Kiingtaalwi

The mountain's on fire, the town has gone, and now this big scaly thing is eating my fucking cabbages!

— A human's first encounter with a kiingtaalwi

Kiingtaalwi are large, keratin-scaled creatures, originally from the elven world. They are extremely friendly towards mortals, Elves in particular, and find common use carrying goods and people throughout Waal Zaimyatl.

Characteristics

Kiingtaalwi are a little shorter than the common horse, and are rather more stout. By far their most defining feature is the large keratin scales which cover it from head to toe, which are dark brown to black with a multi-coloured iridescent sheen. They have long thick tails and long snouts, which they use to eat many varieties of insects. Their eye colours vary between individuals, but are commonly yellow or blue, and reflect light in the night. Kiingtaalwi also have long claws on their front hands, which they use to dig in insect mounds.
Some species of kiingtaalwi are nocturnal, but are also found active in the day, particularly when domesticated. They are very docile and hardy, making them a suitable load-bearing animal for travellers, though their speed leaves something to be desired. They also have poor vision, meaning they cannot deliver goods on their own reliably. Some of the larger species are used as mounts.

Habitat

In the elven world, kiingtaalwi were most commonly found in the forests and plains of Zaimyatl. Accordingly, they are now most commonly found through Waal Zaimyatl, which inherited many aspects of old Zaimyatl during The Collision which brought them over. The majority live in the lower lying coastal areas rather than in the mountains, and usually in the north around the capital city, Waal Paisheim. Some kiingtaalwi do live west of the Krenar Mountains mountains which separate Waal Zaimyatl from the other countries, predominantly in the northern regions. No kiingtaalwi are known to live in the Republic of Skarhu, or those that do were introduced manually rather than appearing there during the Collision.

Alternative Names

Kintalwi, Kiingpoisi

Lifespan

15-25

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Average Height

1.2-1.5 metres

Scales of Gold

Kiingtaalwi scales, with their varying iridescent colours and unique make up, are highly prized amongst humans and elves alike for their aesthetic and potential medicinal properties. Luckily for the kind beasts, their historical import to the elven people and their continuing use as pack animals protects them from wide scale poaching, and Waal Zaimyatl places high penalties on anyone found to have killed a healthy kiingtaalwi. In The Vosti Empire, there are no such protections in place.

Burning Incense by Devanath