The Hoo (Bovum montarius) is a large, quadruped herbivore native to the Asari Region of the Eastern Equatorial Section in the Habitual Belt on VOI 700 D.

Originally domesticated by the Native Tribes, the practice was later adopted and expanded by exohumans, who rely on Hoos as the primary pack and draft animals of the frontier. Their sturdy frames, calm temperament, and endurance make them invaluable across settlement life and trade.

Hoos fulfill multiple roles:

• Pack Animals: Carrying loads across wetlands, steppe, and river valleys.
• Courier Operations: Since the founding of the New Kourou Courier Service in the early Beta Age, Hoos have been the draft animals of choice for transporting letters and goods between settlements.
• Farming and Fieldwork: With the abolition of Service Bots in the Gamma Age, Hoos became the backbone of exohuman agriculture, pulling plows and carts in rural communities.
• Meat Production: Beyond their role as work animals, Hoos are also raised for food, forming an important source of protein in the exohuman diet.

• Shoulder Height: Up to 1.7 meters
• Body Length: Up to 2.6 meters
• Weight: 700–1,200 kg
• Fur Colors: Long, layered strands in shades of brown, rust-red, or black, providing insulation and an armored look.
• Horns: Twin, curved structures resembling dark mineral blades. Used for defense, ritual combat, and dominance.
• Neck Shield: A distinctive ridged bony plate protecting the throat and chest from predators.
• Hooves: Wide, slightly webbed hooves designed for both marshy riversides and rocky steppe terrain.
• Eyes: Shimmer like opals, adapted for the dim light of the Habitual Belt and the perpetual night of the Dark Side; faint bioluminescent flank streaks aid herd cohesion in darkness
• Speed: 40 km/h (approx. 25 mph) running. (In-game movement: 40 ft.)

• Muscular Build: Capable of carrying heavy loads over long distances.
• Bonding Instinct: Can form deep connections with human handlers, improving trainability.

• Armor Class (AC): 13
• Hit Points (HP): 80
• Speed: 40 km/h (approx. 25 mph) running. (In-game movement: 40 ft.)

• Horn Charge: 1d8+3 piercing damage. When charging, deals +1d6 additional damage if the target is Large or smaller.
• Kick: 1d8+2 bludgeoning damage. Can knock back opponents 5 feet if they fail a DC 12 Strength save.
• Trample (Mounted Variant Only): 2d6+2 bludgeoning damage. A mounted Hoo can trample prone enemies, forcing them to make a DC 13 Dexterity save or take full damage.

• Herd Defense: If a Hoo is within 10 feet of another Hoo, it gains +2 AC due to defensive positioning.
• Acute Hearing: Hoos have advantage on Perception checks based on sound.
• Instinctive Escape: If reduced below 25% HP, the Hoo can make a Dexterity save (DC 14) to flee at full speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

• Diet: Herbivorous (grasses, shrubs, river reeds).
• Social Structure: Highly social herd animals with dominant males and cooperative females.

• Defensive Circles: Hoos instinctively form a protective ring around their young and vulnerable members when threatened.
• Herd Warning System: If one Hoo senses danger, it emits a deep vocal bellow, alerting the herd to flee or prepare for defense.
• Bonding & Trainability: Domesticated Hoos form emotional bonds with their handlers, responding to voice commands and routines.

Native Tribal Usage:

• Pack and Transportation: Nomadic Tribes use Hoos as pack animals, transporting goods across vast distances.
• Agriculture and Labor: Sedentary Tribes keep Hoos in pastures for agriculture and labor, plowing fields and hauling harvested crops.
• Spiritual Symbolism: Some tribes believe Hoos represent endurance and loyalty, incorporating them into rituals.

Exohuman Usage:

• Agricultural Use: Settlers integrated Hoos into plowing, cargo transport, and fieldwork.
• Transportation: Settlers employ Hoos in long-distance travel and supply chains.
• Breeding and Training: In the Gamma Age, the Federal Breeding and Training Station for Hoos in Hope ensures controlled population growth and high-quality training.
• Meat Production: Hoos were one of the primary livestock species consumed by Exohumans in the Beta Age. Hoo meat is rich in protein and widely available.

Hoos reproduce within structured herd hierarchies, with dominant males earning the right to mate through ritualized fights.

• Mating Season: Occurs once per year, typically during the period of peak resource availability, when vegetation is most abundant.
• Gestation Period: 14 months, after which a single calf is born.
• Calf Development: Hoos nurse for 6 months and remain close to their mothers for up to 3 years.
• Herd Protection: Calves are protected by the entire herd, with females forming a defensive perimeter around them.

• Total Lifespan: 30-40 years (Estimation)
• Mating Rituals: Dominant males engage in horn battles for breeding rights.
• Herd Leadership: Older, experienced females often guide herds, ensuring efficient grazing routes and safety.

To exohumans, the Hoo embodies the “New Frontier” aesthetic of VOI 700 D: rugged, patched together, reliable, and marked by improvisation. The salvaged saddles and scrap-built harnesses strapped to their broad backs give them a distinct patchwork character — a fusion of necessity and resourcefulness.

In the perpetual twilight of the Habitual Belt, their glowing flank streaks and low rumbling calls create a quiet sense of companionship on caravan routes. In the endless night of the Dark Side, the same glow becomes vital for keeping herds together and reassuring handlers moving through Firetown’s hinterlands. To many settlers, the Hoo represents not just survival but the stubborn persistence of civilization on alien soil.

The Hoo is not a combat-focused creature but plays an important role in survival, exploration, and transportation-based campaigns.

• Wild Herd Encounters: Players may come across wild Hoos that react defensively if startled, requiring careful navigation or persuasion.
• Stampede Hazard: A panicked herd of Hoos can become a dangerous environmental hazard, potentially injuring or trampling characters caught in their path.
• Beast of Burden: Players may rely on domesticated Hoos for transporting supplies, leading to escort missions or logistical challenges.
• Hunting and Poaching: NPCs or rival factions may target Hoos for their meat, hides, or horns, creating opportunities for ethical dilemmas or bounty-hunting side quests.
• Courier Missions: Hoos play a key role in communication and supply chains; players might need to track down a lost courier or protect a convoy from bandits.
• Mounted Combat: A trained war Hoo could serve as a strong, durable mount in combat, particularly for NPC cavalry or tribal warriors.

• Habitual Belt
• Equatorial Sections East and West (Asari)
• Eastern Equatorial Section of the Habitual Belt
• Wildlife of Asari
• New Kourou Courier Service
• Firetown Courier Service
• Federal Courier Service

Known Predators:

• Arr
• Korozo (attack them as Exohuman mount-animals in the Ralar Region)
• Moar
• Zapor (attack them as Exohuman mount-animals in the Ralar Region)