Flora and Fauna of Velor

Although Velor is best known for its most famous species, the Velorians, the planet's intense gravity, heavy atmosphere and high concentrations of rare elements have combined to create a climate that would be unique if not for the existence of its sister world, Aria.

Like the Velorians (and, some say, the planet itself) Velor's biosphere is artificial, having been created and added to by the Galen over countless millennia for reasons known only to them. As a result of this, the variety of organisms is surprisingly small - a few thousand years being only enough time for extremely limited speciation to occur - but, in a testament to the Galen's genius, also surprisingly robust.

Every plant and animal that exists on Velor is artificial in some way; having been either modified by the Galen in order to survive, or outright constructs. Whatever their origins, these unusual and exotic organisms combined to create a remarkably robust and stable, a few of which are listed below.

Climate:
Velor's climate is generally that of a desert, although like all worlds there are areas where radically different environments exist, such as the savanna covered poles, or the mineral rich sea swamps. The planet's equator is the only place where no multicelluar life exists as the constant hundred kilometer per hour windstorms create a perpetual belt of moving sand and rock.

Flora:
Haask: A ground creeping vine. Also the name of its fruit, a bitter Tetrahedron, and a sweet drink fermented from that fruit.

Ironwood: A generic name for a variety of tree sub-species, their name is derived from their distinguishing characteristic of leaching iron from their surroundings and incorporating it into a latice which helps protect the plant from sandstorms. As such Ironwood is usually the tallest freestanding plant in the vicinity, with heights of slightly over a meter recorded.

Spoell Competing with Ironwood for tallest plant, Spoell resembles nothing so much as a mound of compost from a distance. It is only when one is approached that it becomes clear that the heap is very much alive, and quite capable of defending itself. The thin, bristle like leaves which give the pyramidal plant its form are hard enough to act as thorns and with thousands per snaking branch, are capable of deterring all but the most determined grazer.

Kik: A rare wetland plant usually found on the edges of the southern seaswamps, its notable feature is a bell shaped baloon leaf which it fills with hydrogen to give it lift instead of developing a Xylem like support tissue. Kik is the main ingrediant in the popular dinner sauce Kak and is grown commercially for that purpose.

Kelu: An unusual semi-rigid plant that is endemic to all seamarshes. It is characterised firstly by its unrivalled age, and secondly its incredible stench.

Fauna
Barafini: A social herbivore which lives in small groups around the polar regions. Its milk has a variety of uses, including braf seasoning.

Elda: A large vaguely slug like creature native to the mid-desert regions. Possessing both a spine, and short sideways facing limbs the creature is an ambush predator whose favoured method of attack is to wait, partially buried near the top of sand dunes until prey is observed by one of the 'faces' located on either end of its body. The Elda will then push free of concealment and roll at speed down the dune, stunning the target with both momentum and weight. The creature's short, but thick fur gives it a natural shine or slimy appearance under Velor's sun.

Cuu: Tiny communal endothermic creature with pentaradial symmetry. Lives in underground nests of up to 5,000 individuals, all of whom are capable of reproduction. The nests often extend above ground in tall, glass like spires made from local mud and a carbohydrate rich syrup secreted by the Cuu. These are often broken off by Velorians and consumed along with their inhabitants as a delicacy.

Zark: A medium sized animal with both reptilian and mamalian characteristics. Said to resemble a cross between a rat and a lizard, except for splayed rear legs. Bushy black fur covers the animal's shoulders and face, serving as eye protection against the sun's glare, and camoflage as they give the Zark the apperance of a Spoell or similar plant when the animal is still, enabling it to use its superior eyesight to spot prey. Raised as livestock, they form part of a Velorian's staple diet.