Amarrian Warhorse

"No steed of Borinth, nor of Estalia or Tilea, could match the strength and power of a pure-bred Amarrian horse. None of them were the equal in sheer speed, and the Amarrians were rightly proud of them. Protected in thick layers of plate barding beneath their flowing cloth caparisons, and carrying the weight of a fully armoured knight, the noble steeds could outpace any horse in Aiandell." —The superiority of Amar's Steeds.   The Amarrian Warhorse is the finest breed of Horse in Aiandaell, ridden into battle bearing magnificent, Heraldic caparisons, covering layers of steel that a Borinthian warhorse would struggle to carry, let alone charge with. Indefatigable, they are capable of travelling for weeks on end without rest, a feat that would bring normal steeds to the brink of exhaustion and death, but not so the noble stallions of Amar.  

Overview

  When the Elven colonists abandoned Aiandell and sailed back to Eodros, some remained behind. These Elves were the ancestors of the Wood Elves of Issarion. One of the Elven kindreds that stayed took their Elven steeds with them into the safety of the forest glades. Elsewhere, herds of Elven steeds roamed freely in the meadows and plains around the abandoned Elven ruins, interbreeding with wild forest ponies. This mingling of blood eventually resulted in the creation of a new breed of horse known simply as the Amarrian Warhorse.   This new breed of horse was far superior in size and spirit than any other in the Aiandell. The horses of Borinth are descended from the wild ponies of the steppes and have no blood of the Elven steeds in their veins. The warhorses of Borinth are passable, but lack the power and spirit of the Amarrian steed, although they are perhaps better suited to a harsher climate, while the Amarrian breed requires the lush meadows of Amar's landscape. When the Amarrian warriors began riding into battle on the native horses of Amar, they found that the horses could bear the weight of a fully armoured man and still gallop and charge over and over again without tiring. The horses were big, powerful and not lacking in stamina. The Amarrian Knights therefore made every effort to maintain and improve their special breed. A very important factor in this was the peace pact with the Wood Elves of Issarion. By the terms of this pact, from time to time the Elves allow the Amarrians to have some of their precious steeds.   In this way the Amarrian horses are replenished with fresh blood from pure Elven stock. Amarrian knights owe their success not only to their own valour and skill, but also to the endurance and temper of their steeds.   Every pure-bred Amarrian steed is reared to be accustomed to the din and chaos of battle, of weapons clashing and the screams of the dying. They are trained to be inured to the scent of blood, and to respond instantly to the directions of their rider. They are strong-willed and aggressive beasts, for a horse too sedate in nature would not have the necessary spirit in the heat of battle, and Amarrian steeds are trained to kick and bite the enemy. Through long and extensive training regimes, Amarrian warhorses are not easily panicked.   Naturally, only a noble is permitted to ride a warhorse, though a few lucky and trusted peasants may be allowed to act as grooms and stablehands, and thus sleep in the same barn as one. Squires must make do with forest ponies and lesser breeds lacking the blood of the Elven Steeds. So highly valued are these beasts that a Royal Decree of many centuries standing forbid the export of these magnificent animals. The Amarrian Knights naturally do not want anyone else to be as well mounted as they are. Even so, you would have to have the stature and nobility of a true Amarrian Knight to ride an Amarrian Warhorse. They do not put up with lesser warriors on their backs.