TASHIRI
Length: 2.93 m/Width: 0.61 m/Height: 2.38 m/Weight: 417.76 kg/Speed: 56.33 km/hHabitat: Variable. Preference for semi-arid with vegetation. / Anatomical Features: Bipedal reptmillian. Shortened forelegs. Exceptionally powerful and efficient hind legs and internal temperature regulation specialization.
Feeding Habits: Omnivore. Preference for thick leaves and moist, fibrous vegetation with known consumption of small, soft-fleshed creatures where water is otherwise unattainable. Exceptionally social by nature among their own kind and defensive of any interruption of the herd’s activities and will repel attacks in a coordinated manner.
Tashari are the favored mount of the People given their vertical orientation (rather than horizontal, as with the Linguis) and are exceptionally capable in battle. The additional comfort is a small price to pay for the slight loss of speed versus the large lizards. Tashari appear to be an advanced cousin of the Rondo and/or Wardogg, exhibiting far greater intelligence then the both combined. Each Tashari also shares one of the closest man-animal kinships observed since our arrival. The closest comparison is that between humans and canines. The bright-eyed creatures can be taught to follow any number of individuals, but will inexplicably gravitate to one in particular and forge a sort of exclusive bond with that invidual.
We have yet to figure out the reason behind this, or how a Tashari effectively selects its rider to begin with.
The People have a reverence for the fierce independence of the Tashari and will only domesticate those that select a rider among them and choose to stay within their society by choice. It is not a frequent occurrence. Fact is, the animal’s “smart, but not smart enough” nature prevents the People from wanting to forcibly direct them. By contrast, any of the races would be enslaved without question and given the standard choice to join the People or perish at their blade. It is a bit odd to see an otherwise wild animal be shown greater respect than races known to possess greater self-awareness and independent thought.
Other races have not honored the Tashari’s unique nature. Most have found themselves bucked into a gorge or “accidentally” rolled onto by a stubborn steed looking to reject the rider like a bad itch. It is said the only herd the Kasakir will not attack even in their home territory is the Tashari. Indeed, badly trampled and broken bodies of the former have been found by the desperate (or stupid) Kasakir that failed to observe this reality.
The Tashari are an interesting lot, even for Anomaly. We’ve yet to figure out if they are simply intelligent, or incredibly intelligent by pretending to be less smart than they truly are.
Perhaps the best example of this was a Mutie we witnessed attempting to “break” a Tashari. The large male appeared to heel to its new master (who had employed a barbed prong to force the animal to submit) and the pair took off at a slow gait. The Mutie was clearly having issues directing the Tashari away from a rustle in the nearby treeline. A spectacularly large, angry female Rondo charged from the brush. Such ferocity suggested she was guarding her nest. The Mutie was in full panic as the Tashari continued its steady gait, then suddenly slowing.
The Rondo swung its mighty head at the pair and the Tashari fell to its tiny forepaws, ducking just enough to avoid being hit itself, while the Mutie splattered against the side of the Rondo’s beak. The Tashari then exploded into a full sprint, easily escaping the Rondo and disappearing into the wild.