Anarea > Systems > The Cults > Horse Cults

* Restricted: Horse Cultists only

The Horse Cults

The Way of the Horse teaches speed, stamina and kicking out fiercely at one's foes.

Horse Cultism first arose amongst the human tribes of the Valdrean Plain and Grasslands, who tamed, rode and bred the wild horses of the grassy plains, and soon spread to the Badlanders, Bandits and High Elves.  The commercial value of horses (and especially of racehorses) led to the nomadic Valdrean Horse Cultists settling down and becoming stud farmers or ranchers, practising Beastmaster Druidism to improve their stock, and competing for lucrative contracts with the Imperial Cavalry.  Stud farms also grew up around Tehmor, especially for breeding racehorses, but the Horse Tribes of the Grasslander Mist Warriors and the Badlander Clans have kept to the old, nomadic ways.

The following are the main Horse Cultists of Anarea:

• The Mist Warrior Horse Tribes, also known as the Grey Horsemen, who follow their herds of wild horses across the Central Plains of the Grasslands around the Misty Lake and the Gathering Place, but are great travellers, preferring to camp on the open plains;

• Those Badlander Shamen of AMON, mostly of Clan Holeroy, who have been chosen by the Horse as their Totem Animal, and some of whom worship THE BLACK HORSE;

• The Bandit Kingdom includes Horse Cultists who supply the horses ridden by their raiders.  Black Horse Cultism is most prevalant here;

• The Ninquiroqueni (White Riders) of the Calaquendi, a SARAN Paladinic and Druidic Cult who patrol Minduinath to keep it safe from intruders;

• The Valdrean Horse Cultist stud farmers and ranchers, especially those of the Western and Eastern Plains of Valdrea.

 Nomadic Horse Cults include Mist Warrior or Beastmaster Druids, Shamen of HIPPOLYA and Rangers (mounted Fighter/Thieves skilled with the Horse Bow) amongst their numbers.  Their Binders Summon EQUUS, Demon of Horses.

The main Equine Monsters are Hippogriffs, Pegasi, Unicorns and the Mearas - large white horses of legendary speed and stamina which refuse to be tamed, but may consent to let favoured Horse Cultists ride them.  Horse Cultist Druids get Summon/Ride Equine Monster as a Power @ DrL 5.  Some of the most famous racehorses are rumoured to have Mearas in their bloodline, although cross-breeding with Monsters is prohibited by the Rules of the various Racing Clubs (who regularly use Detect Monster Spells to check entrants to races).

The Dreamworld of Horses is The Endless Plains, which is ruled by THE GREAT WHITE STALLION and His Harem of Mares, chief amongst Whom is HIPPOLYA, THE GREAT WHITE MARE.  Its Dark Side, The Moonlit Plains is ruled by His counterpart, THE BLACK HORSE.  HIPPOLYA, Demigoddess of Horses, is the main Sponsor of Horse Cults, with Her Clerical Spells powered by SARAN.  Valdrean Horse Cultists worship HIPPOLYA as THE GREAT WHITE MARE, believing Her to be an Aspect of SARAN.  THE GREAT WHITE STALLION is the L10 Pedionid Nature Spirit at the Sacred Heart of The Endless Plains.  THE BLACK HORSE is the L10 Pedionid Dark Nature Spirit at the Sacred Heart of The Moonlit Plains, and is also an Aspect of LOFIR, WAGREN or ZAKEL as Sponsor of Black Horse Cults.

Go to Druidic Spell List of the Horse Cults

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