|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | In Norrath, horses are very rare and almost never used as mounts. Because horses are very hard to find, most only exist as wild animals. This changes the summoned mounts of paladins and shadow knights into creatures that are far more unique and strange, further defining the classes instead of simply providing them with a more convenient conveyance. To paladins the horse is symbolic of noble dedication and faithfulness, and to shadow knights the horse is symbolic of untamable raw power and strength.
| |
| | | | |
| − | Also, most people do not ride animals. People travel in Norrath by walking, running (sometimes assisted by Bard, Shaman, or Druid spells), wagon (pulled by elephants, clockworks, or other beast of burden), boat, or teleportation (via Wizards or Druids). Similar to how most people do not use heavy flails or learn to fight with two weapons, only the occasional adventurer looking to train in specific methods learns to work with mounts.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==Animals around Norrath==
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Barbarians===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Barbarians have a long tradition of domesticating bears, but mostly as simple beasts of burden. These bears are still tremendously dangerous, but lulled into a more peaceful nature by spending years amongst people and a free flowing of fresh fish. Because most bears are clumsy when being ridden, and not used to running long distances, they make poor mounts. Some barbarians are brave enough to train tundra tigers as mounts, but even domesticated these animals are still very dangerous. Though it would seem that mammoths would make ideal beasts of burden in the tundra, feeding them is a huge problem. It is hard enough to feed the people of Halas – adding a drain of tons of grain a day that mammoths eat would simply tax the people too much.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Dark Elves===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Few dark elves bother with training animals at all. Animals are unpredictable creatures known for smelling the place up, and there are far easier methods for getting things done. Most dark elves use potions for greater run speed (Neriak does a swift trade in potions from the shamans of Grobb), or they enlist the services of a wizard. Undead creatures and golems serve as exceptional mindless servants, and ogres and trolls are far more skilled at moving large burdens than any bear or bovine might be. Most animals that exist in Neriak are simply pets, usually for the purpose of displaying prestige or as a cheap test subject. These tend to be vermin, especially beetles, but the Nektulos also has a steady supply of small animals, wolves, and bears.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Dwarves===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Dwarves are very uncomfortable around wild and unfamiliar animals, and so only keep very safely domesticated creatures within the city. Dogs are popular as pets, as are small rodents. Goats and sheep are common in dwarven farms, and some farms keep basilisks (who have had their petrifying breath glands removed) for their eggs and as guards. These larger rams and basilisks are sometimes used as mounts, but this is seen as highly aberrant behavior among dwarves.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Erudites===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Erudites shun animals, on the whole. Some cattle can be found in the farms surrounding Erud, but within the cities there are few animals. Hunting animals and mounts are almost never allowed within Erud or Paineel, and pets are usually magically enchanted to produce no filth, noise, or danger to the citizenry. The few erudites who do have pets keep them because of their beauty or because the creature is a magical curiosity. Magic and elemental or undead servants supply the erudites with all the labor they need done, and they see riding on the backs of beasts as generally “below” them. That said, some erudites have trained giant bats to serve as long-distance mounts. These are especially useful after dark, because of their ability to continue toward their destination without relying on the erudite pilot’s ability to see.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Gnomes===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Gnomes regard most animals as strange and curious, but rather smelly and unpredictable. They have little intuition into the mannerisms and thoughts that animals possess, so rearing and training animals is difficult work for gnomes, who have more interesting things to fiddle with anyway. However, the society of Ak’Anon by no means suffers for lack of critters, as this simply creates more demand for clockworks. Gnomes are all the time inventing new ways to get things done with machinery. Because of this, Ak’Anon is a very clean city, and mostly rid of all bothersome vermin and critters that would get in the way. Instead, it is cluttered with bustling clockwork contraptions, moving through the city, cleaning and maintaining everything, or falling apart and creating more excitement for everyone. Gnomes usually use large clockwork spiders as beasts of burden. These are not very fast, but they can carry huge cargoes. This is preferable to a wagon, since a wagon is no faster, can carry no more cargo, but does require a beast to pull it. Some gnomes have heavily modified these to serve as mounts. (See [[Norrathians: Clockwork Mounts|Clockwork Mounts]])
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Halflings===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Halflings are very fond of animals, even wild ones. Most halflings keep pets of some kind. Dogs of every variety are very popular in Rivervale. Smaller dogs are trained as mousers and are used widely to protect farms from smaller animals. Large dogs are also popular outside of town, and some rangers train riding dogs. Halflings farmers provide a demand for smaller cattle from the human farmers of the Commonlands and Karanas. Many farms also keep beehives.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===High Elves===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Most high elves cherish animals, and though they are far less militant or extreme than wood elves, few keep pets. High elves have a special fondness for birds, and most homes in Felwithe provide ample nesting and perching space, as well as a daily supply of bird feed. Owls make for very popular pets among those willing to cage animals. These are trained as hunting pets, and are eventually allowed complete freedom to come and go as they please. High elves almost never ride mounts, but some learn to make use of the giant eagles kept by the Kelethin trainers.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Humans===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Within the human cities, animals can be found performing a variety of tasks. Quite a few are kept as pets, both for companionship and for other more useful duties, such as guard dogs or carrier pigeons. Cattle are common in the farming communities and are sometimes used within the cities to pull carts and carry loads. Wolves are favorite hunting animals, as are larger dogs. Around Freeport, some pumas are also domesticated as hunting animals, but they retain enough of their feral nature to make them too dangerous within towns. Around Qeynos occasionally one might see elephants being used as work animals. In the Karanas elephants are used by many farming communities. Though they are slow, they are easier to train than most animals, and can be used to transport many people at a time. The Karanas are the only place in all of Norrath where horses can be found in the wild. However, they are quite rare and protected by centaurs, though some distant groups of humans have domesticated them enough to use them as mounts. While they are useful and fast, it will be a long time before there are enough domesticated horses for common use.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Iksar===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Iksar frequently use animals, in many capacities. Iksar breed desired traits into future generations of animals with as much focus and cold detachment as they do among their own hatcheries. Any creature capable of being domesticated or shackled and whipped into submission will be found useful in some capacity in Cabilis, where slavery of all kinds is a way of life, and compassion for suffering is nonexistent. Even mostly wild creatures can be found among the iksar, making Cabilis entirely unsafe for even its inhabitants. Some even keep leeches and dangerous plants as indiscriminate guardians. Iksar train giant lizards, jungle cats, and de-poisoned scorpions as mounts. Scaled cats, monkeys, and scaled wolves are favorites for hunting animals.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Ogres===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Most ogres see animals as food, so training and keeping domesticated animals within Oggok is a lot of work. Armadillos make good pets, because they can usually survive getting kicked around and thrown against walls. Ogres have little use of beasts of burden, since most of the members of ogre society are eager to earn some food, and not really qualified for anything more complicated than picking up heavy objects. The regions surrounding Oggok have little in the way of mountable creatures large enough for ogres. Bears are trained, usually by shamans and beastlords, as hunting animals thanks to their keen noses.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Trolls===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Because trolls tend to eat first and ask questions later, few animals last long when trolls are around. Even the rats, scavenger birds, and other vermin that flock to Grobb’s fecund sewage end up in the stew, leaving most of Grobb feeling still and lifeless. Like ogres, trolls have little use for beasts of burden, since most trolls are capable of little more than lifting things and eating. Any creature near Grobb large enough to be mounted by a troll was long ago killed to extinction for food, and trolls dislike the concept of riding on something they should be eating. Some shamans and beastlords train crocs, snakes, and bats as hunting animals. Trolls have a strange fascination with dogs, and all trolls are told of dogs from a young age, though few have ever seen them. To a troll, a dog is almost a magical beast of mythology, and carries with it good luck for those who travel with dogs, which makes dog hides rather sought-after in Grobb. Despite this fascination with dogs, most trolls have a hard time not killing them anyway, making for a rather sad moment.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Wood Elves===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Many wood elves shun the use of animals as beasts of burden, and the more extreme druids see even mounts and pets as being a form of animal slavery and cruelty. However, some have domesticated giant eagles for use as flying mounts. These creatures are exceptionally poor as a combat mount, but work quite well when traveling long distances, and when scouting.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ----
| |
| − | Back to [[Norrathians:Setting Details|Setting Details]]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[EQrpg: Norrathians]]
| |
