Loval

Loval are long thin creatures. They have keen senses for both the plane of Rhina, and another unknown dimension, typically referred to the Lovian dimension, as the only thing known is that the lovals are connected to it. They posses a seemingly limited ability to interact with the dimension, creating small objects or transporting other worldly material to Rhina. They are prized for their extreme alertness, and kept for protection. Thus far, a way to utilize the dimensional ability has not been discovered; Lovals will not allow mortals to collect the material and cannot be trained or commanded to conjure objects. When kept for protection, loval are typically paired with another fierce creature for actual protection. Loval themselves make poor guard animals, as they always choose flight over fight, but can alert to a danger before any other creature even senses its presence.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Loval are quadrupedal creatures with long, thin legs. Their body is likewise long and thin. Their necks are comparatively thick, with two distinct portions. The bottom provides support from the head to the shoulders. The top portion is only attached at the head and can move independently like a tentacle. The natural carriage of the neck in fact has the neck resting on the back, then looping forward. Extending the neck is possible, but more difficult. This tentacle is difficult to use with the neck extended, and instead a loval typically lowers or coils their neck before use. They have huge ears and feathery antennae around their chin. Loval always looked starved. Their thin legs can only carry so much weight, so seeing bones in considered normal.

Genetics and Reproduction

Loval reproduction is poorly understood. Current theory suggests that loval create watery amphibian-like eggs. Loval seem to send their eggs to the other dimension-- the only suspected case of lovals sending a Rhinian object off of the plane*. Care of the eggs is therefore unknown. Shortly before hatching, the loval's eggs are returned to Rhina where the parents have created a nest. Both parents will guard the nest while the hatchlings emerge. This usually occurs within one hour and typically 1-3 hatchlings are born.

Growth Rate & Stages

Loval are long-lived and slow to mature. The oldest known loval lived to 47, although 29-35 is typical. Loval reach their full size in about three years, although they are not fully mature until nearly ten.

Ecology and Habitats

Loval are native to deserts and plains and they survive best in flat terrain. They will use their dimensional connections to create upward escapes, climbing phantom trees or cliffs away from danger and removing all but the top of the obstacle for safety. There are essentially no areal predators to threaten them.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Lovals are herbivores, feeding on grasses and leaves. They will also occasionally draw materials in from their other dimension to eat**.

Additional Information

Domestication

Loval are both easy and difficult to tame. They seem to have more intelligence than a horse or dog, and almost follow spoken language. Loval are easiest to domesticate when taken as hatchlings, but over a few years an adult can be convinced to work in exchange for food and shelter. They follow commands with little training. They will easily escape any confinement, however, and so require a certain amount of freedom. For some, this makes them impossible to keep.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Loval are used as sentries. This is actually a quite passive task, as the loval can be anywhere on the property and still notice danger. They are trained to raise an alarm in the desired manner, as they would instinctively disappear silently. They are impossibly good sentries, and it is assumed their dimensional connection must provide additional senses.

Average Intelligence

Loval are highly intelligent, seeming to understand spoken languages, although lacking any language themselves.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Loval have extremely keen senses. Their ears and nose allow them to smell and hear anything in the mortal realm. Their eyesight is not spectacular, but they always sense things before they become visible anyway. Their antennae sense everything in the other realms.

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*it has been suggested that because loval eggs can be transported via the loval's power, that loval are not natural of Rhina. However, this does not explain why adult loval do not use the power to move themselves between dimensions to escape danger.
**It is therefore possible that the loval is in fact an omnivore, as these materials are unknown and could be some sort of animal-life.

loval sketches by mag_e

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Browns and blacks tend to make the base coat for loval. They have dark muted blues and purples typically interwoven in patterns.