Animals & Vehicles
Rules for training an animal as a companion or mount are under Animal Companions.
Animals
While there are a variety of animals that can be purchased for trade or consumption, the animals listed below are most often chosen by adventurers looking for useful or loyal companions. Animals with a stat block in Creatures – Mortal Beasts use that block; the entry below tells you which. Commands and further training follow Animal Companion Advancement.
Bird, Trained Hunting. Trained hunting birds are birds of prey caught in the wild and then trained and sold. They hunt for their handler, bringing back 1, 2, or 3 meals of raw game on a successful hunt depending on size (an eagle, 4). While capable of taking some larger prey, they can rarely carry it back and instead circle to mark the kill. They also scout, circling above nearby creatures, and circle over their handler and cry when they see creatures approaching. Commands and further training follow Animal Companion Advancement. Stat block: Small, Middling, or Large Hunting Bird, or Hunting Eagle, by species.
There are premiums for the type of bird, the color, and the quality. The lowest end of the spectrum is around 1 gs for an untrained, poor-quality bird (stat block: the matching Raptor or Eagle). There is practically no upper limit to a high-quality, well-trained bird, especially for the right color and the right buyer. However, a reasonable value for a trained hunting bird generally falls between 5 gs and 50 gs. * Golden Eagle (Eagle) - Largest available hunting bird, which is capable of hunting most other birds and small mammals up to the size of fawns. * Goshawk (Large hawk) - Medium to large hawk that is a proficient hunter in woodlands, usually targeting medium to large birds and small mammals. * Gyrfalcon (Large falcon) - Large falcon that hunts other raptors and birds up to the size of geese and small mammals up to 24 lbs. * Hobby (Small falcon) - Small falcon that hunts small birds. * Lanner Falcon (Middling falcon) - Middling falcon that hunts other raptors and birds. * Merlin (Small falcon) - Small falcon that excels at hunting, particularly game birds such as quail. * Peregrine Falcon (Middling falcon) - Middling falcon that hunts other raptors and birds, up to the size of a duck. Females are larger. * Saker Falcon (Large falcon) - Large falcon that hunts small mammals and medium to large birds. * Sparrowhawk (Small hawk) - Small hawk that hunts small birds and is generally hunted by many other raptors.
Dog, Guard. A guard dog is a medium or giant breed, such as a shepherd or mastiff, trained to keep watch. They are trained to wear light barding and come with gambeson barding. They often need to sleep during the day. When traveling, they tend to ride on the wagon so that they can stay awake during the night. A guard dog will naturally approach intruders and alert its master of an impending threat, going so far as to attack if they persist into a guarded area. Stat block: Medium Guard Dog or Giant Guard Dog.
A working guard dog requires 1 sp in rations per day and requires 3 sh per day to kennel.
Dog, Hunting. A hunting dog is a medium or large breed, such as a spaniel or hound, trained to track and retrieve hunted quarry. They will naturally survey an area for strange smells and alert their master. Stat block: Medium Hunting Dog or Large Hunting Dog.
A working hunting dog requires 1 sp in rations per day and requires 3 sh per day to kennel.
Dog, Untrained. A dog of working stock that has not been trained for war, guard, or hunting work. It follows its owner and can be trained through Animal Companion Advancement. Stat block: Medium Dog, Large Dog, or Giant Dog.
| Animal | Quantity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bird, Hunting (Large) | per | 5 gs |
| Bird, Hunting (Middling) | per | 2 gs |
| Bird, Hunting (Small) | per | 1 gs |
| Bird, Hunting Eagle | per | 20 gs |
| Boar | per | 12 ss |
| Bull | per | 12 ss |
| Calf | per | 3 ss |
| Capon | per | 3 sp |
| Cat | per | 1 sp |
| Chicken | per | 1 sh |
| Cow | per | 10 ss |
| Dog, Guard | per | 1 gs |
| Dog, Hunting | per | 1 gs |
| Dog, Untrained | per | 10 ss |
| Dog, War | per | 1 gs |
| Goat | per | 3 ss |
| Goose | per | 4 ss |
| Guinea Hen | per | 2 sp |
| Horse, Donkey, Mule | per | 7 ss |
| Horse, Draft | per | 1 gs |
| Horse, Heavy War | per | 70 gs |
| Horse, Light War | per | 10 gs |
| Horse, Medium War | per | 40 gs |
| Horse, Pony | per | 2 gs |
| Horse, Riding | per | 6 gs |
| Horse, Untrained (Courser) | per | 20 gs |
| Horse, Untrained (Destrier) | per | 35 gs |
| Horse, Untrained (Palfrey) | per | 3 gs |
| Horse, Untrained (Rouncey) | per | 5 gs |
| Horse, Wild | per | 2 gs |
| Ox | per | 12 ss |
| Partridge | dozen | 4 sp |
| Peacock | per | 2 ss |
| Pig | per | 3 ss |
| Pigeon | dozen | 4 sp |
| Pigeon, Homing | per | 1 sp |
| Ram | per | 4 ss |
| Sheep | per | 1 sf |
| Songbird | per | 1 sf |
| Swan | per | 4 ss |
Dog, War. A war dog is a large or giant breed, such as a rottweiler or mastiff, trained for war. They are trained to wear light barding and come with boiled leather barding. They naturally gravitate toward simple tactics, such as flanking enemies. Stat block: Heavy War Dog or Giant War Dog.
A working war dog requires 1 sp in rations per day and requires 3 sh per day to kennel.
Horse, Donkey, Mule. Pack horse, donkey, or mule range from 5 ss to 10 ss depending on their quality. Generally, they are not trained for riding, are spooked easily, and are relatively slow moving. Stat block: Pony / Donkey.
A working animal requires 1/2 bushel of oats per day, 3 loaves of horse bread, 15 lbs of hay, or costs around 2 sp to stable per day. A donkey or mule can subsist on local flora during most of the year, depending on the region.
Horse, Draft. Draft horses vary in size, but are generally larger than even the largest war horses by some margin. However, they tend to be slow-moving and ill-suited for battle. A draft horse can pull up to its body weight. Generally, a draft horse can pull lighter loads for shorter periods of time than an ox, but are faster and can pull heavier loads over short distances. Stat block: Draft Horse.
A working draft horse requires 1 bushel of oats per day, 5 loaves of horse bread, 30 lbs of hay, or costs around 3 sp to stable per day.
Horse, Heavy War. Heavy war horses, also known as destriers, are most often stallions due to their natural aggression. Chargers are bred to carry the heavy weight of rider, armor, and barding. Heavy war horses are expensive, the least expensive around 60 gs, while powerful, well-trained animals can cost upwards of 200 gs. Stat block: Destrier — Heavy War Horse. A horse of any breed trained for this role uses it.
A working war horse requires 1 bushel of oats per day, 5 loaves of horse bread, 30 lbs of hay, or costs around 3 sp to stable per day.
Horse, Light War. Light war horses are generally well-trained rounceys, though smaller coursers serve as well. They are quick and are primarily used as light cavalry or for horse archers. Their mobility makes them effective so long as they are not weighed down, but encumbrance from heavy riders, armor, or barding can render them useless. Training and quality can result in these animals costing between 10 gs and 50 gs. Stat block: Rouncey — Light War Horse. A horse of any breed trained for this role uses it.
A working war horse requires 1/2 bushel of oats per day, 3 loaves of horse bread, 15 lbs of hay, or costs around 2 sp to stable per day.
Horse, Medium War. Medium war horses are generally well-trained coursers, though larger rounceys serve as well. They can bear most riders and barding and are effective animals for a good balance of speed and durability. Their mobility makes them effective so long as they are not weighed down, but encumbrance from heavy riders, armor, or barding can render them ineffective. Training and quality can result in these animals costing between 30 gs and 100 gs. Stat block: Courser — Medium War Horse. A horse of any breed trained for this role uses it.
A working war horse requires 1/2 bushel of oats per day, 3 loaves of horse bread, 15 lbs of hay, or costs around 2 sp to stable per day.
Horse, Pony. Ponies tend to be smaller horses, mostly for travel or show. They are not particularly quick, but are much less expensive when compared to riding horses. Their small size makes them ill-suited for battle. Stat block: Pony / Donkey.
A pony requires 1/2 bushel of oats per day, 3 loaves of horse bread, 15 lbs of hay, or costs around 2 sp to stable per day.
Horse, Riding. Riding horses are generally palfreys, prized for their smooth gait, though rounceys and coursers are often ridden. They are effective animals for a good balance of speed and durability. Their mobility makes them effective so long as they are not weighed down, but encumbrance from heavy riders or supplies can slow them down. These horses are popular among hunters, especially among nobility. Riding horses are not trained for war and can spook if subjected to battle conditions. Stat block: Palfrey — Riding Horse. A horse of any breed trained for this role uses it.
A riding horse requires 1/2 bushel of oats per day, 3 loaves of horse bread, 15 lbs of hay, or costs around 2 sp to stable per day.
Horse, Untrained. A bred horse that has not yet been broken to saddle or trained for war. Its breed sets most of its value, and it can be trained through Animal Companion Advancement. Stat block: the untrained Rouncey, Palfrey, Courser, or Destrier.
An untrained horse requires 1/2 bushel of oats per day, 3 loaves of horse bread, 15 lbs of hay, or costs around 2 sp to stable per day.
Horse, Wild. A wild horse is usually any horse that is not trained to accept a rider. Numerous factors go into the value of the horse, including size, age, and quality. A young stallion that is suitable to be trained as a heavy war horse might be valued at 20 times as much as an old pony. Stat block: one of the untrained Rouncey, Palfrey, Courser, or Destrier, chosen by the GM.
A wild horse requires 1/2 bushel of oats per day, 3 loaves of horse bread, or 15 lbs of hay. Generally, the cost to stable will always be at least 3 sp due to the additional risk in dealing with an untrained animal.
Ox. A castrated male cow that has been trained to work. An ox can pull up to 1-1.5 times its weight. Generally, an ox can pull heavier loads for longer periods of time than a draft horse, but are slower and cannot pull heavier loads over short distances. Stat block: Ox.
A working ox can graze for most of the year. Otherwise it requires 15 lbs of hay per day, or costs around 3 sp to stable per day.
Pigeon, Homing. A pigeon trained to return to a specific location, or its home. A pigeon can only have a single home. Usually, pigeons are taken from their home to a different location where a message can be attached to their leg, whereupon they are released to fly home, bringing the message with them. Roll a d10 for each flight; the pigeon is lost or killed on a 1. The failure range increases by 1 for every 100 miles past 500 miles, to a maximum of 1-9.
Tack and Feed
Full Tack. A rider whose mount wears a bit and bridle and a riding or war saddle has Dominance on Wilderness (Riding) trials to mount or dismount, to stay mounted, and to control an untrained or unwilling mount.
| Item | Quantity | Enc / Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bit and Bridle | per | L / 3 lbs. | 1 ss |
| Halter | per | L / 1 lb. | 1 st |
| Harness, Cart | per | L / 10 lbs. | 2 sp |
| Hay | Bushel | M / 30 lbs. | 2 sp |
| Horse Bread | Loaf | L [3] / 3 lbs. | 1 sh |
| Oats | Bushel | M / 34 lbs. | 2 sp |
| Saddle Blanket | per | L / 2 lbs. | 2 sp |
| Saddle, Pack | per | L / 10 lbs. | 4 ss |
| Saddle, Riding | per | M / 25 lbs. | 1 sc |
| Saddle, War | per | M / 25 lbs. | 1 gm |
| Shoeing | Set of 4 | — | 2 sg |
| Yoke | per | M / 15 lbs. | 2 ss |
Bit and Bridle. Headstall, reins, and an iron bit for steering a mount. Part of full tack (see above).
Halter. A rope or leather headpiece for leading or tying an animal. It cannot be used to steer a mount.
Harness, Cart. Leather straps and collar that hitch a single draft animal to a cart or wagon.
Hay, Horse Bread, and Oats. Fodder for working animals. See each animal's entry for its daily needs. Horse bread is a dense loaf of beans, bran, and oats that packs more feed into less weight than hay.
Saddle Blanket. A thick wool pad worn under any saddle to protect the animal's back.
Saddle, Pack. A wooden frame that distributes cargo across an animal's back. Required for Large Saddle Bags and Panniers.
Saddle, Riding. A padded leather saddle with stirrups for everyday riding. Medium Saddle Bags hang behind it.
Saddle, War. A high-cantled saddle that locks the rider in place. Trials to resist being pulled or pushed from the saddle gain Dominance. Mounting or dismounting a war saddle costs 2 AP instead of 1, and a rider cannot use At Speed to dismount while strapped in.
Shoeing. A smith fits a full set of four iron shoes. Working horses need reshoeing every 4–6 weeks.
Yoke. A wooden beam that pairs two draft animals, usually oxen, to pull together.
Vehicles
Vehicles are necessary for travel and transport of animals, people, and goods. Vehicles are costly and are usually only owned and operated by the wealthy. However, passage can be purchased on some vehicles designed for that purpose. A land vehicle travels at the Speed of the slowest animal pulling it, or its bearers' Speed for a sedan chair.
Tunnage: volume of the cargo hold that is measured in the volume of wine barrels. Each "tun" is the equivalent of 40 ft.3
Barge or Ferry. A barge is a flat-bottomed boat designed to transport bulk goods across or along a river or canal. Their size varies widely based on the intended use, but can often carry between 50 and 200 tuns. Most often a barge is powered by a pole, an adjacent towpath, or a cable. A barge is often also used as a ferry boat.
Canoe. A small, lightweight craft that is usually between 6 and 18 feet in length, though they can be much longer. Usually used as a means of transport for people or small-scale fishing. A canoe usually can carry between 1 and 5 passengers, depending on its size, and most often .5 tuns or less.
| Vehicle | Terrain | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barge or Ferry | Freshwater | 50-200 Tuns | 10 gs |
| Canoe | Freshwater | .5 Tuns | 2 sf |
| Caravel | Sea | 50-100 Tuns | 200 gs |
| Carrack | Sea | 100-200 Tuns | 400 gs |
| Carriage Coach, Ornate |
Land | 1-6 Occupants | 400 gs |
| Carriage, Common | Land | 6-12 Occupants | 10 gs |
| Cart, Ironbound | Land | 400 lbs. (500 max) | 4 ss |
| Chariot, Extravagant Riding |
Land | 3 Occupants | 1,000 gs |
| Chariot, Riding | Land | 3 Occupants | 10 gs |
| Chariot, War | Land | 3 Occupants | 15 gs |
| Cog | Sea | 40-200 Tuns | 70 gs |
| Dory | Shallows | 1 Tun | 1 gs |
| Drakkar | Any | 40-60 Tuns | 100 gs |
| Galleon | Sea | 80-300 Tuns | 2,000 gs |
| Galley | Sea | 100-200 Tuns | 200 gs |
| Knarr | Sea | 20-30 Tuns | 40 gs |
| Sedan Chair | Land | 1 Occupant | 60 gs |
| Transport, Animal | Sea | 20 Animals | 200 gs |
| Wagon | Land | 1,000 lbs. (1,300 max) | 1 gn |
Caravel. Ship capable of long sea voyages, but usually only the larger and particularly wider ships. Distinguished by its significant length for its relatively narrow width and triangular sails. A common size for a caravel is about 20 feet wide and 75 feet long. Most caravels are between 50 and 70 tuns, though they can reach 100 tuns in some instances. A caravel requires between 25 and 50 crew, depending on the tunnage. For reference, a 60 tun caravel can hold half a dozen horses and up to 100 passengers in extremely tight quarters while still providing room for crew, cargo, and other supplies.
Carrack. Ship designed specifically for long sea voyages, that could reach about 130 feet long and 45 feet wide. Most carracks are between 100 and 200 tuns, and very rarely up to 400 tuns. Carracks have both a forecastle and an aftercastle, which provide living space for officers, passengers, and the crew. A carrack requires 40 crew and in some cases can carry up to 200 or more passengers while still providing room for supplies.
Carriage Coach, Ornate. A four-wheeled vehicle with a pivoting fore-axle. Similar to a carriage, but designed for comfort and usually ornate. Can carry between 1 and 6 passengers in addition to the driver and usually requires only 1-2 animals to pull it.
Carriage, Common. A four-wheeled vehicle with a pivoting fore-axle. Similar to a wagon, but designed specifically for carrying passengers, usually covered. Common carriages can have a canvas covering, but can also be wood. Usually capable of carrying 6-12 passengers in addition to the driver, depending on the size and requires 2-6 animals to adequately pull it.
Cart, Ironbound. Relatively sturdy cart that can haul 400 lbs, or up to 500 lbs at risk. When loaded over 400 lbs, roll a d10 each day; on a 1, a wheel breaks. Can be pulled by hand or a pack animal.
Chariot, Extravagant Riding. A chariot designed for travel or processions. Ornamented to a large degree and capable of comfortably holding a charioteer in addition to one or two passengers.
Chariot, Riding. A chariot designed for travel or processions. Generally ornamented to some degree and capable of comfortably holding a charioteer in addition to one or two passengers.
Chariot, War. A chariot designed for warfare. Fitted with armor and reinforced wheels and capable of comfortably holding a charioteer in addition to one or two passengers responsible for utilizing ranged weaponry.
Cog. A single-sail round ship with steep sides and a flat bottom that is about 50 to 80 feet long and 15 to 25 feet wide. These features make them difficult to board at sea and effective at navigating shallow harbors to offload goods. Cogs are often used as military transports and can sometimes be outfitted for war. A cog can carry between 40 and 200 tuns, depending on its size and designation.
Dory. A small, shallow-draft boat between 15 and 25 feet long, most often used as a fishing vessel along the coast. These are often powered by oars, or perhaps a single sail. They can carry about 1 tun or between 5 and 15 passengers.
Drakkar. A longship that is usually between 80 and 120 feet long and 10 to 20 feet wide. The largest of this type of ship constructed, it can carry between 120 and 200 oarsmen who also act as soldiers and could carry 40-60 tuns. Longships are built for long sea voyages and can also travel effectively on rivers and lakes.
Galleon. Ship designed primarily for war, that could reach about 180 feet long and 40 feet wide. Despite relatively large tunnage, between 80 and 300, Galleons could not carry much cargo, as they are designed to carry siege engines (between 20 and 50 ballistae or springalds) and soldiers, rather than trade goods. That being said, they are capable of carrying cargo during peacetime. The crew is usually between 50 and 100 with an additional 50 or so engineers and officers. In addition, a galleon could carry up to 250 soldiers with necessary cargo and supplies for the trip.
Galley. Ship designed for both trade and war, that could reach up to 130 feet long and 20 feet wide and could carry around 100-200 tuns. Unlike many other ships, the galley relies on oarsmen to propel it, usually between 150 and 180 oarsmen on between 60 and 120 oars. These types of ships were effective when winds failed, ensuring steady progress, and were particularly safe given the number of on-board soldiers capable of defending the ship if needed.
Knarr. A trading ship built for long sea voyages, which could also travel effectively on rivers and lakes, that is about 50-60 feet long and 15 feet wide. These ships are lightly crewed, usually only 15-20, and could carry around 20-30 tuns.
Sedan Chair. Ornate boxes, usually about 2 feet by 2 feet by 5 feet that weigh around 60 lbs. They are exclusively used by the wealthiest citizens, not only due to the cost of procuring one, but the cost of employing hirelings to carry it and the occupant, usually between 2 and 4. Cost of the chair does not include hirelings to carry the chair. Frequently, these chairs are seen in cities in which the streets are too narrow to allow the passage of larger vehicles.
Transport, Animal. Transports designed to move horses across the sea are often designed specifically for that purpose. Their sizes vary widely, but almost always include ramps to bring the animals aboard. Small transports can carry around 5-10 large animals, such as horses, and large transports can carry up to 100. Most often 10-30 is common. A transport must also carry enough food and fresh water for the animals aboard, limiting the number of animals aboard for long voyages.
Wagon. Can haul 1,000 lbs, or up to 1,300 lbs at risk, about 25 miles per day under good weather and road conditions. When loaded over 1,000 lbs, roll a d10 each day; on a 1, a wheel breaks. Must be pulled by a pack animal or two, depending on the weight and type of animal.
| Part | Vehicle | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oar, Common | Canoe, Dory | 1 ep |
| Oar, Galley | Drakkar, Galley | 1 ss |
| Sail | Ships | 5 gs |
| Wheel | Cart, Chariot, Wagon | 1 sg |