Equgigan (Ecu-Gig-an or Ecu-Gygan are acceptable)

Massive horselike beasts that roam the southern regions of Ashnoor.

They're moderately intelligent and can be trained to deliver messages, packages and cargo of a significant size. Fast moving beasts they can cover a large distance accross different terrains extremely quickly.

They are unmountable, or, rather, none have ever been broken to be ridden. Old records tell us that those who have previously tried have all died due to the animals response to being ridden.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

As with their very distant cousins, mares and stallions mate.

Growth Rate & Stages

A fairly short gestation rate, followed by birthing a foal, on average of about 17 hands in height.

They take roughly eighteen months to reach full height and are lethargic and suffer low energy during this extremely rapid growth spurt.

Equgigans are not fully mature though until around three years of age, they live for up to thirty years, especially those used as messagers.

Ecology and Habitats

Equgigans are southern beasts. They have an inherent fear of Woags, the predatory beasts used as mounts by some Erayax Orc tribes. Woags are potentially the only predator that represents a serious threat to Equgigans. Hence, the beasts instincts stop them going further north than a parallel along the northern most point of Lake Moridale.

The wild population numbers are anyone's guess. Wild Equgigans are largely left to themselves, unless found very young. Mature adults are considered largely untrainable.

Those that work as carriers are not considered living in captivity as they are given absolute free reign, the Equ Guild are small in number. They are secretive about their training methods - and, consequently command a more than generous income. They befriend the animals they train for want of a better description.

Grasslands though would be their ideal habitat so any southern grasslands at least a small number are likely to reside there.

Dietary Needs and Habits

In the main Equgigans graze, ideally on grass.

However, they are omnivors and will, as needed hunt small prey (considering their actual size, any prey is ultimately small of course) to eat.

And, of course, they are resourcesful scavengers when they need to be.

This makes them quite easy, in many ways, to befriend and maintain.

Behaviour

Equgigans are gentle giants mostly.

Mature adults in the wild behave shyly mostly. When startled they're instinct is to flee, and the turn of speed when they launch into an imediate gallop is beyond breath taking. It is widely believed they can cover in one hour the distance a military unit could cover in a day at a forced march.

Foals in the wild (and those born in the "carrier" herds) are curious, eager and always a bit hungry. This often leads to a few wandering from the main pack, in the wild, they are approachable and easy to befriend. Their inherent curiosity as well as the food rewards will compel many of those ones to follow whom ever has befriended them.

The Equ guild members often bond with the foals as a surrogate for their herd or pack parents. As the beast matures this bond will stretch, however, it never breaks. On rare occassion, the trainers have removed an animal, or excluded specific people or groups of people from the animal's service due to acts of cruelty. No refunds are given.

The carrier herds demonstrate reasonably high intelligence, they can learn a large number of different routes, they can adapt and detour if needed. Since the early times of their befriending the Ashnoorians (or visa versa) Equgigan have not, barring very rare and fatal excpetions failed to deliver their consignments.

Additional Information

Domestication

The Carrier herds would largely be considered domesticated. This would be, at best though, an extremely broad use of the word domesticated.
Carriers live closer to humanoid populations than wild Equgigans and have befriended humanods.

Many packs are several generations old in modern times - they would mostly appear to be very domesticated in many cases, it would be a mistake to assume so though.

"Domestic" herds are usually not very large, A dozen or so at most.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Carriers, as the name suggests, move goods (small goods essentially) and documents the widths of the southern regions of Ashnoor, at least for those who can afford the trainer's fees.

The guild is of the opinion that Equgigans agree to be Carriers because they like to run fast, in a nutshell.

There are, cargo limits, if you will, the beasts are not disposables to be run into the ground, besides, at some point they would refuse.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Southern areas of Ashnoor faction and contested lands.

Average Intelligence

They are intelligent enough to be trained as carriers. And far too intelligent to live in captivity.

Whilst those with particular markings can be trained to use these to their advantage and, at times, hide rather than flee, this by no means comes naturally to them, nor is it easy to train them to it.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Equgigans behave predominantly like prey animals, therefore they are alert, and, in the wilds, often skittish.

They are intelligent enough, however, to also quickly assess if the perceived danger is a genuine threat. They have a tendancy to flea rather than fight as their immediate first response. Very few things in Ashnoor can run one down when it's in full flight.

Civilization and Culture

History

Whilst the best has existed for far longer than this, the founding of the Equ guild in 540 AE was the beginning of record Keeping about the beast. It is said that the guild's founder, Kiprue Maq Cherstie found an injured foal near Bird Lake in the Contested lands, and nursed it to health, thus befriending the first of their kind.

Scientific Name
Equus Gigantus
Origin/Ancestry
Originated in the southern regions of Ashnoor. It is unclear if they developed naturally or were deliberately bred.
Lifespan
30 Years
Conservation Status
Neither faction nor the free folk generally will not hunt or harm in anyway these large, yet gentle beasts.
Average Height
10 -12 metres
Average Weight
2.2 tonne
Average Length
12 - 15 metres
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Whilst predominantly of natural colours, they have an extremely wide range of markings and tints making each animal unique.

Most are so distinct that trainers can identify individuals in a large pack.

Whilst this is not consistent for all, many of their various colours and markings afford them some camoflage in a several different terrains.

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