salamanderfantasy

[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.

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.

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.

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'.