Shaedak

Among the frosty heights of the Ludwagian mountains lurks a beast of unknowable size. In the earliest records of both Nixian and Ludwag-Dwarf history they appear regularly as both terror and testament to a hero's valor. They predate the rise of the mons and fall of the dwarves by several millennia, a primeval resident of the frigid regions of the Elven continent. Their ancestry is one of mystery, however they have not changed much physiologically since the splintering of the continents. Their ancient and unknowable demeanor has driven many to persecute them, causing a great decline. Even so Shaedak remain prevalent in areas where man or elf are not.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

Shaedak are great arthropods of a centauristic form. They stand on two sets of legs each ended with three clawed toes. These claws work with the broad foot to carry the body across the uneven and thickly snowfallen regions of the Shaedak’s domain. Shaedak are largely unaffected by the difficulty of terrain traversal seen by sapient races. That said, they’re extremely slow. A Shaedak’s great weight means they can only lift one foot off the ground at a time- only able to keep up with a dwarf. Their reliable but slow movement makes for consistent long-distance travel though, with Shaedak able to travel along vast distances and territories.

Controlling vast territories or finding food can be difficult when you can’t rely on speed. Shaedak are proportionally equipped to combat this issue. Their antennae are extremely sensitive to scents like carrion and the markings left by other Shaedak. Shaedak don’t have as good eyesight as sapient races -being colorblind- but are able to distinguish shapes and movement in their forested home. The slightest movement may be identified by a Shaedak as far as a half-mile away. To distinguish scents, Shaedak produce a mucus which can be spread on surfaces as a means to communicate intent. These mucus layers can be distinguished by their color: orange mucus represents territorial borders or stakes to claim, yellow mucus advertises fitness and potential pairings, and red represents warnings to other Shaedak of potential danger.

Generalistic omnivores, Shaedak are equipped both for predation and for grazing. Their shearing four mandibles act as means to strip the nettles of pine or butcher flesh into smaller pieces. Shaedak then feed these smaller chunks into the mouthparts for proper digestion. They hunt small or slow game with their elongated claws. Though they’re unable of utilizing tools, a strike from a Shaedak’s claws can be just as devastating, able to puncture plate armor with a well placed stab. To resist predation by other organisms or to simply impede efforts by their prey to retaliate, Shaedak are covered in a chitinous armor. Their chitin plates are able to resist the strikes of small weapons, projectiles, and the stings of yetiants. Despite their armor, chinks at the joints expose the Shaedak’s interior cartilage to potential attack. Upon death, the chitin of a Shaedak will decay to a brittle state, making it unideal for armor.

#### Psychology

Despite a brutish appearance, Shaedak possess a level of intellect above other monsters. They are able to retain information gained from previous events and use it to influence their actions. Their teachings may in turn be passed down to the next generation. This intergenerational instruction has led to distinct cultures of Shaedak, though they all collectively have one thing in common; a bitter hatred of dwarves. It’s believed that the arrival of the dwarves some few hundred years ago greatly displaced the existing population, a trauma they have yet to forget.

Shaedak from troops of up to six adult specimens. They’re led by a female or ‘matriarch’. She is responsible for enforcing her territory and dominion over feeding grounds. Though Shaedak will socialize with others in their troop, they can be extremely territorial with other Shaedak outside their troop. Skirmishes over border disputes between troops are fairly common, though deaths are not.