Gelbert Frog
Ick shot out his tongue and pulled a dragonfly from the air. He gave it a single crunch and swallowed.
Gig huffed and motioned for his companion to help with their catch. The large marsh rats would be good eating tonight. They slipped the net with the rats over a long pole and each hefted one end, beginning their journey back to the bullywug village.
It was the season of the late sun and the air was full of treats. Ick tried to keep his mind on their journey while his eye tracked a particularly tasty looking burn beetle. He liked the spicey flavour to them. They'd been walking awhile, but the village was still so far to go. As he considered whether Gig would harrass him further over a quick snack, he realized his companion was already shouting.
Ick looked in the direction of Gig's gesticulations.
Coming down towards him from a great leap was one of the giant frogs of the swamp, it's tongue reaching out towards Ick. A spear flew from the hand of one of the destestible lizardfolk on the great behemoth's back. Before Ick could see what happened to his companion he was snapped forward, dropping the bundle of rats, and pulled into the frogs mouth. It gave one great crunch of its jaws and swallowed.
A Frog of Many Uses
The Gelberts Frog has been a favoured animal of the Korinthian lizardfolk as long as their legends tell. It gets its name from the gnome who discovered the lizardfolk had been able to domesticate the frogs, studied them, and reported it to Anvimar's universities. Traditionally the lizardfolk would catch younger animals and raise them. After much effort, and assitance from willing lizardfolk, the Gelberts were able to successfully start breeding the frogs. While in some places the old traditions remain, in the Red Marsh, the Gelbert family has been able to make a profitable trade with the lizardfolk by providing them with willing animals. The lizardfolk use them both as pack animals and war mounts. Over many generations they have perfected their saddle design, including a version allowing two riders on larger frogs. For pack frogs, the dressing allows a rider and a variety of ways to pack goods carefully for a journey. The frogs are especially useful when needing to ford the waterways of the marsh and swamps. As a resource to the lizardfolk tribes they provide a military power their local foes usually cannot match, and a efficiency in moving through the environment far better than any horse. The frogs are highly values as part of the community, whatever their job, and old ones are given a large amount of respect, seen as blessings and protectors for the villages.Basic Information
Anatomy
The Gelbert Frog is similar is shape and colouration to a common marsh frog, but of such a size as to easily carry a humonoid on its back. In colour they range from medium to dark greens, dull reds, and browns to gray, often mottled or spotted. They move equally well on land or water. Most show a green or gray stripe on their head, going towards their back. It's believed this somehow imparts an unerring sense of direction in the frogs. They are quick to pick up standard travel routes and always seem to know their way home.
Growth Rate & Stages
Gelbert frogs are unlike regular marsh frogs in that they proceed through their metamorphosis while still inside the egg. When hatched they are about the size of a housecat and grow quickly from there. They reach maturity at about two years of age.
While there is often some changes to skin colour with the seasons, it has been noted this lessons with age. Older frogs tend to lighter or grayer colours, apparently losing some of their ability to darken in the early parts of the year. Generally this is seen as a sign the animal is in its decline.
Ecology and Habitats
The Gelberts frog is found in marshes and swamps, particularly in the Red Marsh where breeding and taming has been highly successful. A smaller population exists in the Balmarsh.
They settle into the deeper waters, digger down into the banks and mud. Gelberts frogs by nature are not extremely active and will wait paitently for prey to come to them.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The frogs are opportunistic feeders. While they will happily eat swarms of insects, they also prey on the large swamp rats, birds, or small humanoids, such as young bullywugs or lizardfolk. Able to leap great distances from where they lay patiently in wait, they are excellent surprise hunters.
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