Stegadon

Stegadons are mighty horned reptilian beasts that have dwelt within the primeval jungles of Zan'ath since long before the coming of the Old Ones. They are bulky creatures whose heads are covered by armoured crests, out of which project massive horns. With bony scales and spikes shielding their bodies, there are few predators that dare challenge them. Territorial and highly aggressive, Stegadons will charge any creature that intrudes upon their habitat. Other creatures stay well clear of these herds, for fear of being trampled or gored.   Even the Zan'athrian jungle appears to part for their formidable girth; trees are smashed to splinters or swatted aside as the Stegadon stomps through even the densest foliage. It is said that the only beast in all of Zan'ath that can make a Stegadon alter its course is the colossal Thunder Lizard, although a bull Stegadon sufficiently riled might well offer challenge, and in its fury may even drive the enemy off.  

Overview

  Stegadons roam throughout the Zan'athrian jungles in herds ranging in size from a handful of related beasts to great migrations of many thousands. Some of these groupings have distinctive colours and markings, such as the tan striped beasts that dominate the cracked earth of the deserts, or the green-spotted Stegadons that live in the hidden jungles further south. Stegadons will feed upon almost anything they come across — devouring lush vegetation or the flesh of any creature foolish enough to get in their way. It takes great quantities of food to sustain such behemoths, and they grow so large and heavy that their footsteps have been known to split stone into peddles and treetrunks into splinters.   Most Stegadons, however, vary in colouration, ranging from pale blue-greys to rich greens, browns and reds. As the bony plates that cooer their thick hides age, they become much harder as well as lighter in colour. Young Stegadons can be quite brightly coloured, and those within a few decades of having hatched are often heavily mottled or otherwise camouflaged. As the monstrous reptiles grow older, they usually lose some of these contrasting patterns and become more evenly coloured.   This is not always the case, however, as shown by the brilliant diamond-backed patterns exhibited by some Stegadons of the swamps - notorious beasts that can wallow in the deepest swamp channels, where they lie hidden in ambush. Older Stegadons, particularly the largest bulls, leave their herds and strike out on their own. Such rogues establish farther ranging territories, and challenge any of their kind that dares trespass. These head-clashing bouts can last for days and can flatten swathes of jungle. It is not unknown for striking and colourful markings to appear on the crests of these elder beasts, signalling that these are the most powerful of their kind.  

Ancient Stegadon

  Ancient Stegadon are amongst the oldest and most ferocious of their entire species, powerful behemoths that have endured the harshest life possible for any creature living within the hazardous jungles of Zan'ath. Covered in scars that criss-cross its entire body, this shows to all that this monster has fought, bled and killed everything the jungle has sent against him, and it shall do so again.