Hippopsammus Secretion

With many of the oases and rivers of the The Speckled Sands seemingly vanished, the area is void of many creatures. However, a select few with curious adaptations roam the expanse. The Hippopsammus is one of those creatures and its adaptation also provides a unique resource to the humanoid denizens of this land. To acquire this resource however, one must not only brave the desert, but also the ferocity of the creature itself.

Origins

There are many theories as to why creatures, such as the Hippopsammus, that clearly had origins near rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water reside in the The Speckled Sands. Irregardless of the specific theory, all agree that prominent waterways used to dot the landscape, but have now vanished. With such a drastic transition in environment, the surviving animals of the region greatly adapted to their new home. Some of these adaptations appear natural, while many others seem to have connections to the mysterious magics that exist throughout the sands. Its secretion blurs the line between these two.

Hippopsammus Characteristics and Adaptations

For its more natural adaptations, the hippopsammus, or hippo as it is called in the region, is an adept digger as it utilizes its special flipped front paws. Along with the addition of a keen memory, it is able to relocate underground waterways, insectoid colonies, and patches of vegetation to both maintain its diet and stay cool in the desert heat. Much slimmer than its Hippopotamus ancestor, it spends most of its days underground and its nights in shallower pits.
In the brief period of time it is exposed to the desert sun as it travels from place to place, its most interesting trait becomes apparent. The typical natural skin secretion of its ancestor has been drastically altered and is instead thicker and more abundant in its production.

Secretion

This skin secretion is the most sought after byproduct of this creature. On the hippo, it coats the creature on all exposed skin, besides from the pads of its feet and open cavities. From afar, besides from a hint of sheen, one may not distinguish the substance from its skin, but the layer of mucus-like secretion becomes unmistakable within a 10-foot distance. It is clear in color and gelatinous to the touch with no distinct odor. With a bit of refinement, it is one of the most effective non-magical sun protectants. Once subjected to alchemical and magical processes in order to sanitize and concentrate the substance, it becomes light pink in hue, has a pearlescent sheen, and has dry oil texture when applied as a thin coat. Various manufacturers of the substance also claim to perform additional, novel steps in their refinement process that makes their sun-protectant better than all the rest. Few, if any, will name or explain those processes.

Collection Hazards

Even the most skilled desert traverser fears the task of collection. They must navigate the vast expanse, dodge environmental hazards, and tangle with all manner of thieves and bandits before even encountering the beast itself.
The hippo itself should also not be underestimated. Though its build is smaller than the average Hippopotamus, it is no less ferocious. Trampled, crushed, gored. There are many ways ones can and have met their demise.
The most season collector’s know they must collect near dawn and dusk. The most optimal times are when the creature’s body has built up the secretion after being in the sun an adequate amount, but the creature has not let it absorb into the sands around it. In particular, the time around the summer solstice is most advantageous as the sun has risen before the creature has awoken. The most seasoned collectors can scrape about 1 quart of secretion off an averaged sized sleeping hippo before they need to make their get away.

Conclusion

Few have the courage to traverse the desert. Even fewer are able to receive the proper training. Fewer still have the instincts and ability to learn the craft of secretion harvesting. Many however possess enough stupidity to think they can succeed where many before them have died trying.

Type

Organic