Auroch

Origin: AH search for Pearl Cerdae, 10k, breeder Starymoto

Name origin: Hebrew word reym or reëm gets translated into both Unicorn and Auroch wild ox and sometimes Oryx, depending on the translator, so Auroch for “unicorn if you so choose to see one” ;)

Familiar origin: Rosa Cerdae for the most valuable of unicorns for the most unusual dragon connected to unicorns

Click graphic for link to subspecies lore

Personal lore:


Child of two Pearl Cerdae, being a Pearl Cerdae himself was destiny. Even if it had been a choice, his parents were such fine specimens and the calling so noble that finding a different way of life never crossed his mind.


He joined the clan Tree Haven as an adult at already over 1 month of life.

The two in the clan who range the farthest from the comfy eclectic lair - the clan gatherer Bloodthistle and clan battler Zinanthid - found this dragon kicking repeatedly at an artificially-made structure on the outskirts of Pox Consolate.

“Training exercise to build muscle and toughen paws,” the battler approved. She called out encouragement.

No response. Kicking continued.

“That’s focused and determined,” she murmured, but less certain.

The gatherer, a Tundra, came within conversation range for an inconspicuous whiff to see if any memories stirred up of knowing this dragon already. The Pearlcatcher was a blank slate, but - “You smell like a place even more wild grown than ours. And we like ours mighty overgrown to begin with,” the Tundra rumbled.

Before they could make a next move, a dragon emerged from the structure, yawned, stretched, then noticed the kicking and the other two standing around and demanded to know what mischief from loitering to vandalism was going on here.

“Can you do that somewhere else? This building isn’t abandoned. You’re going to get in trouble for bothering someone,” the Tundra suggested kindly.

No response.

In order to de-escalate the trespass, the Tundra moved forward to catch the Pearlcatcher’s attention with a touch, but the Guardian battler held up a paw and did it herself in case the stranger lashed out on reflex. To the battler’s surprise, the Pearlcatcher turned alert, intelligent blue eyes to her and cheerfully asked how the Guardian’s day was going.

During a walk to get away from the structure and its irate denizen, the two from Tree Haven learned that this Pearlcatcher does not fly and has a condition. Vegetation grows rampant internally, infesting and integrating throughout his muscle tissue and internal systems - but grants extra vitality and other trade-offs.

The Tundra delicately concurred. “We love plants and nature too. We moved from the other side of the world to be inside the green.” He bit his cheeks rather than admit horror at the thought of green inside HIM.

They chatted. They learned each other’s names - the earthbound Pearlcatcher was called Auroch - and made small talk like the current holiday.

Auroch expressed surprise to learn it was February Trickmurk Circus instead of January Crystalline Gala.

Bloodthistle and Zinanthid exchanged a look.

At the end of their walk, Auroch agreed to let them take him in.

Auroch is alert and aware of surroundings the majority of the time, and is often mistaken for a typical dragon in both mind and body if someone thinks his wings are just folded to blend in with his back or that his plant growth is fashion only.

However, his plant integration causes some disruptions. On the lighter side, his mind wanders like a daydream or trance and needs an abrupt sound, touch or shake to ‘bring’ him into the external world again. At its heaviest, plant instincts cause a state near sleepwalking, for days or even multiple weeks at a time if not brought out of it. Plant instincts insist on crumbling and weathering ANYTHING artificial that blocks water collecting and sustainance growing. Dragon sapience can visualize the surroundings, and identify what is both inorganic and artificially-made. (Biodegradable leather tents, artificial but safe. Natural rock, inorganic but safe. Rocks cut into bricks and sealed with mortar and set in rigid straight lines and geometric right angles - abomination.)

When someone sees that he goes to sleep properly in a bed, and sees that he is truly awake when he gets up in the morning, all is well. If he gets too sleepy without going to bed or gets mobile without being awake, he’s been known to break storage and decorations inside the lair itself before someone sets him right again.

Surprisingly, Auroch’s best companions are the two Pearlcatcher divas, Yuniciplees and JaynaJayna. Being shapeshifters from another realm who took on dragon form, one specializing in tail mods and the other specializing in ankle mods, their own offspring are merely simulacrum designed to increase their wealth by incubating for the hapless mortals. But Auroch has potential to increase their esteem if they mentor him and parade him as their protoge.

Auroch’s integrated vegetation works by different rules than their shapeshifting, but the tutoring proved effective. When conscious and alert, Auroch can grow and control a thorny cutting whip tail for attack and self-defense, and can grow sturdy stalk leg extensions for height and speed.

As Auroch develops, he also spurs his mentors to master any varieties he comes up with as they can’t let themselves be outshined in even the least significant trick.

Clan founder and gatherer Bloodthistle also took responsibility to track down Auroch’s original clan and reunite them. Auroch was delighted and grateful to learn what had happened during the time he couldn’t remember. With a free choice between the two clans or even setting off again on a new journey, he chose to keep friendly ties with his blood clan but stick with his current clan and mentors.


Besides training, Auroch’s main project in the clan is gardening every possible category - flowers, vegetables, herbs for both cooking and medicine, and trees both fruitful and decorative. Instead of repulsive artificial straight lines, he landscapes by replacing individual scrub patches with a cluster of something wonderful that integrates with the growth around it as if it has always been there.

His cultivating fits with such harmony, most of the time the clan-mates have NO idea the cultivation is all his. Clan-mates walk by blooms and ask themselves if this galaxy of flowers has always been there, or marvel amongst themselves what made the day’s veggies extra scrumptious.


Salvador Dali, The Temptation of Saint Anthony. A representation of Auroch’s leg extensions when grown - but flesh remains the same size, and plant stalks on the ankle grow out beyond the foot to any desired length