Height: 3 - 4'
Length: 8 - 12' (not including 6' tail)
Weight: 1500 - 4000 pounds.
Found: Across Ivorian.
Appearance: A squat but sturdy oversized lizard, the Kalikan are one of the most reliable mounts found across the Ivorian Empire, and the prime candidate of mount, especially for those of the larger Thiussum type. Their short but powerful legs and low center of gravity allow them to carry extremely heavy burdens without slowing to any significant degree. However, their massive size makes them difficult to navigate within cities. Short, sharp claws make them excellent climbers as well, and their ability to leech body heat from their rider makes them a viable candidate for all terrains and climates. A considerable amount of its size is down to a long whip-like tail able to be used as a weapon. Its pebbly skin ranges from shades of greens and blues to ruddy reds and browns, always with a bleached white underbelly. Many find the creature to be flat and brutish to look at, but it allows it to keep an extremely low profile when close to the ground, making it nigh-impossible to be flipped or knocked back.
Habitat: Found throughout Ivorian, especially around Talonir and Cathirus where there is a higher abundance of prey and meat. Most often skulk around the lower edges of forests, digging under trees and through rocks.
Lifespan and Development: These huge creatures develop rapidly to their full size within their first arc and live to about the age of twenty, suffering from poor eyesight and back troubles past the age of seventeen. Each breeding couple can produce up to eight offspring per arc, creating clutches of massive eggs in the first heats of Ashan that will take a full cycle to develop, most often hatching in the brightest heat of Saun. Since Kalikan are large and durable even from first hatching, they are often left to fend for themselves by their parents, and most develop alone, however those that bond with a Kalikan from its first hatching will find them very open to forming a close bond with their rider or handler.
Diet: Meat. Mostly carrion, since Kalikan are not at all suited for stealth-based ambush, nor pursuing prey at speed. Where possible, Kalikan crush their prey with their bulbous muzzle and front paws. Lacking any tearing or shearing power, they often swallow huge chunks of meat, including whole bones, and rely on their powerful stomach acid.
Temperament: Fairly easy to domesticate, though most Kalikan are normally solitary in the wild, they open up quickly to handlers and riders, and make steadfast companions for both short and long journeys. In the wild, they are fairly placid, if slightly clumsy with a tendency to push their way into houses if they can smell food, heedless of how much they might break in the process. When faced with combat, they are surprisingly obedient even in the heat of battle, though their lack of raw power makes them a poor substitute for more dangerous alternatives.
