Hareagorriaz

Hareagorriaz (red sand bull) is a generally peaceful creature that inhabits the mesa biomes in New Rathnir. They are easily recognisable by their display of colorful feathers in their head.

Behaviour and habitat
Very rarely can one find a Hareagorriaz. These creatures live in the Eldhamite mesa biomes, and are hidden most of the year, only coming out on spring an autumn when the living conditions are ideal (not too hot, not too cold). Hareagorriaz are also known to outlive humans. Some identified specimens are speculated to have lived several centuries.

They are also referred to as ‘guardians of the mesa’, as they only come out of their hideout to attack if they see you gathering terracotta for long periods of time… or simply too much amount for their liking. Their love for the mesa biomes comes from the fact that they can only see warm colours (the rest they see in black&white), hence why they are so fond of such an environment.

Although in most of the encounters with humans they display an aggressive overprotective behaviour in order to protect the mesa. Biologist and archaeologist dr. John Bonedigger, who has spent 5 T.E. years of his life studying these creatures, stated the following in the 101th Eldham & Rathnir Wildlife Conference: “They are actually friendly beings, very caring for their youngsters. Old biology studies, diaries and cave paintings from ancient mesa inhabitants describes a reality in which Hareagorriaz and humans used to coexist in this fierce biome. There’s also signs of the domestication of Hareagorriaz, and some specimens still have saddles and baskets hanging from their back.

Combat
There are three known forms of attack, or at least the only two that allow a human to come back alive and tell them: Sand-swing, Charging and Red bull.

Attack: Sand-swing
Sand-swing is a casual (playful) attack that consists on them swinging and slapping their tail on the ground to throw sand at you when they detect you. The sand will get on the player’s eyes and reduce their vision for a few seconds, as well as cause dizziness, and make them lose half a heart per second.

Attack: Charging
When they enter a rage mode (when they are attacked back), they run and charge against you. If hit, the player loses four hearts at once.

Attack: Red bull
In their rage mode, they can also stand up in their back feet and drop heavily on the ground, making it shake, and pushing you backwards (like a knockback effect).

Death
Upon death, their colorful feathers can be collected and clay balls they might have had on them. Although rarer, the hull shards on their back can also be collected, and which traditionally are used to craft weapons of great durability and magic properties. Although more complex, the shards can also be used to craft potions that allow the player to attenuate the effects of a Sandswing attack.

Avoiding them
Knowing that they can perceive warm colours, and not cold, you can use that to your advantage. If in the mesa, wear warm-coloured leather armour to blend in better with the environment and not get sand-swinged.

Anatomy
Thanks to their anatomic traits, Hareagorriaz were born ready to face the harsh biome of the mesa.

They have a big body which allows them to store energy for the prolongated hibernation periods. On top of it, the scales that cover their back have two primary funcions: protect from sun damage after long time of exposure, and act as a lighter hull to protect both from predators and the common landslides in the mesa. If broken, these shards can regrow (although very slowly).

They very rarely fall ill, except because of wounds. Their good health is thanks to the minerals found in the mesa, which they extract from the terracotta with their nails and pointy rostral.

The feathers in both head and tail have no known function. Is is thought to be a trace of evolution, and the most common theory among biologist is that they are used as display of health and beauty when mating because of their opulence and vibrant colours.

Diet
Hareagorriaz are herbivores, feeding off sneaky mesa lizards and dry bushes alike. In summer, they flee from the mesa to nearby savannah biomes, where they stay through the season and eat and drink enough to survive the rest of the year. If you have a settlement in the desert, be wary! They may even come and feed off your crops.

Breeding and mating
There are very few known alive specimen of Hareagorriaz, and mating is also infrequent given that not even one case has been witnessed by the human eye. Some youngsters have been spotted, accompanying their mother across the mesa looking for food. Since they live mostly underground, it is though that they give birth in these conditions, and hence why it is hard to witness such an event without disrupting their habitat..