OK, here it is:
Afeahyalhtow [JTAS #20]
(Aculeoptera venator)
A life-form native to Kuzu, homeworld of the Aslan, the afeahyalhtow (known to humans as the batsting, winger, or falconbat) was domesticated by Aslan hunters long before the race first achieved star flight. They are popular as pets, and are found almost anywhere Aslan are found. Afeahyalhtow are roughly as common in Aslan space as dogs, cats, and other pets are in the Imperium, and regarded by the Aslan in much the same way.
The afeahyalhtow is a carnivore/killer, distantly related to the Aslan in evolutionary terms (the relationship is roughly equivalent to that between humans and bats on earth). Like the Terrestrial bat or the Macropan screamer-in-the-darkness, the creature is a flyer, massing roughly 1 kg, and with a wingspan of about. 75 meters. The lower limbs have evolved as grasping claws to carry prey or perch on tree limbs or high rocks.
Wingers have sharp eyesight, with cat-like eyes that can adjust to a wide range of lighting conditions. Their common practice is to soar at high altitudes, then swoop down on prey. The creatures' grasping claws include one sharp, specialized claw which can inject a paralyzing poison which does 10 points of damage within a few minutes of injection. The poison's effects wear off after about an hour (whereupon the damage is recovered). The venom is not usually harmful to any creature much larger than 5 kgs, but can be deadly to humans who develop an allergic reaction to it. The primary purpose of the poison is to slow the prey or render it unconscious, so the afeahyalhtow can feed (it prefers live meat). Teeth and claws only do 2 points of damage per round, but this is sufficient to allow the afeahyalhtow to make an excellent meal, feeding for 2D + 6 rounds before departing.
Domesticated afeahyalhtow are raised and trained much as falcons and garhawks in human space. Properly trained, they can be used to track and hunt prey; such trained hunters will administer poison to the prey, but will feed only when permitted to do so by their owner. They are easily cared for, eating almost any variety of small animals or, if necessary, raw meat of almost any sort.
Training of an afeahyalhtow takes a minimum of hunting-2 skill and 6-12 months before the animal will respond to commands (usually various whistle and tongue-clicking signals). A character who has any hunting skill at all and who has worked with afeahyalhtow (Aslan characters with hunting skill have this experience on a 6+ , humans on 12+ ), will gain an extra level of hunting skill while using the animals on the hunt.
Despite their feeding habits, which most humans find distasteful, afeahyalhtow are relatively gentle, companionable pets. They are frequently likened to cats in their behavior - independent, somewhat aloof, but capable of a strong affection and attachment to individuals who understand their ways.
Afeahyalhtow do not respond well to being caged; most grow listless and lose any hunting spirit if confined for more than a few days (roll 10+ once per week to avoid such an outcome). Afeahyalhtow will eventually die in close confinement. Most owners let them fly free, first attaching small straps around their feet to prevent the stinger claw from functioning. On a starship, they usually require an hour or two per day of flying time in the ship's cargo compartment or some other open space.
Afeahyalhtow can fly on any world with standard or dense atmospheres and in any thin atmosphere where the world size is 4 or less. Because of their size and build, they cannot be provided with any sort of protective gear which will allow them to fly, and so are rarely encountered on worlds with tainted or otherwise unbreathable atmospheres, except indoors, in conditioned quarters.
Afeahyalhtow are not common in human space (except on worlds heavily settled by Aslan colonists), though some humans do keep them as pets. They command high prices commercially.
Animal: Afeahyakhtow
Weight: 1 kg; Hits: 5/0; Armor: none; Wounds & Weapons: 2 see text A4 F9 S3
(Editor's Note: For further information, see the Small Cargoes column in this issue, which discusses transport for these animals.)
- John Marshal
Small Cargos: Afeahyakhtow [JTAS #20]
Cargo: Afeahyakhtow
Lots: 1 kilogram each
Value: Hierate space, Cr 250 each; Human space, Cr 5000 each.
Transport Price: Cr 15 each week.
Transport cost: Cr 5 each per week.
Market: Luxury item, Restriction O.
Availability: Hierate space, 5+ ; Human space, 11+ .
Special Handling: Live animal. Cannot be shipped in low berth. Special feeding requirements. Poisonous.
Players' Information
The Afeahyakhtow is a flying animal (see this issue's Bestiary) commonly found in the Aslan Hierate. Domesticated by the Aslan, they are used as hunting animals (much like falcons on earth).
They vaguely resemble terrestrial bats in appearance, but are equipped with stinger-like dewclaws which inject a poison which can cause a victim to become sluggish, pass out, and sometimes die. Most Aslan nobles prize the animals as pets, as do some humans.
Referee's Information
In the event Afeahyakhtow are located as a cargo, roll 1 die per animal purchased and implement the following according to the die roll:
1. The Afeahyakhtow proves to have been poorly or improperly trained. Attempts to feed it result in attacks by the animal. Luckily, the animals poison claw has been hobbled. Still, characters will suffer 1D attacks when attempting to feed the animal (which must be done twice a day); successful attacks cause 2 points damage from teeth and (nonpoisonous) claws.
2. As 1, but at each feeding, a roll of 10+ indicates that the Afeahyakhtow has managed to slip its hobbles and free or both poison claws. If this happens, the first successful attack results in 10 points damage (applied to strength) from poison; the animal will then attempt to feed.
3. The Afeahyakhtow proves highly susceptible to confinement, even when exercised in the comparatively spacious confines of the ship's hold. On a roll of 9 or less, it sickens and dies. The captain of the ship may be held liable for the value of the animal.
4-6. No special problems occur.
- John Marshal
BlackBat242’s notes:
One thing missing from most description of Traveller animals is life-cycle data.
Since the first encounter with Afeahyakhtow that occurred in my Traveller game included a mated pair found as cargo in an abandoned ship (we won’t get into just how it got abandoned right now), and the female was “breeding”, this info became very important rather quickly.
I made up some data, based on what I could find on real-world analoges (Felis Catus, hawks, etc.) and “winged it” from there.
Here is my data:
Life Span: 12-14 T-years 13½-16 Aslan years; Fertility cycle: 80 T-days 53 Aslan days; Gestation: 80 T-days 53 Aslan days; Live-bearing: 2-4 young; Weaned: ~80 T-days 53 Aslan days; Independent: ~240 T-days 160 Aslan days; Sexually mature: ~240 T-days 160 Aslan days; Full growth: ~320 T-days 212 Aslan days.
The Animal Handling Skills article in JATS #19 creates the new skill of Animal Handling, which is broken down into Riding, Herding, Guard/Hunting Beasts, and Falconry. Falconry-1 may be substituted for the Hunting-2 mentioned above for the handling and training of Afeahyakhtow.
