Indarig
These massive beasts roam the grassy steppe of central Taalora. They are the largest land animals in the world, but are very gentle usually. They are revered by the nomads of the steppe; it is a horrible evil to kill one... if you even could. A lone hunter with a spear or sword would be hard-pressed to do much damage against these titanic beasts.
They are not quite domesticated, because their huge size makes them inconvenient for daily farming work. Centuries ago, however, a traveller who spent time on the coast before returning to his home in the grasslands saw something familiar in their huge silhouettes ambling across the flat plain. They were like ships on a sea of grass, he thought. From that initial idea sparked a whole new way of using indarigs.
An indarig is capable of carrying about 10 men, plus supplies and small wooden car on their back. This is the max they can carry without stress, but can carry at least twice that in a pinch, though it would slow them down. These living ships are used primarily by the Taalorang Military, but there are indarigs in the service of wealthy merchants as well.
They are very intelligent animals. They can understand verbal commands and form close emotional bonds with their riders, especially the captain. When a captain is killed, the indarig often goes through a period of mourning. The deep, nasally howl of an indarig travels far across the steppe, and often lasts for hours. Other riders who hear it, who have close bonds with their own indarig partners, rarely begrudge the wail even if it keeps them up all night. It takes a long time for a new captain to win the loyalty of an indarig who has already lost their human.
They are not quite domesticated, because their huge size makes them inconvenient for daily farming work. Centuries ago, however, a traveller who spent time on the coast before returning to his home in the grasslands saw something familiar in their huge silhouettes ambling across the flat plain. They were like ships on a sea of grass, he thought. From that initial idea sparked a whole new way of using indarigs.
An indarig is capable of carrying about 10 men, plus supplies and small wooden car on their back. This is the max they can carry without stress, but can carry at least twice that in a pinch, though it would slow them down. These living ships are used primarily by the Taalorang Military, but there are indarigs in the service of wealthy merchants as well.
They are very intelligent animals. They can understand verbal commands and form close emotional bonds with their riders, especially the captain. When a captain is killed, the indarig often goes through a period of mourning. The deep, nasally howl of an indarig travels far across the steppe, and often lasts for hours. Other riders who hear it, who have close bonds with their own indarig partners, rarely begrudge the wail even if it keeps them up all night. It takes a long time for a new captain to win the loyalty of an indarig who has already lost their human.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Quadrupedal, with the front forelimbs being slightly longer than the back. Their necks are long and flexible, and they have very short, stubby tails, like a cow's. They come in shades of grey and light brown, with thick, leathery skin.
Ecology and Habitats
They live in wide open grasslands and prefer cool, dry weather. They don't mind the cold; their huge bodies are easily able to withstand freezing winds. In the summer, they like to find muddy patches to roll around in. Since they're so big, their rolling around often digs a shallow pit into the mud, which then fills with water and creates a small pond until the dry season.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Indarigs are browsers with a diet consisting of grass and shrubs. They are able to go long periods of time without water, so long as they can stop to refill huge quantities at once. In the wild, they typically spend the entire day lazily grazing. When working as a ship, they stop to eat every few hours, or else snack a little as they go.
Cover image:
Indricotherium Statue
by
DinoAnimals