Category:U'frek's Lion

Name: U'frek's Lion

Quick Facts: Lion spawned of driftwood from sunken ships

Height: 4ft+ with no upper limit

Width: 2ft+ with no upper limit

Length: 6ft+ with no upper limit

Meta-Location Found: The Crags, The Crescent Sea

History:These creatures are a blessed sight in Yaralon, Volanta, and for most sailors within the region. A ship that has one of these guarding it is often considered blessed by U'frek. Killing them is considered taboo by Yari sailors and is outlawed by U'frek's District in Volanta. It is heavily believed that because these creatures are born from shipwrecks, yet bond so heavily with ships, that they are the spirits of the lost ships, come back to protect others from their own fate.

Appearance: U'frek's Lion is a strange beast, made up and shaped of driftwood that is prominent in the Crescent Sea, mostly from ships that have crashed and/or sunk. It has no other biological features, yet is always in the shape of a lion (male or female). Sometimes it will have seaweed for a mane, but this isn't nearly as common. Occasionally the head might be different, matching a sunken ship's figurehead.

Habitat: It only occurs naturally in the Crescent Sea area, but is incredibly common around the Crags of Yaralon and Volanta. It lives on the few coastal areas there, as well as being able to live underwater, and often goes back and forth between them.

Lifespan and Development: These creatures are not born in the typical sense like most creatures. Rather, they seem to spawn into existence. Whether this is a random phenomenon or not is unknown to all. But the lion cubs are almost always born in the place where a ship was sunk. The litters vary from one to five and the cubs are fully capable of survival on their own at birth. They grow quickly, reaching adulthood in one arc. If not killed or destroyed, they will live forever, so long as they have access to driftwood, their primary food source.

Diet: These creatures can only feed on driftwood, either natural or from shipwrecks. They are heavily bound to the sea and will never be found from the ocean because of this. The driftwood they eat becomes a part of them, increasing their size or healing wounds. Due to this, they effectively have no upper size limits.

Temperament: These amphibious plant-creatures are incredibly curious beings. They are solitary among their own kind, not forming any type of packs or groupings (except when to feast on a recent shipwreck). However, they are very attracted to sailors, ships, U'frek marked and U'frek mortalborns. Despite the origin of their birth, they do not attempt to harm existing ships. Often they attempt to seek shelter on a ship (or docks), and will guard it, and the crew, vigorously as though they are its own family. They seem able to readily identify the captain (or equivalent) and will listen to simple commands given by them. They are not terribly smart but are fiercely loyal, and have been known to hunt down those who've harmed their crew across all oceans.

Abilities: Able to run as fast as a standard sprinting lion with unyielding endurance across the surface of oceans and seas. This is halved when on land, though not when on a ship or docks. Additionally, this same sprinting speed can be utilized across the ocean or sea floor.

Able to carry one adult person on its back (at normal size) and maintain its speed. If this person is marked by U'frek, they are granted the ability to breathe underwater (saltwater only) while riding this creature.

Despite being made of driftwood, still maintain claws and teeth as sharp as a standard lion's.

Are fire-resistant due to constantly being soaked with ocean water.