Fauna of River Twine Holt

Hunting information: Any animal can be killed in many various ways especially in a situation in which you are being attacked. However; certain tools should be utilized for certain animals. Beside each name of the animal you will notice a code that corresponds with the proper weapon for each animal. A knife or a rock can be used for almost anything but it’s not always the best option. Some animals have extremely protected heads (bear, rocksheep, shagback) and a rock will not crush its skull. Other animals have extremely protected bodies (quillrat, shellback) and a knife or arrow will not penetrate the skin.

SJ = Spear/Javelin, A = Arrow, B = Bola’s, C = Club, K = Knife, SS = Sling-shot, N = Net

LARGE PREY SPECIES

Deer/Antelope: SJ, A, K, N, SS, B

There are a variety of deer that live in and around the River Twine valley. Most of the deer are rather smallish and don’t stand much taller than most elves. However they are a staple of the elves diet as well as many other predators. Generally only the males have antlers that grow in the spring and fall off after the mating season in autumn. Deer hide is the most commonly tanned leather because it’s supple, easy to work with and plentiful. Antlers can be used for various types of tools, weapons, decoration and even furniture. Antlers are either taken during the hunt or in the case of clickdeer, gathered after the animal has shed their antlers.

Clickdeer (Caribou/Reindeer) SJ, A, K, B

These deer are slightly larger than most other deer, each animal weighing up to 300 – 500 lbs and stands about 3 – 4 ft at the shoulders. However; they travel in massive groups of up to 10,000 animals in one herd and are a main food source for elves and humans. In late fall, clickdeer are clove-brown with a white neck, rump, and feet and often have a white flank stripe. During the rest of the year they are mainly clove brown to reddish brown. Clickdeer have large, concave hoofs that spread widely to support the animal in snow and soft tundra. The feet also function as paddles when they swim. They have four toes that make up each hoof, generally walking on the front two toes but the toes in back clack together while walking making a rather loud clicking noise, which gives them their name. They summer in northern regions and winter in southern regions a several days journey from the holt. Clickdeer are the only deer in which both male and female have antlers and therefore are very difficult to tell the difference in gender. Males carry antlers from late spring to late fall, and females when pregnant can carry their antlers until spring. In order to keep with "The Way" in their hunting practices the elves conduct a winter hunt and only take down those without antlers.

Marshbeast/Water Deer (Moose) SJ, A

Largest of all the deer. This water loving monster of a deer stands about 8-9 feet at the shoulder and can weigh in excess of 1800 lbs of meat. These animals are big, dumb, lazy, and stubborn. One of these creatures can feed the entire tribe for a full day or two depending on the size of the animal. Therefore these animals are only hunted when food stores are low. Unlike most deer that travel in herds the Marshbeasts are generally solitary creatures only coming together during the mating season when the males battle each other over females that they herd together into harems. After mating the females are on their own and everyone goes their separate ways. Often having two offspring at a time, calves only stay with their mothers for two years before going off on their own. Only the males have antlers, which grow in the spring and eventually fall off after mating season. A full set of antlers can be used as a framework for a large loom, a harp, and sometimes even a framework for a sitting area or bedding. The hides are extremely thick which also makes them very durable. Coincidently marshbeast hide can be a challenge to work with, so their hides are generally used specifically for winter clothing. Because of their sheer mass they are extremely dangerous, several elves have been pinned beneath this behemoth and/or trampled by their hooves.

Branch-horn (Elk) SJ, A, K

Second largest deer in the area, standing at about 5ft high at the shoulder and weighing up to 1200 pounds. These deer have massive branch-like antlers that sweep back over the shoulders and have a gray-brown body, with a white rump, and dark brown-black legs and neck. Branch-horns are migrating deer that travel in small herds. Sometimes the herd contains a dominant male, but is mostly made up of a harem of calves and cows, while nearby, but separate from the herd, can be found small bands of mature bulls. During the mating season bulls will "bugle" to challenge each other vocally, and eventually the challenge becomes physical. The high pitched eerie sounding "bugle" is the signal to the elves that it’s time to hunt.

Rocksheep (Big Horn sheep) SJ, A, K

This alpine sheep has tan or brown fur with a white belly, rump and muzzle. It is most noted for its large curved crescent shaped horns. The males have large, thick curving horns, while the female's horns are more slender and less curved. Males weigh between 125-300 pounds, females weigh between 75-200 pounds. Rocksheep are good climbers and jumpers. Its hooves are hard around the outside and soft on the inside, which help give them traction on slippery rocks. Rocksheep live in alpine meadows, mountain slopes and foothills. They like areas with rocky slopes they can climb to evade predators. During the mating season, the adult males engage in fierce jousting matches and crash head-on into each other with an impact that can be heard a mile away.

Mountain Goat SJ, A, K

The only white-coated hoofed animals in the area. These sure-footed goats thrive in the steep, broken terrain of the mountaintops to the north of the holt. Both sexes have horns and are rather difficult to differentiate between genders. The animals are quite docile but they are very difficult to hunt due to the rugged terrain in which they live. Their coats are highly prized by the staunchest of hunters. A mountain goat pelt is a sure sign of the hunters prowess, and agility considering most wolves won’t navigate the sheer cliffs of the mountaintops.

Shagback (Musk Ox) SJ, A, K

The Shagback is a stocky, long-haired animal with a slight shoulder hump and a very short tail. They travel in large herds along the northern tundra like planes several days journey away from the holt. Both male and female have horns, but the males horns are solid all the way across the head, whereas the females are separated. These animals stand 4’ –5’ high and weigh between 400-600 lbs full grown. The shagback has two coats, a long course outer coat that touches the ground, and a short fine undercoat that is similar to wool. The outer coat is a dark brown color with a cream colored "saddle" on the back and cream colored legs. The fine undercoat is shed periodically and can be used for spinning yarn, simply called "shag". Elves can gather this shag off of shrubs and trees that naturally comb the animals as they pass by. These animals are hunted mainly in the winter, as they travel closer to the Holt for the winter. When shagbacks are attacked they group together in a large circle side by side with the young in the center and all of the adults circled around them head and horns facing out.

PREDATORS

Wolf SJ/A

Wolves are carnivores and have a hierarchy social order in which the Alpha Male and the Alpha female are the primary ones that breed. Other females may breed but the Alpha female chooses whether the cubs live or die. Wolf packs generally cover an area of about 600 square miles. Hunt wolves do not breed with Natural wolves or vice versa.

The Hunt - Elf blooded wolves that are bonded to the elves. Hunt wolves are larger and live longer than natural wolves (about 25-30 year lifespan) because of their elfin heritage. Hunt-blooded wolves can communicate to the elves through a primitive wolf-send or by good old fashioned howling. Hunt-blooded wolves can communicate with natural wolves by howling as well.

Natural – Smaller than the Hunt-blooded wolves, natural wolves rarely come into the Holt proper. Occasionally a lone wolf will stray into the holt area but it is quickly dispatched by the Holt's own pack. Natural wolves are generally only encountered when going on hunts that reach beyond the Holt’s borders.

Brown Bear/Grizzly SJ/A

The brown bear (or grizzly) is the largest of the three types of bears. They can weigh between 500 to 1,200 lbs, can stand on their hind feet up to 9’ tall and are formidable predators. Brown bears are generally only hunted when they come too close to the holt proper, or for self defense. Brown bears are not sought for their pelt as Bearclaw did, but when a bear is killed the pelt is used. Brown bears are omnivors but primarily stock up on Bounty Fish during the summer, along with small and large prey. They are called brown bears but can very in color from dark brown to blonde.

Black Bear SJ/A

Black bear are the smallest and most numerous of the bears found near River Twines Holt. They only stand about 30 inches to the shoulder on all fours, and weigh about 180 - 200 lbs. Black bears are hunted for their pelt because they are a less dangerous and more manageable species. Black bears primarily feed on fish and berries, as well as small game, but they are also good scavengers.

Ghost Bear(Spirit Bear/Kermode Bear) SJ/A

With the exception of the silvery white coat, this bear is similar in shape but slightly larger than the black bear. They can grow up to 300 lbs and primarily eat Bounty fish and small rodents. The humans call them "Spirit Bears" or "Bears of the Mist" because they generally see them near the fish laden streams that are near the hot springs that create a morning fog. This fog is an excellent cover for the bears and they often fish when the fog is present. Some human tribes hunt them for their prize coats, while other tribes worship them. Only the oldest of the elves have seen these bears because they are so scarce and shy.

Mountain Cat (Mountain Lion, Cougar, Puma) SJ/A

These cats have a small, broad head with small rounded ears, a powerful body with long hind legs and tail, which is tipped with black. The color of the fur varies from slate grey, through yellow buff to light reddish brown. As their name implies they primarily inhabit the mountains near the Holt, but are rarely seen in the lowlands near the rivers. Solitary hunters and strict carnivores, these cats are very dangerous and have been known to attack lone elves and even small humans. They will hunt by day or night and will cache its food, if large enough, in dense undergrowth, returning to it over several days. The mountain cat takes down its prey by lunging at it with their powerful hind legs in one large running leap that can reach in excess of 40 feet. These cats stand about 3.5 - 4 ft tall at the shoulders and have a 4 – 6 ft body length.

Tuftcat (Lynx) SJ/A

The largest of the cats in the area resembles an overgrown lynx that can stand 5 ft in height while on all fours. They have thick fur often in shades of light greys and sometimes with orange, brown and/or black patches and a very short stubby tail. Strict carnivores, these huge cats are stalkers, taking down their prey by biting the neck. Although tuft cats have large, sharp claws, their immense bulk does not allow them to climb easily and are therefore ground dwelling only. They do, however, enjoy water and will often bathe and play in shallow pools. Solitary hunters, they are only seen in pairs during mating season and generally have 1-2 kittens per litter.

Snowcat (Snow Leopard) SJ/A

Smaller than the other cat species in the area, it lives primarily in the northern mountains a few days ride from the Holt. Their pelts are prized by human and elf a-like for it’s unique coloration of a predominantly grey body, white belly, chest and chin, and large grey/black spotted markings. The fur is long and woolly and helps protect the cat from the extreme cold of its generally mountainous habitat. The head, which has small ears and a distinctive heavy brow, is rounded and comparatively small for its body size, which can be up to 4 ft in length and weigh up to around 150 lbs. The long tail, which can measure as much as 3 ft, helps the cat balance as it moves over rugged and often snowy terrain. The powerful limbs of the snowcat are relatively short for its body size and are supported by enormous paws that splay out like snowshoes in order to help them evenly distribute their weight upon the snow.

SNAKES

Blacksnake: the blacksnake is a large, aggressive and fast-moving sub-species related to the cobra. It is overall a shiny black on top with a red or crimson belly. It is found in a wide variety of habitats but tends to be seen in moister areas, particularly near water. Gives birth to 8-40 live young at a time.

Lace snake (garter snake): grows anywhere between 18 and 54 inches long, thin body with a tapered head, coloration can very widely including green, olive, brown, or black with 3 lighter colored stripes down its back, named because it is long and thin like a lace, large groups of these snakes tend to hibernate together in a den during the winter, lace snakes eat bugs and small animals as well as eggs.

Rattlesnake (Eastern massasauga rattlesnake): grows between 24 and 36 inches, grey with black spots, tail is tipped with a light grey rattle, prefers forests and fields near water, if the snake feels threatened it will shake the rattle on its tail producing a buzzing sound, venomous snake that will eat frogs or other snakes but prefers warm-blooded prey like mice, because their prey is generally mice and voles it uses small amounts of venom in a bite so it would be painful but not deadly in larger creatures (including elves).

Snowmouth snake (cottonmouth/water moccasin): grows between 30 and 48 inches, heavy thick body, either dark brown or black colored, a cross banded pattern is sometimes visible on the sides, found in forested wetlands and lakes, very good swimmer, when threatened it will open its mouth displaying the white color it gets its name from but if left alone it will usually leave, venomous snake that preys on fish and other small animals, as long as anti-inflammatory herbs and infection prevention methods are taken a bite is unlikely to kill and adult elf or human, venom will cause extremely painful swelling and necrosis in the area which may potentially cause an amputation of an affected limb, a bite could kill the weak such as a small child or sickly person.

Treesnake (black rat snake): can grow up to 8 feet long (96 inches), solid black with a white belly, very agile climber, a powerful constrictor that preys on birds and small mammals.

Two-Head snake (rubber boa): grows between 14 and 33 inches, solid red-brown color, has a short wide head and a blunt tail which makes it look like it has a head on both ends, good burrower that likes damp woodland areas, prehensile tail that makes it a good climber, preys on small animals which it crushes in its coils prior to devouring, docile creature, if picked up it will curl in a ball.

Watersnake (copper-bellied water snake): grows between 48 and 60 inches long, black body with an orange belly, excellent swimmer that preys exclusively on aquatic species, tends to avoid contact with elves

Wormsnake: grows between 7 and 11 inches, slender body, resembles a worm, dark brown body with a pinkish belly, found in woodland areas usually under deadfall, good burrower, eats live worms and small soft bodied insects.

Shellbacks (Turtles)

Stinker (common musk turtle): only grows to be 4 ½ inches long, grayish-green in coloration, spends the majority of its time in the water eating bugs and tiny aquatic life, basks in the sun infrequently, hibernates buried in the mud during the winter, secretes a foul smelling odor when threatened

Snapper (common snapping turtle): carapace of this turtle can be between 8 and 19 inches, has brown or olive coloration, shell is jagged toward the back, turtle has a long tail and a large mouth with a strong jaw, omnivorous, prefers areas near water with lots of rocks for sunning themselves, docile creatures for the most part when in water but very aggressive on land, will hiss and attempt to bite if cornered on land.

FROGS

Croaker (bull frog): body length between 3 ½ to 6 inches, greenish-brown colored and could have spots, has a large mouth, voracious eater that will consume anything it can fit in its mouth, has a very load moaning croak.

Peeper (Northern spring peeper): body length between ¾ to 1 ¼ inch, brown colored with a darker x shape across the back, the males throats expand to almost the same size as their body when calling, their call is a high pitched “peep peep peep.”

Tree frog (Pacific tree frog): body length ranges in size from ¾ to 1 inch, green skin with a black stripe over each eye, stay near water during the breeding season but climb all over to find a suitable home outside that season, during breeding season the males led by the dominant form a chorus to attract females, their call is formed of 2 distinct part sounding like “krick-ick”

Salamanders & Lizards

Bloodbelly lizard (red-bellied newt): grows to be around 3 inches long, has a black back and a bright red belly, lives underground most of its life, only coming aboveground to return to the stream it was born in for mating purposes, mates every 3 years, very shy, if confronted will arch its back and lift its head and tail to expose the red belly, skin secretes a potent poison, poison could be absorbed through the skin but washing after handling will neutralize it, poison is deadly if ingested, poison is a neurotoxin that paralyzes muscles until the victim can no longer breathe or the heart stops, poison begins to take effect within 10 minutes, the poison permeates the body causing it to be inedible so it is therefore not used as a weapon by the elves

Freckled lizard (blue spotted salamander): grows between 4 and 5 inches long, has a shiny black body flecked with bright blue spots, lives in moist forestland, not a burrower so it hides under leaves and deadfall, eats bugs, secretes a noxious odor when threatened and detach it's own tail to escape a predator, a new tail will eventually grow in if lost

Mudpuppy: also called lizardfish, this salamander that spends its entire life in the water, has gills for breathing underwater, grows to between 8 and 13 inches, coloration varies between beige and red-brown and sometimes has black spotted lines on its back, gills are red and puffy, has 4 legs

Snaketail (Western skink): grows between 6 and 9 inches, skin is brown with white or beige stripes along the sides, has a long bright blue tail which can be up to twice as long as the body, tail will come off easily