Characteristics
The Chestnut Crom is thus named not for its color, but for its region of suspected origin. These animals were said to be first found along the
Chestnut Ridge in the western
Vestral Downs. From there they spread throughout the territory of
House Moray, who continue to have the most renowned expertise with the beast, and north up
Etan's Stream from there.
Their color, rather than chestnut, is in fact a blue roan. The effect of the roan, an even mixture of blue and white hairs, upon the appearance of the Chestnut Crom is an instantaneous visual explanation of the significance of the creature in a nation that worships
Vestria, goddess of the winds and sky.
Beyond its striking color, the Chesnut Crom has a number of other distinguishing features, most prominently the horns. Around 20 inches from tip-to-tip, and curving downwards at the ends, the horns provide a balance to the nineteen inch long face. That visual balance makes the skull of the Crom a common motif in the heraldry of houses in the Flooded Fiefs.
Besides the structure of the skull, the Chestnut Crom grows to a large size, taking four to five years to fully mature. Despite this, the animals are docile, and possess an impeccable constitution, rarely susceptible to the diseases prevalent in the humid and damp climate of the region. Rather, they are well suited to their climate, and exceed at breaking the sod, which is very important to the regional architecture, as well as the wet, heavy soil.
Cultural Significance
The culture of the Vestral Downs is both highly rural and quite factional, given the high density of noble houses within the region. This has led to frequent squabbling between neighbors, as one's noble house serves as an important form of identity. Conflict in the nation's most populous region often occurs between cities, towns, and even neighboring farms of differing houses. One of the oldest, and most common, forms of conflict are
cattle raids.
Regional legend says the first cattle raid was
the Chestnut Raid, where
Murrey Four-Strings, legendary founder of House Moray, freed the first Chestnut Crom from a camp of
Anharan Giants. One of the most important legends of the region, this tale explains the origins of the Crom, House Moray, and the reputation for
Fence-Bards as thieves and cattle rustlers.
Etymology
Crom comes from the
Old Anharan for crooked, in reference to the horns of the animal.
Comments