Beasts and Plants of Kruthad

Beasts

Carnivores

Kantak (Cantache): A 2m-long hunting beast, also useful as a guard or war beast. They are expensive to train and breed, thus usually held in common in villages. Nobles tend to own them in plenty. Habitat: Subtropical woods and plains; Society: Pack; Diet: carnivore; Strategy: diurnal chaser; Average Lifespan: 16 yrs; Weight: 200 kg; Weapons: Sharp teeth; Integument: Scales.

Madakeyr: A feline predator about the size of a mountain lion. The madakeyr preys primarily on tovak, but is also known to attack farm animals and human children. Habitat: Any woodland; Society: Solo; Diet: Carnivore; Strategy: Diurnal pouncer; Average lifespan: 25 yrs; Size: 65 kg (male), 35 kg (female); Integument: Fur; Weapons: Claws and sharp teeth.

Pelithyn: A war mount favored by the nomads of the Prulam and the Chardrakesh. The pelithyn is a large flightless bird that comes in a variety of breeds and colors. The most prized is the rare red pelithyn, which is ferocious and particularly difficult to tame. Pelithyn are not typically eaten, but their feathers can be valuable. Habitat: Subtropical plains; Society: Group; Diet: Carnivore; Strategy: Diurnal pouncer; Average lifespan: 60 years; Weight: 400 kg; Integument: feathers; Weapons: Beak and claws.

Tarshan: A large constrictor snake of the wetlands. Habitat: Tropical and subtropical wetlands; Society: Solo; Diet: Carnivore; Strategy: Pouncer; Average lifespan: 20 yrs; Weight: 70 kg, 5 m long; Integument: scales; Weapons: Fangs and constriction.

Telheyda: A leather-winged flying pouncer of desolate coastal regions. Habitat: Subtropical to tropical coasts; Society: Flock (Pack); Diet: Carnivore; Strategy: Diurnal pouncer; Average lifespan: 12 yrs; Size: 15 kg; Integument: Feathers & scales; Weapons: Toothed beak (Beak + 1).

Vark: A vicious and tenacious predator of Kruthad's open areas. The vark is powerfully built with a long, toothy snout. Habitat: Subtropical plains; Society: Pack; Diet: Carnivore; Strategy: Diurnal chaser/hijacker; Average lifespan: 20 yrs; Size: 50 kg; Integument: Fur; Weapons: Sharp teeth.

Herbivores

River Olak (Elcas): A giant variety of olak that spends a great deal of its time in the water. Though it is possible to tame them, wild river olaks are extremely dangerous. Habitat: Any warm river or swamp; Diet: Herbivore; Strategy: Diurnal grazer; Average Lifespan: 30 yrs; Weight: 1600 kg; Weapons: Tusks; Armor: None.

Tovak: A medium-sized herd animal of the woods and plains. Hunting tovak is a popular sport amongst the nobility. Their horns are used in making charms. Habitat: Warm forest and plains; Diet: Herbivore; Strategy: Diurnal grazer; Average Lifespan: 20 yrs; Weight: 100 kg; Weapons: Goring horns; Armor: None.

Yanta: The great pachyderm of Kruthad. Habitat: Any warm land; Diet: herbivore; Strategy: diurnal grazer; Average Lifespan: 30 yrs; Weight: lots; Weapons: Tusks; Armor: none.

Omnivores

Bakishal: A large black-furred creature of the forest, capable of standing on its hind legs. The bakishal can be trained and is sometimes used as a guard animal. Habitat: Temperate to subtropical woods & highlands; Society: Pair; Diet: Omnivore; Strategy: Diurnal browser; Average lifespan: 20 yrs; Size: 135 kg (male), 70 kg (female); Integument: Fur; Weapons: Claws and teeth.

Olak (Elcas): The ubiquitous farm animal of Madoria. The olak provides meat, dairy, ivory, bone, and hide. Habitat: Any plains & forests; Society: Group; Diet: Omnivore; Strategy: Diurnal gatherer; Average lifespan: 10 yrs; Size: 12 (100 kg); Integument: Skin (NO); Weapons: Tusks.

Scavengers

Lokutta: Habitat: Subtropical to tropical plains and desert; Society: Clan (Pack x 4); Diet: carnivore; Strategy: diurnal chaser; Average Lifespan: 16 years; Weight: 50 kg; Integument: fur; Weapons: Sharp teeth.

Velkur: A flying, feathered saurian of the mountain regions of the entire peninsula. Habitat: warm mountains; Strategy: Diurnal carrion-eater; Average Lifespan: 20 yrs; Weight: 15 kg; Weapons: Toothed beak (Beak + 1); Armor: None.

Yûpark: A small, bipedal reptilian scavenger that scurries about in packs. Habitat: Subtropical plains; Society: Pack; Diet: Carnivore; Strategy: Diurnal chaser; Average lifespan: 10 yrs; Size: 5 kg; Integument: Scales; Weapons: Sharp teeth.

Plants

Grains

Hip (geith) and dija are the chief grains, particularly dija.

Fruits and Vegetables

Dakkyl: A fruit-bearing tree. Dakkyls are small reddish-orange fruit, about the size of a plum, and though they make good filling for pies, are usually eaten fresh by the bowl, or dried for travel. It is also used in making a popular liquor.

Herbs and Flowers

Kadan: The fibers of this plant are used for making a versatile fabric also called kadan.

Trees and Shrubs

The characteristic vegetation of the Kruthad peninsula is aromatic evergreen shrubs, which are sources of vegetable oils.

Telpir: A shrub known for its claw-shaped roots and minor healing properties. Commonly available and cheap, telpir is often used in poultices.

Yelava: A ubiquitous solitary tree. Yelava oil is used in lamps and for cooking.