Porctus

Description:
Porctus are plump, terrestrial creatures that look like nature’s confused attempt at combining a porcupine and a desert cactus. Roughly the size of a large raccoon or small dog, their bodies are round and squat, covered in green, fleshy cactus-textured skin instead of fur. Rows of sharp, retractable cactus spines protrude from their backs and flanks, glistening with dew—or poison, depending on their mood.

While generally herbivorous and slow-moving, Porcii are notoriously cranky when disturbed, curling into defensive balls or firing quill-like cactus needles with air-powered thuds. Travelers often mistake them for low-growing cactus clumps until it’s too late.

Physical Characteristics:

• Skin Texture: Thick, fleshy green surface marked with grooved ridges and cactus nodules, much like a saguaro or prickly pear cactus

• Spines:

  • Needle-sharp, slightly barbed cactus spines

  • Some variants excrete mild neurotoxic sap, especially during high RAD activity

  • Can flex or fire individual spines in defense

• Eyes: Small and dark, often half-lidded with grumpy expressions

• Feet: Wide, padded with stubby claws—great for burrowing into sand or dense shrub

• Color Variants:

  • Most are deep green

  • Others bloom with yellow or pink cactus flowers on their backs during mating season

Behavior:

• Daytime Sleepers: Hide beneath rocks or root themselves into cactus groves, mimicking the landscape

• Spine Defense: Rather than flee, Porcii arch their backs and fire spines at aggressors

• Moisture Collectors: Use furrowed spines and nodules to collect dew, surviving in arid zones

• Burrow Guardians: Known to tunnel into soft earth or sand, especially near RAD-cracked cliff bases

Abilities:

• #Needle Volley: Fires a spread of spines in a defensive arc

• #Thirst Trap: Lures herbivores or travelers in with a blooming flower, then lashes out

• #Curl and Bristle: Enters a spiny ball state; damage taken is reflected partially back at melee attackers

• #Sap Spike: In rare types, a poisoned quill leaves a slow-acting paralysis effect

Weaknesses:

• Blunt force can crack their outer skin, making them vulnerable

• Water Magic can over-saturate their body, causing swelling and sluggishness

• Fire Magic chars their skin and prevents spine regeneration

• Easily confused by illusions and mirrored surfaces—especially flower-based decoys