The World Of Twilight

World Building => Creature Creations => Topic started by: SleeplessFish on July 02, 2010, 07:09:11 pm



Title: Observations: On the Bhahu
Post by: SleeplessFish on July 02, 2010, 07:09:11 pm
The Bhahu, also known as the Bhanuk or "Tree-Pruners" is a distant relative of the Baruk. The Bhahu draws its name from a distinctive hooting sound which can be heard echoing from above the short fruit trees it favors.

Unlike its low-slung relative, the Bhahu trades girth and length for height. Jenta stand about the height of a Fubarnii, a average Sempa stands slightly taller than a Devanu while Kopa tend even taller.

A long and sinuous neck accounts for half of the Bhahu's height. It projects upward at a slight angle, curves back over the body then returns, forming an elongated 'S' shape. Legs account for the other half of it's height and are thick with muscle, giving the Bhahu a loping stride. It is an excellent sprinter but has poor performance over distance. The tail, nearly as long as the neck, slopes downward at a steep angle. The torso is roughly an orb which has too narrow a top to use the Bhahu as a beast of burden.

Lastly the head of the Bhahu, which has distinctive properties. As the Bhahu eat primarily the various fruits that grow among the higher branches, it has developed a sharp, beak-like mouth. Often it uses this to cut away branches or vines that obstruct access to it's food, hence the name "Tree-Pruner." The eyes are usually a solid dark color, spaced between the sides and the front of it's skull, giving it a limited form of binocular vision. It uses this to examine it's food before it eats.

Bhahu are highly territorial and live in small family units, usually consisting of a Kopa, one to two Sempa and three to five Jenta. These families move as a group through their territory, following a yearly path.  Each territory is large enough that most Fubarnii villages see only one family. When two families do come into contact, the Kopa perform a ceremonial duel. Each Kopa will attempt to pin the other, often biting the legs of other. Once a Kopa is pinned to the ground, the standing Kopa marks the neck or head of the loser with a broad but shallow cut or bite. After the loser has been marked, the winning Kopa takes the Sempa of the losing Kopa into its family unit. The losing Kopa and its Jenta continue on, soon replacing the family's missing Sempa. Most Kopa die from infection of the losing wound, but those that survive often gain many scars. When the number of Sempa and Jenta grow too large to be supported in a particular Bhahu territory, enough to form a new family unit is sent off in a direction away from its parent family. Thus Bhahu roam the land.

Due to the large territories preferred by the Bhahu, it is commonly found. It prefers low forests and tall grasses but is often seen moving through open stretches of land as families patrol their territory. Small numbers of Bhahu have been reported near the foothills of the Setir Mountains, but only in negligible numbers. These creatures were once scarce, as their muscular legs, neck and tail made them a favored prey of the Devanu, who would often chase their target Bhahu for the thrill of the chase. Bhahu can nearly match a Devanu for speed but not for endurance. With the Devanu driven to the edges of the Empire, Bhahu are expanding and beginning to outnumber the available food in some areas...  

There are some small religious qualities to the beast, though mostly observed by Feral Fubarnii.  As the Bhahu is a picky eater, only taking a small amount of the best fruits from each tree, it leaves behind good fruit and discards the rotten, unripe or garkhid-ridden fruit to the ground. Bhahu were seen as servants of the Enarii, protecting Fubarnii from unsafe food. Another quality attributed to the Bhahu are their forcasting good or ill events. A large family of Bhahu is seen as a good omen; as the Bhahu have been successful, so too will the Fubarnii whose path they cross. Likewise, coming across a single Bhahu Jenta is a very bad omen, often seen as a sign of fast-approaching danger. Large families often avoid Fubarnii settlements because inevitably some Fubarnii will attempt to chase down the Bhahu to 'cross their path' which the skittish Bhahu dislike.

Below is an image of a Sempa and Jenta, as seen from the side. Inset is a view of the head from directly in front.

(http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7716/bhahu.jpg)




Title: Re: Observations: On the Bhahu
Post by: Carcharoth on July 03, 2010, 06:25:54 pm
Looking good so far!