Shamsi Camel
A string of white, blue eyed camels trudging along in single file is a common sight in the Shamsi and Arabiyyan Deserts, reliably traversing radioactive sands! Like their original ancestors, these camels can survive long periods without food or water, further amplified by their magic! Whether using their abilities to absorb sunlight for sustenance or for finding water in even the driest reaches of the desert, they are perfectly suited to this usually punishing landscape. They can even carry an extra 200 pounds, run up to 40 mph (64 kph) and can walk around 20 miles in a day, the ideal beast of burden for caravan traders!
Racial Magic
First Ability
Rithaldis's Diet
Able to consume or absorb radiant energy (strong sunlight, radiation, photons, solar plasma) as sustenance, to heal or to replenish their magic energy. They cannot be harmed by radiant energy, natural or magical, instead absorbing it.
Ilnid's Shield
Immune to negative effects and/or damage from all Ilnid magic and naturally occurring sand or glass. This includes sandstorms.
Second Ability
Ithisda's Eye/Sense
Able to feel or see their environment using water, anything interacting with water and to sense or see water in their environment. This sense extends beyond barriers and over long distances, unimpeded.
Ithisda's Charge
These camels can store up water inside their bodies whether the source is natural or magical. They can convert this to magic energy, transfer the water or energy to another or re-release the water like an Aura at will. They cannot be harmed by water either, absorbing it instead. However, unlike most other manifestations, they cannot generate their own water, reliant on an outside source.
Anatomy
Original Ancestor
Lifespan
Size
Weight: 300 to 690 kg (661 to 1,521 lbs.)
Length: 3 m (10 ft.)
Famous for their stark white wooly coat, their natural color is actually caramel. It is their magic form which gives them their distinctive look, protecting them from radiation. Shamsi camels are also known for their single hump in which they store fat, their hump growing larger the more sunlight or water they absorb with their magic. When approaching one of these camels, one might notice their long, luxurious eyelashes--a tool for protecting their eyes during a sandstorm which is paired with nostrils they are able to squeeze shut! Most impressive, the body temperature of a Shamsi camel fluctuates throughout the day to minimize sweating, conserving water. They can tolerate both high temperatures ranging from 93 F - 107 F (34 C - 41.7 C) and the loss of 30% of their body weight in water!
Domestication
No one is sure when these camels were originally domesticated but it was long before the Era of Legends, camels a staple for those crossing or living in the deserts of Alkelbulan. The Imazighen, Arabiyy, Wollof, Masryeen and various others heavily rely on them for survival.
Life Cycle
Senses
Diet
While they can survive on sunlight and water alone, these animals are healthiest and happiest grazing on grasses, grains, wheat and oats. Thier tough and flexible lips allow them to break off and eat even thorns of the Murna Acacia and salty plants like Maliha Tamarisk. Rithaldis's Diet also allows them to eat radiant energy, many plants of the Shamsi Desert making use of radiant magic to protect themselves. Not only can these camels eat these radiant species but they prefer them, propagating their seeds as the trek the desert.
Thanks to their adaptions, magical and natural, Shamsi camels can survive several months without food and for over a week without water--or longer if they inherit Ithisda's Charge! They have even adapted a feeding strategy for desert survival. They will only eat a few leaves from each plant and can consume plant matter which most other species avoid, such as the thorns of an acacia tree. Herds will also dispersed widely while grazing as to avoid depleting plants in one area. This also reduces competition between camels.
Thanks to their adaptions, magical and natural, Shamsi camels can survive several months without food and for over a week without water--or longer if they inherit Ithisda's Charge! They have even adapted a feeding strategy for desert survival. They will only eat a few leaves from each plant and can consume plant matter which most other species avoid, such as the thorns of an acacia tree. Herds will also dispersed widely while grazing as to avoid depleting plants in one area. This also reduces competition between camels.
Behavior
These are social animals, wild camels living in herds consisting of one dominant male, females and their young. Other males which have been chased out form bachelor herds. They can communicate with each other with a variety of sounds such as moans and bellows. Mother's and their newborns will hum to each other instead. Another common behavior among camels is to blow in each other's faces to greet each other. Even the positioning of their head, neck, ears and tails can carry a meaning between them.
Habitat
Shamsi camels can be found throughout the Shamsi and Arabiyyan Deserts but can also be found in Birit Narim, Parsa, Kasar Wuta and even regions of the Frozen Wastes.
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