looking for suitable mundane animal

[Gilladian]

I'm designing an island for my PCs to explore. Eventually they will find that in a sea-cave deep under the island a water weird dwells. But to get there they have to get by the "guardians" of the island. They are mer-folk or possibly sea-elves (druidic types) who have run the local humans away from the island because the humans are over-hunting an animal that dwells on the island.

I'd like suggestions on what the animal could be. The island is temperate, similar to low-lying coastal islands near virginia or just to the north. So I'm thinking seabirds or something, but rare enough that destroying their habitat on one island would be hard on them. I'm not knowledgeable enough about this area/climate to think of anything.

I'd also be happy with a magical creature if it was fairly low CR. Any suggestions?

Gilladian

 

[Mark]

Crabs - http://www.nus.edu.sg/corporate/research/gallery/research2.htm

The Horseshoe Crab has been in trouble since it was discovered they could be used to test blood clotting agents. Just in the last couple of years there is some news that might mean a turn around (link above).

For your campaign you might make them a giant (albeit docile) crab. Great food source, so understandably hunted, but also not without its own defenses for game's sake.

I ran a game once where Crabmen were hunted for food by human settlers to an island chain. Their language was unknown and thus the settlers did not realize they were a sentient race.

 

[LGodamus]

They could be land tortises like exist only on galapagos islands or possibly even aquatic iguanas like are there also..

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I would suggest a rare species of sea turtle. They are holy to the sea folk because their migration cycle coincides with religious rituals of the sea folk (and the have the helpful habit of eating annoying jellyfish). Sea turtles are very vulnerable to human hunting when they come ashore to lay eggs at a certain time of year.

 

[Steverooo]

Do-dos, Tapirs, or... what's the name of the less-than-pony-sized critter with the short, elephantine trunk and tusks? Anyway, something nearly estinct.

 

[Buttercup]

Although they aren't New World animals, why not the platypus? They're too bizarre to be real, and yet they are. Maybe they're being hunted because their bill is an essential component of a high level spell. Or maybe it's their venom that hunters are after.

 

[Malk]

hmm manatee's are cute enough that any druid worth his bark would be angered at their destruction.

Whales offer not only your animal, but also the impetus for the local economy.

 

[Gilladian]

I wanted to say thanks to everyone for your suggestions: I've decided that the island is home to sea-turtles. These rare creatures lay their eggs here on the beach and their population is being decimated by the "tourists" who came to the island to visit the water weird, and by the whalers who used the island as a processing center before bringing the whale oil etc.... back to the nearby mainland. Neither one was doing it intentionally, but the impact was there.

Thanks again!

Gilladian