Billa

The Billa is a magically enhanced breed of horse, designed to function better in the narrow city streets of Kerellon.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Spindly-legged and narrow-shouldered, the Billa have much in common with their wild ancestors. The Billa are four-legged, with little differentiation between their hind and forelegs. A long, narrow neck holds up a diamond-shaped head, with large, flat nostrils at the end of a long muzzle. 
The necessity for a more gracile breed has lessened the strong musculature a wild horse would typically sport. So unlike their ancestors, Billa have thick skin, the better for rubbing up against stone walls and carts without damaging themselves, but the bones aren't as hardy as their outer layer. Long and spindly, they don't hold up to horizontal force very well, and Billa are frequently retired from any hard labour over 5 years old.
At the withers, a well-bred and prized Billa would stand between 20-24 hands tall, although they can get as short as 15 hands and as tall and 30 hands. Neither too small nor too tall are ideal for the work they need to conduct in the narrow Kerellon streets. 
In the stables of Kerellon, currently, the Billa can be anywhere from a light brown to a dark, nearly black brown. Outside of the city, among the wild herds that have escaped cities during the post-war chaos, Billa have interbred with sturdier workhorses and powerfully quick brumbies and can't sport a range of coat colours - anything from bright whites to spotted grey-ish pinks.

Ecology and Habitats

While initially only located in stables across the major cities of Kerellon, during the Derenell/Kerellon civil war, and the abandonment of many cities, have introduced Billa into the wild horse ecosystem. While wild horse populations have been found populating dry forests, the vast majority are located in the grasslands bracketing the border of Derenell and Kerellon.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

After many years in loud, busy cities, the Billa have relied less and less on their hearing to perceive their environment. Instead, they rely heavily on sight, and communicating with other Billa in a combination of neighs, whinnies and chuffs. Some young stable workers might whisper that Billa have their own language, and claim they've learned how to talk to them in return, but studies from The Conservatory have determined that the development of their own language is beyond the intellectual capability of Billa.