Shikachizhian Sheep

### Biology

Because this sheep is so closely tied in to the Sika’cesn culture, their native habitat is wherever a tribe of Sika are currently inhabiting. Their ancestors were native to the whole region of the northern half of the Western Mountain range in Cy'ǧetauriaz'zockistan'abulgra'der'iavichdriavillestondal'ewind-roadingt'o'n.

This breed of “sheep” is more akin in shape to a mix of mountain goat and wild horse. Their wool is highly prized because of the shades it can produce without the use of dyes. It also grows in a slightly curly pattern, which when weaved produces a very soft and manageable  While this sheep lives, it’s wool changes color and pattern to match the environment it is in. The wool stays the same color it is, forever once it is cut off.

The diet of these animals is quite interesting, as they are omnivores (a necessary trait to be able to inhabit the cold and arid landscape of the Western Mountains). They have a special appetite for eggs, thus making them one of the primary food sources of Trapper Birds. Their toothy maw is also quite intimidating to most creatures smaller than them, mostly because a Shikachizhian Sheep will snap at anything that comes near it.

The sheep have a symbiotic relationship with the Sika’cesn culture developed through many years of evolution together. The sheep can only produce offspring when their is little to no wool left on their bodies, but the hair grows continuously. Thus, it has to be sheared annually. Because the mothers are hairless when they give birth, the lambs would die from exposure without the protection of the wool that the Sika’cesn weave. The Sika milk the mothers and hand-feed the lambs as well.

### Sika'cesn Influence

The Sika milk the does, and hand feed that milk to the lambs. The lambs grow an attachment to the Sika who raised them, who have to shear them so they can reproduce. The wool of the Shikachizhian Sheep is very similar to the skin of the Sika people, as it adapts its color to the environment it is in. When sheared, the color no longer changes but retains its color like a strong dye until the cloth is ruined. The Sika’cesn are very good at training their sheep. A Sika is given their first lamb at 4 years old, and expected to raise it large enough to shear, which is when they make their first

#### Products

The most common items of clothing for the Sika’cesn peoples are the conta’skda, which are large sheets of wool draped or tied in specific ways around the body for certain climates. It is hardly ever high quality, but this is expected. The Sika’cesn, clothing wise are very basic because of their unique abilities, usually only utilizing primitive leather pouches to carry things in if their conta’skda are being used for something else. If a Sika is a traveller, they will usually have to use other clothing, often gifted to them from their tribe at the eve of their departure. The most common items of clothing are blankets of wool tied around them.

As with other animals, when these sheep pass away the Sika use every single part of the body possible, but for now I will only go over the food. The bones are hollowed out and the marrow is eaten raw, and any leftovers are either frozen or dried. The actual meat is usually too tough by the time the sheep die to be eaten in stews, so it is instead made into jerky.

Any organs are occasionally used for eating (especially the liver), but are typically used for topical and ritualistic reasons. The hoof can be boiled to be used as a food coagulant or glue. The contents of the stomach are used for fermenting cheese.

##### Dairy

When excess milk is produced during lambing season, the tribes have many, many different uses for it. The most common method of production are simple acid cheeses meant to be eaten as soon as possible. Methods of production often include the use of rastìk cherries that sweeten in the heating process and act as an acid. Occasionally, when available, intestinal products from the Sheep are used to culture the cheese.

The most common cheeses produced are most similar to:

* Bries
* Goudas
* Fetas
* Picorinos
* Gjetosts
* Crottin de Chavignols

Other products include butter, kefir milk and yogurt (in order from most to least used in a daily diet).