The Yensan Sandsea

050: Alraune

Genus – Plant Classification – Mandragora

Observations: A curiously sentient plant-like creature favoring warm climes, both tropical and arid.

The horns on their heads are used for cracking rock-salt, from which they draw the salinity that sustains their life.

The vines spreading like a mask from their necks have led to the classification of these creatures as a sub-variety of mandragora. Apparently, however, the distinctive viny ruff is a source of much frustration to the creatures, and they can often be seen clawing at them, looking much like irritated pets clawing at a leash.

Sage Knowledge (49 of 78): Ogir-Yensa Sandsea: A desert region in the west of the Jagd Yensa, most of it covered in fine-grain sand that ebbs and flows like water, compared from antiquity to a sea.

Abandoned drilling rigs can be found here and there, dotted about the ever-shifting terrain. In the past, the Rozarrian Empire sought to draw rich oils from the ground here, but relentless attacks from the Urutan Yensa, who consider the sandsea to be solely theirs, drove them away. Men are now a rare sight inside the desert borders.

051: Danbania

Genus – Ichthian Classification – Pirahna

Observations: Being a variety of ichthon traveling the desert regions in flocks formed around a lone bull danbania.

It is a peculiarity of their physiology that a bone juts forth from the lower jaw like a spear. Their brownish-yellow coloration perfectly blends in with the sands, camouflaging them from their greatest natural predator, the wyvern.

Their fins are highly evolved for scooping at the wind, lifting them upwards, and by flapping them as a bird flaps its wings, they can fly with ease.

Sage Knowledge (50 of 78): Nam-Yensa Sandsea: The desert in the west of the Jagd Yensa. Fine sand beats in waves against the feet of the rolling dunes of this region which, together with the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea, is called the Great Yensan Sandsea.

To the west of the Nam-Yensa lies the gorge known as the Valley of the Dead, so called because it has been the scene of many an ill-starred adventurer's demise.

052: Axebeak

Genus – Avion Classification – Cockatrice

Observations: Easily identified by its band of colored plumage, which rivals that of even the most exotic jungle fowl, this creature makes its home in the sun-baked desert climes of Ivalice.

Adventurers be warned, its cheerfully colorful appearance belies a violent nature, and its beak is as sharp as the weapon after which it is named.

Generally feeding upon smaller creatures, they have also been known to gather in packs for the hunting of larger prey.

Our Daily Burden: Let the Egg Sing of Miracles, Let it Sing for the Children!

So pleads Kirus Andii in her latest song of succor for the orphans of war.

Since ancient times, rainbow eggs have been prized as a miracle food - a rich source of nutrition in a small, easily portable package. Recently, however, the egg's rich taste has attracted the appetites of the wealthy, the concomitant rise in price lifting this amazing food out of the reach of those who need it most.

053: Yensa

Genus – Ichthian Classification – Yensa

Observations: Being a great sandfish, living in the Sandsea of the Jags Yensa that, when full-grown, becomes a bull yensa.

Though commonly found moving through the sands, they do occasionally surface. Their outside being covered in a sheath of bony scales, from beneath which is secreted a viscous slime having the likeness of a membrane, this being to repel the intrusion of sand.

The Urutan-Yensa have learned the art of harnessing these beasts as an excellent means of travel across the trackless Sandsea.

The Town Crier: The Iron Stomach, a guild of tasters known for its lust to discover new edibles at any cost, has discovered yet another delicacy!

Known as the yensa fin, it's not only delicious, but reasonably priced to boot! The response from housekeepers has been universally positive.

One such convert recommends a soup broth for bringing out the fin's full flavor. A book of recipes is in the works!

054: Wyvern

Genus – Dragon Classification – Wyvern

Observations: This strain of dragon possesses both the sharpened talons of a tyrant wyrm, and the wings of a wyvern, the latter having been traded for forelimbs at some point in the creature's eons-long development.

Particularly fond of the flesh of the danbania fish, they wheel through the upper air, searching with keen eye for their next meal.

Of the same strain, the more aged individuals are called bell-wyvern, thought to be emissaries of the war gods for their effect on warriors in the field, who are inspired to great acts of foolhardy courage and bravery by the merest sight of these mighty creatures in motion.

Sage Knowledge (21 of 78): The Strahl: Airship designed and built by YPA, a shipwright's guild of Archades.

Officially named the YPA-GB47 Test Combat Fighter, production was halted after the completion of a single test model due to dissatisfaction on the part of the Imperial customer with the costly dual-movable-wing design. Scheduled for scrapping, Balthier liberated the ship at the last moment.

Balthier has since modified the Strahl to his tastes with a new engine and numerous other augmentations, making it a very different ship from the one envisaged by its YPA inventors.

055: Salamand Entite

Genus – Salamand Entite Classification – Elemental

Observations: When the gods looked down on Man, shivering in his ignorance, they bestowed upon him the gift of fire. So did the gods give both warmth and knowledge to Man.

Gradually, Man grew wiser, and made many things. Yet, when war came, he used the fire of the gods for the taking of life, and the gods became angry, scorching the world. In this inferno was born the salamand entite.

The Entite Pact: To prevent the ne'er-sated hunger of flame from consuming all, drink only from that water which will ne'er parch, and thereby shall it be sated.

Only then shall the shining electrum be revealed at last beneath burnt-weary ash.