Giant Bat

Source: Adapted from Compass of Celestial Directions: East pp.154-155

Giant Bats are a large species of bat, found across Creation with the highest concentrations in the forests of the East. They have large wingspans, stretching up to seven feet, large ears, small fangs, and bodies covered with dark brown fur. Though they are not the fastest flying creatures in Creation, they are incredibly agile, a major reason why bats find so much success amongst the open forests of the Northeast, particularly amongst the conifer trees. Claws on their wings allow them to climb trunks and branches, while their feet are well adapted for fine manipulations, each with an opposable toe allowing them to make use of a variety of tools provided they have the intelligence for the task.

Giant bats have poor eyesight but excellent hearing, and navigate primarily by echolocation while in flight, though they make use of scent a great deal while at rest.

Giant bats have a varied diet: primarily they eat insects, occasionally taking small birds. They are also known to eat fruit, pine nuts, and elderberries, with a particular love of those berries that have begun a natural process of fermentation.

Giant Bats are highly intelligent… the Haltans would classify most as some level of san-beast, with many existing as ata-beasts. In Halta, san-bats are trained as hunters and messengers.

Regardless of intelligence, Giant Bats place great value on family and community, remaining in tight-knit groups for most of their lives. In Halta, there are several villages populated exclusively by ata-bats.