[WB-FAUNA] The Steigen

The Steigen is a domesticated large mammal that roams and climbs over all layers of the Cascades. It has had a long history of association with tatsukoi by means of both companionship and labor usage.

In the wild, Steigen are relatively passive omnivores that live in small herds of up to 5 to 15 individuals. They can become skittish in the presence of predators and other "threatening" creatures, choosing to stand their ground and warn any interlopers first before charging and defending their territory.  Their diet primarily consists of insects, grains, and fruits, but they will also feed on greens and vegetables. However, Steigen have been seen eating meat as a last resort during times of scarcity.

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Characteristics

The species can present many physical attributes due to its extensive breeding throughout all six layers, but it retains a few important key features that make them distinguishable and guarantee its survival in the wild:

1. Head:
- One of  Steigen's most recognizable features is its long muzzle and tongue. The tongue can reach down to its dewclaws even while its head stands up straight, and is ideal to reach down into insect holes, and tall branches with fruits.
- Their ears can wiggle back and forth to detect faraway sounds from different directions.
- It doesn't rely primarily on its vision, but thanks to its tall neck, the Steigen can see above tall vegetation as well as look for favorable spots to grip while climbing.

2. Body:
- The Steigen has a strong body that allows it to both climb and run.
- Steigen can come in many colors and patterns, and they seem to present a minor ability to mutate when living for a long time on a habitat that presents itself at birth, loosely resembling the more versatile mutations of the tatsukoi.
- Their front limbs are muscular, each paw composed of three large and sturdy claws and one dewclaw.
- Their back limbs at nimble but strong enough to push the creature forward while it moves.
- Steigen have two stomachs that allow them to process its varied diet more easily.

3. Tail, Mane, and fur:
- All steigen have aquaphobic fur.
- Their manes can be short or longer, depending on the breed and lineage, but the textures are freely varied.
- Their bushy tails typically stand up straight even while at rest.

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Breeds

The steigen has been culturally and historically an essential part of Tatsukoi society's evolution. They have aided in the exploration of dangerous new grounds, transporting goods, or laboring in agricultural work long before contemporary technologies could do so, and yet they continue to show their usefulness in many aspects of day-to-day life to this very day. As such, it is understandable that different breeds have been developed to tend to different societal necessities over the ages.

The C.S.R.A (Cascade's Steigen Ranch Association) oversees the regulations of different breeds as well as officially recognize the six main breeds that exist so far.

Layer 1 - The Loudile




The Loudile is what is considered to be the standard when it comes to Steigen's physical traits; however, this perfectly balanced and old breed is extremely adaptable to many situations, and can perform well in most terrains. It receives its name from the town of Loudile on the Deep Basin, where it is said to be historically the heart of Steigen's first steps of domestication, and thus making it technically the "first breed" ever recorded by the C.S.R.A.

Pros:  Great and trustworthy build overall, excellent for beginner and expert riders alike. It does moderately well on all terrains
Cons: It doesn't have a main specialty per se, and can have equally moderate difficulties on most terrains as well.

Trivia: The loudile seems to be the first mount of many young tatsukois seeking to climb the Falls for the first time (If they can afford so).

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Layer 2 - Crouver



This sturdy breed was developed near the region of Crouver in the Falling Spines. Historically, the merchants who traveled through the spines seemed to favor the more sturdy Steigens for their capacity to carry more weight, as well as for their stamina and strength. Generation after generation, the Crouver grew in size and efficiency, becoming equally popular in the agricultural circuits, especially on layer one.

Crouvers are usually quite docile and easy to train, but can balk and become stubborn if they feel unsafe. That's usually useful, however, as a sign that their rider should not proceed in a certain direction.

Pros:  Sturdy, strong, and resistant. Can carry large weights and climb for longer times without tiring easily.
Cons:  Its large body makes it less versatile in smaller spaces and trails. Crouvers aren't known for their speed either, being the slowest of the Steigen breeds.

Trivia: Farmers employ the help of Crouvers to also keep insects out of their crops! Any Steigen will happily eat at a field full of pests, but Crouvers seem to really do it so quite efficiently due to their large appetites.

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Layer 3 - The Archaina



An extremely rare sight, it is said that the Archaina that reside on Third Heaven's fields and forests don't show themselves easily, and are the closest to what wild steigens of the past should look like, appearance-wise. However, one should take this information carefully, keeping in mind that the breed has also been through its own natural evolution, in this case, a rather elusive and unique type that had very little to do with tatsukoi direct interference. The strong flows of mana found on the third layer seem to have forced these creatures to evolve a horn to help them channel said magic in and out of their bodies more easily. As such, the Archaina is said to be the only Steigen that can perform some form of magic as well as possess a higher level of intelligence; however, so few have been tamed that there have been hardly enough studies made on the breed.
They are greatly coveted by mages and scholars alike, and riding one seems to be a common dangerous challenge among young academics.

Pros: Extremely intelligent and agile creature, can perform magic to aid its companions.
Cons: Equally extremely hard to tame and train, Archaina's have a strong personality and can turn on their masters if their favored traits are misaligned.

Trivia: Archaina's prefer to be treated as equals by their tamers, referring to them as companions rather than owners. They seem to favor other creatures of similar personalities as theirs.

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Layer 4 - Umbreas



From the depths of the Labyrinthe Caverns comes the Umbras, a somewhat sinister-looking, yet misunderstood breed of Steigen.
Also known locally as the Sleipnir, Umbreas have been developed for maximum efficiency inside the complicated twists and turns of the dark corners of layer four. Its sleek body can more easily fit and turn within the crevices of the caverns, and with six total limbs, it will hardly have trouble losing its grip. The longer tail helps it detect anything coming from behind, and even if you lose your light while exploring, their larger eyes can see extremely well in the dark, enough that the Umbras can guide its rider back to safety. Their ears can capture sounds and echoes more efficiently than other breeds, and their short body fur makes them easier to maintain.

Pros: Dark vision, excellent grip, and great awareness of their surroundings, as well as being extremely loyal to their rider.
Cons:  They don't do well in carrying a lot of weight, being the thinnest of the Steigen breeds, as well as not being able to see well under sunlight. If you choose to own an Umbrea, make sure to have the right eye cover for them, as they are practically blind under the sun. Night travel is more favorable for this species.

Trivia: Their appearance and large eyes (as well as the lack of a visible sclera) make the Umbrea not visually appealing to many, but this breed has the highest loyalty to their rider out of all Steigens. They are less likely to panic and flee, and will likely fight viciously against creatures attempting to harm their group.

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Layer 5 - Polaris



To survive the harsh conditions of the Summit of Storms, the inhabitants of this layer developed a breed of Steigen that can not only efficiently handle the unstable weather but also thrive in it.
The Polaris breed has a thick coat of fur that doesn't allow water or snow to penetrate, keeping it insulated at lower temperatures. It is a rather sturdy breed as well, being capable of carrying heavy weights under storms and snow, only losing in strength to the Crouver.

This breed loves to be active, as well as being playful, and there is no such thing as a lazy Polaris, even at their older ages.

Pros: Sturdy breed, excellent for harsh weather conditions. Playful companions full of energy, smart, and hard-working.
Cons: Polaris don't do well in warmer layers - it is necessary to trim their fur often if they are to live in different layers, otherwise they risk overheating. Their high level of energy can be a little difficult to manage, and they seem to be the most vocal of the steigen species.

Trivia: In the rare occasion that the weather warms up on the Summit, tatsukoi will trim their Polaris in order to sell or craft with their wool-like insulated fur.
The Polaris corkscrew tail was an accidental trait, but they were found to be cute enough to remain on the breed.

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Layer 6 - Benevola



This stunning steigen breed is one of the prides of the Isles of Elysium.
Legend says that a mage from Third Haven fell in love with a princess from Elysium's royalty. Said princess loved the Archaina's of layer three and wished for one, but alas, the creatures are wild and incredibly difficult to tame. The young mage then set out to develop a breed of Steigen to impress their beloved, making it as beautiful and gentle as the steigen that roamed their own home layer.

With beautiful shining scales, silky hairs, and a mostly docile personality, the Benevola seems to be the ideal breed to make any princess fall in love, alright. This steigen breed is said to be descended from the Archaina, however, it cannot use magic whatsoever. Still, it is the only breed to be adorned with scales, and their silky tails and manes are the largest of all breeds.

Benevola are extremely popular in riding competitions, high society events, marriages, and especially among the royalty of Elysium. They are one of the most expensive breeds of Steigen's to obtain.

Pros: Very intelligent and highly trainable. Benevola are a very aesthetically pleasing breed, and they can be very kind and loyal companions. They're also the fastest of the steigen breeds.
Cons:  Benevola don't have a lot of stamina for long journeys and prefers to rest more often. They can balk at harsher terrains and become stubborn when upset, perhaps showing a bit of their Archaina heritage.

Trivia: Many steigen competitions are held all year, but the most popular seem to be the "Great Dawntide Benevolence", where the fastest Benevolas compete with each other for the biggest prize and honor of the year! Half of the proceeds go to charity, and fans love to collect all kinds of merchandise of their favorite Benevolas, including trading cards, although the card company seems to be expanding towards other breeds of Steigen as of late.
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Obs: If the concept is used, I'd rather that Steigens were used exclusively by tatsukoi users if possible ♡
I'm also willing to provide the lineart of the examples used here, depending on how staff chooses to introduce them to the site, just let me know!