Are you all ready for the results of our little excursion?

~DAY ONE~

Clackity Buttasaurus
This strange creature have quite the unique call as unlike most creatures it has two butts on both it's extremities, it's mouth being under it protected by it's sharp horn-like hooves that grow at an astounding meter a day as they are very fragile and break every night in a attempt to catch the fireflies that they are very fond of. The cry referenced earlier is an extremely noisy flatulence generated by two buts at once, making this creature very easy to spot but very hard to kill and eat for it's would be predators. Fond of stargazing, this little creature will put itself on it's back at night and with eyes found near it's toothless mouth will watch the sky all night long, occasionally spearing the unfortunate firefly that got too close with it's multiple horns, a most swift and brutal end for any creature.

This nightly ritual is however when the Buttasaurus is the most vulnerable and it's principal predator, the Noseless Bigacorpus, zwill often take advantage of such opportunity to end the poor smelly creature, though it sometimes end with a very painful six horn attack that make them go away with their tree tails between their legs.

Winning Entry by Artsydaze!

~DAY TWO~

Towanpool Harbor Rat (clades aquaticus)
The Towanpool Harbor Rat is a tenacious creature native to Towanpool Harbor (as its name would suggest). It is nonagressive towards humans, however it has developed an addiction to the minerals used in the construction and maintenance of Towanpool freighters. Using their strong horns and powerful legs, swarms of these creatures have been known to collectively charge a target freighter, puncturing its hull en mass and sinking it to the bottom of the bay. Once the vessel is brought down, the rats secrete an acid from a gland beneath their tail that rapidly breaks down the metal over a couple days. The rats then use their strong teeth to tear the metal sides apart, consuming much of it and carrying the rest back to their offshore colony for later consumption and nest building in much the same way that beavers do with wood. Despite the inconvenience they create with their feeding habits, they perform a complex and important role in creating coral reefs and adding essential minerals back into the ecosystem. In an attempt to work with the rats' habits rather than against them, Duvalians have taken to retiring old ships by sacrificing them to the rats in hopes that they will leave the working ships alone.

Winning Entry by Rochiel Silverfire!

~DAY THREE

Striped Peeper
This handsome fellow is the Striped Peeper. The Peeper as its often called, is well spread threw out the forests of Menewsha coming in a variety of colors. They get their name from The showy stripe running along the back and long neck. As well as, their strange behavior. Peepers are often caught peeping at other creatures while grooming themselves. No one knows where this behavior came from. It was originally thought that they were merely kinky six-legged badgers, however we've proven otherwise threw careful study.
This behavior is shared by both male and female Peepers. Often when a mating pair is in courting they'll peep together as well as on each other. So if you ever see a pair of glowing yellow eyes in the window fear not. That's just one of the many in your local population of peeper.
Despite their odd behavior Peepers are rather sly and intelligent. They're ambidextrous and able to use all legs and tail to solve all kinds of problems. Including Opening doors and pickle jars. With a bit of training they are ideal and affectionate pets fun pets. Especially for single young women. Sadly they have seen favor amongst thieves in recent years. They train them cruelly and use them for burglary.
The peepers favorite food is fruits, berries and nuts. However, it's an omnivore and an opportunist, never snuffing its nose at a dead mouse. It also relishes eggs when it can find them.

Winning Entry by Nephila!

~DAY FOUR~

Vallawin
The Vallawin are small, winged creatures no bigger than a chihuahua, that used to be common in the lands of Duval before being hunted to near-extinction. Their bodies are notorious to preserve and would often crumble at the lightest touch. They are often mistaken to be angels or fairies, an effect enhanced by the mild hallucinogenic powder breathed in by witnesses that scatters from their wings like scales from a moth.

Vallawins do not have legs or feet, but instead possesses a second set of smaller wings positioned slightly lower than their larger wings that they use to steer and maneuver through the air, and use to climb or crawl with using the claw digit to hook onto surfaces like a bat. They are incredibly agile and nimble when flying, which they use to their advantage to hunt down their favorite foods: dragonflies and hummingbirds. They spend most of their lives airborne, and would only land briefly during mating season.

Male Vallawins will create a nest out of feathers, twigs, and mud to attract potential mates. The females will judge the nest according to how colorful the feathers used to craft the nest are and how large and sturdy it is. If she is satisfied, she will move in and lay her eggs, usually three or four, inside. After the eggs hatch, both parents will hunt and bring back food for their young until the small Vallawins learn how to fly.

The scales produced from their wings are highly sought after by illegal drug dealers, as the hallucinogenic effects are one of a kind and are said to 'make everything pretty'. Many would use the powder on others to make themselves appear more appealing. However, the powder is also highly addictive, and prolonged use will cause irreparable brain damage that will eventually lead to death. The Vallawins have been hunted for both their scales and their flesh, which is considered a delicacy amongst many. Before they became listed as endangered, it is considered the mark of a true professional chef when they are able to prepare Vallawin meat without contaminating the flesh with their powder, which, when consumed, may cause seizures and mania.

Winning Entry by Antagonist!

~DAY FIVE~

Ovis Psittaciformes, colloquially "Gaudy Gryphon"
This is its story: The gaudy gryphon is not a natural species. Created through cross-species breeding done by monks in the Duval Desert, this creature has few self-preservation skills and is useless as the pack animal, wool provider, and circus performer the monks intended.

The gaudy gryphon's spindly legs prevent the creature from walking more than a hundred yards without collapsing into a heap and loudly complaining. Its wool grows short and flaky, with a crest of long, thick hair around its neck and down its back; this has sometimes been referred to as the "model's boa" or "fo-hawk" because it serves no visible purpose. Worst of all, excessive inbreeding and the disproportionately small brain for its size have made the animal rather stupid and unable to remember more than a few days' events or comprehend simple commands.

Despite its uselessness, the gaudy gryphon is a very proud creature and walks with a recognizable strut rivaled only by that of the giraffe. The gaudy gryphon also quite clearly believes itself to be the most beautiful animal on the planet and spends many hours grooming itself or regarding its reflection in even the smallest of puddles and dullest of reflective surfaces. When no reflective surface is available, the gaudy gryphon is also easily contented with standing or lying in apparent poses, such as the one captured here.

The gaudy gryphon mates often, but its hybrid nature makes it incapable of producing viable offspring; for this reason, the gaudy gryphon's numbers have dwindled to less than ten in all of Duval. The gaudy gryphon's numbers also frequently suffer because of the animal's strange aversion to food. Scientists have been unable to correctly diagnose the source of this problem and have instead developed a battery of shots that can be administered once a day to ensure this unique creature's survival.

Perhaps the gaudy gryphon's best quality apart from its confidence is its loyalty; the creature is incredibly affectionate to anything it deems beautiful. Many speculate that scientists continue to engineer gaudy gryphons to this day simply because gryphons seem to find most scientists very beautiful, indeed.

Winning Entry by twotickets!

~DAY SIX~

Afro-Marmaoar
This creature, distant cousins of the Afro Donkeys, can also be found in the prairies and valleys of Duval. They have pointed hooves that allow them to walk carelessly over the tall grasses and the muddier parts of the island. The rut around much like a wild boar, but enjoy feasting on seeds and fresh fruits over slop or grasses.

Their wooly coats are shed during the summer months to reveal a smooth and short coat, therefore the mating takes place during the designated winter months. Why?
Mates are attracted to the largest "afros" and when the wooly fur is at its peak is in the winter months. After picking one mate, they generally stick with that mate for a few years before becoming bored with each others afros.

Offspring are born with long and lanky wooly fur that makes they look like a huge poof ball and for this reason they are undesirable to carnivores. They don't want to deal with all that wooly fur.

Afro-Marmaoars are actually farmed by the folks that live away from the cities. Their wool is soft and valuable, but none of these critters are harmed during the wool taking process! They are just suddenly hideous to their mates and sometimes the males are made to give their baby making stuff to the farmer and then given to the female. Not an easy challenge to raise these critters, but sometimes it can be worth it.

Winning Entry by Velvet!

~DAY SEVEN~

Dragonarus Desertus Birdus Orderus, or just "Desert Bird" or "Dragon Bird" for short.
"September 18 --

"If you'll remember from my earlier entries, after I had been having observed these creatures for nearly three months and ten days a family of Dragonus Desertus Birdus Orderus took me in as one of their own and tried to teach me their ways. As you are already aware, they taught me how to make a nest on the ground and even pecked at me until I completed one that was big enough for two of their kind; and they watched me carefully, and would not let me go anywhere until I proceeded to test my nest. It was quite an -- how shall I put it? Interesting? -- experience at that time as they would not even let me sleep outside of my nest, to the point where one of my previous nestmates took up residence with me and made sure I went to bed on time.

But now, finally, after this week's long and harrowing experience, is the time for a finally summary, as the Dragonus Desur--- oh, hang it all. I'm sure I'll be forgiven if I call them by a slang term in this last entry, unprofessional or not. I've certainly been through enough this past week.

As I was saying, all but one of the Dragon Birds took flight a week ago and haven't returned. I'd've said at the time that it was a migratory flight, but as it was pointed out to me, even if we're near the fringes we're still in the desert -- and since their food, a particular species of bugs known commonly as Desert Beetles and Sand Worms, have mostly disappeared. They'd gone off to find a new nesting ground with more food, you see. As I mentioned before, one of the Dragon Bird remained here: my nestmate. It was the oddest thing at the time; there was quite a striking resemblance of a human argument humans between my nestmate and his parents shortly before the flock took off. I'm still a bit shaken whenever my nestmate speaks English to me. It seems his parents -- once again he quickly corrected my 'his' with 'our' -- and the rest of the flock did not wish to disrupt my species' "learning process", yet they did want me to learn fully.

I wish he would be silent already. Since the flock left he has been chatting in my ear nonstop, telling me all about how fun it's been to live with me and how great a time we're going to have now, and how he can't wait to go back with me. I think in this last week I've learned everything there is to know on how they survive, to their lore, to their mating habits which I really did not need to know. Even now he just won't shut up and he is reading everything over my shoulder and I wish he'd just give me a moment's peace!!

Well, now he's off to sulk, and perched on a dead stump of a tree trunk, but I have my peace. As I was trying to write before (oh, why did I not bring any pencils with me? This entry is so unprofessional and it's all permanently in ink), the Dragon Birds live in the desert. They even believe that they are descended from actual dragons; and that this is why some of them can breathe fire. But fret not, my good readers! They can only breath enough at a time to perhaps roast a bird; and they're usually a friendly though cautious sort -- my "friend" sulking outside is actually a bit more outgoing than the rest. Okay, a lot more outgoing
oh bloody hell, he's back already
Lord save me

Winning Entry by iamnotspam!

~DAY EIGHT~

Woolly Cockatrice
The Woolly Cockatrice is a horrible aberration that could only have been created by magic. The intent was by a sociopath wizard to create a vampiric wolverine dragon hybrid. The creature would have the eternal life and thirst for killing of a vampire, the brazen aggression of a wolverine, and the magical powers and strength of a dragon. It would be the maniacs weapon of mass destruction. However, it was not to be so. A mixup occurred in the laboratory, where the dragon component of the hybrid, a bone from a hatchling, was switched with a chicken by his cat familiar Loki.

There result was possibly the most ornery creature in all of recorded history. More annoying than dangerous, its chicken inherited stupidly made it impossible to control. It's creature released it into the wild, and it has been terrorizing small animals and children ever since. No one know's how they managed to reproduce, but they now populate wooded and rural areas. At first it was theorized that their lack of a natural lifespan would lead to massive overpopulation, but that has not been the case. It is theorized that they are so annoying that they can only rarely stand each others company long enough to mate.

They often prey on small livestock, and have been known to attack humans along wooded footpaths and when they try and defend their farm animals. No human fatalities have been reported, but it is best to leave their extermination to professionals, and to keep an eye on any children where a Woolly Cockatrice has been spotted.

Winning Entry by Feralprince!

The winner of each day will receive a gold prize of:
3,000g


And that's not all...
Everyone who participated in our imagination based outing has earned a little something...
Menewsha's very own creature curiosity-- A Whalecow!

Biggles and I would like to give a hearty thanks to all of you for playing.

We had fun reading through your entries and we hope you had just as much fun writing them.


See you next event!

Howdy and I will be handing out prizes soon, hold tight.

Yes, indeedy!

Angel Spirit Girl: Antagonist: Artsydaze: Azaziel: blueblackrose: Feralprince: fireprincess: flamethrower1391: hummy: iamnotspam: Jeannesha: Kya Katsumi: LaVida: Ling: ~LONGCAT~: Mageling: maidenroseheart: M i n u x e: Mythos: Nephila: Q U E E N: Rochiel Silverfire: Ruby: Shadami: spicedroses: twotickets: Velvet: Whisper Invictus:

You'll all be receiving Whalecows from me, so keep an eye out.

Awesome, I won something, thank you!

Oh my gosh, had such a good time doing those stories XD Hope to do it again someday :3

i'm sorry my creativity brain was dead for most of it.

All Whalecows have been sent to their new homes.

Thank you Captain Howdy and Cardinal Biggles.

Woo! I won something!
Thanks Howdy and Biggles!!

...I'm curious though, just what are those things, originally? I mean, I know they're pieced-together creatures mostly, but did their original creator say anything as to what they called them, or...?

Mwahahahahahahahaha!! I won something!!

(read: thank you Captain Howdy and Cardinal Biggles!! )

Yay! I won one entry. <33 Thanks!

I wasn't expecting to get anything for participating. Thanks for the whalecow. ^_^

WHALECOW!!!! *glomps*

ermm, Thank you that is. XD I normally don't have the attention span to put any effort into writing contest but this one was fun. :D Great job everyone!

Originally Posted by Antagonist

Woo! I won something!
Thanks Howdy and Biggles!!

...I'm curious though, just what are those things, originally? I mean, I know they're pieced-together creatures mostly, but did their original creator say anything as to what they called them, or...?

I think Biggs would have a better idea than I would.

Erhmagherd! A Wharlecurl!

This event was buckets of fun, but I eventually got too lazy to create stories. xD

Congratulations to the creative Winners!

Whoa, thanks! That's awesome.

Thanks, Miss Hummy, and everyone.

wow I won something, that makes my day, thank you darlings ^_^

YOU GET A WHALECOW, AND YOU GET A WHALECOW!

EVERYONE GETS A WHALECOW!

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by Captain Howdy

I think Biggs would have a better idea than I would.

Ahh...was she the one who found the pictures? XD

Yup. Biggles deserves most of the praise for this contest.

I'm more of a helper elf.

@ Antagonist: There are stories attached to them, and traditions behind them. Day Four is an example of a "Jenny Haniver", which is the modified body of a dried skate. This is something apparently a lot of people did. Which... to each their own, I guess. One of my great frames of reference was Day One, which mishmash attempt at a taxidermy version of a "vegetable lamb". I'm not sure how much of it is even organic. I wanted a lot that were coming from a legendary or crytozological standpoint. Unfortunately, that was hard, not many of the attempts of old are still around -this whole concept was inspired by the wacky world of Victorian natural history - and those that were weren't very convincing. Being convincing was an issue for modern displays as well, a lot of them were obviously just parts of different, well-known animals sewn together. We ended up with a lot of the work of Enrique Gomez de Molina. I must admit I had some misgivings about that. Gomez de Molina has been in some legal trouble, allegedly importing rare and endangered animal parts for these sculptures. I don't support the black market trade and the devastation it causes. But... his seams and sources aren't as obvious, and the photo quality is good. It was hard to find much that would stir the imagination in the way that we wanted to.

@Long: Were you reading our judging notes? Oprah made an appearance there too