The Collawoggle
Now, the Collawoggle's Scream is a well known sound in Atheris. But in my grandfather's time, you wouldn't have heard a one. Now we hear it, our daily reminder that we have a duty and responsibility to the creatures we've taken from their homes. Come, listen to a story of a young fool and a city's burrowing of their heads in the sand. - Grand Archivist, Progenitor, Eldrin Thalor
Roughly 1000 years ago, when Miderth was in the Establishing era, an aspiring young Väel'Nyir herpatologist by the name of Student Novus Kimillirian sent letters far and wide, seeking a very special creature. His spirit attunment was quite strong, making it difficult for him to leave, and so he requested assistants to bring him specimens from across the Levels. Amphibians, to be exact. The description he gave was that of a palm sized creature, with frilled horns, and a soft smooth skin, and colors like the rainbow. Where he'd come up with such a creature, who could have known, but this is what he asked for.
Within a few months, aspiring research assistants poured in to the tourism and trade sectors of Atheris. Many creatures were close, but not quite matching the bill. But each was paid for handsomely, and trundled off to its new respective home. Large living terrariums at one of the City's massive research facilaties.
Then, one a fairly normal seeming day, The Creature was brought in by a very pleased looking young Djianni. In her enormous palm was one of the largest amphibians anyone had ever seen. It lazed upon her hand, its irridescent skin reflecting upon them all. Its bone-frilled crest flapped gently, almost seeming to cool istelf before yawning a great, slightly toothy, grin.
The crowd was captivated with the fascinating creature before it and even Djianni herself was quite encouraged by the excitement. Soon news ttraveled throughout the City of Knowledge, and peope came from far and wide to catch a glimpse of this strange animal. Neighbors told even more elaborate tales, and before noon, the entire city wished to have one for themselves.
Basic Information
Anatomy
It looks much like an overgrown axolotal, however it is morphed into something distinctly more draconic. A bone crest sorrounds its head, and though it loves moisture, it's well adapted to living on land. Large spiked frills flare out in a crest around its head. Rainbow irredescent skin glows at the faintest hint of light, but radiate in the light of magic. Its smooth skin feels like the softest velvet, it is almost intoxicating. Slender rake like talons hang from each of its four toes, four legs more set to waddle than walk attached. The slight webbing between them speaks to their more aquatic origins.
Biological Traits
While Collawoggles have lived so long in Atheris they're nearly considered indigenous, their true live spans are unknown. As they split upon reaching a large enough growth stage, they have no true death nor birth. This leads to the question of how they do not over populate the city. While they are quite ubiquitious, they never grow their ranks beyond their sustainable environment. They are a perfectly equiliberal species, which makes them incredibly unique in the animal kingdom. As such, it's widely debated on quite how smart the species as a whole is, as they know how to self-regulate many things. In all their mischeif they've never gone so far as to bring true harm to anyone, nor do they mess with anything truly important to research or otherwise.
Genetics and Reproduction
When a Collawoggle grows large enough, particularly in the presense of magic, it will split in two. Both new Collawoggles will lose quite a bit of magical mass during this process, resulting them being quite a bit smaller than when they started as one.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Their best source of nutrition is a magic infused environment, however they're quite happy to snack on just about anything unfortunate that hops or dangles in front of its path. Depending on if they're quite overgrown, or young, they'll spit at or snap their tongue out at currently living food. As they grow older, their disgusting saliva becomes more sticky, acting like a webbing they can retract using their tongues to draw back in the still wiggle, but sizzling, prey.
Behaviour
During the day they are quite lazy and very cute. They love to laze about and have the populace pet them. But at night, them become nuisance hellbeasts. At sunset, they loose forth their hideous screeching, and begin to rumble their perches. This continues for nearly 15 minutes till the shine of any one of the moons begins. Then, they begin to play. These normally languid creatures suddenly get spurts of energy, flitting from tree top chasing each other. They hop into open windows and take swims with the residents. They find great joy in the irritance they cause, and often form little packs with friends. Certain professors who are preferred to annoy will get bombarded for weeks until they find alternative methods conducting their days.
Additional Information
Domestication
Some residents of Atheris keep Collawoggles as pets, but most live in the ecology of the city as inhibitants in their own right.
Average Intelligence
A somewhat smarter housecat, with a hint of dragonlike innate sense of the greater world.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
A forked tongue slithers between nearly hidden teeth, tasting the air for anything deliscious. Its eyes shimmer silver, though most wonder if that was originally milky white due to it having been found in the Subterranian swamps of Efthrithel.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Conservation Status
While it is very rarely seen in its home level of Efrithel, it is viciously abundant in Atheris.
Geographic Distribution
Discovered by
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