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Cattle:Wild | Musky Ox | Hârnic | Ivinian | Shorkein

Musky Ox
Animal craft (Musky Ox/Wild Cattle)
Musk of Musky Ox
HMIII Rules

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Musky Ox

Musky ox are found in the frozen tundra of northern Lythia. They have long hair and a woolly undercoat that ranges in color from black to grey with a white muzzle. The bull has thick horns that almost meet on top of its head in what is called a "boss". The horns curve down besides its face and out at the ends. The heifer has smaller horns, without a boss. Instead the top of her head is covered with whitish hair. Predominantly a wild species, they are hunted by nomadic northerners who prize their great horns as much as their hides.

The musky ox gets its name from the odor produced by glands beneath the bull's eyes.

In the summer the musky ox herd has about 10 members. They will eat constantly through the season, almost tripling their weight. In winter the herd can have about 15 to 20 members who head to higher ground where the arctic winds blow the snow off the ground. Here they will feed on low-growing vegetation and mosses. The herd only travels about 80 KM between its summer and winter feeding areas.

Breeding season starts in early summer and goes on until late autumn. The lead bull, will try to keep other bulls from mating with the heifers. The heifers give birth to one calf each the following spring, after a gestation of 280 days. The calf will suckle for 3-6 months, switching to foliage shortly there after. The only time a cow will become aggressive is in its protection of its calves. Some herds have two calvings a year, but the second calving produces much weaker beasts.

When threatened, Musky ox run to higher ground and form a defensive circle around their young. With their heads lowered, they form an impenetrable wall. The young are protected in the center of the circle. Musky oxen stampede easily and sometimes young calves become separated from the herd and are lost.

Musky ox will bite opponents only as a last resort; even heifers prefer to head-butt attackers, although only rarely will the Musky ox take a running start. They will kick only when running away.

Some tribes exist almost solely on the Musky ox herds, using the animals for most of their food, clothes and even making their summer homes out of the Musky ox hide. These tribes do not believe the Musky ox can be domesticated; but it has not stopped the Ivinians from trying. Musky ox bulls will try to take over a domestic herd and are often successful. Although less aggressive than a wild cow, they are considerably more cunning than domesticated cattle.

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Animal craft (Musky Ox/Wild Cattle)

There is no such specialty currently known on Hârn, although a few northern tribes claim the ability to use Musky ox as if they were domesticated. Wild cattle herders are known in Ivinia, but usually they are herders who are trying to develop this specialty and not those who have mastered it. Both breeds are wild and fairly unpredictable, with the Musky Ox being the more docile of the two.

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Musk of Musky Ox

The musk is a common alchemical ingredient for potions and balms relating to the senses and the bladder (bile). It is often collected from dead Musky Oxen and sold dried, although fresh is the most powerful.

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HMIII Rules

Musky Ox
Habitat Tundra
Height 2.13 M
Weight 179 -363
Diet Vegetarian
Life span 24 years
Group 10-20 (herd)
Price 200d+
ATTRIBUTES
14 STR 08 EYE 03 INT 13 END
15 STA 08 HRG 01 AUR 12 MOV
09 AGL 08 SML 10 WIL  
SKILLS
60 Initiative 75 Awareness
60 Dodge 25 Jumping
50 Trample 4B 35 Stealth
30 Bite 1P 40 Swimming
60 Kick 4P  
ARMOR
B5 E4 P2 F3 (EXCEPT EYES)
STRIKE LOCATIONS
01-12 Head
13-20 Neck
21-30 • Fore Leg
31-60 • Flank (thorax)
61-75 Abdomen
76-90 • Quarter (hip)
91-98 • Hind Leg
99-00 Tail
• Odd = Left, Even = Right

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Cattle:Wild | Musky Ox | Hârnic | Ivinian | Shorkein

This page was last updated on April 24, 2005
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