Achlis (ahk-lis)

Achlis

Achlis (Ahk-lis) or Achlises were small deer with stiff legs and an elephant-like snout. A lack of joints in their solid legs made bending their solid legs impossible. They were about 80 – 100cm (31 – 30in) long and 50 – 70cm (20 – 28in) high at the shoulder, weighing between 7 and 17kg (15 – 37 lbs). Herbivores, by nature, achlises lived in temperate forested environments far from civilization and migrated south during the winter. Their big, floppy nose served zero purpose. It was quite an unnecessary nuisance as it got in the way of their mouth while eating. To eat, they had to lay the nose flat, then back up to dine. Observing their feeding patterns was usually a good way for lost travelers to locate edible flora and fauna. During the night, achlises found a tree and leaned against the trunk to sleep standing up. They would usually return to the same tree night after night if they were still in the same region.

They were one of their first creatures young hunters were trained to kill because all one had to do was tip them over. A common trap involved sawing a tree so that the achlis would tip over when it leaned against the trunk to sleep. Hunters were usually after them for their scent glands, which fetched a hefty sum on the Fabellan black market. Ancient royalty wore the scent of achlis because it was an aphrodisiac.