[The Spires] The Suggestion Box

[Creeper]

The Talderan Viper is Approved, as well as the Talderan Tufted Deer

[Creeper]

Talderan Viper and Talderan Tufted Deer Approved

[Tiki]

Name: Hahk’Loa Within Caiyha’s temple: Frequency: Common-High Threat level: Varied Major features: (adult):Ethereal blue wings, floral scent, chime-like mating sounds (Larva)silk production, poisonous barbs Abilities: phosphorescent wings, soothing pheromones, metamorphosis, poisonous Most common in: Caiyha’s Temple Physical characteristics: The life cycle of a Hahk’Loa begins from an egg hatching during early spring. Once hatched into its larva stage, the caterpillar is free to graze on the temple’s flora. The Hahk’Loa larvas are black as the night with a furry appearance. Small, thin barbs on the caterpillar are part of a self defense mechanism. Being pierced by any barb causes a reaction in the caterpillar’s body. The Hahk’Loa undergoes a series of chemical reactions that bloats the caterpillar and forces poison out through the barbs along its body. Once injected into a predator, the poison works its way to the attacker’s heart. The unique design of the poison begins to deteriorate the cardiac muscle in the heart, ultimately leading to heart failure. Ingestion of the larva produces a similar, more potent effect. The reactions even produce chemical burns in the predator’s mouth. The potency of the poison is limited to a few minutes before it’s neutralized. The poison is in constant production, freely leaking through the barbs without contact. In such amounts, however, the poison is far less potent and neutralizes itself in seconds. Any of the poison that seeps through the barbs eventually becomes as harmless as sugar water. Fortunately, the larva spend all of their time in the upper expanses and walls of the temple, generally out of reach of anyone within the temple. Very rarely do the larva venture to lower areas or the ground floor, although they can. Larva will feed for the duration of the summer before it starts to produce thin silken nests in the fall. Caterpillars will make joint nests before their metamorphosis into the chrysalis stage. A single Hahk’Loa larva once fattened and ready will attach itself to a leaf within the silk nest. Inside it will attach itself to a leaf and begin to coat itself in this silken web that will eventually harden to the chrysalis. Through the remainder of the fall and all of winter, the caterpillar larva will undergo a drastic change in its appearance. Nearing the end of the winter season, the chrysalises and nests begin to faintly glow with a blue phosphorescent appearance, a sign of maturity in the Hahk’Loa and the coming emergence of their adult stage. Come spring again, the dew ridden nests burst with life as the Hahk’Loa bloom. The Hahk’Loa is now a butterfly variation with ethereal blue wings, to the touch a texture of gossamer, which Syna’s light both pierces and reflects off of. Initially emerging from the chrysalises, the Hahk’Loa maintain their poisonous properties on their wings. The poison is on their wings. Though not deadly to touch, should an individual whip the wing and then touch his tongue, ah there…there is a dead man. The poison is not light enough to be whipped off onto leaves. Once the Hahk’Loa engage in their first nectar meal, the once deadly poison is neutralized. The now neutralized poison forms as a light powder –characterized by its floral scent - on the Hahk’Loa’s wings that’s given off as it flies. This powder is known to induce calming behavior, but again only so long as it is freshly produced. Unfortunately for the Hahk’Loa, the neutralization of their poison makes them incredibly vulnerable to predators. When Leth rises over Syna, another beautiful sight comes to life. The wings of the Hahk’Loa glow a blue phosphorescent light throughout the entire temple and over Spires. The light is too faint to pierce more than a few feet of the canopy. However, in large collections like those in the temple, the evening mood is set by the soft radiance of their wings. Spring emergence also signals a new mating season. At night, the Hahk’Loa rub their leg as thin, moist hairs produce a sweet sounding chimes and tones. This mating ritual will result in life time bonds as the Hahk’Loa mate and produce hundreds fertile eggs to renew the life cycle. The Hahk’Loa freely spend the duration of their lives in the temple. After a life span of five years, a Hahk’Loa generation will begin to wilt. When their time has come, typically during their fifth summer, they leave Spires to the farthest reaches of Taldera to the west, south, and east. Social Structure: Mass colony in Caiyha’s Temple, Spires. Outside of Caiyha’s Temple: Frequency: Rare Threat Level: High Major Features: rotting scent, dulling colors, chime-like mating sounds Abilities: phosphorescent wings, rotting scent, metamorphosis, poisonous Most common in: reaches of Taldera Physical Characteristics: No larvae or pupal stages exist outside of Spires. Any specimens ceased from the temple prematurely die within a week, or a week after emerging from the chrysalis. Adult variations hatched outside of the temple are equally potent in their poison. No floral species outside the temple, even if retrieved from the temple, will nullify this poison. Wilting Hahk’Loa after five years of life flee the temple of Caiyha. Sometime after their time is up, the Hahk’Loa begin to display bizarre behavior such as involuntary wing movements, awkward flight patterns, and inability to cling to foliage. The Hahk’Loa seek refuge elsewhere in the Talderan wilderness. This flow of generations, in addition to natural selection, maintains the equilibrium of the temple’s population. Outside of Spires, the Hahk’Loa roam in search of more suiting conditions in vain. All awkward behaviors continue and worsen as time advances. The flower-sweet pheromones cease to be produced, and the deadly poison takes back over the Hahk’Loa’s body. The Hahk’Loa slowly begins to bloat. During this time, the butterflies also lose their coloration. The vibrant blues begin to dull, the blacks becomes grays, and the wings begin to take on a red tint. This is a clear sign of the poison build up in the Hahk’Loa’s body in addition to a rotting scent of the decomposing poison. Ingestion of the Hahk’Loa becomes deadly once more, as well as ingestion of the poison from the wings. By this point in the Hahk’Loa’s metabolic cycle, its body begins to produce at too rapid a rate. Now immune to its own poison and without any ways to excrete the substance, the buildup in its body will eventually cause a burst in the Hahk’Loa’s exoskeleton when it will bleed to death. This is the most common end of the Hahk’Loa, and comes within weeks of leaving the temple. In cases beyond any divine explanation, there are instances when the Hahk’Loa survives. Breaks in the wings allow for the constant oozing of the poison and brings the Hahk’Loa back to an internal equilibrium. The bloating ceases and the wings are still light and dry enough to fly. Abnormal behaviors continue unfortunately. As the last substances of divinity are driven from its body, the presence of the poison reveals its true nature. The Hahk’Loa’s wings turn sanguine. The Hahk’Loa still appears to retain its phosphorescent capabilities as its wings now glow a brilliant red through the night air. The outstanding coloration and nighttime signal number the days of lucky Hahk’Loa further, as well as the predator bound to consume it… Reproduction of the Hahk’Loa outside of the temple is a rarity, though possible. Considering the small numbers of survivors, off mating season, other environmental and biological factors, the survival of populations outside of the temple are nearly impossible. The existence of such a group is rumored to exist somewhere in the Talderan wilderness, although the Jamoura would consider them something new, a species that transcends the natural order known to them as Hahk’Gal. Such a population might be considered a whole new species that would require the security of isolation and the nutrition of Caiyha’s Temple. Even then, the longest time a Hahk’Gal can reap from life is roughly thirteen years. Social structure: Indefinite, none Miscellaneous: The Hahk’Loa have existed as long as Caiyha’s Temple, as has its vicious cycle which brings and takes life as nature wills. To some, the Hahk’Loa might be considered the true guardians of the temple, a final defense against invasive species or other naïve trespassers. The Hahk’Loa and Hahk’Gal are revered as the temple is itself, and thus leave them to their own. Their persisting existence is another sign of nature’s balance and the health of the temple’s flora. Throughout their life, their striking appearances show the Jamoura all sides of nature: renewed life, creepy, crawling, dark, and deadly, equilibrium, beauty, peaceful, change, bright, soothing, and tragically dying, all in a continuous cycle.

[Creeper]

Very, very approved!

[Chamaeleon]

Name: Russet Owl Frequency: Medium Threat Level: Low, High when provoked Major Features: Dark plumage with shocking red highlights in the tail, Shrill cries Abilities: Capable of echolocation, able to use their cries to stun attackers, vicious when provoked Most Common In: The Spires, colonies in Southern Taldera Physical Characteristics: The Russet Owl is a large species of bird. They have six feet in wingspan and two and a half feet in their bodies. They are characterised by jet eyes and the red colourations in their feathers. The Russet Owl is native to Taldera and is a common sight during the night, where their shrill krii-krii cries resound across the forest as they hunt. During the day, it isn't hard to find one of their nests tucked into the trunk of a redwood. Generally the Russet Owl is a gentle bird, but when one provokes the birds they flair their tail plumage and attack in a dazzling display of beauty and terror. Newborns and juveniles are easily distinguished from the adults of the species by the chestnut tones in their faces and primaries. As they mature, the primary feathers become blood red while the face darkens to match the russet tone of their bodies. Social Structure: Russet Owls live in mass colonies from birth until maturity, when they choose to make a nest elsewhere. The largest of these colonies is the one that resides in the Spires, while smaller ones dot the forest until they diminish entirely from northern Kalea and Sylira. The adults live alone until mating season, when they return to the colony they were born. Russet Owl males compete for partners by incredible aerial acrobatics, flashing their red feathers in a display meant merely to impress the females. A successful male and his mate retreat into the nest the female hatched from originally. As many owls hatch in the same nest, owls that choose their mates slower are forced to build one, which is a time consuming process that may leave the male uninterested and in search of another mate. Gestation for the pregnant females is a season long beginning in mid-Spring, with the laying of eggs in mid- to late Summer. The males leave the females to care for the young, returning to their lone nests, while within the nest, hungry juveniles may prey upon the newborn owls when hunting is scarce. Mothers leave the young once they have fledged, which occurs sometime between late fall and early winter. Mature owls will leave the colonies with the mothers at this time, only to return in Spring, although copulations between recently fledged owls will be unsuccessful until the third year of maturity. These birds may be able to live to fifteen years old in the wild, with every year increasing the depth of their feathers until they are nearly black by the time they pass. Miscellaneous: Russet Owls are active hunters. Due to lacking the eyesight of their cousins, these owls have developed a way to utilize echolocation, and so can be detected by their shrill cries. Startling an owl will cause it to let out a high pitched shriek that leaves those in the vicinity dazed for a few moments, giving the owl time to escape. Due to the gentle nature of the Jamoura, it isnt uncommon for a Russet Owl to live extremely close to their dwellings, and as stated, the Spires is home to a large colony. Summary: The Russet Owl is a gentle bird of dark plumage and red highlights. Happy to hunt rodents, snakes, and the occaisional small bird, they are still fierce when provoked or baited. The cries of the Russet Owl may instill confusion into those that alarm them, but are often used for the purpose of hunting.

[Chamaeleon]

Tiki. Those are beautiful.

[Tiki]

Really? Wanna hold one? Maybe pet it too! I hear they are a jamouran delicacy...well, the old guy said so, but between you and me, he seems a bit off. Regardless, I've always been taught that trying soemthing new will add 75 years onto your life, so I'm just gonna' try one bite!

[Chamaeleon]

Northern Red Squirrel The Northern Red Squirrel is a distant cousin to the common brown and grey varieties, distinguished from them by the tufts of fur on their ears and the red colouration of their fur. The Red Squirrel is adapted to the climate of the north. It is a much hardier species of squirrel with a larger body and thicker fur. They delve deep into the trunks of tall trees and are a happy sight to the traveler of paths. It isn't uncommon for two squirrels to chatter and bicker with one another while people pass and then follow the visitors to their homes. These squirrels are generally highly sociable, brave creatures. They are willing to walk to a lowered hand and steal fruits and nuts from bags. Devious but cute, the Red Squirrel is a beloved comedian to the gentle Jamoura.

[Creeper]

Approved Cham I'll add it to the Bestiary in the morning

[Ana Sol Starris]

Talderan Esirpus Squirrel This species of mammal is quite intrigueing, for the most part as it can both climb to great heights and then glide down- attacking its prey. Being omnivores, they mainly feed on insects, nuts, berries, and other plant matter found in a trees branches and smaller mammals that climb around the Spires. They are around 3 feet in length and weigh around 4-6 lbs of condensed muscle and hollow bones for better lift, they range from every color bark has and have vibrant green eyes or even a rusty red barkish color. They attack by waiting for their prey to be in the right place whilst they themselves are camoflauged with a trees bark, target unsuspecting, then they jump backwards, turn and glide silently, landing on the victems body, gripping onto it with their spur like paws and biting repeatedly, their razor sharp teeth excrete a toxin that when released can break down any carbon substance for a short time which will then break down the animals fur, skin, or feathers down rather quickly, paralyzing the victem in the process and painfully. The acid has no affect to their own tract system as their is a special chemical coating the inside of their bodies. This chemical, if harvested correctly can proove to be very useful when mixed with the right salves and applied to common burns. Works well with sun burn as well, if prepared in the right way the chemical can be used as a salve to prevent sun burn in the first place. They look like squirrels but they're a world of trouble for the unsuspecting target they choose to make a meal of, while they appear to be cute and cuddly they are deadly predators if not handled in a safe way. Their teeth are small but act like sharp razors when ripping apart their prey, they have molars in the back that allows them to chew their food as well as various leafs they munch on when they are not so lucky with aquiring meat (what plants they munch on tend to be the source of the created toxins and chemicals.) The Talderan Esirpus Squirrel lives mostly in the trees and work well with any weather and can be found in both northern and southern Taldera, they live in groups of two and are territorial, so you'll never see more than two of them at once every mile or so but they will never attack something that is bigger than themselves. When they breed, they mate for life and are very protective of their young; the young Esirpus Squirrel will have no deadly toxin in their body as of yet, they aquire this when they begin eating the correct plant matirial their parents bring them. Once the squirrel starts to produce enough toxin, they will have this massive craving to attack another mammal for food, this will usually be one of their parents if they are unlucky enough. If a traveller is lucky enough, or an adventurer, and stumble upon newborn kits they can take the squirrel and train the little rascal as a pet as it is the growing toxin in their bodies that makes them feral to other animals. Beware though, the two parent squirrels will attack you if you try and you won't be a happy camper with alot of burns covering your skin and not to mention paralyzed at such a height in the trees. When the young are old enough to become independant, the parent squirrels will actually get up and migrate elsewhere for the young to look after their former territory. With the new adult Esirpus squirrel, he or she will protect the territory and when mating time comes around (mid summer) they will begin gliding around the trees, and choosing an open area where they are camoflauged, their tails will begin flicking in a rhythmetic motion, excreting a musk apropriate to their gender to attract the opposite gender. Once another squirrel has been lured in, the squirrels will then mate for life and begin their own family. They birth only one kit at a time, no exceptions.