User blog:Ilniaj/Estalia

Far to the south of the cold and benighted Empire of Sigmar lies another land, a land of wide-open plains warmed by a gentle sun, bordered by perfect blue seas. Here, threats are distant and religious strife is unknown under the overarching protection of Athena, the god of strategy, war and leadership. Culture and learning bloom, and art, music and the pursuit of pleasure dominate overall. Here, the enemy lies within, and the business of politics, war and even love is settled with knives in the darkness or blades at dawn, and so everyone must be a master of the blade if they hope to live until their hair turns grey. Beware then, the people of the south, for they are quick to anger, slow to forget and their hands never leave their sword hilts - save only to drink their sweet lemon wine, or to kiss the hand or be kissed on the hand in courtship. The Estalian people are strong and proud and are used to hardship and suffering. Seeing their homes and families threatened drives them to fight longer and harder than most people would. Despite their infighting, when facing a major threat, the kingdoms of Estalia join to protect their land, and though they have suffered numerous invasions, the Estalians have always come back and retrieved what is theirs.

The Estalians are proud and haughty soldiers, who have frequently claimed victory from the jaws of defeat. Their soldiers are tirelessly drilled in the image of Athena whom they worship above all else. When the Estalians go to war they do so under his banner, marching tirelessly with unmatched discipline. The Estalian armies are filled with well-trained soldiers using pikes, crossbows and swords, supported by the knightly Caballeros and fast-moving Genitors. With them go the clergy of Athena, the Knights and the Sisters of Fury. Powerful Inquisitors march beside them with their Black Watchmen. Rounding out their forces are the troops well versed in the use of gunpowder, the Gunners, Royal Guard, Grenadiers and Culverins.

The nobility of Estalia is an overbearing lot with far too much time on their hands. The nobility lives a life of extreme privilege and find the lives of those beneath them as nothing short of a life of contempt. The nobles of the land are arrogant and quick to take umbrage to any slight, real or perceived. Most nobles are excellent fighters, owing to their lives of one intrigue after another. They will fight anyone and lacking a common foe they will fight each other without a thought. Most armies are led by a noble of royal blood. This is not as restrictive as one might think as all the great families of Estalia are considered "royal". As an example, the house of Aragon, consists of over 60 families each of whom has a patriarch whose honorary title is "king" and who rules his lands as an absolute ruler, even if it is only a few hundred acres. The youth of the house provide the knights for the royal regiments. This can be very confusing for foreigners as there seem to be hundreds of "kings" in Estalia, which of course, in a sense, there are! The Kings and Queens of Estalia are not just figurehead; they formulate the foreign policy of the whole of Estalia, including the introduction of the Inquisition, and marshals Estalia’s forces to war. The Kings and the Dukes can muster individual provincial and city-state armies. Each Estalian Army goes to war under the direct gaze of either a King or a Duke, who takes on the mantle of Grand Commander. In smaller forces a Grand Commander may not be necessary. If an army is raised to put down a local peasant uprising, or a less threatening Beastwoman warherd, the Captains of the provinces assume the role of leaders and commanders in an Estalian battle force. Captains are also able leaders, generally nobles, landed gentry who have spent time at the world-famous Military Academy and sometimes in the prestigious Knightly Orders.

While the Order trains and stations Inquisitors throughout the nations of the world aligned to the pantheon ruled by the Chief God, Estalia has seen fit to train their own Inquisitors, claiming that The Order does not do enough to help Estalia fight the secret wars. The Inquisition is involved in the elimination of those judged as serving the monsters, be they witches, cultists or simple agitators. Inquisitors usually work in small groups, often supported by specialists trained as Templars or Witch and Vampire hunters. All Inquisitors are experts in the extraction of information from non-willing suspects. Members of the Inquisition have pledged their every waking hour to the discovering and scourging of monsters wherever they may be found. An Inquisitor has at his disposal every citizen in the worship of the Chief God and her pantheon and will not hesitate to requisition local troops at a moment’s notice. However, the threat of monsters and other blasphemers is far from the only truth. A frequent accusation is that the monarchs of Estalia use the Estalian Inquisition as a tool to better control their subjects by uniting them against a common foe, minimizing the risks up rebellions and political opponents overthrowing them.

The arcane arts are not unknown in the lands of Estalia. Many of the wizards of the land of Estalia travel to the Empire and the capital city of Altdorf to receive their training in the arcane arts at the Colleges of Magic. Battle Magi are also taught in a variety of small independent schools that dot the Estalian countryside. Most of the independent schools teach a Witch Lore known as the Lore of Hedgecraft while those who go to the colleges learn Arcane Mage. The Eminent Magi of Estalia are the most talented magic users in the kingdom. Often sought after to lead the numerous small magical schools, Eminent Magi must answer to the Inquisition for his students, should they be found to be corrupted by the dark arts. The Kings of Estalia allows the schools to operate for a very good reason – the support of their services in battle. In return for tolerance and patronage the Kings and the Dukes receive a steady stream of Mages for their armies. Every school can provide Mages to take their part in battle, and sometimes whole units of Mages go to war, using their combined enchanting power to cast powerful spells to rend the foe and win the day for Estalia. The presence of these magic users on the battlefield can easily change the outcome of a battle. The most demanded wizards are users of the Lore of Light, white magic. To most people, sorcerers are disturbed people, filled with malice and dark thoughts. Some nobles, though fearful of magic and its practitioners, often grants authorizations to carry out such practices in their domains, because they know very well how the wizards can give them help when they were needed. This mentality is often not shared by the subjects who sometimes take the law into their own hands, scolding, torturing and sometimes even killing the followers of Aethyr.

While the Cult of the Athena is the most prominent in Estalia, it is only one of many of the gods worshiped throughout and even the priests of a specific deity show respect to the other gods. Nearly all priests are expected to bear arms in the defense of their temple and faith, most are proficient in combat but only a few march to battle alongside the Estalian army. These Warrior Priests have a threefold responsibility, ministering to the faithful, offering spiritual and tactical advice and smiting the enemy in battle. The gods channel their divine power through their priests, allowing them to use divine magic almost equal in potency to the spells of wizards. To see such power made manifest fires the hearts of men, and all who witness such miracles redouble their efforts to defeat their enemies. Woe betide any foe facing an army filled with such divine power.

Sometimes, Warrior Priests of Athena will bring an Altar of Athena into battle. An Altar of Athena is a four-wheeled war-altar mounting a large standard and drawn by bulls. It is a rectangular platform on which the standard of Athena is flown, and an altar erected with his statue. The priests hold services on the altar before battle and the trumpeters beside them encourage the fighters to the fray. In battle the Altar of Myrmidia is often surrounded by the bravest warriors in the army as guards, and it serves both as a rallying-point and as the palladium of the army’s honor. Its capture by the enemy is often regarded as an irretrievable defeat and humiliation.

One thing Estalians dearly love is swordplay. Its cities sport many fencing schools, each with its own style. True Diestro devote a part of their lives to studying at the great fencing academies in Estalia. There, students are exposed to the most sophisticated sword fighting techniques known in the Old World. Many of these fencers go on to study at several different schools, learning the strengths and weaknesses of various disciplines. Through this comprehensive regime, Estalian Diestros develop astonishing speed and precision. They employ every trick imaginable – and some that often take enemies by surprise! What all Diestro have in common is their overwhelming competitiveness. They strive to be the best at what they do and defeat often becomes hard to take. A Diestro, who fights with self-doubt, is not often around for much longer. They are often proud and haughty, looking down on commoners and their own peers. Always impeccably dressed and groomed, these cunning warriors flaunt their skills by spouting outrageous insults at their opponents. There are many types of bouts that the Diestro partake of, from fencing duels to pistols at dawn. But not all are a fight to the death; indeed, many are to first blood only or finish when one party can no longer continue. Where the Empire is famous for full plate armour and Lescatie for their mail panoplies, Estalian warriors, deadly swordsmen all, prefer speed and agility. Adorned in flashy clothes, with colourful capes and large plumed hats, they are iconic dashing swashbucklers, fearless and courageous, armed with sharp steel and cutting wit. Few Diestro wear armor at all and some wear little clothing as well.

Whether expert mercenary, inquisitorial agent or a killer for a religious temple, every Assassin is expertly trained and a master of a variety of weapons. Many also master the poisoner’s art. The best Assassins can dispatch their targets in a matter of seconds, leaving behind no evidence of their presence. Their services are much sought after by the various Noble families in order to dispatch rivals and enemy generals. Few Assassins care where the commissions come from only wanting a fat purse for their fee. These killers have a formidable reputation and no-one would want to get on the wrong side of them. A warning is usually enough to banish any thought of betrayal or double-dealing. A bloodied dagger found embedded in a door or some innocent servant is just one recognized sign of disapproval. Finding an unwelcome note beside your pillow in the morning can also be a sobering experience. The first thing an assassin does once he accepts a job is study the target. He wakes early and sets himself in a vantage point near the target’s home, finding a place where he can watch without drawing attention to himself. Many assassins can pretend to be cobblers, tinkers, or street-sweepers as a cover. The assassin watches everything as he works, taking note of the people passing by, the entrances and exits from the target’s residence and possible weak points in the target’s defense. Once the target emerges, the assassin shadows him, staying close enough to watch but far enough away that he won’t be noticed. He watches the target throughout the day, noting everywhere he goes and everyone he meets. Every activity is evaluated with an eye toward the job. Whenever the target settles into a location, the assassin takes the opportunity to widen his scrutiny, examining every detail of the locale. He works out strategies to approach and exit each place unseen and unobstructed. A good assassin will study a subject for days, possibly weeks, before making his move.

Should a Champion survive the endless battles while still finding favor in the eyes of their gods, they may attain the ultimate reward for their decades of dedication. Their patron will elevate the Champion to their side as an Archangel, a being of godlike power. They are mighty beyond compare, lordly creatures of awesome might. There are few who don't seek this metamorphosis where they shrug off their mortal shell and become a being of divinity but for every champion who roars their triumph as a newborn Archangel, untold thousands perish on the field of battle or simply fail to gain the acclaim necessary before their mortal form breaks down. Archangels are vast in stature, their gigantic forms twisted into new shapes. They wield powerful magic items and strange abilities and the variations between these beings are uncountable. Nonetheless, it is common for the Archangels to retain their intellect and memory. Some are awesome warriors full of martial discipline and pride. Others are master magisters with the ability to reshape reality itself. Others are peerless marksman, wielding bolt throwers like crossbows or small cannons like rifles or enormous bows. Upon ascending most Archangels go to heaven, leaving the world behind so that there is room for others to attain greatness. Sometimes, an Archangel is sent back to the mortal world to serve as the commander of a faithful army. At other times, a newly transformed Archangel continues to lead their followers who view their leader as a demi-god, which is not far from the truth. In fact, some of the oldest and most powerful Archangels are worshiped as deities becoming local gods for villages, tribes or even countries, acting as an intermediary for their patron deity.

The pike is the primary weapon of Estalian soldiers. Their extreme length makes them a hindrance on and off the battlefield but their effectiveness more than compensates. Pikes are incredibly useful at deterring enemy charges, able to present a wall of deadly spear tips at oncoming enemies. Horses are very reluctant to close with this steel hedgehog and are held at bay, making pikes ideal for combating heavy cavalry. Because of the length of the pike, it can reach multiple ranks of soldiers, the ones behind leveling them over the shoulders or between the ones in front. The best Estalian pikemen are given the title of Aventuros, well-trained veterans often in the employ of a local lord.

The people of Estalia are competent fighters; Rodeleros however are exceptional swordsmen. They are very valuable units and are at the fore of most battles. Rodelero duellists excel in the art of fighting with the sword and buckler. This style of fighting originated in Magritta whose marines found the smaller buckler suited the confined nature of fighting during boarding actions. Rodeleros are armed with a metal buckler and double-edged swords and are protected by good light armor and an open helmet. Renowned for their swordsmanship, Rodeleros are capable of breaking pike formations and wreaking havoc amongst less well armed and trained units.

A Tercio is a mixed unit of Rodeleros and Aventuros, every member armed with a pike, sword and buckler. The front-rank fight with swords and bucklers that repulse enemies who manage to penetrate the phalanx of pikes that strike from the rear. This formation takes continuous training and high morale, but the end results are well worth it. Raising and maintaining a Tercio requires time and expensive weapons, but those who do manage to form a portion of their standing army into a Tercio often need not worry about anyone marching troops into his domain uninvited.

The rich cities of Estalia are attractive targets for a range of enemies. To defend themselves the mayors and merchants raise forces and pay for their training and equipment. The Crossbowmen are excellent defensive troops; able to hit their target from far away with the crossbows, they can outshoot most other archers. Crossbowmen work as part-time soldiers and watchmen over the cities. Whenever there is a war to be fought though, they are recruited into the army as support for the pikemen, an important position to hold. The crossbow is a potent weapon ready to be used with minimal training unlike other archery weapons. It is slow to reload but makes up for it in power. Despite the Inquisition's dislike of crossbows being used by Estalians against Estalians, they are used throughout Estalia by peasants and nobles alike.

Handguns are starting to become a more and more popular weapon in the lands of Estalia. Though not as common as in the Empire there are now foundries that are making these weapons in Estalia, although many are imported legally and illegally from the Empire. Handgunners are often good shots and can be quite deadly, if their temperamental weapons do not act up. Easy to learn and operate, it is a rare sight to see an Estalian battlefield without Handgunners. The well-trained Crossbowmen and Handgunners offer fire support for the infantry units. As well as showering opponents with missile fire, they soften units that are charging nearby allied infantry units with withering support fire as well.

Feudal Estalia has a large amount of land but an even larger number of landless knights. In order to make a living many turn to the life of a mercenary. Most Caballeros are part of the nobility of the different kingdoms, small freeholders that form the shock troops of the Estalian armies. However, even though they hold the rank of knight, far from many of them holds the privileges one would associate with being of noble birth. Many Caballeros can just but afford their horse, arms and armor. In order to work themselves up in the hierarchy, they can often be seen selling their services in the armies of Estalia. Caballeros are not only as the officer class of Estalian armies but are far more active than their counterparts in many other lands, taking an active part as scouts and outriders. In times of peace Caballero often spend time hunting down bandits and wandering through the villages of Estalia acting as impromptu lawmen. The Caballeros are the backbone of most Estalian cavalry forces. The predominant difference between Estalian and Tilean or Lescatian cavalry is that the Estalians rely more heavily on speed and mobility rather than heavy armour. Caballeros appear in many forms ranging from to pistol armed brigandines to a reliable medium cavalry that is capable of breaking lighter enemy units. Excellent on the charge, they are more than capable of dishing out a very unpleasant experience to any unit they choose to fight. Typically armed with a spear or lance, sword and a pistol, these are heroic individuals of noble birth, although some may be tempted to join the bandits out of poverty or sheer boredom.

Estalian warfare has a long tradition of light mobile troops, both mounted and on foot, fighting with the Javelin since ancient times. The first Genitors were herdsmen and drovers, drafted as light cavalry to fight in the Reconquista against the Arabyans where fast cavalry was crucial. From these humble origins rose a proud tradition of professional soldiers, and most noble houses in Estalia today have a squadron of Genitors under their banner who guard their lands and manage the cattle on the ranches. Genitors can be very effective against slower troops, where they ride up to the foe and hurl their javelins into the mass. Feigned retreats are often used as a Genitor tactic to lure knights out of their organized mass formation. Of course, Genitors cannot halt a mass of well controlled, advancing knights, but the knights on their heavier and slower horses usually cannot catch or hurt the Genitors on their lighter faster horses. They can also directly engage and take out isolated, disorganized or exhausted groups of infantry or exposed missile infantry and war machines. Finally, Genitors have the discipline, weapons and armor to screen their own friendly formations as well as challenge or drive off enemy screening light cavalry.

The name Almogovar originally comes from Araby, which means raider. These warriors are light infantry skirmishers armed with javelins and sometimes light armor and shields. Almogovars are born tough and strong from constant skirmishes with beastwoman, undead and each other. Living simple lives consisting primarily of hunting and foraging, they mostly live outside of society and are cautiously looked upon by the rest of the people. These lightly armored warriors hurl their javelins at their foes to weaken their enemies and break up formations. They wield their javelins and swords with lethal ferocity and skill and make an effective supplement to the more drilled regiments of the Estalian armies.

Marines are ship-borne soldiers who can be found in the Imperial fleet and onboard the larger private vessels. They protect their ships from pirates, Norse marauders, and other raiders. Unlike seamen, whose primary duty is sailing the ship, Marines are onboard only to fight. When in port, Marines frequently form press gangs to fill out the ship’s crew. More than one unsuspecting citizen has awoken at sea after taking a belaying pin to the head from an overzealous press ganger. Due to these activities, and their own drunken brawling, Marines are resented in many seaside communities. When raiders attack, however, these same citizens are quick to accept the aid of battle-hardened Marines. Sometimes the marines form units to fight with the armies of the kingdom. Marines tend to be armed with a variety of swords, cutlasses, clubs and pistols, and sometimes wearing light padded jackets. Their ability to shoot and fight equally well is highly regarded by many generals. The Marines often sail around the main army in order to get behind enemy lines, where they can show up unexpectedly and attack the enemy's rear flanks.

The elite guards of the Estalian kingdoms, the Royal Guard are among the best of the military, armed with some of the best equipment available, they are trained rigorously. As a sign of their position the Royal Guard are often equipped with Estalian made muskets, which are larger, heavier and better ranged than the arquebus used by handgunners. These elites usually make up the castle guard of the many Kings and Dukes of Estalia, and they are excellent shots, cutting down ranks of heavily armored knights with thunderous blasts of their treasured weapons. More than one General has thought twice about charging a massed regiment of Royal Guard, as many fine men have been cut down in their prime by a fusillade of hot lead. Royal Guard are noted for their uncouth and uncompromising attitude and are quite happy to follow up a volley with their swords.

There was a time when the Estalians only used grenades to blow fortifications to bits. One grenade will make a little hole, but fifty will turn a wall into a colander. At some point, a Grand Commander figured that what makes holes in buildings could also make holes in enemies. The Grenadiers specialize in explosive sector shooting. Armed with devastating grenades, they engage in often fatal missions to devastate the enemy ranks. These grenades are made from leaded clay and have a short fuse, projecting loads of shrapnel when they explode. Many Grenadiers better prepare for the loss of one of their limbs sooner or later, as grenades are fragile things, and not always reliable. They are especially useful against large numbers of massed ranks. While being a Grenadier is hardly considered glamorous, those who do their job well are at least handsomely paid; enough to hopefully be able to make it to an early retirement before losing too many limbs, and at the very least to have their funeral expenses paid for...

Estalia is a land of honour and gallantry, but it not necessarily justice. The countryside of Estalia is a dangerous which is rife with brigandines, criminals and those living on the fringes of society. For some, justice will sometimes be lenient with captured bandits and give them the choice between joining the military or hanging. Few choose the latter, even if it means having to serve those they earlier fought against. In times of need, many kings have been known to press these people into service by offering them coin, land, pardons or threatening their families and communities. Mountain Bandits form small scouting parties that excel at hiding in forests and cliffs where they rain death upon the foe with their bows before quickly disappearing again. Skilled at reconnaissance and carrying out sabotage actions against artillery or enemy command structures, Mountain Bandits are a useful tool that most of Estalian armies gladly count among their ranks.

There are only three knightly orders in Estalia, all of which are large enough to be spread throughout the country. The heavy cavalry knightly orders are the Knights of the Righteous Spear and Knights of the Blazing Sun. Unlike the Knightly Orders of The Empire, these orders can afford to be more selective of their membership. They mostly recruit from the Caballeros but value ability and accomplishment over noble status of birth, so anyone who proves themselves can join. As such, every knight in these two orders is the equivalent of an Empire Knight of the Inner Circle, a noble hero that has had their abilities enhanced further by the blessings of the gods.

While mortal, Athena drew many heroes to his side, but none are more famous than the shieldmaiden Fury who has now become an Archangel. The Sisters of Fury are an order of warriors dedicated to martial excellence in the praise of their god and his shieldmaiden, typically dwelling in towers near the temples dedicated to Athena. By tradition, the Sisters draw their recruits from those deemed pious enough and families consider it a great honor for their daughter to be accepted into the order. Only maidens clean of sin and true in their faith can be relied upon to have the devotion of duty and innate sense of honor. Few though the recruits may be, they must endure several years as novices during which time their devotion will be tested to the full. All are eager to prove themselves worthy to be handmaidens of Athena. The Sisters of Fury have traditionally travelled Estalia administering to the sick and poor, tending to the needs of orphans and treating the injured. As well as the healing arts, their advice is frequently sought by those about to make important decisions, for the Sisters of Fury are famed for their ability to predict the fickle course of battle. The Sisters traditionally fight in heavy armor and their favored weapon is the spear, the instrument of Athena, seen as a holy symbol, alongside the eagle and shield.

Of the three knightly orders in Estalia, the Black Guard are the least numerous. The Black Guard are warriors sworn to guard the living and dead from the endless malice of the undead. The Black Guard are quite unconventional, they exclusively fight as infantry (only using horses for transport) and are trained in the use of ranged weapons to prevent their enemies from bringing their strength to bear in close quarters. This, along with their foreboding black armor and strict vow of silence when on duty means they are shunned by most knightly orders but such is the price of duty. Black Guard are not easily frightened and will fight with great determination, especially against the undead. It's not uncommon for an entire regiment of Black Guard to go down fighting during a battle, choosing death over surrendering.

Cannons are especially difficult and expensive to produce so its the kings job to make sure his kingdom has enough artillery. Individual provinces can create cannons if they like but none are made to the calibre of the gunnery school of Magritta. The school thus creates the best cannons and distributes them to the Dukes as the Kings sees fit to protect the cities and towns of Estalia. Of course, the Dukes sometimes ends up using their weapons against each other, but technically at least they remain the property of the Kings and can be removed or replaced at any time. When a Duke is called upon to bring his armies to war he also brings any artillery that has been loaned to him.

While reopening the road to Tobaro the army of the King had continual problems with attacks by large monsters and bands of goblins taking shots at them from hiding places in the rocks. Attempts to take the large cannons of the army into the mountains for support were hampered by the steep and narrow roads. The first step was to develop a lighter gun which could be handled by troops rather than drawn by horses. This helped with fighting the large monsters but not the goblin snipers. It is not recorded when, but in a fierce engagement with a goblin archer band, a mountain gun crew ran out of cannonballs and in desperation scooped up handfuls of large stones lying by the road. When fired the result was spectacular with the stones ricocheting through the rocks cutting down dozens of goblins. Since that time mountain guns carry metal canisters of handgun ammunition to fire in their defense.

The landowners of Estalia are nothing if not creative. Usually outnumbered by their enemies they sometimes use unusual tactics. One of the most unique is the use of wild bulls with chains attached to their horns dragging logs soaked in tar and other flammable materials. They are led into battle by herders who light the logs on fire and goad the bulls towards the enemy. Terrified of the burning logs, the Fire Bulls charge with wild abandon, with no regard to anyone or anything around them. The effect of the panicking bulls rushing towards the enemy lines if often devastating for anyone unfortunate to stand in the way.

Estalian War Dogs are a mixture of wolfhounds, deerhounds, and mastiffs, and can stand up to about two and half feet tall at the shoulder and weigh in at some ninety pounds, making them large intimidating opponents. These dogs are powerful, fast and fearless. Their value to the Estalians can be seen in the way they protect their hounds. The dogs are often given quilted cotton armor as protection against enemy missile fire. As a defense against throttling by enemy warriors, War Dogs are commonly equipped with a spiked leather collar. War dogs play a role in skirmishes and larger battlefield engagements, but it is rare for their handlers to set the dogs upon large, unbroken enemy formations. Their principal role is to guard positions, track enemies and bring down fleeing warriors.

Becoming a hero is not the farthest one can advance, there is still very far to go in the power that one can gain. The Angelic Mounts, also known as Steeds of the Gods were once horses but the blessings of the gods have caused them to grow to prodigious sizes. The ground itself is blessed or purified by their stride, the air around them shimmers with divine energy and their roars can send shivers down the spine of the bravest of monsters. Only the most trusted and brave may ride one for an Angelic Mount has become intelligent and benevolent and do not allow the unworthy to ride them.

Pegasi were once mundane horses but the blessings of the gods from their hero master have caused them to sprout wings, gaining the ability to fly. Their blessings have made them considerably smarter and they share such a strong bond with their master that they seem to be able to anticipate commands before they are uttered. While they may appear to be graceful beasts, they are every bit as sturdy as well-trained warhorses. When carrying riders, they are fearless, and will employ their mighty hooves with deadly accuracy, capable of staving a soldier's head in with a well-placed blow.

Another artificial beast is the Opinicus. Opinicus were made in the previous age in imitation of the griffons, the most significant difference being that they have the front legs of the cat they resemble, rather than the claws of an eagle. Since their creation, many Opinicus have escaped into the wild, becoming integrated into the local ecosystems. Opinicus swoop down on their prey, screaming war cries as they come. They continue to attack until no opponent is left moving. Survivors of Opinicus attacks often have dreams of being hunted down and rent limb from limb for years afterward. Despite being large and monstrous creatures, Opinicus have reputations as noble beasts and loyal beasts. This is in part due to their proud and regal bearing – Opinicus are not ravenous and frenetic like Manticores. Instead an Opinicus strikes with swift and precise grace, its motion poised and controlled. Yet this elegance in no way undermines its deadliness, for an Opinicus is more than capable of using its claws and razor beak to rip a foe apart. Feral Opinicus are canny creatures and expert hunters, able to anticipate their prey's every move. Once a target has been spotted, an Opinicus will relentlessly stalk it, waiting days if need be for the correct moment to strike. The ear-splitting shriek of a diving Opinicus is highly feared and has been known to send entire armies ducking for cover, lest one of their numbers be the beast's chosen quarry. A patiently hand reared Opinicus can be trained to bear a rider upon its back, making a formidable and loyal mount that can even be taught to anticipate a wide range of commands.