Obsidian's Flora and Fauna
Created by Commander Calliope Zahn on 18 Aug 2021 @ 7:54pm
"Loki has made living an extreme sport on Obsidian. Anything left alive has become highly opportunistic when it comes to catching a meal. Humanoids are definitely not keeping to the top of the food chain without a fight." —Madison Indri, Fleet Admiral (Ret.)
Introduction
On a quick fly over, Obsidian might simply appear to be a desert world, devoid of much life, but closer inspection reveals a much different story.
Life on Obsidian has had to endure the erratic abuses of overactive radiation from the system's star, Loki, over the course of many millennia. While evidence of a once lush world with far more water is demonstrated by fossils, the planet has since become dominated by sand and by the remains of once catastrophic tectonic action that has left the surface partly covered in black volcanic glass, giving it its common name, Obsidian.
The life on Obsidian that has survived this abuse is very hardy and often times dangerous. Venom and poison are common aspects of survival. Many creatures are desperate to eat anything they can crunch in their mandibles and some are surprisingly large and monstrous. Although the world has been a federation protectorate for a century, not all of the surface or caverns have been explored, and it is supposed that there are very many species that UFP scientists have yet to catalog, both living and fossilized.
Beyond the wild life, there are also many plants and animals that the natives of Obsidian have domesticated and rely on for daily life.
(It is intended for this page to be updated with posted contributions as Obsidian/Loki III is further explored in the stories told.)
CREATURES
Chuchaki
Chuchaki are large cameloids permitted to be ridden in the city of Kalara (as there are no vehicles allowed). They are bred in a variety of types and sizes, but most commonly with long, light brown hair, and as adults they are the size of an earth oxen. The life span of an average Domesticated Chuchaki is about thirty years, while wild ones survive about half that age due to predation and injury.
The chuchaki walk with a side-to-side gait, two left feet then two right feet which swings the rider from side to side. The chuchaki generally smells like an unwashed dog, with the older males being especially more malodorous. Most tribal people are very accustomed to the smell and it does not bother them. Chuchaki breeders, herdsmen, and riders smell strongly of the creatures in their care.
Domesticated Chuchaki are curious and friendly, almost like very big dogs. They will sniff and nuzzle people. They can have very discernible individual personalities. They enjoy sweets and snacks and while they can seem fairly slow minded, are actually somewhat intelligent and loyal. When at rest, the chuchaki often fold their front legs only, with their back end still up in the air. This is often how the large creatures are mounted for riding. they can be saddled or hitched to carts.
They have cleft hooves that can handle rough terrain and climb slopes making them very useful not just traversing the desert, but in mountainous travel as well, though it is much more ponderous in difficult terrain and requires some skill as a rider. Although there are no hoof noises, the animals will grunt and huff quite a lot and are not quiet. They are no use for sneaking up on anyone.
Chuchaki hair can be woven for coverings and dyed the color of the desert to blend in. Often woven chuchaki coverings are used in tent making and for canopies. Certain breeds of chuchaki provide finer wool, while others are more suited to utility purposes. Chuchaki can also be milked and many dairy products on Obsidian are sourced from chuchaki milk, chuchaki cheese is often a breakfast staple. Chuchaki meat is primarily from certain breeds developed specifically for better meat and slaughtered at a prime age before they toughen, as most of the breeds are tough and gamy. Raising chuchaki for skins and meat is generally done by some tribes who move between the Oasis villages and the foot hills to finish their herds on scrub grass before selling to the city market.
Wild chuchaki still roam, running by getting up to speed and moving in mass, like herds of desert buffalo. They tend to be found in the foot hills of the mountain ranges where there are scrub and brush to feed on.
Siniki
The Siniki is a desert adapted boar. These tend to avoid confrontation with people, but can be deadly if one is trapped or confronted in the wild, using its tusks to gore. Many tribes have productive markets in Siniki tusks which are supplied to craftsmen. Siniki are a favorite animal to hunt, although in recent decades their numbers have been in decline. Some oasis tribes have developed a conservation program to keep the breeding numbers of Siniki up in the wild and ensure good future hunting. Siniki also tend to be a favorite food of many wild animals, so there is a lot of pressure on their numbers, in spite of their large litter sizes and easy breeding in the wild. There are currently programs with the UFP to establish a domesticated breed of Siniki, but so far they are not easy to domesticate and don't breed as robustly in confinement. Locals are also concerned about creating a weaker breed with less survivability in its genes that might contaminate the wild population; if it's accidentally released, the impact on the entire ecosystem would be devastating.
Ortananni
Ortananni are Ostrich sized reptilian creatures with bird like features, having a mix of scales and feathers. Although flightless, they are extremely fast sprinters with very powerful legs. These roam the desert in packs, and are opportunists when it comes to meals, turning nothing down, really. Although they are intelligent enough to work together, they also are easy to trick and capture.
Ortananni ranching involves herding the creatures in enclosures. When well fed, certain breeds of the females lay eggs fairly often, a product highly sought after in the markets. Feathers and skins are used in many products and the meat is the closest thing to chicken on Obsidian III.
With some doing, particular Ortananni can be bred and broken in for riding, but this is less common than other types of riding beasts.
Fleet Admiral Madison Indri retired to Obsidian III and runs an Ortananni Ranch
Eralsu
Riding Eralsu are imposing six-legged beetle mounts which were first captured by adventuring parties as larva and brought back from the distant Rupathan Mountains. The radiation-reflective carapaces of the Eralsu seem highly polished. Eralsu are not very personable and are generally trained to be obedient through pain when young. Wild Eralsu are untamable. An Eralsu larva must be raised and conditioned by the prospective rider which makes them a very unusual mount. They're no use to resell, save for their exoskeleton and to be otherwise ground for animal fodder.
Eralsu carapaces are very useful as armor and are highly effective protection against much of Loki's radiation. Eralsu shed every year and the carapaces are collected. Adventurous tribes sometimes brave the cross desert trek to gather larvae and carapaces. There are a number of very curious myths and stories surrounding the Eralsu, including mythical Eralsu capable of flight, spitting poison gas, or burrowing magical tunnels that seem to connect the world.
On Obsidian, riding an Eralsu makes you a badass in your community.
Hikiri- desert beetles the size of a large hand, giant pincers, can ruin supplies and swarm. MORE TO COME
Serenti - desert beast that might kill/ eat stray people MORE TO COME
Qatarak - There are several species of Qatarek, they are best described as Sand-Fish A creature that swims though the sand as though it were water. Some are broad and flat, like a Ray or Skate and came equipped with a poisoned tail barb. Others almost Shark-like, with wide mouths and rows of teeth.
They are predatory, carnivorous and dangerous; the smaller ones hunt in shoals, the larger ones alone or in small packs. They mostly take smaller game animals, but the bigger ones are capable of taking an adult Eralsu, so unwary people are easy prey.
None of the species has eyes, they move and hunt through a range of sensory organs along their bodies which sense vibrations in the sand. Some of the Ray-like ones are ambush-killers, laying in wait just below the surface for anything that happens by.
Particularly dangerous are areas of Fog-Sand, Obsidian's version of quick-sand. Hard to spot, deep pools of ultra-fine, almost dust-like, sand that will not support the weight of a man. Qatarek are common in such places and creatures who stumble in seldom survive.
Qatarek develop a tough skin, rough like sand-paper, which gives them grip and traction in the sand. The skin is prized for making desert boots, mottled with the natural ridges and swirls of Qatarek Sand-Ray skin patterns. The soles are made of laminated layers of belly skin, which is even tougher than the rest of the durable hide.
Zarban - burrowing sand slugs/ grubs- poisonous, unless you know how to prepare them safely MORE TO COME
Vultures of some type
Sand Fleas/ Mites
Kalpask- ten legged over sized "centipede" type creature with a mouth made of knives. lives in the mountains and charges at vehicles. territorial. Hunted for their exoskeletons and the protein for animal fodder. makes egg sacks that are great source of high quality oils. difficult to collect.
Mignar fruit- used to make Halavani wine. Domesticated vines grown under force field cover outside of Kalara. Smells like lilies. The grape berries are also consumed as a fruit and can be turned into a rich fruity jam, popular at breakfast.
Obsidian dates- a sort of mix between a date and an olive. When young, yellow-green, firm and tangy, but when dried in the sun they turn dark, rich, sweet and chewy. Dates, both fresh and dried are eaten at all time of the day, for breakfast, as a snack, for lunch and dinner.
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