Grave Badger

In the Thymomen desert lives one of the only venomous mammals in Eregost, the Grave Badger.

"Don't let their small size and unassuming appearance fool you, Grave Badgers are extremely dangerous when threatened and should not be treated as a pet. These creatures rarely hunt for any creatures larger than an insect or small lizard, but they are more than capable of killing any fool that tries to pick them up with just a scratch of their claws." ~ Endymion Kórin, author of "The Beasts of Eregost".

What makes Grave Badgers so strange is their massive potenial danger mixed with their non-confrontational and timid nature. Despite being able to poison and kill a fully grown man with just a scratch of their venomous claws, they prefer to scavenge, feeding on berries, insects and the remains of whatever creatures have died of heatstroke. They have such a deadly weapon at their desposal and yet they only use it when cornered and almost never to hunt.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Grave Badgers have a grey-brown coat which acts as a form of camouflage within the desert. The torso of the Grave Badge is blunt and the limbs are short. The front legs of the Grave Badger are equipped with powerful claws for digging. The claws on the hind legs are smaller. The tale of a Grave Badger is small and white in colour. The eyes of a Grave Badge have slit pupils, very similar to that of a snake.
Grave Badgers have a small gland in their front and back legs that allow them to produce a venom that coats their claws. This venom is rather dangerous, and is capable of killing a fully grown man, and bring bears to the brink of death. Grave Badgers themselves are immune to this venom.

Ecology and Habitats

Grave Badgers can be found in the Thymomen Desert. They dig burrows in order to shelter themselves from the intense heat. They tend to dig their burrows near the lakes found in the desert, so that they do not risk thirst.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Grave Badgers are omivores and will eat almost anything. The majority of their diet consists of beatles and jackalfruit, which is found on ebony trees. Grave Badgers do occasionally eat small lizards and salamanders that they find near the lakes.
Grave Badgers are also carrion feeders, hence their name. They can consume rotting flesh without the risk of falling ill. They can occasionally be found eating the corpses of larger animals that died of heatstroke, such as vultures or coyotes.

Behaviour

Grave Badgers are timid around mortals, but when cornered, they will not hesitate to use their venomous claws on whatever is threatening them, which often has deadly results.
Grave Badgers are nocturnal and can only be found outside their burrows at night. Due to hiding from the sun, their carrion nature and their danger, they are sometimes called "Vampires of the Desert".

Additional Information

Social Structure

Grave Badgers are solitary creatures, only making contact with other Grave Badgers during mating season. Only the mother raises the offspring, with the father of these cubs having nothing to do with their upbringing.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Some hunters have started to take an interest in these small creatures, not due to their fur or their meat, but due to their venom glands. They kill these badgers so that they can extract these glands from their limbs and sell them to alchemists, assassins and mercenaries. These glands are considered an illegal item in Venatorian lands.

Lifespan

10 years

Average Weight

8kg

Average Length

80cm

Average Physique

The front legs of a Grave Badger are incredibly muscular, from all the time they spend digging. This means that they are capable of piercing thick hide with their claws, ensuring that their venom can affect even dangerous predators.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Grave Badgers have grey rings in the fur around their eyes, with their snouts being white and the rest of their faces being a mixture of a light grey and brown.