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Deathsteed

Description

Death can come quietly, but it can also come down upon you like a storm, trampling you under its hooves. The deathsteeds are the favored creatures of Kélet, often nicknamed the 'messengers of death'. They are distinctly magical creatures, infused with some minor fraction of divine energy that has warped them into hybrid creatures of flesh and fungus. This has left them with sturdy and flexible bodies, perfect for navigating the caverns of the Downside and its dangers. They are exceptionally fast and known to stubbornly chase a target to the ends of the caves. If they feel threatened they can release a puff of spores to choke out their target, weakening them and creating an opening to escape.

Intelligence and Behavior

Their divine bond makes them more intelligent than nearly any other animal, which is seen in the understanding they have with their riders. Their riders will often hold conversations with them and they seem to understand and even respond through snorts or body language such as a scraping of the hoof. They are known for choosing their own rider, and only obeying that person (with an exception made for Kélet herself of course). They cannot be broken, or even truly trained. They only obey out of their own volition and if a rider has lost the respect of its steed, it is hard to regain. While they may not obey anyone else, they may carry or let another ride them in very rare cases, usually limited to emergencies and rescue actions.