Shamsi Camel

A string of white, blue eyed camels trudging along in single file is an iconic sight in the Shamsi and Arabiyyan Deserts, reliably traversing radioactive sands! Like their original ancestors, these camels can survive long periods without food or water, further amplified by their kaithur! Whether using their abilities to absorb sunlight for sustenance or for finding water in even the driest reaches of the desert, they are perfectly suited to this usually punishing landscape. They can even carry an extra 200 pounds, run up to 40 mph (64 kph) and can walk around 20 miles in a day, the ideal beast of burden for caravan traders! Domesticated Herbivore Diurnal

Kaithur

First Ability Rithaldis' Diet With Rithaldis's Diet, these camels are able to consume or absorb radiant energy (strong sunlight, radiation, photons, solar plasma) as sustenance, to heal or to replenish their magic energy. They cannot be harmed by radiant energy, natural or magical, instead absorbing it. Ilnid's Shield Camels with Ilnid's Shield are immune to negative effects and/or damage from all Ilnid magic and naturally occurring sand or glass. This includes sandstorms. Second Ability Ithisda's Eye Those with Ithisda's Eye are able to see their environment using water, anything interacting with water and to see water in their environment, but this only works with freshwater. This sight extends beyond barriers and over long distances, unimpeded. Ithisda's Sense Those with Ithisda's Sense are able to feel their environment using water, anything interacting with water and to sense water in their environment, but this only works with freshwater. This sense extends beyond barriers and over long distances, unimpeded. Ithisda's Charge Camels with Ithisda's Charge can store up water inside their bodies whether the source is natural or magical. They can convert this to magic energy, transfer the water or energy to another or re-release the water like an Aura at will. They cannot be harmed by water either, absorbing it instead. However, unlike most other manifestations, they cannot generate their own water, reliant on an outside source.

Anatomy

Original Ancestor Lifespan Height Weight Length Camelus dromedarius Dromedary Camel 40 years 1.8-2.3 m 5.8 to 7.5 ft 300-690 kg 661 to 1,521 lbs 3 m 10 ft Famous for their stark white wooly coat, their natural color is actually caramel. It is their magic form which gives them their distinctive look, protecting them from radiation. Shamsi camels are also known for their single hump in which they store fat, their hump growing larger the more sunlight or water they absorb with their magic. When approaching one of these camels, one might notice their long, luxurious eyelashes--a tool for protecting their eyes during a sandstorm which is paired with nostrils they are able to squeeze shut! Most impressive, the body temperature of a Shamsi camel fluctuates throughout the day to minimize sweating, conserving water. They can tolerate both high temperatures ranging from 93 F - 107 F (34 C - 41.7 C) and the loss of 30% of their body weight in water!

Senses Vision Smell Shamsi camels have excellent eyesight and their large slit-like nostrils give them a good sense of smell. Those with Ithisda's Sense or Eye can perceive water over long distances and behind barriers, often leading their master or herd to unseen waters! Those with these abilities will have blue eyes, faces or markings across their body.

Habitat

Desert

Semi-Desert

Steppe

Montane

Life Cycle

Viviparous

Polygynous

Alloparental

Shamsi camels can be found throughout the Shamsi and Arabiyyan Deserts but can also be found in Birit Narim, Parsa, Kasar Wuta and even regions of the Frozen Wastes. Camels are adaptive to the various arid habitats of northern Alkelbulan, thriving best in deserts, mountains and steppes!

With a relatively slow reproductive cycle, these camels remain pregnant for 12-14 months and calves are weaned at 1-2 years old. Females slip away from the herd when they are ready, returning with their calf after about two weeks. Calves are born without humps and can walk within half an hour of birth!

Diet

Herbivore Graminivore Folivore Xylophage Frugivore Granivore While they can survive on sunlight and water alone, these animals are healthiest and happiest grazing on grasses, grains, shrubs and trees. Thier tough and flexible lips allow them to break off and eat even thorns of the Murna Acacia and salty plants like Maliha Tamarisk. Rithaldis's Diet also allows them to eat radiant energy, many plants of the Shamsi Desert making use of radiant magic to protect themselves such as Satie Drinn and Ramli al-Hanzal. Not only can these camels eat these radiant species but they prefer them, propagating their seeds as they trek across the desert. Thanks to their adaptions, shamsi camels can survive several months without food and for over a week without water--or longer if they inherit Ithisda's Charge! They have even adapted a feeding strategy for desert survival, only eating a few leaves from each plant. Shamsi cmes can also consume plant matter which most other species avoid, such as the thorns of a munra acacia tree. Herds disperse widely while grazing as to avoid depleting plants in one area. This also reduces competition between camels.

Behavior

Gregarious Territorial Communication These are social animals, wild camels living in herds consisting of one dominant male, females and their young. Other males which have been chased out form bachelor herds. They can communicate with each other with a variety of sounds such as moans and bellows. Mother's and their newborns will hum to each other while shamsi camels greet each other by blowing in each other's faces! Even the positioning of their head, neck, ears and tails can carry a meaning between camels.

Domestication No one is sure when these camels were originally domesticated but it was long before the Era of Legends, camels a staple for those crossing or living in the deserts of Alkelbulan. The Imazighen, Arabiyy, Wollof, Masryeen and just about every people residing in northern Alkelbulan heavily rely on shamsi camels for survival, rivaled only by the less expensive Aa-hemet Donkey!