The Manthikaar
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| Manthikaar (male) in threat display |
Description:
The manthikaar is a
medium sized, muscular species of tiger. Their coats are shaggier
(especially in the winter) and more subtly marked than those of other
tigers. They are darker orange to crimson in color with dark brown
stripes that form a nearly solid chocolate colored patch along the
animal's back. The ears are small and dark brown. The underside is
whitish in color with white patches of longer fur along it's cheeks,
eyebrows and around the mouth and tuft of the tail. These patches are
longer and more pronounced in males. Males are also sometimes as much
as ten times larger than females. The manthikaar, due to the short,
compact shape of it's skull,has a muscular jaw which gives it a
powerful bite. The paws are broad and thick making the creature able
to climb easily and negotiate drifting sand and snow easily. The
unusual tufts of “facial hair” along with the comparatively short
muzzle give the manthikaar's face a cantankerous and nearly human
appearance, which gives this animal it's name. (In the Muhor
language lit.: Manthi=elder[masculine], kaar=sand. Or: Old man of the
Desert)
Behavior
Not much is known about the manthikaar
in the wild as it is a solitary, secretive creature that is primarily
nocturnal and prefers inaccessible habitat. They are territorial
animals that will aggressively drive away, not only members of their
own species, but any other large animal that it considers to be
competition. A manthikaar when threatened, will arch its back and
hold it's tail over it's body in a manner reminiscent of scorpions,
while emitting a series of low coughing growls. If this threat is not
heeded, the animal will attack immediately and will persist until the
threat is either driven off or killed. Mating occurs in the towards
the end of the short rainy season. Courtship is brief as the male and
female will only tolerate each other on their territory for short
periods. Two to three cubs are born in the spring. They are
independent and sexually mature at one year of age, although it is
estimated that only forty percent of cubs will reach this age.
Manthikaar are hardy resourceful hunters that rely mainly on the
traditional feline “ambush “ strategy. It is uncertain how long
they can survive without food and water, but it is widely accepted
that during lean periods, this animal can lose as much as forty five
percent of it's body weight with no apparent ill effects. Their
metabolism is thought to slow down to nearly exothermic levels when
stressed. Manthikaar have been known to live up to twenty years in
captivity. Their lifespan in the wild is unknown.
Habitat:
Found throughout the western foothills
of the Rusting Mountains and the Great Northern Desert. It prefers
rocky, arid terrain relatively close to water.
The manthikaar is a versatile and
opportunistic hunter. From camels to mice, it has been known to eat
anything it can catch including wolves, hares, goats, tortoises,
unicorns, wild boar, pheasant, mountain oxen, deer, and young
dragons. While accounts of predation on livestock are doubtlessly
exaggerated, they do take place. More frequently than other big cats,
this species will intentionally hunt people. There have also been
unconfirmed reports of manthikaar fishing and scavenging.
Status:
Locally common
Threats:
The manthikaar has fared better than
many big cats due to it's secretive nature, fearsome reputation, and
local taboos. Development and habitat encroachment have been minor
threats due to the rugged terrain preferred by these animals. Still,
It's fur is warm, soft, and attractive which makes it prized and a
pelt fetches a handsome price. They are also hunted to protect
livestock. An adult animal is fairly safe from predation, but cubs
and adolescents are threatened by larger predators, such as bears.
There has been reliable documentation of instances of an older
manthikaar preying on cubs, but these instances of cannibalism are
thought to be rare.
The coming of the
Mantakaar
A Muhor tale
In the time of our Ancestors, There
lived a fierce and warlike tribe on the plains to the east. This ,
you say, is nothing unusual and you are right to think so. On the
plains of Kentar, such people grow as plentifully as the golden
grasses. This particular tribe that I speak of was so wicked and
bloodthirsty, it is said even their own horses were afraid of them.
They craved battle as a man in the desert craves water. They swept
across the land like a winter storm destroying any who they came
upon. Even the other tribes lived in fear of them and would flee when
they approached. One day the chieftain of this murderous horde called
his men together and spoke to them thus:
“Oh, Brave Horsemen, Mighty
warriors, Hear my words! Our shadows have grown too long on these
plains. There are none left who has courage enough to face us . It
has been a long time since we have tested our strength in battle. We
have taken to fighting among ourselves for want of an opponent and I
fear our proud people will soon tear ourselves asunder if we continue
in this manner. I say let us pack up our encampment, leave the
Kentari Plains and look to the west. I hear that on the far side of
the towering snow-peaked Rustings, there is a rich and beautiful land
of jeweled cities and fragrant gardens. There every woman has the
beauty and bearing of a queen in any other land. Why should we not go
there and live as kings?”
The fearsome band quickly agreed and
set out that day for the foothills of the Rusting Mountains. Now, I
needn't tell you how treacherous the mountain passes can be, even
when the spirits have not set themselves against you. There are
snowstorms,avalanches and biting winds. The passes are narrow and
high, with sharp rocks beneath. Wild beasts and demons live there.
Only a great fool would attempt to cross the mountains unguided.
These tribesmen were born without fear and were ignorant of all of
this. They did not know the way or the words to appease the spirits,
who were angered by such arrogance. Before long the spirits beset
these travelers with the worst the mountains had in store. While
they were mighty warriors, a spear cannot fight against weather and
hunger. Lost and starving they were forced to eat their horses. Many
succumbed to the cold or sickness, or else fell to their demise,
leaving their bones to bleach in the sun and be picked clean by the
birds. So it was that a journey that should have taken no more than
ten days lasted for many months. Fate was kind to our people and
merciless to those warriors of the plains.
When the survivors emerged
on the other side those unforgiving peaks , exhausted, battered and
only a handful of their former numbers left, they came out too far
south. They did not see the shining silver ribbon of the Anajai
beneath them, surrounded by the rich green fields and bright roofs of
our cities that welcome us home from our wanderings. No, They came
out in a place where the hostile red wastelands of the Great Northern
Desert stretched from horizon to horizon uninterrupted. The remaining
men tore out their hair and bellowed in fury to have traveled so far
and so hard through the mountains only to come to an inhospitable
barren place. They turned upon their Chieftain with blame in their
eyes, In their rage those men tore him to pieces with their bare
hands. In that moment they finally became completely uncivilized. The
last trace of the tribe's humanity vanished. They turned into wild
beasts. Hair sprung from their flesh, their hands turned to claws and
their teeth lengthened to fangs. Great curving tails arched over
their backs like a scorpion's. Their heads flattened and became empty
of any thought but hunger. Their eyes burned with unquenchable anger.
From that time forward, those once haughty warriors skulked in the
shadows of night as large wild cats. They shun all company and have
become the beast we now call “Manthikaar” This is why the
manthikaar's coat is red to remind any who look upon them that these
beasts were born of blood and murder. It is said that these animals
hate humans particularly and will devour them on sight because seeing
people remind them of what they once were, and what they have become.
Hunters believe that death reveals it's true appearance. They say
just before a manthikaar, dies, or it kills you, the beast will show
you his human face. Because of this, and because it's spirit is
likely to be vengeful it is unlucky to kill a manthikaar.
Muhor
Muhor is a small nation that is
situated in the Anajai river valley between the Rusting Mountains and
the Great Northern Desert. The Muhor people are hardy and compactly
built. They are renowned for being shrewd merchants and skilled
craftsmen. Muhor jewelry and leather-work is especially sought after.
Muhor is primarily an agricultural economy. The fertile lands near
the river are primarily given over to grains and orchards, while the
foothills of the Rustings are populated mostly with shepherds and
their flocks. Life in the arid lands around the Anajai is harsh and
unforgiving. The river is swift, difficult to navigate, and given to
frequent flooding. Storms can arise suddenly from the desert to their
west and blizzards sweep down unexpectedly from the mountains to the
east. Droughts are common. The winters are long and frigid. It is
perhaps understandable that the Muhor are inclined to think of the
natural word as being cruel and capricious. The main trading routes
of the Muhor are either southwards via the Anajai River, Caravans
east across the Great Northern Desert, or eastwards through the
mountain passes and over the vast Kentari Plains. As the climate of
the plains is much more hospitable than that of their homeland, many
Muhor have attempted to settle here, only to be driven off by the
proud nomadic tribesmen who live there. The tribes of Kentar are also
not above raiding a Muhor supply train. Consequently, very little
love is lost between the two cultures.
Copyright J. Ryan 2012
