Skyhorn Rams
“Stand strong, speak true, and the Skyhorn will lower its head to you.” -Everwealthy proverb.
The Skyhorn Ram is one of the most revered beasts in all of Everwealth, an enormous, majestic mountain-dwelling herbivore renowned for its serene temperament, mythic presence, and symbolic resonance. Towering to be sure, taller than an even the hulking moose, with stark white fur and glimmering eyes in hues of orange, green, or deep azure, the Skyhorn Ram is both an icon and a creature of living myth. More than just the national animal, it is a creature intimately entwined with Everwealth’s identity: appearing on The Charging Banner, the Capra coins, and etched into shields, crests, and cathedral mosaics across the land. Said to be empaths of unerring conviction, Skyhorns are choosy in trust and legendary in loyalty. It is believed they serve only those whose hearts burn with purpose.Basic Information
Anatomy
The Skyhorn Ram stands between 9.5 and 12 feet tall at the shoulder, weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Its fur is dense, cloud-white, and highly insulating, perfectly evolved for the frigid altitudes of The Cloudrend Mountains and surrounding cliffs within Boulderrain Woods. It has double-layered skin, a powerful musculature, and sturdy legs with a cloven hoof grip adapted to craggy rock. Its iconic horns, arching back in luminous spirals, bear faint magickal resonance, crackling lightly in winter air. Horns grow in segmented rings, each representing roughly three years of life. The Skyhorn’s eyes glow faintly in low light, tied to their innate empathic sensitivity. Most unsettling to hunters is the ram’s seemingly prophetic ability to predict intention, those who aim to harm often find themselves on the receiving end of a preemptive charge.
Genetics and Reproduction
Skyhorns reproduce once every 4-5 years. Mating pairs are chosen through mutual recognition; it is said Skyhorns never breed out of desperation or instinct, only mutual purpose. Gestation lasts just under a year. Twins are rare. Newborns are fully furred and walking within hours, but remain in the care of their mother for nearly two years. Because of their empathic sensitivity, Skyhorns are believed to reject unnatural environments. Breeding in captivity is nearly impossible unless the pair chooses it themselves, most attempts to force the issue have resulted in silence or unexplained illness.
Growth Rate & Stages
Yearling: The first year of life. Vulnerable, shy, and mimetic, Skyhorn lambs quickly learn herd movement patterns.
Adolescent (2-5 years): Horns begin to twist upward. The creature develops the first signs of emotional sensitivity.
Prime (6-30 years): Physical and social peak. These Skyhorns are often found at the head of herds or serving mount duties for honored warriors.
Elder (31-60 years): Slower, heavier, but fiercely respected. Elders often guide migrations and rarely charge unless threatened.
Ecology and Habitats
Skyhorns inhabit high-altitude ridgelines, particularly across the Boulderrain Woods, Amber Hills, and the northern edge of the Grandgleam. Their nesting cliffs are difficult to access and fiercely protected. The presence of Skyhorns in a region is often viewed as an omen of stability and valor, villagers near a Skyhorn trail will often post tokens of thanks or leave herbs along the route. While typically herbivorous grazers, Skyhorns also consume certain alpine mosses that are thought to influence their emotional perception, further mystifying their bond to magickal forces.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Skyhorns graze on highland grasses, lichen, and mineral-heavy mosses. In colder seasons, they are known to dig under snow or scale precarious cliff faces to access specific salt-veined stones. Their digestive systems are efficient but sensitive, spoiled grains or corrupted water can make an entire herd ill. Because of their great size, they spend much of the day grazing, their slow chewing rhythm part of what contributes to their peaceful appearance. A Skyhorn's diet can be subtly changed to mark seasonal migrations, shifts in plant preference often precede major weather changes.
Biological Cycle
The Skyhorn’s annual behavior is governed by seasonal flux:
- Spring: Migration to higher grazing grounds.
- Summer: Peak foraging and mating season.
- Autumn: Descent to mid-altitude valleys, territory reinforcement.
- Winter: Tight herd formation, low movement, and minimal grazing.
Behaviour
Despite their imposing size, Skyhorn Rams are introspective and eerily calm creatures. They are social within herds, often grooming one another or communally standing watch while others sleep. Fights are rare and usually ceremonial, involving horn-locking and posture rather than actual violence. Skyhorns can detect emotional states with uncanny precision. Trainers note that lies or hesitation often cause the creatures to balk or even charge. A clear heart, a steady mind, and a confident step are said to be the best way to approach one. Some spiritualists even bring their children before Skyhorn herds as a rite of truth and grounding.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Skyhorns possess low-light vision, acute scent detection, and a preternatural sensitivity to the emotional auras of nearby creatures. These traits have earned them a mythic reputation as "soul-readers", though likely rooted in natural instinct, the result is indistinguishable from magick. They are known to avoid those with malicious intent. Some tales tell of Skyhorns refusing to be led into battle unless their rider is just of cause or free of inner turmoil.
Scientific Name
Capra magnivox .
Origin/Ancestry
Myths suggest the gods of wind and stone carved the first Skyhorn from a mountain summit and breathed resolve into its lungs. Whether myth or not, the creature’s symbolic gravity remains undisputed.
Conservation Status
Protected by Everwealth decree. Hunting, capturing, or selling Skyhorns or their remains is punishable by imprisonment or exile. However, poachers do still operate in the wilds, often for the horns or fur. Populations have been slowly recovering after centuries of quiet decline due to over-harvesting in the early Civil Age. Conservation efforts are coordinated by mountain communities and druidic factions who monitor herd health and migration paths.
Geographic Distribution
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