Ashqarid - Sand Strider

Zoologists within the World Explorer’s & Hunter’s League have long been eluded by the seemingly mythical existence of the Ashqarid, commonly referred to as the Sand Strider. Despite numerous eye witness reports of the creatures in the desert that crosses Sudd Tohst and Dornat Al Karit, no specimens, living or dead, had ever been captured of the creatures, and any scholars who attempted expeditions to study it either left disappointed, or did not leave at all. Only in the last decade has the WEHL made any leeway in understanding this peculiar creature, for while they previously believed it to live within the sand dunes that are its hunting grounds, they now (thanks to knowledge from local Hinatali Elves) understand that the creatures in fact live within the ravines and crags of the Battlescar Mountains. Indeed, they make the long journey into the dunes to hunt instead, where they can move beneath the sand as quick as a horse at full gallop, and spend days at a time hunting before returning back to the refuge of the rocky mountains. Whilst they are territorial and defensive within their mountains, they seem to otherwise forgo much of their predatory behaviour, and will instead retreat from perceived threats, owing to the fact that they no longer have the cover of the sands. Whilst their cover is limited here, they are still versatile, and can easily navigate through the craggy surfaces to retreat from potential harm. In the few observations of Ashqarids in this environment, they did not attack or consume potential prey, outright ignoring them. In events where they killed potential threats, these were also not consumed, and a unique behaviour was observed where the carcass would instead be discarded, rolled down the mountain slopes until it was no longer near the creature’s nest or resting place. While the qualities of the Ashqarid are wholly unique, and no other such arthropods have been observed in Tharador matching its size or complex behaviour, it is considered a menace and pest by locals. Ashqarids are responsible for over a dozen deaths every year, preying on caravans moving between Sudd Tohst and Dornat Al Karit. Currently, a rather boisterous one is wanted by the WEHL for completely eviscerating a well-guarded caravan with ten armed escorts. Such a danger cannot be ignored, though the intervening WEHL party are asked to bring the creature’s carcass back for study, if possible.