A small nocturnal predator of the Plains known as Ornitholestes is a rare sight. Unlike other clawfo
A small nocturnal predator of the Plains known as Ornitholestes is a rare sight. Unlike other clawfoots, this creature is only active during the night. During the wet season they leave their forested homelands to prowl around the vegetation. Given its small legs, it can creep while being completely covered. Fast getaways are unlikely, however. Talenta halflings name the creature a clawfoot, and the first toe is indeed enlarged as in others. However, further inspection shows a more primitive animal. Rather than using its talons to hunt, Ornitholestes use their large forelimbs to grab prey. Most of the time they use this for subduing flying prey that rest on the ground. If their target makes a getaway they can use the arms to snatch them out of their air. This does not work well on large animals able to break its grasp or tiny animals small enough to slip between its fingers. The toes and shaggy arms are used for climbing trees, where it eats its prey and sleeps during the day. It is neither strong nor fast enough to protect food from other predators on the plains, so it uses the “flash” forests that pop up during the wet season as hideaways. Ornitholestes is a rather cryptic species. They opt not to make the loud calls associated with other clawfoots. Communication between others of its own species is rare and unlikely. If two meet while prowling for prey they will stance on one another until the other retreats, but never actually get into combat. When caught by a predator, Ornitholestes must use their dark spotted pelage to blend in, climb a tree, or accept the inevitable. Halflings rarely encounter Ornitholestes, as they are too skittish to steal from tribe larders. They don’t figure into many stories. Traveling anthropologists have only ever found one mask made in their image, painted with bright pink colors associated with cowardice and buffoonery. -- source link
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