Bone is a common resource in these lands, always seen in tools, weapons, armor, decoration and more. Much comes from the mines down below, where workers carve and chip away at the ancient corpses. Great chunks are pulled from the deep earth, with lucky miners hitting rich deposits of divine ivory. Yet, not all bone comes from the depths, for not all land has such buried treasures. Others harvest them from bony plant-like growths or slain beasts, a meager amount compared to the mines but one should never waste good materials. For settlements far from civilization and promising mines, this is the way they get their hands on such a resource. But, of course, it isn't the only way. With the many beasts of this world, and man's ingenuity, it was only a matter of time until someone found bone that could be farmed. There are a couple of species that can fulfill this, but the most widely known is the crowned grunkr.
The crowned grunkr is a bulky brute of a beast. Its hefty frame is packed with muscle, layered in fat, then covered in a long tangles of hair. Its legs are stocky, and even its tail drags behind it like a slab of meat. A stunted snout with wisps of chin hair give the grunkr the look of an old man, yet one that could be a king. From its thick fur grows spikes of bone, the ivory branches running down its back and covering its tail. Its head sports some of the biggest growths, ringing its skull like a pale crown. The bone is formed constantly, slowly rising from the flesh like a plant. The crowned grunkr has been bred to develop such numerous spikes, a taking of its natural defenses and setting it into overdrive. Obviously these antlers were, and still are, used for warding off predators. A thorny crown makes for deadly charges, and a swing of its tail can land blows similar to a morningstar. The barbs running down its back help keep attackers, like hyaenas, from jumping onboard where its weapons can't reach. Due to their protective nature, even female grunkrs possess them, but the males are known for growing the biggest and sturdiest spikes.
In the wild, grunkrs would grow these spines over the year, looking to defend themselves and win over mates. Eventually, they would shed them, painlessly dropping them to the ground and starting over the next year. However, crowned grunkrs have this ability muted, instead growing the bones constantly and never letting them go. Farmers want bountiful harvests, and thus the need for such a change. Instead of the natural shedding, it is up to the handlers to cut off bones that have grown too big or heavy. Bone cutters are used for a quick snip during harvest time, with the collectors targeting the ones that are big and "ripe." Typically, such cuttings are done throughout the year on a regular schedule, with the farmers keeping an eye on the herd for any aberrant growths or problems. Monthly inspections are when lots of the bone is taken, snipping ones that are ready or ones that will develop into an issue for the beast later down the road. Few wish to labor their grunkrs with a heavy crown, as it can impact their health and grazing ability, and farmers want these creatures to live long productive lives.
Crowned grunkr bone is of decent quality, suitable for carvings, tools, and basic armors and weapons. Though other types of bone and ivory may provide sturdier material, what comes from the grunkrs wins with sheer quantity. Being able to sustainably harvest it allows a constant source for many villages, and constant product for eager traders. Most of the time the branching growths are melted down in large batches to mass produce equipment, making it common material in many bileforges.
Outside of bone, crowned grunkrs can also provide a sizeable amount of hair and Milk. Their long coats can be sheared and collected, while females can be a source of the white fluid. While it is not the main selling point of the grunkrs, it is a nice added bonus, with much of the hair and Milk being used on the farm. They can also be butchered for meat, though this only really happens when they get too old or stop producing bone. Their flesh is known for its toughness and gamey flavor, but this just means it needs longer cooking times in stews or roasts to achieve that desired tenderness. Due to this meat being harvested as a sort of last resort, it gains the reputation of being food of desperation and hard times. If a farm has to butcher their animal well before it has run dry on bone, then you know things aren't going well.
The behavior of crowned grunkrs is often likened to their elderly visage, as folks like to call them "grumpy old men." They are slow, plodding creatures who communicate solely in snorts and grunts. They seem content spending their whole lives grazing, caring for few things outside of their immediate area. Farmers appreciate their self-sufficient ways, as grunkrs are quick to learn the daily schedule and will move themselves out and back from the barns with little guidance. This is for the best because they are incredibly stubborn creatures, giving the impression that they are ignoring their barking handlers as they grunt and graze. At such a size and with such weaponry, only fools try to push their grunkrs hard. Quite a few farmers go with the idea of "they'll do it on their own time" when dealing with a disobedient beast.
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It ain't a fantasy universe until you got a vague brown, long haired horned mammal.
