Chapter 7: BESTIarY A swafa’s back narrows from the hips through the shoulders, and is not exactly ideal for mounting a saddle The bone ridge of its spine offers no comfortable position, so riding a swafa bareback is nearly impossible A proper swafa saddle attaches with bolts and thick leather straps to a frame drilled into the swafa’s hips and spine The saddling requires the animal be drugged to unconsciousness, and some never survive the process A new saddle can be swapped out for repair or improvement, as necessary, though the saddle frame remains permanently affixed to the beast Tabahk (Thorn Lizard) Named the tabahk by Makadan nomads, this mediumsized lizard inhabits the savannahs, preying on unwary herd animals and wildlife People prize the thorn lizard not only for its meat but its hide, which can be made into some of the best Khitan hide armor A complete, undamaged hide fetches a good price with the caravans or in any city, where defensive measures become more important with every passing season The tabahk lives near grasslands whenever possible It’s not unusual to see these reptiles chasing small rodents on up to herd animals like manju It can grow to be around three feet tall and weigh as much as 60 pounds Tabahks are fierce, aggressive, and cunning against creatures up to their own size, but flee larger creatures whenever possible Cornered thorn lizards can unleash fearsome attacks with claws and fangs Their natural armor is very difficult to penetrate, so hunters have devised an effective tactic to attack the spot just under a tabahk’s neck in a single blow Thakal “The moons of Khitus ride on the back of the thakal.” The primary Khitan beast of burden is a difficult, foulsmelling but powerful lizard called the thakal They have been domesticated since the early Classic Age and employed heavily in the mass migrations of humans from the distant south to their present day homelands They are typically creatures of the arid plains, staying clear of mountains and forests Thakal can be harnessed to the plow or wagons, even teamed with difficulty—a drover needs great skill (or calming herbs snuck into their food) to keep them from fighting one another Heavy loads can be strapped to their backs, but their uneven, loping gate makes it a rough journey Goods need to be packed well and strapped down tight to survive intact Thakal must be captured for domestication as wild adults—a dangerous task given their size and aggressive disposition Younger thakal, while more easily captured, often panic and quickly sicken and die in captivity Both males and females serve well as mounts, the former generally bulkier and stronger, the latter somewhat quicker on their feet Males must be castrated to keep them calm enough for use Branding and scarring mark the beasts for ownership, original trainers, best uses, and so on Thakal saddles are wide and grip the animal as firmly at the spine as possible, since the rest of the beast waggles back and forth as it lopes along Creating saddles comfortable for both rider and mount is easier said than done; many claim to have perfected the practice, though most riders have sore backsides that say otherwise When still, a thakal provides a stable platform for javelineers or archers, but aim is less accurate while on the move Thakal are saddled and ridden for personal transportation, as well, and serve as heavy cavalry mounts to human armies and marauders across the wastelands In battle, they lash out with claws and fangs, though skilled riders must rein in their mount’s anger to use their own 139