Creatures
Creatures
These are some of the creatures that feature in the first four books, others, from other books, are discussed in Creating a world
The Ayres Salamander
This creature normally lives in the deep caves of the Australian Outback emerging only when it senses a bush fire . It has been hunted for millennia by the tribal shamans of the indigenous tribes for its skin which is impervious to flame and to magic. Its main mode of defence is to emit a burst of anti-magic energy when threatened. This is particularly effective against anyone magical as it disorientates them allowing the salamander to escape. The intensity of the anti-magic burst is limited by the available energy in its surroundings. This energy is greatest when in proximity to fire. Fortunately for the salamander the local energy available in a mere bush fire is insufficient to have any damaging consequences for the creature. However, humans have discovered that petrol (gasoline) is a much more concentrated energy form. This, besides creating an intense burst of anti-magic, is usually fatal to the creature.
Dragons and Firedrakes
Dragons and Firedrakes are evolved from small flying lizards who, in their prehistory, used a defence tactic of belching evil smelling gasses at potential predators. In common with many airborne species they swallowed small stones to aid in digestion and occasionally these stones would rub together and cause small sparks which were sufficient to ignite the gas and scatter the lizard across the landscape.
In certain areas of the world where there are high levels of background magic a rapid evolution created a sufficient resistance to their own flame to enable them to use it as a weapon. Hence Dragon and Drakeskin is essentially a very tough, fireproof leather. Contrary to popular opinion Dragons don't grow very large; the largest one capable of flight is about the size of an ostrich.
In certain areas of the world where there are high levels of background magic a rapid evolution created a sufficient resistance to their own flame to enable them to use it as a weapon. Hence Dragon and Drakeskin is essentially a very tough, fireproof leather. Contrary to popular opinion Dragons don't grow very large; the largest one capable of flight is about the size of an ostrich.
The Sword Plant
The Sword Plant (Mimosa Gladians) is a native of the mountains of Chile and Peru. It is a close (magical) relative of Mimosa Pudica. It lives in symbiosis with the 'Death Tree' of that region implanting itself under the bark its upper branches to extract moisture and food and to maximise its energy intake. The 'death tree' is so-named because the ground around it is littered with the remains of small animals, birds and insects. When a small creature encounters the sword plant the normally flaccid spines become instantly rigid impaling the creature. The creature falls to the ground enriching the soil locally. A hybrid of the sword plant is used in the manufacture of travelling capes.
The Quicksilver Wyrm
This creature is a magical hybrid centipede similar in size and shape to the common house centipede found in many countries. Its body is completely silver coloured execpt for the narcerous protective lids over its eyes.
It was bred especially for its venom which is a powerful hallucinogen. The name Quicksilver does not refer to the arthropod's colouring but to the madness inducing effect of the venom. Initially the venom was used as a simple poison. However, when the ability to control these creatures remotely by magic was developed by the Sechsäugigerwyrm in 1943 they became tiny but potent soldiers to be used in clandestine missions against the Allies.