Tovog

The Tovog is a small animal from the interior forests of Inai. Often mistaken for a type of rodent, it is actually a marsupial.  It lives in the sparse underbrush of the edge of the forests. It builds nests in undergrown burrows, usually in the roots of trees or bushes. On occasion a pair of Tovogs will venture outside the forest and burrow into the ground. The opening is quite large and will create holes big enough for larger animals to step in. The Nomads try to keep their herds away from the forest edges to prevent sprained and broken legs from the holes. They consider the Tovogs a pest, though they will hunt them for pelts.

Diet

Tovogs are herbivores and eat primarily grasses and leaves. They prefer fresh, green plants over dried hay. Owners of domesticated Tovogs are encouraged to have fresh plants available for their pet to eat though many will simply feed them leafy green vegetables as a compromise. Those wealthy enough to have large manor houses sometimes will flaunt their wealth by keeping an entire colony of domesticated Tovogs for use to keep the grass around their estates at a well manicured level instead of using sheep or other grazing animals. 

Breeding

Tovogs come in male and female genders. Females begin their breeding season at the beginning of Greenbirth then they find a male to mate with and the pair will bond together for a season or two.  After mating, the females will give birth to a single toth during the last days of Greenbirth or the beginning of Seedsprout. Once born, the toth crawls into the mother's pouch and begins to nurse, living there until around Midsummer. Once the toth emerges from its mother's pouch it will continue to nurse into Witherend where it will ween to eating the last plant growth during the end of Autumn. By the first snows the family has created a burrow to spend the winter in, surviving mostly off the fat stores they built up during the summer and autumn. While they don't fully hibernate during winter, they spend most of their time resting and keeping warm in their burrow, only emerging to find any remaining plants or even seeds in the area and drinking whatever water they can find. In the spring, the offspring will head out to find it's own mate and the parents will either spend another season together or part to find different mates.

Domesticated Tovogs will sometimes continue their breeding cycles throughout the entire year, and are more open to having lasting pairs with larger family units. They still only give birth to a single Toth each breeding cycle.

Additional Information

Domestication

During the early Divine Age, a trader wanted to cut the price of selling Tovog fur so they captured several wild Tovogs and brought them to a farm to breed. Selective breeding for better pelts started showing the side effect of more color variations. A child of the breeder saw one of these new unusually colored Tovogs and begged to keep it as a pet. The child's friends saw it and begged their parents to get them one as well. This lead the breeder to realize that they could sell these Tovogs as pets for a higher price than their fur was worth. They then began breeding them for more colors and affectionate demeanors. 

Tovogs kept in captivity need to be provided with a place to burrow, usually inside a crate or cage filled with straw or rushes. They will dig under fences so it is not recommended to leave them in outdoor pens that have not been re-enforced. Tovogs kept as pets are typically kept indoors. 

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Tovogs are native to the central forests of Inai where they live in the sparse underbrush. While the native nomadic tribes see them more as pests and hunt them for their pelts, traders have started to breed a domesticated line to sell as pets throughout the Archipelago.

Wild Tovog by Adrian Marks (edited by Lethann)

Lifespan

10 years in the wild, up to 20 in captivity

Average Weight

5-10 lbs.

Average Length

Body: 15-20 in.
Tail: 9-12 in.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Wild - Solid Tans to Dark Browns.
Domesticated - Solid or patched Grey, Red, Brown, Orange, White

Geographic Distribution

• Inai