Skolexari Horned Lovely
In Skolexari: Qürum Serair (literally means “Horn-possessing lovely one”).
Located in: Temperate wet (mild, rainy, lush forests) and cool temperate (cool, rainy, dense forests) areas of the Skolexari homeworld. May be found in other regions on occasion as they’re known to, and capable of, wandering long distances.
Appearance:
Size: Is large enough it can be mounted and ridden by an adult Skolexari.
Males: larger and heavier, with dense chest fur, thicker armor-like scales, broader faces, more prominent tusks, and enormous coiled ramlike horns. Males always have horns. Males have larger and more blunt claws on their toes that are not pointed nor sharp enough to scratch. Broader, heavier, and have thicker necks.
Females: leaner and longer-legged, more flexible, thinner necks, more refined faces, narrower bodies, lighter crests, smaller facial spikes, and long slender horns that sweep upward or backward. She may not have horns at all. Females have claws.
General
Qürum Serair are large, fast, hardy animals. They have 4 legs and a mix of fur and scales. Most have defensive spines along their backs that follow the spine, but not all do. Some have decorative feathering around their ankles, heads, or flanks (but not all do). They have long upright ears, elaborate horns, tails, and layered ornamentation giving it a draconic silhouette.
They’re always warm ivory, cream, with olive, moss, or forest green bands, stripes, and swirls. Patterns differ between individuals but are never over the entire body. Some have more fur than scales, others have more scale than fur. Some have spikes growing from their tails, others do not but the tails are always furry at the tips.
Known for: Intelligence, loyalty
Diet: They have blunt teeth and are herbivores.
Defensive: Run away. If unable to run they will kick and jab with their legs, trying to use their hard toes or (on females) claws to inflict damage. They will also slap and sweep with their tail. Qürum Serair never abandon their babies or mate, even if they are wounded or killed.
Reproduction: Have one baby per pregnancy, the female cares for that baby for 2 years before becoming pregnant again. It’s rare for them to birth twins, but possible. Tend to find the same partner or mate again and again.
Gate: They have a long reaching stride and stay lower to the ground, they can run very fast, especially in bursts.
Behavior: Solitary or with a mate and young offspring. Females are seen with their babies and juvenile offspring. Qürum Serair do visit family members, remembering tracks, trails, and areas they’ve been before. They have a peculiar need to, at times, wander outside of their home area and usually go back to places they have been before. This is an instance where a Skolexari may see 3 adult Qürum Serair together with offspring (one is a visiting adult Qürum Serair from a prior birth).
Curious and calm, they can easily be tempted to approach a Skolexari with food, especially fruit or even without. They’re generally friendly and confident animals and throughout history have been curious enough to be easily tamed.
Even a bonded pair (mates) might approach a Skolexari, both curious. If they’re uncomfortable, they simply flee from the individual or area.
They are very quiet animals, almost silent. Both in their footfall and vocalizations. They make snorts and deep breath sounds but have no sharp or loud calls.
They’re clean, and don’t produce a strong smell. They lick and prune themselves often with their tongues.
Use: Due to their defensive spikes, they’re usually not ridable unless the spikes are cut and ground down which some Skolexari find distasteful. If the spikes are not in the way, a special saddle can be fitted to the Qürum Serair.
In the past they helped ancient Skolexari with manual labor, willing to pull carts, plows, and carry heavy bags. In the past they were also used to carry messages across long distances, as they could be trained to travel between two locations.
Are intelligent and respond to their name and various commands, some are smarter than others.
Qürum Serair have always been companions, their curious and laid-back personalities make them pleasant to keep. They are known to be brave and loyal towards owners, even sacrificing themselves to create distractions for their owner to flee or attack.
Qürum Serair are domesticated and the ones living with Skolexari would generally not be from the wild or tamed, but were born and bred to be companions. They still have a compulsion to wander away, and Skolexari usually allow the Qürum Serair to do this. These animals are too large to be kept as pets by anyone living in a city or urban area. They need space, they need to run, and are big.
Culturally: Skolexari love Qürum Serair, they’re one of their favorite and most beloved animals.
Image 1 and 2 are females.
