-Animals-Deran: Quick, graceful, shy, and cautious animals.. They stand about the average height and weight of a large horse and, while they have been known to be tamed as mounts by the Elves in particular, many other cognitive species hunt them as game. They are not overly clever creatures, gentle yes but almost 'innocent' in their behaviors. Do not mistake this for weakness, however, as they can put up a rather impressive fight when running isn't an option. Males are called Stags, females are called Does, offspring are called Kits.
Vysmir: ( V-Smer)
Believed to have been a chimera created by the ancient gods eons ago this creature seems to sustain itself by eating stones in the river beds. While the bulk of this species can be found dwelling in the caves near the mountain's edge, the older members of the species seem to migrate down into the plains areas to spend their final years of life lounging in the cool waters of the many rivers. Despite ( or perhaps because of) the fact that they are made up almost entirely of living stone and minerals these beasts possess a dumbfounding sort of magic to them, the gemstones they grow/shed as they age serving as amazing reserves of magic energy.. When that is paired with their naturally stunning skin patterns and blade-like ridges poachers have taken a shine to targeting these beasts. And it is only poachers, since these massive creatures (a little bigger than an elephant) are friendly and docile to any that wonder within their path. Caravan children have been known to play upon idle Vysmir's backs as the beasts sun themselves by the water, but it isn't just their tempered disposition that makes it so frowned upon to kill one of these beasts. When they are finally pushed into defending themselves they use their latent magic with deadly force.. Few survive the experience. Any materials gathered honestly from these beasts are picked from an already dead corpse, even then the deceased animal is treated with awe and respect. They are sacred to the Dwarves, who share their tunnels and under-roads with them throughout the creature's youth. If ever you have a question about one of these majestic beasts it is always best to ask a Dwarf for this reason.
Rukh:Rukh is the chicken of the realms, they are and is capable of short flight. They lay Twenty to Twenty Five eggs every week ( 3 days real life?) and the eggs are typically 4in-5ins tall from tip to bottom. To compensate for this the rukh spends its entire time leading up to this moment eating or resting while the males gather the food for the female. They live two to three years.
-Predators-Griffin: Just a little bit larger than the standard Great Dane these beasts travel in flocks and serve as one of the common predators in the plains. With a obvious pack mentality and surprising cognitive ability these creatures typically become active around dusk, when their prey cannot spot them coming through the tall grass or dive bombing from above. They are tenacious hunters, tracking their favored targets for days and shaving down their strength before launching a final attack. Alone, a griffin can be more hesitant to attack.. But they are rarely alone. If only one is seen, the others are likely already behind you.
Snapleaf: A common predator in the plains, this plant grows anywhere from 7ft-9ft tall and contains a mild form of acid in its saliva that helps it shred any unfortunate prey that it manages to capture. It can grow multiple heads and, while it dislikes moving, it can actually uproot itself to relocate when it must. These are master sneak-attackers, often lurking just under the soil or even opening its mouths wide to spread its flower petal-like tongues as camouflage. Its saliva, though potentially harmful, emits a sweet scent that lures other animals to it.. When the prey leans in close to sniff the Snapleaf slams its mouth closed over their heads, holding on with vicious strength until the creature suffocates. The leaves of a Snapleaf can be ground down into gel to treat the acid burns, or burns in general for that matter.
-Scavengers- Lesk: Nasty little beasts that hide amongst plants and wait for their prey to stumble too close.. Or, during the night hours, slither along the ground until they come across a sleeping creature to attach to. Much like leeches these beasts only grow to be 4-5 inches long but they are remarkably strong for their size and they feed on the blood of those they capture like leeches. The real shocker here is that, to find these beasts, people actually lay out in the dark on purpose to attract them.. Why? The Lesk is a unique creature that is both animal and plant, and a main ingredient in many of the tonics and cures that many of the villages rely upon to keep their residents healthy. Pain killers, cold medicine, anti-inflammatory agents.. You name it, this little monster's complex body can help with just about anything in the hands of a skilled alchemist.
