Undai

"Long before the Rayless Age, I remember a time when the Undai roamed through the open plains. Lucky and few were the people who caught one to use, for the work of their horns on the ground could save a farmer many months of work. It is indeed a sad and unfortunate thing that they are no more. I, for one, would have liked to seen one working on the ground or on the battlefields."

Unknown

Before the War

Before the war, Undai were used by farmers for tilling and altering the land. Their great horns plowed through rock and soil and their tough skin battled harsh conditions. Only a few farmers owned an Undai for they were evasive creatures and were extremely hard to catch. When captured and tamed, the farmer would have to do little to make the Undai do its work. It woke early and slept late, tilling plowing the land, felling trees where it was need, and sometimes hunting.

During the War

During the war, dwarf lords and dragonborn soldiers captured many Undai and tamed them for battle. They were most easily tamed by the dragonborn. Their horns were sharpened and they soon were feared throughout the elf armies. Unfortunately, they were wiped out by the end of the Rayless Age.

Physical Characteristics

An Undai is a lizard like creature with long horns protruding from right behind their eyes. Excluding their long, whipping tails, they were roughly 9-12 feet long and 3-5 feet tall. Many dwarves were able to ride them. Their eyes had double eyelids, much like an alligator's. An Undai's skin was plated with thin scales which were very valuable in the olden days. Their horns were made of an unknown, hard, and very sharp substance. The dwarves and dragonborn agree that they were made of fallen stars.

Habitat

Undai roamed the plains and marshes of Nestedir. They enjoyed moist reeds and grasses. They were not, by nature, very aquatic creatures, however they found the need to wet their scales daily.

Diet

Undai usually would eat anything, from grasses to insects and meat. This made them very useful for farming because they could usually find their own food.

Personality

Undai were very hostile at first glance but when tamed, would become very attached to their owner. An Undai would stay with its owner wherever he went, as was seen in the great Kanca.

Legend

It is agreed between the dragonborns and dwarves that the Undai were the oldest of any creature. They were made by the gods, to take care of the world which they had made. Their body was made from molten lava and their horns from fallen stars. After they passed, each Falling Stars Festival held a time where everyone would take a moment to think and honor the Undai.

Swords clashed and arrows fired
As the elves pursued, the dwarves tired
All hope was lost
And the falling stars shone on the blood
That covered the ground where Talnor lay
Talnor, king of the dwarves, mighty on this day
Talnor, king of the dwarves, fallen on this day
All hope was lost

Then from the hills came the boom
Came the doom for the elves
Came the dragonborn with their great Undai
Streaming over, yelling cries
And as the elves lay dying
And the rest went flying
The battle was won

And the elves were killed
And the elves were driven
Away from Light away from Speech
And at the head of this raid
Sat Ynar on his mighty steed:
Kanca, king of the Undai
Kanca, with his horns of starlight
Felled many in those days
Kanca with his dangerous horns
Felled many in those days

But alas, Kanca fell
As all the Undai did
Kanca fell
He drove The Elfe into the dark
He pierced him with his horns
And with cries of dismay
Kanca fell, into the Depths.

And so ended, the line of Undai
And so ended, the joy of Ynar

written by Ynar in his last days