Stonetusk Drak

Amongst the Wild Peaks prowl the oddest of creatures, their adaptations propelled by chaotic magic from the Maelstrom and each seek to dominate the barren canyons and peaks they call home. Though it is not just the creatures they must compete with but the mighty orcs of Grok'Thundar and their trials of strength. The trials see the orcs compete, fight and challenge every animal of the Wild Peaks, carving blood tattoos into their skin with each victory and absorbing the power of such creatures.
Though of all the creatures one is the deadliest of all and only the greatest are granted the honorific task of contesting with the Stonetusk Drak.

Anatomy

Something akin to a rhino but about four times the size, a Drak is a creature well known across Lenwir, though they are rarely seen as they prefer dwellings in caves, canyons and deep parts of the world. The creatures have six thick legs with hard ridged spines along their backs and out onto their tails. All have thick skin, though the consistency and material differs across each of the species and the environment they have adapted to live in.

Stonetusk Drak

The Stonetusk Drak differs from the others in several key areas. Firstly, it has two large horns emerging from the ridge above its head, and another two emerging from each side of its wide mouth. Secondly, its skin is rock. It has developed the ability to eat and then digest the rock of the canyons, recreating the material like an armour around its body, making all but its joints virtually impenetrable through normal means. Thirdly, the rock is eats melds perfectly with the canyons and rocks of its habitat in the Wild Peaks, making it all but invisible to any that don't know what to look for.

Reproduction

The horrors of the Stonetusk Drak's reproduction are what haunts many an orcs nightmares. The Stonetusk Drak's 'horns' on the side of its head are not horns at all. In fact they are a biological delivery system that injects a venom and larvae into any that have the misfortune of being pierced by them. The venom often clouds the mind of the victim and befuddles the senses, giving them little indication as to what has happened. The larvae begin to grow, eating the creature from the inside out and then scattering from the remains of the body to live on their own.

Due to this the orcs are always on the lookout for any of their own or cattle that show this weakness of mind and body. Usually the puncture wound can be located, but unless it is within the first 24 hours it is too late to remove the larvae, for they have likely spread too far throughout the body by then.


This death scares the orcs, who are robbed of the glory that death in battle brings, and because of this they have begun to use it as a punishment. The honourless among them are sentenced to this death. Tying them to stakes while the larvae eat them from the inside out, and when they are naught but hollow. The orcs set the body aflame to kill the creatures within.

Behaviour

Due to their size they spend most of their time resting, waiting for prey to cross their path. They are generally solitary creatures but are extremely territorial and will become incredibly aggressive to any that enter their domain.

Religious Significance

The creature itself is a being of power and strength, and among the orcs of Grok'Thundar that is all that's needed. Only legends have bested a Stonetusk Drak in single combat. Orcs known for their cunning, strength and power. The contest of strength is a religion unto itself amongst the clans of the Wild Peaks. In a place with deadly and horrifying creatures this stands at the top, and to defeat it and imbue its life-force into your skin, gives you its properties; its strength; its stoneskin and its life force.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

The horrors of the Stonetusk Drak's reproduction are what haunts many an orcs nightmares. The Stonetusk Drak's 'horns' on the side of its head are not horns at all. In fact they are a biological delivery system that injects a venom and larvae into any that have the misfortune of being pierced by them. The venom often clouds the mind of the victim and befuddles the senses, giving them little indication as to what has happened. The larvae begin to grow, eating the creature from the inside out and then scattering from the remains of the body to live on their own.

Due to this the orcs are always on the lookout for any of their own or cattle that show this weakness of mind and body. Usually the puncture wound can be located, but unless it is within the first 24 hours it is too late to remove the larvae, for they have likely spread too far throughout the body by then.

This death scares the orcs, who are robbed of the glory that death in battle brings, and because of this they have begun to use it as a punishment. The honourless among them are sentenced to this death. Tying them to stakes while the larvae eat them from the inside out, and when they are naught but hollow. The orcs set the body aflame to kill the creatures within.

Ink Blood

The orcs of Grok'Thundar believe in the spirits of their ancestors and usually imbibe the blood of those that have died to keep their spirit and strength alive within them. This is no different from the animals they slay, though they don't imbibe this blood, simply grind parts of the creatures flesh, bones and organs down and ink it into their skin. The culmination of this process with dark shamanistic arts empowers the orcs with the spirits of the animals they have killed, granting them powers beyond normal means.

The downside to this practise is that with each animal bonded with them, the orcs become less themselves and more animalistic, so most only choose one or two animals to bond their souls too. However, the strongest of orcs have been known to bond a host of creatures, granting them strengths and powers beyond any others.