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V
Documentation Area
Document Path: /doc/monsters/horse
Name:
Draft Horse, Warhorse, Pony, Wild Horse, Riding Horse, Mule,
Steppe Pony (Animals)
Stats:
Draft Horse Warhorse Pony Wild Horse
-----------------------------------------------
No. Appearing : 1 1 1 5-30
Climate/Terrain: Any non- Any non- Any non- Any non-
mountainous mountainous mountainous mountainous
Frequency : Common Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon
Organization : Herd Herd Herd Herd
Activity Cycle : Day Day Day Day
Diet : Herbivore Herbivore Herbivore Herbivore
Riding Horse Mule St. Pony
------------------------------------
No. Appearing : 5-50 1 5-50
Climate/Terrain: Any non- Any non- Any non-
mountainous mountainous mountainous
Frequency : Common Common Uncommon
Organization : Herd Herd Herd
Activity Cycle : Day Day Day
Diet : Herbivore Herbivore Herbivore
Description:
Horses are large quadrupeds often used for transportation, or as pack
and draft animals, by human and demihuman races. They are frequently
bred for their speed and for their beauty.
A horse can be solid white, gray, chestnut, brown, black, or various
reddish tones; its hide can instead show a variation of combination of
these colours. Some of the more interesting variations include the pie-
bald, which has a coat of large, irregular patches of black and white;
the palomino, with its rich yellow-gold coat and white mane and tail;
and the dapple gray, which is dark gray with flecks of lighter color
on the chest, belly and hindquarters.
In addition to the coats color, the horse may have markings of various
sorts. The long hairs of the mane and tail can be lighter, darker, or
of the same colour as the body of the horse. Possible markings include
socks (meaning the leg from the hoof, halfway to the knee, or hock, is
white); a white muzzle; a black (a wide band of white form the top of
the horse's head to the tip of its nose); and a star (a white, diamond-
shaped patch set on the horse's forehead, right between its eyes. Hor-
ses are measured in 'hands'. One hand equals 4 inches.
Combat:
Warhorses will fight indepenendtly of the rider on the second and suc-
ceed rounds of a melee. Other breeds fight only if cornered. Most at-
tack twice per round by kicking with their front hooves.
Unless specially trained, horses can be panicked by loud noises,
strange smalles, fire, or sudden movements 90% of the time. Horses
trained and accustomed to such things (usually warhorses) panic only
10% of the time.
Habitat/Society:
The horses's gestation period is about 11 months. Mares (female horses)
usually give birth to a single foal (young horse). Twins do occur, but
only about 10% of the time (or less). Even triplets are possible, but
are extremely rare. The foal is weaned after six months. It is mature
after two to three years, and is considered adult at age five. The usu-
al life span of a horse is 30-35 years, though rare exceptions have
lived to age 50, and hard-worked horses rarely live past age 12.
Only 10% of ponies and wild horses can be trained to serve as warhor-
ses. Of all the breeds and varieties listed here, only mules are agile
enough for use in mountanious of subterranean environments.
Ecology:
Modern horses evolved in temperate plains and grasslands. Domestic
breeds can be found anywhere people live (even in the high mountains,
if the local roads are good). Horses can carry great weights for long
periods of time, but not without tiring.
Draft Horse:
Draft horses are large animals bred to haul very heavy loads, and are
usually trained to be part of a dray team. Muscular but slow, these
ponderous animals haul freight over long distances without complaint,
and are frequently used by traders.
Warhorse:
Warhorses are bred and trained to the lance, the spear, and the sword.
They have higher morale than other horses, and are not in skittish
about sudden movements and loud noises. The choice of knights and ca-
valry, these are the pinnacle of military horses. There are three va-
rieties; heavy medium and light.
- Heavy warhorses are similar to draft animals. Large and muscular,
they are relatively slow. Their size and powerful legs allow them to
be armored in plate, and to carry a warrior in plate, as easily as a
pony carries saddle bags. A good heavy warhorse, fully trained,
costs 400 or more gold pieces.
- Medium warhorses are lighter and smaller than their heavy cousins.
They can be encumbered with leather or light plate armour and carry
a rider wearing leather or light plate. The advantage of the medium
warhorse is its increased speed. The price of a medium war horse is
200 gold pieces or more.
- Light warhorses are the fastest of the breed. They can carry warri-
ors in leather armour, but are rarely armoured themselves. They make
excellent mounts for raiding parties, light cavalry, and thieves.
Light warhorses cost 150 gold pieces or more.
Pony:
Small horses used primarily for transportation and occasionally farm
work, ponies are a lively breed. They are more excitable than the lar-
ger horses, but frequently more gentle, as well. They are sometimes
trained and used as warhorses by several of the smaller demihuman ra-
ces. Prices vary depending on training and size, but most cost around
500 gold pieces.
Wild Horse:
Wild horses can be captured and trained to serve as mounts or work po-
nies. Training usually takes twice as long as training a domestic ho-
rse. Wild horses are hardy but jittery, and difficult to catch in the
wild. They are sometimes hunted for food by human and demihuman races.
Riding Horse:
Riding horses are bred to the saddle. Perhaps the most common of all
horses, they are ridden, worked, and raced by humans and demihumans
alike. The price of a riding horse will vary, depending of its blood-
lines, training, and appearance. Fast and agile, this breed is a good
choice for personal transportation and general use.
Mule:
Sterile hybrids of horses and donkeys, mules are very sure-footed and
exceptionally stubborn. They can be ridden by patient handlers who know
how to control them, but are best used as pack animals in difficult or
mountainous terrain. They are sometimes used by adventurers, for they
are the only breed that can be taken into subterranean regions. The
price of mules depends on how much grief they have given their current
owners.
Steppe Pony:
A steppe pony is not attractive, graceful, or large, but its homely,
ungainly apperance disguises an animal of great endurance, speed and
strength. A steppe pony looks like a cross between a horse and a pony,
but is a breed unto itself. They are small, averaging 13 hands at the
withers, and they have short necks, large heads, and heavily boned bo-
dies. Their winter coat is shaggy and gives them the appearance of be-
ing 'half-wild'. They are most commonly colored copper or bronze, with
a light yellow stripe running down their backs.
These horses are though, hard to kill, and aggressive in battle. They
have most of the same characterstics as a light warhorse, with a few
exceptions. It attacks three times per round, its third attack being a
bite. Its short legs are powerful and can carry horse and rider swift-
ly, over long distances; its small back is also very strong and it can
carry as much as a medium warhorse. The steppe pony is even-tempered
and steady in battle; its morale is average, and it panicks very rarely
(5% chance) due such things as fire and loud noises.
The steppe pony has remarkable endurance. It can survive by grazing
alone and does not require feeding and handling by its rider, so sepa-
rate supplies of grain are not needed. If can be ridden for long dis-
tances without tiring or faltering.
In spite of all its qualities, the steppe pony is not sought after or
considered valuable. It is most commonly ridden by nomadic tribes. Out-
side the steppes, the animal is almost completely unknown and does not
command high prices at auction. Only breeders who know the steppe po-
ny's qualities, and who seek strength and stamina in their own horses'
bloodlines, are likey to consider the steppe pony as valuable.
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