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| Aaltaar Bok | |
|---|---|
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| Fauna | |
| Official Name | Aaltaar Bok |
| Common Nicknames | Wooly White Bison, Sumu, White Terror |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Habitat | Plains and pens around many Pols |
| Domesticated | Yes |
| Current Status | Common |
The Aaltaar Bok is a wholly domesticated bovine closely tied to the Eronidas, as it was brought with them from their homeland during the Eronidas Exodus. Of impressive size and weight, the Bok is still surprisingly quick on its hooves, and while often used as a source of meat, leather, and labor, also seen its use as a mount among the rural Eronidas. They are known for their bright-white coat, but also for the impressive Lug-Bok, a mutation in the species which produces huge, impressive beasts of great size and strength which lead their herds across their grazing fields and plains. The Aaltaar Bok is heavily devoted to the Eronidas, so much so that they will become aggressive and wild should they lack the presence of one, which means that the two are always located near each other.
History
The Aaltaar Bok, known as the Sumu in the Eronidas tongue, originated with the Eronidas on Guldar. Its status among the Avarr is unknown, but many believe the animal was likely a key part of the avian people’s diets. Among the Eronidas, this role continued, and even expanded, as the ancient Eronidas greatly respected the might and power of the Aaltaar Bok. Myths spoke of great heroes defeating the strongest of this species, calming their great rages, and such scenes were reenacted for the pleasure of the Eronidas populace at many festivals. The Aaltaar Bok was also eaten, skinned, and used for the transport of goods and people, becoming a key domesticated animal among the fractured city states of ancient days on Guldar. But after millennia, the Eronidas Exodus came. This animal, along with several others, was key to the Eronidas way of life, and so the great hulks that stored many thousands of people, animals, and pounds of supplies, also brought aboard many hundreds of Aaltaar Bok, putting them into paddocks with grass, fodder, and innovations so that they helped the Eronidas fertilize the plantlife the warrior people were also growing. During the Exodus, they were let out as much as possible to graze on the Drifting Isles the Eronidas found, sometimes leading to their deaths, but otherwise helping them survive what otherwise might have been a traumatizing experience.
All Eronidas fleets held Aaltaar Bok within them, so as these groups began reaching wider Aloria, landing in Corontium, Southwynd, the lands of the Allorn Empire and elsewhere, the Aaltaar Bok became key to their societies being established. Only in Southwynd, among the Ashaven Eronidas, did the animal’s position weaken, as the herds of the fleet who crashed there both died in the wreck and to the raining ash and initial struggles of the Eronidas. It was for this reason those Eronidas turned both to the sea, and plantlife, to largely sustain themselves. Elsewhere, in Corontium and when encountering the Anglians, the large bovines were initially a hindrance to the Eronidas too – their lands largely unsuitable for the animals, but with time they found themselves at home alongside herds of conventional bovine kept by the Anglians. In Altaleï and Westwynd, the Eronidas continued to use the Aaltaar Bok as they had before, and they grew in number, making up a large part of the Estates located outside of many a Pol’s walls. Elsewhere, the Aaltaar Bok thrived as well, traded to Ailor, but always with an Eronidas farmhand required to be around, or in smaller numbers located around Pols located in lands such as Nordskag. This remains the case today, as where there are Eronidas, there are always Aaltaar Bok and the same is true in reverse.
Physical Appearance
Aaltaar Bok are imposing beasts, but nothing like the mutant monsters some make them out to be. They are long, anywhere between seven and thirteen feet, with a height at the shoulder of five and a half to seven feet with weights heavily varying based on gender. Their heads are thick and vertical, with a flat face that holds a large black nose and two large, slight-setback brown or blue eyes. Below this flat face is a large herbivorous mouth with a small scruff of hair beneath that, while at the top of the animal's head, a prominent pair of horns stick out. Females typically have stubby horns, if not totally nub-like, but in males, they can develop to be quite long. They also face forward and at an upturned angle. Their heads are then connected to their bodies by a thick neck. This area of the animal is actually even larger than the head, with a hump on their backs and a pair of thick, powerful front legs producing the bulky profile. The humped back soon tapers off towards the rear, where two powerful, though not as bulky, rear legs sit. The animal stands on four powerful black hooves, resilient to damage. Their body ends in a long, slim tail with a puff of hair on the end. The animal is covered in soft white hair, excessively so especially at the shoulders and hump, which has helped to give it one of its many names.
Diversity
Aaltaar Bok have some clear distinctions between the two genders. For starters, male Bok are often larger and heavier than females, while also possessing prominent white horns. The horns of the females, on the other hand, are often short and dirty-white due to their nub-like nature. Additionally, female Bok can be easily identified by their udders, though they are far smaller than those seen on other species of bovine. Standing above these simple gender divisions are the rare Lug-Bok. These creatures are the absolute peak of Aaltaar Bok physicality and are the alphas wherever they go, with huge thick horns and massive bodies. They lead herds, no matter their gender, and are perhaps the only temperamental members of the species that Eronidas have to grapple with, sometimes literally. Aaltaar Bok gender numbers tend to favor females over males, at a ratio of maybe three to two which as it stands is little issue for the Eronidas considering they slaughter so many of the animals year-round.
Life Span and Development
Aaltaar Bok are liveborn in groups of one to three, and in their early days are quite small and vulnerable, lacking much hair and having a distinct pink coloration as a result. Within the first month, the animal gains a proper white coat, and will be up and walking around after its mother. Over the course of a year, they continue to mature and fully develop mentally, but most will only reach their peak physical shape after two years of development. After a year, they are mature enough to reproduce, but also to fully separate from their mother. When or if they do reach the mating season, females generally watch on as males headbutt and fight for the right to mate whom they want. However, the exception to all of this are the Lug-Bok. Regardless of gender, they choose a mate rather than the other way around, with few to none ever challenging them on this. Additionally, they often mate with multiple partners rather than just one or two like other Bok do. Aaltaar Bok can live for up to thirty years, but only Lug-Bok usually reach this age milestone thanks to their unique status within Eronidas society as the kings and queens of the Sumu herds.
Mental Overview
Aaltaar Bok are generally calm creatures, with mentalities befitting the grazing animals they have been for centuries. They are caring creatures, getting along quite well in their herds with all members of their species, and even the Lug-Bok for all their testiness generally don’t fight against other members of their herd. Herds will also work together to protect themselves, positioning calves, their mothers, and pregnant Bok at the center while the males and unburdened females exist in a loose circle around them. The animals are also notable for their deep connection with the Eronidas, becoming stressed, then aggressive, and finally crazed should they be removed from Eronidas care for a length of time, as short as three weeks in some cases. As a result, even though most Estates that possess Aaltaar Bok herds feature large populations of people who care for the beasts, those Eronidas overseeing affairs will still go out to inspect their herds to make sure that they don’t go mental. Lug-Bok, on the other hand, are generally resistant to attempts to dominate them. More than once Pols had to deal with stampeding Aaltaar Bok because a Lug-Bok escaped its enclosure, causing the entire herd to follow after it. As a result, most Lug-Bok are carefully watched, and a level of sport has developed in wrestling and grappling the worst offenders into submission.
Territory and Groupings
Aaltaar Bok herds can vary hugely in number, ranging anywhere from twenty to two hundred individuals. Universally though, these herds are ruled over by a Lug-Bok and its Lug-offspring. It is rare for Lug-Bok to randomly develop in Aaltaar Bok populations, but it has been known to happen, and when it does, they will lead. The herd will follow them but in the case of there being more than one Lug-Bok, the male individual or individuals will lead the group, with the females shortly behind them, indicating that even these titans of bovine power have an internal hierarchy.
Trivia
- Eronidas who herd Aaltaar Bok utilize all parts of the animal when it dies or is slaughtered. Their skin and hair are used to make leather, blankets, and more, the bones are used as decorations and fertilizer, and nearly all the meat is eaten, bar the heart, which is incinerated.
- Urlan, obviously, have a pretty rough time around Aaltaar Bok. Seen as challengers to most Lug-Boks, they are occasionally the reason for a herd escaping, as a Lug-Bok pursues them and breaks through any obstacle.
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