Halla

Halla are a species of deer-like animals that are sacred to my people, the Dalish elves. They are similar in shape to a deer, but have fur as white as my usual hair and spiraling antlers that can be shaped into wondrous patterns by skilled halla keepers. There are other varieties, and in my inquisiting I was tasked by the Dalish clan I encountered in the Exalted Plains to herd a rare, golden-furred halla to their camp for protection. If you need proof of their importance, beyond my word, first of all, how dare you? Why are you reading this if you don’t trust me? Anyways, the actual fact is that one of the nine Evanuris, the elven pantheon, is Ghilan’nain, Mother of the Halla. So, they have their own dedicated goddess. Practically, the Dalish use them for several purposes. They are a source of food, though not their flesh, as you might imagine, their milk is used to make various dairy-based products. The halla are also integral to the nomadic lifestyle of the Dalish, as they pull the aravels, the wheeled land-ships that ferry the elves from place to place. It is also said that the ancient elves used to have halla that were large enough to be used as mounts, like a horse, and rode them into battle, though most modern halla are a bit small for that. So, either they used to be larger, they’re stronger than they look and we just don’t do that anymore, or the stories are just stories. Truth be told, I’m not really sure. Another interesting aspect of halla is that they are not merely pets or pack animals to the Dalish, but honored members of a clan. They are highly intelligent, and the elves do not domesticate or train them, they ask them for help, and each animal will agree to or decline that request. Unique and fascinating creatures in many ways, it is no wonder that halla hold a special place amongst the Dalish.