Founded by the zoologist Armand Anubis Corvellan, Anubica Taxidermy stands as a uniquely Unixplorian institution. Part scientific laboratory, part artisan workshop, and part natural-history archive, it has spent decades preserving the fauna of Unixploria for museums, universities, private collectors, and conservation projects. Today, its name is known throughout the republic and beyond.

The Founder: Armand Anubis Corvellan

Anubica Taxidermy begins with its founder, Armand Anubis Corvellan, a man often described as brilliant, obsessive, and delightfully peculiar.

Born in a modest household in the Corelands, Corvellan displayed an unusual fascination with animals from a young age. While other children kept sketchbooks filled with heroic explorers and mythical beasts, his notebooks were packed with anatomical diagrams, feather arrangements, skeletal structures, and measurements of every creature he encountered.

His academic talents eventually earned him admission to the prestigious Academia Unixploria, where he studied zoology. Professors quickly recognized his exceptional understanding of comparative anatomy and ecological systems. Many believed he would become a prominent researcher or professor. Yet Corvellan had different ambitions.

Although fascinated by science, he was equally captivated by craftsmanship. During his university years, he spent countless hours visiting museum preparation laboratories where specimen preservation fascinated him more than lectures and academic politics.

He frequently argued that:

"A scientific paper describes an animal. A preserved specimen allows future generations to meet it."

This philosophy would define his life's work.

Choosing an Unconventional Path

When Corvellan graduated from Academia Unixploria, his classmates entered careers in research, conservation, education, and government service.

To many's astonishment, Corvellan instead rented a small stone building in an older district of Cavora and opened a taxidermy workshop. Friends regarded the decision as strange. Faculty members reportedly attempted to convince him to pursue postgraduate studies. Corvellan refused.

He argued that Unixploria already produced plenty of zoologists but too few individuals capable of preserving specimens to the highest scientific standard.

What began as a one-man operation soon attracted naturalists seeking accurate specimen preparation. Hunters commissioned displays. Universities requested teaching specimens. Museums sought restoration work.

Within a decade, the workshop had become one of the most respected taxidermy establishments in the nation.

The Origin of the Name

The name Anubicahas has inspired numerous theories.

Some believe it derives from Corvellan's middle name, Anubis, which his father chose because of his lifelong fascination with ancient funerary traditions.

Others argue the name references symbolic ideas of preservation, guardianship, and continuity between life and memory.

Corvellan himself never provided a definitive explanation.

When asked directly, he reportedly answered:

"Every workshop should have one mystery. This is mine."

The ambiguity only increased the company's reputation.

Philosophy and Craftsmanship

Unlike ordinary commercial taxidermists, Corvellan insisted that every specimen should possess scientific accuracy.

His workshop developed several core principles:

Anatomical Authenticity

Specimens were created only after extensive study of skeletal structure, musculature, posture, and behavior.

Natural Presentation

Animals were depicted in realistic poses rather than exaggerated dramatic scenes.

Educational Value

Every mount should serve to teach zoology, ecology, or conservation.

Long-Term Preservation

Materials were selected to ensure stability for decades and, ideally, centuries.

These principles transformed Anubica from a taxidermy business into an institution respected by scientists and artists alike.

Expansion in Cavora

As demand increased, Anubica Taxidermy expanded into a larger facility on the northern side of Cavora.

The modern complex is divided into several specialized departments:

Specimen Preparation Hall

The heart of the institution, where incoming specimens are documented and prepared.

Anatomical Research Library

Containing zoological texts, field guides, biological illustrations, and historical records from across Unixploria.

Restoration Division

Dedicated to repairing damaged museum pieces.

Educational Gallery

Open to students, researchers, and tourists interested in learning about preservation techniques.

Environmental Archive

A growing collection documenting changes in Unixploria's ecosystems through preserved specimens.

Together, these facilities form one of the most comprehensive specimen-preparation centers in the Corelands.

Relationship with Academia Unixploria

Ironically, the institution that once expected Corvellan to become a professor eventually became one of his workshop's largest clients.

The zoological departments of Academia Unixploria regularly commission educational specimens from Anubica Taxidermy.

Over the years, numerous biology students have completed internships there, learning practical anatomy and specimen preparation. Several prominent Unixplorian zoologists have noted that some of their earliest understanding of animal morphology came not from textbooks but from studying Anubica specimens. The partnership is now regarded as one of the most successful collaborations between academia and skilled craftsmanship within the kingdom.

Preserving the Fauna of Unixploria

Anubica Taxidermy has worked with an astonishing diversity of species from across Unixploria's varied environments.

Specimens originate from:

• Corelands grasslands
• Northern forests
• Southern wetlands
• Coastal ecosystems
• Highland regions
• Island territories

The workshop is particularly known for preserving scientifically significant species, including rare birds, unusual mammals, and organisms tied to ongoing ecological research.

Museum displays represent many extinct or regionally vanished populations, thanks to specimens prepared by Anubica Taxidermy.

The House Style

Collectors and curators can easily recognize "the Anubica style."

Characteristics include:

• Realistic posture
• Detailed feather arrangement
• Accurate musculature
• Minimal artificial embellishment
• Museum-grade finishing
• Ecologically meaningful displays

Rather than presenting animals as trophies, Anubica strives to depict them as living participants within larger ecosystems.

This approach has influenced taxidermists throughout Unixploria.

The Workshop's Famous Collections

Several renowned collections are associated with Anubica Taxidermy.

The Birds of the Corelands Series

A comprehensive display featuring hundreds of avian species, widely regarded as one of the finest collections in the republic.

The Cavora Mammalian Archive

An anatomical reference collection used by researchers and students.

The Endangered Fauna Preservation Project

A long-term effort documenting species whose populations face environmental pressures.

The Coastal Life Exhibition

A celebrated display highlighting species from Unixploria's maritime ecosystems.

These projects helped establish the institution's reputation well beyond the Corelands.

The Eccentric Reputation of the Founder

Stories about Armand Corvellan have become part of Unixplorian folklore.

Accounts describe him:

• Taking evening walks through forests to study owl behavior.
• Carrying notebooks filled with skeletal sketches.
• Naming workshop rooms after extinct species.
• Spending entire nights adjusting the position of a single specimen.
• Correcting museum labels with obsessive precision.

Many stories are likely exaggerated. Nonetheless, most agree that Corvellan's eccentricities contributed to the exceptional standards his workshop became famous for.

Cultural Significance

Today, Anubica Taxidermy occupies a unique position in Unixplorian society.

It is simultaneously:

• A commercial enterprise.
• A center of craftsmanship.
• A scientific resource.
• A preservation institution.
• A cultural landmark of Cavora.

School groups regularly visit to learn about biodiversity and conservation. Researchers consult its archives. Museums rely upon its expertise. Collectors seek its craftsmanship. Few institutions demonstrate the intersection of art and science as clearly.

Legacy

Armand Anubis Corvellan once remarked:

"Animals do not leave autobiographies. If we fail to preserve them, memory itself becomes endangered."

Whether viewed as a zoologist who became a craftsman or a craftsman who became a zoologist, Corvellan built something remarkable in Cavora. Through Anubica Taxidermy, he transformed a niche profession into a respected cultural and scientific endeavor.

Today, long after its humble beginnings, Anubica Taxidermy remains one of the most distinctive institutions in the Corelands of Unixploria, preserving not merely specimens, but the natural history of an entire nation for future generations.

Step 1: Relax Dry Specimens.

We begin with the necessary preparation for older, brittle insects. This panel shows the specimens in a temporary "relaxing chamber"—a sealed container with damp paper towels and a small bottle of alcohol. This environment softens the tissues over 24 to 48 hours, so you can maneuver the limbs without breaking them.

Step 2: Insert the Main Pin.

The next critical step is the primary insertion. As shown, drive a standard entomology pin perpendicularly through the insect (in this case, a large bee) using specialized tweezers. Notice that this pin is inserted through the thorax, slightly right of the midline, leaving enough pin exposed above the body for safe handling.

Step 3: Position Wings and Legs.

Once the primary pin is set, move the specimen to a spreading board to shape it. Here you can see the secondary technique: small, sharp pins are used around the wings to gently guide them into symmetry against the paper strips. We never pin through the delicate wing membranes themselves. This panel also shows how the antennae are positioned.

Step 4: Drying and Labeling.

The final image shows the specimens after they have dried and hardened on the board (this usually takes one to two weeks). They are now rigid and mounted on the final foam block. This step adds the essential scientific context: stacking the specific collection and identification labels onto the main pin below the specimen using a pinning block.