Amethyst Tane
Amethyst Tanes were much stranger than their Ruby cousins. Based on folklore, ancient writings, artworks, sculptures and fossil remains we have discovered, they seemed to have the necessary bi-jointed shoulders and upper rips that would typically allow for the rotational and folding joints required for proper wings as other Tanes. However only one partial specimen with but two small parts of proper wing bone structures have ever been found. Yet these additional portrusions and the flesh around them is in most every story, and the bones are in every upper body or neck fossil and ribcage fossil we've discovered. This would perhaps suggest that they simply had wings sometimes, when they needed them, in fitting with the recurring description that parts of their bodies and form would constantly be going through the decaying process and reforming, regrowing. This is a constant reference in all eighteen bits of artwork or ancient preserved writings that we have ever discovered that reference these particular Tanes. It does make some sense, as beings of Entropy, if they were constantly going through the Entropic cycle. This does of course throw a bit of a curveball for trying to recreate a sort of visual approximation of what they might have looked like, given their bodies might have been constantly changing and altering, new bits growing, old bits decaying and being reabsorbed within the creature itself as pure manna. This is perhaps part of why many attempts at depicting these creatures show something seemingly diproportionate and with various bits of bulbous protrusions and swellings all about its body, as well as areas of scale-less sagging flesh in other parts, flesh clearly rotting and necrotizing.
However their fossil records tell us that this was only skin, scale, flesh, and muscle deep. Their skeletal structure shows no such signs of this rotting and reforming in any fossil record, so it would seem the two complete specimens we have are actually complete, the base template of the creature if you will. Though the wings suggest they could grow and then reabsorb even new bones, clearly they couldn't alter this base skeletal structure, this core, that we know of, through this process, and as such, it is from this quadrapedal base we draw our assumptions and parameters when trying to imagine what these strange and fascinating creatures might have looked like, how they might have lived, their diet and more."
Pila Isabella, Archaelogist Lector, beginning her lecture on the complex study of Amethyst Tanes.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Amethyst Tanes were, by all makings of the fossilized remains we can judge from or make attempts at using for guided estimations of the creatures, as well as what few bits of ancient depictions written or artistic have ever been uncovered, quadrapeds. Powerful beasts, larger than their Ruby cousins, with longer, more tapered jaws that have a slight downward 'hook' to them. WIth robust teeth, serrated, but bulky, with sharp points. This combined with their grabbing claws and elongated toes, with multiple joints help indicate a lot about their habits and behaviors. Their eyes are set on the sides of their head, but angled along the forward tapering of their skull, again the marks of a predatory creature, however their robust teeth and fossilized stomach contents inform us they were likely less active hunters and more generalist opportunists. They would hunt, however fossilized sotmach contents in two specimens indicates a variety of long rotten organic material was present. Bits of bone, showing clear fossilized signs of having partially decayed before being consumed, similarly fossilized wood, plant matter the remains of both showing the same sort of signs in their fossilization.
Because of this, it is generally percieved that Amethyst Tanes were semi-predatory, however by and large, scavenging generalists, able to garner nutritional value from anything organic that was rotting and decaying. In truth, perhaps something about that process was actually nutritionally vital for their continued health.
Furthermore, their skeletal anatomy has told us a great deal about them. In specific it has helped validate the few archaelogical find depicting such creatures where they have wings, but others do not. Where they have longer jaws, or more flipper like webbing between their digits, or even a third set of legs. A beautifully preserved speciment discovered in Depenwood helped us formulate our understanding of this, as well as some bits of ancient texts, preserved, covering their mythos. It seems along their backs, between the front shoulders and in line with the center of their ribcage, Amethyst Tanes had the necessary orbitis bone and knuckle, implying the rotating and folding joint off which a wing structure would exist, and they had this on each side, however only one specimen has ever been found with any wing bones fossilized. Similarly they have other such protrusions as well within their skeletal structures, and this explains why some have been found seemingly with no tails, or a seemingly shriveled and dysfunctional 'fifth' leg that was set forward from one of their other legs. Based upon the mythos and skeletal structures, it would seem these creatures were in fact truly the sort of embodiment of Entropy. Basically they had a standard body plan, but parts of them would go through the natural process of decay, even as they would also replace those parts, so as a limb shriveled, rotted, shifted forward and was reabsorbed, a new one, bones and flesh and all, would grow. That, at least, is the prevailing theory in regard to explaining the variety of somewhat odd and off kilter body plans.
We also know, from fossilized skin and scale imprints, and similarly from the few bits of archaelogical artwork and bits of preserved writings that all Tanes possessed an Elementias Sac and a Magmis-Verin of sorts, though in truth calling it a Magmis Verin in each of the eight sub-species of Tane is a little disingenious, as that term literally means 'Magma Vein' or 'Magma Artery' because this anatomical breakthrough was discovered, classified and scientifically named in Ruby Tanes, and the name has stuck across them all, regardless of the elemental differences, and therefore likely drastic interior tissue and structure differences of this anatomical feature in each of the eight types. However it is worthy of note that given what exactly an Amethyst Tane would be breathing, this structure, whilst surely visually having the same sort of imagery for an Amethyst Tane as it does for a Ruby Tane. Or the equivalent, seeming but a vein of raw manna, glowing and pulsating from their bottom jaw to the bulge in their ribcage that would mark their Elementias Sac. However it is also worthy to note that most definitely the inner workings would need to be different, given the sort of corroding necrotic sludge like mist an Amethyst would be breathing is far different from the near magma like truefire a Ruby would breath and would require different anatomical structures to function, presumably.
Because of this, it is generally percieved that Amethyst Tanes were semi-predatory, however by and large, scavenging generalists, able to garner nutritional value from anything organic that was rotting and decaying. In truth, perhaps something about that process was actually nutritionally vital for their continued health.
Furthermore, their skeletal anatomy has told us a great deal about them. In specific it has helped validate the few archaelogical find depicting such creatures where they have wings, but others do not. Where they have longer jaws, or more flipper like webbing between their digits, or even a third set of legs. A beautifully preserved speciment discovered in Depenwood helped us formulate our understanding of this, as well as some bits of ancient texts, preserved, covering their mythos. It seems along their backs, between the front shoulders and in line with the center of their ribcage, Amethyst Tanes had the necessary orbitis bone and knuckle, implying the rotating and folding joint off which a wing structure would exist, and they had this on each side, however only one specimen has ever been found with any wing bones fossilized. Similarly they have other such protrusions as well within their skeletal structures, and this explains why some have been found seemingly with no tails, or a seemingly shriveled and dysfunctional 'fifth' leg that was set forward from one of their other legs. Based upon the mythos and skeletal structures, it would seem these creatures were in fact truly the sort of embodiment of Entropy. Basically they had a standard body plan, but parts of them would go through the natural process of decay, even as they would also replace those parts, so as a limb shriveled, rotted, shifted forward and was reabsorbed, a new one, bones and flesh and all, would grow. That, at least, is the prevailing theory in regard to explaining the variety of somewhat odd and off kilter body plans.
We also know, from fossilized skin and scale imprints, and similarly from the few bits of archaelogical artwork and bits of preserved writings that all Tanes possessed an Elementias Sac and a Magmis-Verin of sorts, though in truth calling it a Magmis Verin in each of the eight sub-species of Tane is a little disingenious, as that term literally means 'Magma Vein' or 'Magma Artery' because this anatomical breakthrough was discovered, classified and scientifically named in Ruby Tanes, and the name has stuck across them all, regardless of the elemental differences, and therefore likely drastic interior tissue and structure differences of this anatomical feature in each of the eight types. However it is worthy of note that given what exactly an Amethyst Tane would be breathing, this structure, whilst surely visually having the same sort of imagery for an Amethyst Tane as it does for a Ruby Tane. Or the equivalent, seeming but a vein of raw manna, glowing and pulsating from their bottom jaw to the bulge in their ribcage that would mark their Elementias Sac. However it is also worthy to note that most definitely the inner workings would need to be different, given the sort of corroding necrotic sludge like mist an Amethyst would be breathing is far different from the near magma like truefire a Ruby would breath and would require different anatomical structures to function, presumably.
Biological Traits
Given the unique theory about these creatures, the whole bit about decay and renewal, aging and dating fossilzed remains, much less remotely taking a stab at potential lifespans has been a great challenge. However a breakthrough in that struggle has been recently made, which is coming to realize the vertebrae, that is the fossilized components of the spine are in fact original in every find. What this means is that though it might have replaced most of its base body parts over its life, down to the skeletal structure, even the base layout, which wouldn't change (such as being a quadraped, its head shape, jaw alignment, that sort of thing), its spine never would be replaced. This has allowed, through the appropriate complex and magickal means, some attempts at roughly providing age of death to some of the fossilized specimens. The information this has uncovered has been surprising.
Genetics and Reproduction
Though fossilized eggs and young have been discovered, only one of each and as such very little is theorized or understood about the matters of reproduction and mating in regards to Amethyst Tanes.
Growth Rate & Stages
With the recent breakthrough involving the spinal vertebrae and the discovery that they were never replaced, we have very recently been able to finally plot, very roughly, a theorized rough life span and categorization for Amethyst Tanes, based upon our hypothesized average lifespan window, and thusly you will find that table below;
Worthy of note, the consistent regenerating of their bodies does seem to have resulted in a much slower growth process compared to many of their cousin species, based on the existing fossil evidence, which is an odd and unique thing to realize, since this would run counter to most initial perceptions of what such an ability would do.
| Age Category | Age Range |
|---|---|
| Hatchling | 1-120 years |
| Youngling | 121-340 years |
| Sub-Adult | 341-560 years |
| Adult | 561-780 years |
| Old | 781-1200 years |
| Elder | 1201-1600 years |
| Ancient | 1601-2000 years |
| Great Wyrm | 2001+ years |
Worthy of note, the consistent regenerating of their bodies does seem to have resulted in a much slower growth process compared to many of their cousin species, based on the existing fossil evidence, which is an odd and unique thing to realize, since this would run counter to most initial perceptions of what such an ability would do.
Ecology and Habitats
Fossilized remains and the sorts of rock, soil and the composition of the layers they have been found in do help us theorize environs such a creature would have been found in, based on accompanying fossils and mineral layers. As best we can presume, these creatures would have found themselves settling in places rife with death. Marshes and swamplands, with their natural thick sediments and layers upon layers of rotting and regrowing plant life, stagnate waters and the liked. One find suggested some sort of relationship with sentinent beings, perhaps ancient ancestors of our own, perhaps Faei. The finds suggested a sort of graveyard like region, but one that was simply a natural swampland. The Tane's fossils were found amongst what would have been likely an island amongst a heavy bogland, with various bits of metal precious stones, preserved jewelery of bronze, copper, heavy with corrosion and such, but still identifiable if delicate. Based upon this and a few small bits of artwork and ancient writings ever uncovered, it is presumed that Amethyst Tanes had a preference for their natural hoarding instinct for metal and precious stones, be it jewelery, artwork, perhaps weapons and armaments, but objects made from such materials that would not decay, rot, or breakdown quickly or easily.
Dietary Needs and Habits
From two specimens with preserved stomach contents, and after a lot of analysis, it would seem Amethyst Tanes were heavy leaners towards meat eating, unsurprisingly as this seems true of all Tanes, however based upon what we find within these fossilized and preserved stomach contents, it would seem they were likely primarily scavengers, not hunters. This is not to say they could not hunt, and perhaps they did, as this does not match with any surviving myths, legends, or any of the bits of ancient artwork or texts we have found. However it does seem to suggest the process of organic decay, the various fluids, chemicals and the things that most creatures find off putting or even toxic, might very well have been nutritionally vital for Amethyst Tanes. This would help explain why everything in the two finds of stomach contents, showed signs of having been long dead, and likely decaying and breaking down, even the bones, well before they'd been consumed. Though they leaned towards meat, these two finds make clear they were omnivores.
Behaviour
With the fossil evidence and the limited cultural references from various archaelogical records we possess and have discovered, it is theorized that Amethyst Tanes were not heavily active, with as big a presence or heavy interactions with proto-sapients (our ancestors, or even the Faei) as their Ruby Cousins. They were not lethargic by any stretch, all Tanes had to have been quite active creatures, relatively, however the Amethysts would likely have been the least heavily active. They were likely opportunistic, and capitalized off their connection to Entropy, and to the likely mythological ties to the concept of death they could invoke to garner tribute and offerings from nearby communities of proto-sapients in return for basically leaving them alone, something the Tane was more than likely willing to do already, though of course why admit such a thing.
Swamps, marshlands, tar flats and the like where these creatures would make their home were also well known traps, regions where many large beasts and animals would come to die over time, as they are always well known fossil hotbeds, and as such, it should perhaps be unsurprising a creature that garners its nutritional value from decay and rot found such biomes their preferred home range.
Swamps, marshlands, tar flats and the like where these creatures would make their home were also well known traps, regions where many large beasts and animals would come to die over time, as they are always well known fossil hotbeds, and as such, it should perhaps be unsurprising a creature that garners its nutritional value from decay and rot found such biomes their preferred home range.
EXTINCT
Scientific Name
Entropis Draconis Thaneir
Lifespan
1800-2100 years
Conservation Status
Show spoiler
The species is believed extinct on Valerick. In truth Tanes are something far more....than biological entities. They are pure embodiments of creation, the purest and first of children of the primordial forces and of the All-Mother of creation, Geai. She has long since moved on from Valerick and this universe and dimension, however her children remain. Valerick is a fallen realm, its manna ever tainted, and as such, Tanes cannot last long here, being slowly poisoned and corrupted, their natural demeanor changed, twisted, turning them feral, hostile, monstrous, until their physical form is vanquished and they are freed into the Aether to flee this realm and to the Planar Sea, where they return to the eternal conflict with the Void. However if left to long, their very essence is corrupted enough that instead they can be claimed by the Void, and a new Nightmare is born, perhaps even an Avatar. All of this is far beyond mortal understanding and the truths of this are yet to be actually understood on Valerick. The idea that Tanes could and are still upon the world, much less are effectively near immortal extraplanar entities imprisoned in physical forms here to attempt to corrupt their very existence by the Great Enemy is.....a highly complex and little understood truth. Even the Magisterium is more or less unaware of the complexities of the cosmos in this way, they are unaware of the true role that they play.
Average Height
4-5.4 meters (13'2"-18') tall
Average Weight
2268-3175 kgs (5000-7000 lbs)
Average Length
12.2-15 meters (40'-49') though much less of this is tail compared to their Ruby cousins
Average Physique
When they had wings, it is presumed to fly appropriately their wing span would have likely had to be quite notable, likely as wide as their body was long if not larger, though in truth we have not nearly enough fossil record to attempt to hypothesis such things. Also, though we have been able to make some general approximations to body shape and biomechanics, such as skull, jaws, number of legs, due to the mutable nature of their physiology, we do have to make a lot of stretches and leaps when trying to envision a complete specimen and imagining what that might have looked like.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
By the few writting references we have discovered in archaelogical record as well as bits of artwork and preserved bits of scaling, it would seem unlike their Ruby Cousins, the deep amethyst tone was present at all ages within Amethyst Tanes, though they did not glow or have the same brilliance and gem like radiance at any point by comparison.
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