Takreese

The Takreese is a small species of mouse that makes its home among the sands of the Hyran desert. While the surface of the desert has proven to be deadly to all but the shortest of transits - the takreese seems to survive among the dunes with relative ease. It is known to the many caravans who traverse the edges of the desert as Suran's Disciple.

Appearance

All takreese are brown color, with white or pale beige undersides. They have short bodies with exceptionally long tails, atop which sits a head with an elongated face like that of a rat. Its large ears fold backwards against the skull of the mouse, and its front legs are slightly larger than the back legs.

Traits

Burrowing - They possess a skill at quickly burrowing under the sand, this allows them to evade the hottest portion of the days.
Jumping - While incapable of long-distance leaps, their vertical jumping ability allows them to easily scale rocks and cliffs. Their jumping height is almost to three quarters the height of an average man. Efficient Organs - All of their organs have adapted to desert living. As such it can operate in a more extreme temperature range comfortably - and can better preserve its supply of fluids. Nocturnal - They primarily come out at night, avoiding the heat of the midday sun by sleeping down deep in their burrows.
Long-lived - Among small rodents the takreese is incredibly long lived with a lifespan of up to 17 years.

Diet

Takreese survive primarily on a diet of roots, fungi, and seeds - though they will eat any food made available to them from your bags. The take advantage of areas along the edge of the desert to gather food. On the occasions where they congregate into the interior of the desert - they will attempt to find roots and deep buried fungi, however if incapable they will attempt to survive on bugs and carrion. They can also survive without any additional water for over a month at a time. When unable to gain fluids from the roots of plants - they will begin to favor more carnivorous methods of obtaining it. Dens found in the interior of desert may sometimes resort to swarming living individuals to satisfy their need for water should it not be available for prolonged periods.

Behaviors

The takreese increasingly follow the routes of trade caravans. This keeps them along the edges of the Hyran desert. During mating season however, they return to the deep interior of the desert and mate. It is always to this location that they will return - ensuring each generation comes from the same hardened environment. Male takreese return to the desert’s edges after mating season however the females, and soon after their babies will remain there for the first six months of the newborns’ lives. The male takreese will return only once to their mate - three months after leaving - to bring food from the desert’s exterior. It is uncommon for them to form long term mating pairs.

Geographic Distribution

• Hyran Desert