Post by belmoon on Aug 16, 2007 4:20:43 GMT -5
Beasts of Sabotenda
Published: 956 AS
Written by Cecil Desis
Published: 956 AS
Written by Cecil Desis
Dead Cactus
See Morbug.
Desolatortoise
Very docile herbivores, the desolatortoises are treated with friendliness by the Desolites. Averaging four feet in height, desolatortoises have been used as transportation, featured in old legends, and respected as beautiful creatures. They have a natural curiosity when it comes to music, and have been known to stop and sway their heads when hearing it. When threatened, they will retreat into their shells until they feel safe again. In Desola, it is considered a terrible crime to harm, or kill, a desolatortoise.
[Threat level: 0/5]
Landshark (also called “Landshaker”)
While related to its cousins, the sea sharks, it has a very different method of predation. As opposed to pectoral fins, it possesses arms with claws for digging. It waits under the sand for prey to pass over. When prey does pass over, it opens a sand pit trap, which the prey then falls into, allowing the landshark to then feast on it. Because it lives underground, it is sensitive to light. Even when surfacing, it closes its eyes to avoid being blinded by sunlight. Luckily for the landshark, its method of predation prevents it from needing to open its eyes. They do not live near civilization, being far out in the Sabotenda desert, but it is advised to avoid areas where they hunt.
[Threat level: 5/5]
Morbug (also called “Zombug”)
A small beetle-like insect that prefers to feast on mammals. As opposed to most insects it does possess teeth. At night, it attaches itself to nearby cacti, which it then takes control of, uproots, and then attacks prey with. Its ability to animate cacti was famous in Ostenia folklore before it was discovered. People thought for years that there was a species of cactus that came to life at night and attacked. Alone, they tend to only prey on medium-sized mammals, such as foxes, but when in a group, they have been known to attack people. They seem to fear fire, though, so if one is in the Sabotenda desert at night, it is best they stay near a camp fire.
[Threat level: 4/5]
Rock Lobsters (also called “Roksters”)
Rock lobsters are exactly like their aquatic cousins, except for few differences. For one, their shells are much harder, and darker, resembling stone (hence the name). They have been known to burrow partly into the sand to give the illusion of an average rock. They feast on morbugs and other insects, which they kill with their heavy claws. They prefer morbugs most of all, and will hunt them in the daytime when they are most defenseless. Cooking a rock lobster as food is very difficult, as boiling it is not enough to crack the shell (it living in the desert, and all), but it is served as a delicacy in Desola and imported around the world.
[Threat level: 1/5]