MUDTAIL GRAZER

The Mudtail Grazer, known as “Tava-Ruun” by the Orlanda Tribe, is a long-legged quadruped herbivore of the Orlanda Marshes in the Asari Region of the Habitual Belt on 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.

• 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)

• 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

• Armor Class (AC): 11
• Hit Points (HP): 24
• Speed: 50 ft. (land), 15 ft. (swimming)

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

• 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)

• 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

• 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

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

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

• VOI 700 D
• Habitual Belt
• Asari Region
• Orlanda Marshes
• Known Wildlife of Asari

Known Predators:

• Kardar
• Marshbound Lurker