered it, but to no avail. It was as though the road had simply gotten up and walked away.

Which, unbeknownst to me, was exactly what had happened.

Road Toads, Freeway Frogs, Boulevard Bufo, Rock-Hoppers, Carriageway Croakers, Sapo del Camino, Een Paddenpaadje,  or Cobblebonks, are a species of large, carnivorous toads native to Aveos, having seemingly been present for long before our arrival, but not previously published in any form of literature. 

Previous encounters had been previously written off by such scientists as a particularly rough-looking Deep Toad in low light, or a Parhor covered in gravel. However, this did not dissuade me from uncovering, and examining, multiple specimens – none of which show hallucinogenic or bioluminescent capabilities. They are thus unlikely to be specimens of either species, nor related to them. Their lack of parthogenic reproduction, back-brooding and sapience suggests no relation to Wonks, and their stance as tetrapods prooves little relation to the Dixie Dart Frogs of tropical climates. Ultimately, it became clear to me we were faced with an entirely new species. Therefore, I deemed them to be of significance worthy of study.

The common name (Cobblebonk) is owed to the halflings, who reportedly have "always known" about this species, though claims that “one ate Peepaw.” (Anonymus halfling, SA 132), are to be taken with a grain of salt. In truth, there has been no factual evidence of Cobblebonks existing on continents other than Aevos. However, the halfling cultural aversion to paved roads and large, bricked walls, alongside a general greater risk of being eaten by a large toad, has resulted in an existing niche among folklore filled quite accidentally by the Cobblebonk -- so much so, that not one of them has reported upon the existance of them to any such biologists.

Interview with an anonyumus frog-keeper halfling:

 

“Compared to yourself, how tall was the creature you encountered? Any unusual colourations or notable features?”

 

" 'Twas twice my size fer sure, maybe thrice even! I' was more toad-like, rougha' skin an' stubby legs, bu' i's back 'ad like a 'uge feccin' brick. As if i' was par' o' a buildin' er road."

 

"And just the one of them?"

 

"Aye, one! Imagine wha' a swarm o' 'em could do"

Physical Appearance and Morphology
(Creature Summary)

 

Fig. 1: Illustration of a segment of Toad Road, separated from a larger colony. These specimens are of average size. Curiously, even separated from the main group they still retain their organised formation. 

Uniqure to the species is their ability to form a hardened, rock exterior through gradually secreting minerals, which they acquire filtered out of the water around them. Cobblebonks are notable for their very long periods of torpor, maintained through both cold and warm seasons, partially burrowed into dirt in clustered groups. Secreting their hard outer shell around eachother whilst being worn flat on the top by the elements (and foot traffic) creates the signature, road-cobble like appearance they are known for. 

Large Cobblebonks may stay dormant for so long that a layer of dirt builds over them and they are all but hidden. In rare cases, they sleep immobile above ground, found sometimes in abandoned, disused cities. Exposed to the elements and solitary, their hard edges wear away, and their gray, slightly geometric, rocky skin leaves them near indistinguishable from a statue.

 

 

 

Fig. 2: A much larger road toad specimen, measuring 1.60 meters from nose to vent (around 1 meter in height while standing). Erosion resulting from separation to a colony has given its back the appearance of a rocky outcropping.

In rare occasions, a Cobblebonk may burrow deep enough to accommodate the formation of crystals within its rocky casing. After emerging, these crystals may survive areas of rock eroding, and protrude outwards. Due to the depth at which they bury, they rarely emerge and feed, and following this, rarely reach large sizes. On rare occasions, they are uncovered by geological activity or mining. After speaking to some Dwed miners about a reported encounter of a swarm what they regionally termed “Rock-Hoppers”, I believe they may also form as a result of whole colonies being buried in mudslides too deep to allow them to resurface. I theorise entire veins of crystallised bonks may lurk dormant for centuries within the earth.

Fig. 3: A crystallised bonk, showing specimens of quartz formed during a long period of underground, completely encased burrowing.

Spoiler

Biology Redlines

Bonks naturally come in two shapes -- geometric bricks from nesting together, edges wearing smooth, or natural rock. Any species of frog or type of mineral which exists in real life may be used/combined.

 

Mundane minerals from IRL, or open/player signable LOTC minerals, can appear on road toads. If a material would allow for a player to walk outside and presume they could find it, then it can be part of a Road Toad, as this is no functionally different to finding the material any other way.

 

Road toads come in two variants, small Cobblebonks, which gather in swarms, or large Cobblebonks, which are solitary. Crystal bonks are essentially a shiny reskin they can be large/small, and aren't considered a distinctive variant, only asthetically different. Large Cobblebonks do not have a neat, geometric shape, appearing as boulders, or sometimes like a rock frog statue.

 

A Cobblebonk exeeding 30cm in height (about 40cm snout-to-vent length, if we're going by the Standard Frog Measuring methods) is considered 'large', while anything under is small. A few centimetres leeway would be allowed, but this rule is to prevent swarms of Extremely Big Frogs being used for combat. A Bonk at its largest cannot exceed 1.5 metres in height itself. This is still Very Large for frogs, but not enough to swallow most adult humans. See Deep Toads or Parhor for giant frogs. However, there is no limit to their smallest size, outside being of being microscopic.

The Curious Life Of A Cobblebonk

(Creature Summary 2: More Summerising)

 

Cobblebonks grow slowly over their lifespan, a feature that owes to their long periods of torpor. Almost a hundred percent of the energy they consume is used slowly over the year to maintain this hibernation. A bonk may live for upwards of a hundred years, ranging greatly in size; a wayward pebble in a dirt road; an averaged size road brick; or a large courtyard flagstone can all be comparable to a Cobblebonk. None have been found to reach the size of a human: the largest found are slightly larger than a halfling (the perfect size to swallow one whole). Road toads who reach these larger sizes become even more prone to hibernation, so it may be that the largest of Cobblebonks have simply not woken up yet.

The waking season of the bonk is brought about by rain, and on occasion flood. Maintaining sufficient amphibian humidity is prevented by their semi-permiable, rocky coating, and so normal function can only occur when thoroughly soaked. Upon rainfall, entire colonies will uproot and spread out. The layers of mineral on their legs are shed, and then eaten to be later re-excreted.

Often their actions are dismissed as heavy rainfall having washed out an older road, but in truth, it is a post-feed migration. Having spent all their stored energy in a long brumation, they hunt in a frenzy. Small enough pray is swallowed whole, occasionally bitten into smaller pieces. When able to, a bonk will only consume small, easy to catch and swallow prey, avoiding the dangers of hunting anything bigger than their mouth. But should they fail to eat their fill in this manner, a swarm may decide to take on a larger prey by essentially stoning it to death – jumping at it and bludgeoning with their hard backs, then descending to feed. Though slow to walk and resting between jumps, a Cobblebonk jumps as well as any frog – even the larger specimens, and their jaws bite with enough force to break skin despite their lack of teeth. This makes them quite adept at hunting larger prey when especially hungered. Cobblebonks are not inherently driven towards hunting descendants, more-so opportunistic, especially when driven to extremes of hunger. Due to their similar stature and proclivity towards digging in the dirt, halflings are one of the few extant races at risk of Road Toad predation in adulthood, alongside Musin, and the occasional short Dwed.

Having devoured their fill of insects, small livestock, occasionally small descendants, a secondary frenzy ensues – this time of mating. Eggs, slightly translucent, with a hard coating like a marble, are buried in the mud that the road toad have just emerged from. Eating their shed rock recovers the minerals used for laying these crystal-shelled eggs. The tad-pebbles, as I have started calling them, are capable of crawling through mud with their strong tail and limbs (as they develop post-hatching). They mature in the mud, and like adults, are spurred by a sudden rainfall to emerge and feed – though in this first cycle, are no bigger than a coin, and often much smaller!

In both the existing colony after laying eggs, or the newly matured group after hatching, a migration of several miles occurs. Upon reaching new lands, the Road Toad colony nests down once again before the soil dries hard, and awaits the next cycle. 

Should a single toad, by chance, happen to grow much larger than it's peers, the toad will leave the colony to lead a solitary life. The lack of a protective lattice of peers exposes it to the elements, roughing away hard edges. It may grow even larger still while alone, but it is rare they survive long enough to do so. Sole Cobblebonks will spend longer periods of dormancy, but in turn, require larger prey when they do awaken. 

If no suitable second site is within reach, they may be coaxed by means of corralling to lie back in their original position.

Spoiler

Combat Redlines:

• Player event swarms are limited to a maximum of 50 Cobblebonks, but you can not use 50 induvidual frogs in combat for reasons of common sense.
• Up to 10 groups of 3-5 Small Cobblebonks may be treated as a singular 'enemy'. 'Grouped enemies' are a maximum of 15cm in height.
• Small Cobblebonks may be treated in combat as induviduals, but are limited to five per encounter. They are no taller than 30cm.
• Up to three solitary 30-50cm Large Bonks may be involved as 'mini bosses', and one single 'boss' toad of 100-150cm. They are only bosses in a 'dungeon boss' sense, and do not attack in a coordinated manner. Smaller bonks may attack in groups/waves, but do not possess the higher thought required to strategise beyong this.

 

Bonks are not inherently aggressive. They may opportunistically try to eat a person in the post-waking feeding frenzy, if disturbed when sleeping and then provoked, or if attacked. Event runners may choose to run an event with a starving swarm which attacks immediately for a more 'traditional' combat event.

Cobblebonk bite force is relative to their size, so there exists a bit of leeway for differently sized Cobblebonks.

 

• Smaller Cobblebonks cannot damage metal or leather armour through biting, though they may cling onto leather armour.
• Exposed flesh may be bruised heavily and recieve shallow puncture wound from bites. Fingers may be broken, but no bones larger.
• Small Cobblebonks are capable of jumping at their prey to bludgeon them with their rocky backs. On leather armour, this produces the same bludgeoning damage of being bashed with a big rock.
• Metal armours will recieve the equivalent of a one-handed hammer or rock bash, which can dent the armour after 2-3 hits.
• Bare skin will be badly bruised after bludgeoning, and max-sized Small Bonks may break an unarmoured limb.

 

Crystal bonks can also deal shallow puncture wounds alongside bludgeoning damage when jumping.

When attacking a small cobblebonk, two hits minimum are needed -- one to break their rocky back, and another killing blow. After the stone layer is broken, Bonks will attempt to flee. Bonks of 15cm tall and shorter will only require one hit per Bonk when treated as 'grouped enemies'.
Battlehammers are most effective, where sharp/bladed weapons will bounce off, and take 2-3 hits to break open the rock, depending. Bashing with the pommel is more effective.

 

• Large Cobblebonks are also slightly size-dependant.
• This is dependant on the size of the Cobblebonk, but as a rule, it is capable of crushing however much of a limb can fit into it's mouth. The mouth-rule also applies to being swallowed whole by a Cobblebonk. Anything under the Cobblebonk's height can be swallowed.
• Swallowing damages at least one limb, and takes three emotes of struggling to escape from, or two emotes when aided by another person (e.g. holding open the Bonk's mouth).
• Large Bonks are not nimble enough to bludgeon people, they move slowly, but are capable of taking large leaps, and may land on top of a person (ouch), dealing more crushing damage.
• Bites from a Cobblebonk can crush an arm, latching on, requiring one emote of struggling to free.

 

A Large Bonk requires a minimum of four emotes to break open it's rocky back -- max-sized Bonks require 5 emotes. This is not an immediate win, as you are now fighting a very big toad. It's vital organs must be pierced, or enough damage in limbs to immobalize it, to defeat a Big Bonk.

 

The underside of a Bonk is not coated in thick stone, and so provides a weakspot in both small and large Cobblebonks. That being said, it is not an easy task to flip a frog who does not want to be flipped. Smaller Cobblebonks are more nimble and catching in combat near impossible with normal reaction times. Larger Bonks are too heavy to flip.

 

Cobblebonks In Captivity

(Taming)

Cobblebonks more accustomed to persons seem to regard them with disinterest, and if fed every time they wake, occasionally seem to prefer living in human areas. Some intentionally herd swarms of Cobblebonks as a means of creating a stable, flat ground easily.

In fact, both swarms and sole Cobblebonks have begun to take on a role as pets, despite being too unreliable to use for any form of domestic work animal. The rocky coating of bonks can be carefully carved for decoration, and larger bonks are sometimes used as ornamental statues.

Fig. 4: An entire Cobblebonk, sitting at about 1m snout-to-vent, completely encased in rock. It had been carved close to the skin by a private collector, stolen, and sold unknowingly to the groundskeeper of a stately garden to sit beside a pond. Upon the monsoon of 147, it awoke, swallowed a small child, regurgitated the child, ate two of the Lord’s prized horses, and fled into the night. 

Crystalised bonks are especially prized as pets. They can be kept quite comfortably in a large vivarium, pot of dirt, or outdoor enclosure. However, like other species of frog, they are either lacking in the intelligence to be trained, or entirely uninterested in anything we have to teach. 

Fig. 5: Painting of a pet Cobblebonk, which may have been centuries old, having gone through several dormancies at extreme depths. Dormancy under different conditions has led to several varieties of crystal growing onto it. Although it was scarcely larger than a palm, all rock apart from the crystals had been carefully chiselled away for display. It resided entirely unseen in a small pot of dirt in the greenhouse of a Mali’Ker manor house and emerged twice a year.

However, it seems Cobblebonks are held to those most limiting of all qualities, which prevent them from being known in the greater public mindset -- they are not particularly smart, nor particularly tasty.

The flesh of a Cobblebonk is usually edible, not having any known toxin, and I did encounter a small group of swamp-dwelling Goblins which fed upon them regularly. They would dispatch the frogs by a swift blow with a thin hammer to the cranium, once to break the rock, another to instantly render them dead, and then steam the rock-coated frogs upon an open fire. They would then dine upon them like crab or shellfish, cracking open the outer casing to eat the meat which had steamed within.

However, Cobblebonks do not farm well, what with their long periods of dormancy and complicated cycle of breeding and migration. Anyone very particular to frog-meat would have an easier time of rearing any other frog.

In addition to this, Cobblebonks are not particularly trainable. They may respond to a name being called, or be trained to come to specific spots for feeding, but beyond that are near inacapable of performing tricks. Alongside their slow, no-hurry way of rambling around the land, this also leaves them of no use as beasts of burden.

Spoiler

Non-Combat Behaviour and "Taming" Redlines

Bonks are not inherently aggressive -- beyond the aggression of an angry frog, that is. They can be indifferent to people, shy, or somewhat tempermental, unless of course a person comes bearing snacks for them.

Whole swarms only wake up in player-held events – but these do not necessarily have to be combat events! Make a frog festival!

In area where Cobblebonks have been established as present they can act as ambient creatures – croaking described in rp signs, or occasionally emoting 1-3 waking up during light rain before sleeping again. This may include sleeping swarms as a road or paved area, or large bonks as a fountain statue

Cobblebonks sleep in swarms of either 'roads' or 'veins' -- above ground, with their backs exposed, or buried under mudslide and deep within the earth. They might be accidently uncovered during mining, or be sleeping underfoot in a busy city marketsquare

Normal rules/common sense around causing property damage in an event STILL APPLY. Don't have a nest of Cobblebonks wake up and carry away someone's house.
Minor damage caused in events = yes
More serious damage? That requires the region/land owners' permission.

As bonks are equal to frog intelligence, they cannot be trained as combat pets.

Releasing a swarm to devour your enemies alas is also not allowed. Alongside this is training Cobblebonks to put on a frog performance. However, if an existing lore would allow a swarm of mundane frogs to be 'commanded' magically, Cobblebonks may be used as an asthetic replacement (with NO combat advantage. Assume any rock coating is too thin to act as armour in these cases)

Cobblebonks are kept quite happily in captivity, any patch of dirt big enough to nestle down in good enough for them. Although they live in groups quite often, they are not social creatures, and happy enough in captivity. A Cobblebonk of any size and material can be kept as a pet, alone, or in large groups. However, they are not particularly invovled pets, spending most of their time dormant or ignoring their owners.

Pet Cobblebonks may also be chiseled or carved, as long as the skin underneath is not damaged. This is quite a bit more difficult than normal carving.
Cobblebonk stone/ore/crystal is dependant on the environment the toad is in, not the toad itself. It will regrow over the course of several hundreds of years. Because of this, farming ores/crystals on the back of Cobblebonks would not be a practical method. Which isn't to say it's NOT allowed, just that it is actively the worst way you could do that.

The most important rule of Cobblebonks is that they are Frogs With Rocks.

Bonks are intended to be built-in compatible with other lore pieces. They are the equivalent to a frog with a rock on it's back. Magic/Feats which could be applied to a pet frog with a rock glued to it, can be applied to Cobblebonks -- with the exlusion of any/all combat related purposes.
The rock is not an inherent part of the Cobblebonk, however, only grown over time-- including a Cobblebonk in the biomass which makes a homunculus, for instance, is the equivalent of including a mundane frog.

Abilities/ST Notes

From this point onwards, all information is from an OOC perspective. These rules are intended for use only by Story/Event team events or encounters.

Cobblebonks are very much intended to be versitile creatures beyond being a combat animal or another magical pet. Members of the Story/Event team have blanket permission to utalize Cobblebonks of any size or material, in any number groups. This is intended as a means to create eventlines for settlements, and to be used alongside other lore pieces.

 

An event where an ST ore or other mineral is harvested, for instance, may involve a sudden vein of Cobblebonks being unearthed from a cave, growing said mineral. This allows for a more unique event than simply arriving to a location and gathering the material. Cobblebonks may also be used in events which affect an area on a larger scale by ST. While players may run events where a city square turns out to be built upon a small patch of Cobblebonks, an ST may run an eventline where giant, dormant Cobblebonks wake up underneath the entire city. Or perhaps a mountain starts to mysteriously croak. Additionally, the rules around coordinated groups of Attack Bonks are also lifted for ST -- having a sort of crazed nature-based wizard unleashing their army of armoured frogs is one example. And the taming-rules are also lifted, within reason, for non-combat applications -- build said nature-wizard's wizard hut on the back of a very big, mountainous frog, or have their frog army perform interpretive dance.

Altogether, ST is trusted to bend the rules of the Cobblebonks as they please, provided they stick to the spirt of Cobblebonks as a 'fantasy animal' rather than 'generic RPG enemy'.

 

 

Spoiler

Purpose (OOC)

I found the initial artwork, and a pobblebonk is a species of frog.

Legally, I had to write this.

I also wanted to make a versatile creature that acts like an animal (I do enjoy spec bio), instead of an RPG enemy. They can be used in a few ways for events, combat and non combat, for ambience, or as decorative pets, but in all scenarios are still Funky Frogs. They are also built for compatibility, as it's fun to see lore pieces interact.

Spoiler

Artwork from:

Original bonk: By Redmer Hoekstra https://www.redmerhoekstra.nl/portfolio-2013/ 

Large bonk: By Thoughtont https://www.deviantart.com/thoughtont/art/Stone-Frog-concept-868222293 

Crystal bonk: By Taylor Harpster https://www.behance.net/gallery/28876211/Crystal-Methamphibian?tracking_source=project_owner_other_projects 

FANCY bonk: By Pikishi https://www.deviantart.com/pikishi/art/Crystal-Frog-205388581 

Accidental Bonk: By Theocrata https://www.deviantart.com/theocrata/art/Daily-drawing-7-Strange-statue-684958834 

Lore refs: 

 

 

 

 

[TakeMeToTheFae 7]

Love, very slay

Edited January 11 by TakeMeToTheFae

[salamanderfantasy 664]

2 minutes ago, TakeMeToTheFae said:

Love, very slay

not as much as TakeMeToTheSLAY

[H 746]

some excellent lore from lotc's greatest wizard

[NotEvilAtAll 9943]

very nice lore. I am fond of the images and formatting.

[VoidTermnia 259]

rock frog rock frog rock frog rock frog

 

+1

[satinkira 5901]

excellent and practical lore

[SlitheryC1 484]

really interesting lore!

love to see a cute looking creature serve a purpose other than just being cute.

though i am curious... if ST were to make fancy-ore cobblebonks, would they be simply the ore cut into a brick shape, or 'refined' into an ingot/brick like shape? or is the answer both (aka whatever the ST feels like)

Edited January 11 by SlitheryC1

[salamanderfantasy 664]

10 hours ago, SlitheryC1 said:

really interesting lore!

love to see a cute looking creature serve a purpose other than just being cute.

though i am curious... if ST were to make fancy-ore cobblebonks, would they be simply the ore cut into a brick shape, or 'refined' intp an ingot/brick like shape? or is the answer both (aka whatever the ST feels like)

I would think, in the event any ST wanted to use bonks for a material gathering event (though I'm not sure how often those happen anymore), it would just be raw ore/crystals.

 

The square brick shape comes from a colony of bonks all nesting together, wearing their edges into rectangles.

 

I don't Think you could smelt a frog into an ingot, taking out the ore impurities, and have the frog be still. Alive. But carving/polishing the bonk's rock layer doesn't hurt them, as it's not living tissue. 

 

So: no naturally formed ingots, yes naturally formed square stones. Yes any ore that can be player signed. Yes to polishing/carving the stone pet bonks for decoration. 

[sheriif 54]

D1 Wizard moment :)

[SlitheryC1 484]

4 hours ago, salamanderfantasy said:

smelt a frog into an ingot,

 

I wasn't thinking of that up until now. that is definitely being added to the to-do list if these frogs get accepted.

thank you for the response!

[salamanderfantasy 664]

4 hours ago, SlitheryC1 said:

 

I wasn't thinking of that up until now. that is definitely being added to the to-do list if these frogs get accepted.

thank you for the response!

Unfortunately, smelting toads is allowed. Wouldn't make the metal any better than just chiseling it off the toad first, but toad violence is inevitable

[VoidTermnia 259]

silliness aside this is actually really well written and unique lore that could provide interesting rp

[Lord_of_losers 955]

tode lure

[Notic 941]

common sal W