#savannah giant
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Giant, Savannah
“Strider” © Brian Williams
[The “strider” of Advanced Fighting Fantasy is big enough to be a giant, and grassland environments are pretty giant free. Which on the one hand might make sense because of cover purposes, but on the other hand tundra and deserts get their own giant species. So this felt like a niche that, even if it didn’t need to be filled, could be filled without feeling too weird. The flavor text in Beyond the Pit puts them in savannahs, but this art is clearly set in a cave. Maybe it’s hanging out around Sterkfontain? ]
Giant, Savannah
CR 9 LE Humanoid (giant)
This strange humanoid has a head and torso proportional to that of a human, but arms and legs twice the usual length. They have dark skin and pale hair and are skeletally thin. They wear nothing but a loincloth and jewelry, but carry a double-bladed polearm.
Savannah giants have unusual proportions by the standards of giant-kind, as they are gangly and very thin. This belies their strength and dexterity, however; savannah giants are much more agile than many other types of giant. They train in fighting with double weapons instead of rocks or clubs, and the two bladed sword is a signature weapon in most savannah giant cultures. A savannah giant is not considered an adult until they have demonstrated skill with a double weapon.
Savannah giants are hunters and trackers, ranging far from their settlements in search of prey. Although they occasionally domesticate animals strong enough to carry them and their gear, such as elephants or other huge herbivores, they typically fight on foot. They keep trophies, making amulets out of bone, hide, hair and horn. These trophies can be imbued with magical power, granting their wearer the durability, reflexes or willpower they need for the day.
Most savannah giants are pitiless and mean-spirited, and they happily hire themselves out as mercenaries or assassins. Savannah giants are patriarchal, with males hunting and females caring for children and making items—savannah giant women are still dangerous, but focus on defense of their homes rather than ranging far. Magic is valued in savannah giant society, and the undead are viewed with utmost horror. Most savannah giant spellcasters are druids, oracles or occultists.
Savannah Giant CR 9
XP 6,400
LE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +4; Senses low-light vision, Perception +14
Defense
AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +7 natural, +1 shield)
hp 110 (13d8+52)
Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +11
Defensive Abilities warding talisman; Weakness gangly
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee masterwork two bladed sword +12/+7 (1d8+5/19-20) and masterwork two bladed sword +12/+7 (1d8+5/19-20) or 2 slams +13 (1d6+5)
Ranged javelin +12 (1d6+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Statistics
Str 21, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 15, Wis 16, Cha 11
Base Atk +9; CMB +14; CMD 29
Feats Acrobatic Steps, Dodge, Double Slice, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (two bladed sword) (B), Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Nimble Moves, Skill Focus (Stealth), Two Weapon Defense, Two Weapon Fighting (B)
Skills Acrobatics +12 (+16 when jumping), Climb +16, Handle Animal +11, Perception +14, Stealth +18, Survival +14
Languages Common, Giant, Gnoll
SQ double weapon training, undersized weapons
Ecology
Environment warm plains
Organization solitary, pair, party (3-6) or clan (12-40 plus 50% noncombatant juveniles and 1 4th-8th level spellcaster per 15 adults)
Treasure standard (masterwork two bladed sword, light crossbow with 20 bolts, other treasure)
Special Abilities
Double Weapon Training (Ex) A savannah giant gains proficiency in one double weapon of its choice and Two Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat.
Gangly (Ex) Because of its slight build and small torso, a savannah giant is treated as one size category smaller than its actual size for the purposes of combat maneuvers, including calculating its CMB and CMD.
Warding Talisman (Su) By spending ten minutes in concentration, a savannah giant can imbue a talisman with protective properties. For the next 24 hours, any creature wearing this talisman gains a +2 luck bonus to one type of saving throw of the savannah giant’s choice. The statistic above include a +2 luck bonus on Fortitude saves. A savannah giant can give this talisman to another creature, or it can be stolen, but a savannah giant can only have one talisman imbued in this way at a time.
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savannah via instagram - august 19, 2021
she is wearing giant vintage’s caliente sunglasses in black ($35)
worn with wrap trousers and foam runners
#savannah hudson#savannah hudson fashion#savannah hudson style#savannah hudson closet#instagram#fashion#between friends#celebrity fashion#influencer fashion#style#accessory#accessories#sunglasses#giant vintage#2021
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Twisted Zoo (Prologue)
Summary: You’re a brand new zookeeper at The Halfling Zoo- a place where half-animals live in captivity. Your job is simple- feed them and study them. Your main worry is that one of the more dangerous halflings might kill you.
Unfortunately, that may become the least of your worries.
WARNINGS: none for now
Note: This is based on the stories of a keeper reader with the octotrio by @ashensgrotto and @merakiui except I decided to take it a step further and include all the dorms. I know that a lot of these animals don’t fit them perfectly, but I did the best I could. I left out Ortho because he has no age and he looks really young so… no.
All characters are aged up, since there will be mature themes in future parts.
Also, I can’t promise I’ll finish this. I suck at finishing stories.
Chapter One here
—----------------------
“Pleased to meet you Mr. Crowley.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Ms. (Y/n)!”
You smiled up at your new boss, taking in his eccentric appearance- everything from his crow feather-lined cape, to his sparkling suit, to his top hat, and to the black bird mask that covered half his face.
That name suits him.
“Now, you’re mainly a researcher, but you will also be assisting with some of the general chores, such as feeding the animals,” Mr. Crowley explained what you already knew.
“That’s alright,” you said, smiling brightly, “That will allow me to observe even more of their behaviors.”
You were fresh out of college and ready to face The Halfling Zoo. There was plenty of debate whether it was okay to treat half-humans as animals and keep them in a zoo, but it was convenient for you. You didn’t have to travel the world to attempt to study animals from afar through a camera lens.
“You will be supervising the lion and hyena exhibit, the wolf exhibit, the panther and tiger exhibit, the bird exhibits, the reptile house, and the aquarium,” Mr. Crowley explained.
“Wait, did you mean to say the lions and hyenas are together? And the panthers and tigers? Or did I misunderstand?” you asked, confused.
“They are bonded groups, so it would be wrong to separate them,” Crowley explained, “Halflings don’t always act like their animal counterparts.”
You nodded, cursing yourself internally. You had learned that on your first day at college! How could I be so stupid to forget about the bonds different Halfling species make?
“Follow me,” Mr. Crowley’s voice broke through your thoughts, “I’ll show you around.”
The two of you left the cramped office in the main staff building and headed out onto the guests’ paths. You could see a few families walking by- less than usual, since it was nearing closing time. It felt as though the sky was growing darker by the minute as the sun made its way down the horizon, beautiful orange and pink clouds lighting its path.
You almost immediately arrived at the lion and hyena exhibit. It was a huge enclosure, the terrain so detailed that you felt as though you had stepped straight into an African savannah. In fact, you could even feel the heat emanating from the ground itself.
“We keep it as hot as their home naturally is,” Mr. Crowley explained, reading your thoughts, “They’re happy here- it’s home with no need to hunt to survive.”
You nodded, but inside you wondered if that was really true or not. Were they really happier in a giant cage on display for humans than they were in Africa? You couldn’t imagine feeling that way.
Mr. Crowley pointed out a big rock where a pride of lions had gathered, “On top of that rock is the top dog- er, cat, I mean. The king of the jungle.”
Upon closer inspection, and a lot more eye strain, you could make out a figure lying on the top of the large rock. It was a Lion Halfling, with tan skin and thick, dark mane of brown hair that fell to his shoulders, except for the braids in front of his face, which were even longer. You could just make out the lion’s ears on top of his head and the lion’s tail draped over the rock’s side.
“And those are the hyenas,” Mr. Crowley supplied, pointing to the edge of the enclosure, “They’re used to aggressive females, so the males might be a little jumpy around you.”
You remembered reading about that in school, but it was amazing to see all the Halflings in person. You couldn’t help but feel excited to study them up close. Imagine if you made a big discovery that no one else had ever discovered about Halflings! After all, there were a lot of unknowns about them.
“Onto the wolf exhibit!” Mr. Crowley said in a sing-song voice.
The enclosure was right across the way from the lions and hyenas, but it had a completely different feel. The air was cooler when you walked up to the giant forest. Through the trees, it was difficult to actually see any wolf halflings. You thought you saw a flash of white, but it was too quick to tell.
“Yes, well, this exhibit is pretty quiet during the day,” the zoo director said awkwardly, “They’ll be out tonight, howling at the moon and whatnot.”
“Wolves don’t actually howl at the moon,” you helpfully supplied, “They howl to communicate with other wolves.”
Mr. Crowley stared at you for a moment and you wondered if you had annoyed him, until he grinned widely, “Such a knowledgeable new researcher!”
You smiled at the compliment, a little embarrassed as the two of you headed for the panther and tiger exhibit. You were surprised to see it alive with Halflings, all of them staring back at the two of you with narrowed eyes.
“There’s two black panthers,” Mr. Crowley pointed them out, “and two albino tigers. The four of them are as thick as thieves.”
You cautiously waved at them, but they merely turned away and disappeared into the jungle enclosure. You wondered if they were somehow curious to see you, or if they always did this to guests.
“Next, the bird exhibits!” Mr. Crowley led the way to the aviary. He pointed out Halflings left and right in the closely-packed enclosures, “A parrot, three albino peacocks, two flamingos, an owl, and a raven. You’ll get to know them well, since they’re mostly all very friendly. Except the peacocks are a little cocky.”
You giggled a little and waved to all the birds. It was a futile effort, because, save for the owl halfling, they were all fast asleep. The owl halfling stayed on his perch, wings tucked around his body, his bespectacled face scrutinizing you. Not in a rude way, just sort of deciding what you were.
You followed Mr. Crowley into a heated building with a glass wall on one side. You peered through the glass wall and immediately spotted the Boa Constrictor Halfling lying against the wall. Human until the torso, which then winded into a snake tail.
“Don’t be fooled!” Mr. Crowley said, “There is more than one snake in that exhibit. See if you can spot it.”
You looked at every angle, struggling to spot anything different. Then, a part of the sand moved and two gray eyes glared back at you.
“A Viper Halfling, right?” you said in awe, “Aren’t those venomous?”
“Ah, yes, well,” Mr. Crowley stuttered a little, “Don’t get bitten.”
You stared at him for a moment before it sunk in. All of these animals, except the birds, were extremely dangerous! And you were going to go into their enclosures to study and feed them? Were you insane?
You pushed down the panic and took a deep breath. This is what you signed up for. You probably already waived all your rights away anyway. You hadn’t looked at the fine print of your contracts, of course.
You noticed another tank on the other side of the room and walked up to it. You couldn’t see anything inside this one, but Mr. Crowley was quick to explain, “There’s a salamander in this one. A beautiful electric blue, but extremely shy.”
You peered inside, trying to catch a glance of blue, but you couldn’t see a thing.
“Lastly, the aquarium,” Mr. Crowley clapped his hands together, as though to bring you back to reality.
The aquarium was a huge glass tank where visitors could go down the stairs and see inside. The two of you walked by it, and saw very little signs of life.
“You’ll probably see the eel twins a bit. They’re a little shy at first, but Floyd is pretty playful. The octopus, on the other hand, rarely leaves his cave. He’ll venture out to eat, but that’s about it. We should have made that damn thing see-through, but it’s too late now.”
You were glad it was a normal cave, and not transparent like the glass. The Octopus Halfling probably felt safe inside it. It wouldn’t be fair to rob him of that simple pleasure.
“That’s the end of your tour, young lady,” Mr. Crowley said cheerfully, “You start bright and early tomorrow, have a long lunch break, then leave late at night. Are you sure you’re ready to do this?”
He looked down at you with a hint of nervousness, as though he expected you to say “no”. But you were determined and excited to explore what your classes had trained you for. Real life application.
“I’m ready!”
Note: So, some of the animals are obvious, but I’m wondering what you all think the others are?
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A random thought I had that would be funny is having a zoo/aquarium date with a beasty/fishy boy and they end up seeing their animal counterpart and it stares them down or gives the two of them a lot of attention.
I think Azul, Floyd, and Jade are probably used to interacting with their animal counterparts as the ocean is pretty open and free. I like to imagine a little Azul talking with cuttlefish and other small cephalopods, venting about school and his bullies as their tentacles held onto his own in a comforting squeeze. Jade and Floyd would often be warned to not interact with their animal counterparts, as they could be more aggressive and mean than their merfolk counterparts. They didn't care and would delight in bothering an old giant moray that lived near their grotto. He was a grumpy thing, but surprisingly kind, sort of anyway. He'd rough them up, sending them home with bruises and shallow bites, to get the twins to toughen up and learn to fight back.
They'd probably enjoy the aquarium date, trying to impress you by speaking with their animal counterparts. It only works out until he (Azul and Floyd most likely) are arguing with the fish about who would make the better partner for you. Jade straight up lies and tells you that the moray isn't feeling up to conversation, and why don't we go look at the jellyfish instead :).
Leona and Ruggie probably didn't interact with their animal counterparts growing up, as Sunrise City was a rather metropolitan area. Zoos are a rather foreign concept there, as Sunset Savannah's culture is set on setting up wildlife reserves. The closest you'll get is conservations for endangered species, or rescues for wildlife that were illegally sold as pets. I personally think that lions and hyenas would be held in high regard, due to the lore connected with the King of Beasts. Jack would've seen wolf packs as a kid in the Shaftlands, but wasn't allowed to run around with him until he was a bit older. For the most part, Jack was fond of them and felt a kinship with his animal counterparts. Especially running around with the cubs, it really helped build his endurance!
Leona and Ruggie are a bit concerned and confused about the concepts of zoos. People in Sunset Savannah would not be allowed to interact with the wildlife in reserves unless they were wildlife scientists, conservationists, or veterinarians. Both are staring down the animals, the closest they've ever been to them, curious and maybe even a bit fascinated. While they may not agree with the zoos, they are enthralled with seeing their counterparts so close, even with a thick glass wall between them. Jack is actually going to bring you back home to introduce you to the wolf pack! The youngest of the pack is but an old man in wolf years, but they remember Jack and his family fondly. The same pack and its children have been hanging around them for 3 generations, so Jack is eager to introduce you to what is basically his extended family, especially if you're to join them in the near future.
#mochi asks#twst#twisted wonderland#jade leech#floyd leech#azul ashengrotto#twisted wonderland x reader#twst x reader#leona kingscholar#ruggie bucchi#jack howl#jade leech x reader#floyd leech x reader#azul ashengrotto x reader#leona kingsholar x reader#ruggie bucchi x reader#jack howl x reader
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Crab - Found on the Mangrove biome, drops a giant claw that can be used to place blocks far away.
Armadillo - Found on the Savannah biome, drops a scute that can be used to craft wolf armor.
Penguin - Found on the Stony Shores biome, helps your boat travel faster.
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doodled the reapers harhar
Grell - Savannah Cat
Wiliam - Swainson's hawk
Ronald - Thomsons Gazelle
Othello - Common squirrel monkey
Undertaker - Komodo Dragon/Giant Salamander hybrid
#I had to figure out how to draw a monkey in Itagaki's style because I don't think I've ever seen her draw monkeys in the manga#I believe in monkey othello they're real to me#black butler#kuroshitsuji#black butler art#black butler fanart#kuroshitsuji art#kuroshitsuji fanart#black butler beastars au#beastars butler au#black butler reapers#grell sutcliff#grelle sutcliff#william t spears#ronald knox#othello#undertaker#black butler othello#black butler undertaker#black butler grell#black butler william#black butler ronald#art#my art#fanart#doodles#anthro art
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how his wife, alex, savannah and laylah would welcome him back at home after the game ? 🥺
"I can't see him!" Laylah stood on her tip toes, jumping up and down to try to see over the crowd of people waiting in the family area of Arrowhead Stadium. You and the kids were standing with Donna and Ed in the lobby outside of the player's locker room, waiting for Travis to come out post game.
"He's probably still doing his press conference, Lay Lay." Savannah didn't even bother looking up from her book as she pulled her legs underneath her on one of the couches against the wall. She honestly couldn't care less about football, and always brought something to keep her occupied during the game.
"There he is!" Laylah took off down the hallway towards Travis, jumping into his arms. "Oh goodness, when did you get so heavy?" Travis chuckled, catching her with ease.
"Yay! Daddy! I'm happy you won!"
"Thank you, baby girl." He kissed her on the forehead before putting her down. You took a step back, a giant smile on your face as you watched the kids rush to their dad and get their hugs and kisses.
Alex was hitting the pre-teen age, and usually acted too cool for most things, but even he was grinning, wearing his Kelce jersey, the second person to give Travis a hug.
"Where's Nannah?" Travis asked as he hugged his mom and shook his dad's hand. He laid eyes on her, chuckling to himself as he sat down next to Savannah on the couch.
"What are you reading?" He took the book from her hands, flipping through the pages, as he leaned back. "Its a book about a woman scientist, and she travels through time." Travis scrunched his eyebrows in concentration as he read a few words.
"Can I read you a few pages when we get home to practice?" Savannah suggested, and Travis nodded immediately, a smile on his face. "I would love that Nannah."
That was one of the things you loved the most about Travis. No matter how he was going through in his career, he was always a father and husband first. You never had to second guess how important you were to him.
"Alright, let's go home. I am starving!" Savannah lifted off of the couch, making her way to the the parking garage. Alex and Laylah ran off behind her, leaving you and Travis alone for the first time all day.
"Hey." Travis grinned at you, quickly closing the gap between your bodies.
"Hello, handsome. Congratulations. How do you feel?" You tugged at his sweatshirt, Travis' hands finding your waist.
"The best I've felt in a long time, baby." He bent down, tipping your chin up towards him to place a gentle kiss on your lips. You felt your stomach flip as he guided your head to deepen the kiss.
"Mama, c'mon! I'm hungry!" Alex's voice traveled down the hallway, your eyelids fluttering open as you giggled. Travis grabbed your hand, pressing a kiss to your knuckles as you both walked to the car.
#travis kelce fanfiction#travis kelce fanfic#travis kelce imagine#traviskelce#travis kelce#travis kelce x reader#nfl fan fic#nfl imagine#nfl fanfic#nfl fanfiction
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Exxon Mobil said in December 2022 that it had closed the sale of its operations in Chad and Cameroon to London-listed Savannah Energy in a $407m deal, but the Chadian government contested the agreement, saying the final terms were different from what had been presented to it.[...]
The government warned then that it may ask courts to block Savannah’s purchase of Exxon’s assets in the country and take further steps to protect its interests.
Exxon’s assets included a 40 percent stake in Chad’s Doba oil project, which comprises seven producing oilfields with a combined output of 28,000 barrels per day (bpd).
It also included Exxon’s interest in the more than 1,000km (621-mile) Chad-Cameroon pipeline from the landlocked nation to the Atlantic Gulf of Guinea coast through which its crude is exported.[...]
on Friday, Savannah said it plans to pursue all its legal rights to contest Chad’s move a day earlier to nationalise its upstream assets in the African country.[...]
“The Conventions are subject to the jurisdiction of an ICC tribunal, seated in Paris and the Company intends to pursue all of its legal rights.”
Chad, which has the 10th largest reserves in Africa, exports 90 percent of its oil.
24 Mar 23
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Fossil Novembirb: Day 16 - Among The Giants
During the Oligocene epoch, 33-23 million years ago, the landscape of Mongolia was as endlessly vast and wild as today. Forests were rare in this part of the world, instead there were shrublands, savannahs and deserts there. This landscape was the realm of giants, like the Paraceratherium of Walking With Beasts fame. Birds were also living in this land of giants, and some were already adapting to it.
Heterostrix: A small early owl, roughly the size of modern pygmy owls. But despite its small size, it was a capable predator of large insects, lizards and mammals, even birds as large as itself.
Agnopterus: One of the earliest known true flamingoes. Little is known of this bird, but it likely fed on tiny crustaceans filtered from the water, as do modern flamingoes.
Sonogrus: One of the flightless paleognath birds that was closely related to ostriches. This fleet footed herbivore belonged to the group known as paragruids.
Ergilornis: Another stem-ostrich in the group known as ergilornithids. The inner toe of these birds was reduced in size to allow for more efficient running.
Caspiodontornis: One of the few pelagornithids known from Asia, this pseudotoothed giant flew above the remnants of the ancient Tethys Sea.
#Fossil Novembirb#Novembirb#Dinovember#birblr#palaeoblr#Birds#Dinosaurs#Cenozoic Birds#Heterostrix#Agnopterus#Sonogrus#Ergilornis#Caspiodontornis
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1. I love your blog description!
2. I noticed you take requests for headcanons, could I please get ruggie, epel, and cater with a S/O who’s much taller than them? Feel free to cut or skip whoever, thank you for your time!
Welcome in! Hope you enjoy yourself here! There's no limit to requests, so if you ever wanna make another, I'd be happy to oblige :3
Hope these are long enough for ya
Tall s/o!
Ruggie Bucchi
He isn't surprised be you male or female.
In his homeland, women are naturally larger than the men when it comes to hyena beastmen, and he isn't exactly the biggest man, so he isn't really bothered by your height
He likes to make use of your height to help him work, since he's not the tallest and can't reach everything.
He asks politely before pulling you down for kisses, or he asks you to lean down.
Ruggie is a respectful young man.
Until you disrespect him
You're always big spooning since it doesn't hurt Ruggie's pride to be held and he quite likes it.
Cuddles are his go to if you're feeling sad.
He just comes up to you and hugs your torso or whatever he can reach.
He does not care if people make fun of you both for the height difference if you're a woman, but if it bothers you, trust and believe he's throwing hands
Epel Felmier
His pride is a lil hurt if you're a lady, ngl
He doesn't bother with asking for help, wanting to show he's just as capable of doing tall people things as you are
You have to force the help or watch him struggle until he asks
Epel does his best to show that he can protect you or be just as strong as you if you're the strong type.
If you're a gentle giant and you actually hide behind him (I do that with my short friends) then he's always ready to fight for you
You could literally activate his inner gremlin by doing that.
He'd even fight Vil if you hide behind him while Vil is talking to you
The cuddles...
He wanted big spoon.
He gets it sometimes
Sometimes he doesn't
He will pout about being the little spoon.
Cater Diamond
Taller man? He's not that affected.
Taller woman? Bro is trembling at first.
Literally everywhere but the Afterglow(sunset savannah) is based on societies where women are expected to be short and petite.
The treatment that goes both ways is the pictures being taken constantly.
Really, Cater doesn't change much with a male's height in terms of romance, but a tall woman, Cater is slightly intimidated by because he's never seen a woman his age that is taller.
At first, when he wanted to ask you out, he wasn't even sure he was worthy of you because you seemed almost foreign to the guy.
Like- you seemed like an extraterrestrial being to him in the best way possible
He tries his best for you, and tries, much like Epel, to be of use to you in some way, even if it isn't height related.
Cater with a tall s/o is a Cater that likes to jump on your back and hitch a few rides to see if you can hold him
He quite enjoys little spooning, but sometimes he big spoons when you need comfort
If h can't get something down and you're right there, he will ask you for help.
#ruggie bucchi#cater diamond#epel felmier#pomefiore#savanaclaw#heartslabyul#twst#twst headcanons#twisted wonderland headcanons#twisted wonderland#twst x reader#twisted wonderland x reader#epel felmier x reader#ruggie bucci x reader#cater diamond x reader#pomefiore x reader#heartslaybul x reader#savanaclaw x reader
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ik this is in no way an original thought but what on earth is her deal like actually. who the hell has a best friends forever poster like this especially of that size.
a framed photo, sure. but a giant ass fucking poster of your friend from when you were thirteen and both as ugly as the average 13 year old. i wanna deep dive into savannah reeds mind
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savannah via instagram - april 11, 2021
she is wearing giant vintage’s barbz flash sunglasses ($30)
worn with gum t-shirt and podium flared track pants
#savannah hudson#savannah hudson fashion#savannah hudson style#savannah hudson closet#instagram#between friends#fashion#influencer fashion#celebrity fashion#style#sunglasses#giant vintage#2021
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Would sunset Savannah Sebek still end up in Diasomnia or end up somewhere else at NRC?
Omg
*everyone in Diasomnia watches as the new giant kid cry in the garden because he didn't get with his liege in Savannaclaw*
He actually ends up in Savanaclaw!
The general idea (from @/yall-got-me-fucked-up) stems from the fact that Sebek entered Diasomnia because "of his pursuit of excellence to be the best possible guard he can be for Malleus since his entire self worth depends on it."
But with Leona, Sebek is constantly reassured by both Leona and the people around him that he is appreciated and loved in a more direct way than Diasomnia.
I'd also like to add on to this au because Sebek was suggested to be Leona's bodyguard at a young age by Baul when he was retiring, and Leona's already infamous for sending grown ass men crying home just by dealing with him.
Sebek stuck out the longest, for a full 6 months, even though Leona didn't treat him kindly at first. I wont spoil past that, but what makes this Sebek belong in Savanaclaw is his persistence to be Leona's guard, and later on one of his closest friends.
#twisted wonderland#twst#sebek zigvolt#twst sebek#sebek twisted wonderland#twst sebek zigvolt#my asks!#leona kingscholar#twst leona#twst lion's vassal au
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Vulpes Pallida
Mostly due to its remote habitat and well-camouflaged coat, the pale fox is one of the least studied canines in the world.
Pale foxes are usually found in the southern part of the Sahara desert. They share this habitat with fennec foxes and Ruppell's foxes. Pale foxes’ range also extends further south to wetter habitats like the Guinean savannah (see image below). If I was a pale fox I would definitely prefer living there.
Pale foxes are gregarious animals, which means they are quite social. They generally share a burrow with a couple other foxes. This burrow is large, and it has multiple chambers lined with grasses and other vegetation. They spend the day in this burrow, coming out at night to hunt. They have no known predators, so they probably only do this to avoid the hot desert temperatures.
Like most foxes, pale foxes will eat almost anything. This includes eggs, reptiles, insects, carrion, and vegetation like wild melons. The pale fox’s ears aren’t as giant as the fennec or Ruppell’s foxe’s, but they still have excellent hearing that allows them to find prey under sand. They also have quite short legs. This makes it easier for them to navigate tunnels and stay hidden in grass.
I rate the pale fox 11/10 absolutely amazing
Photo credits:
(1) Joel Sartore (2) Lindsay Stark (3) Joel Sartore (4) Doug Macdonald (5) Christian Artuso
#animals#biology#nature#science#wildlife#zoology#animal#dog#dogs#wild#pale fox#fox#foxes#pale foxes#vulpes
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Hey I thought you might appreciate a heads up that the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) has been spotted in Savannah, Georgia. 😞
Nice. Well, not nice news. But glad that you thought of me. Thank you.
(For other people who have yet to fully embrace and explore their innate love of hornets, this Vespa velutina hornet is originally from Southeast Asia. This creature is closely related to Vespa mandarinia, the creature derisively referred to in the US as "murder hornet" or "Asian giant hornet", originally from South/East Asia, which is now apparently established near in the Salish Sea region near Bellingham, Vancouver, and Nanaimo.)
Here's a look at where the giant hornets now live in North America, along with the distribution of some other large hornets which might be mistaken as Vespa manadrinia/velutina:
The map was originally published in 2022 in American Entomologist, displaying distribution range of (non-native) giant hornet; (non-native) European hornet; (native) southern yellowjacket; and (native) eastern cicada killer. The article also identifies a few few other species which might be mistaken for "murder hornets": great golden digger wasp, bald-faced hornet, German yellowjacket, red-legged cannibal fly, and pigeon horntail. (Available to read for free online; article title in the source/caption beneath the map.)
I've had many memorable encounters with large (native) bald-faced hornets in dense cedar-hemlock rainforest-y places. And coincidentally, the Pacific Northwest is also now apparently the North American home/homebase of Vespa mandarinia. So here are some other PNW wasps/hornets in comparison, from Oregon State University Extension Catalog (2022):
From 2020 research on potential dispersal of Vespa mandarinia over a couple of decades (not necessarily a good or realistic representation, not inevitable, kinda just "potential"):
Apparently Vespa mandarinia haven't yet been encountered outside of the general Vancouver area during targeted samples:
I know that you too are fond of wasps/hornets, and are aware of their popular demonization, the way that they're feared, etc. In July 2022, the Entomological Society of America put out an online resource thing that explains why they don't like the name "Asian giant hornet" for Vespa mandarinia and Vespa velutina, instead adopting "northern giant hornet" and "yellow-legged hornet" (which you called the creature, too!) because of the racialized/xenophobic implications. ("Northern Giant Hornet Common Name Toolkit" available at: entsoc.org/publications/common-names/northern-giant-hornet) They say: '"Murder hornet" unnecessarily invokes fear and violence, which impede accurate public understanding of the insect and its biology and behavior. While "Asian" on its own is a neutral descriptor, its association with a pest insect that inspires fear and is targeted for eradication may bolster anti-Asian sentiment in some people - at a time when hate crimes and discrimination against people of Asian descent in the United States are on the rise.'
Which, for me, brings to mind this recent book from Jeannie Shinozuka:
From the publisher's blurb: 'In the late nineteenth century, increasing traffic of transpacific plants, insects, and peoples raised fears of a “biological yellow peril” [...]. Over the next fifty years, these crossings transformed conceptions of race and migration, played a central role in the establishment of the US empire and its government agencies, and shaped the fields of horticulture, invasion biology, entomology, and plant pathology. [...] Shinozuka uncovers the emergence of biological nativism that fueled American imperialism and spurred anti-Asian racism that remains with us today. [...] She shows how the [...] panic about foreign species created a linguistic and conceptual arsenal for anti-immigration movements that flourished in the early twentieth century [...] that defined groups as bio-invasions to be regulated—or annihilated.'
A lot going on at that time with insects, empire, and xenophobia. In the 1890s, the British Empire was desperately searching for a way to halt malaria, and mosquitoes had just been discovered as vectors of malaria. And from Nobel prize podium lectures to popular media newspapers and academic journals, there was all kinds of talk about how "bacteria/viruses/insects are the greatest enemy of the Empire" and whatever. The US was also expanding in the Caribbean, Central America, Pacific islands towards East Asia, etc. Tropical plantations were proliferating, not just in Dutch Java or British India, but also in US administered Central America. And so insects were perceived not just as a threat to the human body of the British soldier or American administrator; insects were also a threat to profits, as insect pests threatened monoculture plantations and agriculture.
That same time period saw the US invasion of the Philippines and exports of products from the islands; the US annexation of Hawai'i, and elevating rivalry with Japan; the 1882 passage of the notorious Chinese Exclusion Act; US control of Cuba and Puerto Rico; expansion of US fruit corporations in Central America and US sugarcane plantations in Cuba/Hawai'i, where insect pests threatened plantation profits; the advent of "Yellow Peril" tropes and fear of invasion in science fiction literature; the detaining of half a million (mostly Chinese) people at the medical quarantine processing center that the US Public Health Service operated at Angel Island in San Francisco; and US insect extermination projects, mosquito control campaigns, and medical policing of local people in Cuba and the Panama Canal Zone (where US authorities detained local people for medical testing).
A lot to consider.
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'Savannah jambos, second-largest of all Temperocene land animals next only to their cousins the elephinos, are well-adapted to hot, dry tropical grasslands, not only possessing large ears and dewlaps to shed heat but also excreting concentrated urine and dry feces to conserve water. Yet these giant piggalos' ability to retain moisture makes them a prime target for small, thirsty pests seeking water: which typically consists of small bloodsucking insects, but occasionally includes a much bigger unwelcome guest--the sanguine bacardi (Sanguinonyctus haemophilus), a large ratbat of the falcyon family. Blood is 90% water, and thus most other blood-drinkers are forced to make do with a poor diet and dispose of large quantities of water in their waste. But the sanguine bacardi's dietary requirement is quite the opposite-- as much of its diet is a wide array of plants and animals as a normally generalist omnivore lacking in moisture, it has come up with a novel, if gruesome, means of hydrating itself during dry spells when water in the environment is scarce to come by. Fortunately, their bites are trivial to such large animals, though in rare cases, they may end up transmitting internal parasites as they feed, or creating open wounds that can become entry points for harmful pathogens.'
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#speculative evolution#speculative biology#spec evo#speculative zoology#hamster's paradise#art one shot
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