The Ulgaroth (Revised)

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The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« on: 11 October 2010, 20:25:33 »

So, I've revised this entry found here, and I'm pretty proud of it. I'm actually surprised at how easy I found it to lengthen the entry. Without further ado, you may have at it!

Revisions to the post will be in the colour of the lid on a bottle of BUNDABERG RUM (Original).

NOTE: I got a message back from Chronusian saying he likes the revisions. WHOOO!

The Ulgaroth, Riding Beast of the North

Overview

Intimidating in size and appearance, the Ulgaroth (plural: Ulgaroth) is an herbivorous quadruped native to Northern Sarvonia. While their horned face and muscular frame suggest a strong, violent beast, the Ulgaroth’s temperament is quite mellow, allowing them to become tamed quite easily.

Appearance

Quadrupedal in nature, the Ulgaroth walk upon all four of their muscular legs, though they are known to lean up onto their hind legs when they require extra height to reach fodder and fruit that is higher up in foliage. They have very large tails, some growing almost as long as their own length, but most at around two peds. The tails are quite thick at their bases; they’re almost extensions of the Ulgaroth’s body.

They are quite long and tall; an adult will grow to three and a half peds in length from nose to rump and will stand at two and a half peds at the withers. Matching this, their hooves can grow to a little more than a fore in diameter, and are extremely hard and well suited to rocky terrain.

Because of the heaviness of their hooves and their muscular frames, they walk quite heavily, crushing anything underfoot as they travel. They walk most commonly with their heads held high, surveying the land around them while they use the strength of their legs to deter any smaller predators.

Their gait, much like horses, alternates between the left fore-leg and the right hind-leg to the right fore-leg and the left hind-leg. Again, like horses, when they rise in pace, they will first begin to jolt about, but will find their stride when they begin to gallop.

Their heads, at maturity, will be around one fore and one palmspan from the back of the skull to the tip of the muzzle, which is possessed of a jutting under bite. Their eyes are very deep-set, and positioned on the sides of its head above prominent cheek bones. Above the eyes, the ears sit, pointing out to the sides, able to rotate in many directions. They are shapes somewhat like a hollowed out horn that points into its skull.

The horn that sits atop the mouth is, at most, two palmspans in length, but is quite narrow in orientation. Smooth and strong, the horn reaches up with a slight curve back toward the eyes, though this is very subtle, and finishes with a rounded end, giving it the appearance of being shorter than it actually is.. The curve becomes more pronounced in females, but even in the most extreme cases, the horn is still extremely straight.

The powerfully built neck itself is about one fore thick at the shoulder and narrows to slightly less than this at the back of the neck. While the rest of the beast is muscular and lean, the Ulgaroth’s head is meaty and the muscles around the jawbones are not quite so prominent, giving the beast very subtle jowls.

Commonly, in the wild, an Ulgaroth will have a thick pelt of fur that is similar to wool in appearance, but closer to the thick fur of a bear, giving them protection against predators. Because of its thickness, the fur will often catch on smaller twigs and brush and will become tangled and knotted. Domesticated Ulgaroth on the other hand have a tendency to have shorter coats due to light shaving by their riders, and perhaps also diet. No specific reason is present for the thinning of fur in domesticated Ulgaroth.

The most dominant colour of fur in an Ulgaroth is a medium sandy colour which will lighten to a white-patched cream in its elder years. While these colours are the most common, wild Ulgaroth are often darker browns, and even black, due to the thickness of their coat.

Naturally white or black skinned Ulgaroth, and even albinos, are extremely rare, but have been sighted.

Abilities

An obvious strength in an Ulgaroth is its extremely powerful figure and intimidating size. While it is a calm beast, if frenzied, it can stamp and thrash and cause mayhem to any would-be attackers.

Because of the beast’s height, added to which is the extra length of its neck, it is not only able to evade smaller attacking predators, but it can survey the land around it, often seeing over the crest of a hill before it rises fully into view. It also uses its neck’s length to reach into water and into the heights of foliage to reach fruits and vegetables that it eats.

The Ulgaroth’s horn, worn above the nose, looks extremely intimidating, but is used only to brush aside twigs and foliage, and never purposely used in a fight. The ears are also quite sensitive to sound, and this makes them extremely useful in surveillance with their long necks.

A good Ulgaroth that is trained well can travel up to two and a half furlays in a single day of travel, with a walking speed of around six or seven strals in an hour.

Territory

Ulgaroth are native to Sarvonia, stretching their territory all around the northern part of the continent from the Tandala Highlands up to the Peninsula of Aden and as far west as the Vindel Mountains. Because of their short coats, they are not seen in the Icelands, and do not travel any further north than the Heath of Wilderon.

Though the Ulgaroth live most prominently in northern Sarvonia, there are a few wild herds further south in Santharia also. Some say that they have seen Ulgaroth walking as far south as the Rahaz-Dath desert, although these claims have been dismissed as utterly ridiculous by Talia Sturmwind, a Compendium researcher and expert on that area, with the words "Completely preposterous; the idea of such a beast inhabiting the Rahaz-Dath without being known by the inhabitants is absurd". She leaves no room for doubt that, in her expert opinion, these claims are the product of too imaginative a tongue or too capacious a beer flagon.

The furthest south that an Ulgaroth herd is known to populate is the Caeytharin Mountains, although they are few and far between as they move further south from the Tandala highlands.

They are most often seen in the lands of the Ash’mari barbarians west of the Celeste Mountains, and also in the Shadowlands. The borderland of the grassland around the Peninsula of Aden also holds smaller populations of the Ulgaroth.

In captivity, the beasts are found in nearly every village and township in the north when in the presence of the Kuglimz and the Ash’mari barbarians, and some elves, such as the nomadic Mélad’rhim elves, where they are used as pack beasts. There is still no place more common or fitting for the large beasts than with the Ash’mari after horses turned away from the tribe.

Habitat/Behaviour

Being good-natured and, for the most part, harmless, an Ulgaroth have low tolerances for mistreatment. They become enraged and will thrash about if they sense malicious intent in the treatment by their masters. With their powerful hooves and large, muscular bodies, they will stamp down heavily on the ground and, if necessary, buck and fling any riders to the ground.

Incidents like these are rare, however, as they are feared for their size and strength as well as revered, and they are rarely attacked. They will sleep in a kneeling position for around ten hours, but even in this position, they are extremely alert and will flee at any sign of danger. With their extremely sensitive hearing, their owners are wary around the sleeping beasts as they will kick out with their powerful hooves before they gallop away at high speeds.

While it is said that violent incidents involving the Ulgaroth are rare, this does not take into account the feral herds living on and around the Peninsula of Aden. The feral Ulgaroth there are violent and unable to be ridden by any but the most skilled horse breakers. Their coats are often a lot shaggier than usually, and their hooves often grow to a whole palmspan larger in diameter, making them extremely dangerous beasts.

Living for around fifty human years, wild Ulgaroth will live in small family herds made of two or three couples and their foals. Parent Ulgaroth will raise their foals until they can fend for themselves, at which point the child will migrate and travel to find a mate and join their own herd. They will stay with only one mate in their entire lifetime, and will rarely travel with any others that are not of its herd or family. The children will not even join other Ulgaroth of the same sex to search for mates. They travel alone until they manage to impregnate a new mate and will live with their mate and any other couples in the area.

Widowed Ulgaroth will not search for new mates, but will, rather, continue on with their small herd, sleeping alone. Any Ulgaroth that has lost its life partner seems to rot away and become malnourished, sleeping longer every day. In truth, they seem to have lost their will to live, and they are less likely to defend themselves against predators.

Diet

Being herbivores, the Ulgaroth eat mainly the althz’onn grasses in the Celeste Lowlands and roots and tubers in the Crystal Lake area as well as around the southernmost part of the Luquador River.

If these plants are not dominant in an area, they will also eat plants bearing fruits or the leaves themselves on trees and shrubs.

They eat every day just before sunset, just once, until they are full. They often wake up a few hours before dawn and relieve themselves. Because they are unable to urinate or defecate and run at the same time, this prevents them from being chased by predators that would attack them whilst they relieve themselves at dawn.

Mating

Searching for their life partner begins at maturity at the age of six or seven years. A male, upon finding a female, will rhythmically nuzzle her rear. If the female wishes to join him, she will turn and return the gesture.

The pair will nuzzle each other for a short while before mating. Pregnancy is almost always successful, although the pair will mate once every five or six years. Subsequent pregnancies are not often as successful in pairs, but are not entirely unheard of.

When the mother bears her foal, she will stay with it until it can keep up with the adults in their travels. After this, they will migrate aimlessly across the grasslands or about their land.

Usages

Because of their easy dispositions, the most common use of the Ulgaroth is domestication by the Ash’mari and Kuglimz, who use the beast’s incomparable strength to their own advantage.

However, their calm and shy natures make them terrible combat mounts. The Ash’mari barbarians, unable to ride horses, have employed this often, but have failed again and again in the attempt to train the Ulgaroth for war. This does not deter them, as the beasts are built for war with thick, hard skins that even sharp weapons have trouble penetrating.

Because of this, the Kuglimz and Ash’mari use them as mounts for transport, and along with the Mélad’rhim elves also, they are used as beasts of burden, pulling carts and carrying bags and goods for their masters.

Known Researchers

NOTE: I'll have you all know that re-writing the excerpts from Romancing the Beasts was physically painful. Cna I PLEASE return them to the way they were? *Whimper*
Known for his studies of larger beasts of Northern Sarvonia, Sordoc “the Great” or “the Lame” (as he is popularly known) has been a prevalent researcher of the Ulgaroth alongside a Kuglimz guide named Garrod from the Celeste Lowlands.

Because of Sordoc’s fascination with larger beasts, his studies with the Ulgaroth of Northern Sarvonia have been extensive. In addendum to his original publication of “Romancing the Beasts”, Sordoc wrote an entire chapter on the Ulgaroth entitled, “The Gentle Giant.”

About the Ulgaroth, he said the following (Notes have been added to assist with the reading of the passages here:

Quote

“Sordoc the Great first came upon the Ulgaroth when meeting him (Garrod, his guide) on the lowlands. He walked toward Sordoc the Great with two of the huge beasts following two ropes he held in his hand. These two beasts were unsaddled, with the ropes simply looped around their necks.

It was surprising, being able to approach two beasts as large as this as easily as one might approach an ant! They stood in total confidence that Sordoc could not harm them, and in truth, Sordoc fears that he could not if he had tried. The pair mounted up and rode out across the plains to where Garrod knew there would be some wild Ulgaroth.

Thus, Sordoc the Great’s second instance of meeting the Ulgaroth came on the plains with wild, though this is a term that could hardly be used to describe them, beasts. They rode to within two dashes of the creatures and simply watched. They went about their business as the pair watched them eat of the grasses. Sordoc the Great was disappointed to see that there was not even one foal in these herds, but the two females were with child; that much was obvious.

As we dismounted, Garrod pointed out a male that had begun to watch them. Sordoc worried that the beasts would flee, but after tying down their own mounts and approaching slowly, the beast seemed to calm down and continued to graze.

There were no words to describe the ease of approach. They kept their pace slow and, upon coming close, one of the beasts actually came to them! It was as easy as with the domesticated beasts, and I was able to pat the side of the male’s face. Sordoc marvelled at the difference in the texture of the skin and the thickness of the fur. With comparison, Sordoc preferred the thinner fur of the domesticated beasts. Garrod had informed him that although they are easy to approach, even in the wild, it is a difficult manoeuvre to actually mount a wild Ulgaroth, as the beast will buck and throw the hopeful rider.”

At the end of this chapter, he speaks of the mating procedures that he has seen:

Quote

“Almost an entire month has passed since the pair began to study the fine creatures, but only now did Sordoc the Great find himself with the vision of two fine, mature specimens to watch in their courting ritual.

He had ridden along the trails of the lowlands and had seen a singleton walking along the crest of a hill and another exiting a nearby gully. Sordoc and Garrod watched, enamoured by the sight, as they saw each other or sensed each other and moved in.

The male came in from the side and began to rub the female’s behind with his head, gyrating against her side with his large thighs. After a minute of this, the female began to return the favour and they watched the creatures nuzzle for close to half an hour before they began to procreate.”

Sordoc and Garrod travelled across the Celeste Lowlands and across parts of Northern Sarvonia, studying the Ulgaroth in domestication and in the wild, for more than three months before Sordoc returned to his home to add onto his book.

Myth

The Ulgaroth, believed to be unicorns that had bred with lower breeds of horses, amazed the Ash’mari after being unable to domesticate horses of their own. The barbarians believed their luck was to change with this brilliant beast.

Earliest contact with the creature might have been with older beasts whose fur had turned whiter, making the barbarians believe they were holy, sent to save their people.

They believed that with the union of a unicorn and a horse, the horn had changed and become different, and that the beast carried the transporting frame of a horse and the image closer to a unicorn, with unbeatable strength. As such, they revere and fear the Ulgaroth, almost never mistreating them.

My Notes
-I did exert some creative control over the beast. I felt that the hooves were far too large (they were wider than the head was long, for God's sake!) and also added an actual measurement to the horn. I also mentioned tails and a few other things, but I adhered to the original idea as much as I could. I hope Chronusian would still be proud of his article.
-I also prettied up the writing, which was a little bland in my opinion.
-I loath calling a beast’s abilities “Special”, so I made that section “Abilities” alone. I wanted to talk about its physical prowess, not its latent fire-breathing abilities.
-I’m not sure if there’s actually a Santharian version of an “hour”. I’m going to roll through with it unless someone tells me that it’s not called an hour.
-When writing the “Mating” section, I was possessed of a need to add, “I know because I watched,” to the end. I’m glad I didn’t. So are you.

Thank you to anyone who points out anything that can help this entry along, and thank you to the original article writer, Chronusian. Also thank you to Aragorn's image of the Ulgaroth, which gave me the ability to see.


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Azhira Styralias

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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #1 on: 11 October 2010, 23:08:13 »

Hi Cruci.

Notice the previous authors of the entry listed at the bottom? Be sure you try to get their opinions/approval for your revision. It's always good practice and courtesy to make sure the original authors are ok with any revisions you do.

You're doing great work here! Carry on.


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #2 on: 12 October 2010, 11:26:42 »

Thank you, and I'll message Chronusian. I did mention him at the bottom of my post. I didn't realise that messaging the previous authors was customary. :s


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #3 on: 12 October 2010, 12:25:52 »

Cruciform,

When we update the work of other authors, we normally try to keep to the spirit of what they were trying to do with the entry/what is already on site ... so, for example, if a creature has been described as a feline, it wouldn't be very good form for an update to it to suddenly change it to a canine, for example, despite what Garrett thinks.

On occasions when I've updated an entry (there was a grass I updated) I made my updates in a colour so that it stood out clearly from what was there originally. That helped people to identify how I was changing it so that they could check my changes were appropriate. The way you've done it, giving a link back to the original entry, is also a good way of doing it.

A brief message to the original author, particularly if they haven't been around for a bit, gives them a chance to make comments on our changes ... and of course, if you don't hear back from them, well then, you've just got to please the people here with it.

Dek


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #4 on: 12 October 2010, 12:50:22 »

I have messaged Chronusian, and I attempted to keep to the original article as much as I could. I only stylised the writing a little more and added in extra details that weren't mentioned, such as the length of the horn and about the tail, et cetera.

Have I done something wrong, though? Everyone's telling me the protocols of revisions and I feel like they're telling me off.


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #5 on: 12 October 2010, 13:22:51 »

Just a few comments/suggestions/questions. All in red.

The Ulgaroth, Riding Beast of the North

Overview

Appearance

Quadrupedal in nature, the Ulgaroth walk upon all four of their muscular legs, though they are known to lean up onto their hind legs when they require extra height to reach fodder and fruit that is higher up in foliage. They are a tailless beast, although some Ulgaroth have been sighted with small flaps of skin at their rears, suggesting that tails may be existent in their breeding, but not common.

They are quite long and tall; an adult will grow to three and a half peds in length and will stand at two and a half peds at the withers. Matching this, their hooves can grow to a little more than a fore in diameter, and are extremely hard and well suited to rocky terrain.

Their heads, at maturity, will be around one fore and one palmspan from the back of the skull to the tip of the muzzle, which is possessed of a jutting under bite. The horn that sits atop the mouth is, at most, two palmspans in length, but is quite narrow in orientation.

The powerfully built neck itself is about one fore thick at the shoulder and narrows to slightly less than this at the back of the neck. While the rest of the beast is muscular and lean, the Ulgaroth’s head is meaty and the muscles around the jawbones are not quite so prominent, giving the beast very subtle jowls.

Commonly, in the while, (should that last word be wild instead of while?) I'm just asking, because below you talk about them when domesticated. an Ulgaroth will have a thick pelt of fur that is similar to wool in appearance, but closer to the thick fur of a bear, giving them protection against predators. Because of its thickness, the fur will often catch on smaller twigs and brush and will become tangled and knotted. Domesticated Ulgaroth on the other hand have a tendency to have shorter coats due to light shaving by their riders, and perhaps also diet. No specific reason is present for the thinning of fur in domesticated Ulgaroth.

The most dominant colour of fur in an Ulgaroth is a medium sandy colour which will lighten to a white-patched cream in its elder years. While these colours are the most common, wild Ulgaroth are often darker browns, and even black, due to the thickness of their coat.

Naturally white or black skinned Ulgaroth, and even albinos, are extremely rare, but have been sighted.

Abilities

Territory

Ulgaroth are native to northern Sarvonia, but can be found further south also in small family groups. (How far further south? Any chance of giving us a landmark?) They are most often seen in the lands of the Ash’mari barbarians west of the Celeste Mountains, and also in the Shadowlands. The borderlands of the grassland around the Peninsula of Aden also hold large, stable populations of the Ulgaroth.

In captivity, the beasts are found in nearly every village and township in the north when in the presence of humans and even elves, but they are domesticated by the Ash’mari after the horses turned away from their tribe.

I would appreciate the Arthyrón (Blessed Sea) elves to be an exception to this, as their main form of transport is by sea, I wouldn't see these elves really using the Ulgaroth. Another option might be the Mélad'rhím (Grey) elves who are nomads ... maybe they use these beasts. However one of the mods of Northern Sarvonia would be able to tell you for sure about the Grey Elves. The Icetribes and Antislar tend to use the Wison/Paxen, so it might be an idea to say they don't go up to that area ... although Master Goldenshield would be able to tell you that better than me.

Habitat/Behaviour

Being good-natured and, for the most part, harmless, an Ulgaroth have low tolerances for mistreatment. They become enraged and will thrash about if they sense malicious intent in the treatment by their masters. With their powerful hooves and large, muscular bodies, they will stamp down heavily on the ground and, if necessary, buck and fling any riders to the ground.

Incidents like these are rare, however, as they are feared for their size and strength as well as revered, and they are rarely attacked. With their sensitive hearing also, they are feared while sleeping. They will sleep in a kneeling position for around ten hours, but even in this position, they are extremely alert and will flee at any sign of danger. (Why are they feared while sleeping?This sounds to me as though they'd run from danger rather than being dangerous themselves.

Living for around fifty human years, wild Ulgaroth will live in small family herds made of two or three couples and their foals. Parent Ulgaroth will raise their foals until they can fend for themselves, at which point the child will migrate and travel to find a mate and join their own herd. They will stay with only one mate in their entire lifetime, and will rarely travel with any others that are not of its herd or family. The children will not even join other Ulgaroth of the same sex to search for mates. They travel alone until they manage to impregnate a new mate and will live with their mate and any other couples in the area.

I love this last paragraph! However, it does raise a question in my mind ... what do they do if their mate dies? Do they find another mate? Are they still considered to be part of the herd? Are they driven out? Are they 'revered' by the rest of the herd?

Diet

Mating

Usages

Because of their easy dispositions, the most common use of the Ulgaroth is domestication by the Ash’mari and Kuglimz, who use the beast’s incomparable strength to their own advantage.

However, their calm and shy natures make them terrible combat mounts. The Ash’mari barbarians, unable to ride horses, have employed this often, but have failed again and again in the attempt to train the Ulgaroth for war. This does not deter them, as the beasts are built for war with thick, hard skins that even sharp weapons have trouble penetrating.

Because of this, the Kuglimz and Ash’mari use them as mounts for transport and beasts of burden, pulling carts and carrying bags and goods.

You mentioned earlier about elves as well ... any thoughts to perhaps giving them to those Mélad'rhím elves as beasts of burden?

Myth

The Ulgaroth, believed to be unicorns that had bred with lower breeds of horses, amazed the Ash’mari after being unable to domesticate horses of their own. The barbarians believed their luck was to change with this brilliant beast.

Earliest contact with the creature might have been with older beasts whose fur had turned whiter, making the barbarians believe they were holy, sent to save their people.

They believed that with the union of a unicorn and a horse, the horn had changed and become different, and that the beast carried the transporting frame of a horse and the image closer to a unicorn, with unbeatable strength. As such, they revere and fear the Ulgaroth, almost never mistreating them.

Researcher’s Notes
-I did exert some creative control over the beast. I felt that the hooves were far too large (they were wider than the head was long, for God's sake!) and also added an actual measurement to the horn. I also mentioned tails and a few other things, but I adhered to the original idea as much as I could. I hope Chronusian would still be proud of his article.
-I also prettied up the writing, which was a little bland in my opinion.
-I loath calling a beast’s abilities “Special”, so I made that section “Abilities” alone. I wanted to talk about its physical prowess, not its latent fire-breathing abilities.
-I’m not sure if there’s actually a Santharian version of an “hour”. I’m going to roll through with it unless someone tells me that it’s not called an hour.
-When writing the “Mating” section, I was possessed of a need to add, “I know because I watched,” to the end. I’m glad I didn’t. So are you.

Thank you to anyone who points out anything that can help this entry along, and thank you to the original article writer, Chronusian. Also thank you to Aragorn's image of the Ulgaroth, which gave me the ability to see.

I know that the section called 'researcher' is optional, however it can be a good idea to include details of a researcher in there if at all possible. It just so happens when I did my entry on the Paxen, that I introduced a person who seems to adore to observe all the habits of the large creatures of Northern Sarvonia, a 'poet' called 'Sordoc the Great'. The following is a quote from my Paxen entry about him (under the section on Researchers) ...

Quote

In recent years, Sordoc 'The Great', as he calls himself, others call him Sordoc 'The Lame', has travelled throughout Northern Sarvonia examining various aspects of the larger beasts of the continent, including the wison and the thunderfoot. The Packox seems to be the animal he likes the most as it takes pride of place in his assorted writings and lectures. Sordoc is enchanted by the sound of his own voice, prose and poetic 'abilities', such as they are. He has given lectures on the most minuscule details of these beasts, with most of his listeners dozing off by the time he gets through the first five minutes of his lectures.

You are welcome to refer to him in your update of the Ulgaroth if you'd like to, Cruciform. Amongst the things that Sordoc has done is to release a book that he calls 'Romancing the Beasts' in which he describes everything he can about the beasts he observes ... the following is an extract from it (the only extract actually written to date ... so feel free to come up with something if you so desire that is related to the Ulgaroth.

Quote

"The bulls and cows engage in a ritualistic dance during their mating season. Commencing with the dominant bull, the male Paxen start the dance with fast and slow steps to the left and right followed by a raising and lowering of their heads. As they do this, they emit a strong odour which seems to enchant the cows, but which leaves civilised men gasping for breath at the stench. Once again, starting with the dominant cow, the female members of the herd follow the steps and head movements of the bulls. Fortunately, they do not emit this same odour. Not long after the dance has ended, the bulls move amongst the cows and both sexes start doing what comes naturally. As a civilised man, I will not write down the exact practices in case any children should read my book."

As I said, the researcher section is optional, but he'd possibly be a good fit there, AND he WOULD watch their mating ritual

There are a few other things about Sordoc floating around the place, including his Ode to the Paxen and some started though not finished treatise he's written about the various large creatures of Caelereth. Feel free to use Sordoc if you'd like.

He is pompous, full of his own importance and is absolutely convinced he is the most skilled artiste that has ever graces Caelereth.

Regarding hours ... yes, we call them hours in Caelereth, we just don't have seconds, we call them blinks.

Great entry here Cruciform, hope what I've done helps you somewhat. And if you're (un)lucky, Sordoc might be by sometime to describe his experiences with the Ulgaroth. Aura from me for an enjoyable entry!


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #6 on: 12 October 2010, 13:24:26 »

Quote from: Cruciform on 12 October 2010, 12:50:22

No, Cruciform, you haven't done anything wrong. I'm just trying to be 'helpful', I'm not trying to tell you off


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #7 on: 12 October 2010, 14:31:16 »

Thank you very much, Dek! I took your advice on adding in Sordoc and fixed up everything you came across.

As for "Romancing the Beasts", I've treated the book as though it is about mating rituals and his personal experiences with approaching the creatures. I figured that that would add some personal closeness for him with the creatures he writes about. Also, the Ulgaroth chapter is in addendum, so it's not actually part of the original publication. If you've got any problems with any of my Sordocicity, just holler. =D

Quote from: Deklitch Hardin on 12 October 2010, 13:24:26

No, Cruciform, you haven't done anything wrong. I'm just trying to be 'helpful', I'm not trying to tell you off

Okay. Good. I'm just paranoid.

All the revisions to the original post will be up in just a minute.


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Valan Nonesuch

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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #8 on: 12 October 2010, 17:53:02 »

The "large stable populations" you mention in Aden should be fewer and absolutely feral (probably more prone to violence than the "mainland" breed of Ulgaroth). The wildlife over on the peninsula has a touch of the Lost World about it, so they might actually be able to deal with the great brutes normally. It's just that there's not all that much space.


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #9 on: 12 October 2010, 18:16:10 »

I'll implement that. That's actually quite interesting, too. Thanks.


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #10 on: 13 October 2010, 01:40:00 »

I agree with Dek. The tribes that have really domesticated the ulgaroth would be the Kuglimz, with a lesser extent the Ash'mari. And since the creature is not suitable as a war mount, it makes sense it would be bred for its meat, furs and a beast of burden. Exactly what the Ash'mari use for war mounts is unknown - probably Kev'lor horses, despite the legend about the horses turning away from them.

The Melad elves also would use the ulgaroth as a pack animal and given its hearty and strong body, the beast would make an excellent animal to travel and carry goods and tents for the nomadic elves.


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #11 on: 13 October 2010, 03:53:31 »

When that man finally expires, carved on his tombstone will be the words,

"SORDOC THE GREAT: He knew because he watched."


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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #12 on: 13 October 2010, 13:07:36 »

Quote from: Azhira Styralias on 13 October 2010, 01:40:00

Like horses, I made these beasts pretty muscular... and their fur isn't really... nice. So no matter what world we're in, I couldn't justify eating horse. *Shudder*

Thanks for the extra note on the nomads, too. And on the Kuglimz/Ash'mari note, Garrod is a Kuglimz, and I only mention the Ash'mari so much since they don't have horses. Kuglimz would have the choice between both. Ash'mari... don't.

Quote from: Bard Judith on 13 October 2010, 03:53:31

When that man finally expires, carved on his tombstone will be the words,

"SORDOC THE GREAT: He knew because he watched."

QFT.


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Altario Shialt-eck-Gorrin

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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #13 on: 13 October 2010, 17:11:51 »

Hello

I apologize for not officially introducing myself, but I have been very busy as of late, and my time has been limited. Just skimming this, I think this is a great beast you have going here. As Dek mentioned, I think the Ice Tribes have enough beasts of burden. Though, you did not go that far north, so the matter is moot.

One thing that did ring a bit strange to me, however,

Quote

Ulgaroth are native to northern Sarvonia, but can be found further south with some prominence in the Tandala Highlands, and some even swear that they have seen them in the Rahaz-Dath, though these claims are so far unproven.

You link the Tandalas with the Rahaz-Dath, and the great distance between seems somewhat ignored. If they are thought to perhaps travel as far south as Rahaz-Dath, would not some of them have been seen in the lands between? And if not, would those claims then be considered credible enough to mention? It is like saying polar bears inhabit the arctic tundra, while some have been seen in the Mexico. The whole distance in between is treated like it does not exist. What happened to Canada and the US?

Just a simple opinion, and need not be listened to. Like I said, it just struck me as strange.

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Re: The Ulgaroth (Revised)

« Reply #14 on: 13 October 2010, 20:01:40 »

~~Oh, you silly man. Canada and USA aren't Caelereth! You're so funny, Altario.~~

You do make a good point with that, but just as Ulgaroth are believed to have been seen in the Rahaz, so too are Wailord seen to fly. *Stare*

I'll make some corrections, shall I?

Yes. Yes, I shall.


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The Ulgaroth (Revised)