Chak'tu

Chak'tu or Sproutbeasts are mammals characterized by hard plates that cover most of their body. They are omnivorous, come in various shapes and sizes and can be found in most parts of the world. Their namesake comes from their tendency to burrow, tilling and cycling nutrients in the soil as a result.

Biology

Anatomy

Chak'tu are characterized by hard plates that cover most of their body, granting them protection against predators. The flexibility of these plates varies but they are not completely rigid, meaning they can still be harmed by powerful blows. They possess sharp claws well adapted for digging. Size, color and additional characteristics vary wildly.

Diet

Although Chak'tu are omnivorous, their diet consists mostly of small insects and various carrion. Domesticated variants have been bred to prefer roots, seeds and fodder that is easily farmed and produced.

Behavior

Most Chak'tu are docile and live solitary lives. Smaller variants will flee and burrow if startled, while larger variants tend to stand their ground and even fight back against perceived threats. Chak'tu with more flexible plates are able to curl up and cover their weak points with varying levels of efficacy.

Variants

There are many different variants of Chak'tu, both wild and domesticated.

Wild variants found in Uraliwa include:

• Boiler Chak'tu: Large variant that can get as tall as an average Hap'ti (1.5 meters), with a mostly rigid rounded carapace that resembles an earthen boiling pot. Can be seen competing for territory with Reaperbirds.
• Cold-weather Chak'tu: Medium-sized variant that lives in the lush mountains. Much of their carapace has atrophied and been replaced with fur, granting them enough flexibility for climbing terrain as well as improved cold resistance.

Notable variants bred by the Hap'ti and brought over to Uraliwa include:

• Farmhand Chak'tu: Medium-sized variant trained to till the soil and eat any remaining crops and and weeds in between crop rotations.
• Grazer Chak'tu: Variant small enough to walk through fields and eat any pests without stomping and damaging crops. Also kept as pets due to their vibrant colors.
• Earthmover Chak'tu: Large variant used for mining and transporting both cargo and people. Semi-rigid plates allow it to stand on two legs for brief periods of time.

Distribution

Chak'tu are native to the Lower Continent but have spread to most parts of the world. They prefer warmer climates and soft soil to burrow into, but they can adapt to all manners of environments.

Domestication

Chak'tu have been domesticated by the Hap'ti back when they still lived in the Lower Continent, where they could be found at the border of the forest. Hap'ti noticed that soil burrowed by Chak'tu became fertile and sought them for use in farming. Their domesticated breeds were brought over when the Umbrage invasion forced the Hap'ti to flee to the island of Uraliwa. The Liyap'ti have been attempting to domesticate the Cold-weather Chak'tu as for use as a source of fur.