The Cinder Hierophant
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Various pigmentations of Suilani Water Hound, caused by differences in habitat.
All specimens shown here are male, indicated by two 'sub-tails' visible underneath the main tail.GENERAL INFORMATION
Believed to be one of the oldest species on the planet, the Suilani Water Hound has long been revered as a symbol of fury by the Tof population... and reviled as pest by the somewhat more practical Nagai residents. In the distant past, both Nagai and Tof attempted to capture and tame the beasts to use in their feudal war... to almost entirely disastrous results. The beasts were too wild and temperamental to tame without the constant use of expensive sedatives, which made them ineffectual in combat. More recently, the Hound attracted the fascination of the Palace of Silver Rain, a Sith Academy newly established by the rising Sith Order in the Galactic South. Traditional taming methods had long failed. Sith Sorcery proved to be in a class of its own. Today, the sight of Sith Acolytes astride saddled Water Hounds is a reminder of the dominance of the Sith Order.
- Intent: To flesh out the fauna of Saijo, with a predator to
attempt to eatbe tamed by the Acolytes of the Grey Annex. - Image Credit: Original Artist
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
Various pigmentations of Suilani Water Hound, caused by differences in habitat.
All specimens shown here are male, indicated by two 'sub-tails' visible underneath the main tail.
- Name: Suilani Water Hound
- Designation: Non-sentient
- Origins: Saijo
- Average Lifespan: 13-17 years.
- Estimated Population: Planetary
- Description: A quadrupedal predator stalking through the long grass of Saijo's river valleys, the Suilani Water Hound is a territorial beast, and the terror of the planet's mid-sized fauna.
- Breathes: Type 1
- Average Height of Adults: 1.2 meters
- Average Length of Adults: 3 meters
- Skin color: Varies, usually dark browns, pale greens, or grays.
- Distinctions: The Water Hound has evolved to change its color relatively quickly based on environmental factors. Water Hounds living near mature trees will supplement their diet with tree bark, which will introduce dark browns to their usually grey skin. Those living near large bodies of water supplement with various algae and aquatic plants, causing a pale green to present itself. This natural camouflage typically takes 6-8 months to begin to show. Female Water Hounds lack the pair of 'sub-tails' which males sport alongside their main tail.
- Races: N/A. Though striking, camouflage patterns are not passed on to a Water Hound's offspring, who are born a plain grey color.
- Force Sensitivity: Non-Sensitive
- Natural Camouflage: Water Hounds tend to sport colors corresponding to their habitat: grey near rocky streams, pale green on lakeshores, dark brown along wooded rivers.
- Run It Down: These creatures have a keen sense of smell, and are built to pounce and run. Their attack is swift, and that speed can be maintained over a long chase.
- Fast-Acting: The same circulatory system that produces rapid coloration changes based on diet also allows drugs to take effect within the Water Hound very quickly. This makes the beast easy to tranquilize or treat medically.
- Hung Out to Dry: This animal takes in water through its skin as well as through drinking. Outside of a humid environment, the Suilani Water Hound will begin to dehydrate dangerously after only a few hours.
- Snaggletooth: The teeth of a Water Hound never stop growing, and are prone to warped or harmful growths that can lead to disease or injury late in life.
- Unbridled Rage: Residents of Saijo have long since given up any notion of taming or domesticating this animal. It is prone to fly into a violent rage against even those who've raised it or fed it, so long as they are of another species.
- Diet: Omnivorous. Water Hounds are not grazing animals, but will supplement a large kill with tree bark or algae if it is readily available.
- Communication: A guttural howl is the most common form of intimidation or aggressive posturing. Short barks or chirps are common when communicating with members of the same species.
- General behavior: The Suilani Water Hound is a pack hunter... to a point. Born in litters of 5-8 young, family units hunt together as children from the age of 1 year. By age 7, the pack has typically split into smaller groups of 2-4, as larger animals eat more of the local prey. One group of siblings will drive the others out of their home to find new territory. Adulthood beginning at around 9 years, males will leave their family groups to search for a mate elsewhere. Females preparing to give birth take a similar trek to find a hunting ground where their offspring will not compete with adult Water Hounds.
Believed to be one of the oldest species on the planet, the Suilani Water Hound has long been revered as a symbol of fury by the Tof population... and reviled as pest by the somewhat more practical Nagai residents. In the distant past, both Nagai and Tof attempted to capture and tame the beasts to use in their feudal war... to almost entirely disastrous results. The beasts were too wild and temperamental to tame without the constant use of expensive sedatives, which made them ineffectual in combat. More recently, the Hound attracted the fascination of the Palace of Silver Rain, a Sith Academy newly established by the rising Sith Order in the Galactic South. Traditional taming methods had long failed. Sith Sorcery proved to be in a class of its own. Today, the sight of Sith Acolytes astride saddled Water Hounds is a reminder of the dominance of the Sith Order.
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