föstur

Föstur is a fictional forest-dwelling ungulate that appears in Northern European-inspired fantasy settings. It is commonly described as a large, shaggy herbivore adapted to cold climates, with broad, palmated horns and a thick winter coat.

Adults stand roughly 1.2 to 1.6 meters at the shoulder and weigh 250 to 350 kilograms. The fur is long and dense, varying from grey to dark brown. New horns are shed and regrown each year, giving the animal a periodically renewed profile.

Föstur inhabits boreal and montane forests across the imagined northern realm, often migrating with seasonal snowlines and food availability. It favors dense understory and open clearings where it can browse bark, leaves, moss, and berry shrubs.

Socially they occur in small family groups or as solitary individuals. Diet is herbivorous; predators include large felids and frost-adapted canids. Calving occurs in spring; offspring stay with the mother for several months. Typical wild lifespan is 15 to 20 years.

In folklore, the Föstur is a symbol of endurance and guardianship, appearing in regional myths and heraldry. In contemporary fantasy media it is used as a mount or a source of materials such as fur and antler-like ossifications, contributing to its mythic status.