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Documentation Area

Document Path: /doc/monsters/unicorn

Name:
	Unicorn  (Magical Creature)

Stats:
	No. Appearing  : 1-6
	Climate/Terrain: Temperate sylvan woodlands
	Frequency      : Rare
	Organization   : Family
	Activity Cycle : Day
	Diet           : Herbivore

Description:
	Unicorns dwell only in temperate woodlands, away from human habitation.
	These fierce but good creatures shun contact with all buy sylvan crea-
	tures (dryads, pixies, sprites, and the like); however, they will show
	themselves to defend their woodland home.

	Powerful steeds with gleaming coats of pure white hair, unicorn eyes
	are usually deep sea blue or fiery pink. Long, silky white strands of
	hair hang down from the mane and forelock. A single ivory-colored horn,
	2 to 3 feet in length, grows from the center of each unicorn's fore-
	head. Males are distinguished by the white beard beneath the chin;
	females by their more elegant and slimmer musculature. The hooves of a
	unicorn are cloven and yellow-ivory in color. Unicorns speak their own
	language as well as those of other sylvan creatures and elves.

Combat:
	Unicorns can sense an enemy from 240 yards away. They move very silent-
	ly and can kick with their front hooves and thrust with the horn each
	round. Unicorns can charge into battle, using the horn like a lance.
	To make this charge, there must be at least 30 feet of open space bet-
	ween the unicorn and his oppontent. Unicorns may not attack with their
	front hooves in the round they charge. Unicorns can never be charmed
	or held by magic and are immune to poison.

	Once per day a unicorn can use a teleport spell of limited range. This
	spell will transport the uncorn (and its rider) to any place that the
	unicorn desires, up to 360 yards away. Unicorns often use this ability
	as a last resort to avoid death or capture.

	In addition, unicorns can never be charmed or held by magic. They are
	immune to death spells and make all saving throws agains spells as if
	they were wizards of 11th level. Unicorns are immune to poison.

Habitat/Society:
	Unicorns mate for life and make their home in an open dell of the fo-
	rest they have chosen to protect. There, in the boles of the trees,
	unicorns etch a glyph, recognizable to sylvan creatures, indicating
	that the forest is under unicorn protection. Once a woodland has a uni-
	corn protector, no other unicorn will enter that forest unless the fo-
	rest is very large. Each family of unicorns stakes out a territory ap-
	proximately 400 square miles (20 miles by 20 miles).

	Travellers may pass through a unicorn's forest freely and even hunt
	there, but anyone killing for sport or damaging the forest maliciously
	will be attacked if the unicorn is nearby. The ferocity of this attack
	is determined by the evil of the trespasser. Truant youths throwing
	stones at animals, for example would be driven off with just a few
	bruises as a reminder, while pillaging orcs would be hunted down and
	slain.

	Lone unicorns occasionally allow themselves to be tamed and ridden by
	a human or elf maiden of pure heart and good alignment. A unicorn that
	submits once and is treated kindly will act as the maiden's steed for
	life, even carrying her beyond the realm of his forest if she so desi-
	res. Unicorns make exceptionally loyal mounts and will protect their
	riders even unto death.

Ecology:
	Unicorns are herbivores, living on tender leaves and grasses. Their
	only enemies are griffons and those creatures who destroy forests, in
	particular red dragons and orcs.

	The life span of unicorns has never been recorded but is known to sur-
	pass 1000 years. They are believed to maintain their youth until death
	is only weeks away. The secret to this longevity is the strong magical
	nature of the horn. Unicorn horns are highly sought after, since pos-
	session of one is a sovereign remedy against all poisons. Alternative-
	ly, a single horn can be used, by an alchemist, to manufacture 2-12 po-
	tions of healing. Unicorn horns sell for 1500 gold pieces or more on
	the open market.