Rymehorn

Far to the northwest of Forven, in the frozen mountains, these caprinae are exceedingly large and have four large horns of blue-white ivory. The tribesmen of the northern barbaians hunt these great beasts for their thick hide, plentiful meat, and especially their ivory which they carve for both fashion and religious practices and also trade to the south. Rymehorn ivory is particularly valuable in Avalier where adorning oneself with it is commonly treated as a status symbol.

Basic Information

Anatomy

These shaggy quadrupeds have sharp hooves, thick shaggy coats, small tails, and of course their four prominent blue-white horns. They stand between 1 and 1.5 meters at the shoulder and have powerful back and shoulder muscles that help them to scale their rocky home terrain. Females are slightly smaller on average with less pronounced horns, but at a distance it can be difficult to tell a young male from an adult female. Most are white furred, though examples of light blueish or brownish tints have been seen. The blue ones are particularly rare, leading to their pelts being worth far more in trade.

Genetics and Reproduction

The herds generally consist of about 60-65% females with the males mating with multiple females during the late winter. This is thought to be caused by males tendency to die of younger due to their aggressive behavior toward territorial invasions. The females will deliver live young after a short 5 month gestation after which the young will remain with the females for milk and protection. The young do not bond to their parents, instead being effectively cared for by all the mature femails of the herd collectively.

Growth Rate & Stages

Newborn Rymehorn can walk with the herd after only a couple hours, reach adolescence within 10 months, and pass into sexual maturity at 16 months. They have an average natural lifespand of about 30 years with the males often dying between 15 and 20 while the females will usually die of old age. The oldest Rymehorn brought down by the northmen was estimated to be 46 years based on the rings of her horns, and she'd become a danger to her herd in her final years thanks to declining health and increasing aggression toward younger females.

Ecology and Habitats

Rymehorn are found throughout the Forvanni mountains, though they're mostly concentrated in the far northwest. Those found in the south tend to be much smaller and some groups have been spotted with only two horns.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They are herbivorous, feeding on nearly any plants they encounter, including the nearly inedible mountian gourd. Their stomachs are able to process many plants that would induce toxicity or injury in most animals with no ill effects. This does, however, usually render their stomach and many other organs inedible to the sentient species of Forven.

Conservation Status

The Rymehorn are less plentiful now than they were in bygone years, but the tribes are careful to nurture the herds so they don't die off. Few outsiders are willing to travel into the far northern mountains so outside the tribes only the few natural predators of the mountains present a threat to the population.