Duronis II/Flora and Fauna
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| Laudeans |
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Flora
Beith
Classification: Shrub
This plant is a shrub that grows in mountainous and temperate climates. Its leaves are doubly serrate with feather veins, and they often appear in pairs. The beith is monoecious, opening with or before the leaves and borne on three-flowered clusters.
Derma
Classification: Weed
This flowering plant grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and has large broad leaves about the size of a man’s hand. These leaves are dark green with the outer edges an off white color. The flowers are about an inch in size and a pale blue in colour. The root system is extensive with large tan coloured tubular roots. On a fully grown plant these roots will be about half an inch round and a foot long with numerous smaller tendrils.
This root can be pressed to produce a oil that is used in the Laudean Birthing Ritual as described in the Laudean Rituals & Customs. This oil is slightly thick with a pleasant fragrant aroma.
Foreo
Classification: Fruit
This is a small tree that is native to the province of Bryque and grows on steep hill sides. It has been domesticated and large farms have been set up to grow them. On average a full grown healthy tree will be about 5 feet tall. A single tree will grow hundreds of black golf ball sized nuts that can be cracked open to reveal a hard dark brown center.
This center is harvested, toasted and then ground up to produce a fine powder that is added to hot water to produce Bryque Province Coffee.
Goman
Classification: Fruit
This fruit tree only grows in tropical climates but will produce up to 3 crops a year. The tree it self is about 20 foot tall with yellowish green leaves. The trunk is rough and has a fibrous exterior that seems to be constantly shedding.
The fruit it self has a tough waxy exterior and a creamy texture inside. High in vitamin C it is surprisingly not that sweet or juicy. However it is one of the more popular fruits as it can last for a very long time with out needing special treatment.
Guyver
Classification: Fruit
This tree grows about 10 to 15 foot tall. Its leaves are fan shaped with a pale yellowish green tone. In the spring it is usually covered in small bright yellow flowers. It is a hardy tree that can grow in most climates that have a decent growing season.
A healthy tree can usually produce about 400 to 600 guyvers and there are 8 different varieties of this plant. Five of these are natural and the other three have been created by cross pollination of the other 5. It is by far the most common type of fruit available on Duronis II.
The fruit of this tree is not dissimilar to an earth mango, with a pale white flesh. It has no stone at the centre, rather there are tiny seeds throughout (the entirety could be eaten). The skin of the guyver is a thick leather-like coating which must be cut off and is usually kept and used to make material.
The skins are dried out, pounded and then placed in a machine that separates the fibers. These fibers can then be woven into strong rope or tough working clothes.
Havre
Classification: Vegetable
This plant grows about 7’ high with huge long dark green leaves. It will typically have 3 stalks about an inch in size and each stalk will usually have between a dozen and twenty large pods. These pods weight as much as half a pound and are larger than a man’s hand.
Inside these pods are full of dark red kernels or seeds. They can be ground up into a type of flour, cooked and eaten as a side dish or mashed into a paste and added to other foods. It is a staple of their diet and can be found in some way or another at almost every meal.
Classification: Flowering plant
Irchis The Irchis bush is a flowering shrub native to the area around the city of Eaven. It is cultivated and traded as an exotic garden plant. A full size plant will be about 4 feet tall and egg shaped. The leaves are small and a deep, dark green in color.
It has attractive flowers that are cerulean blue when they open, changing to lavender and finally fading to white just before they fall. The flowers have a very pleasant scent. When in full bloom a single plant may have as many as 50 to 75 flowers at any one time.
Minevra
Classification: Weed
This is a clinging plant that climbs just about anything it can. It produces a palm sized flower similar to Earth's sunflower. It is considered a weed due to it’s ability to survive harsh conditions and the fact that it is very hard to kill. It is native to the Providence of Damodara but can now be found in almost every province.
The leaves can be dried and used to produce a fragrant tea. It is used by pregnant women and has been proven to dramatically increase the number of healthy births. This tea can be found in any and all city markets.
The Zalkonians did some research and have recently made a startling discovery about this plant. As well as blocking Fielding abilities, it also blocks all telepathy. Betazoids are especially susceptible to its effect. Too much exposure could kill them, and the stronger the telepathic ability, the stronger the effects.
Narok
Classification: Flowering Bush
This flowering berry plant has long tapering pale green leaves with white spots. The flowers are a small creamy white with a dark brown center. The plant grows about a meter high and is rounded in shape. The flowers are numerous and seem to have a repeating cycle that will result in about 3 or 4 periods of heavy growth each year.
When the thumb sized flower falls off it is quickly replaced by a dark brown berry. These berries cause a hemorrhagic inflammation of the intestine called Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis. It has been known to result in a slow and lingering death. One that is marked with intense pain, stomach cramps and loose bowls.
Norca
Classification: Grain
This plant grows about shoulder high with thin stalks and big bushy heads of small grain kernels. These kernels are a light red in color and darken as they ripen. The plant itself is a dull green with small leave just below the bushy head. Other than that the stalk is bare.
Once harvested and processed it is ground up into flour and used to make lots of different baked goods. It can also be used to brew a very potent type of alcohol.
Orgabarra
Classification: Weed
This is a flowering plant that is found mostly in meadows and pastures. It requires a very high nitres content in the ground. This is most common near large number of grazing animals. It has thin stalks about a foot to a foot and a half tall covered in golden coloured leaves. It has an extensive root that can be used to make a sweet herbal tea.
Rowtat
Classification: Weed
This plant is a pest as it is hard to kill and has a poisonous root. The top of the plant looks a lot like grass but is slightly darker in colour and has a slight waxy feeling. The root is a small ball in shape with a dark purple skin and a white interior.
In small doses it can produce a hallucinogenic experience. In larger quantities it has caused permanent brain damage and death. It has also been know to increase the control and power level of some Laudeans fielding ability. Further experimentation has been banned due to the seriousness of the side affects.
Savo
Classification: Vegetable
This plant grows about 2 feet tall and has waxy spearhead shaped dull green leaves. When it is dug up they will produce between 15 to 25 tubular vegetables that look a little like a sweet potato that has a thick very dark red husk covering the meaty center which is a dark red. On average each of these will be about the size of a mans fist.
They taste much like potatoes, but are a little spicy and some can be as hot as mild peppers. Served raw, it is normally used as a chopped ingredient in salads. When cooked they are often served as a stand alone side dish to marine life.
Sorja Treen
Classification: Tree
This is a medium sized tree that grows to about 20” tall. It has a very thick trunk with sharp 3 inch long thorns on it. Branches usually start about 10’ above the ground where the thorns slowly fade out. The upper part of the tree is very wide, usually about 25’ to 35’. It provided intense shade and the area under the tree is usually always in deep shade. It is a favoured nesting location from many different species of birds.
Fauna
Meeka
Classification: Rodent
The Meeka is a small rodent-like animal with some traits similar to the terrestrial chicken. It's forelimbs are short and only used for feeding, the Meeka only uses it's long, strong hindlimbs for locomotion. The Meeka is a pure herbavore, feeding on numerous plants. It's favorite seems to be the grain of the Norca plant, making it an enemy of Laudean farmers. Fortunately, they are dumb and quite tasty, making them easy to catch and easy to eat.
Classification: Grazing animal
Pletrok These animals can be found in any mountainous areas. They graze on grasses and the lowest evergreen branches. These fabulous equine beast have a long spiraled horn jutting from the middle of its forehead. In size and appearance they slightly resemble a Clydesdale horse from Earth, but have a predominately silvery-white coat that is emphasized by a silky white mane and tail. These split-hoofed creatures are often considered as a composite creature, having the features of various animals. The pletrok is depicted as a long haired beautiful animal, usually pure white in color. It has been used to represent virginity, but also as a metaphor representing strength, chaste love and faithful marriage.
They are hunted for their fur and their meat. However due to the rough terrain and secluded nature of most of the mountain ranges their population has never really been in danger.
Teek Teek
The Teek Teek is a large oxen like animal. It is primarily a beast of burden, used as transportation and to pull heavy loads in rural areas, although Teek Teek meat is very tasty and versatile, although seldom eaten. They stand approximately a meter and a half high at the shoulders, with coarse grey hair covering their tough hide. They have tri-cloven hoofs, but no horns at all. They make a noise that sounds something like "dee-dee, dee-dee."
Classification: Primate
Surrilian Monkat These are very rare animals found only in small family groupings. A primate-feline mix in appearance, they are highly developed and are the only creature other than the Laudeans to have a connection to the Fielding.
They are small creatures, approximately 40cm tall, and appear to be a cross between a small primate and a small feline. They have the apparent human-like features of a primate, small hands and feet, but with large ears and highly alert eyes. They also have a feline-like face with whiskers, the coloring varying from a charcoal grey to a tan. Semi-sentient, they can communicate with one another telepathically, and have limited telepathic ability with other telepathic beings.
Tsiri Bird
Classification: Bird
A species of small song-bird native to the island of Lokesh City. They are on average 2 inches tall with long, intricate tail feathers like a bird of paradise. These tail feathers are usually about 5 to 6 inches long and vibrant with shimmering colour. There are a number of different sub species, each with different colours of plumage, but all are bright and eye-catching.
This bird is now protected by law as it is considered to be a symbol of hope and prosperity. In the past they were hunted almost into extinction to be sold for pets or killed for their incredible plumage. There has never been a successful case of reproduction in captivity by these birds.
Classification: Marine Life
Claka
It is a crustation, somewhat like shrimp but much bigger. On average a fully grown claka will be between 2 and 3 feet long and weight in at about 25 pounds. They are harvested in shallow waters near the coastal regions.
They are a staple in most Laudean households and can be cooked in a number of different ways. They can even be dehydrated and smoked. One of the most popular ways to serve them is cut up into very tiny pieces and then mixed with mashed savo
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