[✗] [Creature Lore] - [Aevosi Elk]

[ChainedDragons 1374]

CREATURE APP SUBMISSION

 

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Aevosi Elk

Origin/Background/Culture

When thinking of Aevos, one's mind wanders to the strange folk from all walks of life along with fantastical creatures one may encounter. But let us pay attention to a creature of more humble stature; the Aevosi Elk. While they are simple creatures, it is their simplicity that aids in their natural wonder within the world. 

First discovered as a wandering herd within the frigid wasteland beyond Celia’nor and Norland, the animals were noted to be rather shy of being seen out in the open. With careful observation and time, it was recognized these animals had a regular migration pattern and traveled the majority of Aevos in a grand circle - following their preferred vegetation as it bloomed during specific times of the year. 

Being of a colder climate this deer species tends to have a more filled out pelt. Thick to keep the winter winds at bay but loose for a wolf to get nothing but a mouthful of fur on the first grab. With the seasons changing and frequent migrations, the elk tend to adopt what many call a ‘travel pelt’ - being lighter and not as plush as its ‘winter pelt’. The winter pelt is carried from fall to the ends of winter, the travel pelt coming in at the beginning of spring and lasting through the summer.

[Yearly Migration Patterns]

In the winter months, Aevosi elk spend their time in the frigid wastes along with Norland. Followed by Spring in the lush plains and temperate forests of Celia’nor and Petra. Summers are spent around the great lake within Haense though the elk seem to drift from Petra to Reinmar during this time. In the fall, the elk leave Haense, gorging on nuts, cones, and other foliage created by the Reinmar and Nevaehelen forests before crossing the river back into the wastes once more to survive on the pines buried in the snows. 

To forage the elk will use their ivory to strip branches of leaves and low hanging fruits/nuts. Their ivory is a left over relic of a past age where their species once had great teeth. While they aren't used for combat anymore, their ivory canines are for aiding in holding plant material in place for chewing. Each animal has two canines about an inch long and the ivory is often prized by those who make jewelry. Nut, fruits, berries, bark, pine needles, and much more make up the elks diet as it traverses the land. The more plump an animal is can tell a hunter if its been feasting well on a farmers crop as well as local forest bounty. The less fat on an animal indicates their more regular diet of pine needles, bark, and the occasional handful of nuts.

 

Creature Summary

Male aevosi elk, or bulls, average from 5.0 to 6.5 ft at the shoulder in height whilst their female or cow counterparts average at 4.5 to 5.0 ft at the shoulder in height. Most mature bulls have a large frame of antlers - a typical sight being each antler having 6 points or tines. Aevosi elk typically ground together in groups of 6-7 individuals, normally one being a bull among them. On rare occasions a bull may allow another bull into the group for protection if there is no challenge made but it's not a common sight. During times of migration these small bundles of elk will band together to traverse lands into new feeding grounds with their respective groups. Some groups disperse entirely and make new groups, helping prevent inbreeding amongst the species. 

Colors of the elk rarely vary, the most standard pelt being of a warm umber or auburn, drifting towards muddy browns and blacks amongst older specimens. The darker coloration allows the animals to hide in the shadows of the pines when needed as well as spot each other from a distance, though in exchange that means predators are able to spot them just as easily. Their antlers and hooves aren’t just for show for this reason. Even a cow can defend herself with a well placed kick from her hooves that are hardened by the constant stress of traveling the elements. 

The elk breed in the spring with small groups mixing together once more for bulls to come together and ‘shuffle’ their harems. In order to select a new female they must compete with a rival bull. The loser loses their cow and in worse case scenarios becomes injured.

• Threats to the Elk from creatures known
  • Thundermaw ravens
  • Porculon Bear
  • Arazi lotus
  • Dire wolf
  • Dire bear

Spoiler

Red lines

• Piebald, melanistic, leucistic, and albinism are a thing in their species but they aren't everywhere. They are conditions of the animal that come with draw backs. 
• Aevosi elk are strong and can move dead logs with their antlers but that doesn't mean they can move boulders, or live trees.
• While they are capable of fighting back, these animals are flighty and are going to try to get away unless cornered above all else.

 

Taming

Taming a wild animal is always difficult, even managing a once domestic from feral to trusting people again. The best way one could bond with such animals is having that special touch with creatures - the trust that life flocks to. Or if you’re determined enough, capturing a calf from its mother and raising it as your own is a start. More ambitious have tried capturing mating pairs in hopes of getting calves that way, breeding elk in captivity. It allows the calves a chance to get used to your scent and behaviors so they aren’t as easily frightened but make no mistake. Frightened doesn’t mean helpless. 

Spoiler

Red lines

• Rearing a calf from the beginning forms a bond with the caretaker and elk, leading to a mutual trust between the pair to allow actions such as riding or foraging. 
  • Elk can be trained to sniff out nuts, berries, and specific herbs if trained from an early age - ooc after two irl weeks
  • Calves reach maturity after 3 ooc weeks and can be ridden by then.
  • If raising a calf with a special pelt type there are going to be problems with its health' ie albinism: increased vulnerability to predators, difficulty in hunting, potential vision problems, and heightened sensitivity to sunlight

 

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“Father, we should raise held herds for the war. Think of the advantages - venison, hide, bone, and ivory! Mounts as well! MOUNTS!” - Hart of Petra

 

While bonds can be formed to ride Aevsoi elk, training them for combat is another thing entirely as it simply hasn’t been done before. Sure your elk could protect you from a bandit or two but if faced with a threat the elk believes it cannot fight against the animal will flee. They are prey within the world of Aevos and don’t wish to be dragged into any beast's maw at the bidding of their rider. Could elk potentially be bred for war? Anything is possible but it will take time, as it did for making some of the finest war horses in this age. 

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ST Notes/Abilities

The Elk Lords

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Elk lords are exceedingly rare, being likened to the comparison of a regular wolf to a dire wolf. A cervid twice the size of its normal stature and with more calculation. As all creatures that age, with age comes experience. They are old for a reason. Elk lords are Aevosi elk bulls that have exceeded their natural life spans and whether this extended life is gifted by the void or magical guardians of nature, these beings defend their herds with ferocity. There has been no report of an Elk Lord female but anything is possible. 

With their size increase, so does their hooves, canines, and antlers. Elk Lords are more protective of their herds and use their experiences to do so. So if they are able to deduce a threat is too great they will guide their herd away from the threat or distract the threat long enough if there is no other option. But at the end of the day Elk Lords are still a mortal entity. They will fall to magic, to blade, and to arrow. If hurt enough the beast will try to flee so it can live another day. Many elk lords can be seen with scars of past battles, even some with spears or arrows lodged in their hides. 

Spoiler

General Red lines/Restrictions

• Elk lords are not tameable creatures as they have wills of their own beyond regular aevosi elk. 
• While all aevosi elk have ivory - being in the form of two stunted primal canines in their mouths, Elk lords on occasion have been known to have more pronounced canines of this variety, able to bite those that harass them. 
  • The average elk ivory canine is about an inch long. Elk lord ivory can reach from 2-3 inches max.  
• Combat Summoned pets - Mounts  
  • Elk Lords or Aevosi Elk are playable by players and ST.
  • All Elk Lord of Aevosi Elk items are player signed.
  • Elk Lords and Aevosi elk are wild animals and are to be used as such. Unless going through the taming process (excluding the elk lord)

 

Repeat (OPTIONAL)

• Elk Lord (Above)
• Aevosi Elk
  • Subtypes: Royal Elk - Aevosi sub-sect specifically bred for combat (uncertain at this time)

Purpose (OOC)

The purpose of the Aevosi elk is to bring more wildlife into the server. While there are wildlife entries, most are of a magical variety and I wanted to try for something more natural that could actually exist, save for the Elk Lord part. I think it would be nice to have more wildlife specified on the server so instead of ‘I’m hunting deer’ you can be more in-tune with your environment and explain, I am hunting Aevosi elk for x-y-z reasons. It makes one's actions more purposeful and I would love to contribute something like this to the community. 

I also think by adding the Elk lord it gives another entity for players to seek out for the fun or mystery of it. Not many games feature herbivores as aggressors and I would like to see a bit more of such in lotc so there is a variety in the foes we as players face. 

Sources:

Creatures - Plains

Creatures - Mountains

Creatures - Arctic Tundra

Creatures - Temperate Forest

Music Inspiration

 

Fingers crossed this gets accepted - aevosi elk is my og idea <3

Edited March 21, 2025 by ChainedDragons
forgot some stuff

[Islamadon 9158]

This lore has been denied.

The LT, while finding that these Elks may be able to flesh out some animal lore, it ultimately just comes across as deer with dog teeth, and variants can be had that can be used as combat pets. We are, as a team, attempting to steer away from such things.