BESTIARY
Not only is Terranuo inhospitable to it’s human inhabitants as it’s natural denizens can be hostile too.
Conditions on the desert world of Terranuo are harshest in the extreme, from blistering heat during the day to the ice cold of night. As such the creatures of this inhospitable world have adapted to become tremendously resilient in order to overcome these fierce hardships.
Carving habitats beneath the sun scorched sands or adapting to thrive under the searing sun, the predatory creatures of Terranuo are an ever-present threat to the people who call the planet home.
Few kinds of creature have been documented in the millennia since humanity arrived on Terranuo, the largely subterranean Arthropoda, as well as the surface dwelling Saurian and others.
The Arthropoda
Beneath the sun scorched sands, in the endless intersecting labyrinthine caverns, can be found the Arthropoda. Similar only in appearance to the arthropods of Earth, these skittering exoskeletal horrors stalk the under ways of the planet. Ranging from the size of a human hand to the size of a skyscraper, the Arthropoda are a hugely varied caste of creature. Reflective of Earth’s arthropods the Arthropoda evolved into highly specialised roles on Terranuo, making them incredibly efficient killers when in their environment.
Unlike their Earthen counterparts, whose diminutive size and fluid based internal structure allowed them to dominate the undergrowth, the Arthropoda of Terranuo, while vertebrate, evolved a complex structure of powerful internal muscles and flesh which allowed them to grow and support such a colossal mass.
The Rock Spider
The Rock Spider is a pseudoscorpion native to the dust bowls and valleys of Terranuo, anywhere that rocky formations can be found. The Rock Spider hides in plain sight but utilizes a unique tactic to stay unnoticed, it’s sturdy carapace strikingly resembles a Terranuan boulder. Throughout its life the Rock Spider consumes the rocks found in it’s environment, breaking them down in their powerful digestive system and routing the minerals into their stone-like exoskeleton.
The Rock Spider is a master ambush hunter, moving very rarely, spending substantial amounts of time completely still. Relying on its uncanny camouflage the Rock Spider is incredibly patient and will wait for it’s prey to enter it’s attack range before striking. When prey enters its strike zone the Rock Spider lashes out with its highly specialised pedipalps, which have evolved into long and powerful pincer like appendages, snaring its prey and dragging it into the now exposed fangs. Once the Rock Spider has its prey firmly in its grasp it injects it with a paralysis toxin. The now helpless prey is consumed alive.
Rock Spiders are known to share territories and are very rarely hostile to one another, however, there have been recorded instances of Rock Spiders mistakenly striking one another, though it seems their fangs aren’t strong enough to pierce the stone-like carapace and so the victim is released without issue.
The Rift Writhe
Constantly on the move, the Rift Writhe scours the lands of Terranuo looking for its next meal. As its name suggests it makes its home in the sun scorched corridors of Terranuo’s valleys and chasms. The Rift Writhe resembles the centipedes of Earth, with long segmented bodies and a large number of legs, they are however much, much larger.
The Rift Writhe is a carnivorous Arthropoda that relies on its specialised antennae to track its prey, these two whip like appendages are used to measure vibrations in the earth. An active hunter, the Rift Writhe will patrol large swathes of land in search of prey, while slow moving it is capable of quick bursts of speed if it senses prey within hunting distance. Armed with stout but powerful fangs, the Rift Writhe injects a lethal toxin into its victims. The Rift Writhes will battle each other, in often lethal battles over territories.
The Blood Slug
One of the more terrifying denizens of Terranuo’s vast network of underground tunnels, the Blood Slug is a giant worm-like creature that is perfectly suited to its home in these dank caverns. Averaging 30m in length the Blood Slug patrols the tunnels of it’s cavernous home, inching along in search of prey.
The Blood Slug is a slow moving but deceptively deadly hunter of the underways. Relying on it’s silent movement and infinite patience the Blood Slug waits for prey to enter its striking zone. Once its victim is close enough the Blood Slug makes its move, having been described as something straight out of a nightmare, the Blood Slug expels a horrific proboscis from its head, sticky tendrils shoot out and extend like roots, ensnaring the unfortunate target. It then slowly draws the target back into itself and consumes it whole, where it’s powerful digestive juices break them down.
The Warks and the Bull-Warks
The Warks are actually not Arthropods but actually closer to a form of Mollusc, these large, mostly docile creatures live close to (ore) deposits, of which they have a close relationship. (Possible scaling of difficulty as Warks reside nearby more rare ores?) Resembling a large red snail, and covered in metallic scale-like plates, these creatures are among the strangest denizens of Terranuo’s caverns.
The Warks live in family groups consisting of a large dominant male, known as the Bull-wark, and any number of females, called simply Warks. The Bull-wark can be identified as it is several sizes larger than the females and whose shell grows exceptionally large with hardened metal spines protruding from its exterior, pointed towards the front of the creature. The Bull-warks use these to joust with one another for dominance.
Warks will make their home in damp caverns where (ore)s are prevalent, the Warks will consume this mineral and it will enhance their shells and scales with them. This allows them to protect themselves from predators but also makes them valuable targets for colonists that are looking for an easy source of metal.
The Cavern Scuttler
The Cavern Scuttlers are a species of Arthropoda that live in hives below the surface of Terranuo. They are split into several castes that work together to support the Queen who lays the eggs that expand the hive. Similar to Earth’s bees, Cavern Scuttlers gather biomass to bring back to their hive which is transformed into food that feeds the colony.
The Queen Scuttler is the lynchpin of the colony and is directly responsible for expanding the hive’s population, she is magnitudes larger than any of the other castes and rarely ever moves from her birthing chamber, where she is cared for by her protectors. The most numerous member of the colony is the humble worker drone, who is similar in size to a small dog. The Drone works tirelessly to bring biomass back to the hive, they behave similar to ticks or mosquitoes, they latch onto creatures and drain their blood, filling a sack found in their abdomens. Once full they return to the hive and drain the blood into cells where, when mixed with their saliva turns the blood into a thick, viscous blood red honey-like substance that smells like rotting flesh.
The second caste of Scuttler is the Defender, ten times the size of the Drones these hulking beasts don’t possess the necessary traits to gather biomass for the hive, they do however possess a large pair of mandibles for protecting the drones and the hive from would be attackers.
Pendralith
The Pendralith is a distant cousin to the Wark species. While a docile species they can be very protective of their young. Pendralith are seemingly immortal and migrate in herds across Terranuo’s surface.
The Silt Sea Dragon
The Silt Sea Dragon is a colossal terrifying creature that dominates the Silt Sea region of the Araard Expanse. Many a TARGE has fallen prey to this enormous creature. Synonymous with the icon of death, the Silt Sea Dragon strikes fear into the hearts of all the creatures that call Terranuo home.
The Silt Sea region of the Araard Expanse is what remains of an ancient ocean that existed at some point in Terranuo’s past, now nothing but rolling dunes of silt, it is home to one of Terranuo’s most dangerous denizens, The Silt Sea Dragon.
The Sauria
Amidst the towering plateaus and winding canyons of Terranuo, a caste of reptile-like creatures stalk the land, unwearyingly awaiting an opportunity to strike. The Sauria. As ferocious as they are patient, the Sauria exert a cold-blooded intelligence that strikes fear into the hearts of their prey. Keenly adapted to the searing sun of the desert world, the Sauria thrive, and found among their species are some of Terranuo’s top terrestrial predators.
Morgopsidon
The Morgopsidon is an extremely dangerous proto-reptile that hunts on the surface of Terranuo. They can grow up to 25m long and up to 12 metric tonnes. Their tongues are twice as long as their head and function as a nose.
Morgopsidon are extremely territorial, so much so that they will follow their invaders for hours outwards of their territory.
Taugodon
The Taugodon is a highly skilled stealth ambush predator. Although it’s diet mostly consists of Arthropda, it is never reluctant to grab unsuspecting victims who wander too close.
Taugodon are known to be both pack hunters and lone hunters. Their social versatility has been crucial to their evolutionary survival.
Lurchidon
Lurchidon are known for their extreme cunning and intelligence. They are known to utilize other creature’s efforts to then overpower the exhausted victor and claim both bodies.
Lurchidon are pack-hunters, although their social skills amongst each other often lead to infighting.
Pterosuchadon
Pterosuchadon is a flying predator, known to hunt in packs using echolocation. Larger than a human, they pose a real threat to those unsuspecting of the skies
Mjorgon
Not much is known about the Mjorgon other than that it is extremely dangerous, even to most Categories of T.A.R.G.Es. The Mjorgon’s hide is covered in stone-like growths that serve as a hardened shell. Their dietary needs are currently unknown although they have been known to consume almost anything that enters their enormous maw.