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Rifthorse

It was the darkness of that predawn time, when the moon had set and the sun had yet to rise. My company of Riders were out on the edges of the forests of Sadrata, keeping watch at a safe distance from the Rift. Last watch is a lonely hour, and I was looking forward to getting back in the saddle and riding on to the next post.   It was a tingling on my neck at first - but then, it always is. Then came the noises - the whistling of a non-existent wind, steps of an animal that, when I turned, seemed always to be coming from behind me. I drew my sword and mirror and behind me I saw it.   Rifthorses are simultaneously one of the most feared and most ignored beasts that were brought into Mythia in the untamed times. Although they typically ignore humans, the things they do to other creatures are... unearthly. We tend to try and keep away from them, and they tend to keep away from us - unless they feel like trouble, which this one clearly did. It was feeding on the remains of our meal, which Ulrich yet again had failed to put away, and the shadows rippling from its form were sucking the form out of these parts and reducing them to dust.   I approached it cautiously, walking backwards, and it raised its dark head. It seemed to stare right at me, despite its absence of any eyes or facial features. And then, suddenly, it disappeared.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Rifthorse is a being of the Rifts caused by uncontrolled spellwrits. They are forms of dark energy that typically manifest in horse shapes, hence their name. Little is known about where they gain energy from or what their internal structure looks like, if they even have one - people who get close enough to be able to make those kind of observations typically end up dead in very short order.

Genetics and Reproduction

Rifthorses are not known to reproduce as other animals. They have been observed appearing spontaneously around Rifts, and this is assumed to be their method of "reproduction".

Growth Rate & Stages

Rifthorses have not been observed to grow physically, although it has been noted by a few sources that they seem to be weaker in their sensory abilities and hunting capabilities when they first appear.

Ecology and Habitats

Rifthorses are apex predators around all Rifts as far as has been observed. They have been observed hunting other beings of Rifts as well as more mundane animals such as deer and other wildlife. They seem to prefer large game rather than any other food source, and do not appear to feed on any plants. They do not seem to have any sleep cycle, but do conform to some sort of territorial notion, as they are generally not found very far away from Rifts.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Rifthorse hunts through stealth and speed.  After securing the position of a quarry (often by its use of either a hearing or smell sense) it tracks them at high speed until within a few hundred metres of its quarry.  At this point, if the intended prey is not aware of them, it will fade into the background as though becoming invisible while moving close enough to strike.  A single strike from a rifthorse, if not deadly, can cause lifelong disability - prolonged contact is certainly fatal.   Rifthorses do not have a mouth, but appear to feed by emanating shadows which then deconstruct tissue and incorporate it into their being.  They do not ever grow, and no naturalist has posed a commonly agreed idea as to where this food goes or why rifthorses require it.  When feeding on other riftbeasts that do not have corporeal forms, they appear to rear on their hind legs for several seconds before dropping to the ground.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Although rifthorses have no visible features, they must have some way of navigating their surroundings. It is surmised that they must have some form of sight or other such sense to allow them to interact with their environment, as they hunt and move with deadly precision and speed. They are also thought to have exceptional hearing, being able to hear prey from miles away as observed by multiple Rider troops.
Conservation Status
The Rifthorse, while not actively hunted, is considered a pest and a danger to human life, and thus it is afforded no protections or conservation effort. Rifthorses are monitored by the Riders, but otherwise are ignored by the general population.

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