Things in Xanadu

The most unique animal to Xanadu is the Domesticated Silk Spider. These spiders have been bred for many centuries to produce a high quality, weavable silk. The Silk Spiders vary in how poisonous, aggressive, and big they are, these attribute not directly correlating with each other. Some of the Domesticated Silk Spiders have been known to reach the size of a Kobold. The Empire does not tolerate these Domesticated Silk Spiders to live outside of captivity, for fear of what they could do to the anthrosaur population of the planet. This super-strong silk produce from the Domesticated Spiders is a critical part of Xanadu's economy.

Most of the large predators who lived in the wide, open spaces of Xanadu have been destroyed, because of the threat they represented to the anthrosaur civilizations. However, some Lyndwryms remain in the harder to reach areas, and Lyndwyrm attacks are still heard of in the mountains, jungles and forests, as well as on the smaller continents.

Dragon attacks are quite common in areas with water. Even though most of the fresh water species have been hunted into extinction, the salt water varieties continually repopulate the rivers, marshes and swamps. Dragon meat and skin are valuable commodities.

There are large, grazing dinosaurs that populate the grasslands of Xanadu. (Specifically, these are Behemoths, Large Game, and Pachyderms.) They are hunted for their ivory and meat by anthrosaurs. Goblins are the main natural predators to the grazing herds.

The most unique technology to Xanadu is a kind of Gun Powder. Xanadu has firearms, cannons, and fireworks. These devices have been used very effectively by the Empire, but because of their unpredictable effects on livestock, wild animals and domesticated war beasts, the Gun Powder technology is considered to be quite limited in it's combat potential. Xanadu's battlefields are still very much dominated by more primitive projectile and hand-to-hand weapons, all though the Gun Powder weapons are greatly feared and respected.

The Domesticated Spider silk is usually used to make cables, ropes, thread, and extremely durable yet comfortable clothing. The silk from certain breeds of Domesticated Spider is used to produce thick, bullet-proof body armor. This same type of super-silk is also used to make thick cables that are almost unbreakable.

(It is important to note that Xanadu's Silk, Cannons and Guns have made it a powerful force in the interplanetary economy. Xanadu is connected to Peleg by a Displacer Gate, and Peleg is in turn connected to Monopolis the same way. There is a major demand for Xanadu's commodities on Monopolis. Monopolis has attempted to colonize Xanadu, quite unsuccessfully, and now trades with Xanadu primarily on Peleg, where both world's governments have established large colonies.)

Some of Xanadu's anthrosaur population lives on private junks and sailboats. This dynasty has developed massive sail-powered barges, sometimes covered in various types of ornate, yet functional cannons.

Xanadu ~ Xanadu's People ~ Xanadu's Things