Flora and Fauna

The Desert is host to a wide variety of plants and animals, far more than its name would entail. Here is a list of the animal and plant life that is most likely to turn up in a scene.

Thornyspine Bush
A type of cactus that is incredibly common out in the Desert, the Thornyspine Bush is also known as Drifter's Shrub. Covered in sharp spines, the real treasure of the Thornyspine is the fruit it bears at the end of each cactus "paddle", a large, round, red fruit that is very nutritious, providing food and hydration to those who come across it. The fruit is also used to make a distilled drink known as Spine Wine in the civilized towns of the Desert.

Upu
The primary mount and draft animal of the Desert, the Upu is a two-legged creature most resembling a mix of a bird and a reptile, likely a more docile relative of the Kraas. The Upu is large enough to carry roughly two passengers, or to pull a medium-sized wagon. Despite their large beaks, the Upu are actually herbivores and insectivores, subsisting entirely off of fruit-bearing cacti and the large insects that thrive in the Desert. If trained properly, they can make loyal and intelligent companions for life.

Kraas
The bigger, meaner brother of the Upu. Sometimes called Hunter Demons, Kraas are among the top predators of the Desert, though they rarely venture too far inland, preferring to stick to the mountains on the north and south borders of the region. It is for this reason that these areas remain entirely unpopulated and unexplored. Kraas are vicious reptilian predators, with the males of the species possessing regenerating spines that can be fired from the backs at speeds powerful enough to kill nearly any creature they face. The colorful feathers atop their head are the ultimate status symbol a tribal warrior can own, and their eggs are a delicacy that can sell for thousands of credits in Shantytown's richer districts.

Australis
By and far the deadliest creature to ever populate the Desert, Australis is a massive, bipedal lizard-like creature that weighs several tons, with jaws that can crush steel and titanium vehicles as if they were paper. Entire tribes and settlements have been wiped out by a single Australis, thanks in part to a unique ability of theirs: they are capable of discharging large and powerful bursts of static electricity that not only stuns whatever creature is caught within its radius, but also shuts down most electronics within range, including vehicles and firearm optics. Fortunately, they are fiercely territorial, and it's believed that no more than two or three are ever in the Desert at one time.

Halsfjorddyr
A scavenger-hunter the size of the average person, with a wingspan large enough to almost engulf a truck in the Desert. It is often deadly to the lone traveler, though it usually avoids cities. Caravaneers in particular despise them, considering them a scourge. They're rarely alone; where there's one, there are certain to be more nearby. On the bright side, its soft skin makes it easy to kill compared to a Kraas, and the meat is fairly tender so a prospective hunter could make a nice profit by killing and slaughtering them. However, the liver is fatally toxic, and tends to be discarded, though some cultures use these toxins as poison.