Shambhala – The Fractal Planet
Shambhala is another planet that is cooler and lower in gravity than Earth, but it still orbits a bright sun, albeit further away from it than would be typical for Earth. Water is relatively abundant, resulting in many camargue-like marshes and temperate rainforests. One scientist remarked how it was rather like New Zealand or Tasmania in climate. Gravity is a moderate degree lower than Earth, which may explain the unusual limb configuration of many native animals there. Atmospheric oxygen here is richer than on Earth, but the damp conditions somewhat mitigate the risk of forest fires.
The plants here are green-photosynthesizers as on Earth, but are formed by branching, pulp-filled tubes, structurally supported by silicone; leaf-like flanges are present on some. Larger plants have tough, gnarled silicone trunks with a texture like sculpted leather. Photosynthesis occurs on branches and trunks as well as “leaves”, thus, plants are entirely green.
Shambhalan “vertebrates” possess a unique limb configuration compared to Earth, where limbs and digits display a branching pattern at the joints, like a very simple fractal. Their jaws are somewhat arthropod-like mandibles coated in a horny sheath, eyes are generally large and somewhat resemble the lens-bearing occelli of some spiders. Olfaction is achieved via a pair of flicking tongues that emerge from the mouth, and respiration is achieved by a single large, complex lung over the hip. Bones are composed of a substance which is analogous to cartilage, but stronger, the low gravity of this world never necessitated heavy calcified skeletons. Most advanced vertebrates are warm-blooded and possess a coat of down-like fur made from a protein analogous to our keratin. They only possess rudimentary hearing; hair-like structures interspersed in their fur are functionally similar to the sensory hairs in the inner ear of earth animals. Blood and muscle are also made of substances analogous to ours, but high bile content makes them inedible and indigestible to humans or other Earth-based animals. Most vertebrate animals are viviparous, giving birth to large litters of well-developed young.
Shambhalan invertebrates come in 3 main kinds. There are soft, worm-like segmented burrowers, sometimes chewing their way through plant pulp. A related group have chintinous, plated segments with crawling legs at the front, looking somewhat like land-dwelling shrimp. The third group are 10 legged, soft-bodied animals that vaguely resemble larger versions of the tardigrades of earth, except they have a radula-like mouth and lack the ability to survive desiccation.
The human colonists to first set foot on Shambhala were greeted with a cool, misty Eden, where nothing was as familiar as it first appeared.
Shambhala is another planet that is cooler and lower in gravity than Earth, but it still orbits a bright sun, albeit further away from it than would be typical for Earth. Water is relatively abundant, resulting in many camargue-like marshes and temperate rainforests. One scientist remarked how it was rather like New Zealand or Tasmania in climate. Gravity is a moderate degree lower than Earth, which may explain the unusual limb configuration of many native animals there. Atmospheric oxygen here is richer than on Earth, but the damp conditions somewhat mitigate the risk of forest fires.
The plants here are green-photosynthesizers as on Earth, but are formed by branching, pulp-filled tubes, structurally supported by silicone; leaf-like flanges are present on some. Larger plants have tough, gnarled silicone trunks with a texture like sculpted leather. Photosynthesis occurs on branches and trunks as well as “leaves”, thus, plants are entirely green.
Shambhalan “vertebrates” possess a unique limb configuration compared to Earth, where limbs and digits display a branching pattern at the joints, like a very simple fractal. Their jaws are somewhat arthropod-like mandibles coated in a horny sheath, eyes are generally large and somewhat resemble the lens-bearing occelli of some spiders. Olfaction is achieved via a pair of flicking tongues that emerge from the mouth, and respiration is achieved by a single large, complex lung over the hip. Bones are composed of a substance which is analogous to cartilage, but stronger, the low gravity of this world never necessitated heavy calcified skeletons. Most advanced vertebrates are warm-blooded and possess a coat of down-like fur made from a protein analogous to our keratin. They only possess rudimentary hearing; hair-like structures interspersed in their fur are functionally similar to the sensory hairs in the inner ear of earth animals. Blood and muscle are also made of substances analogous to ours, but high bile content makes them inedible and indigestible to humans or other Earth-based animals. Most vertebrate animals are viviparous, giving birth to large litters of well-developed young.
Shambhalan invertebrates come in 3 main kinds. There are soft, worm-like segmented burrowers, sometimes chewing their way through plant pulp. A related group have chintinous, plated segments with crawling legs at the front, looking somewhat like land-dwelling shrimp. The third group are 10 legged, soft-bodied animals that vaguely resemble larger versions of the tardigrades of earth, except they have a radula-like mouth and lack the ability to survive desiccation.
The human colonists to first set foot on Shambhala were greeted with a cool, misty Eden, where nothing was as familiar as it first appeared.
Faunal Examples -
Pincerfinger (Digitonyx agilis)
A rather typical small predator of the temperate rainforests of Shambhala, 2.5 meters long. They stalk through the undergrowth, using their pincer-clawed fingers to snatch smaller creatures which are quickly killed by the wicked snapping mandibles. Vision and olfaction is very keen, they are quite agile, able to quickly flee from most predators.
A rather typical small predator of the temperate rainforests of Shambhala, 2.5 meters long. They stalk through the undergrowth, using their pincer-clawed fingers to snatch smaller creatures which are quickly killed by the wicked snapping mandibles. Vision and olfaction is very keen, they are quite agile, able to quickly flee from most predators.
Lumbering Behemoth (Xenobehemoth tardus)
A 5 to 6 meter long giant herbivore, the behemoth inhabits shrubby meadows, open forest and wetland margins. Whole shrubs and small trees are severed from the ground and crudely chopped up by the massive mandibles. Though usually solitary, they communicate during the mating season by loudly clacking their huge jaws and “farting” air out of their hind lung.
A 5 to 6 meter long giant herbivore, the behemoth inhabits shrubby meadows, open forest and wetland margins. Whole shrubs and small trees are severed from the ground and crudely chopped up by the massive mandibles. Though usually solitary, they communicate during the mating season by loudly clacking their huge jaws and “farting” air out of their hind lung.
Fingerdeer (Cervodigitus timidus)
This 3 meter long creature is a shy browser of temperate rainforest and open woods. Swift and alert, fingerdeer can outrun most predators, though small juveniles are commonly eaten by pincerfingers and other smaller predators. They feed mainly on understory growth that grows from the forest floor, but can rear on their hind legs to reach higher growth.
This 3 meter long creature is a shy browser of temperate rainforest and open woods. Swift and alert, fingerdeer can outrun most predators, though small juveniles are commonly eaten by pincerfingers and other smaller predators. They feed mainly on understory growth that grows from the forest floor, but can rear on their hind legs to reach higher growth.
Crocopus (Ornithorhynchoides beliggerus)
The weed-choked lakes and marshes of Shambhala commonly play host to furred, warm-blooded hunters of invertebrates and small vertebrates, the crocopus is one such animal. At 1.7 meters long, it resembles nothing more than a rather baroque hybrid between a freshwater crocodile and a platypus, using its large paddle like forefeet to propel it in search of prey. These animals are famous for their foul tempers, and they valiantly defend their young.
The weed-choked lakes and marshes of Shambhala commonly play host to furred, warm-blooded hunters of invertebrates and small vertebrates, the crocopus is one such animal. At 1.7 meters long, it resembles nothing more than a rather baroque hybrid between a freshwater crocodile and a platypus, using its large paddle like forefeet to propel it in search of prey. These animals are famous for their foul tempers, and they valiantly defend their young.
Snaggle-jawed spiderbird (Arachnopsaves percussus)
The spiderbird family is common throughout most of Shambhala, and many forms exist to feed on different foods, from harmless fruit-eaters to massive “hawks” with hooked mandibles. The snaggle-jawed species is a mid-sized variety of this group, and specialises mainly in catching smaller animals that it plucks from the ground, and occasionally from the branches of plant growth. Compared to the birds of Earth, they are somewhat clumsier on the ground, and prefer to roost in trees.
The spiderbird family is common throughout most of Shambhala, and many forms exist to feed on different foods, from harmless fruit-eaters to massive “hawks” with hooked mandibles. The snaggle-jawed species is a mid-sized variety of this group, and specialises mainly in catching smaller animals that it plucks from the ground, and occasionally from the branches of plant growth. Compared to the birds of Earth, they are somewhat clumsier on the ground, and prefer to roost in trees.