Temraakh (RidingBeast)

Climate/Terrain:	Any non-mountainous	Hit Dice:	2+2, 3+3, 4+4
Frequency:	Uncommon	THAC0:	19,18,17
Organization:	Herd	No. of Attacks:	2,2,3
Activity Cycle:	Day	Damage/Attacks:	1-4/1-4, 1-6/1-6, 1-8/1-8/2-7
Diet:	Omnivore	Special Attacks:	Nil
Intelligence:	Semi(2-4)	Special Defenses:	Nil
Treasure:	Nil	Magic Resistance:	Nil
Alignment:	Neutral	Size:	L
No. Appearing:	2-8	Morale:	Unsteady (5-7), Unsteady (5-7), Average (8-10)
Armor Class:	7, 7, 6	XP Value:	35, 65, 120
Movement:	24, 18, 15

Where more than one value is shown, the values represent Swift, Courser, and Destrier respectively.

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Temraakh, or RidingBeasts, are nearly as common a mount across the face of Arr-Kelaan as the horse. They resemble a cross between a six-legged cat (like a displacer beast) and a horse. Their bodies and necks are horse-like, but their limbs and tail are more feline. Likewise, the head of the temraakh resembles an elongated feline head with triangular ears, vertically slitted eyes (which see well in the dark), and whiskers above the eyes and extending from the cheeks. Male temraakh often develop lion-like manes about their head and forequarters. Temraakh also possess the sharp teeth and rough tongues of felines. Their coloration runs from the deep blue-black of displacer beasts to pure white, though most are some shading of earth tones.
Temraakh come in three sizes called Swift, Courser, and Destrier. Swifts are the temraakh equivalent of light war horses, coursers equate to medium war horses, and destriers to heavy war horses. In every case, the temraakh, due to its feline ancestry, is more competent in battle than the horse. Destriers in particular, can be trained to be nasty combatants; especially if their talons are steel shod (+2 to damage).
Temraakh have carrying capacities 10% less than their horse equivalents. A temraahk saddle is specially designed to conform to the animal's rather complex musculature and typically fastens before and after the second pair of legs, positioning the rider slightly forward of the second shoulders so as not to compromise the power source of the double pair of rear legs.
Temraakh walk like felines and camels, moving all of the legs on one side in unison. Luckily for their rider, they maintain a very straight line of motion and lack the characteristic swaying of camels. The soles of their paws are very tough, but when moving over rough terrain (rocky or otherwise damaging to paws) the temraakh will move at no faster than half its normal movement rate except for a brief run of 200 yards or less. In addition to movement rates identical to horses with respect to Walk, Trot, Canter, and Gallop, temraakh can also Sprint topping their Gallop speed by 9. This Sprint can only be maintained for 200 yards (400 yards for a Swift), after which the temraakh must rest (movement no faster than a walk) for one hour for each 100 yards sprinted.

Combat: In combat, all temraakh rake with their front claws. Destriers will also bring their sharp teeth to bear upon an opponent. Like horses, temraakh can be trained to take commands by knee pressure and make excellent mounts for cavaliers and paladins.
Mounted combat from aback a temraakh is similar to fighting from horseback. Temraakh riders rarely use couched lances, however, preferring light spearing lances which are held in the hand and extend only a few feet beyond the temraakh's head. Such lances are used to deliver potent, accurate strikes to mounted of foot attackers. A strike made while the temraakh is sprinting does double damage.

Habitat/Society: Temraakh form small family prides very similar to lions. The temraakh's gestation period is about 8 months. Female temraakh give birth to only a single cub (young temraakh). When born, temraakh show more feline features than equine. The cub is weaned after nine months, learning to forage and hunt with the adults in the pride. As the temraakh matures it begins to develop more equine features until it matures after two to three years; it is considered adult at age five. The usual life span of a temraakh is 25-30 years, though rare exceptions have lived to age 45, and hard-worked temraakh rarely live past age 10.

Ecology: Temraakh can be found wherever Humans are found, but are most at home on open plains or savannas. Though temraakh possess cat-like teeth, they are also capable of consuming vegetation and can subsist on grains. However, a ridden temraakh must be fed meat at least once a week to maintain proper health. If meat isn't available, the beast will begin to lose hit points at the rate of one per day, with a likewise loss of movement rate, until it can be given the proper food. A meal of meat and a day's rest can restore starvation lost hit points.
Temraakh typically cost twice as much as their horse equivalent (300gp, 400gp, 800gp respectively), except in lands where they are the primary mount where they may only be 50gp more expensive than the equivalent horse.


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