Sha

The Sha, sometimes called a Set or Seth animal, is a sacred beast which represents the Masriyyin figure Set. Long before the Birth of the Erlithmanil, the Sha was a popular dog breed throughout northern Alkelbulan but especially in Shamsi Desert. Sadly they had gone extinct for several thousand years but were recreated by the Erlithmanil based on a mix between the Salu-ki and Slooughi dog breeds. These breeds had been standard sighthounds in northern Alkelbulan (then Africa), acting as coursing hounds for untold eras and supposedly originating in Birit Narim. The Elemental Familiar of Raegeric, Pandora, was originally a Sha. This is fitting as the Masriyyin god Set represents Raegeric and he is portrayed as a man with the head of a Sha. Directly associated with chaos and violence, Set is the god of storms, disorder, deserts, violence, destruction and chaos. Sha certainly live up to this reputation, hunting amid sandstorms and thunderstorms and preying on those succeptable to their chaos magic! Domesticated Tertiary Predator Omnivore Crepuscular Nocturnal Smell Fast Hearing

Kaithur

Malok's Aura Sha with Malok's Aura can generate temporary emotions or states related to Malok in those around them. They can either generate an area which instills this state or they can target individuals. Rylmer's Movement Those with Rylmer's Movement are able to walk, step, ride or move on or through storms, the specific type varying by region and individual. Most Sha inherit Movement manifestations for sandstorms or thunderstorms. They can also briefly turn into a miniature storm, move as this storm would and reform elsewhere. They cannot be harmed or hindered by these storms and in fact become more mobile. Malok's Eye Sha with Malok's Eye can see emotions, thoughts and states related to Malok as an aura around targets and learn details about these thoughts and emotions of targets by staring into their eyes. They can also instill these emotions into a target by staring into their eyes. Rylmer's Step Those with Rylmer's Step can enter and exit Rylmer's Plane via portals and travel the plane freely, without injury. Can bring another with them while maintaining contact. Portals are storms or stormy conditions in their environment. Rylmer's Aura Those with Rylmer' Aura are able to generate or summon a kind of storm from Rylmer's Plane, the exact type differing by individual. For Sha, these are most often sandstorms but might instead summon thunderstorms or drought. These effects disappear once they cease their summoning or lose consciousness. Malok's Empathy Sha with Malok's Empathy can enable targets to experience or share each other's emotions, thoughts and memories related to Malok and can project their own Malok emotions onto targets. Rylmer's Push Those with Rylmer' Push can generate a discharge or pulse of a kind of storm with themselves as the epicenter. For Sha, this is most often a sandstorm. The larger the storm, the more energy is consumed, easily draining them. This ability is explosive in nature. Malok's Voice Shaw with Malok's Voice are able to lace their breath with mental effects related to Malok. Their voice can instill insanity, chaos, selfishness and unpredictability, used before hunts to disorient prey.

Anatomy

The Sha is a lithe, angular and athletic canine with a tail split into two at the end. Its ears are large and are naturally erect while its snout is long and slender with a downward bend. It's fur is usually black with a bluish or reddish sheen but some sha have a tan or amber coat by contrast. Once used as coursing dogs (pursuit hunting), Sha hunt primarily by sight. They are very athletic and can run 43 mph (69/kh/h) for extended periods, up to 2,600 ft (800 m) at time. Their body is graceful and symmetrical with either a smooth and short coat or a "feathered" coat which is fluffier. These sha have longer, fluffy hair along the back of their legs, thighs, ears, haunches or neck. In their magic form, sha gain neon yellow markings or fur when they inherit Malok magic. Those with Rylmer magic gain stormy gray coloration and may casually generate effects of the storm they can summon too.

Original Ancestor Lifespan Canis familiaris Common Dog (Salu-ki/Sloughi) 12-14 years Height Weight 61-68 cm 24-27 in 18-24 kg 40-53 lbs 66-72 cm 26-28 in 22-28 kg 49-62 lbs

Habitat

Desert Semi-Desert Steppe Shrubland Rural Savannah Sha live all across northern Alkelbulan and supposedly have a cousin species in the Frozen Wastes and Bharat. But they are most prevalent throughout the Shamsi Desert, especially Aznag, Libu, Marrakesh, Birit Narim and Kemet. While they may not be nearly as prevalent, sha can also be found in Parsa, Sesli Plato, Flumen Pontem and parts of Gaarreen Ho'aa. They struggle to compete with larger predators in Nyasi za Rangi and Kasar Wuta but packs have been spotted within the tumultuous lands of KwaZulu! They thrive anywhere with sufficient open space and strong storms, whether these are thunderstorms, sandstorms and perportedly blizzards. For this reason, they are known as storm hounds in the Kingdom of Accia and eldinghundr in Skaney.

Life Cycle

Viviparous Polyandrous Alloparental Sha reproduce similarly to any other canine, females going into heat semi-annually for 4-20 days. But thanks to their elemental tie to storms and chaos magic, sha can only be conceived and born amid the peak of a storm! And because fertilization can happen up to a week later, more than one male can father the same litter. Pregnancy lasts from 58-68 days, giving birth to litters of 6 puppies. Their mother begins preparing a nest for their birth approaching delivery and provides fastidious care immediately after. Their father is less involved in their upbringing but won't hesitate to play with his offspring and teach them proper behavior within the pack. But despite her protective nature after childbirth, moving forward their mother may abandon them while extremely stressed or if injured. Rather than direct maternal care, sha are raised by their entire family group including their older siblings.

Behavior

Territorial Mutualistic Dominance Gregarious Agonistic While domestic Sha still exist, most have become feral! Where domestic Sha are regal, poised pets of royalty and nobility, feral packs roam the desert and highlands of northern Alkelbulan, wild and unpredictable. But there are some nomadic Imazighen tribes in Shamsi which either hunt alongside sha in a mutualistic arrangement or lives alongside semi-tame packs of sha, staunch guard dogs albeit unruly. Domestic sha starkly contrast this, forming powerful bonds with its owner and family early into its life. Neither aggressive or shy, a well raised Sha is steadfast, attentive and affectionate. But because of their powerful prey drive, they don't mix well with smaller pets such as smaller dogs or cats unless they are conditioned from a young age not to view other pets as prey. And they don't respond well to a heavy-handed owner, needing training which is patient and sensitive. Sha are most remembered for their grace and dignity, endlessly noble if not aloof. They are especially wary of strangers, slow to form new friendships. In fact, they are put off by those who are too familiar early on. But the most distinct behavior of a Sha is their powerful instincts, especially their prey drive. This is perhaps the source for their territorial and alert nature, fearless and relentless as guard dogs. Improperly raised, sha might become highly agressive especially towards other canines. They are not suitable as nanny dogs either, not repsonding well to abuse or mistreatment by children. But perhaps the most demanding standard of keeping these canines is their required daily exercise! Sha are easily bored and highly energetic, needing a task or job and considerable activity to be happy. Above all else they need to run, gallopping across desert sands and arid regs. Wild Sha race each other daily to these ends, asserting dominance within the pack via these competitions rather than fighting.

Mythology

The Masriyyin view a Sha as a sadistic, insidious, vindictive and malevolent animal which is also cunning and intelligent. Simultaneously they are seen as wild, powerful and strong. The Masriyyin believe Sha are agents of misfortune with callous disregard for life, creating storms wherever they please—especially sandstorms. As a symbol, they represent catastrophic storms, violence, suffering, tempests and perturbance. Feral packs of Sha wander the deserts of the Shamsi and Arabiyyan Deserts in numbers ranging from three to thirteen, easily overtaking weary or careless travelers. They utilize chaos magic in order to confuse prey but this power is indiscriminate, sometimes stirring discord among nearby human settlements. Sha are far more respected by and even kept by nomadic tribes of the Shamsi Desert especially by Arabiyy, Imaziɣen and Toubou nomads which call them Adje or Kelb-el-khela. These tribes hunt alongside their Sha, chasing down Raqs Gazelle, Sahra Hare, Ayyur Fox and Wata Jackal. Hunters have even been known to chase after prey on the back of a camel, carrying the Sha before tossing them toward the prey in order to give them a running start while others utilize both Sha and Paraa Falcon to harass gazelle while the Sha finishes them off. While they can be partially domesticated, hunting and living alongside humans, no Sha is ever completely tame.