Enchanted Realms Rulebook

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Mounts

Further limitations exist for riding of a steed. The first of which is the effects of pace. Without mountsmanship, the speed of the animal can only ever be normal or slow, making the miles traveled either in the middle of the range or the lowest value. Even with skills, the stealthy advantages on an opponent’s Perception are not obtained at a slow pace when riding mounts without the base skill. Also, some mounts have limited movement rates without mountsmanship.

Additionally, there is a difference between movement in combat and the speed of travel. The popular riding horse can move at 100 feet per round but only at a gallop. This speed is defined as the straightaway pace. However, when turning tight corners and moving in combat, the maneuverability pace is used. For the horse this speed is 60 feet.

This lends itself to another concept of running endurance which is called active time. This is the same idea as travel time for humanish characters. Mounts have similar limits for active time to be ridden. Some have great endurances and can move at their straightaway pace for the entire travel day. Others, however, have short durations and have to drop to a prosaic pace for the remainder. Some still may have shorter than 8 hour days for traveling. As an example, horses can only run at their top straightaway speed (100 feet) for four hours. After that, they can continue for another four hours but only at a prosaic pace (40 feet movement). This means horses are great for covering long distances in half of a day, but their total day travel is far from double that distance.

Of course, the animal could be pushed beyond its limits of its straightaway duration. Doing so does risk the health of the steed, but there is a greater risk. As discussed elsewhere, disease and even part of morality is based upon the concept of the miasma theory. One of the sources of “bad air” is when exhaustion and overworked lungs from mistreated mounts who have been ridden beyond their limitations. Using the guidelines of the forced march would be similarly applied for a mount, yet again, the production of disease that results could become a bigger concern.

Below is a chart of the most common mounts, listed with movement rate. Remember mileage values below are based on optimal terrain, such as a road. Thus if traveling through grasslands or plains, the distance would only be 80% of what is listed. However, some mounts travel through different terrain types better and have higher efficiencies than normal.

Movement Details
MOUNT	| BURDEN |		BARDING	ACTIVE	PROSAIC	RECOVERY	|--	PACE				--|	Terrain
	Carry	Cart					Straightaway	Maneuverability	Unskilled Rider	Prosaic	Half-Day	Daily	Note
Borgaaz	800 lbs	5000 lbs	Plate	6 hrs	2 hrs	10 hrs	70 ft	50 ft	n/a	40 ft	15-21 mi	19-26 mi	Normal
	Centuries of crossbreeding have produced this domesticated bovine-like creature with their ancestry from gorgonops, bear, oxen and boar. One stands about four feet to the shoulder and weighs nearly 1000 pounds. It has cloven back feet and clawed paws in the front. These beasts can be loaded with 800 pounds of pack. They can be ridden and even trained to fight, but this such training is far more difficult than typical war beasts, making their use as mounts reserved only for high stations in orkane society. Orcs can ride without a skill. Others can ride these beasts but require mountsmanship training.
Camel	1,000 lbs	2,000 lbs	Leather	8 hrs	0 hrs	8 hrs	70 ft	45 ft	n/a	n/a	15-21 mi	25-35 mi	Desert
	Camels can run for reasonable speeds with a strong endurance. They are not as fast as a horse in a short race. However, they can complete well for the entire day. Further, Camels can travel on sand better than nearly any other. In deserts, camels move at 80% efficiency rather than the normal 60% penalty.
Canivox	200 lbs	1200 lbs	Leather	6 hrs	2 hrs	12 hrs	80 ft	60 ft	n/a	50 ft	17-24 mi	27-32 mi	Plains
	This is a doglike creature that is a domestic cousin to the epicyon; however, the nhoblits have bred this mount to have a sturdy back capable of supporting the weight of a rider. However, their shoulder height prevent them from carrying any other than small-sized riders. Gnomes have also been known to ride them when acquired from the nhoblit lands. Further, the canivox can move on plains at the same speed as a road. Maintenance for one costs 5 bits per month.
Dolphin	300 lbs	800 lbs*	None	8 hrs	0 hrs	8 hrs	70 ft	45 ft	n/a	n/a	15-21 mi	25-35 mi	Aquatic
	Most likely ridden by aquatic races, dolphins can swim are great speeds. If a land-dweller were to ride one, he or she would need to have the sea horse skill as well as having a tamed dolphin trained to be ridden. Should one keep a dolphin as a pet, they cost 5 bits in expenses monthly.
Elephant	2,000 lbs	8,000 lbs	Plate	12 hrs	0 hrs	12 hrs	50 ft	40 ft	n/a	n/a	9-15 mi	16-25 mi 20-32 mi**	Limited
	Elephants are large and powerful, but slow and expensive to maintain. However, because they can walk for 12 hours, they are capable of traveling distances that come close to a horse. Nonetheless, a rider must be driving the mount the whole time, which means either risks of exhaustion -- or the beast can have a houdah strapped to it where a second driver can rest for part of the journey. Most humanish beings can only have 8 hours of active travel; however, sleeping for 4 of the 12 hours in a houdah allows this extended time of elephant travel. These mounts have no climbing ability and can only traverse flat ground but can carry 2000 pounds. Elephants require 50 bits in maintenance each month in food alone. Barding and tack cost 10 bits per month to maintain.
Eagle, Giant	250 lbs	n/a	None	6 hrs	0 hrs	12 hrs	75 ft	60 ft	n/a	n/a	22 miles	28 miles	Flight
	Giant eagles require an aerial reins skill to ride. They must also be born in captivity to be able to be trained to ride. Their availability is more rare compared to most mounts, and maintenance costs run around 25 bits per month.
Goat, Terrac	300 lbs	500 lbs	Leather	8 hrs	0 hrs	10 hrs	65 ft	50 ft	-10 ft	n/a	13-19 mi	18-34 mi	Normal
	These bovidae are not really beasts of burden, but some specific breeds can be ridden by dwarves. However, they are not pack animals and can only carry dwarves due to centuries of controlled breeding to create uniquely-shaped shoulders and withers of the riding stock. One nice advantage of goats is their ability to traverse mountainous and rocky terrain, allowing them to climb up to 45° angles in such environments. They still suffer the 20% movement rate, but they can cross such terrains when others may not be capable of it. Goats cost are low, averaging about 3 bits per month.
Gryphon	600 lbs	n/a	None	8 hrs	0 hrs	16 hrs	120 ft	90 ft	n/a	n/a	36 miles	60 miles	Flight
	These massive bird-mammals can be domesticated and have backs large enough to carry up to three human-sized riders. They can transport up to 600 pounds while flying. Like all other flyers, to ride one, an aerial reins skill is needed; however, if the initial rider is skilled, other passengers do not need to be. While capable of traveling great distances, the downside to using a gryphon as a mount is their diet of horse meat, making their monthly maintenance cost at least 100 bits. They also require a long recovery time before flying again.
Horse	500 lbs	2,500 lbs	Chain	4 hrs	4 hrs	12 hrs	100 ft	60 ft	-15 ft	40 ft	18-30 mi	26-36 mi	Normal
(Draft Breed)	800 lbs	4,000 lbs	Plate	3 hrs	5 hrs	12 hrs	85 ft	50 ft	-15 ft	35 ft	16-27 mi	21-32 mi	Normal
	When it comes to speed, horses are the fastest of all land-based mounts. While they are reasonably sure-footed, horses can only manage rough terrain up to 30° angles. Horses can carry up to 500 pounds. Draft breeds vary. Further, their height and withers make dwarves less fit to ride them. Special saddles are needed for dwarves and without one, miles per day drop to 34. The maintenance cost of a riding horse runs 12 bits per month. While draft horses have a higher expense of 15 bits due to additional food. However. if the draft horse is a war-trained horse where special barding, tack and saddles are needed, then the monthly maintenance becomes 25 bits before factoring in any barding.
Lepuus	400 lbs	n/a	Leather	10 hrs	0 hrs	12 hrs	60 ft	50 ft	n/a	n/a	16-27 mi	21-32 mi	Forest
	The race of lepuus are giant rabbits capable of being used as mounts. Wood elves in the northern regions have been riding them for centuries. They have virtually no combat ability, but they are more dexterous than they appear and can turn in a very tight radius. This translates to treating forested area as normal rather than difficult terrain. They are not great climbers but are capable of making 40-foot jumps over their normal movement every 2d4 rounds. Leppus adapt well to nearly any weather. Monthly maintenance for one is 8 bits.
Lizard Steed	1,000 lbs	1,500 lbs	Chain	2 hrs	2 hrs	14 hrs	70 ft	50 ft	-15 ft	30 ft	12-18 mi	n/a	Hills, Mountains
	Not as fast as horses, lizards can carry heavier riders and have great climbing ability when needing to cover rocky terrain. There creatures can also act as pack animals, carrying up to 1000 pounds. With assistance with their front claws, Further, they can ascend and descend any rough terrain of even 60° angles and perfectly smooth surfaces up to 45° at a climbing-movement rate of 50 feet, even while mounted. Hills can be traversed at their best speed suffering no terrain efficiency penalty. These steeds can cross mountainous areas at 60% efficiency rather than the normal 20% penalty. The downside to these mounts is they have a limited activity for traveling, only able to be used for 4 hours at a time before needing a significant rest. However, no better mount exists for crossing mountains. A steed of this type can travel 10½ miles per day in the mountains, while the next best would be the the llama at 9 miles and the terrac goat at 6 miles. Even dwarves can only walk about 4 miles daily over mountains. Lizard steeds eat less, making their maintenance only 6 bits per month, but if barding is used, then an additional 5 bits is required.
Llama	250 lbs	750 lbs	Leather	6 hrs	0 hrs	8 hrs	60 ft	50 ft	-10 ft	n/a	12-18 mi	16-24 mi	Hills, Mountains
	Llamas are slow-riding mounts. They are pack animals, beasts of burden and steeds for lighter and smaller races. They can carry up to 250 pounds. Llamas are often kept as guards because of their perception and communication abilities. Further, llamas have an 80% efficiency in hills and 40% in mountains. Like goats, llamas have a low maintenance cost – only 3 bits monthly.
Mule	600 lbs	2,000 lbs	Leather	2 hrs	6 hrs	9 hrs	60 ft	40 ft	-15 ft	40 ft	9-15 mi	15-23 mi	Normal
	Mules are pack animals, which may be ridden by dwarves, nhoblits, human children, or anyone under 5 feet tall. While slower than a horse, mules can be loaded with up to 600 pounds of items. Their maintenance cost runs 8 bits per month.
Osprider	150 lbs	250 lbs	None	10 hrs	0 hrs	8 hrs	70 ft	50 ft	-15 ft	n/a	15-21 mi	24-35 mi 26-40 mi***	Normal
	Not much faster than walking speed, but their endurance allows them to compete with horses and camels for all day, even better if the rider is an elf. Moreover, the ospriders appeal come from the appearance and prestige. Further, they are excellent mounts for treacherous terrain, as They ignore flat difficult terrain, and they can climb sheer edges of 75° at a movement rate of 40 feet without requiring any checks. However, they cannot climb perfectly smooth surfaces greater than 30°. However, they cannot use barding due to their builds. Ospriders require special grooming to make the seating area able to be ridden. Because of their prestige, adornments are often included in the grooming which can up their maintenance cost to whatever the rider is willing to spend, but ornamentation will have a minimum 5 bits monthly addition. Feeding ospriders is relatively cheap at 5 bits per month; however, again, the celebrity of owning on of this riding birds often comes with quality name brand foods which could go well over the limit. However, this means the absolute minimum maintenance for an osprider is 10 bits monthly. However, if ownership is based on a social network, not properly feeding expensive foods and not employing decorative grooming could lead to snobbery.
Oxen	750 lbs	6,000 lbs	Chain	8 hrs	0 hrs	12 hrs	40 ft	40 ft	n/a	n/a	9 miles	16 miles	Normal
	Oxen are not good mounts; however, the are excellent pack-animals for pulling. Oxen can pull eight times their burden (or 6,000 pounds) when teaming. Also, their speed is constant and they cannot move at a “fast” pace. They also offer no bonus or penalty from skilled riding or lack of skill.
Pegasus	200 lbs	n/a	None	8 hrs	0 hrs	12 hrs	90 ft	75 ft	n/a	n/a	27 miles	45 miles	Flight
	Pegasi are strong fliers but are not great beasts of burden, as their bone structure is lighter than other equines. They can only carry 200 pounds in flight and about the same when traveling by foot. Pegasi are not domesticated as other livestock, but they will allow ally riders if a relationship is well established. Part of the maintaining the relationship is caring for one, which runs around 20 bits each month in food. Obviously, these magnificent beasts require an aerial reins skill to ride.
Seahorse, Giant	400 lbs	600 lbs*	None	6 hrs	0 hrs	6 hrs	50 ft	40 ft	n/a	n/a	9-15 mi	12-20 mi	Aquatic
	The giant seahorse cannot be domesticated by surface people. They will die if kept in captivity. However, if during an underwater adventure (and the ability to breathe under the sea), a PC could ride one if having the sea horse skill.
Timber-Elk	400 lbs	1,200 lbs	Chain	4 hrs	2 hrs	12 hrs	90 ft	60 ft	-15 ft	50 ft	21-27 mi	25-36 mi	Tundra
	Timber-Elk are not great with speed but can carry up to 400 pounds. However, they can only travel on relatively flat ground, only able to climb hills of less than 20° angles. The advantage of Timber-Elk is their ability to travel in tundra, snow and ice at 80% instead of the normal 60% efficiency. The Timber-Elk eats 10 bits monthly.
Wolf, Dire	80 lbs	600 lbs	Leather	2 hrs	6 hrs	12 hrs	120 ft	60 ft	n/a	60 ft	18-27 mi	32-48 mi	Normal
	Goblins would likely be the only rider of a dire wolf.

* This equates to pulling power in the water.
** This is travel for 12 hours.
*** This is travel for 10 hours.

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