Status:
2982: Greylander
Owned by BendustKas
Island: Pera
Biome: Ashlands, savannah, scrub, forest, coastal, wetlands
Diet: Woody browse, grasses, tree bark, shrubs, water plants
Pack: Ashwalkers
Mate: N/A
Weight: Athletic
Height: Above average
Length: Average
Greylander stands taller than the average styracosaur, but isn't by any means the largest on the island. He's a bit on the slimmer side, but still muscular. He is nothing short of an intimidating presence. Greylander is rarely seen without the same stoic, stony expression he always seems to wear, his grey eyes hard and cold. He has a few scars on his hide, but nothing too serious.
Notable Traits: His weathered hide makes him appear as though he's older than he actually is. His lower spine and a portion of the dorsal side of his tail are covered in long, grey spines, which can raise and lower at will and are often used defensively. Greylander can, though, turn rather abruptly and use the ones on his tail as an offensive weapon.
Personality
Greylander is a serious, no-nonsense individual, and always has been. Rather standoffish, he can come off as rough, coarse, and blunt - because when he speaks, he often is. He tends to be very quiet, and puts on a stoic face and pretends that nothing gets to him. In fact, he takes losses to the herd very personally, and as such, he does everything that he can to ensure that everyone in the herd lives a happy, healthy, and safe life. Greylander spends a great deal of time thinking. Where he should lead his herd next, what the next season will look like, how his actions have affected the herd. He takes the role of leadership seriously, fully embracing the highs and lows of being in charge.
History & Relations
It's always been obvious that Greylander took after his father, Odysseyr, in looks and in personality. He acted like a grumpy old man from the moment he hatched, and acted as a peacekeeper whenever any of his other siblings started to play a little too rough. He'd step in, breaking up the fight by physically putting himself between his siblings or pushing the aggressor away. Whenever they went off on adventures, he'd go along to make sure that everyone was safe, often getting himself into trouble along the way.
Greylander eventually had to leave his father's company when the two started butting heads too intensely. It wasn't long after that he found himself in the company of his brother, Smoketrail. The two decided to travel together, never staying in one place. They called nowhere home, going wherever the wind took them and sleeping under the stars - or under the tree canopy, or in the caves.
Their first winter took them the the shadow of the volcano, where the snow melted more quickly and food was more available than other areas on the island touched by winter. With resources more scarce, Greylander deigned to share what little food and fresh water that he and Smoketrail had been able to find with other herbivores who needed it more than they did. They stayed together for the duration of the winter, keeping an eye out for one another, and when spring came, they went their separate ways - Greylander and Smoketrail one way, and their winter companions another.
This was not the first time that the pair ended up helping other herbivores that crossed their paths. Chasing off carnivores, watching hatchlings and nests while parents went off to find food, guiding others to reliable water sources during droughts. Over time, they began to get something of a reputation for helping others. A few decided that it would be in their best interest to travel with Greylander and Smoketrail. With some council from Smoketrail, Greylander relented - he would accept their company, but they couldn't just be dead weight.
Lennox was someone who joined the group in its earliest days, and someone that Greylander would ultimately come to rely on for advice when he was fighting with a tough decision. The old male never seemed to like to see Greylander thinking on something alone, and would come to sit with him for a while. He would become someone that Greylander looked up to a great deal, and though he'd likely admit it, saw as more of a father figure than Odysseyr.
The small group began to be known as the "Ashwalkers," those who live and travel across the Ashlands, where they spent most of their time. Greylander refused to see the group as a true "herd" until the reality was forced upon him. He broke up fights, his word was listened to, he guided them across the island - and it was him that another member of the herd challenged when they thought that they could do a better job of leading the Ashwalkers. The fight was brutal, but the conclusion was absolute: Greylander was the monarch.
Very little seemed to change in the herd when Greylander's leadership was truly established. Smoketrail was officially stated as his second-in-command, but that was already well known amongst anyone that had walked with the herd for any length of time. Rules were clearly established, but most of the herd had been following Greylander's orders anyway. The herd simply continued on, knowing that Greylander was guiding them.
Fun Facts:
- The scales on the bottoms of Greylander's feet are very thick and tough, and as a result, he seems to be impervious to extreme temperatures when walking across hot coals
- Greylander has startlingly good night vision
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