Mafrif

Coming over the hills at the border between the home I left and the one I would find, my first view was the bright pink-red dots that were making their way across the landscape. Like a flock of brightly-coloured birds flying south for winter, these creatures seemed driven from one region to another by some force I could not see...
It wasn't until I went down into the valley that I got a good look at the creatures. In Canoda we kept goats, and these beasts reminded me of them, but the colours! They looked as though someone had splattered them all with pink and red paint, leaving them too brilliant to be looked at for long periods of time...

— A Canodan's diary of their time in Lafáir

The Lafáiron are herders of great skill. While many keep cows, horses or other tamer beasts as they travel the rolling hills of their homeland, the truly gifted among the plains-folk are those who herd the Mafrif, the Rainbow Goats. Larger and more colourful than their regular goat counterparts, these creatures are very intelligent and incredibly beautiful, fetching a high price throughout the multiverse.

Behaviour

The Mafrif tend to be found in herds of at least twenty, sometimes up to fifty. They are herbivores, so they often move around naturally to eat grass and other groundcover. They stick together to keep themselves safe from predators and if threatened, the males of the species will often charge the offending enemy to trample it and gore it with their horns. Young Mafrif are carefully protected by the males of the herd, especially the male offspring. 

Taming and Uses

Herders of the Mafrif have to be very skilled in order to avoid starting a rampage or getting attacked by the herd; even domesticated Mafrif still react rather violently to accidental cuts and scrapes from herders. A herder will use a combination of dogs, terrain features such as cliffs and rocks, and whistles to keep the herd moving in the required direction. For their incredible prowess, Mafrif herders are particularly revered by the Lafáiron.
The Mafrif are, obviously, highly prized for their wool, which is the most common product sold by merchants from Lafáir. The pinkish red wool is very difficult to obtain from other creatures, requiring careful and occasionally dangerous dyeing practices. As well, the wool of the Mafrif is also rather soft, making it much more desirable for undergarments and other delicate clothing.
In addition, Mafrif that are nearing the end of their life are often slaughtered for meat, which is often a very tender meat that makes excellent chops and steaks. Those who have had goat meat or mutton have considered Mafrif mutton to be extremely filling and very delicious, especially as the Lafáiron are masters of its preparation and cooking.

Lifespan

20 years

Average Height

50-75 centimetres at the shoulder.

Average Weight

45-125 kilograms.

Average Length

80 to 110 centimetres.

Geographic Distribution

• Lafáir

Used by

Lafáiron

Colouration

The colouration of the Mafrif is undoubtedly their signature characteristic. Traders from all across Renath and beyond adore the rainbow-like colours of Mafrif wool. The colour scheme of a given Mafrif is unique from individual to individual; no two Mafrif will have the same colours in the same patterns. Most have a smattering of pinks, reds, oranges and yellows, but rare colours such as blue, green and black are a point of pride for some Lafáiron herders.