Echivian

Echivians are a mammalian species native to the planet Redrocka.

Biology and appearance

Echivians are a porcupine/echidna-like species, with prickly, razor-sharp quills that cover much of their heads and backs. They have strong, armour-like claws on both their hands and feet, and they have four eyes. Their long snouts and highly-attuned senses of smell help them navigate the world. They hate company, and will use their spikes to scare away anyone who they particulary dont feel like being around with. Their skin is tough and heat-resistant, meaning they cope well under the blazing sun, but poorly in the cold.

When threatened, echivians can eject their quills as a form of defence, directing them towards their attackers. Once embedded in the skin or eyes, these barbed quills are painful and difficult to remove, and often result in infection.

Spent quills regenerate within days, with different patterns and ridges forming based on age and diet.

Quill phases

• Calm phase: Quills lay flat and soft and are almost hair-like in texture. Touching them feels like brushing through coarse fur.
• Alert phase: Quills partially rise and sharpen, giving the echivian a bristled, tense appearance. Contact can scratch or sting. This is the echivian’s warning signal.
• Combat phase: Quills stand on end, fully rigid and razor-sharp. Touching them at this stage can puncture skin. When an echivian’s quills are in this state, it’s best to back off quickly – ejection may be imminent!
  
  

Society and culture

Though intelligent, echivians aren’t the most ambitious creatures, generally preferring to coast through life and keep to themselves. They are known for their bristling attitudes and sharp defenses, both physical and social. Aggressive by nature, these hardy desert-dwellers thrive in heat, solitude, and chaos. Being territoria, they often chase away intruders from their settlements, not out of malice, but for the sheer fun of it.

Echivians are fiercely independent and value their personal space. They rarely show physical affection, saving it for moments of deep trust. They feel most comfortable around other echivians, who instinctively understand their body language and boundaries. They commonly live in desert encampments, usually in cliffs or beneath dunes. Life amongst them is noisy and lively, full of playful banter. They enjoy rowdy gatherings, competitive games, and sun-baked feasts.

Strengths

Echivians are strong, independent, and highly tolerant of pain. Their sharp claws can dig through sand and mud, and their sense of smell is extraordinary. They are highly resistant to heat, and they have large fangs for defence. Their most distinctive feature is their barbed quills, which make them extremely difficult to attack from behind. Their quills can be shot from their backs, though this happens involuntarily, depending on their emotions and particularly when they feel threatened. These barbed quills embed themselves deeply into skin, and often lead to serious infections if not treated properly.

Weaknesses

Echivians have poor eyesight and rely heavily on their sense of smell to navigate. They dislike getting wet, and they are sensitive to the cold, becoming dormant during winter. Illnesses can also cause them to shed their quills, leaving them more vulnerable to attackers.

Notable individuals

Noteworthy individuals amongst the echivian species include:

• Ranson, a poacher/hunter whose failed attempt at capturing Kinoko kickstarts the events of Star Heretic.