The Beastly State of Your Campaign
One thing you never want to be when gamemastering is repetitive. You also want things to sound logical; that way characters accept the paths you put them on and the risks, and the players accept a little more railroading without complaint. Most importantly, it gives your tales flavor and enriches the telling. So maybe instead of a dog guarding the front door of the estate they’re about to break into, how about a goose? But the players cry foul… you can’t have a goose guarding the gate in Rome at the turn of the millennium! Oh, yes you can, since the goose was domesticate in Egypt in 3,000 BCE!
The cool thing is that MOST animals typically were domesticated years before most hack-and-slash adventures are set. While the universes and timelines may be different, you have to have domestication in order to have civilization. Set up a city and there will be animals wandering around waiting for slaughter or to do work for their human owners.
Some animals are more domesticated than others. To be considered domesticated, a population of animals must have their behavior, life cycle, or physiology systemically altered as a result of being under human control for many generations. Animals that do not fully meet this criterion, such as beehives, are designated “captive-bred” or “semi-domesticated.”
Here’s a standard idea of what you’d have domesticated and some ideas for using these settings in your own games.
Dogs
East Asia, 15,000 BCE.
The dog quickly became established as domesticated animals throughout the rest of the world. They were used for everything from meat to conveyances, but what they are known for most of all is companionship. Of all the animals, the dog truly works for and with humans.
Game Terms. There should be no settlement, town, city, farm, etc. that DOESN’T have a dog or more. They have been companions for so long that a settlement without dogs would be noticed as odd. Any time the party is approaching a town or farm or something, they should be prepared to meet dogs.
Sheep
Southwest Asia, 11,000 to 9,000 BCE. Used for meat, wool, milk, leather, and vellum.
Game Terms. Sheep husbandry spread quickly to be practiced through the majority of the inhabited world, with the exception of the Americas, which did not have sheep until 1493, and Australia, the first shipment there being 1788. Most hack & slash adventures will have sheep in the background being herded to grazing area by young children or teenagers. In more modern eras, characters will still see lots of sheep in the British Isles, south and central South American nations, New Zealand, and Australia. Many nations and religions depended on sheep in the beginnings of society; therefore, they are generally used as sacrificial animals or as symbols. Sheep were initially used for meat, milk, and skins. It was only much later that sheep were used for their wool, not until the Bronze Age at least. The earliest garments found are dated to about 3000 BCE. They weren’t sheared either, the fleece had to be collected by hand or picked up from the fields; wool garments were a prize that was very expensive, right up until the modern day.
Pig
Near East, China, 9,000 BCE. Meat and leather.
Game Terms. Domestic pigs came to Europe during the Neolithic era. Pigs were brought to North America by early Spanish explorers. Pigs were not used as companions until the 20th century. Early civilization also used pigs’ hides for shields, bones for tools and weapons, and bristles for brushes. Pigs and pigpens would be common enough in adventures and be another hazard when navigating yards or inner baileys.
Goat
Iran, 8,000 BCE. Milk and meat.
Game Terms. Found throughout the Middle East 10,000 years ago they quickly spread throughout Europe and Asia. From there they eventually make their way to the far reaches of civilization. Goats were also once used to make wine and water skins, and parchment. Goat herds were typically kept on hillsides or other grazing areas by children or adolescents. Found as far north as Odin’s territory early on, goats are fairly popular livestock choices as well.
Cow
India, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, 8,000 BCE. Meat, milk, leather, muscle, vellum, transportation, soil fertilization.
The Zebu, which is a genetic sibling to the cow, was domesticated in India, 8,000 BCE, and is used for the same reasons.
Game Terms. Some believe cattle are one of the oldest forms of wealth; likewise, cattle-raiding is probably one of the earliest forms of theft. Domestication of the aurochs (the ancestor of both domesticated cattle species) occurred at about 6000 BCE in several places, including Mesopotamia and India. The Aurochs became extinct in Britain during the Bronze Age, and the last aurochs died in Poland in 1627. Cattle have been bred over these 10,000 years for very specific uses and climates. The cattle will look very different depending where in the world they are. Black Angus were bred in Scotland in the 1800s and Brahmin Cattle (zebu) spread to Africa over hundreds of years.
Cat
Near-East, 7,500 BCE. Pest control, companionship.
Some say semi-domesticated.
Game Terms. By the late Iron Age, cats were common in Europe and spread throughout the world on ships during the Age of discovery. In Europe during medieval times, cats were widely exterminated.
Chicken
India, Southeast Asia, 6,000 BCE. Sport first in many places, then meat, eggs, feathers.
Game Terms. Chickens were exported to Greece by the 5th century BCE. They were not seen in Europe until closer to the 1st century BCE. Chickens were spread throughout Polynesia until they reached Easter Island by the 1100s. In Roman times a chicken flock was considered best at 200 strong, one cock per five females. Cockfighting was a popular pastime in the Indus Valley civilizations by 2000 BCE and was popular in China, Persia, and other Eastern countries. The Greeks and Romans adopted the practice enthusiastically along with the bird. Regardless, cockfighting is going to be huge in most early civilizations.
Guinea Pig
Peru, 6,000 BCE. Meat, religious ceremonies, companionship after Spaniards arrived.
Game Terms. Andean tribes domesticated the Guinea Pig for meat but some, such as the Moche tribes, worshipped the guinea pig in art. They were seen as a supernatural medium through which illnesses could be diagnosed (the guinea pig was rubbed on the patient’s body). Folklore traditions had them exchanged as gifts. Introduction as pet in 16th Century by European traders. Queen Elizabeth I owned a guinea pig. Biological experimentation has been carried out on them since the 17th century.
Donkey
Egypt, 5,000 BCE. Transportation, muscle, meat
Game Terms. An important pack animal early on and it can also be used as a meat and dairy animal. By 1,800 BCE, the trading city of Damascus was called the City of Asses. The domesticated donkey spread relatively from there via trade routes. A variation specifically for saddles was bred and preferred by women. Horses became extinct in the Americas during the Ice Age but the donkey was re-introduced by Conquistadores.
Duck
China, 4,000 BCE. Meat/fat
Game Terms. Wild ducks are hunted widely, but in Southeast Asia ducks were domesticated due to food preferences. Ducks never got as popular as chickens, even as their domestication spread throughout the world. A farmhouse will generally have one or two domesticated ducks, as opposed to several dozen chickens. Their use for down and eggs will be even more restricted, even in modern eras.
Water Buffalo
India, China, 4,000 BCE. Muscle, meat, milk
Game Terms. Water buffalo milk in Southeast Asia is used for everything from drinking raw to making yogurt. Water buffalo account for much of the farm power throughout this region. The horns, hides, and bones were used for jewelry, leather, and musical instruments.
Honeybee
Semi-domesticated several places, 4,000 BCE. Honey
Game Terms. People have been gathering wild honey since at least 13,000 BCE. They were domesticated by people creating artificial hives out of logs, wooden boxes, pottery, and woven straw baskets. Apiculture was practiced in ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and Bronze Age Israel. In most towns and well-to-do areas, artificial beehives and apiculture tools could be interesting.
Horse
Eurasian Steppes, 4,000 BCE Meat, transportation, muscle, milk
Game Terms. By 3,000 BCE the horse was completely domesticated, and by 2,000 BCE horses were found over in northwestern Europe. Horses were introduced to the Americas by the Spanish and adopted quickly by the natives.
Dromedary Camel
Arabia, 4,000 BCE. Transportation, muscle, milk, meat
Game Terms. Introduced to North Africa and Egypt in the 2nd millennium BCE. At that point, none could survive in the wild in their original range, although later a feral population in Australia came to be. The differences between Dromedaries (one hump) and Bactrian Camels (Two humps) are that the dromedary is taller and faster; the Bactrian is slower, stockier, and hardier.
Silkworm
China, 3,000 BCE, Silk
Game Terms. Silk is possible right back to the Bronze as long as you have mulberry or osage orange leaves. Silkworms do not occur naturally in the wild and are entirely dependent on humans. The care of silkworms is called sericulture and is practiced in china, Vietnam, and Japan. It is said it wasn’t until about 550 AD that a Catholic monk smuggled silkworms in a hollow stick and sold the secret to the Byzantine Empire.
Reindeer
Russia, 3,000 BCE Meat, milk, muscle, antlers
Game Terms. Herding semi-domesticated reindeer and caribou for meat, hides, transportation, antlers, and milk is important for Arctic and Subarctic peoples, namely the Sami and Nenet tribes. Reindeer are allowed to roam free and the nomads follow the herds. Reindeer are not bred in captivity but are tamed for milking. Semi-domesticated reindeer were imported to Alaska in the 1800s to allow local tribes to subsist off them.
Rock Pigeon
Mediterranean Basin, 3,000 BCE. Messages, meat
Game Terms. Pigeons were used as messengers in Egypt and Persia and used to proclaim the winner of the Olympics. Used as early as 1150 in Baghdad and by Genghis Kahn (1162–1227). The Republic of Genoa had pigeon posts on their watch tower system in the Mediterranean Sea. Paul Reuter in the 1860s used a fleet of pigeons to deliver news and stock prices between Brussels and Aachen. Used right up to 21st Century in remote areas. Pigeon messenger service is a reliable means of communication in any world.
Goose
Egypt, 3,000 BCE. Meat/fat, feathers, guarding, eggs
Game Terms. In Europe, Northern Africa, and western Africa, domestic geese are from a wild species without a knob on the bill and those from eastern Asia (Chinese goose) have a knob. Among the most aggressive of birds, they make great watchdogs and have been used as such for centuries. Because of this there will be typically only one or two geese on a property and it won’t be eaten unless for a big meal (i.e. Christmas Goose). Have a character party deal with a goose rather than a dog might be different.
Yak
Tibet, 2,500 BCE. Milk, muscle, meat, wool
Game Terms. Kept for their milk, fiber and meat, as well as transportation. Their dung is the main source of fuel in a treeless land. Only problem with yaks is they will not eat grain, which would be ideal for carrying along in snow-covered places. They will only eat grass from stands; therefore, they are known to starve before grass is reached. The butter from the milk is used in butter tea, lamps, and in butter sculptures for religious ceremonies. Domestic cattle and yak breed successfully (described over 3000 years ago in China) to make sterile male dzo or fertile female dzomo, both of which are tamer.
Bactrian Camel
Central Asia, 2,500 BCE. Milk, transportation, meat
Game Terms. Native to steppes, nearly all Bactrian camels are domesticated. Believed first domesticated in northern Iran, northeast Afghanistan, or southwestern Turkestan. The differences between Dromedaries (one hump) and Bactrian Camels (Two humps) are that the dromedary is taller and faster; the Bactrian is slower, stockier, and hardier.
Llama
Peru, 2,400 BCE. Transportation, muscle, meat
Game Terms. Llamas were the only transportation animals available for the Incas. The llama was used to represent royalty and one of their deities. During the Spanish conquest, llamas were used for mining operations in the mountains. The introduction of horses and donkeys diminished the llamas’ usage.
Alpaca
Peru, 2,400 BCE. Wool, meat, milk, sometimes transportation
Game Terms. Considerably smaller than llamas, alpacas were not bred for transportation, but specifically for their fiber. The Moche people depicted alpacas in their art. There are no known wild varieties. Alpaca meat once considered a delicacy by Andeans. Illegal to use alpacas for meat today.
Guineafowl
Africa, 2,400 BCE. Meat, eggs
Game Terms. Originally from mostly south of the Sahara, it was introduced early on to the West Indies and southern France. Highly sociable birds and hate being alone.
Asian Elephant
Pakistan, 2,000 BCE. Muscle, transportation
Game Terms. Widely domesticated in South and Southeast Asia and used for forestry and ceremonial purposes usually, although they are also used for transportation and, in historical times, war.
Ferret
Europe, 1500 BCE. Hunting, companionship.
All ferrets are domesticated, used for hunting rabbits. It is believed the Romans were one of the first to start using them and spread them throughout Europe. When first brought to America, they were used to hunt mice and rats, while Europeans bred them for fur. In the 20th Century, the use for hunting gradually gave way to a use for companionship. Feral colonies of ferrets exist in the Shetland Islands and New Zealand from the 1800s, and ferret-polecat hybrids now exist in New Zealand.
Fallow Deer
Mediterranean Basin, 1,000 BCE. Meat, antlers
Game Terms. An important source of meat for hunters during the Paleolithic eras. Easily tames and often kept in semi-domesticated parks, the deer were spread by Romans into central Europe and there is some belief fallow deer were introduced into Britain by Normans.
Muscovy Duck
South America, 700–600 BCE. Meat/fat
Game Terms. Native to Mexico, and Central and South America. It has adapted to icy conditions readily despite being a tropical bird. Strong flavor, brought to Europe as poultry in the 1600s.
Cochineal Insect
Chile, Mexico, 700–500 BCE. Red dye.
Game Terms. Lives on Opuntia cactus. Its dye was used by Aztec and Mayan people. In Colonial times, Cochineal dye was the second biggest import of Mexico after silver. It became so highly prized in the later 18th Century people were smuggling out cacti and insects. The wealth came to an end after the Mexican War of Independence (1820–1821).
Indian Peafowl
India, 500 BCE, Feathers, show, meat
Game Terms. This is the peacock and they were widely distributed from India possibly starting as far back as 450 BCE. Used as caged living ornaments in Greco-Roman times, and the plums were worn by medieval knights.
Barbary Dove
Africa, 500 BCE, Show, ceremony
Game Terms. Easily kept, long-lived, and gentle. Unable to home, therefore cannot be used as messenger birds. In the Bible doves were an acceptable offering for those who could not afford more expensive animals. In Islam doves are respected and favored. It seems these birds have a long history of being kept for show or as pets.
Banteng (cattle)
Southeast Asia, Java Island, unknown date. Meat, milk, muscle.
Game Terms. Aside from Java Island, found in Borneo, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Introduced to Australia in 1849 as a source of meat, then released and turned feral.
Gayal (cattle)
Southeast Asia, unknown date. Meat, muscle
Game Terms. To the Adi people (Bangni-Bokar Lhobas), the possession of a gayal is a measure of a family's wealth. In the Adi language, gaur are called tadok and in Apatani and Nishi called subu or mithun. Gaur are not milked or put to work, but given care while grazing in the woods until they are slaughtered in ritual or for the local consumption.
Mandarin Duck
China, unknown date. Meat/fat
Game Terms. Spread throughout East Asia in wild. Captive Mandarin ducks often escape and go feral. In 20th century a feral population of about 1,000 pairs was established in Great Britain. Several hundred more live in California.
Turkey
Mexico, United States, 180 CE. Meat, feathers
Game Terms. Ancient Mesoamericans first domesticated the turkey, such as the Aztecs and the Hopi. Turkeys were taken to Europe by the Spanish. Prior to World War II, turkey was a luxury in the UK.
Stingless Bee
Mexico, Amazon Basin, 180 CE. Honey
Game Terms. Extensively cultured by Mayans and considered sacred. Using log hives built outside their houses the bees were treated as pets. Hives have been recorded as lasting 80 or more years, being past down in the family. Used by natives to make a sort of mead with hallucinogenic local plants. Wax used in metalworking. As of 2004 there were only 70 hives left among the natives.
Goldfish
China, 300–400 CE. Show
Game Terms. Carp originally collected as food fish for thousands of years, but the gold variation in color made the goldfish collectible and kept only by royalty. Introduced to Japan in 1502, Portugal in 1611, Southern Europe by the 1620s, and then it became less valuable due to breeding numbers. Came to United States in 1850s.
European Rabbit
Europe, 600 CE. Meat, fur, felt, companionship
Game Terms. Although captured and held by ancient Romans, domestic breeds didn’t come about until the Middle Ages. Known for reproduction, 24 rabbits introduced to Australia in 1859 turned into 600 million in less than a century.
Mute Swan
Europe, 1000–1500. Show
Game Terms. Native to much of Europe and Asia, introduced elsewhere. Originally domesticated for meat, later became written that only royalty could eat it. Eventually people stopped eating swans and they are now often a symbol.
Japanese Quail
Japan, 1100–1900. Meat, eggs
Game Terms. Japanese Quail are kept mainly for their eggs although there are quail farmed for meat.
Common Carp
Europe, East Asia, 1200–1500. Meat, show
Game Terms. Native to Europe it was introduced elsewhere rapidly; originally a captive animal, but later maintained in large manmade ponds and domesticated by monks as a food fish. Koi carp originated in Japan in the 1820s and were spread as an ornamental for gardens from there. Brought to US in 1831. Invasive.
Canary
Canary Islands, Europe. 1600s: Companionship
Game Terms. Brought over by Spanish sailors to Europe and bred in captivity by monks, who only sold the singing males to make them an expensive rarity. Italians eventually obtained females and bred the birds. Same occurred in England; only the rich owned them and then they were bred and the price went down. The miner’s canary was a popular warning signal right up until 1987.
Fancy Rat
United Kingdom, 1800s. Companionship
Game Terms. Originally captured for blood sport in the 18th and 19th century, when a bunch of rats put in a pen and then bets were made to see how long it took for a terrier to kill them all. They’ve been specifically bred as pets since then. They were very popular from 1912 until 1929, and then it revived in 1976.
European Mink
Europe, 1800s. Fur
Game Terms. Originally used for fur, farmed minks are now being used to conserve the dwindling populations of the mink in the wild. The American mink, which is similar in appearance, dominates and takes over territory from the European mink.
Budgerigar
Europe, 1850s. Companionship
Cockatiel
Europe, 1870s. Companionship
Zebra Finch
Australia, 1900s. Companionship
Game Terms. All three birds are native to Australia, but the budgerigar and cockatiel were domesticated in Europe. Easily domesticated and bred in captivity, all companion birds require good handlers from the egg to be good companions.
Hamster
United States, 1930s. Companionship, research
Game Terms. Golden hamsters were described as far back as 1839, but were unable to be domesticated and bred until the 1930s. Syrian hamsters all come from hamsters captured in 1930 by Israel Aharoni who introduced them into the market in 1940.
Domesticated Silver Fox
Soviet Union, 1950s. Fur, research
Game Terms. Started as an experimentation in how the first domesticated dogs came to be, as well as interested in better handling of fur animals. The results of experimentation showed a change of traits to ones more dog like, including tail-wagging, vocalization, the loss of the musky smell, and color pattern changes. Due to budget cuts during the fall of the Soviet Union, most of the 700 foxes were sold and only 100 are left.
Muskox
United States, 1960s. Muscle, meat, milk
Game Terms. Reduced to living in Arctic North America, the muskox has since been reintroduced to Siberia, Sweden, and Norway. Easily domesticated, the wool is highly prized and yarn from it can go between 40 and 80 dollars an ounce.
Next Month: Animals that poison.
