Patonkwo

The Patonkwo (Pseudogiraffa macrocornis), also known as the War Giraffe, is a species of large herbivore endemic to the islands of Okrit.

Description

Male Patonkwo with approximate scale

Patonkwo are large hoofed mammals with notably long necks and long curved horns. While the skin itself is grey, their coat can vary in colour and pattern, usually being a dark greyish brown with light mottling and undersides. Coat colours and patterns can vary greatly between individuals, with striped, spotted, near black and entirely brown individuals being noted. Recent domestication has led to individuals being bred for their coat colours, however no breeds have been established.

On average, fully grown patonkwo stand 4.2 to 5.4 metres tall, with males growing taller than the females. The average weight of adult male patonkwo is around 1300kg with females falling within the range of 980 to 1150kg. This heavy weight can be attributed to their strong musculature, which is required to hold up their elongated necks. Patonkwo necks grow up to 2m at longest and can be held at a variety of angles from the body, though it is set at an angle of around 70-60 degrees. The large vertebrae that make up the neck lead to the patonkwo displaying a large hump between their shoulders which is often larger in males. Patonkwo have incredibly muscular legs, with the forelimbs usually being longer than hindlegs, a trait which is more visible in males due to it's assistance in fighting other males. The average hoof size of adult patonkwo is around 30cm x 20cm in diameter, though the forelegs of particularly males can be up to 40cm x 32cm.

All patonkwo are born with cartilaginous growths above the ears that grow larger and ossify as the animal ages. In females, these protrusions stay as ossicones, maintaining vasculature and a skin covering reaching 15cm in length and somewhat curving back. In males however, the ossicones fully develop into long curved horns up to 35cm in length. Patonkwo horns are utilised in the mating season as male patonkwo (bulls) compete to mate with the females through the clashing of their horns, heads and necks. These fights often leave both animals with wounds, occasionally being fatal. This is seemingly countered by the adaptation of thicker, more leathery skin on certain points of their neck head.

Ecology

Diet

Patonkwo are generalist herbivores that primarily graze on the upper and middle tree canopy feeding on fruits and foliage and occasionally on twigs, bark and branches. Patonkwo passively consume various small arthropods that inhabit the treetops and occasionally eat the small reptiles that predate on them, however they very rarely actively pursue them for food during the wet season. Patonkwo are preferential grazers, and will primarily target softer and more plentiful foliage as well as newer growth, sometimes going so far as to graze from lower strata from the forest, though populations in grasslands are often more tolerant of woody and thorny trees and scrub. This process of grazing plays a key role in the Omolain ecosystem as it opens gaps within the tree canopy that expose younger plants to sunlight, as well as naturally restricting the canopy cover of especially large trees. These processes encourage species diversity within the deeper forest ecosystems, and the trails that Patonkwo leave are similarly key in providing microhabitat for various plant and animal species, with trails being traditional used for traversing the jungle, as well as occasionally creating new waterways, accelerating drainage.

Distribution

Patonkwo are found primarily within the tropical forests of the Omolai straight and adjacent woodlands, with their range extending into the periphery savannah on both the major islands, though savannah populations are more prevalent on the Onomat than in Waaq, where their smaller relative the Denkwi is much more prevalent. Patonkwo ranges are often greater during the wet season, and groups of Patonkwo may retreat to more forested areas during the dry season, though populations in drier areas such as grassland are known to be resident year round. Additionally, Patonkwo often migrate at the end of the dry season to more open areas for mating.

Behaviour

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Domestication

Domestication of the Patonkwo began in the 3rd century TT after the proliferation of cavalry warfare by the Riders of Inun in the 500s. Previously, the usage of animals in the general Okriti sphere were as pack animals and livestock, however due to increasing food demands, the multicultural communities later known as the Inunese innovated human riding of animals using the Dekwi, first for additional livestock then for travel and later for military use. The riding of animals for practical purposes quickly spread to adjacent communities and by 340 TT Dekwi were being bred across the Omolai for travel and work. Within Oye noble clans it became a symbol of ones status to ride an animal and it became a belief that people with greater Ojo were capable of taming and riding more fierce animals. Patonkwo thus originally became a target for domestication as a status symbol within the City state of Kafotwo, with the largest of efforts traditionally being prescribed to the noble clan of Aampako, however various noble clans would claim to have been the "first" to successfully tame and ride any. It wouldn't be until until 312 TT however that the systematic breeding of Patonkwo for generational domestication would begin, as their large, strong builds proved useful in the ever growing need for urban expansion. Patonkwo would then primarily be used in civil construction and overland transport of heavy materials and items.

In 284 the outbreak of war between Kafotwo and Totwane saw the a great increase Patonkwo reliance by Kafotwans, as well as the first innovations in their military use. Initially Patonkwo were used only for support. Patonkwo were large and strong enough to aid in the construction of barricades and saw success in transporting vital supplies such as food and medicine, intimidating would-be raids by the Totwane-led coalition. By mid-283 Totwanean forces had formed a full naval blockade of the Kafotwan ports and had begun sending troops down the Olowai river in preparation for siege.