Bowden
Bowden CR: 2
STR
20 +5
DEX
10 +0
CON
20 +5
INT
4 -3
WIS
8 -1
CHA
6 -2
Passive Perception: 10
Actions
Slam: Melee Attack: +7 to hit, Reach 5ft, One Target. Hit: 14 (2d8+5) Bludegeoning damage. If the Auroch moved at least ten feet already this turn, double the result of the damage dice and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone
Bowden are massive cattle-like beasts with thick, wooly hair and a pair of conjoined horns creating a sort of shield or shovel-shaped protrusion over the front of their head. Bowden normally follow their herd leader in all things, from migrations to threat response and have proved too stubborn to be naturally kept and herded like livestock. Instead the great herds cross the Grass Sea, eating the ever-growing grass and keeping a wary eye for predators. People should be cautious approaching such beasts however, as a stampede is almost impossible to stop once started
Summary
Bowden is a common creatures of Dia's Grass Seas of the North Hemisphere. The creatures are able to digest the grass of the Grass Sea without issue, causing them to form a foundational link to the Grass Sea's ecosystem. Vast herds of Bowden can be found crossing back and forth across the sea.
Attempts to herd or domesticate Bowden have inevitably ended in failure, as the massive beasts are just as likely to run over the herdsman as they are to obey them. Instead, they are commonly hunted by nomadic tribes of the Grass Sea, who take a couple of the beasts at a time, hoping to spook the entire herd to stampede away from the hunters.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Bowden are almost exclusivly found on the Grass Sea, where the semi-toxic nature of the grass ensures that competition from other species is low and there are fewer terrain features to make movement of such large herds difficult. The tend to found in the northern hemisphere while the south is held by the sturdy Bolar Bulls.
Lore
Ancient Orcish art depicts Bowden, not only as the herd animals as they are today, but some show Bowden being ridden as beasts of burden. How this was acheived is knowledge lost to the Orc culture.
From that point, Bowden are often depicted as an essential part of the Grass Sea. The most famous form of this is the painting Loss of Empire, which depicts a herd of Bowden peacefully grazing as the walled city-state of Juniper burns to the ground.
This also continues to the modern day, where those druids and champions that dedicate themselves to the Grass Sea often take the animal as a totem or symbol.
Five to Seven feet in height
1,500-2,500 pounds
10-13ft
Bowden as massive, with a thick layer of winter-fat placed over strong muscles that are built up in particular towards the front
Bowden tend to be brown to fawn colored, with a giant ruff of darker fur around the shoulders and over the head.
The head also contains a pair of horns that grow conjoined as they reach adulthood, forming a shovel-shaped 'shelf' above their eyeline. This is used to ward off predators or even inflict damage during a struggle. Males have particular wide and tall horns that are used to establish dominance.
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