Creatures and Pets (World Building Notes)
The world-building Community released a Prompt asking us to talk about pet purchasing. Discussing aspects of our worlds, from pet stores, capturing and taming, and lists of dangerous or banned creatures.
Zun-Kullan Hounds
In the distant past, these quadrupeds were respected and idolised by the Zun-Kullan people, due to their loyal nature and aggressive tendencies towards anyone considered an enemy to their masters.
With high levels of intelligence, they are able to pick up on the slightest signs of hostility and they usually react fast, putting an end to potential trouble with a warning snarl. If a warning snarl is ignored, attacks are to be expected. People are advised to approach with extreme caution, especially if they spot a pack out in the wilderness. They are known to track their targets over vast distances and extreme weather conditions.
Zun-Kullan Hounds are known to give birth to a litter of 6-8 pups. But, in the past, some she-hounds were found to give birth to 12+ and once they were discovered, breeders focused on that particular trait. Over the years of focused breeding, there was a new breed created known as a brood-beast. They are bigger and stronger, but some other traits were neglected in this strive toward a bigger litter, leaving Brood-Beasts with a lot of negative traits, such as an unpredictable nature, lack of loyalty to anyone but its pups, and due to the size, these hounds aren't as fast or agile. Their size, strength, and immense litters make them great war fodder, usually unleashed as a horde to terrorize and scatter an enemy army, before being picked off while they flee.
Fish and Small Creatures
There are many shops on the Inner worlds of Free Space, which provide smaller creatures for homes throughout the galaxy.
There are even professional breeders of fish, who specialise in unique breeds by crossing fish from different worlds. However, the rarer the breed, the more expensive they are, and the harder they are to maintain and take care of. Some breeds require a particular kind of water to live a happy and healthy life. Because of this, they are only usually bought by people who can afford such an expense.
Banned Creatures
Scoosha is home to many dangerous creatures, in both the seas and on land. They have evolved to live in harsh deserts and steep mountainous peaks.
One creature is the Arok-rik, which stand at an average of 7 foot, on six legs, and has two bladed arms, used for pinning and tearing apart whatever they catch. They live in underground nests, usually burying themselves in the sands of the world. Usually, they remain in the cave networks of mountain ranges in the wider wastes. But, since the war, the great wastes have been dotted with multiple shipwrecks, which has prompted Arok-riks to emigrate, using these wrecks as cover and nesting grounds. There are also many abandoned mining settlements throughout the world, and most of these have also been taken over.
Arok-riks fight subterranean wars with each other, for dominance, and food. But, when met with non-Arok-riks they tend to team up, so long as their DNA is close enough to read pheromones. There are said to be six different species, that are so different from one another that they will never team up and as the years pass more species are discovered.
Incredibly dangerous and mindless, these creatures should never be taken as pets under any circumstances. Some people have tried to breed them, however, one of which being a Scooshan called Nocio B'Vasi, who header to The Great Wastes with the dream of having an army at his command that could wash over any settlement he pointed at. He was never found or heard of again.
Guro, are another dangerous creature. They are omnivores who are usually mild-mannered unless you disturb a nursing ground. They stand at 8 feet, or 5 feet when leaning on their hands.
They have been taken as pets, and are said to be the best protectors known to Free Space, but they are so large and intimidating that taking them in as a pet is warned against.
There have been stories from before the war, where Guro along with other oddities would be taken by collectors and brought around as a living display, but that hasn't happened post-war.
Quanti
Before machines, the Doshans had their own means of travel.
The Quanti are large flying creatures that the Doshans would tame and ride. Few Doshans possessed the skills necessary to tame these creatures, and even if someone could tame a Quanti, there was no guarantee that they would be fearless enough to take to the skies.
After machines became abundant, far fewer people even bothered with taming and riding Quanti, but the tradition remained; as a way of showing respect for the past.
During the war, Doshan ships were grounded, especially as the attacks on Confederation patrols began. As the situation escalated Doshan ships without flight permits were shot down. As a response, the rebels sought out Quanti trainers, tamers, and riders.
For the first time in years, Quanti riders were numerous and were responsible for many ambushes, which turned the balance of power on the planet.
As the war ended, people hung up their saddles once more. But, the stories from the war have inspired a resurgence amongst the younger generations.
Quantarri
These creatures are much larger than Quanti and were used in the distant past as flying forts, that were said to hold as many as twelve Doshans, including gear.
They have not been seen in many years, and are considered extinct, but, many believe that they are little more than a myth.