#primer

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs constitute the primary fauna of Carrouban, inhabiting every environment from subterranean caves to the open skies. These creatures, which possess feathers and/or scales depending on their species, are deeply integrated into Azcelani society as essential beasts of burden, weapons of war, and domestic pets - and many also serve as a common food source! For example, the Swooping Terror, a flying raptor-like creature with a ten-foot wingspan is used extensively for high-priority mail and reconnaissance.

Among the most formidable of these species is the Devouring Tyrant, the largest non-primordial land carnivore on the continent. Feared and respected in equal measure, these massive predators are nearly impossible to tame, though a few exceptionally powerful Azcelani are rumoured to ride them into battle. In the harsh jungles of South Carrouban, the South Azcelani (16P) revere these titans - particularly the massive Primordial Creatures variants - as living manifestations of the god Cuetzpalteōtl.

It should be noted that within the context of Carrouban, the term "dinosaur" follows a popular cultural definition rather than a strict scientific designation.

Oceans

The oceans of Carrouban are vast and largely untamed, providing a sanctuary for gargantuan predators that humans find nearly impossible to hunt. Within these depths, Primordial Creatures variants of Squids and Sharks grow to such immense sizes that they become the subjects of terrifying maritime legends, capable of swallowing entire ships whole.

Foreign Introductions

The arrival of the Conquistadan Empire introduced a variety of foreign species to the continent, including horses, cats, monkeys, parrots, and livestock, though the Conquistan Mastiff remains their most famous contribution to the local ecosystem.

Hyper-Adapted Creatures

Biological life in Carrouban is subject to the transformative influence of Imbued Mutite, which can trigger rapid hyper-adaptation or bizarre mutations in any living thing. This has produced wonders - including the fire-breathing Flamewing Dinosaur in the Blackpowder Territories (16P), or the Glowtail, a small bipedal dinosaur that uses phosphorescence to attract prey and dazzle predators. Perhaps most significant are the Primordial Creatures, individuals that never stop growing and are immune to death by old age. These titans appear identical to their kin during their early years, only revealing their nature as they continue to mature and grow far beyond the natural plateau of their species. Imbued Mutite can even elevate the intelligence of flora, occasionally resulting in sentient, man-eating plants.

The line between "hyper-adapted" and "supernatural"

In Carrouban, the boundary between natural fauna, Imbued Mutite-warped beasts, and true supernatural entities remains notoriously indistinct. While many creatures are clearly products of hyper-adaptation driven by Imbued Mutite, others possess origins that defy simple biological explanation.

Merfolk serve as a particularly notable example of this ambiguity; they are not merely "hyper-adapted corpses" but corpses imbued with consciousness under the influence of the eldritch Chichinteki. These entities are physically transformed for life in the depths, yet they remain psychically tethered to Imbued Mutite and the dark whims of their creator.

Azcelani scholars remain divided on the true nature of such beings, with theories ranging from the result of millennia-long Imbued Mutite exposure to the belief that they are vassals of the gods or remnants of a previous age of reality.