Tarquin Beasts

[Rose of Pern]

Tarquin Firelizards

Tarquin Firelizards are smarter then your average wild Firelizard. They have been selectively bred for intelligence and size. Their size is not drastically different then that of a normal Firelizard but they are generally stronger and can carry more.

Tarquin Beastcrafters are quite adept at determining which color firelizard is within each egg but they do occasionally get it wrong. That is why they do not offer definite answers towards what is in each egg. Gold firelizards are not within gold eggs, merely larger then the normal eggs, which usually has the Beastcrafter keeping the largest eggs in case a gold hatches.

Tarquin Firelizards are known for being highly loyal and obedient but there is also a great deal of training usually involved. For the price of most Tarquin metallics, the average Pernese doesn't bother with it and instead look for wild clutches.

A Tarquin Gold is considered a prize and is usually given on extremely special occasions (someone becoming a Lord Holder, the Master Crafter of their Hall, etc).

[Rose of Pern]

Tarquin Whers

Tarquin Beasthall is one of the main sources for Whers on Pern. It is from this stock that the Watch-Whers are often chosen. Generally, Wherhandlers are also trained within Tarquin before being permitted to approach a Queen for an egg.

While Whers are naturally territorial and aggressive, the Whers of Tarquin are raised to be to more obedient and generally better natured. That does not mean they are not as dangerous should the wrong then occur. Tarquin Whers are prized animals and treated with nearly the same respect as Dragons.

Occasionally, Whers are given to people in need of protection. They Whers are generally older Whers who have been bonded to another Human for several Turns prior to the transfer of such a bond. This is not done that often due to the amount of trust required for such a transfer. That being said Whers are not pets. They are work animals, either for mines or for the protection of people.