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"Had me a climbin’ pick made from one o’ them horns a while back. Then one of the damned things knocks it out me hand and nearly sends me falling to my death."
—Kruber Johanes, mountain climber

The Ferric Ibex, also called the Steelbones Goat, is a species of ibex that dwells high up in the mountainous regions of Haven. Known for both their climbing skills and iron-enriched bones, the Ferric Ibex is a very hardy animal. It is also known for having its bones used as a substitute form of steel among many communities.

Characteristics

Appearance

The Ferric Ibex is a large goat species that stands around as tall as an adolescent Mythra. Its body is covered in short, shaggy fur that gives it excellent resistance to the cold temperatures of its mountainous home. Its hooves are split, giving it the ability to use them like claws to grip onto steep terrain, making it an excellent climber. It is not uncommon to see herds of Ferric Ibexes scaling exceptionally perilous cliffs with ease, crossing entire mountains in a fraction of the time it would take most other species to scale them.

The Ferric Ibex possesses an impressive set of horns, used for both defense against predators and competition among their own kind. The male’s horns are wider and heavier, with the female’s being longer and thinner. These horns are often flecked with shimmering iron streaks, which appear more as the ibex ages. The oldest Ferric Ibexes are said to have horns made completely out of iron.

Biology

The Ferric Ibex’s bones are rich in iron, largely due to the creature’s habit of gnawing on mineral-rich rocks. As such, their bones have become durable enough to let it shrug off blows that would cripple or outright kill creatures of similar size. However, due to their bones being so heavy, the Ferric Ibex has become so dense that it cannot swim, sinking like a rock whenever it enters a large enough body of water. Fortunately, the Ferric Ibex rarely has to deal with deep water in its mountainous home, save for the occasional flash flood.

The Ferric Ibex is a herbivore, feeding primarily on the tough shrubs that dot the mountain slopes and the lowland grasses during the winter. However, these items often lack the mineral content that the ibex needs to survive. As such, it also feeds on iron-rich rocks that it can sense with its horns, using them almost like a compass needle. When it finds iron ore within rock, it uses its horns to chip its way through until it reaches its prize.

The Ferric Ibex mates in late summer, with the females giving birth six months later. The newborn ibex typically stays close to its parents for the first few years of its life, learning how to fight and climb. Its horns start coming in after a year or so, steadily growing as the young ibex learns to deal with the new weight on its head. Sometimes, the horns end up growing too fast, leaving the youngster struggling to keep its head upright.

Behavior

The Ferric Ibex dwells in high mountain ranges, often at altitudes far higher than what most would think. During the warmer months, it often sticks to the peaks and slopes, taking advantage of the melting snow to find iron deposits exposed via erosion. During winter, the Ferric Ibex usually retreats to the lowlands, feeding on scrubby trees and digging for roots. Though it can endure the cold, the Ferric Ibex usually has to contend with predators looking to take advantage of its lack of high ground.

The Ferric Ibex lives in herds ranging from thirty to fifty individuals. The herds are often seen scaling large cliffs all at once, with the mother goats usually trailing right behind their young to keep them from falling. When an ibex grows too old, it is often left behind by the rest of the herd, collapsing as it dies from either old age or starvation. Ferric Ibexes who die this way often end up partially sinking into the ground, their half-buried bones sticking out as both a gravestone and potential treasure.

The Ferric Ibex is a rather temperamental creature, charging at anything it perceives to be a threat. If it finds itself in a situation where it can’t charge, such as on a steep slope, it uses its horns to dislodge chunks of stone and send them crashing down on any potential attackers. However, it must be careful to not to strike with its horns too much, for this runs the risk of destabilizing the ground it's standing on and sending the ibex falling to a rather embarrassing death.

Ferric Ibex Bone Usage

The Ferric Ibex is often hunted by those living in mountainous areas, mostly for their bones as they have a unique property when forged. When the Ferric Ibex’s bones are melted down, the iron within them mixes with the carbon of the bones to create a rudimentary form of steel, often referred to as goatmetal. Goatmetal is a valuable commodity for those who lack the capabilities to forge “proper” steel on their own, especially in areas lacking sufficient amounts of metal.

Weapons and armor forged from goatmetal are often painted with the image of the Ferric Ibex itself, with blacksmiths who forge them claiming that the animal’s spirit makes them stronger. Larger mountain villages tend to keep at least one herd of Ferric Ibexes around, both as livestock and as a means of defense. However, due to the value of the ibex to these communities, gangs of rustlers often form to steal the herd under cover of night, leading to many feuds between different villages.

Notable Individuals

TBA

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 [[Category:Author: LordApollyon]]
 [[Category:Setting: Haven - Creatures]]
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-[[Category:Setting: Haven - Bovids]]