Fauna Of Instar

Fauna of Instar is an incomplete list of animals from Instar. For reasons of convenience, animals resembling generic animals are called by that name, although there may be minor differences. These notes will mainly list the uses to which these animals are put.

Instarrian humanoids are dealt with on a separate page, in order not to imply that they are dirty animals.

Also included for interest are religious grades, which, although not universally agreed to, may give an additional insight into public opinion of animals.

1. Bird

2. Chullic

3. Chulc

4. Cow

5. Fifil

6. Fish

7. Frogs

8. Lizards

9. Insects

10. Ostrich

11. Rats

12. See also

13. Appendix: Religious grades

1. Bird

Many species, including domesticated and tamed varieties. Bright colours and songbirds are favoured. Dull-coloured seabirds are regularly culled around the docks.

Religiously, the Mercies consider birds "the flying thing", along with bats and possibly opaque-winged insects - the cleanest grade of animal.

2. Chullic

Termite-like hiving social insects (qv) that produce silk in their mounds. One species (comprising several selectively-bred supspecies) is kept for silk.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the swarming thing", the same as other insects.

3. Chulc

Rhymes with 'skulk'. A small dingo-like animal with a bushy tail. Both wild and urban scavengers, viewed as pests and regularly culled (would be wiped out if possible).

Religiously, because of an urban legend that the animal will eat until its belly drags in the dirt, the Mercies classify chulcs as "the crawling thing" and thus the filthiest grade of animal. Other large predators (which are mostly extinct) would be "the chasing thing" instead.

4. Cow

Animal used for meat and (castrated versions) in heavy draft work.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the running [on four legs] thing" along with other grazing animals. They may be eaten.

5. Fifil

Small tree-climbing animal having medium, slightly reddish brown fur with lighter dapples. Has a long snout with hedgehog-like teeth, squirrel-like forefeet, tail thinner than a squirrel's in side profile (in fact it curls under at the sides). Omnivorous.

Religiously...

6. Fish

Many species, including eels. Caught for food. Fish farms exist in the colonies but must be moved along the coast as the long Instarrian year progresses.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the swimming thing", the cleanest grade of animal - a classification that includes frogs (qv) and snakes but not lizards.

7. Frogs

Many species. Brightly-coloured ones may be kept in zoos, not as domestic pets.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the swimming thing", like fish (qv).

8. Lizards

Many species. They are viewed as creepy and aren't kept.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the crawling thing" and filthy.

9. Insects

Many species. Some are domesticated, such as one species of chullic (qv) and a species of spider, kept for silk. Many other types of insect can infest houses, in which context they are treated as pests.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the swarming thing", including solitary species, and not unclean.

10. Ostrich

Large flightless bird used for light draft work.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the running [on two legs] thing". They may be eaten, if you really want.

11. Rats

Viewed as pests and regularly culled.

Religiously, the Mercies consider these "the crawling thing" and filthy.

12. See also

• Fauna of Shade

13. Appendix: Religious grades

The Mercies' grades generally reflect public opinion at the time Instar is contacted, because attitudes haven't changed much since the (relatively modern) order was founded.

Members of the public do not follow the purity rules adhered to by members of the order, so their response to a 'dirty' animal would be "ugh", calling an exterminator or throwing something at it.

classification	Cleanest	Edible		OK	Dirty	Dirtiest
name of grade	Flying Swimming	Running (2)	Running (4)	Swarming	Chasing	Crawling
consists of	birds bats fish snakes frogs	ostriches	herbivores	insects	predators exc. chulc	rats lizards chulcs long body eg weasel

(The 'crawling thing' is more literally translated as "dragger of its belly along the ground"; hence inclusion of the chulc in this category. Chulcs are commonly believed to eat until their bellies drag on the ground).