Degela Koro

Degela Koros are lizard-like Solstice 2022 Event creatures introduced alongside Osta Frakasos.

Koros are obtainable in the cupboard during Solstice event periods. They can be bred and traded year-round.

## Growth

### Capsule

"A thin layer of frost coats the frigid surface of this sharp capsule."

### Juvenile

"During the winter months, this juvenile does not seem to possess much energy in the wild. It prefers to seek shelter under the cover of leaves and other muddy forest detritus. When removed from its outdoor environment and placed in a heated laboratory setting, however, the thumbnail-sized juvenile will become alert and highly curious, with a voracious and indiscriminate appetite to match."

### Adult

"In late autumn, when temperatures begin to drop, the Degela Koro starts to produce a specialized cocktail of glucose and other antifreeze compounds throughout its body. This is in preparation for its annual hibernation, during which the amphibious creature enters a state of deep dormancy and allows its body temperature and processing functions to decrease dramatically. A master of camouflage, the Degela Koro tends to nestle amongst leaf litter, scraps of tree bark, or log crevices, and it can alter the color and pattern of its skin in a matter of minutes to better match its surroundings. Although the Degela Koro spends the vast majority of its days on dry land, it is not uncommon to spot these creatures wallowing in shallow patches of mud. Their sides and fleshy tails are flanked by a row of glossy, translucent frills that mimic the appearance of sparkling icicles and secrete a bitter-tasting substance that wards off would-be predators—even during the creature's state of deep winter dormancy. Come springtime, as the ground thaws and the season's first buds begin to unfurl, so too does the Degela Koro come back to life. In a matter of days, it will return to its normal energetic state, migrating in colonies to seek out warmer breeding grounds for the spring mating season."

## Extra Info

### Whip It Good

The Degela Koro's glasslike frills are central to its elaborate courtship rituals, in which males will raise their large tail at an angle and quickly flick it back and forth, flaunting their frills in the process. Specimens with larger or more extensive sets of frills are generally seen as preferable mates, likely due to the increased amount and potency of the toxins they possess.

### Spa Treatment

While captive Degela Koros respond well to gentle handling and have been observed to enjoy taking supervised "baths" in shallow water, their stubby limbs and heavy tails can make underwater movement a difficult task. As such, extreme caution must be exercised when placing these creatures in water of any depth. Swimming time should be judiciously limited and ideally replaced with mud baths whenever possible.

### Haute Cuisine

After the spring mating season, the Degela Koro will begin to ramp up its dietary intake in an extended preparation for the harsh winter to come. Far from being picky eaters, these amphibians will consume almost any kind of small invertebrate or insect, although many Degela Koros seem to have a marked preference for the plump, colorful larvae of Brila Ornamos.

## Trivia

* TFO uses Esperanto as a basis for creature names (although it's not always exact—accents are ignored and spellings occasionally shift). “Degela Koro” means “Melting Heart."

## Acknowledgements

Art by: schenanigans, Virida. Descriptions by: cabuso.