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=== Major Planetary Zones | (Twin) Sections of the Habitual Belt | Regions | Wildlife ===

====== MUDTAIL GRAZER ======

{{ :mudtail_grazer_gg_scenic_2d.png?200|}}

===== Overview =====
The Mudtail Grazer, known as “Tava-Ruun” by the [[the_orlanda|Orlanda Tribe]], is a long-legged quadruped herbivore of the [[orlanda_marshes|Orlanda Marshes]] in the [[asari|Asari Region]] of the [[habitual_belt|Habitual Belt]] on [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]].  

Famed for its silent, deliberate gait and unusual head profile, the Grazer sports a pair of horn-like “stalks” that resemble eyestalks (but contain no eyes). Actual eyes sit low and wide on the skull’s flanks, granting panoramic awareness while the animal feeds in reeds. A flattened tail — its namesake “mudtail”—helps balance on soft ground and ripple-signal the herd. By trimming reeds and soft shoots, Tava-Ruun maintain open channels, while serving as staple prey for marsh apex predators like the [[kardar|Kardar]].

===== Physique and Appearance =====
  * **Length:** ~1.6 m  
  * **Shoulder Height:** 85–95 cm  
  * **Weight:** 70–90 kg  
  * **Fur:** Short, sleek, pale brown with darker dorsal striping; faint algae streaking on legs and belly  
  * **Legs & Feet:** Four long limbs ending in even-toed, splayed cloven hooves with flexible lateral pads (prevent sinking; good traction in slurry)  
  * **Tail:** Long, flattened “mudtail” used for balance and low-frequency water signaling  
  * **Head:** Narrow muzzle with keratin rasp pad; paired horn-stalks arching upward, eyes placed on skull flanks for 300° field of view  
  * **Speed:** Up to 50 km/h (burst)

==== Special Features: ====
  * **Mud-Splay Hooves:** Cloven hooves with soft lateral pads spread under load, acting like natural mudshoes  
  * **Horn-Stalk Antennae:** Hollow, reed-textured structures with sensory lamellae for vibration/chemical sampling; double as camouflage  
  * **Side-Set Eyes:** Wide FOV adapted to ambush-prone reed thickets; excellent motion contrast in twilight  
  * **Tail Ripple Signal:** Tail flicks send low ripples across shallow water to warn herd without vocalizing  
  * **Mimic Coloration:** Pelt hues break outline among muted marsh grasses

===== Game Mechanics =====
  * **Armor Class (AC):** 11  
  * **Hit Points (HP):** 24  
  * **Speed:** 50 ft. (land), 15 ft. (swimming)

==== Actions ====
  * **Kick Retreat:** 1d6 bludgeoning (delivered while fleeing)  
  * **Startled Leap:** Instantly hops backward up to 10 ft. when surprised

==== Special Abilities ====
  * **Marsh Navigator:** Advantage on Dexterity checks to avoid slipping/sinking in mud or reeds  
  * **Silent Step:** +2 to Stealth in reedbeds or bog terrain  
  * **Group Alertness:** When one Grazer is surprised, nearby Grazers gain advantage on initiative for 1 round (tail-ripple signal)

===== Behavior =====
  * **Diet:** Reed shoots, mosses, wetland fruits, soft aquatic stems  
  * **Social Structure:** Small herds (5–12) led by an experienced female  
  * **Activity Pattern:** Most active during cooler mist cycles; mid-day loafing on firmer hummocks

==== Survival Strategies: ====
  * **Freeze Camouflage:** Herd appears as a patch of plants  
  * **Echo Alerts:** Low tail-ripple pulses propagate through shallows to coordinate silent retreats  
  * **Edge Browsing:** Feeds on hummock margins for fast escape lanes

===== Reproduction and Lifecycle =====
  * **Breeding Season:** Unknown (linked to fog cycles per Orlanda accounts)  
  * **Gestation:** ~6 months  
  * **Offspring:** 1–2 fawns  
  * **Lifespan:** 12–15 years (est.)

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====
Use Mudtail Grazers as living barometers of safety—or warning—in the marsh:
  * **Encounter Signs:** Splayed cloven tracks with pad-drag in slurry; flattened reed ovals for day beds  
  * **Silent Alarm:** A sudden wave of tail ripples across a channel hints at unseen predators  
  * **Camouflage Puzzle:** What looks like reeds may “turn” and flee—revealing a hidden herd and nearby hunters

===== Related Pages and Further Information =====
  * [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]  
  * [[habitual_belt|Habitual Belt]]  
  * [[asari|Asari Region]]  
  * [[orlanda_marshes|Orlanda Marshes]]  
  * [[wildlife_of_asari|Known Wildlife of Asari]]

**Known Predators:**  
  * [[kardar|Kardar]]  
  * [[marshbound_lurker|Marshbound Lurker]]