David Millians

Baboon, Hwa Gow

Papio cynanthropus

The Hwa Gow Baboon is one of the smallest species of baboon, usually less than two feet tall. Its pelt is a dark creamy color, darker on the face with a short mane. They have short, curling tails and can walk long distances. They are opportunistically omnivorous and sometimes dig for water.

This baboon lives in the high country of western Boshan province, preferring dry mixed vegetation and avoiding dense forest or open country. Troops of these baboons can have as many as one hundred individuals, collecting smaller groups of males with their females and young. They have a rich range of vocalizations for communicating with one another and usually sleep in trees at night. Threatened baboons will try to evade a pursuer or attacker, but they will fight if necessary.

Kralori and other human inhabitants of the Hwa Gow Plateau view these baboons largely as pests, though they are sometimes semi-domesticated as guard animals. They also trap them for meat and several body parts used in medicine.

Foo Fay was a younger son of Aptanace the Sage. He traveled across the world with his dog Kwan. They saved one another’s life many times and fell unnaturally in love. Spurned by the rest of humanity, Foo and Kwan retreated to the wild lands to make their life together. The stunted baboons of Hwa Gow are their numerous offspring.

Significant Abilities: Bite & Claw, Find Water, Run Away, Signal Other Baboons

Exceptional Abilities: Climb Fast

Consciousness: Animal

Baboon, Yellow

Papio croceus The Yellow Baboon is a small, intelligent baboon of the lower mountain valleys of southern Kralorela. It stands up to four feet tall and has a light yellow-tan pelt. They usually live in small troops of six to twelve, but sometimes in areas with greater access to food, they form larger bands of up to one hundred. They are highly social and spend much of their time working together and grooming one another. They have an elaborate language of grunts and squeals, and a few speak a hsunchen tongue, more rarely Kralori.

These baboons roam through their area, often moving to warmer elevations in the winter. They are strictly vegetarian. These baboons pair for life and raise their offspring together. Young remain with their parents for at least five years. Yellow Baboons live about sixty years, though a few reach much more advanced age.

In conflicts, Yellow Baboons will first try to intimidate their opponents. Failing that they will all continue shrieking and close with their claws and teeth, trying to overwhelm their enemies and drive them away.

The Kralori believe that Yellow Baboons are the descendants of people from the era of Emperor Heenmaroun, men and women that found peace in a life in harmony with the cosmos. A few people seek them out for their supposed mystic knowledge, but most Kralori view them as little more than simple beasts.

Yellow Baboons know that they once they were masters of a powerful realm, perhaps an empire or some other world, but they came to recognize that power and prosperity only limited the development of their inner spirit. They cast off their arrogant ways and began their simple lives in the wilderness. They find the outsiders distracting but mostly ignore anyone that behaves calmly in their presence.

Significant Abilities: Bite & Claw, Find Simple Forage, Humble, Shriek Intimidatingly, Way of Nature

Consciousness: Sapient