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Unicorn (Dungeons & Dragons)

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(For the mythological creature, see: Unicorn) Template:Infobox D&D creature

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a unicorn is a mysterious, majestic magical beast based upon the unicorns of European mythology. It resembles an imposing and beautiful white horse, with glowing eyes, a silky mane and tail, and the stereotypical spiraling, shell-shaped horn coming from its forehead. Unlike a horse, they have cloven hooves, and males have a goat's beard.

Characteristics and habits

Unicorns exist to protect forests from intelligent creatures. They dwell deep within their forests, and shun most creatures, only conferring with feys such as pixies, dryads, and sprites. They will show themselves to save their forests, however. Unicorns are strongly magical creatures, with most of their abilities coming from their horn. They can live up to 1000 years, and show effects of aging only weeks before death. They are able to sense evil nearby, and radiate an aura which protects them from most evil spells. The touch of their horn can both heal wounds and cure poison. Also, once a day, a unicorn can teleport to anywhere in its forest home (although they cannot teleport in from outside the forest). Unicorns attack by impaling foes on their horns, or with their hooves.

Unicorns are highly prized for the magical properties of their horns and their value as mounts. There has been no official way as to how D&D unicorns are captured, but in myth, they were lured from their homes with virginal maidens.

Unicorns, unlike most animalistic creatures, are capable of speech. They can speak Common and Sylvan.

Many unicorns revere the god Eachthighern.

They are chaotic good in alignment.

A baby unicorn named Uni features in the Dungeons & Dragons animated TV series.

Two "sub-species" of Unicorn exist in two separate campaign settings of Dungeons & Dragons. Faerun, the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, is home to the Black Unicorns; evil counterparts created through magical breeding programs by the Zhents. Black Unicorns, like normal Unicorns, will only allow human or elf maids to ride them- though their Evil alignment means that their rider must also be Evil. Drow Maids are preferred riders. Ravenloft is home to the fan-created "Shadow Unicorn"; a vile monster that, unlike normal or Black Unicorns, cannot be ridden. Shadow Unicorns are all the descendants of a fan-made Darklord named Addar, a corrupted Unicorn, and are the result of his mating with the female Nightmare that helped lure him into evil- and to Ravenloft.

References

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