Fafnir – The Dragon Planet
The hot, tropical world of Fafnir orbits a star with a similar brightness to our sun, albeit at a slightly closer position. Fafnir’s atmosphere is an oxygen mix much like Earth’s, but the climate is consistently hot and humid, even at the poles. Gravity is slightly higher than on Earth, which may explain why its vertebrates have several pairs of limbs. Landmasses are clusters of large island continents, and there are extensive shallow oceans. There is no continent large enough to render the extremes of a continental climate.
The plants here turn the undergrowth into a 2 toned patchwork. There are 2 main kinds, which diverged in the distant past, both using different colours to photosynthesise. Red leafless plants form low shrubs, hedges and undergrowth, maroon or crimson in colour, having fine fractal-like branches that form a dense mass to capture light. Green plants are the other kind, and in some ways greatly resemble the junipers and pines of earth. Having scaly, lobed or needle-like leaves, these can grow into large bushes and very tall trees. Instead of grass, is a mix of small thin-needled green tufts, and low sprawling masses of spongy-looking red growth.
The dominant kind of large animal on Fafnir is how this planet got its name. Generally ferocious creatures, they have 4 pairs of limbs, calling to mind mythical dragons and basilisks, hence the planet was named after the legendary Fafnir. The front two pairs are generally used to catch or manipulate food, and the rear two pairs are the walking limbs, though differing configurations exist. Their biochemistry generally resembles that of Earth, blood is iron based, bones are composed of calcium carbonate and collagen, limbs and shoulders bulge with powerful and familiar-looking muscles. Respiration is achieved using a large pair of lungs within the chest. These animals have jaws and lips much like a typical reptile or mammal, with hard calcium rich teeth reinforced with iron. Sensory organs are remarkably convergent upon Earth vertebrates such as mammals, with nostrils, eyes and large external ears adorning the face. An interesting difference is that there are two pairs of eyes instead of one pair, though they are generally similar to the lensed eyes of Earth’s vertebrates. These 8-limbed vertebrates have a high metabolism much like the mammals of Earth, but in such a hot global climate only the smaller more athletic animals have insulating “fur”. Fafnir vertebrates are viviparous, and exhibit a high degree of parental care; litters vary from 10 to as few as 2 cubs.
Primitive fish-like vertebrates inhabit the rivers and oceans; these are 8-finned swimmers vaguely similar to the ancestral stock from which the large land animals arose. Aquatic invertebrates include tentacled soft-bodied worms, and mollusc-like shelled animals which creep on a muscular “foot” and have a folded sac-like respiratory organ that they pass water through. On land there are armoured, segmented grub-like creatures that burrow through the soil, as well as the “shelled crawlers” often found scuttling on the ground. Shelled crawlers are radially-symmetrical, arthropod-like creatures, varying in size from as small as a lentil to as broad as a dinner plate. The back is a broad round carapace divided into 8 triangular plates. Their undersides are studded in a radiating pattern with biramous limbs, each bears a muscular tube-foot and a nipping crab-like claw, the mouth is at the centre.
The first explorers and colonists on Fafnir were taken aback by the ferocious, unusual, yet vaguely familiar creatures that awaited them on this tropical planet, a veritable jungle primeval.
The hot, tropical world of Fafnir orbits a star with a similar brightness to our sun, albeit at a slightly closer position. Fafnir’s atmosphere is an oxygen mix much like Earth’s, but the climate is consistently hot and humid, even at the poles. Gravity is slightly higher than on Earth, which may explain why its vertebrates have several pairs of limbs. Landmasses are clusters of large island continents, and there are extensive shallow oceans. There is no continent large enough to render the extremes of a continental climate.
The plants here turn the undergrowth into a 2 toned patchwork. There are 2 main kinds, which diverged in the distant past, both using different colours to photosynthesise. Red leafless plants form low shrubs, hedges and undergrowth, maroon or crimson in colour, having fine fractal-like branches that form a dense mass to capture light. Green plants are the other kind, and in some ways greatly resemble the junipers and pines of earth. Having scaly, lobed or needle-like leaves, these can grow into large bushes and very tall trees. Instead of grass, is a mix of small thin-needled green tufts, and low sprawling masses of spongy-looking red growth.
The dominant kind of large animal on Fafnir is how this planet got its name. Generally ferocious creatures, they have 4 pairs of limbs, calling to mind mythical dragons and basilisks, hence the planet was named after the legendary Fafnir. The front two pairs are generally used to catch or manipulate food, and the rear two pairs are the walking limbs, though differing configurations exist. Their biochemistry generally resembles that of Earth, blood is iron based, bones are composed of calcium carbonate and collagen, limbs and shoulders bulge with powerful and familiar-looking muscles. Respiration is achieved using a large pair of lungs within the chest. These animals have jaws and lips much like a typical reptile or mammal, with hard calcium rich teeth reinforced with iron. Sensory organs are remarkably convergent upon Earth vertebrates such as mammals, with nostrils, eyes and large external ears adorning the face. An interesting difference is that there are two pairs of eyes instead of one pair, though they are generally similar to the lensed eyes of Earth’s vertebrates. These 8-limbed vertebrates have a high metabolism much like the mammals of Earth, but in such a hot global climate only the smaller more athletic animals have insulating “fur”. Fafnir vertebrates are viviparous, and exhibit a high degree of parental care; litters vary from 10 to as few as 2 cubs.
Primitive fish-like vertebrates inhabit the rivers and oceans; these are 8-finned swimmers vaguely similar to the ancestral stock from which the large land animals arose. Aquatic invertebrates include tentacled soft-bodied worms, and mollusc-like shelled animals which creep on a muscular “foot” and have a folded sac-like respiratory organ that they pass water through. On land there are armoured, segmented grub-like creatures that burrow through the soil, as well as the “shelled crawlers” often found scuttling on the ground. Shelled crawlers are radially-symmetrical, arthropod-like creatures, varying in size from as small as a lentil to as broad as a dinner plate. The back is a broad round carapace divided into 8 triangular plates. Their undersides are studded in a radiating pattern with biramous limbs, each bears a muscular tube-foot and a nipping crab-like claw, the mouth is at the centre.
The first explorers and colonists on Fafnir were taken aback by the ferocious, unusual, yet vaguely familiar creatures that awaited them on this tropical planet, a veritable jungle primeval.
Faunal Examples -
Tyrant Drake (Dracotyrannus atrox)
Perhaps one of the most ferocious alien creatures so far discovered. The tyrant drake is a massive predator, 11 meters long and 7 tons in weight. Its 4 powerful hind legs allow it to lope along at a surprising speed for such a large animal, and the robust middle arms allow it to grapple with animals almost as large as itself. Tyrant drakes have mighty jaws filled with long, knife-like teeth, which most often deal the killing blow to their prey.
Perhaps one of the most ferocious alien creatures so far discovered. The tyrant drake is a massive predator, 11 meters long and 7 tons in weight. Its 4 powerful hind legs allow it to lope along at a surprising speed for such a large animal, and the robust middle arms allow it to grapple with animals almost as large as itself. Tyrant drakes have mighty jaws filled with long, knife-like teeth, which most often deal the killing blow to their prey.
Silver Rudder-bat (Ornithopteropus cheirognathus)
Rudder-bats are part of a diverse lineage of bird-like Fafnir vertebrates. Rudder-bats themselves are hawk-sized predators adapted to snatch small creatures with their clawed facial-limbs. This species reaches an average wingspan of about 90 centimetres, and feeds mostly by catching prey from the surface of rivers and ponds. While the second pair of limbs has become large flapping wings, the hind-most pair has degenerated into rudder-like steering organs. Prey is located mainly by sight.
Rudder-bats are part of a diverse lineage of bird-like Fafnir vertebrates. Rudder-bats themselves are hawk-sized predators adapted to snatch small creatures with their clawed facial-limbs. This species reaches an average wingspan of about 90 centimetres, and feeds mostly by catching prey from the surface of rivers and ponds. While the second pair of limbs has become large flapping wings, the hind-most pair has degenerated into rudder-like steering organs. Prey is located mainly by sight.
Six-footed Juggernaut (Dinohexapus placidus)
One of the largest animals on Fafnir, six-footed juggernauts commonly reach 18 meters long and 15 tons in weight. They are placid, even stupid herbivores, which use their muscular trunk-like lips and long facial arms to gather and consume low or mid-level plant growth. Feeding almost constantly, their second pair of eyes stands on mobile stalks, ever wary of danger. Digestion is very advanced in this form, with a long, multi-chambered stomach and intestine.
One of the largest animals on Fafnir, six-footed juggernauts commonly reach 18 meters long and 15 tons in weight. They are placid, even stupid herbivores, which use their muscular trunk-like lips and long facial arms to gather and consume low or mid-level plant growth. Feeding almost constantly, their second pair of eyes stands on mobile stalks, ever wary of danger. Digestion is very advanced in this form, with a long, multi-chambered stomach and intestine.
Prong-faced Delphinoid (Hexapterygius xenocetoides)
Delphinoids are agile, air-breathing marine vertebrates commonly seen in near shore waters. Various species are defined by their claw-like facial arms. The prong-faced species is the largest at 3.5 meters long, and is found mainly north of the equator. They swim quickly and powerfully with combined strokes of their flippers and their fluked tail, chasing and consuming all manner of smaller aquatic creatures.
Delphinoids are agile, air-breathing marine vertebrates commonly seen in near shore waters. Various species are defined by their claw-like facial arms. The prong-faced species is the largest at 3.5 meters long, and is found mainly north of the equator. They swim quickly and powerfully with combined strokes of their flippers and their fluked tail, chasing and consuming all manner of smaller aquatic creatures.
Plains Octo-fox (Octovulpes rapax)
Octo-fox are spaniel-to-greyhound sized small predators, which nimbly chase and capture smaller animals in the undergrowth. The plains species is the most lightly built and agile, sometimes seen leaping to snatch rudder-bats from the air, or bringing down the young of larger animals.
Octo-fox are spaniel-to-greyhound sized small predators, which nimbly chase and capture smaller animals in the undergrowth. The plains species is the most lightly built and agile, sometimes seen leaping to snatch rudder-bats from the air, or bringing down the young of larger animals.