Wandering Eccentric

2009-06-13T08:35:31Z

90.212.174.195:

'''Ash''' (also known as '''Skarrbag'''; born 21st October 1983) is a [[furry artist]] who lives in South England. His [[fursona]] is a [[dalmatian]], either a small, very friendly, puppy or a less social [[anthropomorphic]] Dalmatian.

Ash has attended several furry meets and [[convention]]s, including the [[LondonFurrs]] meets, [[RBW]], [[Anthrocon 2005]] and [[Anthrocon 2007]]. He has also travelled to various parts of England and the U.S.A. to meet up with other furry friends.

In real life, he wears an Indiana Jones-style hat, long coat and duel-dog tags.

==The Ash Dance==
[[Image:Ashdance.gif|left|thumb|px|The Ash Dance being performed, by ash]]

In the summer of 2007, a group of friends went to [[Wikipedia:Thorpe Park|Thorpe Park]], a theme park in Surrey, South England. The group of friends browsed the park, going on various rides until they came across a seemingly normal [[Wikipedia:Carousel|Carousel]]. Some decided to go on the ride, including Ash. Whist waiting for the next ride, the group stood around listening to the jolly music coming from the ride until Ash began dancing. He was recorded outside the ride, performing the dance, which was given the title of "Ash Dance".

Others who have performed the dance are [[Miles Tigerfox]], [[Shema]] (as [[Tosca]]) and [[Mustan]].

==Eccentricities and Peculiarities==
Ash has a number of unusual views and goals. The highest of these is the ambition of living in a castle, and using the premises and surrounding grounds as a means to generate income, both from low tech, and high tech applications. It is known that he has made comments about having unknown benefactor/s, but the stage in this plan is not fully known.
Some of the plans surrounding the castle venture that have been mentioned include the use of Kesler Energy, nuclear waste recycling (using the waste as a purification system), and server hosting.

A large amount of other goals that Ash is known to have related to the final Castle project include acquiring a Heat and Cryogenically Treated Techno-Wootz Damascus sword, and using either an ex-postal van, or large white van, as a fully equipped mobile base of sorts, with its own bed, water and electricity. Ash is also rumoured to be in the process of making a second version of the Legendary Great Coat (LGC).

==The Legendary Great Coat (Mk. I)==
The Legendary Great Coat started out as a large Great Coat, or Long Coat, belonging to persons unknown in the 1960s. It was a heavy-duty coat that was resistant to knife cuts, and extremely weighty. It was then passed on to the Gentleman's friend, who kept the coat for 40 years or so, and eventually passed it onto Ash. In the early 2000s Ash approached the British Army Tailors, and paid for the coat to be expanded upon, having a Flack Jacket incorporated into the design, providing additional protection, and leaving the coat with a considerable weight. While the coat offered superior armour, the main reason for this costly tailor job was for the additional weight. Dubbed 'The Legendary Great Coat' (or LGC), Ash continued to use the coat, daily, for a number of years.
Eventually the LGC was worn out by use, the rope used to hold the flack jacket plates starting to snap. Before the coat was rendered completely unusable, Ash had the LGC retired, and keeps it ready for a possible final use.

Recently Ash has made mention of a 'LGC mk. 2' being designed, with the possibility of it being constructed in the not so distant future. It is possible that such a coat would incorporate Kevlar knife-proofing, and ceramic plates to provide high knife and bullet resistance, and possibly some electronic controls and applications built in, such as speakers, 'body temperature conditioning', and GPS locators.
It goes without question that if such a coat was created, it would have a high cost, and would probably be quite valuable.

==Dog Tags==
Ash has a very strong attachment to the 'double dog bone' dog tags he wears. These tags are golden in colour, and marked with many scratches, with Ash's name, the words 'Dalmatian antihero' and a serial number printed on the front, with the reverse reading 'If found, look after. Loyal'. It is understood that these tags can actually be used, if the case arises, in the same way as a pair of Army dog tags. similar dog tags can be found in most pet stores.
Ash has gone through approximately 3 pairs of dog tags over the years. The original pair now belong to Pepper (aka Painted Pup), and were replaced from being outdated. The second pair had to be replaced after they were bent around 45 degrees after an accident when an industrial drinks cage, full, fall over onto Ash. While the dog tags absorbed most of the impact from the corner of the drinks cage, they were permanently bent inwards. The current pair of dog tags are still in active use, and are showing signs of wear and tear.

==Project: Underground==
Project Underground is a long-term collaborative comic and story series based in an alternative world between the years 1914 and the not too distant future. It is set in a world where technology is as prevalent, and the situations similer, as our world, though 'magic' does exist as a repressed and hidden element.

Currently two Artists are confirmed to be working on various aspects of Project: Underground. These are [[Heather Gladden]] and [http://resha-murdock.deviantart.com/ Resha Murdock].

The first series in Project Underground is called 'London Underground', and is set in London, in the early 2000's. It features [http://luna-v.deviantart.com/art/When-Darkness-Falls-51082760 Thu], a bat-eared mutt that happens to be an ex-gang member and a demon hunting xenophile, attempts to live his lawless life in the heart of a demon underworld. Unfortunately something unstoppable is lurking under London, and with an all-powerful organisation determined for hundreds of years to wipe out magic paying him to hunt down discovered demons, Thu soon finds himself slap bang in the middle of the two hidden superpowers.

Currently 'London Underground' is in early production, and should appear as a regular comic in late 2009/early 2010.

==Falgrove==
Falgrove is a fictional thick marshy forest that is cut off from other ecosystems by an assortment of Natural Barriers. It shows signs of past settlement, with wooden gangplanks and posts, however it is currently not lived in permanently.
Falgrove Marsh is connected to the fictional Castle that Skarrbag.net is based on. It is also mentioned at length in the Project Underground story 'London Underground'.

The main animal species currently in Falgrove are the rather popular Puppyleeches, Lesser Splyaps and the less known Greater Splyaps. There are also Mox, Moxap, WetVines, and Sathaa.

==Puppyleeches==
[[Image:Puppyleech_Phantasma_by_CunningFox.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Puppyleech by CunningFox]]
Puppyleeches are a fictional species created by Ash with the assistance of [[Heather Gladden]]. They are available for anybody to freely use the designs to create their own Puppyleech, providing the basic species design is upheld.

They appear similar the same breeds as [[dogs]], have no legs and no lower jaw, feeding on blood much like normal [[Wikipedia:leech|leeches]] and requiring a small measure of blood once every week or so. They move by wiggling.
They have the same loyal, friendly, and often vocal (through squeaking mostly) personalities as [[dogs]], and have been seen as adorable pets by some.

A puppyleech's mouth contains primary two top canines and two lower canines, which cause a mark in the prey's skin. The Puppyleeche’s saliva has enzymes in it that prevent the blood from clotting while the saliva is present, and also removes any pain from the wound. This pain-numbing saliva is often too effective, leaving the area around a puppyleech's bite feeling somewhat tingly, and with an odd warm feeling. The saliva enzymes also break down after a couple of hours, and the resulting chemicals promote healing of the wound.

There are three main types of Puppyleech, Soil types, Water types, and Plant Types. Soil types mainly stay on the ground, very occasionally burrowing into softer soil for concealment and can be moderately active on occasion. Water types are far more active, and are often found in or near water. They have been known to hunt prey. plant type Puppyleeches are the least active, often laying on leaves and other plant matter, waiting for a passing animal to drop onto. Physically, there is little difference between the breeds as to their type, as some breeds have been known to switch between types. The easiest way to think of it is the breed of dog's activity level is often an indicator of its puppyleech equivalent's type.

Only the soil Puppyleech type is known to occasionally burrow under the skin of it's prey, to leach on excess amounts of fat tissue, effectively causing positive weight loss.

Puppyleeches are semi-social, and will sometimes form small groups of closely-knit individuals who interact with each other, but rarely hunt together. There are occasions when large puppyleech groups can be observed, such as when a larger aggressive predator is in an area. On these occasions they can attack en mass, and while puppyleeches individually are low-risk, they use leeching on a large scale to kill larger animals if needs be. It is worth noting that puppyleeches, even when large amounts of them are feeding, seldom kill a prey animal, often disattaching before any serious damage is caused from blood loss (usually at point of unconsciousness)

Puppyleeches in the wild are more or less found exclusively in Falgrove Marsh.
Wild puppyleeches average a length of between 10 and 20 centimetres, and domesticated puppyleeches can reach a length of up to 30 centimetres. There are reports of a wild puppyleech called [http://cunningfox.deviantart.com/art/Puppyleech-Phantasma-36184599 Phantasma] which defies this, and a few other rules regarding puppyleeches.

[http://search.deviantart.com/?section=browse&qh=boost%3Apopular+age_sigma%3A24h+age_scale%3A5&q=puppyleech Several images of Puppyleeches] have been uploaded to deviantART, and both [[Ash]] and [[Heather Gladden]] encourage artists to upload any artwork of Puppyleeches.

==Splyaps==

The splyap is a fictional species class designed by Ash and Dalspots.

The Splyap category of animal is split into two distinct sub-species, the Greater Splyap, and the Lesser Splyap.

==Lesser Splyap==
The Lesser Splyap is a 4 to 5 feet at the shoulder tall canine-appearing animal. It has very fluffy, blue, fur, and rather long legs. It is built for running and for eating.
The lesser splyap has an unusual jaw system. Not only can the jaws open, but the lower jaws can also split into two halves. This, combined with an extremely elastic internal membrane and large size, means that the Lesser Splyap is capable of eating very large meals, up to and including human-sized animals whole. To eat, the Splyap will works its jaws somewhat gently over the prey, in a similar manner to a snake, with the lower jaws splitting to wrap over the prey as eats. They are known to select food on taste, and will enjoy the flavour of their food.

Due to it's light build and relatively weak jaws, the Lesser splyap cannot attack another animal until the animal is weakened enough to eat. Instead, it's attack strategy is to chase down an animal by surprise, wrap it's jaws around the head, and eat the food as fast as possible. Due to the inward-pointing dull teeth, mildly aesthetic saliva which dulls the senses, and rapid swallowing rate (thought to be possibly as fast as 20-30 seconds for a human meal if pushed), it's prey seldom has time to mount a decent defence. Due to it's feeding mechanism, all Splyaps are solitary hunters.

The Lesser Splyap's main flaw, aside it's light build, is the main reason that are often made pets. To prevent yourself being eaten, or to stop a Lesser Splyap from fully eating you (and make them spit you out), simply avoid acting like prey, and try to pet it. All Splyaps adore petting and attention, and will actively crave it.

While Splyaps make good pets, and will not usually hunt most animals that do not act like prey, a Splyap will instinctively draw things in it's mouth inwards, without intention, for consuming. A simple solution is to pet the Splyap, of if already petting and say your free arm is being swallowed, a gentle tap on the nose will often suffice. Failure to do so may result in one's self being accidentally eaten.

If eaten by a Splyap, try not to panic. Calling out for help can bring people around who will prod the splyap's belly until it spits you out. You have between 10 and 15 minuets time between being ingested and feeling lightheaded from lack of air.

It is worth noting that on the whole Splyaps do lick and nibble on creatures and individuals they are fond of, so it is usually best to be prepared to prevent ones self from such a situation to avoid any misconceptions.

==Greater Splyap==
The Greater Splyap is a creature that is rarely domesticated, and is rarely even seen in the wild. They have less fur then the Lesser Splyap, and stand between ten and fifteen feet tall. It is far more heavily built, and lacks the blue fur colour. While somewhat friendly, and attention seeking like the Lesser Splyaps, the Greater Splyap is slightly more voracious, having to eat more to sustain itself.

Unlike the Lesser Splyap's split lower jaw, the Greater Splyap has a split lower jaw and a split upper jaw, effectively four jaws, able to close each and work over a caught prey with ease. Due to it's size, unless it has caught a larger animal, the Greater Splyap often takes it's time with eating food, often savouring the taste while it eats its living victim. The same aesthetic saliva and 10-15 minuet time window in the stomach remains, however.
It isn't advisable to have a Greater Splyap as a pet unless you are confident you can handle such a pet.

[http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1493426/ A Greater Splyap reference] is currently available.

==Sathaa==
The Sathaa are herbivores that food on leaf matter on trees. They have slender, flexible bodies and tails that are as long as the animal is. They are friendly, but somewhat dim animals that make good pets. Their average length, minus tail, is 30cm, and with tail up to 70cm.

As their slinky bodies being poor at escaping their main predator, the Lesser Splyap, they instead coil themselves around a branch or small tree trunk in order to not be picked up by the Lesser Splyap's weak jaws. if a Lesser Splyap is able to part off a Sathaa from the branches, it will consume it whole, much like all Lesser Splyap food.

Due to their natural defence, Sathaa can become nervous is they are not holding on to something, be it a tree branch, or a friendly animal. They will often coil around an arm, leg, or torso for comfort. It should be noted that even if it appears dangerous to do so, Sathaa do not have any muscles that can constrict, and are, in fact, completely harmless.

==Other Characters==
As well as various species, and Project: Underground characters, Ash has created several individual characters that do not fit in any particular place.

[http://north-sky.deviantart.com/art/Skarrbag-commission-107059301 Rose]: A feral opossum who has [[Wikipedia:Narcolepsy|Narcolepsy]]. She rolls in cinnamon and powdered sugar when awake as perfume, and likes to eat rose flowers. She is typically used as a pillow.

''Meerkookie'': When Ash's feral Dalmatian character is tired enough, he has been known to turn into a Meerkookie, which appears to be a meerkat with spots, instead of stripes, resembling chocolate chip cookie markings.

''Kim'': Kim is a standard Sathaa, and acts like a house pet.

[http://kesomon.deviantart.com/art/Commission-Ashes-Ashes-103878283 Ashy]: A counterpart to Ash, Ashy is simply a female version of Ash's anthro Dalmatian character. The two Ashes share a form of animosity towards each other.

[http://kiniro-oniba.deviantart.com/art/Bubu-the-Yellow-Mongoose-36521102 Bubu]: Bubu is a [[Wikipedia:Yellow_mongoose|Yellow_mongoose]] who has a scar on his throat as a result of meeting a hyena when young. He is mute due to the injuries to his throat.

''Retarded Raptor'': A joke between Ash and Ultraviolet that kept growing. The Retarded Raptor is a medium-large Velocoraptor with white colouring and black spots, and has crazed-wide eyes. Often known by making a loud "CAW" noise, often at random, and appearing out of nowhere ("And then, out of nowhere: Retarded Raptor!" being a common phrase) to do something unexpected, it is generally known for doing utterly stupid things, or failing to do utterly stupid things.

== External links ==
{{Contributor|Skarrbag}}
* [http://www.skarrbag.net/ Skarrbag.net] - personal homepage
* [http://foxidal.livejournal.com/ ''Ash's Den''] - Ash's [[LiveJournal]]
* [http://skarrbag.deviantart.com/ Skarrbag] on [[deviantART]]
* [http://www.furaffinity.net/user/skarrbag/ Skarrbag] on [[Fur Affinity]]

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Dalmatian characters]]
[[Category:England]]
[[Category:1983 births]]

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Wandering Eccentric