Bristle-Scale Tusker

Pigs, nature's garbage disposal, and in old times, pretty intimidating war pets. They are fairly common and very easy to raise, IF you can manage to domesticate them first. wild Tuskers are not to be underestimated, and this particular sub species has the added bonus of extremely durable, scale-like dermal armor, which almost means its meat is especially succulent and flavorful.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Shaped very much like your typical boar-like creature, stout, short legs, cloven hooves, extra sensitive snout, and impressively large tusks for a creature of its size. An adult male Tusker tends to have a slightly more reddish scale coloring than an adult female, but its still easy to tell genders apart simply by the inclusion or absence of the tusks.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Since they lack any sort of extended reach, Tuskers primarily scavenge the woodland grounds for fallen fruits, vegetation and hearty grains. Though they can, especially during mating season, hunt and skewer animals its own size or smaller with relative ease to consume as well.

Additional Information

Domestication

Domesticated Tuskers (male) generally have to have their tusks filed down, but not removed completely, usually to prevent real harm to their owners. If a Tusker owner has more than one, its also much safer to have one male and a few select females, since having two male Tuskers in a confined space usually ends up in a disaster.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Other than as food for consumption, the tough scales are often used as decorative armor adornments, but since they are as tough as dragon scales almost, not many are willing to work with them, especially in small amounts. The tusks are often also used as decorative pieces, but also are widely used in ritual instruments and when ground into fine powder, alchemical and magical reagents.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Bristle-Scale Tuskers are almost always found in heavily forested areas, but on rare occasions they can be seen roaming the lowlands from time to time in search of food.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Tuskers, at least adult Tuskers, all are blessed with superior hearing and olfactory senses. Also, they are able to tell subtle shifts in wind direction by using the bristly, whisker like projections that cover their scale like armor. How ever, their eyesight tends to be quite poor, and have, on occasion, walked into traps, or deep pits, unable to escape.

Lifespan

50 Years

Average Weight

75 Pounds