Werelbeast

A werelbest is a lizard like beast of burden used for crossing through swamps or flooded areas. It resembles a large black salamander and is highly sought-after for its swimming ability.It lives on the edges of swamps and bogs and feeds on fish and bugs. It's not very aggressive or territorial, but will fight hard if it feels threatened (which is not very often, as a full-grown werelbeast has no natural predators), lashing out with its teeth, claws, and tail.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A werelbeast looks like a horse-sized salamander. It has strong limbs and webbed feet for swimming, and also claws and a strong grip for pulling itself through shallow water. It's tail is as strong as an alligator's and longer. It also has a long tounge used for catching prey.

Genetics and Reproduction

Female werelbeasts lay about 20 eggs at a time, which hatch 4-5 months later. Only a few will survive to adulthood, however, as the babies are preyed on by many different predators.

Growth Rate & Stages

A werelbeast hatches from an egg and starts its life as a tadpole-like creature the size of a large catfish, it then grows legs over the next few months. After that, it takes two years growing to its full size, with the completion of its tail marking it as fully grown

Ecology and Habitats

Werelbeasts live on the edges of swamps and bogs in underground dens. The den's entrance is usually under the roots of a large tree, followed by a tunnel to a large room.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They eat swamp bugs and fish.

Biological Cycle

Werelbeast mating season is in the summer, during which they gather in the drift den near a pond and the males compete for the females' attention. Once the females lay their eggs, they are left in the pond, and the drift disperses back to their own territories to come back next year.

Additional Information

Social Structure

All wild werelbeasts are part of groups called drifts, each drift consists of 7-16 members. Drifts aren't as tight as a wolf pack or lion pride, however. The group all live independently, only meeting once a year to mate. They have a group den where the drift meets for the mating season. This den is a complex of tunnels and chambers next to a pond. The drift marks their territory and if any other creatures are dwelling there when they return in the summer, they are driven out. Every werelbeast is born knowing how to return to its drift den.

Domestication

They can be domesticated to bear burdens and riders. They are hard to find and catch, however, and professional trainers are expensive, so only the wealthiest of merchants ride them.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Merchants use them as beasts of burden to carry goods through swamps and bogs. They are coveted for their size, strength, and swimming ability and make merchants with access to them much more successful, as they beat them to the markets as seasons change.

Lifespan

35 years

Average Height

5 1/2 feet

Average Weight

1,000 pounds

Average Length

16 feet

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Wrelbeasts are black with spots of any color. Some don't have spots.