A Krog is a magnificent beast, a gentle giant that roams the rainforests of southwestern Nybelmar. The thick-skinned but incredibly intelligent reptile is from time to time semi domesticated, either to be used as a pet or to perform labour similar to that of a Sarvonian workhorse. Krogs, although quite intimidating in appearance, are universally loved by the Krean, and the feeling of love is mutual with most of the creatures.

Appearance. A Krog is a magnificent creature. The Krog is the size of a horse, but its body and legs are in different proprtions to that of one. A Krog's legs are as wide as the trunk of a small tree and are rather short in comparison to it's body. It is because of this large stature that many people are instinctively afraid of Krogs, although they soon realise how gentle they are.

A Krog's rib cage is about one and a half peds wide, but this is covered by the thick layer of bulky muscle. The only part of the Krog's skeleton, which is visible through its hide, are its wide shoulder blades, being tringular in shape.

Krogs have thick herne-green skins, which are almost impenetrable to most weapons. When a Krog develops its first skin it is incredibly smooth and soft to touch. As the skin sheds however imperfections begin to appear and soon the skin becomes rough and eventually quite rough.

A Krog has a collosal head which seems to have been taken from another larger animal. It has the shape of an elongated egg and has a thin layer of muscle covering it - well, thin compared to the muscle which the rest of the Krog is covered in. A Krog's head bears an impressive beak, which is usually around 3 palmspans long (give or take a couple of nailsbreadths). When both halves are pieced together it creates the perfect shape of an egg that has been cut horizontally. The beak is gleaming jet black, and is five nailsbreadths thick.

Along with large eyes, set into the Krog's skull, that are normally a light hazel or green, the beast has three toed feet and a short tail, which makes these animals a really are beautiful sight to behold.

Special Abilities. The Krog's most potent ability is its immensely strong jaw power. Although a herbivorous creature, many in the rainforest are not and as such the Krog may have to use its beak as a defensive weapon. The Krog's jaw is not only thick and sturdy but also backed up by a strong muscle structure, making it incredibly quick. When threatened and fleeing is not a viable option the Krog may grip a vital part of the opponent, such as the neck, and spontaneously shut its jaw at breakneck speed, tearing the flesh and snapping the bones of the would be predator. This ability is not only used for defensive purposes. Many plants have developed thick branches or bark, so the Krog has developed multiple uses for its beak. It snaps the branches and strips the bark with perfect ease.

The Krog also uses its immense weight to its advantage. When a tree is too tall for a Krog to tear its leaves off it simply puts both of its front feet onto the trunk of the tree and simply leans its four pygges of muscle onto it, tearing the tree's roots from the ground and tossing it onto the floor.

The Krog is not as feral as one may think. It is a very intelligent animal and can be easily domesticated, although they are rarely kept as pets as they require so much food, as it can be taught to follow orders quite easily. A majority believe that they are so easy to teach because of an interspecies sense which allows to emotionally connect to other sentient beings. This is also said to be the reason why Krogs can read body language and seemingly read thoughts.

Territory. Krogs are only found in the rainforests inhabited by the Krean humans. This would not be because of the climate, as there are many hotter rainforests surrounding it. Many say that it is because of the Krean themselves.

An old Krean folk tale states that once Krogs inhabited every jungle on Nybelmar. The only humans inhabiting the forests at this time were wild, barbaric men that hunted the gentle Krogs. The Krogs feared these men and those who survived fled. It is said that because of the great crisis all of the Krogs met at one point, navigating using their emotional connection with each other (see also Myth/Lore).

Habitat/Behaviour. Krogs are normally doing what they do best, eating. They spend a good proportion of their day looking for and eating various plants from the forest. Due to their moderately varied diet Krogs have no trouble in finding a meal, and their massive stomachs have no problems digesting it.

Krogs are quite sociable creatures and normally live in small groups of four to eight Krogs. They live in harmony with each other, as their groups always consist of equal numbers of male to female Krogs. If there is ever an uneven number of females to males or vice versa they are known to self-exile themselves to other clans, where the sociable Krogs will either take them in, or a new clan is formed for the exiles.

It isn’t uncommon for Krogs to leave their rainforest dwellings to visit the humans. This is something which humans and Krogs enjoy equally, as the Krogs receive the affection and food from the humans, the humans receive a sense of understanding and admiration of the gentle, friendly creatures. Children often entice Krogs out into the open to play, which the Krogs are used to and generally enjoy. Some of the happiest times for Krean children are when the mother Krogs brings their offspring (which have been aptly named ‘kroglings’ by the children) out of the forest for the first time.

Diet. As previously mentioned, Krogs eat an awful lot of plant material. They feast on leaves from almost every tree that isn’t poisonous (and even some that are), bark that they strip from the trees and the occasional tree-full of fruit.

Mating. Before mating begins mates must be chosen. Although there is no clan hierarchy, the oldest females are the ones which get first pick of the mates. If there are two females of the same age then the Krog which has bore the most 'kroglings' in the past gains mate priority. In very rare cases when they have both born the same amount of 'kroglings' and a male is contested the male will then get the deciding vote. A good male must fill two critera. He must be in good physical condition and must excel at the mating rituals, of which there are two.

Firstly the male will gather the largest pile of food he can find, normally leaving no time for him to eat himself (a grand sacrifice for a Krog!). This may take up to two days. After retrieving the food the male climbs his pile of food (if it is big enough) and begins the second and final ritual.He screams with deafening volume, echoing throughout the rainforest, whilst his hide flushes a bright pink.

These rituals are really pointless, as there is no competition for females really, becausean equal number of mating partners exists. Many say that the sentimental Krogs do it to show a sense of actual emotion, not just the desire to mate.

Unlike almost every reptile, Krogs bear children like mammals and do not lay eggs. Exactly five months after fertilisation the female gives birth to three or four ‘kroglings’. These are fed predigested leaves and carried in their mothers' beak for weeks until they begin to develop their own, when they start to look for food themselves. At this age they are taken to see the humans. It is thought that because of such an early introduction to humans they trust humans permanently.

Usages. Krogs are naturally very loving animals. Because of this instinctive care for humans, Krean may keep them as pets. This privelege is normally reserved for the wealthier Krean, as Krogs require such a gargantuan amount of food every single day.

Krogs are more commonly 'semi-domesticated'. They are used to pull heavy weights for various purposes, such as construction, where man power cannot suffice. These semi-domesticated Krogs are kept in large pens which are built around areas of dense jungle foliage, so the Krogs have a sustainable source of food without being a drain on their owner. Unlike many animals, Krogs will willing participate in labour, and so the Krean do not see this as a betrayal of a Krog's trust, put more of a utilisation of the Krog's obvious abilities.

Myth/Lore. Eventually the Krogs arrived at one point, a desert on the Moredein Palantith Zhunith. But there were so few, only a mere handful of the thousands which had once roamed the rainforests before. The Krogs couldn't survive in the desert and many died of thirst and exhaustion. Whilst the Krog population slowly withered away a new tribe had emerged in the Southern western rainforests. The Krogs felt the love and care which this new tribe erupted. They migrated to forests with what numbers were left, some still died on the journey. After the tiring journey the Krogs arrived at their destination. The tribe they had been drawn to were all they had hoped for. They were compassionate, loving and welcoming. They were the Krean. The Krean took in the Krogs, nutured them, fed them and tended to their injuries. The Krean eventually released the Krogs into their rainforests but they never returned to their home.

The Krogs still depended on the Krean though. Generation after generation of Krog would visit the Krean for the comfort their parents had received. Over time the Krogs became more independent, their visits becoming less frequent. The Krogs always had an attachment with the Krean though, never leaving the people who had helped them in the hour of need... - And they have been there ever since, so the story goes.

6th Sleeping Dreameress 1666 a.S. Information provided by Decipher Ziron