Rathorn (inspired by the Rathorn of _Dark_of_the_Moon_)
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | rare |
| # Appear | 1-2 |
| % in Lair | 0% |
| Treasure Type | see below |
| Alignment | semi-neutral (see Note 1) |
| Climate/Terrain | deep woods, in the books they lived in the definition of untamed wilds. |
| HD | 5 |
| Size | L (heavy horse) |
| AC | 2,1,0,-1 (by age. see Note 2) |
| Magic Resistance | 30% (for where it's living, it better) |
| No. Attacks | 1 or 2 (horn or hooves) |
| Horn Damage | d12+1 |
| Hoof Damage | d6+1 |
| Move | 24", 21", 18", 15" (by age) |
| Special Defenses | none |
| Special Attacks | scream (see below) |
Description
Rathorn (inspired by the Rathorn of Dark_of_the_Moon)
I had to fill in a lot of the stats here, because the scenes with the Rathorn in Dark of the Moon were very short.
The Rathorn is a hauntingly beautiful creature, resembling a unicorn in some ways, but covered in natural plates of ivory (or something resembling ivory but with distinct similarity to mother of pearl). Even its hooves have a sheath of the exoskeleton growing over the outer surface.
As the Rathorn gets older, the exoskeleton continues growing, becoming thicker and more beautiful (the horn is part of the exoskeleton as well, and does continue growing). In the book, there were huge jutting stones which were nearly unbreakable on which the Rathorn wore down its armor as much as possible.
However, as the exoskeleton grows, it eventually gets too heavy for the Rathorn, and at a certain point entirely paralyzes it. Once paralyzed, it can no longer work at its horn, which will eventually continue growing and curving until growing through the back of the skull, killing the beast.
The Rathorn's most distinguishing point, however, is not its unearthly beauty or ivory, but its cry, which is very nearly a primal scream, echoing long after the sound has died away. All who hear it must save vs. paralysis or be (50%) paralysed or (50%) run in terror to the end of their endurance. It is used as a war cry among the House of Torisen.
Notes
Note 1: In the world presented by this book and the one preceding it, Godstalk, the simplistic approach to alignment found in AD&D simply does not suffice well. I am trying, honest.
Note 2: Rathorn's have three essential ages - youth, maturity, and old age. There is also a fourth period, however - the period during which it has slowed down tremendously under the weight of its armor and awaits only the release of death.
Note 3: sad as it is, the armor of the Rathorn, both its protector and its executioner, is highly prized by almost all cultures who have come in contact with it. Killing so noble a beast for its exoskeleton has become a favorite pastime of fools who have nothing better to do than either kill a beautiful creature or die fruitlessly in the attempt.