Bos
Basic Information
Anatomy
The bos have the standard four-limbed bipedal anatomy found in many species. What differentiates them from many, is the thick neck supporting their head, and the two massive horns that emerge from their forehead.
The proportions of their extremities are comparable to that of humans. Their digitigrade legs end in hooves, similar to those of Terran bovines, while their hands have three fingers and an opposable thumb each.
Simply put, the average male bos is built like a brick house, while the females maintain a slightly more slender build.
Biological Traits
While the horns of male bos do not stop growing until their death, the horns of female bos reach their maximum length a few years after maturity. As a result, females tend to have much shorter horns.
There are several subspecies of bos, similar in many ways to various Terran bovines. These include the Bosan (cattle), the Matu (yak), the Nasu (bison), and the Talis (gaur).
Albinos, called "Aroch", are bigger, smarter, and stronger than other bos. They live longer, age slower, and can come from any subspecies.
Genetics and Reproduction
Growth Rate & Stages
Bos grow faster than humans. By the time they reach the age of 5, a bos is comparable to a human child twice as old. Their horns begin to grow at around that age and do not stop until they die.
At around the age of 15, when they reach adulthood, male bos undergo a brief period of rapid growth. It is during this time that their aggression comes to fore, and their bodies become covered in fur. Female bos mature faster, reaching adulthood by the age of 12.
After the age of 40, both genders will begin their decline, and it is rare to see a bos older than 55 being able to walk unassisted. Their senses dull shortly after, and many went blind before their medicine was able to remedy that.
Ecology and Habitats
Dietary Needs and Habits
Herbivores by nature, the bos rely on large amounts of crops to sustain their society. When they colonise a planet, they will first establish farmlands to provide for the colonists.
There have been rumours of bos eating meat in times of extreme scarcity, but no proof of this can be found in official records.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Bos organise themselves in large extended families called herds. Their size can range from a dozen or so individuals to hundreds of souls, all members of the same subspecies.
Each herd is led by a single champion, usually an albino member of the race, and the rivalry between them has been the cause of two civil wars in the past.
Larger, more powerful, herds, often take smaller ones as vassals, extending their influence even across subspecies. These affiliations are always public knowledge and the source of political manoeuvering in Arochi politics.
Facial characteristics
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Average Intelligence
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Male bos display a level of natural aggression rarely observed in sentient herbivorous species, especially space-faring ones. They would often come to blows over the slightest provocation, during their long history, a fact that led to the codification of duels.
Initially, these duels would happen regularly but, as bos society advanced, more focus would be put on discipline. Duels over trivial reasons were seen as a sign of immaturity, and few bos females would accept a male that had not grown out of that phase. Likewise, cruelty during these duels is seen as the domain of the unworthy.
For all their technological advancements, these duels remain a highly ritualised affair. The rules and the weapons are fairly archaic, though exceptions have been made on the latter. Two males enter the ring, one walks out. The fights are rarely to the death, and there are only two rules that are sacrosanct. There must be an undisputed winner, and all further hostilities between parties must end.
When the bos encounter an opponent they deem honourable, the duelling rules apply to them as well. Such a group is allowed to choose a single champion, and a duel takes place. If the champion fights honourably, the race is allowed to become a vassal of the bos' Arochi Empire. If the champion wins, they are to be left alone. So far, nobody has won.
Common Taboos
History
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