Kosmosa Vault
Gallo (Gallimimus)
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Kosmosan term: Hevo
Matt’s term: Gallo
Probable dinosaur species: Gallimimus
Size estimates: 15 feet long from head to tail. 5 feet tall at the hip. 950 pounds.
Role in Kosmosa: Transportation. Beast of burden. War
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The gallo ran on two powerful legs, and could possibly reach speeds approaching 50 mph. Their forelimbs had sharp claws capable of inflicting significant damage. Gallos could carry riders with ease on their strong, straight backs. Their long tails stood straight from their bodies. Their necks were both long and well-muscled. Small, needle-like teeth filled its wedge-shaped beak. Most of its body was covered in small, downy feathers. It’s forelimbs and tail, however, had long feathers. Gallos came in a wide variety of colors. These included black, white, grey, red, yellow, and orange. It was also common for gallos to have piebald or dappled feathers.
These creatures play a role in Kosmosa roughly similar to that of horses in Europe and Asia. Their most common uses were carrying individual riders, pulling cars and carriages, and plowing fields. They are also commonly ridden into battle, where their strength, agility, and sharp claws make them formidable opponents.
I’ll admit that when I first read about gallos, I pictured Kosmosans riding around on ostriches. But that picture doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. The gallo was much larger-bodied, with a strong and straight back. Also, the neck of the gallo was thickly muscled—it must have resembled a horse more than an ostrich. on balance more closely resembling a horse than an ostrich.
The gallo’s diet was mostly tough, fibrous plants. However, it was famously an opportunistic and wide-ranging eater. When given the chance, it would happily eat anything from small lizards, to fish, to human table scraps. It was especially fond of insect larvae. The best way to earn the devotion of a gallo was to slop some grubs into its trough as an extra treat.
In general personality and temperament, gallos seemed roughly equivalent to modern horses. A well-trained gallo was a calm and steady companion. Young gallos, however, had a tendency to bolt when frightened. And virtually all gallos would panic in the presence of large predators such as rexes.
In warfare, gallos were the backbone of Kosmosan cavalry. They were used primarily to outflank opposing armies, to chase down retreating armies, and to crash through lines of enemy foot soldiers. In this last area, gallos had a distinct advantage over horses. They were faster and more agile than horses, and could jump higher. There are several battle accounts of gallos literally jumping over the enemy pikes and into enemy lines. Gallo beaks, tails, and claws were formidable weapons in their own right. The reports of damage inflicted on soldiers by gallos is rather gruesome.
Stego (Stegosaurus)
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Kosmosan term: Sarko
Matt’s term: Stego
Probable dinosaur species: Stegosaurus
Size: 18 feet long front snout to tail, 6 feet tall at the hip. 3,000 pounds.
Role in Kosmosa: Livestock
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Stegos had small, narrow heads at the end of long necks. Their necks were relatively long. The stegos’ bodies were large and broad, with arching backs lined in plates. Four long spikes emerged from the end of the stegos’ tails. The stegos’ tough, leathery skin varied in color from brownish green to bright bottle green. Their plates were shades of red, yellow, and orange, and had a metallic sheen that sparkled in the sun.
The stego was the quintessential livestock animal of Kosmosa, and was perhaps the first dinosaur Kosmosans domesticated. In addition to its large population of domesticated stegos, Kosmosa also had some remaining wild stegos.
There were significant differences between wild and domesticated stegos. The most obvious was size: wild stegos were over 25 feet long, and up to 9 feet tall at the hip. Domesticated stegos, however, were closer to 18 feet long, and 6 feet at the hip. They were also different in temperament. Wild stegos were known to be territorial and aggressive, and would chase off defenders with charges and wild swings of its tail spikes. Domesticated stegos, on the other hand, were more docile. They were similar in temperament to cows.
Like wild stegos, domesticated stegos had four long spikes at the end of their tails. However, these spikes were incredibly dangerous to herders. It therefore was common practice for these spikes to be shaved down. Though this made it safer to herd them, shaving their spikes made stegos vulnerable to predators. That’s why it was so vital to protect stego herds with guard raptors and full-time herders.
Stego meat was highly prized, and roasting a stego was often a special occasion. Stego eggs were also an important food source. Though not as tasty as the eggs of ankylos or compies, stego eggs were nonetheless filling and nutritious. The stego egg was considered the classic working man’s meal. Stego leather was also valuable in Kosmosa. It was tough, durable, and relatively plentiful. Especially for common foot soldiers, it was the most common material for making armor.
Raptor (Velociraptor)
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Kosmosan term: Gawa
Matt’s term: Raptor
Probable dinosaur species: Velociraptor (possibly deinonychus or utahraptor)
Size: Varies greatly depending on breed. The smallest are bred to merely be the pocket companions of fancy aristocrats. They barely weigh more than 5 pounds. The largest breeds are the raptors used for defending cattle, and occasionally for battle. They can weigh upwards of 200 pounds, and stand over 5 feet tall.
Role in Kosmosa: Almost too numerous to count. Their roles include: livestock protection, livestock herding, sight hunting, scent hunting, retrieving game, personal protection, warfare, and personal companionship.
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Just as they vary wildly in size, raptors varied wildly in plumage. The most colorful and exotic feathers were on the toy varieties. These tiny breeds had feathers so long they had trouble walking. And the colors themselves were most every color of the rainbow. The raptors bred for more active work generally had shorter feathers which ranged in color from tawny brown to black to white to shades of red. Oranges and yellows were also occasionally observed. The large raptors bred for warfare and livestock protection often had long and thick manes of feathers around their necks.
Domestic raptors were also known for their loyalty and intelligence. Again, these traits varied according to the breed. The most intelligent and easily-trainable were the herders and the retrievers. The guardians were especially loyal to their herds and masters. However, most any domesticated raptor species could make a good human companion with proper training and socialization.
Wild raptors were also common in Kosmosa. By the time of Red Rex, raptors had been domesticated for centuries. So a large differences had emerged between domesticated and wild raptors. Wild raptors rarely weighed more than one hundred pounds. Their plumage ranged from rusty orange to light brown. Though larger domestic raptors could scare them off, they were still a threat to livestock. They were also dangerous to humans who were on their own. The wild raptors in Kosmosa’s interior wilderness were notoriously dangerous. They were both unusually large, and unusually aggressive toward humans. Travelers through these regions were advised to go in groups of no less than eight to fend off wild raptor attacks.
Rex (Tyrannosaurus Rex)
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Kosmosan term: Sarko
Matt’s term: Rex
Probable dinosaur species: Tyrannosaurus Rex
Size: 45 feet long from snout to tail. 14 feet tall at the hip. 9 tons.
Role in Kosmosa: Mostly wild animals. A very few were kept in captivity. Legend has it some were ridden into battle during Kosmosa’s Golden Age.
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Rexes walked on two powerful hind legs. Their front arms were relatively tiny. Their heads contained a massive set of jaws lined with dagger teeth. Their tails were long and held horizontal. Most of their body was covered in short, rough feathers. Their tails, however, had massive feathers. They also had manes of feathers around their necks. Most rexes were a color between dusty brown and rusty orange. However, their long feathers often had a red metallic sheen.
Most rexes lived in Kosmosa’s interior wilderness. Only the occasional stray “red rex” would venture into populated areas. But when these red rexes did appear around villages, they caused widespread terror. The rexes in the interior wilderness were known to prey on humans. It was therefore considered unwise to ever venture into those areas unless you were part of a large, well-armed group.
Because it is the imperial symbol of Javreal, it was long the tradition for the Emperor of Javreal to keep a rex on the Imperial Island. In past ages, it was common for emperors to keep several impressive rex specimens at a time. By the time of Red Rex, the emperor only had only a single, scrawny old rex.
There were rumors that the emperors of Javreal’s Golden Age rode rexes into battle. According to those legends, the rexes could terrify the enemy’s gallos and triceras, break the enemy lines, and grab individual soldiers in its jaws. By the time Red Rex began, however, these legends were from a time long in the past. Many educated Javrealis thought they were only mythical tales.
Tricera (Triceratops)
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Kosmosan term: Caho
Matt’s term: Tricera
Probable dinosaur species: Triceratops
Size: Over 30 feet long from snout to tail. 9 feet tall at the hip. Up to 10 tons.
Role in Kosmosa: Mostly wild animals. They were also used in warfare.
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Triceras had huge, bulky bodies on top of four clawed feet. Their tails were short and muscular. Their most prominent feature, however, were their enormous skulls. A large bony frill extended from the top, protecting the back of the neck. Two long horns emerged from the brow ridge, with a third horn coming from the snout.
In the wild, triceras moved in large herds throughout Kosmosa’s interior wilderness. Their most prominent role in Kosmosan civilization, however, was in battle. Throughout most of Kosmosan history, triceras were the quintessential military weapon. Their tough hides made them invulnerable to most arrow and javelin throws. Their horned skulls and punishing muscle made them ideal for breaking enemy lines. And their massive size meant that an armored turret filled with up to a dozen warriors could be fitted to the top of their backs.
Triceras were famously aggressive toward enemy triceras on the battlefield. Confrontations between rival triceras was often the centerpoint of great battles.
Bronto (Brontosaurus)
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Kosmosan term: Trumoia
Matt’s term: Bronto
Probable dinosaur species: Brontosaurus, or some related sauropod.
Size: 75 feet long from snout to tail. Up to 20 tons.
Role in Kosmosa: Mostly wild animals. A very small number were kept as beasts of burden.
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The bronto has a long, muscular neck extending horizontally from its bulky body. Its head is relatively small and wedge-shaped. It walks on four clawed feet, and its hind legs are slightly longer than its forelegs. An impossibly long tail trails behind it like an enormous whip.
The largest confirmed dinosaur species in Kosmosa, the bronto lives almost exclusively in Kosmosa’s wild interior—most especially the vast rainforest surrounding Lake Hesperus in sourthern Kosmosa. Brontos live in family groups, and will occasionally migrate seasonally across great distances. The sight of migrating bronto herds is a wonder throughout Kosmosa. For the most part, brontos have docile personalities, and seem to pay little attention to humans. But if provoked or frightened, they can be truly terrifying. Besides charging with their immense size and clawed feet, they can rear up on their hind legs, and—most terrifying of all—crack its tail like an enormous whip. There are stories of large trees being cut in two from a bronto’s tail whip.
At any given time, Kosmosa may have between one and five brontos kept in domestication. Obviously, feeding these enormous dinosaurs is extremely expensive. But on the plus side, they can be beasts of enormous burden. They were instrumental in helping move materials for some of Kosmosa’s grandest building projects. The famed “bronto bus” also pulls a massive carriage back and forth between Javreal and Hermercia.
Quetzo (Quetzalcoatlus)
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Kosmosan term: Haske
Matt’s term: Quetzo
Probable dinosaur species: Quetzalcoatlus
Size: 48 foot-long wingspan. 20 feet tall. 800 pounds.
Role in Kosmosa: Used in battle, surveillance, and security. Transportation across long distances.
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A large head with a huge beak stands at the top of a long neck. The body, smaller by comparison, has massive muscles across the chest. The leathery wings, when spread to full length, resemble sails from a flying ship.
One of the most spectacular creatures in Kosmosa, the quetzo is also one of the most important. It is an important military dinosaur, being used for reconnaissance, and aerial combat, and for bombarding ground troops.
Perhaps even more important is its role with Kosmosa’s Heaven Sailors. This guild of philosophers and diplomats ride quetzos to kingdoms and cultures around the world. The Heaven Sailors exchange philosophical ideas, new technologies, and (hopefully) good will with the various kingdoms. The kingdoms are also left with stories of mysterious visitors who arrived on the backs of golden dragons.
Plesi (Plesiosaurus)
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Kosmosan term: Gertu
Matt’s term: Plesi
Probable dinosaur species: Plesiosaurus
Size: 13 feet long from snout to tail.
Role in Kosmosa: Used in battle, security, and espionage.
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The plesi has a round body with a distinctive hump above the shoulder. It’s neck is long and muscular. Though its head is relatively small, its jaws are filled with conical teeth. Its tail is short and broad, as are its two hind flippers. These were used to steer through the water. The plesi propelled itself forward with its massive wing-like front flippers. Their skin was smooth as rubber, with a silvery blue sheen in the light.
Famously playful in the waves, wild plesies were a common sight off the coasts of Kosmosa. Captured plesi could be extremely useful for naval combat. They could expertly sneak divers close to enemy ships, and were vicious in direct underwater fights with other plesi-riders. Plesies were famously termperamental. They could go from friendly to aggressive at the blink of an eye.
Ptera (Pteranodon)
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Kosmosan term: Vilgas
Matt’s term: Ptera
Probable dinosaur species: Pteranodon
Size: 22 foot-long wingspan. 7 feet tall. 210 pounds.
Role in Kosmosa: Used in battle, security, espionage, messengers, and sports.
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Taller than a grown man when standing on its feet, the Kosmosan ptera is bigger and bulkier than the pteranodons in the fossil record. In other respects, however, they appear very similar. They have the same long crest extending from their skulls, the same large pointed beaks, and the same leathery wings. The main part of their body was covered in short, coarse down. The sides of their crests were often brightly colored. Light metallic blue and red were the most common of these colors.
Pteras were the backbone of the “air force” for the Seven Great Cities. Although they lacked the size and stamina of the quetzo, pteras were more agile in the sky, and could be kept in greater numbers. Ptera flyers were usually armed with a compound bow, a long spear, and incindieary bombs which they could drop on armies below. They aerial combat between large armies of ptera flyers was the subject of some of Kosmosa’s most dramatic epic poetry. They were also the steeds for one of Kosmosa’s favorite sports: pteraball.
Relays of messenger pteras were considered the most reliable way to send a message quickly across Kosmosa—especially if the message was considered urgent. They most famous corp of ptera messengers was based in Hermercia.
Krono (Kronosaurus)
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Kosmosan term: Zvelus
Matt’s term: Krono
Probable dinosaur species: Kronosaurus (or some related mosasaur)
Size: At least 50 feet long. Perhaps over 60 feet long.
Role in Kosmosa: Wild animal. Occasionally used in religious ceremonies.
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The largest confirmed krono was at least 50 feet long. However, there were rumors of larger ones in the depths off of Kosmosa. Kronos had large, broad heads, and jaws lined with conical teeth. Their bodies were muscular and bulky, and they had four paddle-shaped flippers. At the end of a long tail was a fluke in the shape of a crescent.
The largest known creatures in the seas around Kosmosa, the Krono struck terror in the hearts of seafaring Kosmosans for centuries. This is because the krono had a habit not only of attacking swimmers and plesi riders, but even attacking medium sized boats. Their attack style was similar to modern great white sharks. Starting from the dark depths, they charged up to the surface at their prey, crashing above the surface as the krono crushed its prey in its jaws. A famously old and large krono lived in the Kronium harbor. Its reputation for feeding on swimmers was so legendary that falling in the harbor was considered certain death.
Interestingly, this is perhaps the only creature from Kosmosa which may have survived into recent times. Reports of large creatures in the seas persist to this day.
Rampho (Rhamphorynchus)
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Kosmosan term: Nilas
Matt’s term: Rampho
Probable dinosaur species: Rhamphorynchus
Size: Varies greatly according to breed. The largest had a wingspan of nearly 6 feet. The smallest had a wingspan of less than 10 inches.
Role in Kosmosa: Sending messages. Also household pets.
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One of the most thoroughly-domesticated species on Kosmosa, ramphos came in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. To some extent or another, however, all ramphos had beaks filled with needle-shaped teeth. They had tails which were usually long, and leathery wings which had claws on the ends. When they weren’t flying, ramphos were either hopping along the ground on all fours or (more often) sitting on the shoulder of their human.
Messenger ramphos were common throughout Kosmosa—especially among nobles, merchants, and others who needed to regularly pass along information. They had an incredible ability to find specific people and other ramphos, and were renowned for their sense of direction. They were also fiercely loyal to their humans.
Paraso (Parasaurolophus)
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Kosmosan term: Anta
Matt’s term: Paraso
Probable dinosaur species: Parasaurolophus
Size: 30 feet long. Around 5 metric tons.
Role in Kosmosa: Wild animal. A very small number are kept on the palace grounds of the Queen of Lillenia.
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The paraso had a “duck bill” snout and a long, curving crest which extended from the back of its skull. This crest was a brightly-colored metallic copper. The rest of the paraso was a dappled white. The paraso generally walked on four legs. The forelimbs were relatively small, while the back were long and muscled. A likewise musclar tail extended from its bulky torso.
The paraso’s range was largely the southern part of Kosmosa. However, it was famous throughout the island as a fire-breathing monster. The paraso, however, did not (technically) breath fire. But it could exhale a potent combination of chemicals which would cause caustic burns for those in its path. The paraso was furthermore easily startled, and could sneeze out its chemical breath at the slightest disturbance. It was therefore a dinosaur which locals kept at a wide distance. It also made the tame parasos which the Queen of Lillenia kept in her palace even more remarkable.
Spino (Spinosaurus)
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Kosmosan term: Kilpaija
Matt’s term: Spino
Probable dinosaur species: Spinosaurus
Size: 45 feet long from snout to tail. 12 feet tall at the hip. 9 tons.
Role in Kosmosa: Wild animal. Legend has it some were ridden into battle during Kosmosa’s Golden Age.
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If I were to tell you “river dragon,” the spino is pretty much exactly what you’d picture. It had a long, crocodile-like snout filled with conical teeth. Its neck was sinewy and flexible. Most of its body was a leaden black. However, the large sail along its back could flash metallic purple in the setting sun. It could walk on either two or four legs, depending on its need. The front limbs were shorter than the hind limbs. All four were relatively squat and muscular. Its tail was flat and broad.
The spino spent most of its time along the shores of lakes and rivers. Undulating its body and tail, it could swim in bursts of terrifying speed. The undisputed king of the rivers, Kosmosans traditionally viewed spinos as the great enemy of rexes. Perhaps that was why Kronium chose it as its symbol.
Similar to rexes in Javreal, there are legends that Kronium kings used to ride spinos into battle in past ages. It is unclear whether there is any truth to those legends. However, in recent years, Kronian generals have started keeping several spinos in captivity. Rumor has it they are planning to train these spinos for war.
Compie (Compsognathus)
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Kosmosan term: Torea
Matt’s term: Compie
Probable dinosaur species: Compsognathus
Size: Around the size of a chicken.
Role in Kosmosa: Egg production and meat. Their feathers were also used as clothing fabric.
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Small, slender and agile, the compie walked on two hind legs. its front legs were small with tiny claws. It had a narrow head, long and mobile neck, and whip-like tail. It was also covered in short, simple feathers.
In some ways, compies functioned like the chickens of Kosmosa. It was common to keep some around the house because of their frequent egg production. Their simple feathers could be turned into warm and durable fabric for clothes. Their meat was also nutritious and tasty.
In other ways, however, the compie was different from chickens. For one, they were more intelligent and friendly. They were famously curious, and often caused random mischief around the home. In fact, some Kosmosans kept them as pets. This made killing them for meat an unpleasant prospect for many.
Ankylo (Ankylosaurus)
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Kosmosan term: Futau
Matt’s term: Ankylo
Probable dinosaur species: Ankylosaurus
Size: Wild ankylos were around 20 feet long, nearly 6 meet at the hip, and weighed nearly five tons. Domesticated ankylos were substantially smaller: somewhere between the size of a large pig and a small cow.
Role in Kosmosa: Egg production and meat. Their hide was also used for armor and leather.
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Both wild and domesticated ankylos had the same body type. They were low-slung and broad, with wide heads, armored backs, and muscular legs. However, there were significant differences between the two types. Wild ankylos were substantially larger. They had spikes lining the sides of their torsos, and a dangerous club on the end of their tails. Domesticated ankylos lost both these spikes and the tail clubs.
For everyday Kosmosans, the ankylo was one of the most useful dinosaurs. First off, it laid tasty and nutritious eggs in large quantities. Its meat was also tasty and nutritious. In addition, its leather was vital to Kosmosans. The skin from its soft underside was used for everyday clothing and items around the home. The hard plates from its back were used for making tough and durable armor. As an added bonus, the armored plates would sparkle when polished. This made even armies of common foot soldiers gleam and glitter as they marched into battle.
Notho (Nothosaurus)
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Kosmosan term: Staja
Matt’s term: Notho
Probable dinosaur species: Nothosaurus
Size: Up to 10 feet long.
Role in Kosmosa: Mostly wild. Some were kept by fishermen to aid in catching fish.
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Nothos had lithe bodies with long necks, long finned tails, and four webbed claws. Its snout was filled with needle-shaped teeth.
The notho was semi-aquatic. It spent time both on land and in the sea—sort of like modern seals do. They swam using their tails and webbed claws, and fed on fish. Many fishermen in Kosmosa kept nothos to help them catch fish. The nothos would herd schools of fish toward the fishermens’ nets. The fishermen would then reward the nothos with a cut of the catch.
Coloring Pages
With woodcut-style, black-and-white art, it didn’t take us long to realize our chapter illustrations would make the perfect coloring sheets. You can get six pages for free just by clicking below!
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