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Bison

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Bison were large herd animals.[1]

Description[]

Bison were large, strong animals. They had a distinctive broad head that connected to large, humped shoulders with a thick neck. Bison had short curved horns that grew from the sides of their head. The horns were hollow. Their large body was covered in fur and their head was covered in a mantle of thick fur, and males had a black beard-like growth. They had short but powerful legs. Bison had a small tail that ended in a tassel of fur.[2]

Behavior[]

Bison were normally docile and peaceful creatures, avoiding conflict with a predator if possible. However, they were extremely protective of their offspring and fiercely defended them. They also became aggressive during mating season.[1]

Combat[]

Bison herds, when frightened, stampeded. Due to their sheer size and numbers, a stampeding bison herd crushed almost any creature in their path.[1] Hippogriffs were a natural predator of bison.[3]

Reputation[]

Bison were a favored animal of the Mulhorandi goddess Hathor.[4] Bison were considered a sacred animal to wemics.[5]

Ecology[]

Bison were capable of running very fast over short distances and had incredible endurance. Bison were fast enough to outrun a horse. Bison had a very sensitive sense of smell and could hear a predator creeping up on them with great accuracy.[2]

Habitat[]

Bison lived in temperate plains. They could be found in Halruaa[6], the Great Rift[7], the Pasocada Basin[8], Pelleor's Prairie[9], the Outlands[10], the Shaar[11], and the Shining Plains.[12][13]

Intelligent celestial bison lived in the Upper Planes and could be summoned by spellcasters of moderate power for aid.[14]

Uses[]

Some shamans used the skulls of bison to make totems.[15] Bison heads could be stuffed and mounted as a decorative wall feature.[16] Bison were hunted as they provided food, their bones could be used to make tools and their pelt used in building simple shelters.[11] The city of Ormath had a thriving industry in salted bison meat.[17] In Maztica, the Azuposi and Poscadar elves both hunted bison.[18][19] Despite being considered a sacred animal, wemics still hunted bison for food.[5] In the city of Keltar, leather-workers crafted saddles specially designed for riding a bison.[20]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Appearances[]

Novels
Referenced only
Sword Play • Sentinelspire

Gallery[]

External Links[]

Further Reading[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 269–270. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Donald J. Bingle (April 1995). “The Hill of Lost Souls”. In Elizabeth T. Danforth ed. Elminster's Ecologies Appendix I (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN 0-7869-0115-2.
  3. ↑ Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 190. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  4. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 167. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Donald J. Bingle (April 1995). “The Hill of Lost Souls”. In Elizabeth T. Danforth ed. Elminster's Ecologies Appendix I (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 0-7869-0115-2.
  6. ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
  7. ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 85. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
  8. ↑ John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 978-1560763222.
  9. ↑ Donald J. Bingle (April 1995). “The Hill of Lost Souls”. In Elizabeth T. Danforth ed. Elminster's Ecologies Appendix I (TSR, Inc), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-0115-2.
  10. ↑ Monte Cook (December 2, 1997). Dead Gods. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 19. ISBN 978-0786907113.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
  12. ↑ Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  13. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 125. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  14. ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 286–287. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  15. ↑ slade et al (December 1994). Encyclopedia Magica Volume I. (TSR, Inc.), p. 172. ISBN 1560768428.
  16. ↑ Kim Mohan, Mike Mearls (April 2017). Tales from the Yawning Portal. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 73. ISBN 978-0786966097.
  17. ↑ Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 46. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  18. ↑ John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 978-1560763222.
  19. ↑ John Nephew and Jonathan Tweet (April 1992). City of Gold. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 978-1560763222.
  20. ↑ Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
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