Hirikka

Hirikka
General Information
Hair color	Light yellow Brown
Eye color	Yellow
Skin	Beige
Occurrence	Mountain ranges of the Northern Kingdoms
Appearance(s)
Books	Sword of Destiny
TV/Film	Netflix's The Witcher

	You won't kill hirikkas, because they're an endangered species...
- Dandelion to Geralt, pg. 190 Sword of Destiny (U.K. edition)

A hirikka is an endangered beast found in the Northern Kingdoms.

Quick Answers

What is the primary diet of a Hirikka?

Hirikkas, uncommon mountain-dwelling creatures, primarily consume grass and venison. Their hunting habits start with small prey like mice, progressing to larger game as they mature. They can reach horse-like speeds during hunts. Their saliva and waste can poison grass, posing a threat to other grazing animals in the same pasture.

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How does the size of a Hirikka change as it ages?

As Hirikkas mature, their size increases from human height to 4-5 cubits high and 7-8 cubits long. They also gain substantial weight. Their diet evolves from mice to larger game, and they can reach horse-like speed when pursuing prey.

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What kind of environment do Hirikkas typically inhabit?

Hirikkas, a rare species, inhabit the Northern Kingdoms' mountain ranges. They have thick skin in light yellow or brown, and long fur. Young hirikkas are roughly human height, growing to 4-5 cubits high and 7-8 cubits long as adults. Their diet primarily includes grass and venison, starting with mice and progressing to larger game. They can reach horse-like speeds when pursuing prey.

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What are the physical characteristics of a Hirikka?

Inhabiting the Northern Kingdoms' mountains, Hirikkas are covered in thick, light yellow or brown skin, with long fur on their sides and abdomen. Young ones are human height, while adults reach 4-5 cubits high and 7-8 cubits long. They consume grass and venison, hunting mice initially and progressing to larger prey as they mature.

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How do Hirikkas adapt their hunting techniques as they grow?

Hirikkas, as they mature, transition from hunting small prey such as mice to larger game. Despite gaining substantial weight, they maintain the speed of a horse during hunts. Their unique adaptation includes making grass poisonous through their saliva and excrements, leading to the gradual death of other grazing animals like cows or sheep. Adult hirikkas measure 4-5 cubits in height and 7-8 cubits in length.

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Characteristics

	Why is it that dragons have been promoted in your eyes to become the foremost enemies of man? Why not other – a hundredfold more dangerous – creatures, those that have a hundredfold more victims on their consciences than dragons? Why not hirikkas...
- Dorregaray, pg. 42 Sword of Destiny (U.K. edition)

An increasingly rare creature, even more so than a dragon, hirikkas live in the mountains. Their bodies are covered in thick skin, colored light yellow or brown, and long fur which hangs by sides and abdomen. While young hirikkas tend to be about human height, adult indivduals grow 4-5 cubits high and 7-8 cubits long. Their diet comprises mostly of grass and venison. They hunt mice first, moving to larger game with age. Hirikkas also gain significant amount of weight for a time, although they still can develop a the speed of a horse while chasing prey. If any cows or sheep share a field with hirikka, they will slowly die off due to poisonous grass in hirikka's saliva and excrements.

An adult hirikka, on all four, chewing grass.

Although generally harmless when not hungry, hirikkas are responsible for much more death than the dreaded dragons just like wolves are. Commoners would hardly be able to pierce its skin, as it can't be penetrated by mere pitchforks. To kill a hirikka, a silver sword swung by a skilled witcher is needed.

In culture

A potato and parsnip stew made out of properly-grilled hirikka meat and poached egg used to be immensely popular. In fact, the demand for the creature's meat grew so high that the chef who came up with the recipe was blamed for hirikka being almost extinct.

Gallery

Bestiary page about hirikka.