Mounts

Various creatures throughout Lorithandar have been domesticated for use as transportation.

Purchasable Mounts

The most commonplace mounts are horses, which are purchasable, however some other animals able to be trained as mounts may be encountered through gameplay. A mount must be at least 2 size categories greater than its rider. For example, a Medium creature such as a human or elf could ride a Great sized creature such as a horse, however a troll (Large) could not ride a horse.

Mounts are most commonly acquired Untrained, but their utility and value can be improved with the use of the Handle Animal Skill or by spending gold to hire a professional to train them. More skilled mounts also require more skilled riders, however, which can affect a person's ability to control such a more advanced mount.

Unless otherwise specified, mounts are unable to attack while carrying a rider. Some mounts may be trained or otherwise capable of attacking; for example, a shaman with an appropriate Animal Mount may be able to have her mount launch an attack after moving. When not being ridden, a mount may freely move and act appropriately to its nature. It may be influenced by successful Handle Animal skill checks, however.

Horses

Purchasable Horses

Mount	Description	Cost
Work Horse	As horses go, this one is suitable for pulling carts and doing light work in the fields.	40g
Standard Horse	A sturdy creature, this horse is frequently used for travel and pleasure riding.	80g
Light Horse	Light horses are on the smaller side, granting them more speed than other horses.	120g
Heavy Horse	Heavy horses are accustomed to hard work, and are more hale and hearty than most.	200g
Destrier	These horses are born and bred for combat.	400g

Other Mounts

Great Wolf

Great Wolves are fierce pack creatures, and the preferred mounts of Svaald native to the Northern Wastes. Their thick coats protect them from the extreme cold and their enhanced senses help them track down prey with their masters.

Mount Training

Those who wish to pursue Mounted Combat will find that they are most effective with a Trained Mount. Mounts can be bought with coin or occasionally acquired through gameplay. In order to properly control a trained mount, the character's Ride Skill must be at a rank equal to or greater than that of their mount's Training. Otherwise, all Ride and Handle Animal checks involving the mount take a -2 penalty.

Any creature that can be ridden and retained as a mount can benefit from Mount Training, including shamanic spirits with Animal Mount or an adept's Enduring Bond animal companion, with Storyteller approval.

Rank	Training	Description	Cost
1	Trained Mount	This creature is considered Trained for the purposes of the Ride Skill, and a sufficiently skilled rider gains a +1 Proficiency bonus to Ride checks at rank 1. At Rank 3, this increases to +2. At rank 5, this increases to +3.	25g
2	Skilled Mount	With this level of training, the mount is able to be ridden without a bridle and to tolerate Light barding. It can be directed using the rider's knees and feet, freeing up both of the rider's hands while being ridden.	50g
3	Stalwart Mount	This level of training enables a mount to tolerate Medium barding. Loud noises, the smell of blood, or even injury will not cause the mount to rear or flee. The caster no longer needs to make additional ride checks when the mount is injured. The mount is well-trained enough to respond only to its assigned rider. If another creature attempts to mount it, the mount may attempt to throw them and make an opposed roll of the mount’s Attack + Mount Training Rank vs. the target's STR or DEX + Ride Skill.	100g
4	Spirited Mount	This level of training enables a mount to tolerate Heavy barding, and also retaliate when threatened in melee. Once per round, when an enemy comes within Reach of the mount, the enemy must make an Acrobatics save to avoid being attacked by the mount as a Reactive action. If a target fails the save, it either suffers Lethal damage (if the mount has Natural Weapons), or take Non-Lethal damage and is knocked Prone (other mounts).	200g
5	Exceptional Mount	Armor Check penalty from wearing Barding is reduced by 1, and Max Dodge is increased by 1.	400g

Mount Barding

Barding is armor that can be worn by mounts. It provides Armor Value that can stack with an animals existing Natural Armor to provide additional Physical Defense. Barding must be custom crafted for a particular mount and may be made from many different materials, including special materials.

Barding Type	Material	Armor Value	Damage Reduction	Max Dodge	Armor Check Penalty	Required Mount Training
Light	Leather	1	-	Unlimited	-	2
Medium	Chain	2	1	3	1	3
Heavy	Metal Plate	3	2	1	2	4