Highmoor (High-moor)
To the Venestrians, society would look much different without the Highmoor. A domesticated beast of burden, the Highmoor has integrated itself into Venestrian pastures and hearts with its ability to lift heavy loads, provide a multitude of useful animal products including fur that can be spun into cloth, and warn of incoming severe weather. As such, the Highmoor has become a staple for both Venestrian homesteaders and mountain travelers which has been reprovened time and time again with each new mountainous region the Churrian settle in.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Stout and well-equipped for the harsh mountain environment, the Highmoor is a herd creature with thick white fur, large curving horns, short legs, and tough gripping hooves that allow it to navigate its cliffside home. While not the fastest creature, the Highmoor is capable of surprisingly nimble movements among the crags that make up the mountain ranges where it lives. A trait that is attributed to the creature's unique hooves that are capable of gripping rough surfaces with ease.
Biological Traits
While there are not many differences between the two sexes of the Highmoor beyond notable sexual characteristics, females are noted to have larger horns than males which may coincide with their aggression in protecting their young. Males, on the other hand, tend to be smaller and more nimble than females which may aid in their ability to escape from predators.
Genetics and Reproduction
Once mated, the Highmoor female will gestate their young for around 180 days. Once born, the newly created Highmoor can take around 3 months to wean itself off its mother's milk and 8 to 10 months to become a young adult. Once they are a young adult, it is not uncommon for males to compete with each other to create their own small herds which generally consist of a single male and 3 to 5 females. Males who are unable to create their herds become loners who drift herdless until they are able to drive a rival male out or are consumed by predators.
Ecology and Habitats
Best suited for mountain ranges where its thick fur can withstand the cold and gripping hooves can help it to maintain balance, Highmoor herds can travel amongst the ranges of their mountain home with ease, following from valley to valley to feast upon the vegetation before resuming their journey once local resources are sufficiently depleted.
Dietary Needs and Habits
While domesticated Highmoor are often moved between different pastures as necessary, wild Highmoor will often go to great lengths to find their favored foods, including traveling extensive mountain ranges to find its preferred diet of spiny Herat berries which their tough mouth and throat can easily consume.
Behaviour
Highmoors display two different behaviors when encountering a predator. The first is to run away and rely upon their hooves and nimble agility to keep them safe as they perform evasive climbs. However, should the Highmoor herd have young, they will instead become aggressive towards the predator with members of the herd, especially females with young, charging repeatedly with their horns until the threat is dead or gone. Because of this, Venestrian herders will often keep a wide distance from new mothers to prevent charging incidents.
Additional Information
Domestication
Possessing little difference between wild and domesticated Highmoor populations, centuries of care has resulted in domesticated populations being more friendly to their handlers although this consideration does not apply to mothers with young who maintain aggressiveness to all but their immediate herd members. An unfortunate behavior that has resulted in more than one Venestrian herder's injury or fatality.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Like many beasts of burden, the Highmoor has an established role within Venestrian society as a primary means of acquiring milk, furs, and meat. Used mostly in the acquisition of cloth, which is easily gained by carefully sheering their coats during the summer periods and spinning the fur into thread, the resulting fabric is considered to be strong and warm and thus is popular in cold climates. Highmoor meat, on the other hand, is considered to be a bit of a delicacy and as a result is carefully prepared with dishes such as roast Wurst or fortifying soups in order to get the most out of it. Finally, the Highmoor is also used as a beast of burden not for its carrying capacity but because of its ability to traverse rough terrain and almost supernatural ability to sense when bad weather is about to strike which many Venestrians consider to be invaluable during travel.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
While originally from the planet of Churr, the now displaced Highmoor species was taken along with other plants and animals by the Churrians to new regions and realities as well. While they are still strictly maintained by the Sanguar Institute to prevent unnecessary loss, locations within Refuge deemed to be safe enough have seen limited wild populations introduced and encouraged resulting in Highmoor being located in some regions that the Sanguar Institute has settled.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
While not unique in its ability to see or hear, with both senses average at best, the Highmoor does possess an almost extrasensory capability to determine when bad weather is coming. Shuffling to find shelter far ahead of the actual storm, the creature has become a favorite for navigating loads and travelers through mountain ranges as this sense can help prevent any difficult passage through the mountains from becoming a deadly occurrence instead.
"If you see a Highmoor low, you take it slow."
Lifespan
10 to 12 years.
Conservation Status
This species is relatively rare throughout Refuge as it is primarily found in Churrian territories who cultivate and maintain them with great effort.
Average Height
4 to 5 feet.
Average Weight
150 to 200 pounds.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Colored predominantly white, the Highmoor has been known to be born with black or grey furs though this is considered a fairly rare occurrence.
Geographic Distribution
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