Colossal Crab

This crab is the largest known land crab of any species, normally weighing in over 227 kg, (500 pounds), and over 10 feet across, standing at a height of just about 9 feet on average. These crustaceans never stop growing throughout their life, so it has been known to see them much bigger, but due to their natures and being often hunted the normal life span of these beings is about 20-40 years in length, the oldest being unknown in age.

The claws of these sand treading creatures are quite large, the females holding slightly bigger versions than the males, allowing them easily be told apart. The dominant side of the crab be it either left or right will always be the larger claw, allowing them a dangerous weapon should anyone foolish enough to try and approach unprepared. The most notable aspect of these beings however, is that of their armor. The external shell of these crabs is not overly armored, it being a more sticky tar layer of "skin" allowing things like rock or bone to easily attach and remain to the creature for long periods of time. The exception for this being their underside and that of their legs. The rest is normally found to be almost completely covered in large broken apart pieces of animal such as bone, or rocks. These allows them a much harder armor, and a fantastic use of camouflage in the open desert.

During the day hours, these crabs will spend their time beneath the sand, buried in slumber or waiting, keeping themselves cooled to avoid overheating. During the night hours is when they arise from their hiding places to hunt, or scavenge. As these animals are omnivorous, they will eat practically anything they can find, which allows them to grow easily and for long periods of time, however due to their armor constantly being outgrown or falling off with their stages of growth they can be left in quiet an open danger if they do not find suitable replacements for their missing pieces, often perishing in combat or during a hunt as a result. Unlike most crabs, these beings do not actually molt, instead simply replacing the missing pieces of their armor as they fall off when the creature grows. Quite often their sticky layer that exists to hold onto the bone or rock will fall off, making a tar like goo left behind in the wake of these animals path, a sign most hunting these creature follow.

Distribution

They are found in the desert, unable to be found anywhere else. They are often hard to find, as they are nocturnal and prefer to be left alone. They have a very slow breeding cycle as well, often only producing young once every five to ten years, which prevents their numbers from growing steadily. As a result, they are considered to be rare.

Habitat

During the day, they burrow into the sand where it is often much cooler, and sleep through the heat of the day. It's not uncommon for them to return to where they slept the night before, but when traveling, they will simply burrow somewhere convenient, and rest there until nightfall. They lay their eggs in similar burrows, with the mother often guarding her eggs and young until enough of their armor is collected.

Diet

Colossal crabs are omnivores, and will eat just about anything that they can put in their mouths. Their digestive system is resilient, and there is little that can make them sick, beyond a high dose of toxins. The bulk of their diet are small mammals and cacti, which is where they get most of their moisture as well.

Relations

These creatures are solitary animals for the most case, breeding seasons being the one exception. Due to this, they are quiet wary of other animals or creatures, especially due to their high likely hood of being hunted. However, with enough skill and practice these animals can be tamed over time by giving proper material in which to build the crabs their armor, their favorite being bone or rock, and enough food to help them be content with their growth. These crabs will most often fight among one another for these resources, so having a few is preferred, otherwise fighting will often occur.

Mechanics

• Nocturnal
• Can eat anything
• Collective armor, which they find and attach to themselves throughout their life. The largest of these creatures often wearing boulders or massive bone pieces.
• Can be tamed through a process of giving material for their armor, and plenty of food for their growth, however they will compete among one another and may end up fighting with too many clustered in similar territories. They cannot collect metal upon their bodies when tamed.
• A sticky tar like substance is left behind in their wake, and can be collected in the use of sticky adhesive alchemicals.

Material Properties

• Sometimes, nodes of metal will be found on the larger bodies of these creatures, often collecting such items for the use in their armor, this can include random things like bone, or even ancient broken ship parts.

Alchemical Properties

• The tar collected from these creatures can be used to make different forms of extremely sticky alchemicals that can be used to extremely slow down or stick something to the ground. The tar attaches to anything and everything like a sticky slime, and doesn't let go unless cut with a blade or other slashing weapon.

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier