Emperor Ram
The Emperor Ram is an even-toed ungulate found across the temperate and mountainous climes of Nascindor.
The real highlight of the Emperor Ram's physical appearance are its horns which, unlike with most horn-bearing animals, curl back into the skull of the animal. These large rings of bone gradually hollow as the ram ages, and over time small holes and faults erode into the horns.
There is very little sexual dimorphism among Emperor Rams, and both males and females of the species sport equally impressive horns.
Due to this, it is easy to hear a herd on the move, as the collective "music" produced by their horns reaches far and wide. It is the depth and strength of these sounds that most often determine which of the rams is the leader.
When there is a power struggle in the herd, the competing ram often commits a "royal entry", which is a vigorous run from outside the herd to its center, the purpose of which is to issue a challenge to the current leader through the sound produced by his or her horns while running.
After the challenge is met, the two rams compete in which individual can intimidate the other out of the circle formed by the rest of the herd. The rams bray, stamp and scrape the ground with their hooves, swing their heads around to produce sharp notes with their horns and generally try to scare their opposition into fleeing.
The ram that is left in the circle after the other flees is instinctively understood to be the leader of the herd after the fact.
Their horns are prized above all else, as they have long been fashioned into traditional wind instruments that have been used to announce the arrivals of rulers, nobles and others of note at public gatherings and courts across Nascindor, a nod to the behavior the rams themselves exhibit in their natural habitat. Due to this, the common folk have come to associate the Emperor Ram with notions of nobility and regal power. Owning an Emperor Ram with the most impressive, and loudest, set of horns is a point of pride for shepherds and homesteaders.
Physiology
The Emperor Ram is in many ways similar to the common sheep, albeit moderately larger and stockier, with shaggy hair that does not felt as their coat instead of wool. Due to their stocky physique, Emperor Rams make excellent beasts of burden.The real highlight of the Emperor Ram's physical appearance are its horns which, unlike with most horn-bearing animals, curl back into the skull of the animal. These large rings of bone gradually hollow as the ram ages, and over time small holes and faults erode into the horns.
There is very little sexual dimorphism among Emperor Rams, and both males and females of the species sport equally impressive horns.
Behavior
Emperor Rams are herd animals, and thus graze in large packs of ten to twenty individuals. There exists a strict social hierarchy among the herd, where the largest and eldest individual often ends up being the leader, owing to a specific quirk of their horns. As mentioned earlier, the horns of an Emperor Ram are hollow and become pocked with holes and faults as they age. This causes air to flow through the horn as the ram runs or moves its head swiftly, producing a distinct sound that is different for every individual ram, thanks to the unique degradation of their horns.Due to this, it is easy to hear a herd on the move, as the collective "music" produced by their horns reaches far and wide. It is the depth and strength of these sounds that most often determine which of the rams is the leader.
When there is a power struggle in the herd, the competing ram often commits a "royal entry", which is a vigorous run from outside the herd to its center, the purpose of which is to issue a challenge to the current leader through the sound produced by his or her horns while running.
After the challenge is met, the two rams compete in which individual can intimidate the other out of the circle formed by the rest of the herd. The rams bray, stamp and scrape the ground with their hooves, swing their heads around to produce sharp notes with their horns and generally try to scare their opposition into fleeing.
The ram that is left in the circle after the other flees is instinctively understood to be the leader of the herd after the fact.
Domestication and Cultural Relevance
Emperor Rams are widely domesticated for their proclivity to physical labor. They are better at pulling ploughs than horses and have the stamina to work for twice as long as oxen. Their shaggy coat is unfit for shearing, but it is cut for wide varieties of ceremonial headdresses and other accoutrements. Emperor Ram meat is tough and stringy, which means that there is less of a market for it. Their milk is sweet and rich in fat, which makes it a favored drink for travelers and soldiers posted in demanding locations.Their horns are prized above all else, as they have long been fashioned into traditional wind instruments that have been used to announce the arrivals of rulers, nobles and others of note at public gatherings and courts across Nascindor, a nod to the behavior the rams themselves exhibit in their natural habitat. Due to this, the common folk have come to associate the Emperor Ram with notions of nobility and regal power. Owning an Emperor Ram with the most impressive, and loudest, set of horns is a point of pride for shepherds and homesteaders.
Ah, here they come!–A homesteader of Haven, upon hearing the distinctive sound of an Emperor Ram herd in motion
Lifespan
20 - 25 years
Average Height
5'2 - 6'8ft / 1.6 - 2.1 m
Average Weight
260 - 660lbs / 120 - 300 kg
Average Length
5ft / 1.5 - 1.6 m
Geographic Distribution
by Midjourney
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