Post by Shani on Apr 27, 2010 18:53:02 GMT -5
General Info
Name: Darga
Also known as: Shrieker
Climate/Terrain: Temperate grasslands/forests
Organization: Clan
Activity Cycle: Nocturnal
Diet: Special, carnivorous
Clutch Size: 3-5 eggs
Alignment: Lawful neutral/Chaotic neutral
Special Attacks: Variable
Special Defenses: Immune to electric shock and silver tableware
Size: 3' at hip, 10' long
Physical Description: Dargas are fast, highly maneuverable, with a relatively small body and long tail, measuring up to 3m in length and being no taller than 3 feet at the hip. They have powerful hindquarters, and their long, slender forelimbs are webbed and developed as wings. The skull, which grows up to 33cm long, is equipped with powerful jaws lined with around sixty curved, blade-like teeth. They have pale, translucent green eyes, mammal-esque ears, and are coated in fur, except for on their talons, wings, and muzzle, showing black skin. When hatched, the epicene pups have black fur. As they grow older, the fur gradually lightens. Adults are usually a silvery gray in color.
Behavior: While not actively hostile, Dargas are militantly territorial and initially distrustful of anyone who approaches. Dargas can be found in old temples and ruins located in temperate grasslands, or near woods. They rest and give birth in dens, caves, and nooks of ruin walls. It is not uncommon for them to accommodate pups of different broods in one nesting area. Dargas are very social, but their groups are not as closely knit. Their clans usually consist of a male leader, four female generals and their epicene followers. They are protective and dedicated. If their clan members are attacked they will try to slay the enemy. When the leader dies, a general takes his place. When a general dies, one of the followers takes her place. They are not inherently enemies with any life form. They loyally obey the orders of the one they serve.
Reproduction and development: Dargas are not seasonal breeders, and can reproduce at any time of the year. The average clutch consists of 4 eggs, which are about 7cm in diameter and have shells resembling blue pearl granite in color. Mating typically only occurs at night with no other Dargas present. Incubation period is 60 days long and pups are hatched wide awake, covered with fur and, soon after drying off, able to follow their parents around. At 12 months old, pups are about half the size of full-grown adults. Yearlings tag along on hunts but rarely become competent hunters before 1.5 years. They reach full size at about 2 but develop adult pelage only at 3 years. Dargas have a lifespan of about 60 to 80 years.
Combat/Hunting and diet: This dragon-like creature uses its speed, sharp teeth, and hind legs with their ripping talons in terrible combination. Often the Darga will attack from directly above or will use their surroundings as cover and ambush their targets when they come within 100 feet. The Dargas prefer to use their sonic shriek before closing in melee, to stunt and disorient their target. The adult Darga will only run from a fight if they are severely damaged, since they view retreat as cowardly, while a young Darga will attempt to fly out of sight, so it will not leave tracks. They hunt in packs and can take down animals far larger in size. But while they are eqipped for hunting anything from ungulates to dragons, and do eat meat to sedate their hunger, Dargas won't last long without the one thing that grants them their life force. Their special diet consists of fairies, which they locate by their green glow in the night. Otherwise, their eyesight is poor, and they use echolocation to get around. Their fur can absorb the electricity which fairies zap with in aggressive defense. Dargas can go up to 3 weeks without eating or drinking.
History
There once lived a great wizard who conjured the Dargas into existence. And this is no creation myth. Burqan was en evil wizard who dabbled in the dark arts. Thus, for his own protection against the likes of pesky adventurers, foolish paladins, and wizard hunters, he gave birth to his own personal army of loyal killing machines who would listen to his every bidding and guard his tower even to their deaths. According to wizards' books, Dargas are a dangerous creature, chaotic and uncontrollable. A witch or wizard must bind with them in order for them to become obedient, and then the Dargas will be under their master's command, be he good or evil. Once their master dies, as Burqan had so long ago, the binding on them is broken and they are free to do as they please, though they are unlikely to leave their established territory, even when all that's left of it are ruins, and the stone walls, which were once the most sturdy part of the wizard's abode, have been reduced to boulders.
...but that was until something forced them to leave their homeland.
The fairies, which were their life source, have vanished. The Dargas could only wait so long until they realized that they would die if they did not find new sustenance. And so, for the first time, the clan split up into groups of 3 to 5 individuals, each establishing their own heirarchy. These new clans spread out and headed their own ways into the surrounding forest, hoping to find a trace of the fairies or a new life source to take their place.
Language
The Dargas speak their own tongue and have an ability to communicate with any intelligent creature, i.e. not unicorns.
Some Darga words:
Ejen - means witch or wizard, the name of their master race
Irgen - human
Luu - dragon
Burqan - God (name of the wizard who conjured them)
Delekei - their word for the world they live in
Xoxtorqu - their word for the world they were summoned from
Deguu - sibling
Echige - father
Eke - mother
Eme - female (usually used to refer to one's mate)
Ere - male (usually used to refer to one's mate)
Keuked - child(ren)
Some Darga names:
Bayar – joy
Chagan – white
Gagcha – alone
Gol – river
Ider – vigorous
Jun – summer
Kei – air, wind
Kuiten – cold
Magu – bad, evil
Mergen – wise
Saili - wayward
Tal - Steppe