Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Journal Entry: Lowshahds


                My next entry will be about lowshahds.  The Chaos Elves think that only they know about lowshahds, but they are mistaken.  The lowshahds are natives of Tselestial and existed long before the elves came to this continent.  Lowshahds are desert dwellers and prefer the heat to any other climate.  Although lowshahds prefer the desert climate, they can adapt to other climates fairly quick.  Some people believe lowshahds are distant cousins of the black dragons.  While I do not share this belief, lowshahds are reptilian and may have some connection to the great black dragons.  Lowshahds are covered with black shiny scales, and have red eyes with black cat like slit pupils.  Lowshahds walk on their hind legs, and have small forelegs that are used when things get in close to their chests.  The hind legs have three toes and the middle toe has a longer curved claw.  The forelegs have four toes, three on one side and the fourth acting almost like a thumb opposite the other three digits.  A mature lowshahds head is about eight feet off of the ground, and from the tip of a mature lowshahd’s snout to the tip of its tail is anywhere from eight to nine feet in length.  Lowshahds necks are one to two feet long, making their front shoulders six to seven feet off the ground.

                Lowshahds have incredible endurance, stamina, and strength.  Lowshahds can carry one of their own kind on their backs (if it were necessary) at a trot for several miles.  Lowshahds are extremely rare and the Chaos Elves have kept them secret from other beings on Tselestial.  Chaos Elves use them, but keep them in reserve for special tasks as they would be the equivalent of an endangered species if the Chaos Elves considered the matter important.  Other than a few packs of lowshahds that are wild, all lowshahds are kept by the Chaos Elves.  Lowshahds can run twice as fast as a horse without carrying any extra weight, and can go over half the day without rest while running and carrying a substantial burden.  Lowshahds also require little water, which is why they are suited to the arid climate of southern Tselestial.

                Lowshahds live in packs that are extremely territorial.  Lowshahds have a base thought process that focuses on protecting the pack, food, and shelter.  Pack sizes vary from numbers as small as ten, to numbers as large as one or two hundred.  The lowshahds maintained by the Chaos Elves have been in a domestic atmosphere for so long that the Chaos Elves have been able to achieve the almost impossible and formed all of their lowshahds into one pack over time.  It is estimated that the Chaos Elves originally had up to four packs, but now have one pack.  I am not sure how many lowshahds the Chaos Elves have, but I suspect somewhere around one hundred thousand.

                Lowshahds have no horns or spikes, but are naturally talented at using their tales, hind claws and fore claws for defense and attack.  A lowshahds head is rounded at the top of the skull, and elongated as it narrows into a slightly rounded snout.  Lowshahds also have two rows of sharp teeth, and have large jaw muscles that can snap through humanoid bones easily.  Although fierce, lowshahds have been trained to attack only on command.  There have been cases when their base instincts take over, but they are rare.  One thing lowshahds understand is pain or death for disobedience.  Lowshahds have been trained to respond to the ancient language.  Lowshahds are usually fitted with black saddles, and black carrying packs behind the saddles to blend with their scales.  A rider sits in the saddle just behind the front shoulders.

                Lowshahds are fierce creatures and should be dealt with carefully.  It is better to avoid lowshahds if at all possible.  A command of the ancient language may be of help, but avoidance is still the best practice.

No comments: