Primeval Crab

Thought to be extinct for thousands of years, the primeval crab could reach up to thirty feet in diameter. Often categorised as a foundation animal, its shell--conical in shape, sized anywhere between seven and twenty-five feet tall--is unsuitable for building on. Instead, empty shells have been traditionally used as buildings. The walls are around eight inches thick, which are usually coated in Dirivon clay for insulation and increased durability.
Why/how the primeval crabs died out has been lost to history. The most recent primeval crab shell has been dated the end of the Age of the Stars, on the cusp of the Age of the Twins. The oldest discovered shells predate documented history. Many broken shells have been found on the southwest coast of Pagrir, and the closest island, Graveyard Isle, is largely composed of them. The area is thought to have been a place of mass primeval crab extinction, hence the island's name.
While the shells themselves are proof that the primeval crabs did exist, there are few other (reliable) historical records. Very little is known for sure about the primeval crab itself, as for the most part, only the shells remain. Details about them in folk takes and mythology are varied and often conflict, and the stories are difficult to pick apart to find what is accurate.

Key Terms

Foundation Animal: a very large animal with a shell/exoskeleton, on top of which is built individual homes or even entire settlements.