Warhorse, Sardonian (Herregor Supplement)

The Sardonians are a fierce people with a proud heritage of war and horsemanship, it is only natural that some of their coveted bloodlines of warhorses are of a quality on the battlefield unseen on the Southern reaches of Herregor.

Sardonian Warhorse is a template that can be added to any warhorse.

Size and Type: The creature's type remains unchanged.
Hit Dice: Hit dice are increased by 2.
Speed: The base creature's speed is increased by 10.
Armour Class: The creature's natural armor is increased by 4.
Attacks: A Sardonian Warhorse retains all the attacks of its base creature.
Damage: Normal.
Special Attacks: As base creature.
Special Qualities: Ferocity and Fearlessness (described below).
Saves: As base creature.
Abilities: +4 to strength and constitution, +2 to intelligence.
Skills: Racial modifiers are unchanged.
Feats: A Sardonian Warhorse's gains power attack as a bonus feat.
Environment: As base creature.
Organization: As base creature.
Challenge Rating: As base creature.
Treasure: As base creature.
Alignment: Unaligned.
Advancement: As base creature.
Level adjustment: +1.

Ferocity: Once per day, when a Sardonian Warhorse is brought below 0 hit points, but not killed, it can fight on for one more round as if disabled. At the end of its next turn, unless brought to above 0 hit points, it immediately falls unconscious and begins dying.

Fearless: If a Sardonian Warhorse fails a save from a fear effect it may attempt an additional save in the following round to shake off the effect. In addition, it is immune to the shaken condition.

In addition to being fine and fierce mounts Sardonian Warhorses have a reputation for being headstrong and difficult to train. They are powerful beasts as well as being intelligent and they respect little else but might.

When dealing with a new owner or trainer compare the strength score of the horse and trainer. If the horse's is higher, apply a penalty to all Handle Animal and Ride checks equal to the difference. This penalty lasts until one of two things occur:

• The trainer fails a check by 10 or more and the horse decides to "test" the trainer. After the failed skill check the horse will shove, pull, bully, or otherwise try to pit its strength against the trainer. Trainer and horse make opposed strength checks. If the trainer is victorious the horse is cowed and its respect is earned. If the horse is victorious it will never again respect the trainer and all subsequent checks are made at a -10 penalty.

• The trainer rides the horse into battle and wins. As a mount bred for combat, nothing earns its respect more than mutual bloodshed and reliance upon each other. A rider that proves himself capable on the field will earn the horse's respect as a relationship is forged in the crucible of the battlefield. Note that during this pivotal battle the penalty is still assessed to Ride and Handle Animal checks and should one be failed by 10 or more the first scenario is initiated. This battle must be one where the horse and rider are evenly matched, a quick slaughter of weak opponents does nothing to earn the respect of these prized warhorses.

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