July Release!

Hello Fellow Trappers!

Before we jump into learning a little more about this months models we wanted to let everyone know that the download links will be released tomorrow. We had a bit of a delay and we are just waiting to get the models supported but rest assured they are coming. Thanks for your patience! Now lets learn some more about the monsters and trappers for this month!

Volcanic Hardscale

Volcanic Hardscales are a type lesser dragon that can be found in and around the volcanoes on some of the south western islands of Letona. While there are several species of Hardscales this species is unique due to its ability to survive in lava. Volcanic Hardscales are found in the craters of volcanic peaks or in lava filled caves deep underground. The Hardscale part of their name comes from their extremely hard scales that cover the body of the dragon especially the head. This causes the dragon to be extremely resistant to physical attacks which makes them very tricky to take down. Volcanic Hardscales will lounge in pools of magma when not hunting and are known to eat rocks that get melted down in their stomachs  to latter be spewed back up as molten lava to kill their prey. If their victim doesn't die from burning to death then it's only a short matter of time before the lava cools and hardens making it very difficult for their prey to run away. The best way to go about taking one down seems to be either magic or poison administered from a very precise strike. Water magic in particular can be very effective for negating the lava spew of the dragon and if timed right can be used to trap the dragon in one of it's lava baths by rapidly cooling the lava in which it is sitting.

Sharkasaurus

There are few creatures more terrifying than a Sharkasaurus. Also known as, Land Sharks, Shore Prowlers, and Sand Maws, they are a terrifying combination of saurian and shark characteristics. The Sharkasaurus is the product of extreme selection pressures present in some of the more wild and untamed regions of south western Letona with the possibility of magical wellsprings deep under water also contributing to their existence. These fearsome creatures will prowl the coast often times resembling a large but normal shark with only their dorsal fin showing above the water. It's only til it is too late that people often realize it's true nature. Equally capable on land and in the water the Sharkasaurus can tip smaller vessels or simply wait for the ships and boats to eventually dock and attack them on the beach. Sharkasaurus young are deadly immediately after hatching and will hunt in packs until old enough to take on prey on their own. All of this wouldn't be so bad if they behaved more like a normal animal but Sharkasaurus's are highly aggressive and will attack anything on sight, even being known to chase down ships for weeks. Once they have a hold of their prey in their mouth they will violently shake their head tearing into the victim with their serrated teeth. It is best to avoid them at all costs and only engage if necessary.

Mordechai

Mordechai is member of an amphibious species known as the Prax. His real name is Ba'amph Tx'aru but he goes by Mordechai so people of the common tongue can more easily pronounce his name. Raised in the coral shelfs off the southern coast of Letona Mordechai learned to harness the power of magic and how control the flow of water. All Prax upon reaching maturity are assigned a calling. A role they will have for the rest of their life, given to them by the Council, in order for them to contribute to Prax society in the most efficient way possible. Mordechai was given the calling of 'shell keeper', a job of tracking a managing financial affairs. Mordechai did his best to accept the calling but he never felt it truly suited him and that he wanted to learn more magic and explore the world outside the coral shelfs. Part of his calling included traveling to the surface and overseeing trade imports and exports with the drylanders. It was on one of these excursions that during the negotiations the trade party was attacked by a Sharkasaurus. Mordechai along with the drylanders fought off the sharkasaurus and the drylanders found them selves impressed with Mordechai's magical prowess and skills with controlling water to his advantage. The drylanders said they belonged to a group called the Dragon Trappers Lodge and said they had been trying to deal with a Volcanic Hardscale for sometime but with no luck so far. They told him someone with his mastery of water could be very useful. Despite the strict regiment of Mordechais culture he made the decision to help them face the dragon and that he would deal with the council and their consequences when he got back. With Mordechai's help the trappers successfully defeated the Hardscale. The members of the lodge invited him to join the lodge as an official trapper but mordechai declined. He needed to return to his people and his calling. Upon his return the council scolded him for abandoning his calling and disobeying the council. For fear that others would follow his example of rebellion, the council banished him from the coral shelfs he called home. Devastated, mordechai was exiled and left to determine his own fate. Perhaps a blessing in disguise, Mordechai, with no where else to go, sought out the Lodge the trappers had spoke of and requested to join. It was jarring at first to go from the strict regimented life of the Prax to the rugged unruly lifestyle of the lodge but he was welcomed openly and he soon adjusted. Mordecahi would often question if he had made the right choice until one day there where reports of a dragon attack from Prax survivors claiming that a Darkwater Emperor Dragon had attacked the coral shelfs and taken charge of the city, enslaving the inhabitants. Mordechai volunteered to join the expedition to stop the dragon, worried and eager to help his people. Due to his knowledge of the shelves he was able to help the trappers slip in unnoticed and eventually confront and defeat the dragon. Despite his heroics and saving his people the council did not accept him back. They stated that the law was final and his banishment would not be undone. Mordechai however realized that weather or not he had made the right decision all those years ago he was content with who he was now. He left the coral shelfs for the last time with his head held high. He stayed with the Lodge and eventually reached the rank of Veteran, becoming revered by many trappers. Despite the councils best efforts to squash his rebellion their decision only caused even more young Prax to be inspired by Mordechai and now several Prax join the ranks of the lodge each year.

Scissorlock

The people of Katatook Island are known to worship a massive crab named Scissorclap that lives in a lagoon on their island. Every year Scissor clapspawns a handful of eggs that the people of the island raise. They are usually given to the chief or people of great esteem in their culture. After saving the people of the island from a Volcanic Hardscale, Mordechai was gifted one of these crabs. He named it Scissorlock in honor of Scissorclap. At least thats the story that gets told. The truth is they planned to reward him with the honor of being fed to Scissorclap as a sacrifice. Mordechai declined this offer by fending off Scissorclap and escaping through the lagoon as he swam to the open ocean. He may or may not have taken one of the melon sized eggs of Scissorclamp with him when he escaped. Whatever the actual account of what happened Scissorlock has made a great companion. While she may not be the fastest mount she is sturdy and well equipped to travel nearly any terrain on land and in the water and she can climb up most surfaces. Her hard shell allows her to shrug off blows and the enchantments and wards Mordechai has wrapped around her claws give her added protection. In addition one of the reasons her kind is so valued is that their antennae can magically locate any creature. Simply give her the scent and she can lead you to it.

Masina

Foolhardy, reckless, wild, brave. All words that have been used to describe Masina. She was the daughter of her tribes chief but despite her parents best efforts she was never destined to be royalty. When she was 18 Masina sought out a witch. She was terrified that she would live a life of monotony and wanted to have her future read so she could know for sure. She ended up getting more than she bargained for and was shown her own death. To many this would break them or cause them to have extreme anxiety but whatever it was Masina saw, it only emboldened her. She figured that if she knew how she would die she had nothing to fear. As payment the witch demanded she deliver her child brother to the witch but Masina refused. In her anger at being shorted the witch tried to kill Masina but Masina had seen her death and this was not it. She killed the witch in the ensuing scuffle. Her body fell to ash leaving nothing but the skeleton behind. Masina determined a method to know if she was ever in danger of meeting her foreseen end by dawning the skull of the witch as a mask. In the vision she had seen Masina had not had a mask on so she figured as long as she kept on the mask she would know she was safe. From that point on Masina considering herself virtually invincible, decided to find where she could face the most danger and risk while doing the most good. That brought her to the lodge. She never fears running into battle against a dragon and she specializes in using her poison coated daggers to charge unsuspecting dragons to make an opportune strike.