Lore
The chest-beat rolls a quarter-mile down the mountain. When the Aep's body appears, it is huge, dark, and unhurried. It moves on its knuckles, long arms bearing its weight ahead of its feet as it makes its way up the mountain. The mohawk is silhouetted against the last light. A miner on the lower slopes notes: "The Aep's spiral marks are the mountain's own tally. One for every fight it has lived through. An Aep finds pride in fighting for its place on top of the mountain, yet it cannot hold still when something smaller cries out. That is how the mountain made it." There are many marks on its arms, bright enough to read from the distance. Along the way, a weakened Hushroom appears on the Aep's trail. It's struggling toward the top of Floki Mountain, which is known for its charging power. The Aep stops and calmly picks the Hushroom up, seconds before it faints of exhaustion. The Aep continues uphill, huffing and growling the whole way, as if the helping is something to grumble about. Then, back down at the mountain's foot, a young Bjorn cries. No mother answers. Stoically, the Aep turns around and starts heading back down. The cub is lifted into the same arm that carries the Hushroom as the last light disappears behind the mountain. The Aep restarts its climb.
