Slurks
From Ouroboros
Contents |
Introduction
A favored prey of many Masks, as well as some packs of Ferkins, Slurks are large, slow moving creatures that rely solely on their Orbos for survival.
Anatomy
Organs
Much like the more rodent-like creatures living on Moch, the Slurk uses its Orbos to absorb fog and sunshine to generate energy. Unlike the typical oval shape, a Slurk's Orbos is circular in design, making it's already slow movement even slower.
Slurks are slow, sluggish, and dull witted. The only thing going for them is that they are completely autonomous, and therefore supply a valueless role in Moch's ecology, which is roughly analogous with that of plants in Terr's ecology.
Bone Structure
Slurks, unlike the typical rodents, have a layer of bone over their Orbos. This bone is very finely crafted (amazing many mages) in such a way that light and air can get in, but a material strike is greeted with a brick wall of bone. The occasional, albeit rare, raiding party may attempt to grab Slurks so that their bone structure can be used in magical devices.
This large plating supplies the central bone, much like a spinal cord would. The Slurks four, large, sturdy legs, as well as it's head, come out of the cord.
A Slurks skeleton treads the fine line between endoskeleton and exoskeleton - it is seperated from the air only by a thin layer of skin (or, in the case of the circular Orbos plate, cartilage), with all muscles moving on the inside.
External Appearance
The first man to observe a Slurk said these now famous (amongst mages) words: "Is that a turtle?". The tough bone and cartilage of a Slurk's outer shell closely mirrors that of a turtles shell. Admittedly, the shell provides a totally different function from a turtle's shell, but it still looks the same.
Mating
Strangely enough, Slurks are functional hermaphrodites, placing theme even closer to the plants of Terr. They are capable of interbreeding with other Slurks, allowing genetic diversity, but often and typically breed by themselves.
Behavior
Nomadic Movement
Slurks do not build homes, caves, or similar objects. Their sole instinct is to move, very slowly, to anything that looks like it would be a good home. If they find one, they will stay for a brief period of time, and then move out, attempting to locate a new home.
Mating Patterns
Slurks mate when they locate another Slurk. Both Slurks, due to their hermaphroditic nature, are impregnated and later give birth. Children are left on their own and generally begin to roam at a very young age. Within days of birth, a young Slurk is moving on it's own. Within months, it is fully grown.
