Mahar


(mah-HAR)

The mahar is an ancient species with the roots of its origin surrounded by legend. They originate from the Sacred Lands, where it is believed that generations ago the most intelligent (and therefore greediest) of the mahars organized a treaty with the Saheric; in exchange for the caves full of glittery gems, they would provide the Saheric with fifty precious mahar eggs. They agreed and the deal was struck -- the wild mahars laid claim to the treasures, while the Saheric raised the dragons as their own.

Mahars are most well known for their love of hoarding. They will collect things en mass and stick the items to their bodies for safe-keeping. The most popular item among the wild mahars especially are precious gems, and as they age, their greed tends to take over their lives; older mahars will do very little activity outside of guarding their treasure. Younger mahars that have not yet gained a taste for what they will collect are much more adventurous, exploring not just the sands of the Saherimos but Subeta as a whole.

Mahars are larger than their very distant dragarth cousins, though quite a bit smaller than the rreign and paralix. They stand at 30-35 inches (76-89 cm), and the males and females are roughly the same size and sexually monomorphic. Because of their ability to fix inanimate objects to their bodies, the weight of maharas can vary greatly, however it is believed on average they weigh around 200 pounds (91 kg). Mahars do not mate for life, but purely for convenience - although mahars interested in the same treasures tend to be attracted to each other most. Females will lay a small clutch of brightly-colored eggs and leave them to hatch; mahars are born fully able to fend for themselves. Mahars are carnivores that will hunt and eat nearly every grass-feeding animal in the Saherimos, including young neelas and sheetas, although they will also catch the occasional noktoa when the opportunity presents itself. Many old mahars die not from old age, but from starvation, as they do not wish to leave their hoards behind to hunt.

Nearly every mahar kept as a pet in modern Subeta is a descendant of the original fifty eggs given as gifts. Because they were raised among people, these domestic mahars tend to be much more easy-going and relaxed than their wild brethren. They are actually quite playful and loyal to their owners -- and also tend to be much more creative with their hoards. In lieu of gems, pet mahars will collect any object that first catches their fancy. This has been known to range from simple rocks to seashells to pine cones, and even man-made objects such as empty spools of thread and discarded paper scraps. Indeed, compared to their colorful and richly-decorated wild cousins, pet mahars can be even quite comical to behold!


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