Cragback

While the Varlem Desert may seem bereft of life upon first glance, there are a few creatures that call its dunes home.

One such creature is the Cragback, a peculiar reptile with skin of stone.

Morphology, Diet & Behavior

The first thing an observer will notice about the Cragback is its tell-tale stony exterior shell, which has cracks and faults running across it, making the quadrupedal reptile look like a living statue. This outer shell is comprised of swiftly regenerating tissue that calcifies and hardens in direct contact with sunlight, then crumbles due to the animal's motions during the day, giving way for a new layer of the tissue to emerge and begin the process once more.

Despite its rugged appearance, the Cragback is remarkably agile, capable of quick bursts of speed to hunt prey and to evade threats. Its stone-like exterior not only provides excellent camouflage against the rocky landscape of the outskirts of the desert but also offers significant protection from the harsh sun and potential predators. The Cragback’s diet consists primarily of small insects and desert plants, which it can efficiently extract from crevices and beneath stones with its sharp claws.

The thick tail of the Cragback, which makes up approximately one-third of its total body length, serves a special purpose beyond the usual mobility and balance advantages of such an appendage. The reptile uses its tail to communicate with others of its kind, hitting it against rocks. Depending on the tempo and strength of these strikes, the rhythmic sound can be meant to signal danger, establish territory, or attract mates.

This kind of warning behavior is considered abnormal for the species, since the Cragback has not been observed to exhibit other behaviors typical to pack animals, nor do they form packs to begin with, leading researchers to ponder whether the Cragback possesses some form of instinctual camaraderie between individuals, a selective evolutionary trait that has the animal prioritize the survival of its whole species, not just its own lineage.

Overcalcification

While the Cragback’s regenerative stony skin is a remarkable adaptation for survival in the harsh desert, it also poses a unique challenge, as prolonged periods of inactivity can lead to the overdevelopment of this exterior shell. Without regular movement, the outermost layer does not crumble and shed properly and, as a result, the calcified layer becomes excessively thick and cumbersome as the tissue keeps regenerating even if the previous layer has not been shed.
This overgrown skin significantly hinders the Cragback's mobility, making it difficult for the reptile to forage for food or even move properly. The additional weight strains its muscular and skeletal systems, leading to increased fatigue and potential injury. In severe cases, the overdevelopment can even cause a state of full-body paralysis as the poor creature is essentially entombed within the ever-thickening layer of stony skin.

In this state, only the tail of the Cragback is visible, while the rest of the body resembles an actual rock. Travelers are encouraged to shake and move such rocks around to induce crumbling and shedding, though often recovery from such late-stage overcalcification requires a hammer and chisel to resolve.

Burrows, Sleep and Hunting

Thanks to its strong, clawed limbs, the Cragback is an adept burrower. It digs shallow burrows between rocks, in sandy hillsides or even in the banks of dunes. These burrows serve as places where the Cragback sleeps, feeds and mates.

For sleep, these cozy holes in the ground are absolutely vital, as being asleep means being inactive. This means that the Cragback must not be in direct sunlight or the outer layer of its regenerative skin calcifies while it sleeps. The skin thickens even in the burrow, but it will only begin to harden once the reptile emerges into sunlight, at which point the hardening begins on the outer layer and the crumbling and shedding can continue normally. Due to this, Cragbacks keep several burrows in their territory and will retire to the closest one at the end of each day.

Cragbacks usually eat what they catch straight away but should there be danger, either in the form of potential predators or the anomalies of the desert, they will often decide to take the kill to the nearest burrow. They also employ ambush tactics during their hunts, camouflaging themselves as rocks and pouncing upon hapless prey that wanders too close.

Come on, buddy... get yourself moving.

That's it, shake it off.

–A traveler nudging a Cragback that's a bit overcalcified

Lifespan

10-15 years

Average Height

6 to 8in / 15 to 20cm

Average Weight

4 to 6lbs / 1.8 to 2.7kg

Average Length

18 to 24in / 45 to 60cm

Geographic Distribution

• Pluthem
• Varlem Desert

by Midjourney

_{A Cragback.}

by Midjourney

_{A severely overcalcified Cragback. Unfortunately, this specimen has expired inside its overgrown exterior shell.}