Fauna
Backmon (n): A small creature, roughly three feet long by about two feet high, a backmon has rough black hair and three yellow eyes. It walks on four legs and has a razor sharp claws, as well as a spiked barb at the end of its short tail. It predominantly lives underground in burrows, though it hunts above ground, and can be extremely vicious and aggressive in the wild.
Carrier hawk (n): the primary mode of communication in Dol’Phan
Caricatch (n): A one foot long seven eyed fish. Caricatch are extremely common and cheap source of protein, with many ways to be prepared.
Flying-Flowers (n): Similar to Butterflies only more variant in color. Hatch every two years to reproduce and lay eggs in the Kingwood.
Gauler (n): Often the most debated "animal" in all of Orphan. Many people believe it should be counted as a race and not a species of animal, but as of right now, The Capitol rules them as a member of the nation’s fauna. Gaulers walk upright on two legs and are entirely black except for the gray fade into their white faces. Gaulers faces are pale white with large black eyes, a very subtle nose and a small mouth that makes them appear without one. Gaulers are often seen with colorful markings on their white face, and many believe that these are not natural but instead painted on by the Gaulers themselves. This and their general disposition help reinforce the argument between race or animal, but little is known of their actual nature and they have never approached people willingly. Their black bodies help them blend into the caves and deepest darkest portions of forests where they are thought to live, however a Gauler "nest" has never been found. Gauler faces are ridiculously popular in mask making and masked festival performances, and they are a symbol of recluse.
Gognut (n): A white rodent, that sits about two feet and walks on all fours. It boasts a number of small spikes on its hindquarters, which protect it from natural predators. However it is essentially defenseless against humans, and is known for its incredibly tender meat. A large population on the flatlands had become the popular hunting sport of citizens of Rafe.
Gunge (n): A mythical creature to have once thought to exist. Depicted as a ball of fur, completely with beak and two stubby legs, it was thought that the
Gunge was incredibly fast, and therefore difficult to find. As it turns out, they don’t even exist.
Hart: A male dear, usually two/three years or older (also a Stag). Large harts are ridden in Harvesthome by Harvesters and Woodsmen alike. A Grass-kin diet allows them to grow to abnormal size, allowing them to be ridden. Harts are preferred to horses because of their ability to navigate easily through rough terrain.
Meggun (n): Found in the wild and in stables of most major cities and towns, Megguns are catlike mounts with exceptionally large ears and eyes making them very useful to assassins and soldiers alike. They vary from a jet black to gray, white, and occasionally a burnt red. They are roughly 6 feet tall from toe to mount and there are few creatures in Orphan that can outrun them. An untamed Meggun should be treated with great respect and caution. They do not regularly attack people, but if they choose to they are unstoppable to anyone without combat training.
Night Stalk (n): Nocturnal scavenger bird that resides in Queenwood near Harvesthome. Black feathers, oddly non-observant. Melodic and various in song (Reference: Crow/Pigeon). They often seem attracted to potential death, how they manage this is considered by folk-lore as unnatural. These creatures are therefore hated.
Rentis-Brood (n): [Mythological] The damned souls trapped in Rentis-Sphere. To speak to/interact with/touch/or see Rentis-Brood is considered bad practice, and unholy. Since Rentis-Brood are angered spirits, they have no form in the real world, they are the embodiment of hate and suffering.
Rhodia (n): A massive beast that slightly resembles a rhino. It has thick, black leather like skin, and yellow eyes. It walks on all fours and weighs roughly a thousand pounds. On it’s head are three long spikes which it uses for defense. It is not prone to attacks in the wild, but when provoked they can be extremely deadly.
Sheeswae (n): A small rodent, usually found on wide open grass lands and forests. A sheeswae is a scavenger and horder. To be called a sheeswae is considered an insult, as sheeswae’s carry very little meat on their bones, and therefore when killed and cooked then yield very little substanance. They are also known to run from any conflict, and never engage another animal in the wild.
Thrush-Ray (n): Small airborne invertebrates, thin mucous membrane covers a light carapace that contains a low density gas that causes the Rays to float. Blue in color, they resemble miniature sting-rays with small flat mouths that latch onto food; mainly Sol-Fruit. It is suggested that the color of the fruit causes the odd skin pigmentation. Considered pests, because of their swarming nature; they are known to devour large amounts of flora and cause famine when in particularly large groups. Despite their drawbacks, Thrush-rays yield a particularly sought after commodity. Through unknown means, the Thrush-ray spins a thick orange string that is commonly known as Thrush-silk. The silk is melted down with boiling water, and soaked over a Forte-night (See Forte-night). What remains from the ‘distilling’ is a spicy/sweet syrup material known as Thrush-sap. Thrush-sap is mildly addictive, and causes side affects ranging from light headedness, to giddy behavior. The silk is also an effective combustible, useful in kindling and candles. Thrush-rays become active in warm environments and are most active during the Cornath day. If a Thrush-ray become over heated, or exposed to an open flame; they explode. This is due to the low-density gas in their hollow carapace.
Eggs: The eggs are delicate, covered with a thin membrane that contains a volatile liquid that combusts when compressed. Used by children in the Crux as a prank to startle unaware victims; they have also found their way onto the ends of arrows, for an explosive kick.
Waterflight (n): A greyish bird with four legs and a long thin gull. Waterflights get them name due to their nesting grounds generally being port areas.