Castordids
Castordids are a mammalian creature most known for their habit of deforesting large areas in order to build expansive and complex warrens from the wood.
Basic Information
Anatomy
About the size of a large dog when fully grown, they have rotund bodies with large flat tails, and long front teeth used for chewing through almost any material.
Growth Rate & Stages
Castordids start as small creatures, only slightly larger than a house cat, but will quickly begin to grow as they reach maturity. This growth is accompanied by an increase in their appetite, as well as in their magical abilities.
Ecology and Habitats
Castordids are communal creatures that live in large families within their warrens, which are often built in the center of a large clearing or even lakes. They do this as a defensive method, as there are always a number of watchful sentries positioned around the warren in order to keep lookout.
They are also known to store large amounts of magical wood in 'larders' within their warrens, both as a food supply, but also for easier access to wear down their teeth.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Primarily vegetarians, Castordids are capable of eating almost any type for plant with little to no adverse effects. They have a particular fondness for magical trees, both as a way to wear down their teeth, and as a source of sustenance, as they tend to be very nutritious.
Behaviour
Castordids are highly destructive, primarily due to the fact that their front teeth never stop growing, and so need to be worn down by near constant chewing of hard substances. This is usually done with wood and trees, resulting in widespread deforestation in most cases, and they are even able to chew through rock, the remnants of which they will use to coat the floors of their warrens for better grip.
Due to this constant need to chew in order to wear down their teeth, Castordids are especially drawn to magical trees, such as Sapient Pearwood, which often have far harder wood than their mundane counterparts, perfect for wearing down a Castordid's teeth. However, this practice has also resulted in Castordids gaining a small amount of latent magical power, with which they are able to protect themselves instinctively. This magic functions much like the Barkskin Spell, coating them in a layer of bark-like armor and allowing them to escape with reduced injuries.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Castordids actually have very poor eye sight and hearing, which is why they clear large areas around their warrens of any obscuring brush or trees, allowing them a clearer view of what is approaching.
Illustration of an adult Castordid and one of its young.
Conservation Status
Due to their rampant destruction of forests, Castordids are actually considered vermin, and are often hunted both for their meat and fur, but also to raid the larders of their warrens for rare magical wood.
