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*There is some question as to if any Frosthorns live in [[Dorkarth]], the island chain nation between Jorrhildr and Ellador. However, since that region is infested with Vampires, finding that out is an arduous task.
*There is some question as to if any Frosthorns live in [[Dorkarth]], the island chain nation between Jorrhildr and Ellador. However, since that region is infested with Vampires, finding that out is an arduous task.
*The Thylan of Jorrhildr surprisingly show signs of having taken down Frosthorns despite their small size. Some rarely recovered tools from the near-sentient race feature use of the Frosthorn’s bones and antlers.
*The Thylan of Jorrhildr surprisingly show signs of having taken down Frosthorns despite their small size. Some rarely recovered tools from the near-sentient race feature use of the Frosthorn’s bones and antlers.
*There is only a single man known to have taken down two Frosthorns, that being the most revered member of the [[School of Great Oak]], Lysgråhild Tätavik. He slew two different Frosthorns, one in Jorrhildr and the other in Ellador, at two different points of his life, at the ages of 24 and 41. He is now happily retired and begrudgingly accepted by Skaggers and [[Calemberg]] hunters alike.  
*There is only a single man known to have taken down two Frosthorns, that being Lysgråhild Tätavik. He slew two different Frosthorns, one in Jorrhildr and the other in Ellador, at two different points of his life, at the ages of 24 and 41. He is now happily retired and begrudgingly accepted by Skaggers and [[Calemberg]] hunters alike.  
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Revision as of 17:43, 18 December 2021

Frosthorn
Noimg.png
Fauna
Official Name Frosthorn
Common Nicknames Khyzhak
Classification Mammal
Habitat Jorrhildr, northern Ellador,
Domesticated No
Current Status Rare

The Frosthorn makes up a trio of well known northern primates in Aloria along with the Troll and the Ogre. What makes the Frosthorn unique, however, is its naturally present forked antlers growing from its forehead while its massive size is also notable. In addition, the animal is shrouded in mist, having lived at the edges of major civilizations for several centuries if tales and wall art is to be believed. The animal is also notable as having recently appeared at the Battle of Curag Fields, furthering the mystery around them just as many more mysteries of the past begin to reopen across Aloria in recent years.

History

The Frosthorn has unknown origins and a vague early history despite living in a land populated and visited in ancient times. Some believe that the Frosthorn might have been confused for the Url by some Elven records, referring to horned beasts in the region but far more aggressive and larger than any known Url. What is certain though is that the first to encounter them were likely the Thylan species. While crude in design, a singular mural was discovered in 303 AC depicted a large pale figure with two massive horns and grasping clawed hands in a deep Thylan cave system that was estimated to be almost 500 years old. As for written history, the Frosthorn first definitively appears in the writings of the Velheim Ailor, or rather their oral history. The storytellers of the Hedrylli Empire spoke of great shaggy men with horns on their heads and a lust for man flesh living in the cold wastes of the world, one of the greatest challenges created by the gods for warriors to prove themselves against. Such myths became widespread, and in some cases morphed in with those told of Ogres. After the Cataclysm, this tradition persisted.

It wasn’t until 120 AC that new reports surfaced on the creature. Ithanian-chartered exploration vessels reached Jorrhildr and reported back information about various local beasts, including a monster they had only seen in a fog of the same description as the beast the Velheim spoke of. It took almost another century until the animal was confirmed as real as, in a great hunt organized by Nordskag’s third king to celebrate his coronation, the party of Velheim came upon a Frosthorn. The result of this encounter was two dead horses, three dead retained but a newly dead Frosthorn. The news spread across the Ailor world, and the animal’s body was well documented, in art, orature and in scholarly texts. Ever since that time, the Frosthorn has become accepted as a real and dangerous threat to anyone who travels the northern edges of the world. Most recently, a pair of Frosthorns appeared at the Battle of Curag Fields though seemingly mutated and well above their average size. This has led to some wild speculation that the beast may be tied to the Ohnark, the horned stag creatures the Estel statue used as the leading force in her army, and it is currently assumed to live in the Northern Expanse as well as its traditionally held territories of Jorrhildr and northern Ellador. The animal is also seen as one of the greatest challenges for a hunter in Velheim culture, and many have lost their lives attempting to bring even a young Frosthorn down.

Physical Appearance

The Frosthorn is one of the largest primates in Aloria. They stand anywhere from eight to twelve feet tall when on their hind legs though those that appeared at Curag Fields were reportedly sixteen feet tall when they reared up. Their weights cover a vast spectrum. Their head is large and humanoid with a large mouth, squashed nose, and thickly lidded black eyes. They also have a pair of large ears, though the hair that covers their heads almost completely obscure them. The Frosthorn also has its signature feature on its head, that being a set of two forked white antlers emerging from the top-front of their skull above their eyes. A thick neck connects their head to a large body, with the closest comparison being the Troll. They have massive and thick forward facing arms that support their body along with smaller legs, overall creating a quadrupedal appearance despite the animal’s capability to stand upright. Their hands and feet are humanoid, with five fingers and toes though have thicker, pointed nails. Their bodies are heavily muscled and overall covered in an incredibly thick layer of white fur. On males, this fur grows longer and more present around their necks, creating a sort of mane. Their heads meanwhile, still possess hair, but it is very dense and fur-like despite its occasionally long lengths. Older Frosthorns are also known for silvering to their fur, particularly around their heads and chest.

Diversity

The Frosthorn has only a single outward indicator of gender, that being the mane of fur males develop on their neck and upper body in their adolescence. It is impossible to determine what the gender split is in the Frosthorn species but it is assumed to be a good equal split given that the species has persisted for several hundred years with little to no external damage. The animal is also noted for its size, as the more north one goes, the larger the animal appears making the Frosthorn of Jorrhildr, ironically, some of the smallest despite being the most well known.

Life Span and Development

The development of the Frosthorn is shrouded in mystery. However, several basic facts exist and are assumed. As they are mammalian and appear as a form of primate, the Frosthorn is assumed to be live born at which point the mother will cease her wanderings to feed and care for the child. Over the next twelve to fifteen years, they will live together, the child learning all they can from their parent before leaving them to make their own lives. The final fact known in that the animal can live for up to 80 years, as an examination of Frosthorn bones indicates this age, but also the presence of several repeated Frosthorn encounters by Velheim in Jorrhildr.

Mental Overview

The Frosthorn is a predator species, with a track record as a brutal and clever foe. They are solitary creatures, living alone in the snowy lands they call home and keep away from civilization. When encountered, many slip away, using their perfectly colored coats to hide themselves in snow drifts or snowstorms. However, should their target be solitary or only a few people, the animal will then attack once it has confused its prey through their vanishing act. Using their huge fists and large arms, the Frosthorn will flail their club-like arms at their foe to batter and ultimately crush them before getting down to eating the meal. The animal only does this with sentient and Humanoid prey, however, as Url have reported the animal to face them when encountered directly, perhaps confusing the capra-esque species for their animal cousins and less of a challenge.

Territory and Groupings

The Frosthorn is a solitary, nomadic animal and the largest group seen together was a pair of Frosthorns in 278 AC in northern Ellador. They are assumed to constantly be on the move as no definitive Frosthorn dens have been discovered, and when encountered, the species is always walking forward. Some believe the animal may be overall, migratory, traveling in a ceaseless pattern down from Northern Ellador into Jorrhildr before returning further north.

Trivia

  • There is some question as to if any Frosthorns live in Dorkarth, the island chain nation between Jorrhildr and Ellador. However, since that region is infested with Vampires, finding that out is an arduous task.
  • The Thylan of Jorrhildr surprisingly show signs of having taken down Frosthorns despite their small size. Some rarely recovered tools from the near-sentient race feature use of the Frosthorn’s bones and antlers.
  • There is only a single man known to have taken down two Frosthorns, that being Lysgråhild Tätavik. He slew two different Frosthorns, one in Jorrhildr and the other in Ellador, at two different points of his life, at the ages of 24 and 41. He is now happily retired and begrudgingly accepted by Skaggers and Calemberg hunters alike.

Accreditation
Writers HydraLana
Processors HydraLana
Last Editor Firefan96 on 12/18/2021.

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