Azru Aoudad
Found wild throughout northern Alkelbulan, this species of caprine's closest relatives are goats. There are a few variants which differ by region, their racial magic adapting them to their habitat, and are named for the second magic. These are the Tafuyt Aoudad of Sahra al-Shamsi, Tisnt Aoudad of Arya and the Rmla or Jjaj Aoudad of Arabiyyah.
All Aoudad, regardless of habitat, inherit either Gokmar's Step or Gokrilvek's Movement. Oddly, only females will inherit the Step magic while only males inherit the Movement magic. To onlookers, females are able to disappear into stony outcroppings while males will flit straight up any slope with ease and are extremely hardy. Females also use their abilities so their herd can rest in the plane during the heat of the day, move between mountain ranges and emerge at dawn and dusk to graze.
Secondary racial magic differs by habitat. Tafuyt inherit Rithaldis' Shield while Tisnt inherit Gokmar's Manipulation—specifically a salt version of it. Finally, those of Arabiyyah inherit either Ilnid's Manipulation or Skin. These are called either Rmla or Jjaj based on whether they manifest sand or glass. Usually, their Manipulation abilities are focused on their stomach but can also be used to repel sand in a sandstorm. As they ruminate, their stomachs remove excess salt, sand or even glass from their food. They will chew their food again as usual but will spit out the unwanted clumps. Meanwhile, Ilnid's Skin is used for either camouflage, cloaking themselves in sand, or for coating their fur in glass for protection.
All Aoudad, regardless of habitat, inherit either Gokmar's Step or Gokrilvek's Movement. Oddly, only females will inherit the Step magic while only males inherit the Movement magic. To onlookers, females are able to disappear into stony outcroppings while males will flit straight up any slope with ease and are extremely hardy. Females also use their abilities so their herd can rest in the plane during the heat of the day, move between mountain ranges and emerge at dawn and dusk to graze.
Secondary racial magic differs by habitat. Tafuyt inherit Rithaldis' Shield while Tisnt inherit Gokmar's Manipulation—specifically a salt version of it. Finally, those of Arabiyyah inherit either Ilnid's Manipulation or Skin. These are called either Rmla or Jjaj based on whether they manifest sand or glass. Usually, their Manipulation abilities are focused on their stomach but can also be used to repel sand in a sandstorm. As they ruminate, their stomachs remove excess salt, sand or even glass from their food. They will chew their food again as usual but will spit out the unwanted clumps. Meanwhile, Ilnid's Skin is used for either camouflage, cloaking themselves in sand, or for coating their fur in glass for protection.
Racial Magic
First Ability
Gokmar's Step
Can enter and exit Gokmar's Plane through large enough stone to pass through and travel the plane freely, without injury. Can bring another with them while maintaining contact.
Gokrilvek's Movement
Able to retain footing and balance despite whatever force, enduring and maintaining movement despite normal physics. Their strikes always follow through, their balance is always steady and sturdy, they can maintain this on any surface even upside down, have increased strength and remain unmovable against their will. Finally, they can endure damage unusually well and they are heavier.
Second Ability
Rithaldis' Shield
Immune to damage or ill effects from both radiant magic and naturally occurring radiant energy such as radiation.
Gokmar's Manipulation
Able to manipulate minerals present in their environment. This species usually uses this ability on salt.
Ilnid's Manipulation
Able to manipulate sand or glass present in their environment.
Ilnid's Skin
Can turn their fur and skin into sand, quartz or glass, building up layers and expanding it around themselves in different shapes. Different individuals will convert into different kinds, some glass, some quartz and some a specific kind of sand.
Anatomy
They are fairly large and stocky with tan fur useful for camouflage. Long and shaggy fur called a ventral mane hangs from their neck and chest and they have curved horns. Their horns curve back and out before the point goes inward towards their neck. Their eyes have horizontal pupils like a goat and bright yellow irises. While both male and female Aoudad have horns and ventral manes, these are larger on males. Their magic forms differ dramatically depending on region but all of them gain brown fur. A female will take on tawny or russet fur while males are a darker walnut or sepia. Those with Manipulation magic will have russet or sandy looking fur and glassy or brown horns while those with Rithaldis' Shield have stark white horns and tufts of fur. Those with Ilnid's Skin have fur which drips with sand and can turn it entirely into glass, valued by craftsmen.
Original Ancestor
Barbary Sheep
Lifespan
Height
Average Weight
males are much larger
Adaptions
Much like Gazhaal al-Raqs, they are able to survive long periods without water by relying on the water found in their food. They are crepuscular in nature, avoiding the heat of the day by emerging at dawn and dusk, but are still highly tolerant to hot and cold temperatures. Even without magic, they can climb extremely well and jump up to seven feet high from a standing leap.
Life Cycle
Mating usually takes place from September through November and females are pregnant from 154-161 days. Single calves or occasionally twins are born. Babies can stand and climb rocky hills almost immediately after being born. Females are sexually mature by 8 months, most giving birth by 19 months. They are polygamous, males competing for groups of females and living in bachelor herds the rest of the year outside the victorious male.
Ecology and Behavior
This species are prone to a dominance hierarchy where males are the dominant sex thanks to being drastically bigger than females. However, a dominant female will also lead the group into Gokmar's Plane in his absence. They communicate this heirarchy using several postures and by directing their horns toward those they are in conflict with. Aggressive behavior includes head-on charges or wrestling.
Two males will butt heads with their horns, a fearsome sight thanks to Gokrilvek's Movement. Sometimes they may even clash like this on verticle surfaces, the sound echoing over their craggy home. When wrestling, they will butt heads and hook horns, twisting and making gouging movements. Those with Ilnid's blessings will coat their horns in glass, shattering dramatically and sending shards scattering—sometimes blinding their opponent—while others use layers of sand to soften the blow. Females will fight each other too but don't often perform charges. Unlike goats or sheep, Aoudad don't kick.
Two males will butt heads with their horns, a fearsome sight thanks to Gokrilvek's Movement. Sometimes they may even clash like this on verticle surfaces, the sound echoing over their craggy home. When wrestling, they will butt heads and hook horns, twisting and making gouging movements. Those with Ilnid's blessings will coat their horns in glass, shattering dramatically and sending shards scattering—sometimes blinding their opponent—while others use layers of sand to soften the blow. Females will fight each other too but don't often perform charges. Unlike goats or sheep, Aoudad don't kick.
Habitat
Diet
They graze on a variety of grasses, shrubs, flowers, young plants, and leaves. They can climb to reach plants unavailable to other grazers and propagate seeds for many species.
Human Interactions
Aoudad are hunted for their meat, pelt and horns but are extremely difficult to hunt, wary and difficult to chase. They easily maneuver the craggy landscape thanks to their adaptions and magic, quickly scaling precipitous slopes too steep for most pursuers or vanishing entirely. In more sandy environments they will go still, their fur blending them into the dunes. Because of their abilities, Aoudad have become symbols of strength, resilience and bravery to local peoples. Their horns are displayed as symbols of status and power. Glass pelts are also extremely beautiful.
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