Gigu Concept 2011

The gigu is an extinct sentient prehistoric species on Rimer, but its relatives survive in Rimer's 'bird life' (none of which look like birds except for the fact that they have wings and are biped like birds.)

Some basic stuff about gigus...

- They were extremely social and had a high regard for life, greater than most other species. They were extremely peaceful creatures who never attacked other animals and had a strong instinct to help other individuals. Because of this, they were easily lured into traps by the copper elves, who were thus able to slaughter these peaceful creatures in droves.
- Gigus were omnivorous, but 99% of their diet was made up of plants, particularly tree fruit. Most of their favourite foods were arboreal. Unlike most omnivores, gigus could not eat carrion and would contract food poisoning if they tried. Gigus sometimes ate insects but usually never ate anything bigger. They were known to migrate, following the seasons, but many populations did not.
- The last gigu, Cade Farsight, is considered a hero in Rimarian history, as he refused the gift of immortality the Great Phoenix wanted to bestow upon him, saying that the final life of his species should have an ordinary mortal end. He lived until very old and died a wise elder. He was also famous for being Kayoss' best friend.
- Shown here is the winter phase of the gigu pelt. They had tawny fur in summer.
- Gigus were endemic to middle Eastern Escavia, which in their era was warm, not cold as it is now. They were found nowhere else and it is theorized by anthropologists that the species may have already of been going extinct when the copper elves arrived because of their swift decline. (It's believed that they completely died off - except for Cade - within a decade or even less.)
- Cade only survived because Kayoss saved his life. The falcolf god never knew a more loyal friend, except perhaps Firis, who he also saved.
- It is thought that while gigus were smart, they were not very fast or strong. This may have contributed to their demise. Before the elves came, it's believed that there was also starting to be an influx of large predators - many of which could fly - which probably also had something to do with the extinction of this species. Also, the climate was cooling. (Modern Rimer is colder than it was in the antique days of gigus and the mortality of the Rimarian gods.)
- Being pacifistic, gigus also rarely defended themselves against predators, always choosing flight over fight.
- Despite not being very physical, gigus had powerful senses to help them avoid capture by any predator. Large ears gave them very good hearing and big eyes helped them spot predators from a great distance. Usually, these senses made it so that a gigu could leave before a predator came close enough to attack. Since gigus also lived in large families, they always had sentries to sound the alert.
- Gigus have no close modern relatives. Feathertails resemble them, but they are distant relations and the evolutionary branch that feathertails belong to has continued to grow. Both feathertails and gigus are related closely to falcolfs, falfoxes and ziggoos.

Old concept of Cade, in summer coat -> [link]§ion=&q=dance+of+friendship+falcolf#/dvlr6u

K. I'm going to bed now. I had an awesome chart thing showing the evolution of Volotilisreprobae, the family gigus and falcolfs belong to, but dA screwed up the formatting, so it's gone now.

(c) Rosanna P. Brost All Rights Reserved.