Adult Female
Name: unnamed
Species: Grulla Foenaran Hipponox
Birthday: Monday, October 19, 2020
Owner: Whatan
Element: Neutral 
Hipponox are valuable creatures, both at the Keep and among the people of Foenara. The most unique aspect of these powerful creatures is their lack of a need for sleep. They can pull a wagon or carriage unceasingly for as long as it may be needed, and can pull many times their weight. Their flight abilities are less useful, and while they are large enough to carry a magi on their backs on the ground, their wings are not strong enough to lift themselves off the ground if they are carrying any weight. Male hipponox are generally placid and easy to train and command, but female hipponox will sometimes be unusually aggressive. If startled unduly, a female hipponox will sometimes charge whatever caught their attention. If working as a team, hipponox females should be allowed to establish a hierarchy so unnecessary fights are avoided when work begins. It is said that this creature's ability to stay awake permanently can be shared with their magi, but no magi has ever accomplished this. Rumors from the taggelisk black markets state that a female hipponox horn ground into powder will give someone unceasing energy for weeks, but these rumors have never been substantiated. As a result, many people and magi work to protect these creatures from poachers.
Hipponox are a common sight in the grass forests of Foenara, and while they never actually sleep, they are most active at dusk and dawn. The females have longer horns and serve as the protectors of bands of hipponox that range from 10 to 30 individuals. The clumsy, gangly hatchlings stay near the males in the center of the band, while the females monitor territory and defend the band from predators, only returning to the safety of the center when they lay their eggs. Each band is ruled by a matriarch, often the oldest female who has the most knowledge of their territory. Perhaps due to their constant vigilance, or their powerful bodies and sharp horns, hipponox are steadfast, fearless creatures. They are not as fast or agile as other species in the grass forest, but are very willing to charge a predator rather than flee, and as a result few predators would choose to go after a hipponox. Their greatest enemies are hipponox of opposing bands, although it is said that once a year the bands will unite and exchange individuals, perhaps as a way to distribute young hipponox to avoid inbreeding. Females will sometimes fight during this time and attempt to become the matriarch of a band, and when this occurs the ex-matriarch will join a different group. Hipponox show no fear of humans, either, and many a magi has befriended a hipponox during the annual gathering, when the creatures are open to the idea of new things.
Sprite art: Tekla (adult) | Description: Raneth