Emberhorn

The emberhorn is an animal revered among the dverge.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The emberhorn stands nearly eight feet tall when factoring in its curling horns. It is hircine, giving it a clear link to the dverge and Hyrrhorn, along with a body wreathed and suffused with flame. Only dverge can stand the flames and ride them, and so often take them as mounts as a right of passage. They are large enough to bear the weight of a full grown dverge - no small feat. Their horns curl all the way back, but diffuse into flame, and their powerful shoulders enable them to plunge the solid horn bases into anything that threatens them, setting them ablaze.
While they typically only have four legs, occasionally exceptionally an large emberhorn will emerge that has eight limbs and stands nearly twice as high as other emberhorn. Taming and riding this beast is considered a great feat among the dverge.

Biological Traits

As a creature closely linked to Eldr, emberhorn are naturally immune to most flames. They generate flames themselves, and are generally capable of mildly influencing flames around themselves. Their level of intelligence is unclear, but many dverge attest it is much higher than the average beast's. Their skin is tough and stony, with a texture akin to that of charcoal or pumice stone.

Ecology and Habitats

Emberhorn will naturally roam the mountains of Miðgarr, utilizing their impressive agility and hooves to climb sheer cliffs. They are able to melt additional footholds for themselves in a pinch with their horns, though it takes time and they rarely need to.

Conservation Status

Dverge consider killed an emberhorn for any reason other than a mercy killing to be tantamount to murder. While they are not actively protected in the wild, any that are herded are patrolled, and any poachers who's crimes are uncovered will be punished for disturbing the natural order.