Sheep

Sheep were a common species of mammal and herd animal.

Description
Sheep were covered in thick, curly wool. Male sheep had a pair of sharp horns on their head.

Behaviour
Sheep were domesticated and lived in herds of various sizes.

Combat
Sheep avoided combat, fleeing predators when possible. Male sheep defended their herds, charging a target and inflicting damage with their sharp horns. A herd could panic and stampede, trampling most creatures in their path.

Biology
Many creatures hunted sheep.


 * Dire hawk
 * Wyvern

Uses
A flock of sheep was tended by shepherds. The larger the flock, the more shepherds were needed to safely manage the sheep.

As livestock, a typical sheep was worth about 2 gp. If needed, a sheep could also be used as a pack animal. When entering an unexplored dungeon, uncaring adventures were known to send a flock of sheep ahead of them to trigger any traps that laid ahead.

Habitat
Sheep were common across the Realms and beyond. Sheep tolerated cold and temperate climates well, but did not tolerated hot climates such as deserts or areas where the temperature exceeded. Sheep preferred to stay out of forests and swamps.

Sheep were herded by both gold and shield dwarves. The gold dwarves of Underhome kept a large herd of sheep. They were herded within the Great Rift and was guarded by fully armored, and heavily armed, dwarven shepherds.

The farmers of the Dalelands herded sheep. The largest herds of sheep in the Dalelands were found in Mistledale.

Colonists in Ulatos introduced sheep to the continent of Maztica. The sheep were transported by ship from the Sword Coast.

The gnomes of Dothion, the first layer of Bytopia, kept herds of silver-wooled sheep. Silver-wooled sheep were also found on Arcadia.

Among halflings, sheep were considered a valuable part of a farm.