Fauna of Fastheld

Fastheld has a wide variety of animal life fostered by its diverse terrain and climate. Many of the animals are utilized not only for their meat, but also for their furs, skins, and feathers used for decoration and other byproducts such as furniture, clothing, and tools.

Hunting

Hunting animals for sport is reserved mostly for the nobility, while Freelanders tend to hunt only for necessity. All hunting requires a permit of some type administered either by the House that owns the land, or in the case of property of the Empire, the Imperial Taxmaster.

Avians

The birds of Fastheld are limited in the number of species, but the variety within the species is broader in terms of size and color due to interspecies breeding.

Anae Stork

A graceful, long-legged bird, the Anae Stork is often found in starkly elegant poses, balanced on one or both of the aforementioned lengthy appendages. Its top coat of feathers is mostly a pristine white, tending towards pastel yellow (in general) at the tips, slightly dirtier yellows underneath. Bright green eyes prove a vivid contrast to that coloration, though in its verdant habitats, they remain one of the few parts of the bird that resemble camouflage. Other tip colors include shades of orange, red, and possibly blue (still an unsubstantiated rumor). Their body length from beak to tail ranges within 30-40 inches (75-101 cm.) with a wingspan of approximately 60 inches (1.5 m); the average weight of an adult male is 8 pounds (3.5-4 kg).

Its long, slightly curved beak is excellent for stabbing fish through the waters or scooping them up, especially when combined with the propelling power of its equally long neck. Everything about this bird, in fact, gives that impression of length - but its stalking movements are not clumsy all the same.

The Anae Stork is usually found in areas where it can access marshy wetlands, although it's fonder of areas close to human habitation than many other kinds of birds. It is a non-aggressive, peaceful animal that will run rather than fight unless its nest is threatened. The Anae Stork is also known for being a curiously quiet animal, almost silent in flight; it is for this reason, combined with their pale coloration, that some suspicious farmers call them 'ghost birds'.

Forester's Sparrow

Found just about everywhere, the Forester's Sparrow is a common songbird that's seen from one end of the known world to the other. Nesting in house eaves and trees, it is truly prolific and visible year-round. While never truly domesticated, the sparrow can be tamed if raised from a chick. Sparrows have been caged as pets for song in noble homes and taken by the Nillu into the mines near the Lode to act as a warning for those places where air has gone bad.

Children often imitate the sparrow's song, and it is a common scout signal used in both Imperial forces and for hunting. It is hunted lightly for its meat, which is slightly tough but has a vaguely sweet taste, and its bones and feathers which are used in jewlery, decoration, and to cut inexpensive quills.

Forrester's Sparrows, unlike some birds, do not appear in cycles, instead remaining in some proximity to their nesting space year-round. Females are simple in hue ranging from a light grey (most common) to charcoal-hued or dark brown, while the males have irridescent green, blue, or indigo wing-feathers and a remarkable capacity to imitate forest sounds, which they then use to attract a mate. Mated pairs return to the same nest each spring, but range wider through the winter months as food grows scarce. Their average body length is 7 inches (18 cm) with a wingspan of 14 inches (35.5 cm); the weight of the average adult male is approximately 8 ounces (227 g).

Like most birds, Forrester's Sparrows are flighty and quick to flee, preferring flight to conflict. Females have been known to play 'wounded', dragging a wing and acting hurt to lead predators away from a nest, but mated pairs will abandon unhatched eggs to predators and gatherers if the pretense fails.

Gray Buzzard

The scavenger bird of Fastheld, the gray buzzard is a common site in every region of Fastheld. Oftentimes the buzzards will circle in the sky above the site of a dead body, waiting for any other animals to disperse before swooping in to feed. Food is stored in their crop, and later they can bring it back to their nests to regurgitate it for feeding their young. Gray buzzards are rarely killed as a food source, but their dead bodies can be harvested for sturdy feathers used in quills.

The gray buzzard is not an agressive creature; in fact, it seldom attacks any animals, and usually only preys on the sick, injured, dying or dead. No attack upon humans has been recorded. An adult buzzard can grow up to 32 inches (81.2 cm) long with a wingspan of 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 m).

Gray Squawker

The gray squawker is among one of the most kept birds of Fastheld, ranking just below ravens in terms of domestic uses. They are generally intelligent birds with the unique ability to imitate sounds and human voices. They serve primarily as pets to the nobility, particularly the women, and it is not uncommon to see (and hear) one coming from a lady's bower. In 342 ATA, Viscount Antel Lomasa became famous for attempting to train the gray squawker as a messenger to use in lieu of paper and ravens. However, many unforeseen complications arose to stifle the Viscount's project; mainly that it was impossible to train the birds to deliver the message to only the intended recipient, and the squawker did not have the capacity to memorize anything more than a short message. The project was hastily abandoned, but it brought the gray squawker up in popularity where it has remained ever since.

The main habitat of the gray squawker is deep within the wooded areas of Fastheld. They mate for life, an unusual quality in avians, and stay in the same nest for their entire lives (unless they are forced by predators to move). Females can lay up to three eggs at a time. Their name is derived from their very bland, gray feathering for both males and females, although males will bear flashes of color (usually green or brown) on the tips of their tails. The gray squawker lives on a diet of seeds, fruit, and plant buds collected in their curved beaks. Rather large in size, the birds can grow up to 3.3 feet (1.0 m) in length with a wingspan double that, and they can weigh up to 8.8 pounds (4.0 kg).

Lomasa Goose

A staple of diets for both Freelanders and nobles, the Lomasa goose is a large fowl with a broad range of habitats. Troops of geese can be found in the marshlands and on the moors, while others inhabit the more sparsely forested regions of the lowlands. They always roost near large bodies of water whether they are springs, ponds, lakes, or rivers. The goose is susceptible to domestication, although the majority of the species is wild. They are hunted mainly for their meat and downy feathers, but their eggs are also edible.

The main diet of the Lomasa goose is a mixture of grass, herbs and grains. Females can lay up to six eggs at once. Their colors range from white to black and brown, and they often have multicolored striations on their wings. They can grow up to 3.3 feet (1 m) in height with a doubled wingspan, and can weigh up to 22 pounds (10 kg).

Moss Jay

With a distinctive trilling cry, the Moss Jay is the herald of Spring, vanishing as the leaves turn and reappearing as the ground thaws. Considered a mark that the Shadow of winter is failing, its annual reappearance is also used by most farmers to begin planning their crop planting and plowing, as well as a sign to expect consistent warming after the bitter cold.

The Jays are often imitated by children, and their song is used by Scouts and Wildland Hunters as a call signifying danger is near.

Females are blue and grey, making them virtually invisible against the sky while in the nest, while Males are an olive, almost emerald green with red eyes, remarkably distinctive. The feathers of both male and female are prized for ornamentation and inexpensive quills, while their bones are used in ornamentation and in the creation of iridescent inks. In recent years, sightings of green females and blue males have led the consideration of a new Moss Jay subspecies. They reach a general body length of 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) and a wingspan upwards of 10 inches (25 cm); the average weight of an adult male is 6 ounces (170 g).

Moss Jays are found throughout all of Fastheld, from early spring until late fall. They are never seen in winter, vanishing mysteriously as the leaves turn and returning again just before the ground thaws. They build a new nest each year, usually high in the treetops or among roof-trees, with minimal shelter to the sky. Many put out birdhouses and hollowed gourds to attract them, as their song is considered particularly pleasant.

Each year is a new courtship ritual, and the air around Moss Jay nests is a riot of song during the spring. Like all songbirds, Moss Jays prefer to flee by flight rather than to fight a predator. They will defend their nest, however, until it is obvious it is lost, flying into the face of those that would attempt to thieve eggs and doing their best to drive the encroacher away.

Raven

Ravens are a staple avian throughout Fastheld, and while often found in the wild within the forests, they are also commonly held in roosts in each township large and small. With a small body length of approximately 8 inches (20 cm) and a wingspam of double that, the raven is extremely fast in flight. They are known for having a good memory for locations, and are often trained to run messenger routes between certain townships. In fact, they are the primary messenger bird of the realm, usually carrying the small documents tied to a leg.

Unlike other bird species, the raven is extremely limited in its appearance: due to careful breeding, they have maintained their all-black coloring for hundreds of years. Their feathers are glossy and sleek and are used commonly in quills. The raven is also a relatively silent bird, often only giving a single large 'caw' to alert others to their presence. They are hardy by nature, able to withstand weather extremes from heat to blizzards to rainstorms; unless they are shot down, they always deliver their messages on time.

Domesticated

Bearded Goat

The goat is one of the most common animals within Fastheld and is primarily used for its milk. Goat milk can be made into various byproducts including cream and cheese, while the hide is tanned for leather. They range widely in naturalistic hues from white and grey to black and brown, and their long, shaggy coats can be shorn and woven into a thick, sturdy thread. The warmth of their hair makes their coats most useful for winter clothing.

The goat's most remarkable features are their horns: long, sharp and jutting backward out of the bridge of their skull, the horns are often used for tools and decoration. The goat also has a tuft of hair at the chin that resemble beards. They stand nearly three feet tall (approximately one m), and weigh anywhere from 60-100 pounds (27 to 45 kg).

Once wild, the bearded goat can still be found in nearly all terrains on Fastheld except for the marshlands. They are a sturdy and gentle breed, can subsist on meager diets of grains, wild grasses, and scraps, and they are very commonly domesticated.

Landgrub

The landgrub is the most popular bird of Fastheld, and also the only flightless avian. It once inhabitated the plains regions, but over the past hundred years has found itself relying wholly on domestic breeding. It is a staple within the diet of nearly all Fastheldians from the peasants to the nobles, because it is cheaply raised and breeds easily and in great numbers.

The landgrub is a squat, fat bird with feather colors commonly being white, brown, orange, or black. It is commonly housed in a fenced-in yard because it cannot fly, and an average farmer will own one male for breeding and several females for laying eggs. Females can lay eggs whether or not they are fertilized, and the unfertilized ones are harvested for eating. The average weight of the landgrub ranges from 3-5 pounds (1.5-2.5 kg).

This domesticated bird can be maintained throughout the year, although during winter months is housed within a barn in order to protect the animals from exposure.

Mongoose

The symbol of house Mikin, the Mongoose is generally considered inquisitive, protective, and forthright, standing opposite the Zahir Nightslider and generally considered its enemy. Quick, astoundingly agile, and friendly, mongooses are hunted in the wild for their pelts and meat, but are generally regarded as a friendly, lucky creature and largely appreciated by those that encounter them.

Widely kept as pets, the mongoose has been domesticated for nearly four hundred years, and is associated with the heroic Scourges of times past, and is a symbol of the guardianship of the Light.

The mongoose colors vary depending on their habitats, but they tend toward the browns, greys, and whites found in nature. Their claws are exceptionally sharp and fierce, as are their teeth, and they are known for their slender and sleek builds. They have long fluffy tails, dark eyes, and whiskers on their snouts. The average length of the mongoose is anywhere from 18-36 inches (45-90 cm), and fully grown adult weighs approximately 7 pounds (3 kg).

Wild mongooses are found in the forested sections of Fastheld, as well as in the Azure Plains and the Northwatch Woods in the Wildlands. Interestingly, they are only rarely spotted in the Verdegris, and never seen near the water at Stillwater Lake. They travel in small groups, called 'mongaggles', usually one male, a small handful (two or three) females, and kits, being protective of each other and often sharing food and young-watching duties.

Mongooses are inquisitive, overcurious, and largely unafraid of man - remaining only wary of him in the wilds. Preyed on by larger predators, they, in turn, prey on snakes, insects, and vermin - often among the very baseboards and basements of the houses of Fastheld. Interestingly, though they are not immune to Nightslider venom, they have been known to attack the snakes on sight, without provocation - though they do not seem particularly interested in eating them over any other prey.

Paso Fino

The riding horse by which all others are judged, the Paso Fino is a breed known for its exceedingly smooth gait and high endurance. Chestnut, Roan, Paint, and Black colorations are all common, and the horse spans the breadth of temprament and spirit. Favored by noble and well-off Freelander alike, the breed is unsuited for hauling, and is best used as a simple rider or trail horse. Capable of carrying a single rider and all gear a significant distance, they can also be trained for light combat duty and are the breed most often chosen for horsebound Rangers and hunters simply because of their survivability and hardiness.

The best Paso Finos in Fastheld are said to come from Seamel breeders, though the Lomasas have a fair interest in this breed themselves. They stand as tall as 5 feet (1.5 m) at the shoulder, and weigh an average of 800-1200 pounds (360-545 kg).

Generally, the Paso Fino is a domesticated breed with a long and carefully tracked lineage, bred to be a riding horse. There are several wild herds, however - a handful of the beasts still roam in the wild spaces of Fastheld, especially along the base of the Aegis. The breed is exceedingly common within Fastheld.

In the wild, horses are herd beasts, more prone to flight than to fight aggressors. Domesticated Paso Finos are largely unquantifiable; it's best to say that each individual horse has its own personality, and the breed was bred for endurance, not for agreeable personality traits. Different strains of the breed are known, in fact, for different tempraments - House Seamel paso finos tend to be high-spirited, intelligent beasts, somewhat willfull but rewarding to the expert rider, while House Nillu's breeds are much more even tempered and docile, as befits a merchant's mount.

River Trotter

The River Trotter as a domesticated beast is known, however, for its charm, docility and intelligence, considered the premere mount of the unarmored nobility of Fastheld both for the physical magesty of their gait and the smoothness of the ride. What makes them unique is a body type that makes them look as though they stride, highstepping in a slow trot and with an unmistakeable grace in their gallop. Bred by all houses, the Nillu and Lomasa take especial pride in their Trotters, with the House of the Bear prizing appearance and the unique step, and the House of the Bull adoring their intelligence and grace.

Their variety of color and pattern of trotter coats is quite broad. White, black, dappled, piebald, roan - the selection is endless. The horses tend to be expensive and relatively rare, with the dominance of the Paso Fino as a riding animal and the utility of a Shire for pulling wagons and plows; affecianados say that the Trotter's ride, however, is unparalleled, even if the animals are wholly unsuited to combat. They stand 5 feet at the shoulder (1.5 m), and weigh an average of 800-1200 pounds (360-545 kg).

The River Trotter is a domesticated breed of wild horse, found throughout Fastheld, largely in the hands of the nobility. In the wild, they tend to congregate in the marshy edges of the plains and swamps, and in the low scrub forests along the Jadesnake and the Fastheld rivers. The wild herd bloodlines tend to be heavily mixed, but the River Trotter body type and gait tend to dominance through them.

In the wild, horses are herd beasts, more prone to flight than to fight aggressors. The River Trotter as a domesticated beast is known, however, for its charm, docility and intelligence, considered the premere mount of the unarmored nobility of Fastheld both for the physical majesty of their gait and the smoothness of the ride.

Shire

A Shire is a heavy horse, used for plowing, farm work, and bearing heavy loads. Generally gentle, but exceedingly strong, they are prized as carthorses and, despite their size, for those who are not the best of riders.

Standing on average at eighteen hands at the shoulder, Shires come in bays, black bays, and chestnuts primarially. Not fast, as horses go, they have been traditionally bred for loads over all else. Wild Shires are very uncommon, usually 'feral' herds that have slowly accumulated as those that breed the beasts have lost intractible or overcurious mounts. That said, the wild ones have become prized for their spirit - a cut above the long-domesticated breeds. House Seamel is famous for horse breeding in general, but like the Paso Fino, the Shire breeds that come out of Seamel lands are highly prized.

Shires are found everywhere man has a use for them, of course. In the wild, however, Shires prefer plains and low forest, where their lack of speed is countered by their ability to see predators coming. They stand 6 feet (1.8 m) at the shoulder, and weigh 1500-2000 pounds (680-910 kg).

Shires are generally placid, docile, and friendly beasts, inquisitive without being overly bright. They will fight only if cornered, preferring to run when faced with a real threat, but, given their size, they consider very little threatening. They are unsuitable for warhorses due to their relative lack of spirit, and are practically untrainable in the role. If a Shire is driven to fight, they fight only until escape presents itself, and then flee. That said, a kick or a stomp from these powerful beasts is more than capable of killing a man outright.

Shriekweasel

Inquisitive, territorial, and living in tightly-knit groups, the Shriekweasel is the largest animal of its sort in the known world. There are other weasels, martins, and minks about - but none grows so large, with such luxurious brown-and-golden fur, and with such a wide range. It is considered lucky, and a prime target for hunters looking for profit from furs.

House Nillu has actually domesticated the Shriekweasel, its nobles prizing the animal for its exceptional loyalty, companionship, and its ability as a guardian. Its distinctive shriek, from which it derives its name, can literally be heard for miles, sounding not unlike a woman's high-pitched scream of distress. Their fur colors tend toward the dark browns and blacks and in between, with all-white shriekweasels being very rare and highly prized. They are an average of 3-4 feet (1-1.2 m) in length and weigh an average of 11-22 pounds (5-10 kg).

Shriekweasels live in family groups often extending to four and five generations, in burrows and small cave systems dug into the land and roots of the largest, oldest forest trees. With catlike intelligence and grace, they are nonetheless not often found alone. Unusually, this beast prefers the winter months, being most active when the air is at its coldest, and choosing to spend most of the spring and summer hidden away in dens and only coming out to hunt. As the air chills, they move out of their burrows, ranging over a wide swath to hunt and mate, with their mating season coming in early autumn. They prefer insects, small lizards, rodents, and the occasional Longflank Hare as a meal.

Shriekweasels in the wild will generally avoid contact with predators (and men), using their burrow systems for protection and keeping to a somewhat limited range. They trust easily, however - a patient observer that waits a time will see them emerge and frolic and hunt once they grow used to his presence. They prefer to flee rather than fight, but will defend their burrows to the death if the burrows are compromised - often driving off badgers who consider them a delicacy.

Domesticated Shriekweasels live about nine years, and are incredibly close companions, tailing their chosen humans closely and actually wasting away if shut away from them for too long. They are vicious, though not exceedingly dangerous, guardians, taking well to training that involves guarding their owner's sleeping-place or possessions. Inquisitive, they are as curious as cats, fearless around other humans and often making off with shiny objects that catch their interest. These animals often grow lethargic and sleepy when the temperature is too warm, preferring cooler days and spaces to the high days of summer.

Silk Spider

Nobody really knows when the first silk spider was domesticated, or even how the strands it spins were discovered to be able to be woven into the strong yet light fabric of the same name. What is certain is that silk spider tending has been a profession since before the Aegis was raised. Originally the exclusive purview of the Zahir, the chaos in the wake of the betrayals early in that House's career made it possible for other Houses to obtain the spiders and the secrets of keeping them alive and spinning. Now, all noble houses have their own silk families, and the fabric - while still rare - is no longer exclusive to the House of Ravens.

Silk Spiders are not found in the wild, and escaped silk spiders usually do not last through the winter, as their silk has been bred for its weaving qualities, and their webs, while strong, are not terribly useful for catching prey. Regardless, Silk Farming is considered a very dangerous profession, tended to by families who have worked in the substance for generations. Entire lineages of silk spiders have been cataloged, and there is much prestige to be had in being able to tend the temperamental and fragile creatures. They subsist on a diet of insects.

No longer found in the wild, Silk Spiders are kept in enclosures that must be sheltered from the sun, yet not allowed to freeze. They live only a year, growing to maturity in just a few weeks after hatching, and weaving massive webs that fill their enclosures several times over the spring and summer. They have bulbous yellow bodies with small heads and eight wiry legs. They are approximately 5 inches (13 cm) in diameter (legs included) and weigh approximately 8-10 ounces (223-283 g). Eggs are laid in large clutches, attached to the walls by massive amounts of silken thread.

Interestingly, Silk Spider thread - while still somewhat sticky - is not really suitable for catching prey. Over the years, spider breeders have emphasized quantity and fineness over stickiness and the ability to trap food - making the silk easier to work and generally less useful to the spider itself.

Silk spiders are spiders, and while domesticated still require live prey. They defend their webs when the Farmers arrive to take them, but their venom is weak and their fangs are short. Generally, Silk Spiders are like any other spider, relatively unaffected by handling as long as it is done with caution to avoid activating their instinctive need to protect themselves. Farmers are usually in no real danger save during the harvesting of silk, and the spiders can even be transferred from enclosure to enclosure with relative ease.

Silk harvesting drives them, however, to defend themselves - a tricky thing, as killing the spiders means no more silk for the year, and possibly no young spiders for next year's work. Farmers wear heavy protective aprons, gloves, and helms made of a metal grate, pulling down the webs with large hooks made for that purpose. Silk Spider venom is not generally deadly to a healthy adult, but will make a man ill - children, smaller animals, and the elderly are at significant risk if bitten. Certain herbs do slow or even counteract the venom.

Steadfast

The steadfast is another domesticated animal that contains a variety of subspecies - approximately 45 within Fastheld. They serve primarily as companions to humans, but they serve several other roles as well. Steadfasts can be trained as property guards, bodyguards, hunters, trackers, herders, and companions. Their builds vary greatly from thin-boned and speedy to large-framed and exceptionally strong; most of the steadfasts are larger in build due to natural Fastheldian preference. The average length of a steadfast is 24-27 inches (60-70 cm) and weigh anywhere from 95 to 130 pounds (43-60 kg). Their coloring and coat patterns are extremely variable but tend to have certain traits for each subspecies.

The origin of the steadfast is unknown, as they have been relegated to a domesticated animal bred only by humans. They have different personalities and temperaments, and the most reknown breeders will have carefully tracked lineages and certifications to accompany each member of every new litter. Because of this, some of the pups have been sold for exorbitant prices to high-ranking nobles.

Steadfasts are not usually eaten or killed for sport, nor are they used in any textiles or other common household products.

Forest

While located primarily in the wooded areas of Fastheld, some of these creatures may migrate into the lowlands as well.

Brown Elk

The brown elk is a majestic animal, tall and muscular. Resembling an oversized deer, it stands upon four slender legs, its mahogany coat glossy and smooth over powerful shoulders and hindquarters. A ruff of thicker fur insulates the neck, shaggy and warm. Females of the breed tend to stand closer to 4.5 ft (1.3 m) at the shoulder and weigh on average 500 lbs (225 kg), whereas males are noticeably larger at 5 feet (1.5 m) and 700 pounds (320 kg). The male of the species is crowned by six-tined antlers that begin their growth in the spring but are shed by winter, powerful weapons of natural bone.

Chitter

The chitter was once voted the most obnoxious animal to have ever cursed Fastheld with its presence, at least according to the Kilning 591 issue of "The Fastheld Chronicle". The publication spent half the year painstakingly collecting votes from members of both nobility and the working class, and the majority spoke: 92% voted the chitter as most obnoxious, followed by the grey squawker with 6%. The bushy-tailed vermin can be hunted both for their meat, which is slightly chewy and gamey, and their paltry coats as well. Chitter trapping is generally the profession reserved for peasants.

Chitters are small rodent-like creatures with long, bushy tails. Their diet consists mainly of nuts collected in the harvest season and stored to survive an otherwise nut-less winter. They make their homes mainly in trees, but are more than happy to build elaborate constructions within the thatched roofs of many a home. On average, chitters grow up to 21-29 inches (53-73 cm) in length and weigh up to 11-18 pounds (5-8 kg). The color of their fur ranges between white to black or grey and brown and all variations therein.

Emerald Spider

The Emerald Spider is, in reality, not just one sort of spider, but the name of the most common type of large arthropod found throughout Fastheld and the wildlands. Predominantly green (thus its rather simple name) to blend in with the canopies of the trees that are its home, the Emerald Spider is an able predator that spins webs nominally to entrap birds, bats, and other larger avians among the tree branches.

It prefers darker locations, and has the unique property of being able to camoflauge its silk by injecting it with a sort of organic dye; from certain perspectives, Emerald Spider webs are completely invisible to the naked eye, appearing as part of the scenery down to color and even internal texture.

Their silk is exceedingly strong; a hunting web is usually insufficient to hold any human larger than a child immobile, but is a remarkable hinderance regardless, often needing to be cut or burned away to avoid impeding motion. Given enough time, a breeding colony of emerald spiders can and have coocooned adult humans, wildcats.. and even the occasional horse. Their venom is narcotic, inducing drowsiness and unconsciousness especially with repeated bites.

The spiders live mostly in remote places; as a predator of man, they are not often endured near settlements or steadings, even in the Wildlands. Mostly, they are arboreal, and thus pose little direct threat; they prefer to live high, using webs to catch smaller creatures like chitters and jays, relying on their own agility to avoid predation.

They usually live in small colonies of three to five hunting adults, though lone emerald spiders (usually females) can often be found in search of new hunting grounds. Once a year, a colony will lay a communal egg sac containing thirty to forty eggs; the juviniles are barely hand-sized, and their venom is nontoxic to humans (it grows potent with age). Less than five will survive to adulthood, as they are often eaten by eagles, bears, and other apex predators - as well as men who find the taste of their delicate flesh to be a delicacy.

To date, the emerald spider has never been truly domesticated (as the silk spider has) - but it is often 'tricked' into spinning webs of camoflauge and unusual colors by incredibly brave individuals who risk the fangs for the profitibility of such silk. Given that the spiders are by no means 'tame', and that settlements are understandably uncomfortable with having them nearby, most of those who would pursue such a trade do so in very remote areas with existing populations - and often come to a very sticky end.

The emerald spider is an oddly neutral creature, generally placid unless provoked or its web disturbed. Colonies possess a rudimentary cunning, working together to envenom and enwrap prey - but as a whole the spider is not truly intelligent, seeking to eat, breed, and spin as needed.

They are weavers, building elaborate webs with which to catch prey - and in colonies are not averse to bringing down even something the size of a human who becomes entangled in their webs. Given that their webs are usually high up, however, the spiders only rarely prey on man due to simple lack of opportunity.

Without a web, or when faced with fire or other strong light and heat sources, the spiders will generally retreat, though they will defend themselves if cornered.

Four-Toed Hunch

A small, grey-furred beast, the Four-Toed Hunch is a reclusive, nocturnal creature that relies on its impressive climbing ability and stealth to avoid predators. Free- and Wildlanders prize the beast's meat as being flavorful and rich, making it a staple part of their diet in those areas that the Hunch is found. Very common, hunches occasionally can be found rooting through the refuse of a village or even raiding a vegetable garden, though their preferred foods are insects and small lizards.

Hunches are mostly found in the trees along the riverbanks and marshy areas of the known world. Arboreal, they are rare treats for animals that do not climb - like the Rock Wolf or even the largest Mankiller Bear. Mud bears find them a delicacy, and humans prize them for their meat as well. They are approximately 3 feet (1 m) in length, tail included, and weigh between 5-7 pounds (2-3 kg).

A Four-Toed Hunch is almost completely harmless; while it will bite, if it must, its general tactic is to be hidden, quiet, and overlooked. Very stealthy, the challenge in hunting one is literally in finding it in the first place.

Kahar Red Deer

Common throughout Fastheld and the Wildlands, the Kahar Red Deer is a primary food source and hunter's staple. Legendary for its skittishness, wide eyes, and the spring rutting season, they figure prominently in stories as the target of Knight's hunts, and prominently on the tables throughout the known world as a food species. Fireside tales and legends persist of a white buck that has never been caught, that is said to lead those it chooses to allow to chase it into the service of the Light.

The deer range in small herds and family groups throughout the forested areas of Fastheld, most common near Silkfield, Aegisport, and along the Silver Bear. They are a primary prey for Rock Wolf, Mankiller Bear, and human alike. They are a quadriped, commonly red of coat but also brown and white, and stand 4 feet (1.2 m) at the shoulder while weighing approximately 600 pounds (272 kg).

Spring is their rutting season, when the herds tend to congregate in the deepwoods and their bellowing challenges are made and mating rights fought over. So loud are their mating challenges, in fact, that they've been commonly known to drown out roosters in the early morning and even make conversation difficult in the center of town too near the forest's edge.

The Kahar Red Deer remains active throughout the year, neither hibernating nor changing its range as winter falls; herds can often be seen crossing Fastheld's roads in the depths of the cold months in search of food. While not generally domesticated, some enterprising nobles have managed to tame young red deer as pets and ornaments around their manor grounds.

The Red Deer is skittish, preferring flight over fighting in nearly every circumstance, relying on its speed and agility to keep it safe. Its size protects it against 'lower' predators, however, leaving it with little to fear save beasts like the Rock Wolf and, of course, Men. During rutting season, the males can be more aggressive, but attacking human beings is so rare as to be the source of anecdote and laughter.

Longflank Hare

The Longflank Hare is an exceedingly common animal found throughout Fastheld and the Wildlands. Considered a pest, it is often responsible for damaging farmer's crops as much as it is responsible for being a favored addition to stews and soups. Generally undomesticated, no real effort has been made to try to farm the hare - their numbers simply make the effort not entirely worthwhile. The Hare's fur is prized for its warmth, and its meat has a surprisingly delicate flavor. Rumors persist that its ears and hindfeet are lucky charms, often carried by those wishing just a bit of an edge.

The Longflank Hare ranges just about everywhere there's a decent hiding spot and food to eat; it is often seen and quick to flee at the approach of any predator. Unusually, the Longflank Hare is one of the fastest animals in Fastheld when at a full run, but it cannot maintain its top sprint for very long. Regardless, hunters have noted a hare outdistancing a Rock Wolf in full sprint in the deepwoods. Their fur coats tend to run the color of their environment for camouflaging purposes - white and brown being most common, while black and grey are much more rare. They are 18 inches (45 cm) in length and approximately 2-5 pounds (1-2 kg).

Timid and shy, the Hare will only bite or fight when caught and unable to escape, fleeing at all opportunities. Excellent hearing and a sense of smell, along with its speed, serve as its only real defense.

Mankiller Bear

The 'king of its kind', Mankillers are aggressive, vicious, and among the most dangerous natural beasts found in the Wildlands and Fastheld. Thankfully rare, and never encountered lightly, they are perfectly capable of ripping a man's horse in half, and have been known to eat humans if no better prey presents itself (and they're hungry enough).

With rusty, cinnamon-colored fur, Mankillers are truly massive creatures, standing six feet at their shoulder, and nearly eleven feet when on hind legs. Their long fangs are nearly a handspan and a half in length, with claws as long and sharp as dirks. With more than half a ton of weight to drive a blow, they hit as hard as a man with a greatsword, while thick fur, loose skin, and a layer of fat make them resistant to any real damage in return. They stand at 6 feet (1.8 m) on all fours and around 10-11 feet (3-3.5 m) on their hind legs. They weigh an anywhere from 400-1500 pounds (181-680 kg).

Mankiller bears climb, dig, and are remarkably swift for their size; while they are an easy target due to their bulk, even skilled swordsmen have been felled by their raw power and tenacity; it's said that a close encounter with a Mankiller, if you survive it, will certainly renew your faith in the Light, if only for how blessed that survival is. Wearing a Mankiller Tooth Necklace or a cloak made from their pelt is considered a mark of status among those who hunt, and the few who have them attests to the difficulty in getting the materials for making one while keeping your head.

Thankfully rare, Mankillers prefer lightly forested areas, plains, and the low rocky foothills of the Drakesreach. Within Fastheld, they are exceedingly uncommon, found mostly near the Silkfield and Aegisport woods. They sleep most of the winter, being most agressive in spring and active until the air turns frosted. Generally, they'll seek shelter in a cave or burrowed den, usually with several others of their kind - contrary to popular belief, they sleep lightly, and are easily roused by intruders, as many a hunter has found to their eventual chagrin. They generally move as individuals, coming back together in groups for their winter's sleep; females are often found with their cubs, and are fiercely, aggressively protective of them.

Mankillers are best described as grumpy and agressive. While they are, as most animals, generaly wary of humans, a hunter who keeps eyes open and avoids getting at all close to the beast will generally be safe. They are, however, quick to defend themselves and what they perceive as their territory and personal space, their actions becoming more and more aggressive as they are approached. Once a Mankiller decides to attack, it very rarely stops until the thing its tearing into ceases movement and lies still. These bears WILL eat human beings if they are hungry and opportunity presents.

Mud Bear

Common, with a range up and down Fastheld's rivers and along the Jadesnake in the Wildlands, the Mud Bear is an 'eat anything' predator that is generally shy, when it comes to man. Tending to seven feet (2 m) in total length for the largest specimines, the bears are usually honey-brown, with black masking around the eyes and muzzle. While nowhere near the size of their larger cousins, the Mankiller Bear, the Mud Bear is significantly faster, and markedly less aggressive. They weigh anywhere from 250-600 pounds (113-272 kg).

Subsisting on a diet of fish, fowl, tree bark, shrubs, and insects, the Mud bear tends to follow its stomach through its range while largely avoiding concentrations of human habitation. It prefers to flee rather than fight, and is active from spring until a short time after the frost hits in winter. During the coldest months, the Mud bear's activity slows, as its sleep lengthens; while it never truly hibernates, it eats only rarely and remains largely in its den through most of the coldest months.

Mud bear galls are reputed to have medicinal qualities, and they are often hunted for them

Generally, Mud bears are found along the rivers, ranging into the wild spaces in both Fastheld and the Wildlands. They travel great distances, following their stomachs, and have no real indvidual territories, though they themselves tend to be solitary in their wanderings. Mud bears are fairly common, yet elusive creatures, preferring to flee instead of fight and wary of mankind. They generally attack only if cornered, wounded, or otherwise have no other choice, though they will be remarkably fierce in defending their cubs. For the most part, Mud bears often flee well before a threat encounters them, though they can be brutal if cornered. Once they do start defending themselves, they will often fight until greviously wounded or the threat is eliminated. Hunters say that if attacked by a Mud bear, often curling up and playing dead will save your life, if not your hide.

Rock Wolf

The Rock Wolf is a lesser known creature of Fastheld whose ranks have long been depleted by massive hunting. Known for their thick pelts, the rock wolf fur has served as the most favored and high-priced fur around the empire. Rock wolf cloaks and clothing are highly valued, and as such they are owned nearly exclusively by the nobility. It has been suggested that the extreme aggressiveness of the species is what led to the dramatic decline in its numbers within the walls. Rock wolves are found mostly outside of the Aegis now.

Standing nearly three feet (1 m) at the shoulder, the rock wolf is a broad and muscular canine known to weigh up to 120 pounds (54 kg). The color of the wolf coat varies among the species with grey or white being the most common and brown or red seen the least (and consequently, also the most expensive). They once stood as denizens of the forests of Fastheld, but due to widespread hunting are limited to snowier regions of the Wildlands.

Silver Ape

The only kind of its species that graces Fastheld, the silver ape inhabits the deep thick of the forests both within and outside of the Aegis. The ape was once hunted for sport, but within the past fifty years it has become unfashionable and 'old' to possess silver ape statues and mounted heads. Some of Fastheld's top scholars have theorized that the silver ape could be a distant relative to the mythical Bog Ape; in fact, the tome The Historical Examination of Cross-Species Relations by Baron Felmar Seamel devotes an entire section to outlining this theory.

The silver ape is generally a very peaceful but very territorial animal. A social creature, the ape lives in a large society called a 'family'. Families tend to have fairly even numbers of both males and females, and the adults do not exhibit 'mated pair' behavior. Conflict can arise if male members from one family wander into the territory of another family. Upon reaching adulthood, males will leave their home and venture out to begin their own family. Females appear to be devoted parents, spending nearly all of their time in the presence of their offspring until they reach maturity.

Silver apes are foragers subsisting mostly on foliage. They walk on all fours, bent at the waist, and balancing on the knuckles of their hands. The hair on their bodies ranges from dark brown to a mostly black in color, and adult males have a greyish-white section of hair in the center of their back - hence the name 'silver ape'. Adult silver apes can grow up to between 5'5"-5'9" (1.65-1.75 m) and weigh between 310-440 pounds (140-200kg).

Snow Bear

The snow bear has never been seen alive within Fastheld, although guards on the Aegis have hunted them from the wall upon occasion. The snow bear's primary habit is the snowy climes of the mountains outside the empire, and because of this very little is known about their habits. From examination of the carcasses, it has been determined that they are an omniverous species with sharp teeth at the front of their mouth for tearing meat, but flatter teeth at the back for grinding vegetation. The contents of the stomachs revealed their diet consists largely of fish and berries.

Estimates put the general size of the snow bear anywhere from 5.9 to 9.8 feet (1.8-3 m) in length, and their weights vary between 330-1500 pounds (150-680 kg). They are an exceptionally large, four-legged creature with a wide body and rounded hit. They bear snouts and whiskers, very large and dark eyes, and rounded ears atop their heads. Their snowy white coats - from which they get their name - are very thick with multiple layers to maintain warmth in cold climates.

Treeclinger

The treeclinger is a tree-dwelling mammal - so tree-dwelling, in fact, that one rarely sees them on the ground unless they are sick, dying, or dead. The treeclinger is an exceptional climber able to swing from tree to tree in a matter of seconds. They are hard to spot, and even harder to catch, so their numbers and habits are generally unknown. Their coats are generally white with black markings on the head and back, while their tail - the most noticeable feature - is black ringed with white. Or is it white ringed with black?

Tuft-Eared Wildcat

Associated with House Kahar and the Light, the Tuft-Eared Wildcat is very rare inside the Aegis, and highly uncommon outside of it. Elusive, stealthy, and with strong family bonds, it is a capable hunter, easily able to bring down prey twice or three times its size. While hunters do seek them for their pelts and claws, it is a rare hunter that has the skill to succeed regularly.

Consuming the flesh of a wildcat is said to make one brave and more certain, while their claws and fangs are often carried as talismans against the Shadow. Popular lore associates the Wildcat with the 'illumination' of the Light, crediting it as being a wise creature, swift to strike down the Shadow in its own lair, advisor and guide to Emperors and those the Light has chosen for its own.

Wildcats range widely over their 'territory', generally following prey as it moves. They are active year-round, with the spring mating season making them their most dangerous. Their wide range and general retreating nature make them exceptionally rare sights, and they prefer to avoid man or the few larger predators that would consider them a meal of opportunity. They can grow from 3-5 feet (1-1.5 m) in length and weigh around 25-50 pounds (11-23 kg).

Wildcats are generally solitary creatures, though mated pairs are exclusive, and mate for life. Their wide range and solitary nature makes them rare and unusual sights in the wild spaces. While normally the Wildcat avoids man, it is not above fighting to earn the right to flee, or in defense of mate or cubs. A hunter hunting wildcats should be exceedingly careful to determine whether the track he follows is part of a mated 'family' - more than one hunter has killed one wildcat only to be mauled by another that simply does not cease attack until it or its target is dead.

Wild Boar

One of the staple hunted animals of Fastheld and the Wildlands, and the stock from which the domesticated Fastheld swine has evolved, the Wild Boar is, by reputation, a fierce, brutish, aggressive beast. It's often said that the ability and knowledge to hunt Boar is what separates the professional hunter from those who hunt merely for sport and for the occasional suppliment to their table; hunting for the wild pig is more dangerous, in many ways, than hunting Rock Wolf.

Seen as something of a nuisance in civilized areas, the Wild Boar is prized for the strength of the leather made from its hide and the sheer quantity of meat that can be butchered from it.

The wild boar is found mostly in the forested areas of the wilderness within and without the Aegis, moving in large family group 'packs' as they range for food. In general, the largest male leads a group of four to five females, with their piglets and the occasional extra male hanger-on, though the extras are not tolerated during the spring mating season. They generally eat plants and insects, finding ground-mushrooms a particular delicacy. They can grow to 2-3 feet (60 cm-1 m) in length and weigh around 300-500 pounds (136-226 kg).

Females will protect their young, but are generally unaggressive, preferring to run rather than fight. Males, on the other hand, are territorial, brutish, vicious, ornery, and exceedingly dangerous.

A male seeing a threat to his 'family' will posture and squeal before charging, seeking to drive intruders off with sharp tusks and hooves. A bony head and shoulder-carriage make it surprisingly hardy to conventional attack, and its raw rage often drives it even past a mortal wound to attempt to kill those that wounded it. A maddened boar is more than capable of killing a single hunter who doesn't make a tree in time.

Their real weakness is poor eyesight - even if smelling an intruder, the boar will often wait to charge until it is certain it has something to charge at, and has been known to lose track of a target that can get out of its field of vision and downwind. Once it is maddened, a Boar will stop at very little until its target - and likely whatever else it can get hold of around that target - is dead and unmoving.

Mythical

Bog Ape

Little is known about this possibly mythical creature of Fastheld save that it preys on any and all. The Bog Ape is reportedly a nine-foot tall creature - although some stories place it as tall as thirteen feet - covered head to toe in shaggy brown fur. It has long hulking arms disproportionate to its size tipped with fierce and fearsome claws. Its head is bucket-shaped, and it has a snout complete with whiskers and sharp yellow fangs.

The Bog Ape's habitat seems to be primarily seated deep within forested areas, although some sightings have placed it closer to the Lightholder river, while others have seen it in the north near the Aegis.

Dragon

Big flying lizards.

River

Baronessfish

A staple of the Fastheldian diet for those who live near open water, the Baronessfish is a plain but widely recognized fish. Averaging about eighteen inches long, its coloration ranges through the various shades of green between light and dark, underbelly a silvery white and patches of black glistening down its sides. Its eyes glisten a deep golden-brown. The fish's most identifying feature is its wide mouth, a gaping maw that some say inspired its name- as liable to flap with empty nonsense as the tongue of a Baroness. It can grow up to 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) in length and weigh anywhere between 3-10 pounds (1.4-4.5 kg).

If it's watery, the baronessfish can thrive in it. Specimens that live in muddy-bottomed lakes and other such areas tend to be darker in coloration, but they're still recognizably the same kind of fish... and there's few bodies of water you can't find one.

Rainbow Crab

The rainbow crab is so named for the multitude of colors of its hardened shell and legs. The top of its shell is vivid red which fades to light pink at the sides and then white on its underbelly. Its six legs are bluish-gray speckled with lighter gray spikes, and the two pincers at its fore are a murky yellowish green. Nauseating color combination notwithstanding, the rainbow crab is fished primarily for its deliciously tender, buttery meat. It is served as a delicacy, and mostly on holidays. Leftovers are often made into soups.

The crab inhabits the rivers of Fastheld, and can often be seen scuttling along the rocky banks. It feeds on the dead fish left behind from river predators, and are often found in the wake of tumblers just after a meal.

River Eel

The River Eel is a delicacy that is fished out of rivers on both sides of the Aegis. Whiplike and fast, aggressive and ill-tempered, they are the one common danger found in swimming holes and river eddies. Of course, they're a welcome danger, in many cases - their meat is delicate and very tasty, fetching premium prices to Nobles who have never fished them out of the river themselves while offering a common treat to the common folk that have learned the trick.

One species of eel is, however, attracted to blood - and is the primary reason why people in Fastheld have learned not to swim when there is blood in the water; so much so that there's a common bias to avoid doing so at all costs.. not even with the smallest of cuts. River eels are found in most freshwater bodies of water. Most species are completely harmless save for a bad temper that leads to bites when their territory is invaded - and those bites are usually more painful than serious. The river eel ranges from 18-24 inches (45-61 cm) in length and can weigh anywhere up to a pound (450 g).

Generally, Eels are largely harmless (if fearsome-looking), defending their territory but otherwise prey to Tumbler and fisherman. One species of black eel, largely indistinguishable from others, lives in small pockets along the faster runs of the rivers. This species is adapted to group hunting; called 'Shadow Eels', they are attracted to and voraciously attack creatures that shed blood in their range. A chance bite from a territorial Shadow Eel can turn into a water-churning frenzy as blood disperses through the water. Thankfully rare, it rarely causes deaths save amongst children or smaller animals that cannot escape them before critical damage is done.

River Mantis

The river mantis is a hard-shelled denizen of the rivers of Fastheld. It has along body with a curled tail covered in segmented shell, 4-5 pairs of legs, and two large pincer-like appendages in the front. Their shells are mainly reddish-brown in hue, although in the southern reaches of Fastheld the majority tend to be lighter in color. The river mantis is fished for its tender tail meat that can be eaten or used as bait, and when cooked its shell turns an amazing bright red. They vary in length and weight with the largest members of the species weighing up to 11 pounds (5 kg).

Salmon

Ranking just below Baronessfish in numbers, the salmon is another staple fish of Fastheld. It lives and breeds solely in the rivers, and it cannot be found in any other body of water within the Aegis. They are marked by notable dark spots on their shiny silver scales, while their meat beneath is a vivid orange-pink in color.

Trout

Unlike its salmon relative, the trout can be found in many different bodies of water within the Aegis as well as in the river. It is more slender in size than the salmon but also longer, and its scales and fins are usually dappled with a rainbow of colors. The trout is fished mainly as food, although it isn't unheard of to use bits of trout as bait. Trout meat is somewhat oily and is used often as a base for fish stews and soups.

Tumbler

Playful, inquisitive, reasonably intelligent, and quick, the Tumbler is a common sight along the water. About three feet long, including the tail, they carry sleek brown fur and usually a black or grey mask around their eyes. Generally considered a good omen by the riverfolk that make their living plying barges, they are hunted for their meat - a welcome addition to the table for many households - and their waterproof pelts that make astounding cold and wet weather cloaks and shoes. They grow up to 3 feet (1 m) in length and can weigh between 5-9 pounds (2.3-4 kg).

Found in forest pools and along the rivers on both sides of the Aegis, the Tumbler's inquisitive nature leads it down waterpaths and to new fishing grounds. Generally moving in small family groups, the playful creatures have spread to be a common sight near water. Prey to larger predators like the Bushdragon, Rock Wolf and Mud Bear, Tumblers in turn eat insects, lizards, and eggs on top of their proclivity for fish.

Not truly domesticated, the Tumbler is playful, if tentative, known to steal shiny objects that catch its attention and cache them in hidden bevy-nests along the riverbank. They do not fight, preferring to flee into the water when threatened, where their prodigious swimming ability makes them nearly impossible to catch.

Marsh, Moor, Swamp

Nightslider

Paragon of House Zahir, and admired by those nobles, the Nightslider is traditionally associated with stealth, cunning, and its fabulously potent venom. Thankfully, within Fastheld (save in Zahir lands, where the House considers them protected), the Nightslider is very rare, thriving almost wholly in the Hedghem moors and a few isolated spots along the Fastheld River.

Nocturnal, black-scaled, and stealthy, Nightsliders are often associated with death, assassination, and striking from concealment. It is said that calling a man a 'Nightslider' implies that he is dangerous, cunning, and vicious - and may or may not be an insult, depending on context. The snake is usually killed when found, as a dangerous threat, though is occasionally hunted for its venom. Nightslider meat is not dangerous, with an interestingly coppery flavor, and eating it is considered a mark of bravery and virility.

Nightsliders are generally solitary creatures, or more rarely found as mated pairs, preferring wet, marshy land where their formidible swimming ability and preferred prey (usually rats and Longflank Hare) can be found. Nocturnal, they are only occasionally seen during the day, preferring to stalk their prey in near-absolute silence with the night as camoflage. They can grow around 3-11 feet (1-3.5 m) in length and weigh 12-30 pounds (5.4-13.6 kg).

There have been attempts made to domesticate the Nightslider to serve as guardians and pets, especially among House Zahir, but their unpredictable temprament in captivity as well as their potent venom ensures that this usually ends in a rather spectacular demonstration of the snake's danger.

Generally elusive, and contrary to popular belief, Nightsliders do not generally threaten man, preferring instead to ghost away silently when approached by a larger predator. When cornered, surprised, or found during the day, they will lash out with a tremendously venemous bite. There is no antidote for nightslider venom, and it is exceedingly toxic - though, luckily, the venom is relatively slow-acting. Symptoms include sensitivity to light and noise, then a sudden tightening of the muscles causing the victim to arch rather theatrically, with arms and legs splayed. External stimulus - light or loud sounds - makes the muscle spasms more severe. Eventually, the victim dies either of a heart that stops mid fit or asphyxiation from being unable to breathe while muscles are locked.

Treatment usually involves drawing as much venom as possible from the wound as quickly as possible, then removing the victim to a quiet, dark place to recover - recovery can take up to a week, as the poison goes through one's system. The snake is generally irritable, and will prefer to bite if agitated.

Snaplizard

The snaplizard is one of the most hostile, aggressive animals within Fastheld. Widely known as the 'blood beast of the swamp', the crocodile inhabits the swamps and has been known to venture onto the moors. It prefers slightly warmer environments, and spends the majority of its time in the water. Hunters of swamp animals once tried to tan snaplizard skin into leather, but the process was too time-consuming and the end product was of such low quality to rend it useless. Because of this and their aggressive natures, snaplizards are rarely hunted; they are killed only in matters of self-defense.

It is aptly named the 'snaplizard' in reference to its extremely long head that contains massive jaws with two rows of extremely sharp teeth. The lizard is a water-dwelling meat eater, and has been known to eat humans. Snaplizards tend to prey upon larger fish and amphibians in the swamp as well as some of the larger land-dwelling game. After mating, a female will lay a clutch of eggs beside the water. Adult snaplizards vary widely in size and range from anywhere as small as 3 feet (1 m) to nearly 16 feet (4.9 m) in length. They can weigh up to 2600 pounds (1200 kg).

Underground

Loamfeeder

The loamfeeder is a very common creature found in the soil of Fastheld. It survives in the ground in all locations from wet marshland to the dank forests. They have long, tube-like bodies that can grow up to 7 inches (17.8 cm) with no discernible head or tail. Their covering is a gray-brown in hue with multiple striations that lead some to believe they are 'segmented' creatures; this conclusion can also be drawn based on the fact that sometimes the loamfeeder can regenerate portions of its body if they are removed. Closer to one end of their body, a bulbous ring of dark pink encircles them. The purpose of this ring is unknown. Loamfeeders are commonly used as fishing bait and food for many avians. They serve no other known purpose.

Silverwyrm

The Silverwyrm is living proof that sometimes the most diminutive creatures can be deadly. Unlike the name suggests, Silverwyrm is not actually a worm but an arthropod. It has a very slender body from which sprouts several sensory antennae and six pairs of legs. Its color ranges from arsenic shades to more brilliant silver and in rare cases, they have been seen as brown. The Silverwyrm is rumored to reach lengths in excess of one's palm, but is usually only spotted at lengths of ten centimeters or less. The head is equipped with several tiny barbels and hooks with which to detect and then latch onto its victim. Once the jaws secure a grip on the flesh, a proboscis injects a milky fluid into the host tissue.

These innocuous-seeming creatures were first discovered by miners tunneling deep within the earth. Records of Silverwyrm encounters date back centuries, mostly found in miners' logs but also in healer journals. The Silverwyrm prefers to dwell in dark, damp places like mines or caves. Not much is known about the Silverwyrm's daily life as an adult - what it eats, where it goes, etc, but rather it is typically encountered near the end of its natural life cycle when it is ready to reproduce. It is in this stage of its life that the Silverwyrm is a hazard to people and the term "Miner's Madness" has been coined to refer to the "insane" symptoms that its victims suffer during the last stages of infection, usually several days, even weeks, after being first bitten.

When encountered, the Silverwyrm is typically shy and reclusive. Those of the species that are ready to reproduce, however, become far more aggressive in nature. Rather than retreating from a light source, they will scurry towards it and as in most cases, seek out the flesh that carries the light.

Silverwyrm adults do not bite to feed but rather to lay their eggs. Rarely have there been instances of bites inflicted by male silverwyrm. Once latched firmly onto the flesh of her host, the female silverwyrm will use her proboscis and inject the tissue with a milky fluid. This fluid contains hundreds of tiny eggs that then enter the bloodstream.

The eggs develop rapidly and within a day of infection, will have settled out of the bloodstream and into surrounding tissues - usually the muscles. After developing further, the eggs hatch into miniscule larvae that immediately begin to munch away on the host tissue. In days to come, they cause a great deal of swelling, rash, and general pain at the site of infection. Within a week, they are a quarter of an inch long and begin their migration against gravity, towards the brain. It is this stage in the game that elicits the "mad" behavior from the victim as their movements cause great pain and irritability for the host.

In the end of their larval stage, the Silverwyrm reach the brain tissues - should they survive - and consume the fatty tissue to complete their growth. Not all larvae will reach the brain and sometimes will burrow their way out of other orifices or through the skin itself in attempts to reach their destination. Once they do reach the brain, the fate of the host is sealed and most victims die within hours a very agonizing death. The emerging Silverwyrm are nearly an inch long and immediately seek out the shelter of cool, dark places where they will spend the next several months to a year of their life.