Freethinker Wildlife
Contents
Introduction
The vast continent that forms the Freethinker Mainland have remained isolated from the rest of the planet for hundreds of millions of years, inspiring new courses of evolution in a land that gives up little without a fight. Huge carnivores roam across the wild, their prey often just as fierce in defence, their battles epic and unforgiving, and every species that thrives today in the harsh outback has won its place through countless battles for survival.
Not included in this article are the sentient Freestian Vampires, despite being members of the Draconi family of reptiles.
The Draconi Family
Reptiles
Freestian Sand Dragon
The Freestian Sand Dragon is the apex predator of the vast myriad of life in the great Freethinker deserts. One of, if not the greatest predator to have ever existed, these massive animals roam a habitat across the various desert plains and the foothills of the mountain ranges that border them.
The most magnificent members of the Draconi family, these massive animals (both male and female) can grow up to a length of 120 feet (38 metres, including a long tail which can account for up to 50% of its length) and reach a wingspan approaching 150 feet (47 metres) or more. They stand up to eighteen feet (5.5 metres) tall at the shoulder and can weigh in at up to forty metric tons (88,000 pounds).
All Sand Dragons live an almost solitary existence after nursing, with females taking up a fixed range with the size depending upon the local avaliability of food and water. These ranges can incorporate thousands of square miles of territory
Unlike most other members of the genus they are solely predatory carnivores, hunting alone and feeding mostly on the larger prey species in the deserts and shrubland. The most popular prey seems to be the smaller herbivores of the Draconi family, Greyfoot Dragons, with wild Mustangs and Taur making up the bulk of the rest of the natural diet. Sand Dragons have no natural predators, but their young are vulnurable to other predators whilst in the early stages of development. Human poaching is non-existant, and Sand Dragons have proven themselves capable of defending themselves even against well-equipped hunters.
Freestian Greyfoot Dragon
Freestian Wyvern
See Main Article: Freestian Wyverns
Sandwyrm
The smallest member of the Draconi family, Sandwyrms are short, omnivorous reptiles that inhabit almost all of the Mainland aside from the higher mountain peaks, even encroaching into domestic settlements in a similar manner to urban foxes in other cities around the world. They are easily dwarfed by their larger brethren standing barely a foot (30 cm) at the shoulder and reach lengths of around four to five feet (120-150 cm) and may weigh in at around thirty to forty pounds (14-18 kg).
Whitestone Crocodile
A huge breed of freshwater crocodile, generally considered to be the largest breed of this genus outside the Klatch.
Birds
Carrassian Vulture
Mammals
Freestian Sand Troll
Freethinker trolls are a family of large primates, related most closely to modern gorillas but significantly larger and lacking any substantial covering of fur.
Freestian Mountain Troll
A slightly shorter but bulkier species of troll, found in the higher parts of many mountain ranges and even occasionally in one of the larger forests in the North and South.
Pygmy Troll
Fallow Monkey
The only native species of Monkey, this relatively small breed of Howler Monkey is commonly found in the large forests of the Northeest and Southwest of the country. Much smaller than the great apes of
Freestian Mustang
A breed of short, tough, naturalised (feral) horses that inhabit the desert and shrubland plains across most of the South and West of the Mainland.
