Lore24 Roundup 13

Aelyrya Payne
May 13, 2024
9 min read

March 25th - 31st (Days 85-91)

Welcome to Lore24 Roundup 13!

There are a couple of nasties in this one, but also a fair few cuties! This is the last lot of animals for this section, we will be moving on to artefacts and legends next time! As always, all original posts can be found on my Mastodon.

Remember, all Lore24 posts are initial thoughts - they are not finalised at this stage!

Breakdown of Lore24 Roundup 13

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85. Western Black Fox

86. Mountaingreen Mouse

85. Western Black Fox

A relative of the Common Red Fox, the Western Black is a true fox that generally inhabits the western and central areas of Eirinn. They are less numerous than their red cousins, but live in similar types of environments. However, Western Black Foxes are significantly shyer than Common Reds; they are timid creatures that are incredibly slow to trust and will run away at the first sign of danger. They are fast and agile, able to disappear through tiny spaces in the blink of an eye and leaving little trace of their presence. Generally found in pairs or small groups, Western Black Foxes are highly nomadic, rarely staying in one area for more than a few months. They primarily feed on small rodents, though may also target rabbits, squirrels, game birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Western Black Foxes very rarely target domesticated animals as they prefer to avoid interaction with Humanoids. Farmers prefer the presence of Western Blacks for this reason; they keep vermin numbers low but avoid domestic animals. However, Western Black Foxes are regularly attacked by Common Reds, and they are vulnerable to attack from wolves and eagles.

Western Black Foxes stand 12-18 inches high at the shoulder, 16-33 inches in body length with tails measuring 9.8-19.9 inches. Their jet black fur is dense, soft, silky and relatively long, and their eyes are usually brown or amber in colour.

I love foxes, but I especially love melanistic foxes. They're ridiculously rare in the UK; most sightings of oddly coloured foxes are the result of an escaped pet, rather than a wild creature. I kept the rarity within Curtana, but wanted to make them something completely separate from Common Reds.

86. Mountaingreen Mouse

A strange little creature, the Mountaingreen Mouse is initially very unassuming to look at. However, the name is what gives this animal away. Mountaingreen is also the name of a caustic poison, though nobody is certain if the poison was named after the mouse or vice versa. The Mountaingreen Mouse secretes an oil into its fur which is caustic and poisonous; it causes rashes, burns and blisters on skin contact. If ingested, this substance causes abdominal pain, throat pain and swelling, vomiting, shock, or even seizures or collapse. Mountaingreen Mice are immune to this substance, and it appears to have no impact on plant matter or inorganic compounds. However, travellers need not fear accidentally encountering Mountaingreen Mice, as they only inhabit the mountains of the Northern Heartland region, where their primary food source is the Heartland Redroot. They are not prolific breeders and are generally solitary creatures that leave their young after only two weeks. Mountaingreen Mice are fast and easily able to blend into their mountainous forest home, but they are highly adapted to certain conditions and do not cope well with change.

Mountaingreen Mice reach 2-3 inches long with tails of equal length. Their fur is dark brown with a greenish hue and their eyes are usually black. They have small noses, short whiskers and oily fur. Their broad feet are suitable for climbing and their tails are used for balance.

I think I was just feeling nasty on this day... how could something so cute be so dangerous?! Well, apparently in A'arde they can! This was based on a regular little field mouse, but given the twist of mountaingreen poison, known in the real world as Paris Green, an arsenic-based organic pigment (copper(II) acetate triarsenite or copper(II) acetoarsenite). Interestingly, this was used previously as a rodenticide!

87. Kisiwa Dik-Dik

The Kisiwa Dik-Dik is a species of small antelope that lives in the bushlands of Kisiwa Mchanga, an island country in the sub-continental region of South Eirinn. They are related to the Girav Dik-Dik of Girava-Basur, South East Eirinn, but the two never meet in the wild. Dik-Diks are herbivores specially adapted to their arid environments. They have a low metabolic rate for their size, a lower density of sweat glands compared to other animals, and obtain most of their water from their food, which includes foliage, shoots, fruit and berries. Kisiwa Dik-Diks do not eat grass at all, but are known to greatly enjoy young acacia leaves. Kisiwa Dik-Diks are monogamous and adhere to a strict territory system, though territory-based clashes are very rare. Most incidents occur through accidental straying, rather than intentional incursion. Dik-Diks are prey to big cats, wild dogs, hyenas, giant eagles, warans (lizard beasts) and pythons. Humanoids also hunt Dik-Diks for meat and leather. Dik-Diks are named for the alarm calls made by the females to warn of danger.

Kisiwa Dik-Diks stand between 12-15.5 inches at the shoulder and around 19.5-27.5 inches long. They weigh between 6.6-13.2 lbs and females are usually larger than males. Both sexes are tan coloured with black ears and a black spot in front of the eye. Males have small horns while females have a black dorsal stripe. Both sexes have a tuft of long hair that grows on the crown of their head.

Yeah... part of the reason for including a Dik-Dik was because the name made me laugh. I'm such a child! But another part of it was that Dik-Diks are super cute, and I just HAD to have them in A'arde. I just can't get enough of their adorable faces!

88. Frostsabre

A relative of the Smilodon, the Frostsabre is a sabre-toothed tiger species adapted to the cold climates of Northern Eirinn and Duraloth. While initially believed to simply be a colour variation of the Smilodon, it has since been discovered that other differences between the two exist. While Frostsabres are generally more robust than their Smilodon cousins, their heads are slightly smaller with a shorter, broader nose, while their paws are wider and covered in fur. They also have longer rear legs and tails than a Smilodon, and their fur is longer and more insulating. Frostsabres are carnivores and tend to feed on large mammals, including bison, elk and small mammoths. They are known to prey on Humanoids should the opportunity arise, but are careful hunters that are able to recognise difficult prey. They most often remain solitary or as a mated pair and are known to be monogamous. Hunting will normally take place as a family unit until young are sexually mature at two to three years of age. After this, the young are driven out of the territory to fend for themselves until they find their own mate.

Frostsabres are robust and muscular, reaching 39 inches at the shoulder and 69 inches in body length, making them slightly smaller than Smilodons. Their fur is white speckled with various shades of grey spots, and its canines reach around 10 inches in length.

Frostsabres are based on Smilodons (Sabre-toothed Cats) but I chose to make them a more distinct species instead of a colour variation. This was because Smilodons simply didn't inhabit the areas of the world that would mimic the parts of A'arde that I wanted them to be in, so creating a slightly different species made more sense in my mind.

89. Giant Moa

The Giant Moa is a tailless, wingless bird native to the Silver Wastes and Southern Eirinn islands. While it typically walks with a lowered posture, when standing upright it could reach up to 12 ft in height, making it the tallest bird to exist. Giant Moas are robust and strong, making them ideal mounts for lowland regions where its speed and endurance mean it can outpace most horses. They are also farmed for their feathers, though these aren’t as popular as their ostrich cousins’ due to their “woolly” appearance, and their skins are used to make exceedingly tough leather. Giant Moas are predominantly herbivores, feeding on seeds, herbs, leaves and coarse twigs, though they sometimes indulge in insects. They are also strong fighters, capable of delivering powerful blows with their long, clawed legs, and terrible piercing injuries with their beaks. Giant Moa eggs are rarely used in cooking as they have a rotten taste, but they are used as magical components. Getting hold of the eggs can be troublesome, however, as Giant Moas are particularly ferocious in defence of their nests and young.

Giant Moas can reach 12 ft in height with females generally being larger than males. They have long necks and legs and their woolly feathers are various shades of brown and grey. They legs and beaks are usually a grey-tan colour, while their eyes tend toward shades of amber and brown. Their feathers can be up to 7.5 inches long and their claws are serrated.

Giant Moa were very much real, once. They were endemic to New Zealand, which remained uninhabited by Humans until 1300 when the Polynesians arrived. By 1445, all Moa were extinct, likely due to overhunting and forest clearing. Some places in New Zealand have turned up desiccated remains of these massive birds, which is pretty grim, but gives good insight into what these creatures actually looked like!

90. Redwing Bloodfly

Bloodflies as a whole are parasitic, blood-sucking insects that predominantly live in wet or humid environments, but the Redwing Bloodfly is a particularly nasty variant. Most commonly found in swamps, carr woodland and on bloody battlefields, Redwing Bloodflies will feed from any creature they happen across and swarms will attack relentlessly to defend their nests. Even stepping too close to a nest is enough to attract a Redwing swarm, and “too close” is often further from the nest than you may think! Redwing Bloodflies make their nests in corpses, expanding these nests by killing trespassers nearby and constructing elaborate tunnel systems between the corpses with regurgitated flesh and processed, fungus-like material. Redwing Bloodflies are carriers of many bloodborne diseases and parasites, though Bloodflies are not affected by them. Infestations close to Humanoid settlements are considered high priority for destruction, but because of their viciousness, the task is highly dangerous. Redwing Powder is a substance created by pounding the carapaces and wings of Redwing Bloodflies into fine particles. It can be used as plant fertiliser or as a component in poisons.

Redwing Bloodflies reach half and inch long with slim, tough bodies, long legs and a sharp, pointed proboscis. Their wings are a vibrant, shimmering red and they make a loud, deep, buzzing noise when they fly.

I think I was feeling nasty when I thought about these babies too! Bloodflies aren't a real thing, the closest you are likely to find are mosquitos and the like, but the concept of the Bloodfly is actually very common in fiction. It's probably why I was confused when I couldn't find an actual encyclopedic reference for them in my research! I was convinced that they were a real thing because the name is just so... normal!

91. Aurochs

An Aurochs is a type of large cattle distantly related to domestic cattle. It is a large herbivore most commonly found in forested/wooded areas adjacent to a body of water, and wetlands along lakes. They occasionally feed in open grasslands, though always close to woods or forests. In the wild, Aurochs tend to live alone or in small groups, gathering into small herds over winter. Because of their size, build and strength, adult Aurochs need not fear most predators, with the exception of Arthylluans, Arctodus and possibly Smilodons. Young Aurochs are often the target of grey wolves, brown bears and Simocyons. Aurochs can be domesticated, and both wild and domestic Aurochs are used for food and leather. Their horns are used to make drinking vessels, containers, weapon handles and calling horns. Domestic Aurochs are also used as pack animals and for their milk, which is said to be rich and fatty. Powdered bones and horn, as well as hearts and blood, are used in potions and rituals related to fertility. The Aurochs is sometimes used as a symbol of power and sexual potency.

Aurochs reach between 61 and 71 inches at the shoulder and both sexes have horns which can reach 31 inches in length. Males have a dark red to black colouration, while females are generally lighter red to chestnut, and males have a grey dorsal stripe. Aurochs are long-legged and muscular with an elongated skill and a long, slim tail.

Aurochs are extinct in the real world, and are supposedly the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle. They were bloody massive, and the last known Aurochs died of natural causes in 1627 in Poland. Excessive hunting led to the Aurochs' decline, which isn't all that surprising because... well... Humans! I used actual cultural references when I decided to give it the fertility theme.