Unicorn
Basic Information
Anatomy
Unicorn are quadrupedal mammals with cloven hooves, closely resembling horses, save for a few distinguishing features. The most notable of these is the unicorn's distinctive horn, a long, straight outgrowth in the center of their forehead. These horns, which can grow up to half-a-meter long, is marked with spiral grooves along the entire length, tapering to a sharp point at the tip.
In addition, unicorns have long, ropelike tails ending in a large tuft of fur and matching manes. Males sport small beards on their muzzles.
Ecology and Habitats
Unicorns often shun civilization, preferring secluded, remote areas far from humanity for their habitat. Commonly, in the North, a Unicorn will stake out an idlyiic glade within a forest, typically an open space around a source of clean water surrounded by tall, dense trees. These areas are not naturally occurring, but instead are areas of Bleed created by the unicorn's magic. Traversing the brambles and maze of trees without the guidance of the unicorn is difficult and dangerous, but the creatures themselves pass these barriers with ease.
In Ramaal Mutaharika, these glades often take the form of desert oases.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The diet of the unicorn is similar to those of its equine cousins, but consists entirely of the Foyson of the consumed material, rather than its physical form.
Behaviour
Unicorns are known for their wild, extremely aggressive behavior, actively defending their young and glens with furious frenzy, stomping and goring its foes with reckless abandon. When confronted outside of its bleed, it will often flee, drawing its pursuers deeper and deeper into its magical pocket dimension, where it will eliminate large groups in turn, or leave its pursuers trapped. As a result, unicorns are especially dangerous.
Unicorns enter and emerge from their domains as will-o-wisp like fireballs, materializing and vanishing in an explosion of light and heat.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Unicorns are solitary, coming together only to mate and rear young.
Domestication
Unicorns cannot be tamed or domesticated, but can in some circumstances, be trained to serve as mounts. There is always a chance that the unicorn will go wild and turn on its supposed allies, a common occurrence. They typically will not allow Bediz to use them as mounts, with some rare exceptions for those whose sovereignty it recognizes.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Unicorn meat is considered too bitter to eat.
Unicorn horns are one of the most potent alchemical ingredients, with a number of medical uses:
Powder scrapings of the horn cure all manner of poisons when mixed with egg yolk or cold water. Hot water removes these curative properties.
Drinking from horn as cup makes one immune to poison and cures disease.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Unicorns are found all across Alvez, from the Fortunate Isles to the Caliphate of Ubar.
Average Intelligence
Unicorns are considered highly intelligent, but with an incredible range within this, from above average equine intelligence to that equally or surpassing the average Bediz. Unicorns have a high proportion of awakened creatures, capable of complex thought and even conversation.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Unicorns often live under the protection of Kornikaned Troupes, who defend the unicorns in exchange for being allowed to establish their colonies within the protected Bleed.
Civilization and Culture
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Spiders of all kinds avoid unicorns, including their habitats and horns. Spiders are used to determine the veracity of a unicorn horn.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Unicorns come in many colours with white and black coats being the most common. There are some notable regional variations.
Arled Unicorns, from the Dark Kingdoms of Arle are marked by their red fur and jet black horns, thicker and smoother than those of the baseline unicorn. These aggressive creatures cannot be taken alive under any circumstances.
Ubarite Unicorns from the deserts of Alkebulan, have white bodies, red manes, and dark blue eyes. Their horns are tricoloured, with a white base, a black middle and a crimson tip.
Geographic Distribution
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