Species: Gralchen Sub Types: Northern & Southern Ancestors: Bears Size: 20ft (Shoulder) Lifespan: 70 Years Diet: Herbivore/Omnivore – Grass, leaves, berries, rodents, lizards, fish Habit: Forest & Plains Temperament: Wild Status: Common The Gralchen is the largest herbivore on Alcazar, akin to a bear, they are suited to environments ranging from forest to scrubland, and while they can survive in the savannah, the heat can rapidly take its toll. They are also found in the far north, and have grown a shaggy coat of fur to help insulate them from the cold, however these northern variations are larger than their southern cousins. They are rather indifferent to humans and smaller creatures, not seeing them as a threat, and mostly ignoring them. The males are slightly more aggressive, and will approach humans, usually there’s a 50/50 chance of them deciding you’re a threat, so approaching Gralchen is not advised. Due to their territorial behaviour, they’re difficult to domesticize, as the farmland isn’t large enough to provide for their roaming and foraging. Gralchen eat a range of food, from berries, to leaves, to grass, and even entire saplings, they are adept at digging, and can pull up roots for food, and vegetables, their primary diet is plants, and they have been known to eat an entire field of produce. The Gralchen hibernate during winter, and in the lead up to this time, will consume fish and small animals to help add extra fat to them. They’ve been known to head towards farms and eat as much as they can find, in preparation for this extensive sleep. But no one is sure where they go to hibernate, some think they find caves, while others think they dig themselves into the ground. The main predator of the Gralchen is the dragons, dragons are huge creatures and need a lot of meat to keep functioning. The Gralchen is a perfect food source, despite the dangers with hunting one. Typically between two and five dragons are needed to bring one down, but the largest dragons (of the Imperial family) can usually bring one down alone. Their popularity with the dragons is their size, the average Gralchen can grow to between fifteen and twenty feet tall, and almost twice as long. This means a lot of meat is available to those brave enough to attack one. The Gralchen used to be a common sight across Alcazar, however in the past hundred years, their numbers have declined sharply, and no one is sure why. However they are known to be a delicacy, and many humans have attempted to farm them for their delicious meat, and warm fur. Most have failed, which has led to the rise of hunting. However it’s no easy task to take down a Gralchen, and twenty people at least are needed to bring it down safely.
