Taurien

The massive, hulking taurien, made to look even larger with their protruding horns, strike an intimidating visage to even the bravest warrior. It is perhaps surprising then that they are vegetarians, their stomachs not being well equipped to handle meat. Among the myriad insults for taurien are cows, hoofers, milkers, grass eaters, and greenhorns. Using these insults is to be done at one’s own risk though, as they are between seven and eight feet of solid muscle and bone, often with bad attitudes. A taurien’s horns can easily push their height upwards of nine feet into the air. Their limbs are heavily muscled, with humanoid hands but hooves in the place of feet. Their bovine heads are attached to thick neck muscles to support their strong horns. They are generally covered in red, brown, black, white, or gray fur, though sometimes sections like the chest and forearms will be less hairy. Taurian mature around age ten, and can live for about fifty years. The most significant aspect of taurian culture is its nomadism. Tribes, called herds, travel across grasslands together foraging for food. They can subside on grasses, but do prefer fruits and vegetables when available. While typically wearing minimal clothing besides their traditional, leather kilts, they do have a love for jewelry and ornamentation. Ear and nose rings, necklaces, arm torcs, and bracelets are all considered to be the height of fashion and status, especially in gold or truesilver. Furthermore carving runes patterns into their horns and scarification of their upper arms, chests, and shoulders are common, bordering upon ubiquitous. Perhaps this stems from their nomadic nature, as these symbols are both easily visible and transportable? The runes themselves are in their own language, Plainspeach, a member of the family descended from the giants and most similar to that of the mountainborn’s Stonespeach. They have a strong martial culture, especially among young males, who will lock horns and wrestle for status and prestige. Outsiders often capitalize on this aspect, employing them as guards or mercenaries for short stints while their herd is nearby. The growth of towns and cities has limited their ranges, but Argostan has set aside a tract of land called The Pasture to be theres’ in exchange for service when called upon.