Horse
Horses are unique among mortal races in that their social and behavioral traits resemble that of animals and yet also that of sapient mortals. Originally from the plains of Tymera, they quickly bonded with Man when they arrived in their sailing ships from far-away lands. This has put the horse in a place of honor, becoming a symbolic cultural centerpiece among all the tribes of Men.
The animal characteristics of horses are readily apparent just from observation. They build no structures, use no tools, and create no art. They wear no clothes and have no spoken language. They roam in herds, grazing when at ease and running or fighting when threatened. Their senses are without compare, having heightened vision, hearing, and smell, which makes them keenly aware of their situation and environment.
And yet, they are fully self-aware, intelligent enough that they can strategize, conceptualize, and even understand the speech of Men. When bonded as a cavalian, their life spans reach that of their bond-partner. No pressured coercion or even training is necessary, as the horse is eager and willing to aid his bond-partner in whatever way is needed.
Unique to horses is a form of vague precognition. If a horse's bond-partner needs him, he can sense this in advance, allowing him to make himself ready and be available at the precise time and place. This makes man-horse cooperation incredibly smooth, as the horse can go about his life freely in whatever way he chooses, knowing exactly when he will be needed again. An extremely short-ranged version of this precognition applies to imminent threats, making horses invaluable partners in times of war or when exploring unknown regions. A horse will have a split second's warning when under threat, which is often enough time to react and escape.
The most mysterious aspect of horses is their ability to enter a realm known as the Mist. Little is known about the Mist, mainly that when a horse enters it, time does not appear to pass. Horses that have entered the Mist can only return through a mistgate. Originally, only one mistgate existed, in the southern Tymeran plains. When Man learned to construct additional mistgates, these created unprecedented opportunities to incorporate horses into civilized life.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Though deep bonds are formed with Men, horses also pair-bond with their own kind for reproduction. A mare will have her stallion, and non-reproductive mating is common, as is social companionship when each is not needed by their bond-partner.
An annual event known as Caballus takes place in the Tymeran plains, where thousands of horses will gather for a period of about a week for extended socializing as well as breeding. Most mares return from Caballus pregnant and happy.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
Horse intelligence isn't typically considered by the same metric as the intelligence of most mortal races. They won't be solving any puzzles or helping you design your latest invention. Their mental capacity is mostly intuitive and emotional, though they are perfectly capable of understanding human conversation and will behave accordingly. Foals are taught by their mothers, rather than Men, passing on most of the unique understanding about cavalian bonds that the mother already understands. This greatly reduces the time by which the young horse is ready to bond with someone.
Origin/Ancestry
The southern plains of Tymera
Geographic Distribution
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