Bovine

Bovines are powerfully built, barrel-chested, tradition-abiding humanoids with features resembling cows. Some Bovine have a more goat-, antelope-, or moose-like appearance. They are Mekkan's best farmers, brewers, miners and builders.

## Culture

Bovines were by nature joyful and friendly in their dealings with others. Because they lived in a world where they were surrounded by smaller creatures, Bovines tended to gain notice, often deliberately, or at the very least, acted cordial towards the smaller races. Though bovines could be extremely passionate in a way that might seem violent, the race as a whole had a love for family and friends, to the point that few bovine marriages ended in divorce. They took pleasure in simple things, with few aspiring to greatness. Because of their love for home and family, Bovine made loyal and courageous allies, willing to put their own lives at risk for the sake of others.

With a strong self-consciousness and a tendency for strong emotions. Both of these combined to make bovine particularly wanting for the approval of others. Bovine placed great value on the skill of an individual, including themselves. Failing at a task was anathema to bovine and as a result they could sometimes push themselves to unhealthy extremes of effort. This aspect of the bovine mind meant few of the race took a laid-back approach to any skill or ability, striving always to become the masters of a particular skill, and bovine respected those among other races who approached life in the same manner. Great examples are bovine farmers who feel distraught when crops fail, their crafts are up the scratch, or they resive negative comments.

Other races saw bovine as proud or even arrogant because of this dedication to excellence and high standards. It was true that bovine were typically proud of their race's accomplishments. However, bovine were also more than willing to recognize with respect the accomplishments of other races in turn, whether or not the race in question was an ally or enemy.

More so than other races, bovine often wore their hearts on their sleeves, typically hiding neither anger nor joy. bovine were enthusiastic about life, particularly success, and brooded about failure for only a short time before their disappointment was shaped into a strong drive for improvement. Only a handful of bovine actually demonstrated traits that might be considered timid or reserved, and the vast majority of the race had no qualms asking for what they needed or taking time to improve themselves. Trust was a major factor in the lives of all bovine and each expected others to be just as open and forthcoming with them as they were

Most bovine families were large. In bovine society, family played an important role to most bovine, family bonds were the only ones that were truly reliable and it was far rarer for bovine to become alienated or estranged from members of their family. This is not to say that internal feuds and disputes did not happen, but the vast majority led to only temporary divides, and family members spread over the world would eventually come looking for a reunion. Bovine parents went out of their way to ensure that their children had a chance to interact with bovine of other families, thereby increasing their friendliness for the race as a whole.

Many bovine had strong appetite for food and drink as well as narcotics and clothing. Similarly, many bovine were enthusiastic collectors, and loved to hold on to possessions won through skill and daring. Bovines also loved to share what they have produced most commonly food, making sure everyone else is fed before themselves at times.

### Art and Leisure

Bovine were usually practical about the arts. Few items were created for purely artistic reasons, instead having a functional purpose behind them. Despite this, like the Angelic arts were not at all ugly or mundane in appearance and bovine craftsmen took time and care in creating new works. As pieces representative of the skill of a craftsman, bovine art pieces often possessed a distinctive flair that was colorful or earthy in nature and they were often embroidered with jewels or fabrics.

Not all bovine art was purely pragmatic in nature, however, and the bovine had a love for creative cooking and brewing as well. Bakers, chefs, feast-hall owners, and distillers had a respected place in bovine society.

Like the bovine's approach to art, the race's attitude towards leisure activities was very practical. After long labor hours of work, they were often engaged in sports. Often competitive, these sports often had teams. Many of these sports were also violent, particularly by the standards of many other races as the bovine where a durable race. Wrestling, jousting and weightlifting were extremely popular with the race. Bovines had little time for cheaters, gloaters, and sore losers. Bovine never held grudges if they lost a fair fight, and where just happy to be included.

Not all bovine sports were so physical, the race was also fond of strategic board games, riddle contests, or improvised storytelling events often in the Flyting. Flyting is a contest consisting of the exchange of insults between two parties, often conducted in verse, normally these roasts are merely for jest and many don't take it to personally. With commerce with the Avians these have evolved to include music and are something similar to rap battles. In all cases, the bovine emphasis for recreation was on the triumph of the individual and the improvement of practical skills or purposeful leisure.

### Cuisine

It was said that "Fruit, Cheese, bread, ale and more cheese are what fill a happy Bovines's stomach." and that could be evidenced by their own agricultural choices in places. The bovines where masters of farming efficiently and getting the most out of their crops. Often making and trading food goods to the other races, among these were sausages, cheeses, stews, and baked goods. Bovines themselves liked those foods as well, but made them chewier and more rubbery for their tastes, with no strong spices, but instead using melding herbs. When bovine were left to their own devices, they produced flavored cheeses, sour grape wines, blue grapes, sour table grapes, and goat and sheep meats and their milk. In winter, the bovine had two stews ready all day; one lighter broth, and the other filled with more sustenance.

Named special bovine foods:

* Blue eyes: A blue grape grown for wines. They grew in bovine-sized clusters.
* Charlotte's Best: A black-as-ink, very sweet stout. Brewed by a coastal clan of Bovines, that often trade with Bani from vega.
* Ceres spring cheese: A cheese/drug that only had an effect on bovines and Cervidians.
* Rotgut: A notoriously strong whiskey drink favored by bovines and other people of the realms.
* Sea Foam: A translucent green, spearmint beer.
* Thinlice: A buttery yellow cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk. It was somewhat like brie except not as runny and it had a very thin rind.

### Government

The bovines follows strictly to a sense of Feudalism all of Mashara is ruled by the Royal family, which they divide the holdings of land, known as a fiefs, to the various Jarl in exchange for service or labor.

A **Jarl** was in broad terms a noble or mayor who held land, which they would vassal off to various individuals under them such as farmers, crafters, miners etc. In exchange for the use of the land and the protection of the Jarls, the vassal would provide some sort of service to the Jarl. Consisting of mostly non-military services but some where militaristic. All the Jarls where overseen by the Oberjarl who made sure they paid their taxes to the King/Queen or helped deal with matters between the Jarls.

Taxes paid to the Royals where assigned to the **Hilfmann**, who served as the nations treasurer and accountant. Despite resources being required to be paid to the Crown, they where redistributed back to a lot of the people and farmers themselves or sold off to other nations through various trade deals. The **Hilfmann** often worked closely with ambassadors from other nations to organize trade deals and ensure that most of the profits return to the Jarls and subsequently the farmers or producers.

Mashara was overseen by a **King** or **Queen**, they dealt with the many politics of the nation and beyond. The bovines have had many rulers from the same linage and have largely been able to focus the people and avoid internal conflicts. The King/Queen are in charge of assigning an Oberjarl and Hilfmann, their method of choice is entirely left open to them.

### Gender Ideals

Bovines do not have a strict black and white view on gender presentation or roles in their society. Examples of woman bovines having traditionally masculine features or men with traditionally feminine features are known to exist. This can lead gender dysphoria being quite common in young or mature bovines. However, the race is very accepting of such ideals, often celebrating and being supportive of those who aren't comfortable with their current gender identity and wish to change. Options to help transitions are often pretty inexpensive ranging from herbs from the Cervidan, to traded crystals or accessories from the Kitsune and Angelic.

The race also have interesting laws related to nudity. Similar to the Bani who have all or nothing system related to showing off the chest region, bovines are proud to show off their chests and nipples of both men and woman in their homeland, but recognize it isn't for all races. So often bovine cover up when traveling, or even in cities with high mix racial populations such as Unity City are cover up zones for both sexs, par red-light districts or certain zones in a similar way to how the Bani handle it.

Due to wide spectrum marriage laws are pretty open to anyone and are often done by law, usually by a jarl, priest or rarely the King/Queen. Bovine often prefer monogamous relationships, especially when having a family, but isn't uncommon to find some polyamorous relationships. They are also quite traditional often frowning on couples who have children out of wedlock. Often families expect couples or partnership to have children either adopted or birthed, this stems from their history of farming and passing the land along to the next generation.

### Interracial Relations

Bovines, in general, tried their best to get along with everybody. Often they were friendly and outgoing and were uncommonly adept at fitting into communities. Despite some troubled pasts with Salamanders and Angelic they have always been opening and accepting of their kind. The bovines enjoy a deep relationship with the Cervidans that has remained intact since the worlds inception, the two races helping other out. Bovine are mortified when harm befalls the Cervidans either when from others or themselves and will do everything they can to help their forest neighbors, they are also extremely protective of them trying to act like an older sibling to stick up for them, but who get a bit to lovey at times.

Even with loosing ties with the Drider and granting them their independence, the bovines are still open and happy to engage in trade when they are ready.

## Ecology

Bovines are towering and imposing humanoid creatures. Their horns can either curl tightly against the sides of their heads to encircle their ears or outwards to be more bull like. They often ornament their horns with metal rings or sheathe them in metal to protect them from damage. As their appearance suggests, they combine physical strength with stubbornness, bravado, and reckless bravery. Which they take advantage of in their laborious work. In combat they revel, especially when the odds against them seem overwhelming; Bellowing loud challenges in defiance of their foes, and roar with laughter as they triumph.

For both genders Bovines average over 2 or 2 and half meters in height, and they have strong, stocky builds. Able to use their horns as a natural weapon in battle. Their legs often end in heavy, cloven hooves. Bovines are born with long, tufted tails, but bovine from a handful of fief have their tails docked as part of a coming-of-age ceremony; Practically for either they finding heavy armor much more comfortable to wear or simply makes their professions easier without a long tail in the way or getting caught. Both men and woman can express an array of masculine and feminine features, such as body and facial hair, muscle mass, horn sizes and even lactation in males.

Bovine had a wide variety of skin, eye, and hair colors, typically pale among bovine in and around Buckwood; and deeply tanned or brown among desert and those closer to Tierra Del Leon. Hazel eyes were common throughout the race, with blue eyes more common among those living near the sea and brown or green eyes found among the bovine who live inland. Bovines develop quickly, reaching full maturity around the age of 12 but are considered true adults around 16-17.

Both Male and Female Bovine often grew ample thick facial hair, which was sometimes used to display social status. Which is unusually for most other Races, though the majority of female bovine shaved their beards off. This hair was often dark in hue, though blond or red hair was just as common. It isn't uncommon for rich Bovine to take the care of facial hair to an extreme, carefully oiling and grooming it, with some adding perfume and ornamentation.

## Combat and Mana

Their size and strength makes Bovine ideally suited for hand-to-hand combat. They are most effective on the offensive, delivering an endless barrage of attacks that keep their foes off balance, shatter shields and weapons, and inevitably break their opponents. These Bovine favor large, heavy weapons such as axes, mauls, greatswords and even sheilds which they are strong and big enough to wield two at once, but they are also fond of unarmed combat. Many love to throw their weapons aside in favor of pummeling opponents into submission with their horns and bare hands. Their mana networks allow them to output powerful bursts of mana from their hands and feet. Commonly seen with bovine stomping repeatedly to make an earthquake or punching through solid rock and then throwing the debris at someone. The relatively few bovines who specialize in long-range combat use heavy bows, shot-puts and javelins, and take special delight in firing into the middle of enemy formations to sow as much chaos and confusion as possible.

Bovine are born with the Earth Magic from their Gate, which allows them impressive defensive, edurance and unstoabable capiabilities. Despite have the ability to make their skin as strong as iron with Earth Magic, bovine often clad themselves in heavy and medium armors, with the heavier variety looking as if hewn from a giant boulders. Despite having a much slower fighting style then the likes of the Bani or Salamanders bovine make up with this with excellent team work unlike a lot of races. Common examples of this is one Bovine conjouring a bolder and reducing it's mass to set it up for another Bovine who will funnel all their mana to send it flying.