Pine Stag

With no allies amongst their native range, the Silvic were once encircled by a great number of enemies. Their own jungles were like blades which could just as quickly sink into their backs as they would provide a barrier to the outside world. A claustrophobic and nightmarish arrangement. There in these woods it is said that the spirits heeded their call and generated a guardian for them to shelter behind. It was as much the forest’s blade as any other beast but held the unique restraint of not wielding it upon the elves. This beast -the Pine Stag- was rapidly accepted by the Silvic and became a titular part of their society. Today, it serves both as a mount and a titular part of the Silvic biota.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

The Pine Stag are a close but significantly larger relative of deer. Though related, they have a number of key traits which make them stand out from their mundane cousins. Pine Stag are actually two separate organisms; the Stag and a species of tree related to the spruce family. The tree seeds itself in the fur of the Pine Stag, providing sugars through photosynthesis and an outwardly green coloration. In order to get water, the plant feeds roots through the back of the Pine Stag’s skull into specialized slots on the sides of its mouth to absorb liquid as the beast drinks. This arrangement would only be possible if the plant provided its own sacrifice, so part of its barky exterior snakes up the Pine Stag’s bony antlers to cover them in a wooden sheath. This sheath doesn’t make the antler any sharper but provides additional protection against damage, allowing the Pine Stag to shrug off a few hits to their antlers before they break off.

As Pine Stag can partially live off the sugars the symbiotic tree can provide, they don’t need to eat very much. It lends itself toward a less active metabolism and thus less activity in general. While they can match the speed of a horse they cannot do so for very long as their energy reserves are comparatively small on top of their heavy headgear. Pine Stags are able to make short charges to devastating effect, able to punch through chainmail with the ends of their antlers. Their exceptional strength makes them well-suited for labor like pulling carriages and heavy loads, both of which don’t cause Pine Stag much discomfort.

Their slow metabolism means they also mature slower than other cervids. On average, it takes five years for a Pine Stag to reach full size. Pine Cows will only fawn every half decade, a single fawn to each. Fawns do not have the symbiotic tree at birth and must instead find one. The trees that grow against the Pine Stag bloom every year with rich pink flowers, allowing the Fawns to collect seeds to start their own trees. The tree will live as long as the Pine Stag does, persisting until it expires. Once the tree has matured onto the Pine Stag their wellbeing is linked; collaborative under pain of death.

#### Psychology

The Pine Stag are an easy going but reliable beast. They dwell in modest herds of up to eight adult members, helmed by a stag- usually eldest. The Stag ensures that the herd is able to survive by leading them to pastures and defending them from predators. Pine Stag spend much of their lives in the sun where their tree symbiotes are most effective, refusing to go under shelters or into caves during the day unless absolutely necessary. Males will vie for the favor of females every half decade by locking their horns. These bouts can last weeks and lead to many injuries, though Pine Stag rarely kill each other.

Pine Stag can be tamed and are partially domesticated by Silvic Elves. They make for reliable and loyal mounts both in commercial use and on the battlefield.