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sixthiteration) wrote2018-03-08 10:14 pm
[Guidebook] Bestiary
- Amphibians are listed as reptiles, and crustaceans are listed as fish. This is just for simplicity's sake.
- This list is not exhaustive. Players may make up beasts on the fly in gameplay provided they make sense, are reasonable and do not induce powers. Please notify the mods if you do this, so the animal may be added to the list if needed.
- Flora and fauna native to the Pacific Northwest may be assumed to be within terraformed areas. Those listed here are particularly notable but are not the only Earth animals.
- High concentrations of animals are noted on the map, but some may be found in other general areas as designated in the location portion of their entry on this page. (eg, There is a high concentration of groffles in the northern grasslands, but they may be found in any part of the grasslands.) Rare animals are the exception.
- Animals noted as "on record" have been encountered in the game and documented in the village records kept in the South Village inn. If your character "discovers" one of the animals not on record yet during the course of gameplay, please let the mods know so we can add the designation on this page.
Dark gray with light gray mane and markings. Adults stand apx. 3 feet high. Docile and intelligent. May be domesticated under the right circumstances, but patience is generally required while trust is gained. Easily depressed when confined. Uses its horns when threatened by predators.
Black with orange markings, adults stand around 2 feet high. Long, floppy ears and shaggy coat. Long antlers swoop back from its head; adults have a sphere of hard, translucent bone at the tip of each antler that glows when it feels threatened. (See below)
EFFECTS: Spheres on the end of antlers are captivating when lit; they are difficult to look away from, and allow the animal to "lure" the entranced victim away from its den, territory, etc. Listed as "high risk" because of the potential to lure victims someplace dangerous. Sightline must be broken for the trance to be broken. "Blindness" from snakebat bites make one immune to the lure.
Large, vibrant-colored bird around the size of a peacock. Dwells in sturdy trees, but can often be seen rooting around for seeds on the ground. Usually found in breeding pairs. Can be aggressive if a nest is near.
EFFECTS: Oil from the skin of the bird or its feathers lowers the relative gravity of a character, allowing them to jump higher, remain airborn longer and climb heights with greater ease. Lasts for apx. 30 minutes before declining rapidly. Power negated by cooking the bird.
Earth species; of note because they are not deterred by the bites of the glass ant and will raid colonies, resulting in a super-strong badger.
Large shorthaired feline, light brown in color and around the size of a lion. All have dangerous claws, but the male has an extra claw several inches long on all feet. Adept hunters and very territorial.
Around the size of a medium-sized dog, with black fur and red eyes. Very sharp, curved claws almost like talons on its feet. Extremely aggressive and intelligent. They typically hunt in groups of 2-3, and know how to direct prey into areas that make them more vulnerable.
Brown with cream-colored stripes and bushy tail. Approximately the size of a cat, resembles Earth skunks. Indifferent when given a wide berth, but easily-agitated if they feel encroached on. They bite in addition to their spray, but the bite has no unusual effect. Spray has no odor like a normal skunk.
EFFECTS: When spray comes in contact with skin or is inhaled, the target falls into a deep sleep for apx. 2 minutes. When they wake, they experience apx. 5 hours of libido enhanced 200%.
Tiny amphibian about an inch when full grown. Brightly-colored with black stripes and mottling.
EFFECTS: Secretions from skin can cause paralysis from contact or ingestion. Small amounts wear off in around 5 minutes. Secretions may be used on weapons such as arrows to paralize an animal.
Large canine, mostly hairless except for long, shaggy tail. Very large eyes which glow red in the dark. Often accompanied by small, hairless, monkey-like creatures that groom the wolf and eat the parasites that live on its tough skin. Extremely vicious hunter.
Miniature deer, reddish-brown with paler marking for juveniles. Adults stand no higher than 1 foot at the shoulder. They supplement their diet with blood, not unlike a vampire bat, and hunt together in packs. While the tend toward smaller, easier prey, it's not unheard of for them to take down a much larger animal. Their calls vary from hilarious to horrifying.
Small hairless canine about the size of a chihuahua with long, reptilian snout. Uses this snout to catch small fish and crustaceans from riverbanks and bogs. Despite appearances, their temperaments are generally friendly and they latch onto human companionship easily; once you have made a friend of one, you may find yourself with a new pet whether you like it or not.
White and silver moths that often cover trees and rock facings of a similar pale color. Wings are coated in a fine, while powder.
EFFECTS: Contact with powder from wings causes memory loss. Smaller amounts remove immediate, short-term memories, but increased exposure exacerbates the effect. Contact with a swarm can result in total amnesia. This lasts until an antidote is administered. Forget Me Not flowers will counter the effects, either ingested directly or brewed in a tea.
Large tree-dwelling reptile, green and blue with diamond markings. There is a large concentration on the island marked on the map; they hibernate under the ruins (or otherwise underground) during the cold months.
EFFECTS: Bite is extremely painful and causes a near-lethal fever and hallucinations, which last for three days. The fever spikes after about 48 hours, and could be intense enough to be lethal to an already infirm person without help. Goldbell tea can ease hallucinations; North Village peaches or water from the South Village spring can aid recovery from fever.
Skin or scales of the snake alleviate hunger and stave off starvation. This can be used to stretch supplies. If cooked with native tubers, this effect is lost.
Venom from the snake will cure the illness from the bacteria found on the "snake island," but the side-effects of the venom remain.
Small, green-glowing insects typically found in caves or otherwise dark, damp habitats. Will swam if disturbed, often to the point of chasing their target out into the light.
EFFECTS: Bites produce mild fever and paranoia for 24 hours — Enhanced anxiety and distrust, non-hallucinatory. Goldbell tea can calm paranoia; if made with South Village spring water, can also ease fever.
Reptile of prehistoric proportions: The biggest adults can easily reach up to 20 feet long. Fond of marshes and sunning themselves, they can often be easily avoided simply by keeping a safe distance and not disturbing them. That said, do not be fooled by their hefty proportions, as they can run in incredibly fast spurts without warning, and drawing remotely close to nests will almost always provoke them.
Massive spider-like creature that makes its nests in darker parts of forests and caves. The oldest adults can grow to a body size about as big as a car (not counting the legs). Nests are made from spider silk, which is also used to trap prey; it is very sticky but not impossible for a human or other large mammal to escape with enough force and ingenuity. Stingers are on the front mandibles instead of the rear of the animal. The arachnid's venom contains an agent which can physically paralyze a grown man for up to 2 minutes after contact with exposed skin. (Life support functions remain operational.) The venom is administered by spitting or by the animal's stingers; if directly stung, the result is death.
Female Giant Arachnids lay a single egg every 4-8 years; gestation can take up to 10 months. The egg is wrapped in silk and carried on the mother's back until hatching.
Massive crustacean, apx. the size of a great white shark. Carnivorous and incredibly aggressive.
Large, muscular, compact body covered in wiry fur that changes color and thickness according to season: Medium brown in the spring and summer, paler in winter. Thick, cloven hooves and large, protruding tusks. Live in a family group under an alpha male. The male in the one known group stands roughly as tall as a small elephant. The species as a whole is aggressive and hyper-territorial, particularly when young are nearby.
Glassy green, apx. half an inch in length. Displays typical ant behavior: Lives in mounds, can be found in groups together or ranging alone.
EFFECTS: Bite produces a red welt apx. the size of a quarter and the ability to lift up to 10x your weight. Strength fades gradually over 12 hours, leaving a feeling of weakness, which may be eased by drinking tea made from goldbells. Note that non-native animals either domesticated, arrived as gifts or wild as part of terraforming will also be affected by bites.
Large brown herd mammal apx. the size of a bison with wide, moose-like antlers and tough, protective plates down its back. Generally docile with a temperament similar to cattle. Milk is a pale mint green color, but in flavor and consistency is similar to cow's milk. Meat is leaner than beef, similar to bison.
Smaller cousin of the Big Cat, the Horned Lion lives in family groups in the veldt of the Eastern Deserts. Prides typically consist of a single adult male, up to three females (maneless) and any young. They breed infrequently and are approximately the size of a standard lion. Adults feature flat horns that grow from a thick plate across the top of their head. The plate/horns are used for attack and defense, to knock foes and prey off-balance. Females do the hunting, but the male can be vicious if he feels the pride is threatened, and the females will provide him backup. Their top incisors are particularly long and sharp.
Large canine, slightly smaller than a wolf, very slender and graceful. Pale fur that has a silverish sheen. Silent, shy and largely passive. Very difficult to spot, but generally in the same area as the yeti.
Orange and brown with bright orange eyes. Size of a medium-sized dog. Extremely intelligent and nearly impossible to catch. Rated as "high danger" because of the risk of their power teleporting the affected character someplace dangerous or lethal.
EFFECTS: A laughter-like bark that, when heard, teleports the targeted character up to five miles away. Intangibility from cave charcoal can prevent effects.
Horse-like with prominent antlers and long tail. Colors vary, but are often mottled similar to wild ponies. Scale-like protective growths along spine which harden as the animal matures. May be domesticated: Gently broken or reared from a foal for use as a mount, but wild adults can be very skittish and high-strung. Even the most dependable mounts will still buck a trusted rider if startled or anxious enough.
Massive, docile lake dweller in the vein of the Loch Ness Monster. Very rarely seen, and even then usually just the fin, so it's difficult to know how large it actually is or if it's the onle one of its kind.
Earth species; of note because of "Bub," 6I's mascot moose. Bub is very curious and friendly and has been known to walk the village streets or come right up to houses. Bub's mate, Babs, and their calf are less frequently seen but still relatively friendly. Do note, however, that there may be other moose in the terraformed areas, and they can generally be quite dangerous.
Herbivore herd animal with compact body, shaggy mane and tail and curved, elk-like antlers. Large, strong haunches. Apx. the size of a large mountain goat. Can be domesticated to a point, but they can jump quite high and are likely to escape if their needs are not sufficiently tended to, including favorite foods, sufficient space and other animals for company. When they are happy, they leap in the air in delight. Their meat may be eaten, but is generally tough. They are good, consistent milkers, however, giving a creamy, rich milk similar to a goat's.
Massive, shaggy brown mammal reminiscent of an orangutan. Males have wide faces, long, looping horns and weigh about three times that of an adult human male. They are massively strong, and while they can be docile, males are easily agitated and have the capability to kill an adult human with little effort. Females and/or juveniles are never seen, so it is possible there is only a single male on the island.
Size of an average-to-large domestic cat, with markings and feathers like a peacock instead of fur. Males are brightly-colored and usually larger; females are smaller and have brownish coloring.
This species is carnivorous, and can be domesticated if consistently fed, but they are also notoriously fickle, and will leave if they feel they are not receiving the food and attention they deserve. They are grumpy and haughty almost constantly, although they rarely get so fussed they will lash out or bite a human.
EFFECTS: Oil from feathers results in a spike of endorphins, creating a feeling of euphoria for about 20 minutes, depending on the amount of oil absorbed by the skin.
Relatively common crustaceans that come in a variety of bright colors, tend to come out at night or in dark places more often than bright sunlight.
Small lizard, apx. 5 inches long. Bright orange with red and gold speckling and glossy liquid on skin. Desert-dwelling, but attracted to any source of heat. Mild temperament and will tolerate human company as long as there is a heat source nearby — Will happily lay next to man-made fires and on hearths, and can survive on typical household insects. Burps smoke when content.
EFFECTS: Ingestion of or contact with skin secretions long enough to seep into skin allows the character to heat body to create combustion via touch or force of will. This does not harm the heated character, and also makes them invulnerable to heat or fire. Fades quickly after 30 minutes.
Small speckled brown bird with a long, spearlike beak it uses to probe in the sand for insects and crustations. Body apx. the size of a tennis ball. Resembles sandpipers or woodcocks.
EFFECTS: Chirps induce sudden and intense mood alteration in humans, the type depending on the tone of the sound: Joy, sorrow, rage or loneliness. This lasts apx. 1 hour, although goldbell tea can ease the effects.
Mottled brown bony fish, bottom feeder. Grows up to 2 feet in length. Edible; meat is mild in flavor and similar to catfish.
Dark gray bat-like animal with reptilian features and leathery wings. Body apx. 3 inches long. Found in groups that favor thickly-grown, flowering trees during the day and chasing for insects at night.
EFFECT: Saliva introduced via bite induces temporary near-blindness along with heightened echolocation which may allow the effected character to "see," potentially finding objects which are hidden or in darkness. Last apx. 12 hours.
Small canine-like mammal, apx. 15-20 inches long, not counting the massive, bushy tail. Lives in large, talkative family groups that favor sparse brush on the edges of desert. Communicate through a high-pitched, chirpy bark and tail movements. Friendly but not easily domesticated or kept as pets; needs social interaction with its own kind to thrive. They have a kleptomaniac streak and will steal small items from humans, which may be traded for with fruit or shiny items.
Large water fowl, apx. the size of a goose or swan. Dark, glossy feathers that are excellent for repelling water. Can be aggressive and will bite, but overall is not dangerous as long as you don't agitate it. Tastes much like duck.
The stuff of nightmares. Black, semi-bipedal, slender and at least 8 feet tall at full height. Bright, glowing eyes and matted fur that blends easily into darkness. Nocturnal with long, sharp claws. Extremely aggressive and unpredictable.
Fluffy, alpaca-like animal found in small groups in mountainous terrain, particularly around fruit-bearing plants. Wool is thick, warm and a dark berry color. Rump and lower legs have zebra-like striping. Extremely docile, with pleasant personalities and a special fondness for Earth strawberries. Easily domesticated; may be kept in pens, does best with at least one other animal for company. Provides wool and a creamy white milk suitable for cheese.