Conshahawkun – creatures of wet, slimy caves

Conshahawun, small creatures with a coiled shell, inhabit the crevasses of the Aquarius Mountain. They are opportunistic feeders, and will eat the slime that accumulates in the cave, as well as vegetation and anything else they can find; even their own eggs are on the menu. The eggs of the conshahawkun, called conshabrine, are laid in direct proportion to the amount of food consumed. Over time, the conshabrine develops a hard shell in which the conshahawkun grows. While these creatures are quite prolific in their egg laying, population explosions are kept in check by heavy predation and cannibalism. As previously mentioned, the elusians and the mandrians both have conshabrine in their diets. There are also several excellent gourmet dishes that utilize the conshawkun and their brine. I know that Grevoldo has several appetizers and entrée selections available.

Mandrians and elusians – creatures of the Aquarius Mountain

There are creatures that reside on the Aquarius Mountain, and are unique to it. They are the elusians and mandrians! Elusians are midsized semi-aquatic fish that are relatively intelligent but lazy. You can visit and try to carry out a civil conversation with them, but they are usually uninterested and sometimes rude. They are dependent on the smaller, more agile, but less intelligent mandrians to supply their main food source, the eggs of the conshahawkun (called conshabrine).

The two creatures have quite the cooperative relationship. While the elusians do appear to be rather lazy, they will carry the smaller and weaker mandrian up the mountain to harvest conshabrine so they can eventually be fed. The mandrian have an unusual method for collecting the conshabrine. Mandrians capture the vicious eyeseatoner fish, and use their hides as bags to collect conshabrine. For those of you who know about these eyeseatoner creatures, and their propensity to attack and eat out the eyeballs of poor unfortunates that happen to be trapped in the water with them, you may wonder how the mandrians manage to avoid this horrific fate. However, mandrians are immune to the attack of eyeseatoaners, because of a transparent sheath over their eyes. Too bad for the eyeseatoner! The mandrian fill their eyeseatoner sacks with braleetberries and hang them deep in the underwater caves where the conshahawkun live. Attracted to the berries, the conshahawkun crawl into the bags and feast. While they feed, they lay hundreds and hundreds of eggs. When the food runs out they leave the sacks filled with eggs, and then mandarins eventually come back and collect them up!

Besides the obvious reason for the elusians to stay at the mountain, namely their blatant laziness, they also need the natural terrain of this region for their reproduction. These creatures need the strong current within the mountain to breed. They lay their eggs (called dingulbells) on the interior of a mountain or near the vents in the sea of bubbles. Soon, the munsmells (newborn elysians) hatch and swim into the tunnels for protection and to feed on the conshahawkun eggs. After a while the munsmells are too big to fit in the tunnels and move to the in the lake, and eventually join the adults in their idle lifestyle.

Braleet – a plant of great altitude and dampness

As a frequent sight on the cliffs of Aquarius Mountain, the braleet is a common plant of sunny and humid regions. This plant is also located in other regions of Crutonia with similar terrain, including the hilltops islands in the Sea of Fitzal. Braleet have one large leaf shoot, with a top surface covered in a thick water-proof covering. The tip of the leaf points in the direction of water flow, deflecting the current up and over the plant. The mandrian may hide under a particularly large braleet, using the leaf as an umbrella of sorts. While the habitat of the braleet is rarely dry, during these rare occasions the berries that are located underneath the leaf dry, fall off, and root on the rock face. The small conshahawkun creatures that live in the mountain also consume the berries.

The Aquarius Mountain and the Mandrian Lake

One of the most impressive sites in Central Crutonia, outside of my splendid castle, is the Aquarius Mountain. This natural wonder is a huge waterfall covered mountain located in in the middle of Mandrian Lake. Along the surface of the mountain, there are creatures called Mandrian and Elusian, as well as braleet plants and other water loving vegetation. Within the small crevasses of the mountain dwell small egg-laying creatures called conshahawkun. These little conshahawkun often find themselves as components of fine cuisine, and their brine too! The Mandrian Lake has several river ways that feed in and out of this body of water, and for this reason it is a major passageway for boat travel. While the Aquarius Mountain is mostly wild and undeveloped, the northern face is the location of Grevoldo’s Grotto.

Grevoldo Gloop and Grevoldo’s Grotto

As I mentioned earlier, Grevoldo Gloop is one of the residents of note in the Bungaliville area. As you can see by the map, however, it can be argued that he is just outside this city, since his establishment (Grevoldo’s Grotto) is across the river on the face of Aquarius Mountain. Details, details. I believe that Grevoldo picked this location since it has the advantages of being close to a town with all of the conveniences that come with it, while being remote enough so that his guests are able to have their privacy too if that is what they desire.

Grevoldo is, like Quenterindy Quirk and Luvusious Lorp mentioned prior, a member of the Alphbetta elite. It is of no surprise, then, that he is an excellent business fellow. He is the proprietor of the upscale Grevoldo’s Grotto. The Grotto is an Inn and a restaurant, and many of the most influential Crutonians stay as guests at the Grotto during the annual Flumpé as well as year round. This luxury resort has many amenities, with luxurious rooms and gourmet meals. I always enjoy my stay!

Creature of the week...Bungali!

The bungali folk are commonly found populating several of my Crutonian cities and towns, with a large population inhabiting Bungaliville. While these modern bungali occupy almost every area of Crutonian society, I believe that they previously lived in tribal villages located in rocky areas near cliffs. As recounted in stories by several of my bungali associates, they would lure stampedes and trampleens off of these overhangs. With the aid of their membranous skirts they would float gently to the ground while the beasts splattered on the rocks below. A banquet of tenderized meat for the whole village, I would say! I asked them why they have, for the most part, abandoned their hunting pasts; they replied that the dangerous risk from possible garbidgekan and scabee predators waiting below eventually led many to abandon this lifestyle in exchange for the simplicity of city life. However, they still enjoy skirt parachuting and often build very tall houses with balconies to continue this activity.

Most of the bungali I know live in extended families within the same house, and often live in their places of business. I find these citizens to be less glib than most, and tend to be good listeners. I bet it is for this reason that I enjoy the council of many bungali on my staff!

Bungaliville

The lovely city of Bungaliville is situated on the bank of Mandrian Lake. Bungaliville is one of Crutonia’s larger settlements, and has modified Cruton-style mushroom architecture, with tall towers and balconies. The residents are a mix of different creatures as is typical of my larger towns, but with a majority of Bungalians being bungali. The architecture really suits the bungali, with their fondness for skirt gliding. The good citizens of Bungaliville specialize in the manufacture of a number of important exports, such as refined sugar and confections, conshabrine, wailer oil, as well as the tourist and entertainment trade. Bungaliville is a truly delightful place to vacation! Many visitors come to simply take in the scenery, or visit the nearby coast. For the die-hard vacationer, Grevoldo’s Grotto, situated across the lake on the side of Aquarius Mountain, is one of Crutonia’s most exclusive resorts. The city also has excellent marketplaces of items from all over Crutonia, and there are a number of restaurants, antique stores, and Inns.

The big event in Bungaliville is the Flumpé, the annual migration of the Flumps to the Crutonian Gulf to spawn. There is a nice view from Grevoldo’s Grotto, as well from the river and lakefronts. While the migration of the flumps only takes place during their season, there are many flumps and it takes a while. Lots to see. Bungaliville is very convenient, with plenty of fine hotels, the finest being closest to the lake for prime flump-watching or with great views of the waterways.There are a lot of fine restaurants in town too, and although I prefer our Cruton cuisine there is plenty for a king to enjoy in Bungaliville as well. Seafood is a big specialty in Bungaliville, including Conshahawkun dishes, Bunwailey fish, smeek steak, and lumpling dumplings. Trampleen steak is a local favorite and specialty. There are also a wide variety of exquisite and sugary desserts. I suggest the Café Conshahawkun!

There are several residents of note in Bungaliville, including their elected leader, Mayor Zumblefritz. There is also the Bremné family, Swök (a journalist for the Banana Peel), his lovely wife Flancy Lubbit, son Nestildn and daughter Avikka. In addition, there is the esteemed Grovoldo Gloop, who is the proprietor a high-end spa just across from downtown proper, called Grovoldo’s Grotto.

The Bungal Forest

Crutonia has a number of wonderful forests. One of these is the Bungal Forest, which is a wide swath of forest stretching from the Crutonian Bay to the Western end of the Zigzanthium Mountains, and from the central plains to Mandrian Lake.

The Bungal Forest has several interesting sub-regions including the Bungal Downs, Praggle Pit and the Jumbit Woods. The Bungal Downs contain small, rolling hills, with the city of Bungaliville at the most Southern edge. The downs are slightly elevated, providing a dryer area in comparison to the swampland and river terrain located proximally to it.

Bungaliville is a large settlement on the bank of the Mandrian Lake, with modified Cruton-style mushroom architecture containing tall towers and numerous balconies. The town is populated by bungali, with equal numbers of other city creatures that include bordaden, braxxon, and shemoybl. Bungalliville is one of my larger trade and manufacturing cities, producing refined sugar and confections, pottery, and a number of other products. With fine restaurants and inns, the city is also a popular tourist destination. I do enjoy a holiday within this fine town!

Another feature found in the Bungal Forest is Praggle Pit, an ancient rocky crater that has become overgrown with plant life. Praggle Pit is home to a significant number of scabee, thereby making this a dangerous region. These creatures are quite a vicious horror, I will have to make a separate post on them.

The Jumbit Woods is located in the Northeast corner of the Bungal Forest, and is more densely overgrown in comparison to the rest of the Forest most notably due to the presence of Jumbit trees. The foliage of the jumbit tree forms a tangled lattice, creating a terrain that is difficult to traverse. This part of the forest is a bit of a labyrinth, with dark spaces created by the entangled vine-like branches. This maze provides shelter to native creatures such as the jumfum but can lead to unprepared travelers becoming quite lost.

Several very interesting citizens live within the Bungal Forest, most of which reside in the town on Bungaliville. Others include the zoobotanist Tzopatz, who lives in a tree house on the Northern edge of the Bungal Forest. She lives in general isolation so she can concentrate on her work, which includes flora-fauna grafting.

In addition to the city of Bungaliville, there is another town within the forest, the eta colony Fjnkswell. This town is known as the ship-building center of the Bay, and is a main post for travelers to and from the Crutonian Bay islands.

A comment on kis

As a response to my recent discussion about the ki, my good friend, Biblooo, of the esteemed House of Okko, stopped by to comment. Like his father, Biblooo enjoys a bit of an adventure, and out in the wilds of Crutonia most of all. He thought it a bit harsh to refer to these ki as crass creatures. I thought, my dear citizens, that you would enjoy his tale, so I include it below.

From Biblooo: “I was enjoying a hike in the Mushroom forest, looking about for interesting things. Alas, I was too curious for my own good, and I found myself quite lost. After a rather extensive search to find my prior trail, I found myself discovered by a clan of ki. While intrigued to encounter these primitives, I was also somewhat concerned for my safety. After a tense first contact, the kis slowly warmed up to me once they became convinced them that I meant no harm. Instead of having to brave the Crutonian night alone and in the elements, the ki invited me back to their home. Rather than being crude or uncivilized savages, I found that these creatures are warm and welcoming hosts. I was introduced to their Chief, Chitchat, and her mate Bullyrag. Chitchat told me some glorious tales of her clan’s adventures while we dined over fresh roast beast."

"While it was evident that Chitchat is a strong and fearless leader, she is not without a soft tender side that she shared readily to her tribemates and her five young kits. In the morning, my new ki friends helped me find my way back to Cruton, along with beads and fruits as parting gifts.”

So, I will temper my earlier statements in respect of my friend Biblooo. Kis are not completely crass

Creature of the week...ki!

Hello, my loyal citizens! Today I will enlighten you on one of our forest creatures, the Ki. The Ki form tribes, and the strongest Ki in the tribe is the leader. The leader not only possesses physical strength, but also a strong character in terms of leadership and intelligence, much like your leader, me! Squabbling amongst the ki for leadership is relatively common. In addition to the chief, other members of the tribe have specialties, such as functioning as a healer, a weapon maker, and so forth.

When a young ki comes of age, they go on a mate-quest called the haslhof, during which they travel in the territory and sometimes beyond looking for other wandering ki to fight with for dominance. After this love battle, the victorious one of the couple will bring their ki mate trophy back to the victor’s tribe, where they are now both considered members. The conquered member of this haslhof has to renounce their prior tribe, and are sometimes even forced to join in battles and raids on their parent tribe.

The ki are loyal to their tribe, but tend not to mingle with other ki groups, and are downright warlike against their enemies the valients. Ah, these valient fellows are also forest dwellers, living in groups in a similar fashion to the ki. I am not sure where all the hating comes from. It is all very uncivilized! The valients build tree homes, and since they are semi-nomatic, tend to abandon them after a while. The ki will then occupy these vacant homes. I do not see this home sharing as the source of the discourse between these two creatures. Rather, it is due to the two groups, usually the ki, raiding and pillaging each other’s tribes. What crass creatures, I am glad they stay in the forest rather than create a nuisance in the towns, I’ll say.