Unicorns are a vanished form of Bygones that only survive in special Umbral Realms.
Overview[]
The horned beasts' build and features, particularly their large dark eyes, are similar to a deer's. Their tails are several feet in length, and, like that of a lion, tipped with a furry tuft. Covered in soft, off-white hair, a unicorn's streamlined body is built for speed. A unicorn's talon-sharp hooves resemble those of a goat, and are formidable weapons.
Unicorns are physical representations of the unattainable, things that can be glimpsed at the periphery of sight, but elude perception. In Antiquity, the Unicorn represented aggressive virility, ferociousness, protectiveness and strength. Only feminine qualities, like purity, innocence and meekness would counter-balance it, and, in time, people confused the counterpart with its essence. Due to the power of the Consensus, the Unicorn was transformed into a creature of peacefulness and similar virtues, even representing Jesus in Christian iconography. Perhaps both are correct (the Incarna Unicorn has two aspects, after all). The Bygone Unicorn has a respectful relationship with the Incarna Unicorn, the Totem of the Children of Gaia tribe of werewolves, and some come under her protection within the Legendary Realm.
Protectors of their forest habitats, the Unicorn is attracted to purity in mind and soul (chastity doesn’t necessarily play any role in it). Solitary and territorial creatures, they usually meet only to mate. Their horn is rumored to have several arcane powers, the most prominent being the ability to heal and pass simple telepathic messages on.
Legendary[]
Shadow Tracker darted through the dense undergrowth, feet thudding on the forest floor, sweat running down his face. He wiped it away with a snarl, eyes set on the vague white form ahead of him, barely visible through a maze of trees. Shadow Tracker had trailed his unicorn for five days over hot, harsh terrain. Fatigue cramped his muscles, but he didn’t care. Glory did not wait for tired bones.
The unicorn had first appeared to Shadow Tracker over a month ago, after his pack had destroyed that Wyrm abomination. He hadn’t been badly hurt in the fight — it was only a scrape — but no one believed what he saw. They said he must have been hallucinating after the Wyrm beast had wounded him. Those that would even listen to him warned that even if he had seen a unicorn it was an emissary from the spirit world and should be left alone. At first their words made sense, but as the weather became hot — unnaturally so — he knew the recurring image was taunting him. The only way he could prove what he had seen would be to stalk and kill it — just as he had that Wyrm creature. This was to be his greatest test. What other warrior could brag of taking down a unicorn? The glory would be unimaginable, and his stories would grace the fire-side for generations to come.
Shadow Tracker growled, pushing his muscles to the limit in a last burst of speed. The white shape grew closer, closer — and then disappeared. Shadow Tracker stumbled into a clearing, clawing away branches furiously. His eyes darted around the wooded knoll. Leaves rustled and there it was, drinking from a narrow creek. Shadow Tracker tensed, breath ragged in his chest. Now. He raised his spear with a clawed hand, poised to strike a killing blow.
At the moment the unicorn raised its head, the eyes ofhunter and prey locked, and Shadow Tracker froze. A soft voice eased into his mind and images washed over him. He saw his tribe waiting as its best hunter selfishly pursued an unattainable waking dream. He saw himself — raving, filthy, mad — pursuing his foolish glory while they waited.
It was then that his fever broke. The spear fell from his hand. The unicorn’s obsidian hoof broke the dirt, and Shadow Tracker’s head sunk. He knew he could not meet those dark, knowing eyes again, but, in a breath, the unicorn was gone.
Shadow Tracker returned to his people a moon later, forever changed. He never spoke of the hunt, but devoted himself to serving his tribe. Shadow Tracker’s people embraced the change in their great warrior and followed him to righteous glory. Shadow Tracker finally died in battle, a legendary hero, and fire-side storytellers still speak his name today.
Description[]
Unicorns have embodied mystery since the birth of myth. The creatures represent the ultimate in the unattainable, always just out of reach, eternally elusive. In short, the horned beasts are the very stuff of legends. Unicorns are perhaps the most renowned of all mythical creatures, and for good reason — their famous spiraled horns are rumored to purify water, nullify poison and even cure the most vile illnesses.
The horned stallion has represented many things over time, from virile ferocity and strength to passivity, purity and benevolence. Modern stories paint these creatures as pacifistic, the embodiments of love and light who shy away from human eyes. Ancient peoples had a different, more visceral perception of the unicorn. The beasts were believed to be warlike, ferocious protectors, the ideal of “male” virtues. They were treated with a mixture of fear and awe, and respected as defenders of the forests and all wild things.
Masculine attributions to the unicorn may have inspired the idea that only a virgin could approach the beast safely. With its phallic horn and fierce constitution, the unicorn could be counter-balanced only by its complete opposite — feminine innocence, the purity and meekness associated with virgins. Somehow this assumption evolved into “fact” and even altered peoples’ perceptions of the beast. Unicorns thus became associated with virginal qualities like peacefulness and purity of heart. Medieval artwork even depicts the unicorn as a representation of Christ, the purifying capabilities of its horn emulating Christ’s healing powers.
Perhaps unicorns are all of these things. However, anyone fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to encounter one is likely to see the beast’s ferocious aspect. As protector of its forest habitat, a unicorn is hostile to almost all interlopers. Unicorns are intimately bound to the land on which they live, and can sense danger when some area or creature is threatened there. Though unicorns may prize peace, it must be preserved or won through violence.
Unicorns are suspicious of humans as a rule. Tales of being conquered by virgins are not altogether true — the creatures are not interested in the chastity of human girls. Rather, they are attracted to any being who possesses purity of heart, soul and mind; anyone who respects all other creatures and avoids harming living things. A unicorn is drawn irresistibly to such a person, whether it be a child or a middle-aged washerwoman with seven children.
The horned beasts are solitary, each claiming a wide expanse of forest on reaching maturity. They live most of their lives alone, meeting only to mate. The female drops a foal every two years and raises the offspring without the assistance of the male. The foal is vulnerable for its first several years, and the mother fights fearlessly to defend her child. She teaches it to forage and helps it control the magical abilities of its horn before it claims its own range. Unicorns are said to live for a century, barring natural disaster or spear point. Even when wounded, the animals heal quickly and have notoriously enduring constitutions.
The magical properties of unicorn horns are legendary. They’re attributed with detecting poison in food and drink and curing an array of ailments, including epilepsy. Kings and bishops, with their acute paranoia, go to great lengths to obtain a horn to ensure their own survival, as do alchemists and magi to unleash the inherent properties of the magical treasures. However, because unicorns are so elusive, many beguilers pass off antelope or goat horns as the real thing. Of course, these charlatans must move on quickly before the local lord falls dead at the dinner table.
(To the Changing Breeds, there is one true Unicorn, the tribal totem of the Children of Gaia. She is a spirit of empathy and peace, although she will not shirk from spilling blood if it proves necessary. The myriad Unicorn-spirits that serve her, from Gafflings to Jagglings, sometimes materialize in the physical world on missions of her choice. The unicorns of the Legendary Realm are wilder creatures, but the noblest and wisest among them are sometimes taken into the service of Unicorn herself.)
Future Fate[]
Unicorns are virtually nonexistent in the modern world. As vast forests shrink, the majestic animals are left vulnerable to the dangers of the world — namely the depredations of humanity. The animals are chased off the ends of the world, disguise themselves so well that no human can recognize them or seclude themselves so fanatically that no human has survived an encounter. The handful of unicorn horns possessed in the modern world are hidden carefully and guarded vigilantly, whether out of covetousness or to keep the beasts’ existence a secret.
Image[]
Modern lore depicts the unicorn as a magnificent snowy white, long-maned horse with delicate features — with an ivory-colored horn rising from its forehead. In reality, unicorns have little in common with horses save their size. The horned beasts’ build and features, particularly their large dark eyes, are similar to a deer’s. Their tails are several feet in long and, like that of a lion, tipped with a furry tuft. Covered in soft, off-white hair, a unicorn’s streamlined body is built for speed. A unicorn’s talon-sharp hooves resemble those of a goat, and are formidable weapons.
The much-fabled horn of an adult unicorn is a smaller than one might imagine — eight to 11 inches long — and typically colored in shades ranging from slate gray to black. The unicorn’s horn is little more than a bony nub at birth, which grows slowly throughout the creature’s life. The number of spirals along a horn indicate the creature’s age.
Unicorns communicate through a mixture of nickers, whinnies and rudimentary telepathic images. All horned beasts posses an innate psychic ability to share simple visions with others, whether intelligent or primal.
Roleplaying Hints[]
You know your duty. You protect the wild lands, the untamed forests and all the creatures that live there. Humans cannot be trusted — greed rots their souls. They seek to harness the power of your horn for their own good, giving no thought to other living beings. Avoid such base creatures. Only the pure of heart are worth your gifts. You value serenity, but understand that action is necessary to protect yourself, your young and your home. If a human proves worthy, try to teach her; otherwise, remain as elusive and solitary as your instincts demand. The Changing Breeds are better than most two-legged creatures — many of them heed your warnings and have proper respect for the wild places. Treat them with care, and bless the worthy ones among them with your knowledge.
Dark Ages: Mage[]
Speculation of the true nature of the unicorn is complicated by the existence of at least three creatures bearing that name. The white horse is the unicorn of civilized Europe; the Re'em seems the likely origin for the unicorn of biblical lore; and the red unicorn roams the plains far to the west of Macedonia.
White Unicorn[]
Common bestiaries of the day describe the unicorn as a small white horse with a pure mane and tail, long forelocks, and - most importantly - a spiraled horn jutting straight from its forehead. These beasts go almost always unseen. They come out of hiding only upon encountering the aura of chastity, whereafter they move closer slowly and cautiously until they can catch a person's scent. As creatures of fertility given flesh, the scent of unfulfilled promise intoxicates those unicorns lucky enough to encounter a lone human female. This preference for the most pure of the fairer sex often leads to the beast's downfall; a virtuous maid can be bid to sit among the trees, perfumes covering the scent of hidden hunters. Properly perfumed, a chaste boy of marrying age can sometimes fool the poor eyesight of the unicorn. Those responsible for the death of a unicorn find themselves struck with a curse of infertility for seven years; Nature does not take the loss of her valued creatures lightly. Unicorns are rich in Quintessence, their blood yielding power even from the stain on an arrowhead.
Red Unicorn[]
Some scholarly writings on the unicorn come to the conclusion that the unicorn is misunderstood as the monoceros, also called the rhinoceros. This is compounded by southern wise men who have never seen the unicorns roaming northern Europe. This is only partly correct, as a red unicorn is descended from the mating of roan stallions and female rhinoceros. The resulting creature is something like an ass in size, yet strong as an ox. Its thick, shaggy hide is capable of blunting spear tips, and the short, blunt bone horn on its forehead can easily punch through an iron shield.
The fantastic properties of this beast do not end here. Blankets woven of the beast's fur are said to guarantee conception if coupling occurs upon them. The horn can neutralize any poison with just a touch, making these beasts a prized catch for any hunter. The meat is a treasure unto itself, for nothing else in the world is as flavorful and tender. Many have tried to breed them in captivity, but no one has yet succeeded.
Re'em[]
One set of belief ties the origins of the unicorn to the Re'em of Jewish lore. A sighting of a Re'em is sometimes considered a sign of God. In truth, these creatures are not unicorns. Wild blue-gray oxen of great strength and durability, they have a pair of horns that, when viewed from the side, appear as one horn in the middle of the creature's forehead. It is for this reason they were never caught. Most people leave the Re'em alone once it turns its head toward them, for they are embarrassed to have believed it a unicorn. Others find it puts up far too great a fight to be worth the trouble.
The powdered bones of a Re'em, mixed with milk and honey, are said to settle a number of stomach ailments. The meat is inedible, making it a poor prize for hunting. The animal's belligerent attitude prevents most from trying to domesticate it, despite its strength and endurance. It would surely make a fine beast of burden for those who could control it.
Character Sheets[]
White Unicorn (Dark Ages: Mage)
Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 5, Stamina 4, Charisma 4, Manipulation 1, Appearance 0, Perception 2, Intelligence 3, Wits 3
Abilities: Alertness 5, Animal Ken 3, Brawl 2, Dodge 4, Stealth 4
Willpower: 4
Health Levels: OK, -1 x 2, -2 x 2, -3, Incapacitated
Armor: 0
Attacks: Gore (Str +4L), front kick (Str +2B), trample (Str +4B against prone targets
Powers: Curse of Infertility (on any who slays a unicorn)
Weaknesses: A unicorn cannot resist the scent of a human female virgin. They have poor eyesight (-2 on vision-related rolls), but good hearing and sense of smell.
Tass: One point of Quintessence can be gained per would level of spilled blood.
Red Unicorn (Dark Ages: Mage)
Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 2, Stamina 4, Charisma 0, Manipulation 1, Appearance 0, Perception 3, Intelligence 1, Wits 2
Abilities: Alertness 1, Brawl 3, Dodge 3
Willpower: 7
Health Levels: OK, -1 x 3, -2 x 3, -3 x 2, -5, Incapacitated
Armor: +3B/+2L
Attacks: Gore (Str +5L), trample (Str +4B against prone targets)
Powers: Cure Poison (with a touch of its horn)
Weaknesses: The Red Unicorn is limited in its sense of hearing and its sense of sight; they suffer a -2 on Perception rolls in which these senses are involved.
Tass: The tail hair of a Red Unicorn may be mixed with hashish and smoked as the Turks do. The vapors emanating from this burning mixture grant one Quintessence point to all who inhale.
Re'em (Dark Ages: Mage)
Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 3, Stamina 5, Charisma 0, Manipulation 1, Appearance 0, Perception 2, Intelligence 1, Wits 1
Abilities: Brawl 2, Dodge 2
Willpower: 5
Health Levels: OK, -1 x 4, -2 x 3, -3 x 2, -4 x 2, Incapacitated
Armor: +2B/+1L
Attacks: Gore (Str +4L), kick (Str +2B)
Weaknesses: A Re'em can be struck unconscious by hitting it with a stone squarely between the eyes. Re'em feat moving water and will not cross it.
Tass: Re'em have no appreciable Quintessence; they are mundane creatures.
Gallery[]
References[]
- MTAs: Horizon: The Stronghold of Hope, p. 109
- WOD: The Bygone Bestiary, p. 63-65
- DAM: Dark Ages: Mage Rulebook, p. 193-194
