HABITAT: Exalted Plains, Frostback Basin
COMPANION: Yes
MOUNT: Yes? (yes)
SHAPESHIFT: Yes
RANGER CALL: Yes

Description and Habitat

Gurguts are brightly-colored creatures predominantly found in wet, marshy regions. Their diet primarily consists of fish and marsh weeds.

Behavior and Mating

The name "gurgut" originates from the distinctive sound they produce during the spring mating season. During this period, males engage in loud, elaborate dances to attract females. Travelers are advised to keep their distance from gurguts during mating season due to their heightened activity.

Interactions with Humans

Though gurguts are less aggressive than their wyvern cousins, they are nonetheless dangerous. They possess thick-lidded eyes and a perpetually open jaw, giving them a deceptively docile appearance. Despite this, gurguts are capable of consuming large prey. There are documented cases of gurguts swallowing unsuspecting chevaliers whole, their armor found days later among the creature’s droppings.

Philosophical Musings

The Chant of Light suggests that the Maker created all creatures, including humans and gurguts. This raises existential questions about humanity's place in the world. Observations of the gurgut's behavior, such as its indiscriminate consumption of prey, lead some to speculate on the nature of existence and purpose. If the Maker indeed created all beings, one might ponder if humans exist merely as sustenance for other creatures.

Conclusion

Gurguts, while less fierce than wyverns, present a unique threat due to their size and dietary habits. Their presence in marshy regions necessitates caution, particularly during mating season. Their interactions with humans and the philosophical questions they inspire continue to be subjects of intrigue and study.