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Description
Around three-thousand years ago, the desert of Erbica used to occupy the very corner of the Barrier Mountain and surrounded by the marshes of Solis. As the Sandrunner chromaraptors expanded their territory during the Wet Sand Wars against the Dirtsprinters, the desert itself expanded via a terraforming process known as Biomic Fluctuation. As the marshes receded many of the creatures of Solis died out or migrated north to the swamps of Ponodas.

Ancestral Kaybud (small halszkaraptorine on the left): The Dirtsprinters were dependent on the waters of Solis for many aspects of life, such as hunting and transportation of goods. However, the seasonal changes can change the waters in ways that can spell disaster for the Dirtsprinters. Luckily, the Dirtsprinters were able to ally with a smaller dromaeosaur species who could control the waters with their own brand of magic known as inland hydromancy. The Kaybuds' (Hydrophiloraptor timidus) small size and bright coloration (both in feathering and clothing) made them vulnerable to predators, especially along the edges of rivers and lakes, so the Dirtsprinters promised to protect them in exchange for help keeping the waters under control. The Kaybuds were also helpful in mining operations due to their immunity to the toxic effects of cobalt. Newly found texts suggest that this relationship worked out well enough that marriages between the two species were allowed, though such unions apparently didn't produce any offspring. This largely peaceful existence would not last forever, though, as the Sandrunners waged war on both the Dirtsprinters and the Kaybuds. Unfortunately for the Kaybuds, as the waters dried due to the expansion of Erbica, their hydromancy diminished in power until many Kaybuds had no choice but to flee. These Kaybud tribes went far and wide to find refuge from the Sandrunner onslaught. Unfortunately, most of the Kaybuds were wiped out, not by the Sandrunner, but by hostile wildlife and other Chromaraptor races. Only two Kaybud tribes have survived to this day but they have changed as to be unrecognizable from their Kaybud ancestors. The last population of "Ancestral Kaybuds" had escaped from Goldfeather captivity as the "Golden Age" was coming to a close. Though they managed to survive off the streams and ponds of Autrus, the "Freed Ones" all died of heat exhaustion right when they got to an oasis in their homeland.

Reedsnatcher (aigialosaur on the bottom): One of the many hazards of the Solis marshes were a species of basal mosasauroid known as the Reedsnatcher (Insidiasaurus calamuphilus). Unlike their oceanic cousins, Reedsnatchers were able to crawl onto land to lay their eggs or to attack prey. True to their name, Reedsnatchers preferred large patches of shoreline plants as their hiding places. During the Wet Sand Wars, Dirtrunner animal tamers and Kaybud hydromancers were able to train many of these lizards to target Sandrunners and leave Dirtsprinters and Kaybuds alone. Despite the many Reedsnatcher-based casualties among the Sandrunners, the drying of the marshes meant that the Reedsnatchers gradually lost their habitat and went extinct.

Marsh Lumber (Large saurolophine at the middle): Only surpassed in size by the Wood Lumber of Engannor and the Plains Lumber of Autrus, the Marsh Lumbers (Macrosea mansuetus) peacefully rooted around the rich plantlife of Solis. Being too large for many of Solis's predators, including the Dirtsprinters, Marsh Lumbers did not develop the foul temperament of their larger cousins. Dirtsprinter texts even mention accounts of rangers and other travelers passively riding on the backs of these beasts without any resistance. However, as Erbica expanded, so did the territories of Sand Tyrants. Taking advantage of such passive and nicely fattened creatures, the Sand Tyrants feasted on the Marsh Lumbers until only one unusually assertive individual was left, protected in the Dirtsprinter city of Monphik. This Marsh Lumber, known as Hamival, along with the four known remaining Water-Bringers, were used to defend the city during the very last battle of the Wet Sand Wars. Though the Dirtsprinter forces and their city fell, Hamival was able to take a quarter of the Sandrunner fighters and constructs with him.

Sand Tyrant (Large retro tyrannosaur on the upper right): While most Tyrants sought out treasure in order to increase their power, Sand Tyrants preferred to keep to themselves and feast on any creatures they came across. These reclusive and non-greedy tendencies came from a preference to stay alive over being hunted by Goldfeather zealots like the other Tyrants. As Diabolic cults popped up throughout Erbica, the Sand Tyrants were tempted by the possibility of being able to defend themselves from chromaraptor threats with the power provided by the Diabol Lords. One by one, all the Sand Tyrants contacted the Diabol Lords and were granted new monstrous forms and great power. However, instead of being hunted by the Goldfeather zealots (who still didn't know of their existence), they ended up being among the casualties of Stone-King Serkon as he went on his campaign to cleanse the desert of Diabolic corruption. After Stone-King Serkon was assassinated, only one Sand Tyrant was left. Bumhaba was the leader of the only major Diabolic cult due to his ferocity in battle. As a reward for his service, the Diabol Lords changed Bumhaba's tail into a giant venomous snake to further aid him in battle. Around three years ago, Bumhaba's cult were killed off by a party of adventurers and he was driven into fleeing his cave. After weeks of starvation, Bumhaba came across an oasis occupied by creatures he had not seen for over three-thousand years: a tribe of Kaybuds (with strangely dull coloration) and a single Water-Bringer, Tarrowasque the Defender ( www.deviantart.com/oaglor/art/…). Despite Bumhaba's great power and his tail-snake, the Tyrant was no match for the eye lasers and the minions of the Last Water-Bringer.

Egtzul (Abomination on the far right): During the heyday of Erbica's Diabolic cults, it was not uncommon for cultists to go on weekly raids on towns and cities to capture victims to sacrifice to the Diabol Lords. Among the monstrosities that were created from the remaining bodies and souls were the Egtzul. Molded from the broken bodies of Sandrunner adults and activated with the souls of children, Egtzul were the preferred mounts and guard-beasts of high ranking cultists. In addition to their high kill drive and armored hide, Egtzul also put off a very strong herbal smell (exactly like lavender, which does not exist on Khonureth) which could disorient many Chromaraptors. Thankfully, the forces of Stone-King Serkon wiped out most of Erbica's Diabolic cults, including the Egtzul, and burned all texts pertaining to the creation of such monstrosities. No. There are indeed no copies of said texts. No cultists managed to stow such texts away. No copies can be found in the libraries of the Goldfeather or the Orchidmaw. Even the Diabol Lords were thankfully too short-sighted to write the rituals down. SO SAYS OAGLOR!

Closeup View of Smaller Creatures: sta.sh/072r7c2zrn0

The Sand Tyrant depicted (Bumhaba) is based on a combination of retro-tyrannosaurs (particularly the "Imperial Toys" T. rex) and the shrink-wrapping brought upon by the Dinosaur Renaissance (the temporal fenestra is actually hollowed out). His name and him having a snake for a tail is also based on Humbaba, a giant who was defeated by Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
The Egtzul is based on the Ur'zul from World of Warcraft which is owned by Activision-Blizzard.
The Egtzul's lavender smell is based on a conversation with
The Kaybuds' immunity to cobalt is based on the association of cobalt with the kobolds of German myth.

Description
Around three-thousand years ago, the desert of Erbica used to occupy the very corner of the Barrier Mountain and surrounded by the marshes of Solis. As the Sandrunner chromaraptors expanded their territory during the Wet Sand Wars against the Dirtsprinters, the desert itself expanded via a terraforming process known as Biomic Fluctuation. As the marshes receded many of the creatures of Solis died out or migrated north to the swamps of Ponodas.

Ancestral Kaybud (small halszkaraptorine on the left): The Dirtsprinters were dependent on the waters of Solis for many aspects of life, such as hunting and transportation of goods. However, the seasonal changes can change the waters in ways that can spell disaster for the Dirtsprinters. Luckily, the Dirtsprinters were able to ally with a smaller dromaeosaur species who could control the waters with their own brand of magic known as inland hydromancy. The Kaybuds' (Hydrophiloraptor timidus) small size and bright coloration (both in feathering and clothing) made them vulnerable to predators, especially along the edges of rivers and lakes, so the Dirtsprinters promised to protect them in exchange for help keeping the waters under control. The Kaybuds were also helpful in mining operations due to their immunity to the toxic effects of cobalt. Newly found texts suggest that this relationship worked out well enough that marriages between the two species were allowed, though such unions apparently didn't produce any offspring. This largely peaceful existence would not last forever, though, as the Sandrunners waged war on both the Dirtsprinters and the Kaybuds. Unfortunately for the Kaybuds, as the waters dried due to the expansion of Erbica, their hydromancy diminished in power until many Kaybuds had no choice but to flee. These Kaybud tribes went far and wide to find refuge from the Sandrunner onslaught. Unfortunately, most of the Kaybuds were wiped out, not by the Sandrunner, but by hostile wildlife and other Chromaraptor races. Only two Kaybud tribes have survived to this day but they have changed as to be unrecognizable from their Kaybud ancestors. The last population of "Ancestral Kaybuds" had escaped from Goldfeather captivity as the "Golden Age" was coming to a close. Though they managed to survive off the streams and ponds of Autrus, the "Freed Ones" all died of heat exhaustion right when they got to an oasis in their homeland.

Reedsnatcher (aigialosaur on the bottom): One of the many hazards of the Solis marshes were a species of basal mosasauroid known as the Reedsnatcher (Insidiasaurus calamuphilus). Unlike their oceanic cousins, Reedsnatchers were able to crawl onto land to lay their eggs or to attack prey. True to their name, Reedsnatchers preferred large patches of shoreline plants as their hiding places. During the Wet Sand Wars, Dirtrunner animal tamers and Kaybud hydromancers were able to train many of these lizards to target Sandrunners and leave Dirtsprinters and Kaybuds alone. Despite the many Reedsnatcher-based casualties among the Sandrunners, the drying of the marshes meant that the Reedsnatchers gradually lost their habitat and went extinct.

Marsh Lumber (Large saurolophine at the middle): Only surpassed in size by the Wood Lumber of Engannor and the Plains Lumber of Autrus, the Marsh Lumbers (Macrosea mansuetus) peacefully rooted around the rich plantlife of Solis. Being too large for many of Solis's predators, including the Dirtsprinters, Marsh Lumbers did not develop the foul temperament of their larger cousins. Dirtsprinter texts even mention accounts of rangers and other travelers passively riding on the backs of these beasts without any resistance. However, as Erbica expanded, so did the territories of Sand Tyrants. Taking advantage of such passive and nicely fattened creatures, the Sand Tyrants feasted on the Marsh Lumbers until only one unusually assertive individual was left, protected in the Dirtsprinter city of Monphik. This Marsh Lumber, known as Hamival, along with the four known remaining Water-Bringers, were used to defend the city during the very last battle of the Wet Sand Wars. Though the Dirtsprinter forces and their city fell, Hamival was able to take a quarter of the Sandrunner fighters and constructs with him.

Sand Tyrant (Large retro tyrannosaur on the upper right): While most Tyrants sought out treasure in order to increase their power, Sand Tyrants preferred to keep to themselves and feast on any creatures they came across. These reclusive and non-greedy tendencies came from a preference to stay alive over being hunted by Goldfeather zealots like the other Tyrants. As Diabolic cults popped up throughout Erbica, the Sand Tyrants were tempted by the possibility of being able to defend themselves from chromaraptor threats with the power provided by the Diabol Lords. One by one, all the Sand Tyrants contacted the Diabol Lords and were granted new monstrous forms and great power. However, instead of being hunted by the Goldfeather zealots (who still didn't know of their existence), they ended up being among the casualties of Stone-King Serkon as he went on his campaign to cleanse the desert of Diabolic corruption. After Stone-King Serkon was assassinated, only one Sand Tyrant was left. Bumhaba was the leader of the only major Diabolic cult due to his ferocity in battle. As a reward for his service, the Diabol Lords changed Bumhaba's tail into a giant venomous snake to further aid him in battle. Around three years ago, Bumhaba's cult were killed off by a party of adventurers and he was driven into fleeing his cave. After weeks of starvation, Bumhaba came across an oasis occupied by creatures he had not seen for over three-thousand years: a tribe of Kaybuds (with strangely dull coloration) and a single Water-Bringer, Tarrowasque the Defender ( www.deviantart.com/oaglor/art/…). Despite Bumhaba's great power and his tail-snake, the Tyrant was no match for the eye lasers and the minions of the Last Water-Bringer.

Egtzul (Abomination on the far right): During the heyday of Erbica's Diabolic cults, it was not uncommon for cultists to go on weekly raids on towns and cities to capture victims to sacrifice to the Diabol Lords. Among the monstrosities that were created from the remaining bodies and souls were the Egtzul. Molded from the broken bodies of Sandrunner adults and activated with the souls of children, Egtzul were the preferred mounts and guard-beasts of high ranking cultists. In addition to their high kill drive and armored hide, Egtzul also put off a very strong herbal smell (exactly like lavender, which does not exist on Khonureth) which could disorient many Chromaraptors. Thankfully, the forces of Stone-King Serkon wiped out most of Erbica's Diabolic cults, including the Egtzul, and burned all texts pertaining to the creation of such monstrosities. No. There are indeed no copies of said texts. No cultists managed to stow such texts away. No copies can be found in the libraries of the Goldfeather or the Orchidmaw. Even the Diabol Lords were thankfully too short-sighted to write the rituals down. SO SAYS OAGLOR!

Closeup View of Smaller Creatures: sta.sh/072r7c2zrn0

The Sand Tyrant depicted (Bumhaba) is based on a combination of retro-tyrannosaurs (particularly the "Imperial Toys" T. rex) and the shrink-wrapping brought upon by the Dinosaur Renaissance (the temporal fenestra is actually hollowed out). His name and him having a snake for a tail is also based on Humbaba, a giant who was defeated by Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
The Egtzul is based on the Ur'zul from World of Warcraft which is owned by Activision-Blizzard.
The Egtzul's lavender smell is based on a conversation with
The Kaybuds' immunity to cobalt is based on the association of cobalt with the kobolds of German myth.