Developed By Incubus
The Bruxen - often called Brux - are a race of cervidae (deer) that inhabit primarily the forestry surrounding Ne'haer and its suburban towns. Said to be a species enchanted by Qylios, who herself is known as the rider of the Alpha Brux of the Willow Woods, they are a highly intelligent species known to very frequently bond with biqaj, humans and other sapient races dwelling within Ne'haer. The Bruxen are a mount and battle companion, and they hold a special place in the hearts of those who worship and admire the Immortal who made them.
The Bruxen are a very large variant of the cervidae species, and as expected of Qylios' creations, they often exist as the leaders for communities of deer, elks and other members of their animal family. Your average adult male Bruxen is very large and muscular, standing at about one thousand and eighty pounds. The females are less sizable at eight hundred and fifty pounds on average, though respectively both male and female are significantly larger than even the most imposing elk. Males can get to a weight of over 1,700 pounds in extreme cases. Qylios is said to ride a male Brux who weighs over 2,000 pounds.
The animal's hide is known to be very sturdy, and the creatures are highly durable. It is due to their strength, discipline and durability that they are excellent mounts for wartime and travels - and they are considered to be apex predators in the wild if threatened by a carnivore or a human of destructive nature.
Price: If purchasing a domestic Bruxen in Ne'haer, their price is about 750 gn. There are some found for around this price in Argos and Uthaldria, though very uncommonly. Elsewhere, they are usually around 1250 gn, although you'd struggle to find a single one outside of Western Idalos.
Habitat: The Bruxen mostly dwell in the forests and valleys near to Ne'haer. A decent number live in Falcon Haven Forest, The Bend, and the grassy plains surrounding these areas, with some of the population living in the Willow Woods. There are estimated to be about twelve thousand total Bruxen in the wild, with about eight thousand in domestic households or as members of the military of Ne'haer.
As a result of the expansion of Ne'haer and its surrounding territories over time, the Bruxen's historic range of dwelling has been depleted by about fifty percent, and many worry that the creatures will fall to endangerment or even extinction in the wild with Ne'haer's continued growth. Furthermore, due to the megalomania and violence of the Cliffwalkers that dwell in the Willow Woods, the Brux have begun to become endangered in their original home and have depleted significantly in the wild. No matter how many Brux come to aid another in the felling of a Cliffwalker, they tend to be nearly unable to defeat them. Additionally they are slower than these beasts, and so their only option is usually to create a flash of light and attempt to hide.
Lifespan and Development: The Bruxen live to about thirty five years old, reaching full maturity at the age of three. They become self-sufficient at around a year and a half, on average, though many of them form bonds with deer and elk for their mutual survival even as early as eight months old.
The animals become venerable at the age of thirty, unable to properly function. Nearly all of these creatures face extreme hardship later in life, as their body begins to weaken and often becomes incapable of maintaining their weight. Bruxen are prone to illnesses such as eye cataracts, bowel issues and even forms of cancer, though it is said that if one is bonded to an individual close to Qylios that they tend to be significantly healthier and even stronger as a result.
Diet: Like elk, these creatures have four chambered stomachs. The Bruxen survive mostly on fruits and vegetation. They generally survive off of grass year-round, and in the colder seasons consume tree bark and roots. Their diet is very similar to elks as well as their anatomy. The Bruxen consume about 25% more food on a daily basis than an elk does, consuming about 25 lbs (12~ kg) of vegetation daily.
The favorite food of the Bruxen is - as popularly known in Ne'haer - blueberries. The creatures absolutely adore blueberries, with many of them capable of consuming over thirty pounds of it if given the option. They gain a great deal of protein and other nutrients from the food, and are said to be significantly healthier if they maintain a majority blueberry diet. There are many blueberry fields in Treth during particular cycles, and so the Bruxen are known to casually stroll into the town at night and pluck the fields dry. Originally this caused exceptional tension between the farmers of Treth and Ne'haer and the Bruxen, but government subsidies have been given to farms to support the health and development of the species.
Temperament: The Brux are highly docile in the far majority of situations. They are very trusting and tend to allow humans and other races to get near them, even to pet them. Many theorize that this is due to their connection to Qylios, while more scientific minds claim it is due to their durability and strength that they do not fear the sapient races of Idalos. Nevertheless, the creatures are very passive and as a result have been domesticated over the past few centuries.
While quick to trust individuals not to hurt them, the Bruxen are not quick to bond with others. They are often called the 'posh elks', as they tend to believe themselves to be highly worthy animals with an inherent superiority to that of their kin. In the mind of a Brux, no man or woman can tame them, but rather prove to them that they are a worthy comrade. Of course, inevitably, they are weak to blueberries and one who gifts them these fruits can gain immediate favor. However it is by valor and commitment that one truly gains a Bruxen as an ally, and many have imprinted on humans shortly after great feats such as the slaying of a Sylvithia or Lysorian Skinbane, a natural enemy to the survival of the Brux and other animals native to the region.
If engaged upon with intended hostilities, the Bruxen are aggressive but very patient. If they feel threatened they are much more likely to eye you down and slowly poise their battle stance than merely leap out and attack you. One of the issues of the Bruxen is indeed their patience - sometimes they wait too much and react to passively and can be slaughtered before being able to react. Currently they are embroiled in a war of prey vs. predator with the Sylvithia and Skinbanes, and tend to gain immediately hostility upon witnessing one of these monsters.
Abilities: The Brux are known for two abilities: firstly, the ability to manipulate light to their advantage. Secondly, the ability to forge a spiritual bond to an individual, one that portrays danger and threats between they and their companion.
The primary ability of the Bruxen is certainly their light manipulation. While highly limited, they as a species are said to be enchanted by the Immortal of Light and can - quite simply - glow dramatically in the night. When seen in the dark by others, they are at their most beautiful, absolutely lit by a brilliant white-gold aura that dispels darkness for tens of meters around them. They are never disadvantaged by darkness, and this light can - under the right circumstances - shine brightly enough to damage the perception and focus of predators attempting to hunt them. This ability can be shut on and off, allowing them relative camouflage if they wish to sleep enshrouded by darkness.
The second ability of the Brux is the link they may form with their primary companion, whether it be man or animal. This link warns an ally of impending danger faced by the other, and can be used to gauge the peril the Brux or their comrade is facing. Groups of Brux will often assemble if one is attacked by a more powerful predator, and it has recently been discovered to be due to this ability. Often in the wild they will form chain links to more and more Brux, revealing danger faced by one of their own. In some absurd cases, there have been young Bruxen in danger only to have literal dozens of adults rush to their defense, all of them forming these links with one another.
In terms of physical capability, they are known to be quite dominant apex predators if the need arises and are as fast as horses.
