Fauna of Starhelm

Wild and Domesticated Animals

All manner of beasts and creatures found on most other worlds dwell on Starhelm. From the tiniest chipmunk, to the largest bear, most animals have been seen, catalogued, and probably eaten at some point. Typical mounts, food-producing, and work animals exist, like the mule, cow, horse, goat, camel, and ox. Dogs and cats exist in the cities of the Humans and Halflings but not very often anywhere else. Elks and stags are used often in the northern barbarian tribes. Gnomes in Hollow's Point have taken a fondness for weasels and use them as pets or sometimes minor labour. Frogs, lizards, and snakes are common in Grippli homes and villages and can sometimes make up the majority of the population of those areas. In addition, many unknown or unmet species of insects, vegetation, and animals exist in the swamp. The Elves of Brightbough and the people of Avandar are slowly being introduced to them with their increased contact with that realm and its people.

A few of the more noteworthy animals to grace Starhelm

• The large dinosaur lizards known as the Allosaurus dwells near the Jungles of Luvash and the Marsh of Menlos in the southeast end of the continent. Similarly, the Pteranodon, a winged dinosaur can be found across the southern mountain ranges and into the jungle and marsh. There is a Grippli tribe in the Marsh of Menlos that ride Pteranodons as a cavalry unit.
• Giant Eagles can be found throughout much of the mountain ranges and the Steppes of Centos . They are highly intelligent creatures that forge lasting friendships with those they deem worthy.
• Giant Owls can be found in the forests and some mountain areas, particularly around Essillion and Aspenshield. These Owls are very wise, and can live a very long time. Their lesser cousins can be found in the cities of Essillion, or Aspenshield and are very respected and treated well.
• Fire Beetles located near the Scar of Fire are more than their typical counterparts. Where most Fire Beetles are named so for the glow they produce, the Fire Beetles of the Scar are actually made of fire and flesh. They are very territorial and do not like strangers. They are deadly if provoked but thankfully they do not travel far from the Scar or other hot areas.
• Phase spiders on Starhelm are more numerous near the Ruins of Starhelm City than in other areas but they do get around. These spiders were initially corrupted from the blast of The Fractioning and were knocked out of phase with this plane. Some say it was the work of Flane that affected spiders in this way, but no etymologist has been able to confirm or deny that assumption.
• In the Lake of Battered Helms, which is quite a deep lake, giant Quippers, a flesh-eating fish, have bred quite well. They are deadly to those who swim in the lake but the Moonmoss helps to keep them at bay, or at least seen. They are a favourite meal of the Gnolls of the hills, and one fancy restaurant in Essillion offers Quipper steak as a popular main course.
• Camels and Dromedaries exist on Aerith in the desert, but more interestingly the PuKtan Desert also is home to the oddly-shaped two-headed camels called Docamella. They are stronger, faster, and ornerier than a regular camel but once tamed they make valuable and reliable mounts and work animals.
• Rocs, though few, are well known in the mountains of Starhelm. They rule their mountaintop with fierce pride, though they sometimes get into border skirmishes with the Giants of the region. Rumours of a Giant Roc cavalry has not been proven but it is a terrifying thought, if it were to be true.
• One of the more feared and interesting beasts of the desert and steppes is the Displacer Beast. Goblins and Human Barbarians have been trying to domesticate these creatures for years but to no avail. The Displacer Beast of Starhelm is a creature of the cold desert and windy steppes, not the normal forest creature of other worlds.
• In Avandar, very few professions are regarded more highly than the Giant Seahorse wrangler. Herds of these unique creatures are put to use as transportation or labour in the harbour of Avandar. People still marvel at the unusual and beautiful movements of these noble animals.