Flora and fauna of Orrakar

Flora

• Kethra Thorn – A hardy, fire-resistant shrub that thrives on the canyon edges. Its twisted roots burrow deep into rock fractures, stabilizing the soil against erosion. During dry seasons, its waxy leaves curl inward to preserve moisture, while its barbed seed pods explode upon contact with water, rapidly spreading after flash floods.

• Scourgelace – A sprawling, fibrous ground-cover plant that traps loose sediment with its tangled, web-like tendrils. It prevents small rockslides and is considered sacred by the Drahari, who use it to reinforce their cliffside homes. Its sap hardens into a resin-like material, often used to craft waterproof bindings and lightweight armor.

• Hollowstalk Cactus – A segmented, hollow-bodied cactus that captures wind within its chambers, producing an eerie, whistling sound as air rushes through. These sounds change with the seasons, leading the Kuthar to use them as natural wind markers. Its fluid-rich core provides hydration to canyon dwellers but is fiercely guarded by territorial fauna.

• Cinderplume Grass – A feathery, rust-colored grass that grows in thin, windswept layers across the mesas. Its seeds are carried by the wind and take root in the smallest of cracks, ensuring rapid recolonization after erosion reshapes the terrain. Some believe it marks places where ancient settlements once stood, growing strongest where the past has been reclaimed by nature.

Fauna

• Vorthak (Cliffstrider Beast) – A long-limbed, four-legged predator that leaps effortlessly across canyon walls, using its hooked claws to cling to sheer rock faces. It hunts at dusk, ambushing prey by launching itself from above. Its thick, dust-colored hide blends seamlessly with the cliffs, making it nearly invisible when still.

• Krezul Hawk (Wind-Cutting Raptor) – A silent, razor-winged bird of prey with blade-like feathers that allow it to slice through the unpredictable canyon winds. Its near-perfect aerodynamics make it one of the most elusive and precise hunters in Orrakar. It is revered by the Kuthar, who study its flight patterns to predict weather shifts.

• Tarkuun (Burrowing Sand Lurker) – A scaled, subterranean predator that buries itself in loose canyon dust, waiting motionless for unsuspecting prey to pass by. Its outer shell hardens or softens depending on humidity, allowing it to weather both extreme heat and sudden floods. Some Drahari believe that deep-buried Tarkuun grow massive, becoming ancient, unseen guardians of the canyon floor.

• Sablemoth – A nocturnal insect with velvet-black wings and heat-sensitive antennae, allowing it to navigate the darkest canyon crevices. It feeds on Cinderplume nectar and is one of the few creatures that can pollinate canyon flora adapted to the night. During mating season, entire swarms of Sablemoths gather in shimmering clusters, creating a temporary "starry sky" within the canyon depths.