For the most part, the animals on Aether are the same that would be found on Earth, and since the game-play will be moving all over the world, there is the opportunity of running into a variety of different kinds of animals. Shapeshifting and graisha give lists of acceptable animal-forms for characters with the shapeshifting ability, and when we run into foreign races, we will include any different shapes their mages can take. As far as domesticated animals go, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, and cats are the most common no matter where we go.

But that is all part of "civilized" life. Beyond the cultivated fields and farms are the wilder countries -- the deep forests and tall, rugged mountains where the Sylvans live, and where the Varati kingdoms are said to lie. Only those familiar with the terrain dare venture into those lands, for beyond the walls of Haven, in the wilderness, survival is chancy at best.

There are some places where even the Sylvans dare not go -- deep in the heart of "no man's land" where mystery and magic hold sway. Tales of awesome creatures trickle back to the civilized world -- creatures twisted by magic and rumored to wield it as easily as Aether's children. Such beasts are rare, their status almost legendary. On Earth, they have been given many names. Dragons, chimaeras, sphinxes, unicorns, sea serpents, gryphons, basilisks ... they have been called many things, and those foolhardy enough to go seeking them often don't live to tell the tale. These beasts are powerful and ferocious, and in their own territory, they are the true kings of the wild.

On rare occasions, such creatures are hunted, captured, and tamed. The Empyreans have managed to breed a special herd of gryphons to drive their chariots and allow landbound visitors to their city in the clouds. But the herd is small, and well-protected; for obvious reasons. Should another race ever gain control of these flying beasts, the Empyre would be threatened. Therefore, Empyreans often hunt down and kill any wild gryphons that venture too close to civilization, for fear that others might get ahold of them and breed them into docility as well.

The Varati also have their own unique steeds. Large, lizard-like beasts with a thick hide that protects them from a fire's heat, these animals are not unlike Earth's mythical dragons. Called "wyverns" or "firedrakes," they are as bloodthirsty as crocodiles and about as difficult to tame.

They are roughly the size of a horse, and wingless, save for the queens, of which there can be only one in an area at a given time. Though the Varati have attempted to breed more of the broad-winged queens, there is an instinctive urge within the females to destroy all rivals. To allow two or more within the same vicinity of each other is to invite a fight to the death.

The Atlanteans and the Sylvans each share a special bond with many of the creatures in their surroundings, for they each possess a unique tie to their element. Yet this same bond prevents them from "taming" or "domesticating" such creatures, for imposing their wills upon another living thing is alien to both cultures. Therefore, neither race has a certain species of animal that they use as steeds or beasts of burden, though they have been known to view some animals as companions or friends (such an incident would require a score in "animal-ken").

Finally, save for the gryphons or wyverns listed above, no "mythical" creatures can be used as pets or puppets unless approved by the admin.