Boulderhorn

Behaviour

In the wild, they live in small families, perhaps six to ten strong. They lack a sense of hierarchy but do typically respect monogamous pairs. Herds are rarely bound to specific regions, moving frequently with the changing seasons; in the face of a changing climate, they have reportedly shed or rapidly grown excess fur as they acclimate to a new area. Calves, of whom a mother typically has but one or two, are raised together, with each parent teaching in either defense or foraging. Fights over food or small territories are frequent but seldom fatal.

The majority of Boulderhorn have long since been domesticated. The species lives alongside man as a mount second only to the horse. As they’re more accustomed to violence, they need significantly less conditioning to fight, only needing training to know when to stop. A poorly trained beast may just as easily turn around and bash their own allies as they would the enemies before them. In this respect, color-coding and pattern recognition are employed to prevent them from obliterating those beneath their own banner.

History

Boulderhorns have been in use by native Kelevans since before the arrival of horses, but are perhaps most famous for their employment by House Yarl. Whatever horses can’t surpass or break, Yarlriders smash right through. In recent years, they’ve been employed in devastating cavalry charges to great fame and acclaim. These stories have attracted brigands who use the landscapes’ rocky terrain to harry caravans, wherever a perilous drop backs their demands. These “Roughhorns”, as they’ve come to be called, remain a frequent thorn in the side of local state militias.