Aurochs

"In appeasing Sargos, the aurochs is the only appropriate sacrifice. They contain within them sufficient blood and flesh."

— Chorys o Pheron

The most important cattle in Thripia, aurochs are massive bovine animals that produce leather, milk and meat. They are raised in areas not fertile enough for agriculture but with sufficient grass to sustain a herd. Not native to Arad, they were introduced by the Thalassians upon their arrival in the continent and quickly adapted to life in the desert. They are often used as sacrificial offerings to Sargos.

Apperance

Aurochs stand as tall as a human, have muscled bodies, short hair and thin tails which are tipped with a tuft of fur. They have four thick legs which end in hooves. Upon their heads are large, smooth horns which curve outward for a distance and then upward, but are larger in bulls than in cows. In coloration, their coats are a dry, golden yellow in both sexes, though calves are born white. Females have udders that males do not and are in general slightly smaller.

Significance

Aurochs are farmed for both their leather, meat and milk, the latter of which is sourced from females. They are also occasionally fought in the Field or sacrificed by the Cult of Sargos though, for the latter, smaller animals such as chickens and goats are typically preferential. Grazing animals, aurochs subsist on grass and small foliage but have, however, an aggressive temperament which leads them to attack those who appear hostile. This makes selling and trading aurochs difficult as they tend to respond well only to their carers. As such, it is not uncommon for carers to remain with a herd of aurochs even when their owners are exchanged. Aged bulls, notably, have been known to enter a state of self-destructive rage in which they attempt to kill any outsiders nearby and have been known to damage infrastructure in this process.

Lifespan

~20 years