Onachus

The Onachus, or Lesser Tarasque, is a large beast of burden common throughout Cambria, though native to the marshlands of the Perkons. They are in fact quite large, and very strong, the average specimen capable of easily carrying 6 or so fully grown humaniods and their gear, or an equivalent weight in goods, on the distinctive houdahs fitted over their shells. The onachus has six legs, each with three splayed fore-digits and two hind-digits, giving the creature very steady footing, even on difficult terrain.

It is protected across the back by a large keratinous shell not unlike a turtle- however, onachus shell plating has been shown to deflect incoming force due to the unique design of its layers. Each scute of the shell is composed of two hard keratin layers, with a softer inner lining. When struck, the pressure causes the inner lining to bulge, deflecting the blow and lessening the impact. Onachus scute have occasionally been fashioned into wieldable shields, but are very heavy.

The onachus's primary offensive weapon is its tail, a long, thick counterbalance to its forward bulk. Though moving quickly is not the Onachus's forte, the tail is a powerful and heavy sweeping weapon, easily capable of knocking away most threats. It is tipped with a spiked club, which also house poison glands. Distantly related to True Dragons and other draconids, the onachus does have a limited ability to breath fire, a sort of indiscriminate short range belch.

The Onachus's head is broad and flat, with a wide muzzle, often described as a cross between a lion and a bull. Its snout bears sensitive whiskers, and its neck is ringed with a mane of coarse fibers, as are the shell-gaps around its legs and tail- these fibers serve to keep pests out of the cavities and folds within the shell. Its maw is filled with both sharp incisors and grinding molars; the onachus is a scavenging omnivore in nature, feeding on low-lying shrubs and roots as well as carrion and what prey animals it can catch. Tamed onachi enjoy a steady diet of hay and game meats.

Onachi are primarily used as long-distance cargo haulers, invaluable to any overland trade caravan. Though they do not move terribly quickly, their raw strength and fortitude make for powerful beasts of burden, and tamed onachi tend to be very loyal to kind owners, and difficult to startle. They are roughly as intelligent as a horse, able to follow basic commands, and do not need guidance over difficult terrain. In fact, there are few terrains an onachus cannot cross; their wide splayed toes and incredible grip strength allow them to climb slopes which seem impossible for creatures of their size and bulk, and though they are quite heavy, their wide, flat bottom shells make them buoyant enough to swim across short distances.

The only downside to the onachus as a beast of burden is that its incredible strength and constitution do require a tremendous amount of fuel. The onachus is not a fast beast at the best of times, and will stop frequently to graze and drink. However, most tamed onachi are happy to have a feed bag muzzled to them, and graze while walking- a common sight on the Cambrian roads is an onachus driver shaking their head as their beast chews on the branches of a sapling dragging along the path behind them.