Life Beneath the Mother Tree: The Bosthog

Some months ago when I last wrote to my editor, I was studying the Mannicyre and their habits.

After a close brush with death when faced with the males, I have elected to take a more relaxed approach.

For this chapter, we shall be observing the Bosthog, one of the world’s most naturally gifted creatures, and most cherished live-stock by many. This will be the first in these special three connecting chapters on the Mother Tree’s most common farm animals.

At the end of the first month, I will observe all three creatures in the wild.

Day 1

Today I am unpacking in the room I have been provided by Arcveltian Farmer, Patrick Thorbourghy, a local who herds Bosthog, Gyrdstog, and has a few Kilmei on site. After I am settled, I will be instructed on how I will be helping around the farm in taking care of these creatures. As I observe the drifts of Bosthogs out in the farmers field, I can see why they are referred to as “Roaming Harvest.”

Day 7

After a week on the farmstead, I have quickly grown accustomed to the practices in care for these beasts. Since they can grow mushrooms from their fur, it is quite common to harvest select fungi on the animals. I have been informed that many Bosthog farmers grow a variety of mushrooms on their animals, with many being very careful to maintain the fur of their animals.

Day 15

The Bosthogs follow me now whenever I have a bucket in hand. Unfortunately that behavior has gotten in the way of a few tasks as they keep swarming me for feed. Much to my dismay, their small tusks have been routinely bruising my legs. I find myself massaging my calves at the end of each day to ease the soreness. I reek of fertilizer and rotten vegetables, their diet feeds nutrients into the mushrooms that grow on their back. Many theorize a symbiotic relationship between the Bosthog and the fungi they grow.

Day 28

Today is my last day on the farmstead with these fine creatures, and I shall leave in two more days. The Bosthog have become rather affectionate with me as of late, and it hinders my study of their behavior. A new development that I have come to know of these creatures is that their fur is quite soft, and can be a tad spongy like a moss bed, but still bears a grassy texture.

Day 33

My camp in a glade in the Arcvelt woods has been established. I am told by my guide, a local hunter by the name of Johnathan Grimsby, that the wild Bosthog family has taken up residence not far from our camp. I look forward to studying the wild counterpart of the majestic creature.

Day 37

For four days I have been huddling up in the top of a tree-stand that Johnathan was kind enough to prepare for me. These knees are getting creakier with the years.

At any rate, observing these beasts from a safe distance has been ideal, as the wild Bosthog can grow larger than their domesticated counterpart. Their verdant greenery shows larger mushrooms, and thick clumping of mud and dirt mixed in their green fur.

These clumps seem to be formed all throughout their life to gather soil for essential nutrients for the plants they grow on their bodies. It was day two of my observation that I got to observe a group of hoglets rolling in thick mud patches as their mother sat idly by while sunbathing.

Much like the farm animal Bosthogs we know close to home, the wild Bosthog has a curious nickname. “Swirling Field, Farmers Friend,” were terms created by Frean merchants who would come across the beasts during their grazing. Wild Bosthogs will graze for hours, following each other with their snouts to the ground as they trim the entirety of the foliage that makes up a glade. All that is left is two-inches of the grass, shrubs, and flower stems.

The Bosthogs seem to be migratory creatures, wandering from gloam to glade with only one thing driving these animals into a frenzy; the rare Arcvelt Forest Truffle. These animals are incredibly social in temperament, and further investigation shows that after they finish their grazing circle, the leftover vegetation is fertilized for the next season.

A wild Bosthog seems to be able to support a variety of small plants on their fur, with the largest among them supporting shrubberies. The Bosthog Herd acts as a walking biome and home to smaller creatures that decide to take up residence on the Bosthogs back. Many of these smaller animals tolerate the shifts and motions from their carriers as the larger Bosthogs deter predators, and they can forage from the backs of the Bosthog herd.

Now onto the Gyrdstog!