Eyeke Weroiki

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

Compared to normal weroiki, eyeke weroiki lives are fleeting. They reach adulthood and breed at half the age of other weroiki, making them significantly more useful for breeding and herding, at least with regards to humans.

Additional Information

Domestication

At first, eyeke weroiki, being the more timid breed, were bullied out of select grazing fields by larger and more aggressive variants of weroiki. They were near the verge of extinction when human farmers adopted them for breeding and harvesting. Through careful management and ample food supply, the eyeke weroiki grew to massive numbers across the island-continent, turning the tables and nearly driving the wild weroiki to extinction.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Weroiki in general are known for their shells. Given the number of man-hours it takes to harvest them, they are worth a hefty sum as is. However, there are two factors that act as cumulative multipliers. First, because the weroiki maintains a consistent pattern whenever it generates a new shell, shells can be bundled in pairs or sets. It is rare for a weroiki to live long enough to generate three sets of shells, so sets of three are the most expensive. Often ranchers wait for the weroiki to die before selling in the hopes of getting a set of three. Second, rarer weroiki generate rarer shells, which in turn generate higher revenue.
At the onset of their domestication, eyeke weroiki were exceedingly rare. One or two of them could set a farmer up for life. However, domestication ultimately led to a skyrocketing population, driving the price downward. However, because the eyeke weroiki were native to the plains of Wlitowa, the government of Wlitowa could regulate the export of weroiki shells, thus keeping the price high and protecting the livelihoods of its ranchers.
Sets of three, however, were always big money-makers. Eyeke weroiki have very short lives; it's an uncommon occurrence for an eyeke to have a set of two. Three needed careful attention, nutrition, and protection that only the most advanced houses of ranching could provide. Even then, it was a matter of dumb luck. Thus, the most expensive shells on the market came from "w'toyeke," meaning eyeke sets of three.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Weroiki are distributed across the plains of Tuhra and Wlitowa. It is not certain if the eyeke distinction came before or after the continents split, but Wlitowa certainly has poorer soil and thus smaller weroiki. Of these, the eyeke are among the smallest.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Weroiki

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Eyeke weroiki shells have a significantly larger amount of aluminum than their compatriots, giving their shells a greenish hue when mixed with the calcium in specified quantities. Often gems would form in the shell-making process, embedding themselves in the shells. This is an imperfection native to the eyeke weroiki, and reactions to the different style vary greatly.