Planet Nauru: A Chronicle [WIP]

[The Core]

Undergoing review.

Spoiler

III - Wildlife

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Beyond the Core settlements lie the great wild deserts of Planet Nauru. Whilst populated with many ruins that adventures would be looking to explore, the wilderness of Nauru itself is rife with danger, oddities, awe and wonder.

With many parts of the Planet's surface still unexplored, Nauru biologists believe that there is certainly more forms of life to discover across the Planet's surface.

Oddly, the Corsair settlers themselves did not make a habit of reporting life across the Planet. When The Core took control, they began to discover many forms of complex life. Although whilst some docile and generally peaceful animals were discovered, most of the Planet's life showed hostile tendencies. Unsurprisingly, such was to be expected given the unforgiving climate of the Edge Worlds - that life on its Planets would be equally hostile.

Some creatures are farmed for both their produce and their own bodies. This provides the Nauru colonists with sustenance, as well as allowing them to create a plethora of goods. However, Core hunting parties do not venture beyond the cities commonly, and if they do they always travel heavily armed.

The Core also makes use of the harsh environment to train its pilots. Those that are able to survive the Planet's harshest creatures are celebrated. Those that do not simply wind up as dinner.

Creatures of Nauru

Adanatru

The Adanatru is a fairly large, peacock-like, creature found throughout the Nauru deserts. Docile and very curious of humans, it does not express any hostilities and in fact makes a habit of following humans around. The Core has made use of this by capturing the creatures and using them as mounts as well as pets. The creature’s feathers are also often farmed and added to clothing, as a symbol of luxury. They feed on plants and berries located throughout the Nauru landscape. Their stomachs allow them to process the poisons out of what they eat, safeguarding them against some of Nauru's nastier bits of vegetation.

Ootoleki

A relative of the Adanatru, the Ootoleki is another large bird. Its characteristics much more resemble that of an ostrich. Unlike the Adanatru however it is not fond of humans and prefers to keep its distance. The Core harvests it's distinctly blue-coloured eggs as food. They feed on plants and berries; however they lack the adaptations of their Adanatru relatives. Although one difference is they feed on insects.

Veyilark

The Veyilark is a large, rare reptile-like flying creature found around Nauru's sandstone mountains. It makes its nest near the peak, and since the induction of humans into the area it lives in it makes an odd habit of stealing construction materials and technology. The Core has to safely guard its assets when operating near Sandstone Mountains as the Veyilarks might attempt to swoop in and run odd with anything from cables to radio antennae. Surprisingly, they have a diet that consists of sand.

Isangji

Isangji are dragon-like creatures found in Nauru caves. They hang from the ceiling via sharp, single claws found at the tip of their wings. Their fangs secrete a type of acidic that burns human skin. Whilst a single Isangji may not be potent to the lone explorer, groups - which is what they are often found in - can attack humans and give them a long, incredibly painful demise.

Sandfish

Sandfish are fish-like creatures with elongated fanged mouths that literally 'swim' through the Nauruian sands. They are very common and often swim in packs, preying on Adanatru and Ootoleki to eat. Their technique involves slowly approaching a target in the sand, before jumping out and biting the limbs of their prey. Packs of Sandfish cooperate to do this, with the intention of dragging their target into the sand in order to suffocate it. They have been known to attack Core expeditionary personnel and such care should be taken if you spy their fins sticking out in the sand.

Quarnix

Quarnix are heavily armoured, rhino-like creatures that are very territorial and often aggressive towards humans. Although herbivores, they do not take kindly to outsiders and not even to their own kind. Quarnix can often be seen engaging in territorial feuds, whereby they repeatedly butt-heads with one another until one Quarnix's armour shatters.

Zebelakka

Zebelakka are lizard-like creatures often found roaming the dunes of Nauru. They are creatures of a predatory nature, and often go hunting Sandfish, Adanatu or Ootoleki. When hunting they tend to be accompanied by Zebeluk and Zebelok. The Zebelakka is the Alpha of the Zebel-species. Zebelakka are also fairly intelligent creatures, and are known to make use of their environment to capture their prey. Following this, the Zebelakka has a fairly good understanding of The Core - because of this it likes to maintain its distance from human settlers. Although they are more than happy to pounce upon the lone human trainee patrol moving through the wastes.

Zebeluk

Zebeluk are the males of the Zebel-species. They hunt in packs, and are often lead by a Zebelakka. They're not the most intelligent creatures, and they are known to throw themselves at Core personnel. Typically the Zebeluk end up being vaporised.

Zebelok

Zebelok are the females of the Zebel-species. They hunt much less frequently than Zebeluk and Zebelakka, and often remain looking after the nests. They are shown to display higher levels of intelligence than Zebeluk, as they are able to spot the danger of an approaching Core patrol and flee if needed.

Nretoi

Nretoi are flying insectoids found across the Nauru sand dunes. They tend to establish nests in trees, and feast on the juices of fruit. Some have been spotted making nests in Core settlements, much to the horror of Core settlers. As such, Core pest control squads have been created to keep the cities clean of these creatures.

Feariaz

Feariaz are rare, but frightening and nightmarish predators found roaming the Nauru wastes. Towering above humans and most land animals on Nauru, Feariaz prey upon and eat everything in the Nauru deserts no matter what it is. Even other Feariaz. It has extremely high endurance and is hard to take down, even with Core weaponry. The saliva that drips from its jaw is highly toxic and can make a person very ill. A popular myth is that the sight of a Feariaz means that an electric sandstorm is nigh, as Feariaz are seen as bringers of destruction.

Rampanant

Rampanat are horned, dragon-like nomadic creatures roaming the Nauru desert. Although herbivores, they are very aggressive and are known to kill. It is not uncommon for them to ram the walls of a Core settlement with their horns. The damage they can cause creates quite a hassle for The Core, therefore they are focusing on trying to exterminate them whenever possible.

Tequorpa

Only one Tequorpa has ever been spotted. It was seen during an excavation mission of an underground Nauru lake. Core excavators working underwater noticed the creature swimming in the distance, but upon trying to get closer it quickly fled into the underwater darkness. It's theorized that there may be a network of underwater tunnels underneath the Nauru surface, and that these creatures may make use of them.

Sand Elder

Sand Elders are huge, extremely rare, whale-like creatures that can be seen literally swimming through the Nauru sands much like Sandfishes. Reporting sights have indicated that the creatures are not aggressive, but The Core worries what might happen if came near a settlement. One Core expeditionary patrol came across a dead Sand Elder in 821 A.S. Interestingly, they discovered that the back of the creature was encased in iridium ore. Scientists believe Sand Elders may swim as deep as the Planet's crust, which would explain how they would have picked up such large amounts of iridium onto their backs.

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