Obhejuntu

The Obhejuntu were created thousands of years ago by a powerful Magi of Nature, who merged humans with rhinoceroses, creating a hybrid species with the bulk, horn and body of a rhino, but with the intelligence of a human that stands on its hind legs, and which grips tools and weapons in its opposable thumbs. The Obhejuntu have since formed small societies, found particularly in Safri. Hunted for their horn as well as in anti-Magi purges, only a few hundred Obhejuntu remain alive today. Obhejuntu are a terrifying force to face in battle, with or without their weapons and armour. A few are also Magi, adding these skills to their already formidable prowess.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Obhejuntu have the body of a rhinoceros, including the deadly horns of a rhinoceros. Their hard skin makes then difficult to face in a fight, particularly when they wear armour on top of it. Obhunjuntu walk on their hind legs however, and have opposable thumbs, allowing them to grasp tools or weapons. Obhejuntu can and do often run on all fours, which can allow them to be faster, although they tend to run slightly slower than ordinary rhinoceroses.

Biological Traits

Big, powerful and strong, the Obhejuntu are tough to face in a physical or close up fight. Their small numbers and often solitary nature makes it more possible to outnumber them with sheer numbers however.

Genetics and Reproduction

The merging of rhinos and humans has given Obhejuntu characteristic of both. Female Obhejuntu reach sexual maturity at about 9 years old, while male Obhejuntu reach sexual maturity at about 11 years old. At this stage the males look for a female to mate with, often fighting with one another to prove their worthiness before her, a move that occasionally leads to the death of one or both males. When the female accepts a mate, the male will mate with her, and will occasionally stay with her permanently. Other time the male will leave after 5 to 20 days, especially if the female grows tired of him and drives him off. The gestation period for an Obhejuntu is about a year and a half, about double that of a human or orc, and slightly longer than an average rhinoceros. At this stage the Obhejuntu gives birth, usually only to one calf.

Growth Rate & Stages

Calves tend to be unsteady for the first few weeks of their life, before learning how to walk on four legs. It usually takes about 3 years and considerable effort and persuasion from their mother for Obhejuntu calves to learn to walk on their hind legs. Obhejuntu tend to mate and give birth every 4 to 6 years. Occasionally calves will remain with their mothers until they reach sexual maturity, but often mothers will chase off their calves when they give birth to a new calf, which usually happens when a calf is between 5 and a half to 7 and a half years old. Many Obhejuntu live very solitary lives, while a few gather in family clans. Such clans rarely exceed 20 members.

Ecology and Habitats

Obhejuntu are generally found in the savannah of Safri, and some in the southern Spearwall Mountains to the east of the savannah. Occasionally Obhejuntu can be found serving as elite mercenaries or bodyguards in cities and kingdoms all over the world. These tend to be lone Obhejuntu however.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Obhejuntu are herbivores, and require a large amount of food to sustain themselves. Obhejuntu often graze grass like ordinary rhinoceroses, but others cultivate crops and grow fruits for consumption. They tend to eat such crops as they are however, with baking bread seen as a waste of time. Clan Obhejuntu and Mercenary Obhejuntu are know for brewing Sorghum Beer however, and some f the species are heavy and hard drinkers, requiring far more beer than humans or orcs to get drunk, but often managing nonetheless.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Obhejuntu tend towards a solitary life, with females often found with only one calf, and males often found alone. A few do gather in families of 3 to 5 or clans of 6 and 20 members, but rarely exceed this number.

Facial characteristics

Male and female Obhejuntu alike have large and deadly horns that they use to dig and fight, and which can gore opponents if they threaten them. Their eyes sit on either side of their head, allowing them to keep an eye out for predators and enemies, but which makes they poor archers.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Found almost exclusively in Safri, with a few in the neighbouring southern Spearwall Mountains.

Average Intelligence

Obhejuntu have about the same level of intelligence as the average human, but their isolated lifestyle tends to mean that they rarely have the same level of development as humans.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The eyes of Obhejuntu are located on either side of their head, allowing them to see predators and enemies from both sides. This does make seeing straight ahead more difficult however, meaning that Obhejuntu make terrible archers. Their eyesight in general is quite poor, with this paired with their huge size making them abysmal scouts and even worse spies. Obhejuntu tend to focus on their bulk and strength, goring and charging attacks, heavy weapons and occasionally magic in combat, rather than relying on dexterity and fancy swordplay to win their fights.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Obhejuntu can frequently be found among ordinary rhinos, often grazing and working together to defend against predators and other threats. The red billed oxpecker, a small bird, has a semi-mutualistic, semi-parasitic relationship with the Obhejuntu. Ticks flock to the Obhejuntu, much like they do to common rhinos, with the oxpecker flying onto the backs of rhinos and Obhejuntu and eating the ticks off, getting food for themselves. the birds do also tend to drink some blood from the sores left behind, which may help with ensuring that they heal well, but which also does mean that they drink some rhino and Obhejuntu blood themselves.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Many Obhejuntu don't bother with names, viewing it as a human and orcish tradition. Those that live in clans, and particularly those that serve as mercenaries, do tend to either choose names for themselves or have names or nicknames given to them. These vary based on their location and personality.

Beauty Ideals

The bigger Obhejuntu are and the bigger their horns are the more they are viewed as beautiful. Small Obhejuntu and those with small horns are often viewed as weak.

Gender Ideals

Female Obhejuntu are expected to be fierce, both as mothers and in battle. The larger male Obhejuntu are expected to be strong and big, but are often viewed as being allowed to be less fierce due to their size.

Courtship Ideals

Obhejuntu males fight one another, sometimes to the death, to prove their worthiness to female Obhejuntu. It is only when the female Obhejuntu accepts their advances that they may approach her however.

Relationship Ideals

Obhejuntu rarely stay together much longer than 5 to 20 days after the female is impregnated, with Obhejuntu tending towards a solitary life. When Obhejuntu do stay together, they are expected to be fiercely loyal to one another and to defend one another and their offspring to the death.

Average Technological Level

Some clan Obhejuntu grow crops like millet and sorghum, eating these crops directly or brewing them into beer. Obhejuntu are particularly fond of sorghum beer. Obhejuntu are aware of wheels, but have no use for them, being too heavy to ride in chariots and being faster and more deadly as they are anyway. Obhejuntu also tend to shun and avoid sailing and writing. Clan and mercenary Obhejuntu do often craft huge steel weapons and armour however, using these to defend themselves or to serve as even more deadly warriors on the battlefield.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Most Obhejuntu speak Obhelimi, a language that merges local Safrian languages with the sounds that can be made with a Rhino's vocal cords and mouth. The language is distinctly gruff and growling, favouring short, simple one word statements and responses. Obhejuntu mercenaries often pick up the languages of the forces they serve under, but tend towards the same short, simple one word statements and responses due to their biology.

Common Dress Code

Most Obhejuntu wear nothing at all, seeing no need to cover up. Some clan Obhejuntu wear some armour to protect themselves. Mercenary Obhejuntu are often covered in heavy armour no ordinary creature could bear the weight of, making them even more deadly on the battlefield.

Common Taboos

Touching the horn of an Obhejuntu without their permission is a sure way to be beaten or gored to death. Obhejuntu only allow those they are most intimate with to do so.

History

Created thousands by a powerful Nature Magi thousands of years ago, who merged humans with rhinos, the Obhejuntu have spent much of their existence living peaceful lives either in a solitary existence or in small clans.
A few ambitious Obhejuntu served as mercenaries and magi in human cities or among Orc clans, but these were always the exception to the general rule. A few served on both sides of the war between Lucius Ferrum and his enemies.
During the anti-Magi purges, Obhejuntu were hunted by humans as "servants of the Magi", with many killed and the survivors going into hiding. The purges devastated the already thin numbers of Obhejuntu. As time has gone on, Obhejuntu numbers slowly stabilised, but never returned to their former numbers. Obhejuntu have been hunted by many for their horns, as well as for their hearts and brains, all of which are erroneously believed to possess magical properties. Dead matter never possesses magical properties, and can only be animated by the Magic of Undeath.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Occassionally Obhejuntu and ordinary Rhinos mate with one another. This tends to produce rhinos that live and act like ordinary rhinos, but which are more intelligent and who can often speak. The sheer size and bulk of Obhejuntu makes relations with humans and orcs nigh impossible, but there have been a few occasions of Obhejuntu mercenaries sleeping with giants, ogres, trolls and the occasional large human or orc. Such cases are rarities however.

Scientific Name

Homo Sapiens Rhinoceros

Origin/Ancestry

Created through magic by merging humans with rhinos

Lifespan

Obhejuntu can live up to 45 to 55 years old, yet rarely make it past 35 due to hunters seeking their horns, conflicts or liver failure from heavy drinking,

Average Height

When standing at full height, male Obhejuntu tend to range from 3.7 to 4 meters high, while females tend to range between 3.4 and 3.6 meters high, making up for their shorter height in greater ferocity. When standing on four legs, males tend to come up to 1.8 meters high, and females to 1.7 meters, standing at about the same height as the average human.

Average Weight

At birth the average Obhejuntu calf weights 40 to 65 kilograms. At full maturity males weigh an average of 2 300 kilograms, and females 1 700 kilograms, making them deadly forces of nature if they charge into opponents, and ensures that they can wield weapons and tools far to heavy for the average human or orc to wield.

Average Physique

Big, bulky and powerful.