The Baneg is a very common member of the bovine family. They adapt easily to most climatic conditions and are very mild in temperament. This made them desirable and they were domesticated very early on. Although the Baneg originally came from southern Sarvonia, they can now be found in herds all over Caelereth.

Appearance. The Baneg is a strong heavily built and muscular animal, with a massive head and thick horns. The male, or bull, has a hairless shield on the crown of his head between the horns. These horns can be as thick as a man’s fist at the base narrowing out to the end in a blunt point. When looked at head on, these horns resemble a thick bow sitting on their head with the ends pointing up. They are a dull greenish tan in color and can be up to two fores and a palmspan between tips. Females also have horns, but these are shorter and lighter and have a distance less than two fores between them.

Both male and female have massive necks and are barrel shaped in the body. They have four legs with the back pair slightly longer than the front making the rump slightly higher than the shoulders. The legs are large and muscular at the rump and shoulders then narrow down to a two-toed hoof a little over a palmspan across. Both male and female have large spear shaped ears that they are able to rotate forwards backwards with ease. The face, ears body and tail of these animals are a blue gray in color being darker around the shoulders and neck area. The hair on the their hide is short giving them a kind of glossy look except their bellies, which is a creamy white with thick silky hair about a finger’s length long. All four legs are also this creamy white from the knees down ending with the hooves the same color as the horns. They have a tail a little over two fores long that also ends in a flame shape with long silky hair the color of cream. The heads of these animals are rectangular shaped narrowing at the nose and mouth. This nose is also cream colored and they have yellow eyes at either side of the head near the horns. The bulls can easily stand one and a half peds at the shoulders with the females maybe a few nailsbreadths less. Both male and female make a low rumbling kind of coughing sound.

Special Abilities. The Baneg has no special abilities, except for their ability to adapt to most environments. They cannot tolerate very cold or very hot locations though.

Territory. It is believed the Baneg once covered all of southern Sarvonia from the Tandala Highlands to the Narfost Plains. They have been domesticated for so long and proven adaptable and useful that they can be found in herds on any continent or island in Caelereth.

Habitat/Behaviour. The Baneg is a very docile creature that is slow to anger and seems to accept whatever comes its way. Although, when angered or threatened by predators, it can become very aggressive in its defense and will use its horns to deadly effect. They are also very gregarious and can be in herds up to several hundred with little to no problem. Usually though they are kept in small separate herds of thirty or forty and often found as a single animal on small farms. These animals never seem to be in a hurry about anything and if left alone will spend most of the day slowly grazing. Because of their mild manner and docile acceptance they are often used in heavy labor with no problem. As long as there is plenty of food and water at the end of the day they will work without much complaint. Bulls and females can be used in this capacity but it is usually Baneg made into steers that are preferred.

Diet. The Baneg has a very limited diet. They will eat all kinds of grasses, like alth'ho and some weeds. They will also eat some grains like bredden.

Mating. The breeding season for the baneg is in the early autumn. The female will gestate over the winter and give birth in late spring to usually one and sometimes two young. The female will suckle the young over the summer before chasing them away to be on their own. One bull can usually cover about forty females a season. The following season the bull is moved to a new group of females, as they will not cover the same females again.

Usages. The Baneg Cow has become a very useful animal over the years and nearly every part of them is used. Almost every part of the Baneg’s meat can be eaten which is mild and juicy and easily affordable for most people. It is also easy to make it into jerky that can be stored for months and also can be used as travel rations. The female can give excellent milk and it is a common sight to see one or more Baneg on small farms. Also the milk can be made into a mild hard white cheese. Their hides make excellent leather and is used in clothing from boot and shoes to jackets and coat; from belts to gloves and everything between. Also, since the leather will shrink when wet, it is used in making grips for weapons and tools as well as the thatching on chairs. In poorer homes it is used as the hinges on doors and windows as well and the latches. Often strips of leather are used to tie or bind things together. These same strips can be woven together to make a strong but flexible whip. The horns of the Baneg are also used. They can be whittled into utensils such as spoons and forks or as bowl. They can also be hollowed out to make horns that can be heard at great distances and used to signal others and even sometimes as a call to battle. The horns can even be ground up and a small amount added to tea and used as a purgative.

Another use of these animals is that of a beast of burden. They are well muscled and have good stamina and are used by many farmers, which can afford them, in the field to help with plowing or pulling the full wagons after a harvest. Many trading caravans dealing in heavy ores or other things with weight use the baneg because they are able to haul these long distances with a minimum of rest. Also if there is plenty of grass and water along the way the Baneg are satisfied and the cost to the caravan leaders are held down.