The Balance of Nature (Predatory Checks)
Content
## Overview The plateau operates under a unique ecological balance where prehistoric predators and prey interact within a confined space. ## Mechanics and Rules * **Internal Regulation**: Challenger hypothesizes that the carnivorous creatures must have a "check" that limits their numbers, otherwise they would have exhausted their food supply in the confined area of the plateau. * **Fierce Fauna**: The animals are described as "very large, very strong, and... very fierce." The carnivorous dinosaurs (Allosaurus or Megalosaurus) are capable of tearing an Iguanodon to pieces. * **Predatory Behavior**: Predators like the carnivorous dinosaur hunt by both **scent** (dropping their nose to the ground) and **sight** (springing in great bounds once the prey is seen). * **Nocturnal Habits**: Many of the most dangerous predators, such as the "horrible toad" monsters (**Stoa**), are primarily nocturnal, though they can be active during the day if disturbed in their lairs. ## Examples from the Story * **The Iguanodon Butchery**: The expedition found a glade where an Iguanodon had been "literally torn to pieces" by a predator, leaving pools of blood and lumps of flesh. * **The Night Attack**: A carnivorous dinosaur tracked Malone through the forest, demonstrating persistent hunting behavior and a "throaty gurgle of merriment" during its attack on the camp. ## Narrative Significance This mechanic establishes the plateau as a high-stakes environment where the characters are part of a brutal food chain, necessitating constant vigilance and the use of sentinels.
Category
Reality Layers
