Horse
Select Subtype:
Description:
Horses are intelligent, social animals that have been domesticated and bread to work alongside humanoids in a wide range of different roles. Most commonly they serve as mounts, providing accessible all terrain transportation, but they also haul loads, plow fields, and drive machinery. Additionally, they can be trained to ride into battle and support military operations in cavalry units.
Variants:
Riding Horse
Riding horses can be found virtually everywhere in pre-industrial society. They are the primary means of long distance transportation, and almost everyone will have at least some skill in riding a horse. A riding horse can carry 100 Bulk.
Cart Horse
Cart horses are similar to draft horses, but somewhat more attractive, better behaved, and usually not as strong or endurant. Cart horses are more used to working in fixed teams with a clear role, and tend to function poorly in more the broader set of circumstances thar draft horses will be tasked to work in. A cart horse is not trained to carry a load on its back, and will not carry more than 50 Bulk.
Draft Horse
Draft horses are, in fact, more common than riding horses, as they are needed to support general labour in almost every context - whether pulling plows to till fields, or hauling loads to support construction, mining, logging, or merchant activities, draft horses are the motive force of pre-industrial society. They can serve as slow riding horses over shorter distances when needed, but this is not their main purpose. A draft horse can carry 80 Bulk.
Warhorse
Warhorses are trained to serve as mounts to armoured knights, and to ride into open battle against other armoured warhorses or infantry. Teaching a horse to remain calm in battle, and even to endure serious injury without panciking is extrmely difficult, and requires years of specialized training and enormous expense. That said, cavalry are worth the expense, and mounted armoured knights on trained, armoured warhorses are a devastating power on the battlefield and often prove to be a decisive element in a large scale battle. A riding horse can carry 140 Bulk.
Wild Horse
Wild horses are not very common in pre-industrial society. They are shy and avoid humanoids, and they are fast and hard to catch. Any that can be captured will usually be forcibly folded into breeding stock. Once any available mares are impregnated, they will either be freed or eaten, as trying to keep them under control long enough to breed them again is usually more trouble than it is worth. A wild horse will not carry loads on its back.