CW: This page contains mention and occasional images of the following; blood, death, parasites, cannibalism, scars, illness, and similar topics. Some images might also have some eye strain factors.
Ascalabote genus and species descriptions
Scientific name:
Ascalabote mediocris (A. mediocris)
Ascalabote arquus (A. arquus) Ascalabote arbor (A. arbor) Ascalabote frigus (A. frigus) Ascalabote mare (A. mare) |
Common Name:
Devil Dragon (Universal)
‘Bote (Universal) Ascalabote (Mostly A. mediocris but can also be universal) Rainbow Ascalabote (A. arquus) Arctic Ascalabote (A. frigus) Tree Ascalabote (A. arbor) Tree dwelling Ascalabote (A. arbor) Sea Ascalabote (A. mare) |
The Ascalabote species vary in rarity on Senluna, this chart maps out the hypothesized rarity of each species
Scientific classification of A. mediocris
Due to similarities between large Earth reptiles such as Megalania, Ascalabotes were originally believed to be in a similar reptilian classification to Earth reptiles however they have much more in common with Archosauria clade, specifically the subgroup Avemetatarsalia, however due to their alien origins Ascalabotes cannot be classified in simple Earth terms. Further classifying Ascalabotes as a whole is difficult due to their “slippery” genetics, a trait found in almost all Senluna creatures, which allows their appearance and genetic information to be edited through their life leading to wildly different appearances of individuals despite being the same species. Despite these complications there are five confirmed separate species that live on Senluna, their species are more marked by their location on the planet then their appearance or genetic makeup since they often share many characteristics between species. Since Ascalabotes are found on both the Northern and Southern hemispheres of Senluna, they are grouped into two subgenus, Borras for the three species found in the north and Meridies for two species in the south.
Taxonomy
Ascalabote is the direct translation of ‘lizard’ from Latin. Latin is the only human language spoken on Senluna but is wide spread across both Ascalabote civilization and other intelligent life. Ascalabotes today share a common ancestor, it is believed that Ascalabote arquus are the oldest species of Ascalabote on the northern content though it is not known if they may have given rise to Ascalabote mare or like Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthals share a very common ancestor. Ascalabote mare is very closely related to Ascalabote frigus suggesting that Ascalabote mare may have led to the evolution of Ascalabote frigus. Due to their rapid mutation rate this evolution may have only happened in a few generations. The names of the species are directly linked to noteworthy features such as commonality or habitat.
All Ascalabote species can have or always have some kind of bristle-like structure that has a soft, fur-like feel but has a make up more like feathers then real fur. Ascalabote’s “fur” tend to part from the spine downwards, their close cousin the Moss Prowlers have a similar attribute to their thicker “fur” this leads to the family name of Blouna or Top Fur while the closely related Pliouna or Full Fur does not show any part.
All Ascalabote species can have or always have some kind of bristle-like structure that has a soft, fur-like feel but has a make up more like feathers then real fur. Ascalabote’s “fur” tend to part from the spine downwards, their close cousin the Moss Prowlers have a similar attribute to their thicker “fur” this leads to the family name of Blouna or Top Fur while the closely related Pliouna or Full Fur does not show any part.
Evolution
Fossils on Senluna are rare, from what has been discovered it can be hypothesized that Ascalabotes evolved from a egg laying creature with similar characteristics to a crocodile or monitor lizard, likely they moved inland as the large sea opened in the middle of the planet, causing life by the coast to experience many large storms. They likely evolved the false fur that is well known in all Apomimastofor lineage.
From the little fossils found near the coast, the earliest known member of the Blouna family was named Sangiusalgor Oram, they show a resemblance to both Ascalabotes and Moss Prowlers and they might be the common ancestor between Ascalabote arquus and Ascalabote mare however due to the similarities between the two species compared to the much more separated Moss Prowler, it is unlikely. If these early ancestors had parental care is not known but if they did not the young may have climbed trees to stay away from the adults, eventually some may have evolved to be permanent tree climbers, evolving into what is now known as Moss Prowlers with the rest of the population heading into the mountains. At first it is hypothesized that these early ancestors were cold blooded and being pushed away from the relative warmth of the coast made them seek out warmth elsewhere, leading them to the volcanic mountain range.
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Many well preserved fossils have been found in the lower hills of the mountains for these early ancestors buried in volcanic ash. These fossils have been linked to one of the earliest known members of the Ascalabote genus, Primisvellus Mons, due to the preservation within the ash it is known that Primisvellus did have a short coat of the false fur known in the species as well as it appears to have started to have the varied body shapes seen today in Ascalabotes. This find leads credence to the hypothesis that Ascalabote arquus is the oldest species of Ascalabote and that they once migrated back to the coast.
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From Ascalabote arquus’s evolution, Ascalabote mediocris evolved from a small branch of arquus finding a more fitting life on the savanna and steppe of Senluna then the mountains and from them some Ascalabotes took to living in the Cresce forests, evolving further to Ascalabote arbor. In the sea, regardless of how they evolved there, Ascalabote mares found their way to the southern continent of Senluna and evolved to Ascalabote frigus. it is likely they also found their way to the two small islands between the content but no known Ascalabote species has been found there. Despite their long evolution, all five Ascalabote species share enough DNA that they can produce fertile offspring regardless of the parent’s species and other species of Ascalabotes are sometimes born to parents of completely different species due to recessive mutations. Ascalabotes can also produce offspring with Moss Prowlers however these are almost always sterile as their DNA is not as compatible.
Subspecies:
There are five known species of Ascalabote as mentioned above that are genetically distinct from each other, however there are several subspecies that have been observed. The subspecies known are typically more specialized to a climate or region on Senluna, being found in very specific locations with not as much widespread dispersion as their parent species. It is not known how these subspecies may have evolved however it’s likely due from the quick adaptation Ascalabotes are known for, a population may have been separated from their group and quickly evolved to fit their new environment but the separation likely happened in a short time leading to some genetic similarities to the species they are related to.
Demigods
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Technical Description
On average the largest species known are the bipedal variant of Ascalabote arbor which stand at approximate 3.5 meters (11 feet) tall and can weigh roughly 2297 kilograms (5064 pounds) and the smallest species are Ascalabote mare which are approximately 2 meters (6 feet) tall and weight around 1000 kilograms (2205 pounds).
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Ascalabotes can look drastically different from each other, even those they are related to due to their fast mutation rate, this makes it very hard to say for sure what they look like, commonly all but Ascalabote arbor are quadrupedal with four limbs. All five species are born with a very thin layer of scales that appear as one solid texture, similar to placoid scales found on sharks and all species are born with some kind of false fur. Their face shapes can range from a rounded, reptilian look to a more curved mammalian look with the length and curve differing between species.
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They all have relatively long, strong tails that aid in balance and are sturdy enough to help the Ascalabote to stand upright for relatively long periods of time. Ascalabotes eye makeup differs between species, with some having solid eyes such as Ascalabote mediocris and Ascalabote frigus, in the case of Ascalabote mare and Ascalabote arquus they have scleras and irises and Ascalabote arbor have an iris and pupil but no visible sclera. All Ascalabotes have some kind of expressive brow ridge.
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False fur:
All known Ascalabote species have some kind of false fur. These structures are modified scales, similar to a bird’s feather without the barbs; however unlike feathers or scales this false fur is soft to the touch. Ascalabote mare appears to be an exception to this however on closer inspection of their skin they are covered with a very fine layer of this false fur that aids in wicking away water. Most Ascalabote young are born with more of this fur then adults have, this is hypothesized that due to its insulating qualities so it helps keep the young warmer as Ascalabote frigus adults never lose their full body layer of fur this seems likely. The Ascalabote species found in the warmer northern hemisphere lose most of the fur as they grow, retaining it only around the neck though in some cases it may also be kept around their legs, or down their back. It seems that in the past there was a sexual dimorphism between males and females based on where the fur was placed though this does not seem to be the case anymore.
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Color variation:
While colors vary a lot in all Ascalabote species there are some things that are kept the same. All Ascalabotes are born a solid color, this is typically the color of their fur as it is the darkest, after about a month's time their other colors have come out as well as any mutations they have been born with.
The colors they are born with depend on the species, Ascalabote mediocris is the only known Ascalabote species that starts out a completely different color then they are as an adult. As they grow the Ascalabote, if they change colors, will begin to have their young colors fade into their adult colors, this also coincides with the loss of the fur they had as a baby. All Ascalabote species do follow a single rule where their fur color is darker then the color of their scales, a reverse of these colors is a sign of a genetic mutation.
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Albinism and melanism are known to exist in the Ascalabote species. However while albinism, called Pruilbus by Ascalabotes, is not known to cause any long term issues with the individual’s health. Melanism, known as Lues, can cause a lot of other issues and the individual tends to be sickly their entire life. While the cause for such a drastic difference in pigment mutations is not known for sure it is likely that the gene responsible for the lack of pigment is not as connected with other genes as the one responsible for an increase in pigment.
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Intelligence
All Ascalabote species are highly intelligent, sapient beings. Most live in communities of 50 or more individuals and all work together to strive for a common goal. Ascalabote frigus is the least social of the known species due to the unforgiving nature of the south hemisphere of Senluna it cannot support large groups of Ascalabotes like the sea or northern hemisphere can.
In the scale of human advancement, Ascalabotes seem to be in the stone age with their tool use however they are quite advanced with their society and are likely in the renaissance era in their culture.
All species of Ascalabotes make tools to help them in everyday life, however being mostly quadrupedal their tools are mostly used to be held in the mouth then by a hand. Harnesses with special hooks for baskets are also made to allow easy carrying of items. Most of their tools are made from organic material such as wood or bone since true metal is very rare on the surface of Senluna and only Ascalabote mare have access to it in large amounts.
There is not much of a need to grow food in farms so only the healers of the Ascalabote society tend to have large gardens with most of their food being sourced from either hunting or gathering.
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Most metal Ascalabote tools are made from an organism known as a Cortex, it has a metal-like alloy that the Cortex seems to produce from its roots as a byproduct since if the alloy is removed carefully the Cortex will not die. This metallic alloy is very flexible but only for a short time, heating the alloy can extend the time it is flexible, as the alloy cools it hardens to something similar in strength to steel.
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Ascalabote mediocris, Ascalabote arbor, and Ascalabote mare build and live in large buildings they call eailies. These structures are made from natural materials that can be found around their settlements and can be several stories tall if the material allows it. With Ascalabote mediocris an eaily can be made of pelts, woven branches of plants, and stones with most eailies having a mix of the three, doors and window shutters may be made of Cresce wood or just be a pelt strung along the frame. Ascalabote arbor live in Cresces, being high off the ground they tend to make their eailies and walkways out of the Cresce branches, guiding them to grow in certain ways with any gaps being filled with other materials until the branches grow in fully. Often these eailies do not have any exterior doors and only pelt “sheets'' to cover interior doors and windows. Ascalabote mares may have the most extravagant eailies, they are built from piled stone but can be several stories high, underwater flora is encouraged to grow on the rocks to solidify them in place. These towers have doors made from woven branches of underwater flora, reinforced with small pebbles and other colorful stones to create a rather hard seal around the entrance.
Ascalabote frigus and Ascalabote arquus do not make as elaborate eailies but may still construct shelters, these may be permanent or temporary depending on the group or location but are typically no more then one story and only a handful of rooms with a pelt curtain for a door or no door all together.
Life History
All known Ascalabote species are of an anisogamy genus, however how they give birth varies slightly with species. Only Ascalabote arquus and Ascalabote mare, the arguably more ancient species, lay and hatch eggs all of the other Ascalabote species are ovoviviparity where the embryo develops inside an egg inside the mother’s body though the soft shell dissolves away before birth so it gives the appearance they are giving birth to live young like a mammal. The number of offspring may vary in a litter though the maximum appears to be 8 with any more not all of the offspring survive. Weather does not have an impact on Ascalabote reproduction however the seasons increase chances for certain species to be born regardless of the parents.
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Ascalabote young have an incubation time of 6-8 months depending on the species, Ascalabote arquus eggs are interesting as if they are not cared for during the entire 6 months it falls into a state of suspended animation until care is resumed. This is likely to keep the embryo alive if something happens to the parents or if the egg gets separated from the family. Caring for an Ascalabote arquus egg is quite simple as it just needs to be kept warm and occasionally turned.
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All species are born without any visible mutations and are almost always a solid color, their colors and most of their mutations start to be noticeable roughly a week after they are born. For at least a month after they are born they are completely blind and deaf, depending on their parents for care. Both parents take care of the pups equally, since they do not need milk like a mammal either parent can provide food for the pups though at a very young age it is typically regurgitated to make it easier for them to eat. At least one parent needs to stay with them and keep them warm as the young’s coat has not fully fluffed out yet.
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Roughly a month old the young Ascalabotes are learning how to walk and talk, they are allowed out of the eaily for the first time and have all of their colors and the mutations they were born with have fully grown in. They may still be a bit unsteady on their feet but start to explore away from their parents. Often this is when both parents go back to working, leaving their offspring the care of another though some parents, especially single ones, decide to stay with their offspring and may even change careers to stay close to them.
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As full fledged “youth” of the clan Ascalabote young can be a handful. Ascalabotes grow slowly and even as babies they are still able to spontaneously mutate their appearance. Their youth is spent under the watchful eye of the adults as they play and learn new skills that will help them one day as an adult. It is not uncommon to see some of the young Ascalabotes helping their parents with their tasks, though they might not be very good at it.
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At roughly 10 years old Ascalabotes start having growth spurts as they enter their teen years. For Ascalabote mediocris and Ascalabote arbor this is also when their colors start to change to the colors they will have in adulthood. Every individual is different and some may start losing baby fur first before their colors start to change while others might have almost all their adult colors before they even begin to lose their baby fur. At this time they are starting to participate more in social activities with their parents and are learning about what they might do in the future.
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Young adulthood comes when an Ascalabote has fully lost all their baby fur and has gained their adult colors, this happens from 16-25 depending on the Ascalabote. In some cases the Ascalabote may grow back their fur or colors but they are still considered an adult. Adults may stay with their parents and help with any younger siblings or may strike out on their own, most of the time Ascalabotes that live in large communities will have several generations of a few families inter mingling while smaller packs may lose their adult members over time. Adult Ascalabotes have more ability to change their appearance so many also may grow into new mutations over their adolescents and into adulthood.
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Considered a full adult at the age of 25-30, Ascalabotes are sexually mature and can start a family at this time. Adults and young adults are almost indistinguishable from each other.
Ascalabotes are a hardy species and even as an old adult an individual may still be going strong. Ascalabotes are considered to be old adults after the age of 50 but they do not slow down. An old adult can keep up with another adult just fine in most activities and has likely learned everything they want to make them a master at their career.
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Elderly Ascalabotes of 100 years old may start showing their age, at this age their colors start to fade and lose their brightness. At this age they are still much more capable then humans of a similar age, they are still able to reproduce however the risk of severe genetic mutations goes up sharply. Often Ascalabotes are still active in their career as an elder though their roles may be reduced for their own safety as they are slower then the younger Ascalabotes.
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If an Ascalabote makes it to 200 or more they are known as a Great Elder and are honored by the other Ascalabotes in their society. These Ascalabotes are typically retired from their career and are no longer able to have offspring; however they are a wealth of knowledge and pass on stories and tales of events to the next generations. Great Elders hardly ever look like what they did in their youth since their colors are pale and muted.
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Distribution and Habitat
Ascalabotes are adaptable and are capable of living and thriving in every habitable biome on Senluna. Typically only a singular species is found in one habitat as they all occupy the niche of apex predator and would compete with each other if in close proximity. As their civilization grows however, their horizons have begun to expand and it is not uncommon to see several species mingling together in a singular clan. With their ability to change their appearance at will even Ascalabote species who were born on land may live the rest of their lives in the water or vice versa. Ascalabote species are found in both hemispheres of the planet, the only place they are not are on the two islands in the central sea, though some small groups of Ascalabotes may have been stranded there at one point as evidence of some habitation is visible but with the frost month freezing the ocean every year it is likely the stranded Ascalabotes left the island as soon as the ice was thick enough to walk on. Ascalabotes are also not found in the deep ocean, steering clear of anything deeper then 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), superstitious stories say it is because of the gigantic monsters that prowl the depths and eat any Ascalabote that venture further into the deep however there are no evidence of such monsters and the Intentem and while the large creatures do prey on smaller aquatic life they are much too slow to catch an Ascalabote.
Behavior and ecology
All Ascalabote species are Diurnal apex predators of their respective habitat. They prefer to be in groups which can be a single family or many generations of multiple families working together. While small family packs may not have a territory, larger groups have large territories with a centralized community space in the middle where eailies are built and the clan lives with the rest of the space of their territory used for the resources. For the most part the clans are friendly with each other, they often trade between each other and small packs are also common to be set up around a clan for a while before moving on. If a clan gets too large some Ascalabotes might leave to join another clan or to live in a pack of their own. Due to a recent shifting of power the main five Ascalabote mediocris clans that were found on the largest savanna have now been forced to move and condense into one clan.
Due to their intelligence, Ascalabotes have a large impact on the Senluna’s flora and fauna. Their large groups means lots of hunting and gathering of local resources and ever expanding territories however Ascalabotes are also good at preserving the world around them and only take from it what they need.
Group organization:
Groups vary in Ascalabote society, the larger groups are called clans or tribes depending on the dialect but any small family group is universally known as a pack. Packs are led by the oldest pair, typically the parents of the other members but it may also be the grandparents in larger pack cases.
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To keep the peace in the clans they have a hierarchy of power within the clan and every Ascalabote has a place in it. Clans have a leader that takes care of the important business, how the leaders are elected differs between cultures with some having to prove themselves and others being voted in by the rest of the clan.
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Each career in a clan has one or two Ascalabotes that are senior to the rest and are the ones who make sure the tasks that career must do run smoothly. Each clan has a different way for an individual to move up or down within the hierarchy and for the most part only the clan leader is revered within the clan or any satellite packs that may be around at the time.
If a clan splits apart, the leader will stay with the larger portion while a secondary leader will be elected for the small part however this leader will often still answer to the main leader. This structure was seen with the large Ascalabote mediocris clans with the largest clan being the one with the primary leader and the others having leaders of their own that would still have to listen to the primary leader.
Ascalabote frigus are the expedition, they do not gather into large clans like their northern cousins, instead they almost solely live in packs or on their own. It is believed that this is the case because the frigid habitat that the live in cannot support a large amount of Ascalabotes in one place and they must keep on the move to catch prey.
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Individuals of other species may also be nomadic by choice or if they are ostracized by their group and are searching for a new one. Ascalabote clans tend to have a lot of territory and so any lone Ascalabote may travel 128 kilometers (80 miles) or more before entering another clan’s territory.
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Relationships
Ascalabotes are social and as such they form strong bonds between one and other. Clans of Ascalabotes have a lot of social traditions that have come into conflict with such social nature as in packs the offspring will stay with their parents well into maturity to help with their siblings but in clans the young adults would be sent to another clan as soon as they were assigned a career. This was meant to spread out the genetics of the clans but it split families apart sooner then they would have naturally which caused tension among parents and children. With the singular clan this has been rectified somewhat but many older Ascalabotes still have a lot to mend.
Ascalabotes are mostly monogamous, a trait shared by all known species, in large groups Ascalabotes who want to spend their lives together become “Aetereil'' a special vow is taken that they will be together forever before giving their partner a decorative personal item.
The material of the item varies between cultures and available resources but it is typically something of high value that can also be customized into something important to the receiver.
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For Aetereil celebrations, family and friends attend dressed in fine clothes and with their fur braided, the celebration lasts an entire day and as the sun sets there is a great feast for those invited, when the vows and gifts are exchanged varies however it is most commonly done just at sun rise when the sky is a pale pink color to signify the everlasting commitment together. Gender or biological sex does play any role in the Aetereil celebration as two adults of sane mind can have it preformed.
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Due to their more nomadic life, packs may prearrange Aetereil celebrations for their members years in advance as packs who do not live near clans may not see another unrelated Ascalabote for many years. Due to their more remoteness, packs are much closer than Ascalabote families in clans since all the members of a pack must rely on each other while in a clan there are many more Ascalabotes to rely on. This can cause some issues with the prearranged Aetereil celebrations with young adult Ascalabotes not wanting to leave their parents just yet so most Aetereil celebrations between packs happen at an older age then they do in the clans.
Lone Ascalabotes may find themselves taken into a pack or clan by kindness or by becoming Aetereil with one of the members. It can be hard for a lone Ascalabote to enter into a pack without having a relationship with one of the members, clans are much more accepting of strange newcomers into their ranks due to their larger size but either way a new face in a close community is often met with speculation and suspiciousness so often lone Ascalabotes try to fit in through community connections and befriend a few Ascalabotes already in the clan or pack so they can vouch on their behalf.
Culture:
Ascalabotes species have very complex cultures that may differ greatly from each other due to superstitions or environment, even within a species the culture may differ. There are a few things that seem to be nearly standard across all species.
For most cultures in clans the hierarchy of careers and individuals are not very important with everyone eating together and at the same time and everyone having similar amounts of say into topics. Respect is earned through tasks and skills instead of being a given and even clan leaders must earn the respect of the clan before assuming the role or they can be removed from their power. Okubi was able to gain so much power by gaining the respect of his clan, after he turned his followers to impiis they began following him out of a desire of revenge against the clans or from fear.
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One of the more superstitious parts of the cultures of Ascalabote is when it comes to the dead. They are removed from the common area of a clan, they are not buried instead they are left in an open area to decompose and return to Senluna’s soil, often not long after they are laid to rest Moshkh begins to cover the body, enclosing it in a veil of blue.
It is said that the Moshkh anchors the dead down so they do not rise from the dead but if the Moshkh does not cover the body then it is not yet dead and the relatives of the Ascalabote must stay at watch until the Moshkh covers the body or it returns to the living. Pack may do something similar but do not tend to remove the body as the clans do since they are more likely to move on, however packs will remember where their dead are laid and will often come to visit the Moshkh covered skeleton until it too disappears.
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Ascalabote mare have slightly different funerary practices, they will keep the body near by for several days while they consult their Great Elders about the Ascalabote’s soul, if they learn it is restless they will bring the Ascalabote back with a pale orange crystal allowing the Ascalabote to achieve whatever it was that was making them restless. If the soul is at peace or the Ascalabote is parted from their orange crystal in peace, then the body is weighed down with rocks and is sent into the deepest part of the sea.
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The Great Elders of any clan or pack are highly respected, often even the clan’s leader will heed their advice as they have lived long beyond what is normal for an Ascalabote and they have seen and learned many more things then any other Ascalabote. Many Ascalabote species believe that their Great Elders must have some kind of magical powers to have lived for so long and so they often fill the role of a soothsayer just as much as one of a storyteller.
Religion:
Ascalabote species have many kinds of religions however they all have some very common aspects. The main deities that are worshiped are known simply as Life and Death, these beings are described as two Ascalabote mediocris, Life is a lightweight and ghostly pale with markings that resemble a skeleton while Death is a heavyweight with long shaggy fur that covered their entire body including their face. These deities come up a lot in legends and no one is sure if they are real though the Ascalabotes who have seen them claim they are very real however the stories of them date back almost as far as the Ascalabote genus itself, far beyond even the age of the oldest known Great Elder. Life and Death come to those who are close to death, in most stories they do not interfere with the unfolding events and only watch however others tell of how the two saved them or brought them back from the brink of death with words that it was not their time.
There are also eight other deities that also show up in the majority of Ascalabote religion. They are said to be linked to one of the eight types of mana; Ignama the deity of fire mana, Rosa the deity of water mana, Agellus the deity of land mana, Alealur the deity of air mana, Glacus the deity of ice mana, Obscalae the deity of dark mana, Temaevus the deity of time mana, and Vitoren the deity of life mana. Occasionally Obscalae and Vitoren are not part of the pantheon, their places being replaced by Life and Death while in other cases Life and Death reside above these deities.
There are also eight other deities that also show up in the majority of Ascalabote religion. They are said to be linked to one of the eight types of mana; Ignama the deity of fire mana, Rosa the deity of water mana, Agellus the deity of land mana, Alealur the deity of air mana, Glacus the deity of ice mana, Obscalae the deity of dark mana, Temaevus the deity of time mana, and Vitoren the deity of life mana. Occasionally Obscalae and Vitoren are not part of the pantheon, their places being replaced by Life and Death while in other cases Life and Death reside above these deities.
The Ascalabote creation myth is very fragmented however it is widely agreed the first being was named Tomtuis, an ever changing being that could take on any form to suit their needs. They were the one that first created life on Senluna through different tasks such as aiming the rays of Kurysul, the star Senluna orbits, at the ground so Cresces could grow. It is also believed that Tomtuis is the origin of the mana on Senluna as they reside inside the core of the planet.
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Hunting and diet:
All known Ascalabote species are generalists and omnivorous with their diet. They are considered an apex predator and are capable of taking down most large fauna on Senluna however they are also capable of eating the flora around them as well as many kinds of fungi. Due to their diverse diet their digestive tract is very efficient at pulling any kind of nutrients it can from any meal.
Out of all the species, Ascalabote frigus is the most carnivorous due to the sparse plant growth in the southern hemisphere so Ascalabote frigus must rely more on hunting for a reliable source of food. Ascalabote mare is also away from the norm from the other Ascalabote species, they are not the apex predators of the ocean and are just as much prey as they are predators.
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To expand their effectiveness, most clans have Ascalabotes who specialize in either hunting or gathering so the clan is provided with a balanced and abundant source of food. In most clans, the specialized hunters go out on hunting missions when necessary, depending on the clan and its food reserves this could be every day to every other week. The specialized gathers often go out more as they look for not only food but also medicinal supplies the clan might need. A hunting or gathering mission is often 4-6 individuals and lasts roughly the entire day, for most clans only one of these missions will go out however multiple may go if the clan is large or the food stocks are very low.
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The hunting mission works as a team, the faster Ascalabotes push their desired prey towards the stronger Ascalabotes waiting to ambush the animal and bring it down. Killing an animal is a high honor among Ascalabotes, because of this the Ascalabote that brings the prey down may not be the one to finish it off. The “Geathed” or killing blow is often delivered by one of the mission’s members who proved themselves worthy of the honor, this is often discussed before the prey is brought down so the animal does not suffer for long. How the prey is killed may vary with the individual, the strongest Ascalabote bite force was 2500 psi (17236893 newtons) which belonged to a heavyweight Ascalabote mediocris due to this powerful bite force a powerful Ascalabote can easily crush their prey’s neck or skull with one bite, a smaller Ascalabote may go the longer but still effective route of asphyxiation.
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Ascalabotes are large but some of their prey can be larger, because of this working as a team often is more successful then hunting alone so lone Ascalabotes or small packs may join together for a hunt and share the reward. The Geathed is still honored even within these small groups though it has little meaning to them in the long run.
Hunting and gathering are not defined by gender and males and females participate in them equally. Instead power and speed are more definitive of who gets to participate as lean, fast Ascalabotes may appear like they would be good candidates for chasing prey but they are fragile and if the prey turns to fight they have little ways to defend themselves so instead they are often selected for gathering as their light bodies make it easy for them to climb into Cresces to gather fruit without even stirring the thinnest branches. Those who are stronger are often selected for hunting with midweights being used to chase prey and heavyweights being the ambushers. Heavyweights may also find themselves useful in gathering as they can carry heavy loads in baskets with ease. Ascalabote species such as Ascalabote arbor who without any mutations can be bipedal have the bipedals gather more then hunt.
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Ascalabotes have access to and regularly use fire, this allows them to not just cook any meat or plants they find but also combine it into other food sources such as soups and baked goods. Ascalabotes will also prepare and store dried foods for the frost season when both plants and animals are scarce.
An Ascalabote’s diet has many variables, individual preferences are most seen in clans that can afford to give the Ascalabote a choice in what they want to eat though even they may have to give in if a season is overly rough. The location where the Ascalabote is also impacts what their diet consists of with the large fauna only being found on the lower elevations of the northern hemisphere or along the beaches of the southern hemisphere, plant life too can be scarce away from the aforementioned areas leading to little or no choice of food. Season too can be a part of it as some animals and plants are more abundant during certain seasons while nearly impossible to find during others.
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In clans food is prepared and offered up at certain times of the day, often dawn and dusk when the majority of the clan is present. There are no preferences of who gets more food or who gets to choose first and it is overseen by the clan leader to make sure everything is divided out fairly. An adult Ascalabote needs approximately 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of food, roughly 115,500 calories a day to survive. Most packs and lone Ascalabotes are able to achieve this without much problem. In a clan an Ascalabote may eat up to 350,000 calories a day or about 45 kilograms (100 pounds). Leftover food is either left out for other animals or is stored away.
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Ascalabotes are capable of scavenging from rotting corpses unless it is unavoidable; most Ascalabotes refuse to scavenge due to their respect for the dead. Ascalabotes tend to eat anything but rotting meat if given a choice. Similarly they refuse to eat their own kind, even fresh, as it goes against their idea that the dead must return to Senluna. Only in dire situations will an Ascalabote resort to cannibalism or scavenging and in clans this is typically viewed as an unclean source of food with those who eat such meat, without just cause, are shunned in their society.
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Predator competition:
There is very little predator competition for the land dwelling Ascalabotes as they out mass or out power most of the other species they can come into contact with. The main threat to a healthy adult Ascalabote is almost always another Ascalabote however when there is a fight between these two powerful predators the outcome is not always what is expected. In cases where and Ascalabote mediocris and Ascalabote arquus fought, the smaller Ascalabote arquus was almost always victorious.
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There are some other animals on Senluna that are a threat to Ascalabotes, the Venatione is known to prey on young Ascalabotes in their territory. Imitors also can be a nuisance to lone Ascalabotes or deadly to a young one. The only known creature on Senluna that can take a full grown Ascalabote in a fight are the Moss Prowlers, they are close in size to most Ascalabote species and are powerful in their own right. Fights between these two large animals are brutal and often end in a draw, however these fights are rare as Moss Prowlers are peaceful creatures and do not often attack without reason.
Ascalabote mare has a lot more predator competition then any other Ascalabote species. Their largest competition comes from Megathyliao which frequent the warm, shallow waters Ascalabote mares reside in every flood season. Megathyliao are typically found in the southern hemisphere where they are prey for Ascalabote frigus however they migrate to the northern hemisphere for the flood season when a lot of extra food gets washed down from the massive flash floods that occur, being roughly the same size as an Ascalabote mare and eating the same types of food these two are in constant competition with Ascalabote mares not hesitating to drive off any Megathyliao they find to close to their clan. Ascalabote mare has other competition with Intentems though the massive underwater animal does not care much for what Ascalabote mare eats and is more interested in eating them.
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Health
All Ascalabote species are remarkably durable. They have a highly advanced immune system and a rapid healing rate which allows even severely wounded Ascalabotes to take care of themselves until they are at full health. The scales that cover their body seem small; but they are very strong, able to absorb over 5,780 joules of energy with little harm done to the individual, to put it another way an Ascalabote can shrug off a shot fired from a .375 caliber firearm with ease. An Ascalabote is only really vulnerable when it is young or very old as their scales are softer then a healthy adult.
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Illnesses are very rare in adult Ascalabotes, their powerful immune systems and strong physical defenses against microscopic bacteria or viruses keep them from getting sick even in unfamiliar or alien environments. They are not invulnerable however and there are still several kinds of diseases that have found ways to make an Ascalabote sick, though the severity of the sickness depends on the Ascalabote’s health in the first place.
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In all known species Ascalabotes have several kinds of bacteria that thrive inside their saliva and usually are harmless to an Ascalabote unless it enters the bloodstream directly through an open wound, the bacteria are hemolytic and start breaking down the red blood cells and release an anti-clotting agent which stop the wound from closing properly. If the injury is not carefully cleaned and treated quickly the Ascalabote will be unable to combat the infection fast enough and will die.
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Their rapid mutation rates also can also cause some issues, cancer is very common in old Ascalabotes.
Young Ascalabotes may also be born with mutations that seem to “lock” the part of the DNA they originate from, preventing other mutations from replacing them. Most of these mutations are not life threatening.
A mutation in this category that may be life threatning is known as Lues, Ascalabotes born with this have an increase in melanin and are pure black except for their eyes. An Ascalabote with Lues have softer scales then other Ascalabotes and a weaker immune system, leading to many with this mutation dying young. The mutation is recessive so parents often pass it to their offspring without knowing. In a bizarre twist the opposite random mutation, Pruilbus, does not have such a fatal outcome though the affected Ascalabote also has weaker scales and are often sensitive to sunlight. |
Endoparasites are less common in large groups of Ascalabotes as they often cook their food before eating it, however those that eat raw meat or unwashed plants may contract internal parasites. Ascalabotes are also vulnerable to the toxic microbes that often infect aestaies.
Ascalabotes care for their sick and injured, with clans even having designated Ascalabotes who know how to use medical herbs and treat injuries. In all groups of Ascalabotes, their weaker members are looked after to the best of the group’s abilities. Ascalabotes do not have the ability to make advanced mobility aids for their injured but they have found ways around it and those who have ventured off Senluna may bring back alien tech that can be used to help an Ascalabote. Survival of an injury may also come down to available supplies, as an Ascalabote in a clan with a broken bone may have it healed nearly perfectly while one who is alone may have to continuously use the broken bone and it would not heal as well. it is not uncommon for lone Ascalabotes to ask clans or packs for help and leave when they are better, some clans refuse to let a loner do this and force them to pay the clan back for the effort but many find ways to make deals with the loner so they both benefit.
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Communication
Ascalabotes’ have developed a language to communicate. There are different accents pertaining to different regions of Senluna however the language is understandable between all species of Ascalabotes. This language is similar in many ways to the Latin used on Earth, however over the many years of use it has changed to include new words and some words from Latin have shifted their meanings. With this language there is also an alphabet of 32 characters.
Along with this spoken language Ascalabotes make a large range of vocalizations to express emotions to others, communicate during hunts or when the need to be quiet is important, and young Ascalabotes learn these vocalizations before they learn to speak.
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Ascalabotes communicate through body language too, with a lot of their body language mirroring those of Earth cats or dogs. Despite most Ascalabotes being quadrupedal their abundant use of body language has also given rise to a type of sign language for those hard of hearing.
Some Ascalabotes can also speak other Earth languages, learning them after traveling to Earth and mimicking human’s speech. This is not very common and is hardly ever used on Senluna since the languages are not very popular.
Mana
Senluna produces a strange energy from its core, similar to a magnetic field but more powerful. This has been dubbed mana, it is a source of energy and power and everything alive on Senluna is born with a link to one of the eight types of mana. Ascalabote species have figured out ways to have a deeper connection with the mana type they were born with and also learn how to use other types.
Long ago Ascalabote mediocris lost their connection to mana and it faded into legend. Over time it has since been brought back up but kept a secret from most of the populations of the large clans. Mana can be very powerful and dangerous and in fear of their power being taken away the leaders of the clans decided to prevent its knowledge from getting out. Since the clans destruction the knowledge of mana has since been more widely known and more Ascalabote mediocris are learning what mana they were born with and how to use other types.
While what causes a living being to be linked to one type of mana is still unknown as the connection is formed shortly after birth and even identical twins may have different mana types. Some types seem to show up more due to environmental circumstances, Ascalabote frigus and Ascalabote mare are nearly 50 times more likely to have ice or water mana then any other species but an Ascalabote mare may be born with land mana or an Ascalabote frigus may be born with fire mana so the environment is not always what causes the mana connection.
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Senluna itself also has a strong unique type of mana that all living beings are connected to, it is even less known then the eight types. What is known is that it is linked to the color purple and can cause wormholes through space. Ascalabotes can learn to control this mana through static charge and open a wormhole at their command.
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Portal creation:
By tapping into Senluna’s mana, an Ascalabote can create a wormhole, also called toyers or portals. The exact methods are not fully known however it has something to do with the Ascalabote building a static charge within them and then somehow being able to materialize a portal to a destination they chose. Senluna’s mana opens portals on its own often however these have no direction and open completely randomly, when the mana is harnessed properly an individual can make the portals open to somewhere they know. The better they know the location the easier and larger the portal can be so it is typically used as fast transportation around Senluna’s surface though it can also be used to travel off world if the individual can image a good enough image of the alien world.
Due to the static energy needed, Ascalabotes with more fur seem to do better with creating portals. When a portal is created small sparks of purple energy shoot from their fur into the air around them and touching an Ascalabote with this kind of static charge will give a static shock. Ascalabotes who do not have any fur can still create portals however it is difficult and more energy consuming.
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The process of creating a portal is very tiring and most Ascalabotes need to rest for a day or two after creating a large one. It is due to this large energy consumption that it is not used more regularly and most Ascalabotes prefer to walk across Senluna’s surface and only use portals for short jumps.
Portals do not last very long, natural portals are only open a few seconds while an Ascalabote may manage to keep one open for a few minutes. The time a portal is open can be extended with more Ascalabotes, as the location of where a portal is going to end up is slightly visible; any Ascalabote nearby that has the ability to open portals can help maintain an open portal.
Portals are inherently dangerous as they can close quickly and without warning so it is a very hard skill to master and there is not a lot of room for error. If a portal closes when something is halfway through it gets cut in half with one end at the portal’s start and the other at the exit. Often when an Ascalabote is trying to learn how to create portals they have another Ascalabaote nearby who is already skilled so the portals do not close too quickly or end up several meters off the ground.
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Alien life coming through a portal often undergoes a strange transformation as the mana on the planet interact with it, often changing the creature into a life form found on Senluna that retained the appearance of what it looked like before.
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This does not happen to inorganic objects and it is not uncommon to find weird alien trinkets scattered around Senluna. Most Ascalabote societies have a large trade for these trinkets so Ascalabotes traveling off world might also bring some back.
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Interactions with humans
While any direct evidence is scarce that any Ascalabotes have traveled to Earth, there does seem to be enough secondary evidence to suggest that there have been at least temporary trips to Earth. Likely known as the planet Luhlaza in Ascalabote culture, Earth is seen as dangerous and off limits to travel. Earth technology is also commonly found among Ascalabote cultures, though most are not very useful and their meaning lost on the Ascalabotes who keep it but that does not matter as alien technology is always popular. The language of Ascalabotes also comes from many Latin words suggesting it was brought to Senluna at some point during the evolution of the Ascalabote species as it is unlikely they would have learned it from any stray technology pulled in by portals.
There are also myths on both planets that seem to include the other. On Senluna the Ascalabotes have stories of pink bipedal creatures with long limbs and five long digits on their hands, as no one has ever been able to see these creatures it is not known if these are retellings about Humans on Earth or if at some point Humans, or some kind of Human-like ancestor, was brought to Senluna and mutated after interacting with the mana to the “Stick creatures” as they are dubbed in the legends.
Humans too have many stories of creatures that stalk the night and with the Ascalabote’s ability to change in appearance it is possible that any one of the so called cryptids could be an Ascalabote roaming Earth. Out of all the many stories all over Earth, the best cryptids that are likely to be Ascalabotes are known as Devil Dragons by the local population on the small continent of Australia. Devil Dragons are said to be large and reptilian, on Earth they are believed to be a remaining population of Megalania prisca however the Devil Dragon’s ability to avoid detention suggests a high level of intelligence that is not known in many lizard species on Earth. However it is likely that the Ascalabote, or Ascalabotes as there might be multiple, were not around 40,000 to 125,000 as the Megalania fossils do not resemble those of early or modern Ascalabotes.