Outer Zoology - The Shantak

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1. #1Overviewselective

   Keys: shantak, bird

   The Shantak, or otherwise known as the Shantak-bird, are creatures predominately known to be allied with Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos. These creatures are famous in the Dreamlands, but in other realms are known for their large stature and loud reputation. Their eggs are large and said to be rich in flavor, thus a well paying but risky career in the Dreamlands is stealing their eggs. They can also be a servitor race for other gods and deities, but if in the presence of Nyarlathotep, they defer to him automatically by the power of his will.

   As of recent over the past years, all shantak, no matter their location, have developed a viral curse that has now been integrated deep in their genes and bodies, which allows them to assume human form. Shantak have all clumsily accepted this development, and depending where they are, prefer one form or the other, or assume both equally. Curse cannot be cured as the Crawling Chaos has made it incurable, and finds it amusing. They posses average human intelligence or higher.

2. #2Descriptionselective

   Keys: stature, anatomy, height, weight, description, physiology, appearance

   <shantak_form_appearance> Shantak, in shantak form, are as tall or taller than elephants at their full height as adults. They can be bipedal or walk on four legs. They appear as strange creatures with four limbs (two arms, two legs, has claws), a horse-like head with reptile snout, large bat-like wings atop back, and long serpent tail. Neck is also long, serpent like, and allows the shantak to look up and see its surroundings from far away. The shantak has great sight, smell, and hearing. These creatures possess a silky mane of hair on their heads which can taper down to their tails. Eyes are cat-like and have slanted pupils. Is covered in dense, soft but rubbery scales which do well to protect them. Shantak often have two front incisors poking out of mouth. Many people claim, when shantak speak using a weak psychic projection in shantak form, they sound like 'scratching of glass'. </shantak_form_appearance>

3. #3Subspeciesselective

   Keys: cousins, subspecies

   <shantak_subspecies> There is a subspecies of shantak, very rare, who sometimes appear to accompany the Shining Trapezohedron when the Haunter of the Dark is not present. Their manes are spines instead of hair. These shantak excrete an acidic mucus through the pores of their scales upon touch, are sightless, and stalk the shadows.

   Sometimes, shantak are mistaken for Fishers From Outside, despite Fishers having beaks, a single cyclops eye, one foot, and can be called down from the spaces between/beyond the cosmos by cultists of Groth-Golka. These creatures are ambush hunters, who ensnare prey with invisible proteins webbing. They are invisible, usually, themselves. Shantak despise being compared to them, and upon the notion, start honking in protest. </shantak_subspecies>

4. #4Populationselective

   Keys: population, size

   <shantak_population> Shantak population are not known in amount, but most live in the Dreamlands, and are sparsely scattered to other places either in controlled groups as servitor races or lost shantak. Earth shantak are almost always strays. Shantak do not seem to be very common creatures. Earth shantak will prefer their human forms and even live and get romantically involved with humans. </shantak_population>

5. #5Habitat and dietselective

   Keys: diet, habitat

   <shantak_habitat_diet> Shantak can live anywhere, but prefer and thrive places with high elevation. Exact temperatures do not matter; they can live in deserts or arctic landscapes, but heavily prefer dry, arid localities. When in cold weather, shantak will grow fur in their shantak forms. This sheds off when around warmer places.

   The diet of the shantak is purely opportunistic, but they prefer to hunt. When not able to hunt creatures, they tend to have an ability to graze. Shantak possess a stomach that can shift from either perfect for a carnivorous or herbivorous diet. While their front teeth are perfect for flesh shearing, their jaws are lined with hundreds of small teeth explicitly for the purposes of grazing on small vegetation. They are built to eat anything and survive almost anywhere. </shantak_habitat_diet>

6. #6Behaviorselective

   Keys: temperament, personality, behavior

   <shantak_behavior> Shantak have mannerisms sometimes of a horse (snorting, kicking people who walk behind them). They also like to sunbathe. Generally, when not rearing young, they are rather aloof and if food is not scarce, even curious about other beings. They can be ridden, but it is purely at their own discretion, which is not often at all unless they are: told to or trust a person. Shantak love to play between one another, often engaging in aerial races or play fighting. They keep bones or other items as chew toys. Shantak prefer to live in herds of 6-9 individuals, with the eldest among them being the leader. They are naturally protective of their own, and possess an uncanny ability of knowing when bad things can happen: they are always right. </shantak_behavior>

7. #7Reproductionselective

   Keys: breeding, courtship, reproduction

   <shantak_reproduction> Between either humans or other shantak, shantak show their interest by first 'claiming' a partner. This is done without the shantak truly realizing it, as they spend more time around a particular individual. Other suitors are fought off between fights or honking disputes. Once someone has been chosen, the shantak then pines for their attention, does favors without question, and brings the other food. In the case the potential mate is a shantak, the other may start to bring nest building materials. Only after a fight between shantak and partner do they break off or solidify their partnership. Shantak are usually monogamous.

   When egg laying and rearing, shantak are at their most dangerous. They become voracious hunters since it requires so much food to raise a shantak chic, and are acutely aware of egg hunters and shantak chic poachers. They do not just chase off danger, they actively pursuit them from the skies, swoop down, kill, and bring them back to the nest to feed their young. Shantak eggs hatch after two months of incubation. If someone sees one or more shantak circling a cliffside constantly, its best avoided. </shantak_reproduction>

8. #8Cultural Impactselective

   Keys: memes, impact, cultural, goofy, culture

   <shantak_cultural_impact> In the Dreamlands, shantak are known as guardians of knowledge, fearsome beings who carry prophecy and bad omen on leather wings, and at times, even saviors. They features on all sorts of patterns such as in potteries, tapestries, but especially revered around cliffsides or buildings built on high elevation. The people of the Dreamlands often say 'a shantak's intuition is always right', due to them being spiritually sensitive creatures.

   A growing purview of shantak sees them in a new, more loveable light: something goof and aloof between a cat and a panda. While graceful in the skies, many shantak have odd ways of lazing about, maintain a quiet presence when not screeching, and fumble on land, especially since they can walk either on four legs or two as a shantak. </shantak_cultural_impact>

9. #9The 'honk'selective

   Keys: nightgaunt, honk, attack, roar, growl

   <shantak_honk> Shantak use not just their prodigious size to attack, but also a loud, impactful sound that is empowered by spiritual energies. It is akin to a bolstered chant from a cultist. It acts as offensive or defense to what the shantak intends. Typcially, aside from bludgeoning the ear drums, one shantak using this is managable. Maybe two. Three or more and someone or something has a powerful defense against magic, other beasts, and cultists, creating an area of denial. Sound dampening alone does not stop the magical distortion field a shantak can create. This is why nightgaunts are a natural enemy to shantak, their bodies are fully immune to the trumpeting. </shantak_honk>

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