#thay

While technically unofficial, the 5e supplement Thay: Land of the Red Wizards by Ed Greenwood, Alex Kammer, and Alan Patrick introduced a lot of new lore about the mysterious, magocratic country of Thay. The most important lore it included, however, was about the country's various breeds of goats and their cultural significance.

A many-hued goat next to what is not a goat (and therefore doesn't matter). From Thay: Land of the Red Wizards.

Overview

Goats are very important to Thay’s overall economy and a significant export. The country’s developed a reputation for having some of the most luxurious types of goats and even have specific breeds used for wool production, dairy, and eating. The “intensely rich milk” from some is often used in soap making – as well as consumption – and while others offer meat that is “so intensely delectable . . . it is said to cause a pleasant delirium upon completion of the meal.” So, goat features in a lot of Thayan cuisine, especially upscale meals like Anathur’s Feast (a mix of roast lamb, goat, and fowl, in lemon-dominated spices).

Thasselen, located just south of Aglarond, is also particularly known for their goat-herding and goat cheeses. In general, Thay’s goats are in high demand across Toril, with nobles all over the world favouring their goat products and some merchants outside of the country even entering in franchise farm agreements with Thay.

As Elminster summarizes: “goat, goat, and more goat, but [Thayans] do prepare it in some very succulent ways.”

Magical Goats! 🐐

Thay, as a magocratic society ran by a tyrannical lich, was unable to resist the allure of magically experimenting on goats. Consequently, there are a few magical breeds of goats seen only in Thay.

The many-hued goat came about when a merchant turned to arcane research so she could have a range of fabric colours without having to use up expensive dyes and pigments. Eventually, her research allowed for a command word to be spoken, changing both the goat’s flesh and coat to whatever colour she desired. This breed’s legacy has since been secured, with many kept in Thay today.

The bogmaw (left) and the poltergoat (right). Both from Thay: Land of the Red Wizards.

Although, because Thay is still the Land of Red Wizards, not all goat-based experiments have been very nice.

The bogmaw, a gargantuan goat-headed hydra, arose when Red Wizards sought to duplicate the power and might of a legendary creature of near unimaginable size that was able to lay waste to multiple settlements with ease. For whatever reason, they decided goats would be the perfect creatures to experiment on but, unfortunately, the goats escaped and fled into the wilderness. Now, the bogmaw stalks Thay’s wetlands and causes as much destruction as its tormented existence will allow. It’s also able to hold its breath for 1 hour and the standard hydra rules about regrowing heads apply – fun!

The poltergoat similarly arose from Red Wizard experimentation. It’s goats but invisible. Like, literally — the Red Wizards sought to eventually give non-spellcaster soldiers spell-like abilities and used goats as a test subject. One of the proposed abilities was plane shifting between the prime material plane and the astral plane at will. Something went wrong and so the goats just ended up invisible before escaping from the wizards. (It's... interesting that the Red Wizards have a pattern of being outsmarted by goats.)

Szass Tam, benevolent leader that he is, killed everyone involved with the failed poltergoat project out of spite. So now there’s an unknown – but presumably quite large – population of feral, invisible goats wandering Thay. Also! They can cast telekinetic thrust so it's probably best not to antagonize them.

I am your ghost, a fallen angel