Olidosapux
From Mizahar Lore
| Fauna | |
 | |
| Frequency | Common |
|---|---|
| Threat level | Low |
| Major features | Large Body, Thick Hide, Long Horns |
| Abilities | Strong charge over short distances |
| Most common in | Sea of Grass, Cyphrus - Northern Wastes, Avanthal |
Olidosapux (pl. Olidosapai) is a large, horned four-legged mammal primarily found in the Sea of Grass and southern parts of the Northern Reaches. Traveling in small herds, they spend most of their time roaming the lands and grazing.
Contents |
Appearance
Olidosapux are large, four legged mammals, with thick furred hides. While their legs are slightly less proportionate to their bodies, the legs are thick and strong, with flat, hoofed feet. Their bodies are also wide, generally measuring about a fifth of the of their bodies length, giving hint to the strength that the beasts possess. Their heads are long and narrow, as short almost tube-like ears which turn constantly in constant vigil for sounds not of their herd. Their eyes a small and beady, giving them a low range of peripheral vision. On top of having poor vision to begin with, such makes the Olidosapux practically blind. While a pointy snout hosts large nostrils, their sense of smell is not as acute, as those of most predatory animals, leaving, leaving their ears as their primary way of detecting danger.
Two horns found along the front quarter of their snout are their primary form of offense when defending the herd. These horns generally extend to seven inches for the thick rear one, and a full foot long for the front horn. On their own, the points of the horns are relatively dull, but when combined with the Olidosapux’s brute strength, the horns can pierce even plate armor, making them a formidable weapon.
On all four legs, even adolescent Olidosapux stand to a height of four feet tall and weigh between 500 - 800 lbs. Adult cows will generally reach a height of five feet, weighing between 800 - 1400 pounds. Adult bulls generally grow the largest, standing at six to six and half feet tall from hoof to shoulder and will generally weigh between 1900 - 2500 pounds.
While an Olidosapux in the Northern Reaches grow to the same size as those Cyphrus region, there is a physical difference between the two. Olidosapux found in the Norther Reaches will have a coat of white fur, as opposed to the brown fur that can be found on the hides of Cyphrus Olidosapux. As well, their horns will normally be a few inches longer, and have a more narrow tip.
History and Overview
The Olidosapux hasn’t changed much over the years. Even before the Valterrian these beasts were content to roam the lands in the changing seasons, simply grazing and mating. Their role in the lands simply fed to the cycle of life. If the Valterrian changed any of them, it would be found more in the herds that roam the now Northern Reaches. The hides of the Olidosapux in those lands will be generally thicker to deal with the colder climates.
Olidosapux are considered to be a typical grazing animal, avoiding contact with the various races. All attempts to domesticate any of them for use as tow animal has failed. Their strong will against being confined find them either breaking down fences or simply laying and withering away. Most find that hunting them for their hides and meat to be more profitable in the long run. Their hides, due to their thickness and heavy fur, generally sell for high prices either in the making of winter blankets, or high quality leather armor for tanners.
While generally a non-aggressive animal, more prone to running and avoiding contact with humanoid races and other creatures, the Olidosapux becomes extremely dangerous when the herd faces danger they can not outrun. The bulls especially will charge at incoming predators in defense of the cows and young, killing them rather easily if they manage to ram and trample the threat. Drykas and Akalak hunters will generally tend to avoid large numbers of the animal and hunt those that have been separated from the herd. Glassbeaks tend to be the largest threat to these animals, their speed and pack hunting abilities giving them an edge over the generally slower Olidosapux.
Diet
Olidosapux are herbivores, generally sticking to grazing on the high grasses of the Sea of Grass and the occasional bush and berries. Those found in the Northern Reaches tend to generally stick to the same diet, but find bushes and the leaves of small trees more easily accessible and easier to digest than the grass.
They normally have no problem finding food for themselves in these two regions, save for when winter sets in. By then, herds have generally migrated to areas where vegetation can be more easily accessed. Though in the long run, winter is when the herd struggles most to keep fed. It is during this season that they are normally at their weakest and hunted most often by humanoid races.
Reproduction and Social Structure
Olidosapux tend to follow a simple social structure, their numbers in one herd normally ranging from nine to fifteen animals. There is normally two to three bulls at the most in a herd, with one being the Alpha. Contests for the alpha position often take place, but are generally not violent. Most often, the contest involves the two bulls running into each other and having a form of a shoving contest to prove who is the strongest of the two. Every once and a great while, however, a broken horn or fractured leg has been known to happen.
The rest of the herd then will generally be females and adolescent Olidosapux. If a male is born into the herd, it will normally be driven out by the alpha bull and other males unless it manages to replace one of them. Whether through means of wrestling with one of the bulls, or the fact that the herd is one bull short as a result of natural death or predators. Bulls driven out will then move on in search of another herd to join with.
If two herds meet, there is rarely ever conflict between the two, as the Olidosapux is not territorial. Normally any conflict that does break out between herds usually happens between the bulls when threat of losing one of the cows is sensed. Most often, however, when herds meet, it is typically at a watering hole or when they are migrating during a change in the season. They eventually move on and never converge into a larger herd. It is likely the fact that herds are scattered that have prevented them from becoming an overpopulated species, as smaller herds will become far more easier for predatory animals to hunt the one large herd.
Mating for the Olidosapux tends to begin in the beginning days of the spring, as the alpha will have his pick of the prime females of the group. Both a bull and cow will become sexually mature around their second year, and will continue to reproduce until their 18th year. The cow will then normally give birth around mid summer, the gestational length lasting around 120 - 130 days, grazing heavily over that period of time. Only one calf will be born to one female and will nurse from its mother until late summer before it begins grazing. Olidosapai, will typically have a life span of 20 years, provided they are not killed from a hunt
Their numbers in either the Sea of Grass or the Northern Reaches, are generally uncommon. During the spring, their herds will generally range from 30 - 40 for an average of 500 Olidosapai. During late spring, after new offspring have been born, their numbers will increase. Herd numbers will normally stay the same, but their numbers will increase to around 700 - 800 Olidosapai. These numbers eventually tend to fade as spring approaches, either due to lack of food or hunting of the old and calves.