Tauropion

Brief overveiw

Tauropions are one of the most feared big cats of western and central Birtham, known best for their monstrous purr. These cats don't roar. Instead, they purr, using Geomancy (the ability to manipulate dirt, stone, and the ground beneath them) to vibrate the ground around them in order to sense out their prey with incredible precision.

General Overview

One of the fiercest predators of Birtham, these creatures are avoided by most living (and smart) creatures who come across them. Many have tried and failed to tame them, however, a vast majority of these folks have died horrible deaths. Whether it was due to the attacking Tauropion, or the terrifying manner in which they procreate killing the survivors mere weeks after the initial attack.
Their armored plating protects them from most weapons and the ones that can pierce them are typically disarmed (sometimes literally) by the Tauropion, as they are considered fairly intelligent apex predators.

Basic Information

Anatomy

It is covered in lightweight armor plates which are solid enough to cause most slashing and piercing weapons to fall short when attempting to penetrate it.
It has pinchers connected to its jaw which function like scorpion claws. After many studies, it has been discovered that these are not used against prey as initially assumed in the past. Instead, these pincers are used to grip into what it is they are eating so other Tauropions can't steal their food source right out from under one another. Their tails are able to emit a deadly toxin that targets the nervous system of their prey using a scorpion-like tail, normally causing severe paralysis, however, their reproduction process also affects the dosage/release of their toxins.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Tauropion is known to be an incredibly temperamental creature that understands how to effectively use Geomancy (the skill used to manipulate dirt, stone, and the ground). It is covered in lightweight armor plates which are solid enough to cause most slashing and piercing weapons to fall short when attempting to penetrate it. The Tauropion breeds like a normal mammal with one exception. After they mate their fetal "cubs" will migrate into their tail inside of an egg-like amniotic sac, which the mature Tauropion then injects into their targets through their tail while their "cubs" are still small. When this happens, the toxin released into their prey becomes mild enough to keep the injected creature from noticing that there are now "eggs" growing inside of them while also faltering the prey's ability to produce potent enough stomach acid to damage the growing "cubs" within their gut. The young Tauropions then grow to full term using the food the prey consumes to nurture themselves through the membranes of their specialized amniotic sacs until they are large enough to claw out of the stomach of the prey.
Young Tauropions do not get raised by their actual mothers. Instead, they work together to hunt for their small "pack" by using their poison to drop larger prey, as a young Tauropions poison is much more potent than that of an adult.

Growth Rate & Stages

Embryo

While forming in its embryotic state the Tauropion will grow a specialized amniotic sac around itself. Two to six different cubs are able to grow in the same environment and each will form their own individual sac with a exterior membrane capable of leeching nutrients from their host in a parasitic fashion, allowing the embryo to get the nutrients they need to grow into a fetus. It takes roughly two weeks for this process to take place.

Fetal

Once a Tauropion reaches its fetal stage it begins to cause nausea and bowel disruptions in its host. This is the only obvious indicator that they are there other than the fact that the fact that the host can no longer absorb enough nutrients to sustain their own health. The Fetus will begin to sap way too many nutrients, causing these disruptions. Once the fetus has received enough nutrients to develop, the fetus enters its cub state. This is when the begin to claw their way out. First exiting the sac, then cutting through the stomach of their host. This stage takes only four weeks.

Cub

The Tauropion cub emerges from its hosts gut in numbers ranging from one to six cubs. They then devour the hosts body and resolve to stick together for the first two years of their lives, using their numbers in addition to their potent toxin to take down large enough prey animals to sustain themselves.

Young Tauropion

Once the Tauropions reach this stage in their life they will become increasingly aggressive towards one another as they reach the apex predators mentality. They will attempt to take food from other Tauropions and even fight one another, usually leading to fatal wounds for both parties. Because of this, these big cats begin to stray from their groups, eventually heading their own ways.

Mature Tauropion

A mature Tauropion is considered an apex predator and develops an incredibly aggressive temperament. They choose their territory based on the available prey in the area and trace amounts of their toxins left behind signal other Tauropions to steer clear of their territory. When it turns to Sprig they begin to seek out a mate. This usually depends on the scent and strength on the potential mates toxin, however, if a male with less potent toxin can kill the desired male the female will instead choose the less potent male in order to secure the potential to bear eggs before Summra hits.

Ecology and Habitats

They usually choose areas with dense forrestry in order to keep out of sight from Humanity/Elematiis. They will then create burrows beneath large trees and use their purr to sense for passing prey before leaping out of their burrow for a surprise attack.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Tauropions are strictly carnivorous. They have an incredibly sophisticated digestive tract that allows them to eat old kills without causing them stomach issues, this includes bug infested corpses.

Biological Cycle

In Sprig, Summra, and Autum the Tauropions hunt relentlessly in order to gain the nutrients for their Wintur hibernation. They store their kills in their den and use their purr to drop mounds of cold dirt and stone using their purr to disrupt the ground around them to keep it cool for storage. During wintur they sleep through most of the cold, however, they will occasionally wake to feed on stored kills.

Additional Information

Domestication

It is known that the Tauropions are very difficult to domesticate and as such, they are not considered a domestic species, however, some especially skilled tamers have been able to handle one here and there.
These few tamers are actually given the "Heroic Handlers" award for this incredible feat.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The Tauropions armor plating is commonly used by blacksmiths to create unique shields or as additions to armors.
The toxins are used (diluted) to help with many health problems and muscle pains by both herbalists and alchemists all around the world.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

They can typically be found within the southern and central reaches of Birtham, however, some have been seen migrating to the east due to territory disputes.

Average Intelligence

They are not considered a s brilliant species, however, they are smart enough to know what a weapon is and intentionally strike the wrists of bipedal races with their tails in order to disarm them.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Tauropion is known to be an incredibly temperamental creature that understands how to effectively use Geomancy (the skill used to manipulate dirt, stone, and the ground).

They can produce a low "purring" sound that reaches a frequency capable of vibrating the ground below its feet, sometimes reaching up to 2 kilometers in distance with the Tauropion at its focal point. It uses this purr to seek out unseen prey and gauge the distance between itself and potential threats as if feeling out the tremors. A Tauropion with a strong enough purr is rumored to be capable of causing Edens ground to quake at a magnitude of 7.0–7.9 on the richter scale.

In addition to the above abilities, their tails are able to emit a deadly toxin which paralyzes their prey.

Lifespan

30 years

Average Height

5 feet tall

Average Weight

400 - 880 lbs

Average Length

6 ft long, 11 feet if their tail is stretched out.

Geographic Distribution

• Birtham

Discovered by

Bertraam Johns