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
 * Wolves
 * Wyvern

Uses
A flock of sheep was tended by shepherds. The larger the flock, the more shepherds were needed to safely manage the sheep. Shepherds moved flocks from one area to another for grazing. This was due to the fact that sheep, when grazing, ate grass in its entirety, including roots. This combined with the damage caused by many sets of hooves, degraded the soil and left it exposed to the sun and wind. Improper management of a flock of sheep could turn a once lush field into a barren dusty field.

Among the Al-Badia tribes, shepherds were usually young men or boys. They led the flock to find suitable grazing ground. However, in the summer, grazing is practically nonexistent, so the Al-Badia tribes remain close to an oasis or settlement.

As livestock, a typical sheep was worth between 1 and 2 gp in Faerûn , and between 3 and 6 gp in Zakharan bazaars. .

Sheep were a source of wool. Wool was widely used as a material to make clothing. Zakharan wool was made from hair of a sheep blended with that of a camel. Fleece was a type of textile fiber, obtained from sheering the coats of sheep.
 * Clothing:

Sheep could be used as a source of leather. Sheepskin clothing was common and could be worn as a jacket. The Hobgoblin tribes of the High Moor manufactured high quality sheepskin clothing, complete with intricate embroidery and bead-work. Sheepskin could also be used to make boots, such as high boots.

The milk from a sheep could be used to make cheese. Elturian Grey was a sheep-milk cheese crafted in Elturel in the Western Heartlands.
 * Food:

Among halflings, sheep were considered a valuable part of a farm, and the milk and meat from sheep was an integral part of halfling cuisine. Halfling farmers in Corm Orp made a soft cheese from goat's and sheep milk called Orthin.

In Zakhara, butter was made from sheep's milk. A popular drink, rakiq, was a beverage made from sheep's milk and garlic known for its tang. The Al-Badia, nomadic tribes who roamed Zakhara, used mutton as the main course for banquets for honored guests. The considered the tail of a sheep a delicacy, with the guest of honor presented the fatty and succulent dish.


 * Other Uses:

If needed, a sheep could also be used as a pack animal.

Sheepskin was prepared in such a way it was used as a parchment. It could also be fashioned into a portable vessel for carrying water or wine. In Zakhara, sheepskin was part of a camel's riding kit, where it was used as a saddle pad. A hababa was a hammock made from sheepskin that was stretched over four poles of wood. It was used in Zakhara for children.

The bladder of a sheep could be inflated and used as a ball in recreational activities.

Sheep fat had a cosmetic use. It was used to make the wearer's skin glisten and shine.

Paladin's often used sheep as part of their daily exercise routine. This routine involved the paladin, in a full suit of armor, hiking up a mountain with a sheep strapped to their back.

Sheep were sometimes used as a sacrificial animal. Once a month, the villagers of Volkumburgh transported up to five sheep to Mount Drakkor Rouge. There, the sheep were offered as a sacrifice to the red dragon Larghauseth, in hopes of keeping the dragon away from their village. 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.

In the High Country, there were certain locations felt to be important to the Hidden People, such as sparkling pools, the rare standing stones, and small hidden dells thick with old, mossy trees. Wise and experienced shepherds avoided such places. If forced to enter by weather or misfortune, they made no fires and cut no trees, moved stealthily, and did their business quickly and left as soon as possible. They humbly and loudly apologized for the intrusion, and even left one or two sheep tied to stakes as payment. Those who did not take such precautions did not always return.

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 could even be found in the Underdark, kept in small pens on the Isle of Rothe in Menzoberranzan.

Farmers in Berdusk, Calimshan , Chessenta , Daggerford , Elturel , the Great Vale , Land of the Lions , the Moonshae Isles , the Savage Frontier, Unther , the Vast , On the continent of Laerakond, feral sheep roamed the countryside of Relmaur.

Although most sheep avoided swamps, human tribes living in the High Moor managed to raise sheep. This particular breed of sheep had thick, shaggy wool that was difficult to shear. Hobgoblin tribes within the High Moor also herded sheep.

In Cormyr, the Truebreeds Guild controlled the trade, breeding and care of all livestock, including sheep.

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.

In the halfling town of Corm Orp, herds of sheep populated the hillsides surrounding the town.

On Ilthan, an island in the Pirate Isles, cyclopskin herded sheep.

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

The nine major tribes of the High Desert in Zakhara kept herds of sheep numbering in the thousands. Nomadic tribes of Jann traveled with their herds, which included sheep, between fertile lands and oasis. Some ogre giant and reef giant tribes also kept herds of sheep.

Fahhas, Huzuz , Qudra as well as the settlements of the Masud Jazayir

In Tabot, villagers herded sheep across the high plateau.

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

Sheep were common in the Feywild. Many Feywild settlements kept herds of sheep.

History
Circa, Mirabar began offering large sums of silver to entice sheepherders and their flocks to migrate to the city. The purpose was to provide Mirabar with a ready supply of wool for their harsh winters.

Mountain Sheep
Frost folk kept herds of mountain sheep. Farmers living in the rugged parts of the Land of the Lions raised hardy mountain sheep.

Notable Farmers

 * The Durinbold, a noble family on the Sword Coast, were known for their sheep farms.

Trivia
There are over 200 words for sheep in Untheric.

Yondalla, the creator and matriarch of halflings, was served by sheep.