IC Info [Lhavit] Flora & Fauna.

[Aspen]

Flora & Fauna This thread holds all the information on the known species of plants and animals in and around Lhavit. The lists are not final by any means, if there is a specific plant or animal you think the city needs, please let me know through PM and I will see if it will work. Lhavit's Flora Lhavit's Fauna

[Aspen]

Flora of Lhavit Note: Plants with an asterisk (*) next to their name are completely fictional. All other plants are real. Image Name Characteristics Bulboru* The bulboru is an easily recognizable plant due to its pale pink, pom-pom like flower. The flower itself is only present in the spring – a seed head or simply a flat stem top is present at all other times of the year. During the summer, the seeds scatter, and this is also the best time of year to harvest to the root. The roots of the bulboru plant contain a substance that aids in reducing a fever. Bromegrass Bromegrass is the most common type of grass around Lhavit. It is well adapted to the cooler climate, and so thrives here when left unchecked. Bromegrass makes up a large bulk of the wild plant life found in the Misty Peaks, and it is generally used as a decorative grass in Lhavit gardens. Bromegrass is a good feed for herbivorous animals, and so makes up a generous part of the Okomo’s feed. Dula* The dula is the name of both a tree and the fruit it bears. The trees are tall and very leafy throughout the spring and summer seasons, with the leaves browning and dying off during the colder times. In spring, the trees are covered with pale yellow blossoms that eventually grow into the dula fruit, ready to be picked during late summer. The fruit has a tangy taste, but is not unpleasant. It is usually seen as a dessert fruit – not many people eat it as a snack. Dwarf Primrose The dwarf primrose grows in large ‘mats’, meaning the foliage spreads over the ground. The flowers bloom only as winter ends and they are a bright, shocking pink. The flowers never grow more than 20 cm tall. Because of its shrub-like appearance, many Lhavitians like to plant it in their gardens to use as borders or path liners. Fadeong* The fadeong is a tree unique to the Lhavit region. Even when taken and planted elsewhere in the world, it will die within days, since it is so finely tuned to the climate of the area. It grows very tall, and branches only grow above the halfway height of the trunk. They never grow alone, and are a very popular tree for lining paths or tracks. The leaves of each tree will be a slightly different color. Leaves take hues of pink, purple, orange and green. The leaves are tiny – no bigger than a thumbnail – and when leaves from different fadeong trees are gathered together they can make very colourful and attractive decorations. Ipdo* The ipdo is a very strange plant. It is a low growing shrub, favouring shady areas over direct sunlight. The flat green leaves are circular and have black dots on their surface. The ipdo is always in leaf, even during the winter. They die off in clusters and get replaced during the colder months, but there is never a time that the shrub is completely bare. The leaves have a couple of uses. When picked and chewed, they can keep hunger at bay, though the effect is short-lived unless you continuously chew. When crushed and added to candles that are then burnt, they lend a pleasant scent, not dissimilar to that of a forest after a rainfall. Jasao* The jaso plant, while pretty, is actually a weed. When allowed to grow near other plants it overtakes. The stems of the jaso are very thin and long, and they wrap round and strangle other plants. As such, the plant is never found in the more cultivated areas of the city – gardeners work hard to keep it at bay. However, the blue weed grows in abundance in the Misty Peaks. When picked, the flowers take a very long time to wilt, so they are a very popular plant for use as hair decorations. On special occasions, many citizens will pick and wind many of the plants together to make floral crowns to wear. Kariino* The kariino plant is actually a tree. It does not grow very tall, due to the branches overhanging rather than shooting straight up. The branches are thin, and the delicate flowers that it blooms during spring weigh them down and they never spring back up again. The trees always grow apart from each other, since the roots are shallow and far-reaching. The trees are not only beautiful, but the blossoms it has during spring have interesting properties. When collected and crushed, they can be made into a tonic that helps one drift off to sleep. Keokina* The keokina flower is a very popular plant for decorations. Cornflower blue and white flowers grow in clusters, with each individual flower no bigger than a gold miza coin. The plant flowers at the start of spring, and lasts right through to the first touches of winter. As such, throughout the warmer seasons, many of Lhavit’s citizens collect bunches of the keokina and use them to add color and life to their homes. The plant possesses no medical properties, but it does have a very distinctive and sweet scent. Kuhari* The kuhari is one of the more dangerous flowers in Lhavit and the Unforgiving. It is an extremely common flower in the wilds, but in the city, the Shinya make an effort every year to keep it completely eradicated from their midst’s. Its distinctive blue, white and purple tones along with thin spines make it easily recognisable. Though they don’t look sharp, the spines are thin enough to pierce the skin. If that happens medical help should be sought immediately, since the spines hold a poison that will weaken the body significantly and if left to spread round the body, can lead to death. Leiyona* The Leiyona is in the same flower family as the zujin. They are, however, polar opposites in their habits and their properties. The leiyona flower only blooms in Summer, the warmest months of the year needed to kick-start their growth. The flower is always warm to the touch, as if it is soaking up the sunlight, much like a lizard on a rock would do. The leiyona only grows on thin soil, where there is a ground of rocks or a pathway or the like. It is not uncommon for one to find one randomly growing in the middle of the Surya Plaza. If one is to break apart the thick petals, much like the zujin flower, they would find an oozing liquid. However, this liquid can be used as an antiseptic on cuts, stings or bites. It is brightly coloured, almost garish, but indeed a useful flower. Mountain Rose The mountain rose is a small plant that produces beautiful flowers during the summer season. The flowers can be apricot, pink or white, and sometimes have pink lines marking the centre of each petal. The flowers grow in groups, sometimes up to 10 flowers can grow out of a single leaf base. The mountain rose tends to favour the forest floors with deep soil, though it is very popular with the citizens of Lhavit, and can easily be grown in a garden. Nokkochi* The nokkochi is an extremely common tree found amongst the trees of Lhavit, and in areas of the Misty Peaks that are close to the city. They are not very tall trees, but are quite small, with droopy branches that trail their leaves over your head as you walk by. On the Zintia Peak, they have been almost completely cut down, but on nearly every other, they are found in clumps in areas of dense vegetation. They are simple plants, following the seasonal pattern that many other trees do. They flower in spring, stay that way through the summer and then fall in the autumn. They are a common plant, nothing special about them - though, undoubtedly pretty. Saegiro* The saegiro is a flower that blooms only around the time of the Midsummer Festival, for a month either side in the hottest season of the year. They are usually a bright pink, though can range from either purple to a fiery orange. They always have a pure white center. They grow only in clumps, never just individual flowers, and are worn in the Taiyang's hair when they do their fire dancing. They have no medicinal property, except they are often found in the summer months in the houses of Lhavitians, thought to bring longevity and honour to a household if they are hung above the door. It is an entirely decorational flower, with no leaves and no roots, but they have great spiritual significance for the Lhavitians. Sky Pilot The sky pilot is a small plant, never growing more than 30cm tall. The flowers are a range from a chalky blue to a bright cobalt blue and they grown in clusters on a single stem. The leaves only grow at the base of the flower, and when rubbed they give of a potent skunk-like scent. They are rarely found in the city, tending to grow in the more rocky areas of the Misty Peaks. Taikapi* The taikapi is a flower that is only found on the Tenten Peak of Lhavit. The flowers grow in abundance over the fields of the Okomos, almost like a pestilence there, yet they are curiously absent from any other part of Lhavit. It is said that they grow anywhere where the Okomos grow, for the two are intimately connected - the taikapi is a flower that is essential for the Okomo's digestive health. These flowers, blue, little and bell like are considered the children's emblem of Lhavit, and is often gifted to the child upon their birthdays. Taka Moss* Taka moss is very common. It grows on any rock and also covers the floors of woodlands and forests in the Misty Peaks. Taka moss is a light, yellow-green color and is very thick – trying to pull if off a rock is near impossible. If you wish to harvest the moss, you will need a knife or dagger to cut it away. When added to food, taka moss can help ease muscle pain and fatigue. Wanamu* The wanamu tree is a tree that only grew before the Valterrian. There are only a few surviving examples of these trees, and they grace the top of the individual peaks in the wilderness of the Misty Peaks. Their bark is cracked and wrinkled, and they are tall and winding, reaching up towards Zintila's stars. The trees have a minor field of hypnotism, so that when a weary traveller passes by a singular tree, they begin to feel much more rejuvenated and rested. The more trees there are in one spot, the more hope is instilled into the passerby. The wanamu tree is extremely rare and only the most daring adventurers have the possibility of passing them. Zujin* The zujin flower is a tough flower which is found surprisingly only in Winter. When the water in Lhavit freezes over, the buds (which are present, along with the lily pad leaves, all year round) bloom into purple spiky flowers. Not delicate at all, they have a thick petal which can be broken off for a subtle poison on the inside. The poison can be used to upset one's stomach for multiple days if slipped in food. However, the leaf itself has medicinal values when used in tea. The flower, due to the fact that it blooms only in Winter, has come to have a poor social symbol. It is often given mockingly to a woman who constantly rejects a potential lover. When given the zujin, the woman is often given the title "Ice Flower".

[Aspen]

Fauna of Lhavit Image Name Characteristics Bighorn Sheep Bighorn sheep are named for their large, curving horns, although only the males have them with the female’s being a lot smaller. The sheep live in herds wandering the Misty Peaks. They are very adept at scaling the rocky peaks of Lhavit. Unlike the Okomo, the bighorns are not very tameable – all past attempts at controlling the creatures have failed. Black Bear The black bears tend to roam the Misty Peaks alone. They are generally not a threat to the people of Lhavit, since they stay away from the city, fearing human contact. However they will attack a person if one comes within range of the bears home. The black bears are on average 3.5ft tall at the shoulder and live on fruit and other mammals that live in the Peaks. Bobcat The bobcat is very adaptable and can live in the Misty Peaks just as easily as the city of Lhavit itself. They are relatively small, no more than 60cm at the shoulder and have a distinct spotted coat. They are one of the main predators that aid in keeping the rabbit population down and so their occasional presence in the city is tolerated because of that. Cougar The cougar, or mountain lion, is a large predatory cat the lives on the Peaks. The cougar is a fairly slender cat, its lighter build and lean muscle structure enabling it to move around the ledges and outcrops with ease. Their coats are a tawny colour, with lighter undersides, and they have piercing yellow eyes. Cougars prey on mountain goats, elk and deer but will attack a human if threatened. Deer Mouse Deer mice are very common around Lhavit, but incredibly hard to spot. They are called deer mice due to their ability to run very fast and for being able to jump. Deer mice are generally nocturnal, though they occasionally venture out during the daytime. They live in the Peaks and the city, and if one is found in a home, it should be removed right away as they like to gnaw on any wooden furnishings. Elk The elk are an incredibly large species of deer, growing to around 4’3” at the shoulder. They roam in herds through the trees along the sides of the peaks, and the cries of the males during the spring can be heard in the city. The elk are a popular species to hunt, and their antlers make great trophies. Great efforts are taken to make sure the elk do not enter the city, for the will sometimes attack the Okomo, and can sometimes transmit diseases to them. Golden Eagle Golden eagles live high in the Misty Peaks above the city. Golden eagles prey on a large selection of Lhavitian mammals including rabbits, marmots and even mountain goats. The wingspan can range anywhere from 6 – 7 feet wide. The eagles are sometimes seen perched on the tallest buildings in the city, and there are one or two citizens who keep the birds as pets, training them with falconry skills. Gopher The gopher is a generally harmless rodent, and is extremely common in both the Misty Peaks and the city itself. While they pose no threat to health or livestock, they are notorious for ruining gardens. Gophers like to burrow, and in doing so they uproot garden flowers and shrubs, leaving large piles of dirt behind. The gophers are small, and while unwelcome by the majority of citizens, the children of Lhavit see them as cute little creatures. Horned Lark The horned lark is an easily recognisable bird thanks to its bright yellow face pattern. It is called a “Horned” lark because in the summer, the males have black, feathery horns. Unlike most of the other Lhavitian birds, the horned lark makes its nests on open ledges of rock, which makes them very vulnerable to predators. The lark is favoured among Lhavitian bird keepers for its pretty markings and trilling song. Lhavitian Squirrel The Lhavitian Squirrel, referred to in the city as just a squirrel, is a very common rodent that lives in the trees in and around the city. They are dark in colour, ranging from a smoky grey to black, but they always have white undersides, including the underneath of the tail. The squirrels also have a tuft of dark fur on each ear to help keep them warm in the cooler climate. They are useful to the citizens, since they feed on fungi that is poisonous to humans, thus eliminating the threat from the city. Marmot The marmots are basically large ground squirrels. They thrive on the rocky terrain of the Misty Peaks, making their homes in rockpiles where they hibernate throughout the winter season. They feed on the plants that cover the sides of the peaks and are very flighty – they will hide when anything approaches. As such, the marmots are never seen in the city, and are therefore accepted by the people since they pose no threat to gardens. Merlin Like the golden eagle, the merlin preys on rodents that live in the Peaks. However they are significantly smaller, with 25 inch wingspan, and so are actually hunted by the larger eagles. The merlin is a very pretty bird. Their backs can range from silver-grey to black, and their undersides from fawn to an orange tint. They make their nests out on the peaks, not as high as the eagles, and they tend to shelter under overhangs. The merlin is popular among falconers – they are much easier to look after than eagles and are very striking. Misty Fox The misty fox can only be found on the Peaks around Lhavit. They are a small canine, growing no more than 30cm at the shoulder. Their coats are pure white, and they are well adapted to survive in the colder mountain temperatures. They have fur on the undersides of their paws, small ears and noses and very thick fur. The foxes are very skittish, fearing human contact, and so they are extremely hard to find. Their fur used to be prized for garment creation, but since they were hunted to near extinction, killing a misty fox is now illegal. Mountain Cat The mountain cat, or Lhavitian Cat, is unique to the Lhavit region. They live in wild packs around the Misty Peaks, making their home in crevices and rockfalls, however they are also a popular pet. A few citizens have managed to domesticate the cats and now the Lhavit Cat is a popular pet for children. The mountain cat is very small, only fractionally bigger than a normal house cat. They are generally silvery coated with darker striped markings and thick tails. Mountain Deer The mountain deer are found much lower down the peaks than most of Lhavit’s other native wildlife. They roam in large herds feeding on shrubs and berry-fruits during the day and then split up into smaller groups at night to make it harder for any predators. The deer have large ears, and white coats with only the males possessing horns. They are a popular game species, and Lhavitians often travel down the peak to hunt them. Mountain Goat Mountain goats are relatively common around the Misty Peaks. They are fairly large and white-coated, with both males and females having horns and beards. The goats are sure-footed and can traverse the sides of the Misty Peaks with ease. Domestication of these goats failed because they would try and flee back out to the Peaks when put in a stall or other hold. Northern Harrier The harrier is yet another bird of prey found among the Misty Peaks. Their wingspan ranges from 4.5-5 feet, and they hunt on the larger rodent species, such as the marmots. The male bird is grey with lighter under-parts, while the female is mostly brown. As with the merlin, they are very popular among falconers due to their size. When tamed, the birds can be used to aid in hunting small game. Osprey The Opsrey is not as common as the other large birds around Lhavit. It is a fish eating bird, and is therefore only present around the river and waterfall at the foot of The Zintia peak. Their wingspan can be anywhere from 4 – 6 feet. The feathers of the Osprey are a rich, glossy brown on the backs, with white undersides and golden eyes. They are not a good bird to keep, due to their tricky diet. Pika The pika is a tiny mammal, growing no more that 9 inches long. They are active mostly during the day, and live both on the Peaks and in the city. The pika living on the Peaks make their homes in crevices and the city dwelling ones make small burrows in secluded garden areas. Pikas live in family groups of 4-5 and are generally unintrusive to Lhavitian family gardens. Rabbit Rabbits are incredibly common around Lhavit and the Peaks. The rabbits tend to thrive in the more wooded areas of the peaks, not faring quite so well on the bare rock faces. Their coats are generally a tawny brown, though they can also range from fawn to almost black. Rabbits in the city itself are often seen as pests as they eat flowers and plants that the citizens have taken care to plant in their gardens. They are sometimes kept as pets, but are not as popular as the mountain cat. Rosy Finch The rosy finch is a relatively uncommon bird found around Lhavit. They are very small, their wingspan no more than 1.3 inches and have a light, chirruping call. They have pink-tinted brown feathers on their backs and undersides, with wing feathers being much pinker. The heads and tail tips range from grey to black. The rosy finch feeds on grain, seeds and small berry-fruits. They are a popular bird for bird-keepers due to their pretty colouring and relative rareness. Sharp-Shinned Hawk Commonly referred to as “Sharpies”, the sharp-shinned hawk is another predatory bird that nests in the Peaks. They nest about halfway up the Peaks, rarely entering the city itself due to the higher elevation. Their wingspan is around 22 inches, and the birds are generally a slate-grey colour with light fawn undersides. Eyes can range from golden to orange, while the legs are yellow. They hunt on the smaller mammals like rabbits and mice. The “Sharpies” are uncommon to find in a falconers stock, since they don’t fare too well in the city, and can be quite violent. Snowshoe Hare The snowshoe hare is very similar to the rabbit, but there are obvious differences that set it apart. The hare has much longer hind legs, larger ears and is generally bigger overall. Like the rabbit, they eat vegetation, but they don’t venture into the city too often. The snowshoe hare has varying coat colours. During the warmer seasons their coats are a tawny brown, while in the cooler periods they have brilliant white pelts. Willow Goose The willow goose is a bird that has been bred domestically. It is by no means a pet bird though. The feathers are used to create quills, and it is a popular meat among the citizens of Lhavit. The feathers are a marbled brown and white which are very popular for quill use, however the willow goose turns completely white in the winter season. As well as their meat, the eggs of the willow goose are also a delicacy. Wolf The wolf is one of the primary predators around Lhavit, along with the bear and cougar. Wolves travel in packs ranging from 2-6 members on average. The coat colours range from white and cream, through to brown, grey and black, and the coats of all Lhavitian wolves are always thick to protect against the cooler climate. Occasionally a wolf will venture into the city and cause havoc among the Okomo herds, though the Shinya try to prevent this the best they can. Wolverine The wolverine almost looks like a miniature bear. They are quite violent and deceptively strong, able to take prey much bigger than itself. They hunt anything from rabbits to deer, staying protected from attack and cold thanks to their sharp teeth and thick hides. When threatened, wolverines will hiss before attacking, so caution is extremely necessary when one is encountered. They live in the Peaks very close to the city, though they are kept out of the city through force. Woodrat The woodrat is very similar to the deer mouse, though it is bigger and marginally slower. The woodrat is always a tawny brown colour with “fluffy” pelts to retain warmth. Like the mouse, the woodrat can be found in both the city and the Peaks, though it changes on the time of year. In the warmer months they live in the city, building nests for breeding, and in the cooler months they move out onto the peaks and take up residence in the crevices.