Nagian unicorn

Art by Memuii | Brissinge | Bughs22
Rarity:
Common mount
Price range: 7-15
Customs are created by Brissinge

Custom import requirements: Completing this quest.
 
CLASSIFICATION
Species: Mesfes (equine)
Subspecies: Nagian unicorn (saltwater horse)
Breeds: Malacos (shore), Carcharos (opensea), percifore (reef), Dolphir (coastal), Baltir (coldwater), lophiifos (abyssal) 


GENERAL DESCRIBTION & ABILITIES
Lifespan: 25-30yo
Life cycle: nursing foal 3-6months, weanling to 1yo, yearling to 2yo, adolescent to 3yo, adult till 20, senior 20+
 
Special abilities: Walking on water, breathing under water (except baltir and dolphir), ability to protect rider from drowning and water pressure, various safe dive depths
 
Breeding details: Chance for twins 90+, no more than two foals at once
Extra pictures for proper offspring growth: Foal with alteast one of parents, playing foal, foal exploring water for first time
 
Nagian height chart and breed visuals overview. From left: Baltir, dolphir, lophiifos, carcharos, malacos, percifore.

MALACOS - shore breed [click me]
SPE END JUM GRA AIA WAA STR ELE INT DRE OBE COU RES
3
2
3
4
-2 3 0
3
2
2
2
3
0
 
Malacos symbol
Height and build: 160-165cm, medium or light warmblood build
Habitat: Sea shores, bays, gulfs and shallow sea meadows, bright kelp forests
Feed: Seagrass, kelp, small fish, sea cucumbers, crustaceans, regular horse food
Max. dive depth: 800m
Danger: Drying out in hot, dry environments.
Visual references 
Breed sheet | Size chart | Fin variations | Traditional equipment

🌲 WILD BEHAVIOR
Untamed in nature, fairly brave and loners. Both mare and stallion leave herd in age of  2yo. They roam freely and if they stumble upon any nagian unicorn of opposite sex, they try to mate. They spend together roughly one month.
If mating is successful, both seek herd. Both mare and stallion live within herd till mare gives birth and foal stops drinking maternal milk. After that parents depart from foal and each other to roam again. This process repeats till stallion's age +-15 and mare's loss of fertility. Malacos of this age will start to seek herd they were born in. With this herd they stay till old age (or they die searching for the herd). Once malacos starts to feel fading away, it departs from herd again and dies in solitude.
Herd structure has strongest stallion as leader, other structure are nannies and fighters. All stallions possess role of fighters that protect herd, all mares have role of nannies that take care of left behind foals.
If two youg free roaming stallions meet each other nearby mare, they will fight who gets to mate with her. Same applies to mares. If two mares meet one stallion they fight over him. If stallion tries to mate with unwilling mare, they fight. Fights also decide who is leader herd. Some nannies fight over foals, as they attach themself to it greatly.
 
🏑 DOMESTIC BEHAVIOR
Tamed malacos won't mind living with multiple other horses, however it's not mandatory for them. They will do fairly well alone in big enough paddock. But tendencies to free roam in search for partner remains, so they will attemp running away to find mating partner. This repeats for both mare and stallion one in two months, and the strongest lust prevails for roughly 3days. Once malacos reaches age of "returning back to it's home herd" they will try to get there no matter how far away it is. If malacos was born in domesticity, it will try to return to it's original stable. If this attempt fails, it's likely next year at similar time the malacos will attempt it again.
 
πŸ›– STABLE REQUIREMENTS
Malacos don't require larger bodies of water nearby, however they do better if they can fully submerge occasionally. Stable doesn't need heating nor roof, as malacos do well in both hot and cold weather and they adore rain.
Examples of malacos coats.
CARCHAROS - pelagic breed [click me]
SPE END JUM GRA AIA WAA STR ELE INT DRE OBE COU RES
3
3
2
3
-2 3
2
2
2
3
0
3
1

 
Carcharos symbol
Heigh and build: 160-165cm, athletic or quarter-like build
Habitat: open sea areas of various depths and temperature of 12-24°C
Feed: fish, cephalopods, jellyfish, kelp, regular horse food mixed with fish meat
Max. dive depth: 700m
Danger: Drying out in hot, dry environments.
Visual references 
Breed sheet | Size chart | Fin variations | Traditional equipment

🌲 WILD BEHAVIOR
Carcharos are found usually in herds of 10-20 with members scattered on large territories (roughly 2km2 with depth range of 500m). Each member of group keeps for himself at least 100m2 of area, sometimes they group up in pairs or thirds within herd. Herds come together to sleep or if larger predator occurs. Since carcharos are predators themself, they also hunt together if stumbled upon larger group of fish or prey.
On begging of spring heavily pregnant mares group up in large herds counting hundreds, to migrate from Sibbarian ocean to Milestone ocean. This travel takes time till beginning of summer. Mares give birth in warm and rich shallows of Lost sea. At end of summer mares with foals return to Sibbarian ocean. Stallion at end of summer head to meet them. Herds regroup in approximately middle of migration road and in differently separated herds return to their territories.
Smaller carcharos herds often group up with sharks as they mutually benefit from strength in numbers while hunting large fish shoals, however sharks hunt down foals if unguarded.
Herd hierarchy has emphasis on mares. Lead mares lead herd and decide which stallions of group are allowed to mate. Any stallion that wishes to mate is obligated to fight lead mare. Fight is not to death, it serves for lead mare to learn what quality stallion is and whether he can be allowed to mate with her mares. Lead mare has also her deputy, that takes temporarily her place when lead mare is pregnant.
 
🏑 DOMESTIC BEHAVIOR
Domesticated carcharos are quite sociable, however strong mares will clash with any other lead stallion from different equine species and they will have to establish dominancy hierarchy within stable society. Once dominancy is established, mares don't display exceptional aggression anymore. Mares will find warmest part of stable/paddock to give birth. Carcharos don't display migrative behavior in domestic conditions, but they enjoy long runs with big group. Carcharos get very lively in morning dawn.
 
πŸ›– STABLE REQUIREMENTS
Carcharos prefer open area and they overall suffer if kept longer in indoor stables. They need large paddock, so they can be constantly on a move. It is recommended to give them fairly deep and big body of water with stock of fish so, they can hunt or spent nights on water surface. Overall, they do well in fresh water, but monthly saltwater baths are mandatory to keep skin healthy.

Examples of carcharos coats.
PERCIFORE - reef breed [click me]
SPE END JUM GRA AIA WAA STR ELE INT DRE OBE COU RES
4
2
4
3
-2 4
0
4
1
3
2
2
-1

 
Percifore symbol
Height and build: 155-160cm, light warmblood body build
Habitat: Coral reefs of all kinds, sandy shallows, rocky shallows, deep-water reefs up to 400m, rocky reefs, kelp reefs.
Feed: fish, coral polyps, mollusks, kelp, seaweed, bananas, regular horse food
Max. dive depth: 400m
Danger: Drying out in hot, dry environments.
Visual references 
Breed sheet | Size chart | Fin variations | Traditional equipment

🌲 WILD BEHAVIOR
Percifores are territorial and they prefer to live in couples. Territory of one couple is approximately 1km2 with depth range of 400m (if sea depth allows it). They are fairly shy and avoid too open areas, especially at night. In dusk, dawn or bad weather, when water visibility is low, percifores lay down among corals and wait in hideout till weather gets better. They seek reef caves or cliffhangs to sleep in. Territories are always posed around cliffhang or cave.
Both stallion and mare get aggressive if intruder enters territory in their sight if there's foal or pregnant mare. They attack without hesitance and persuade intruder until they kill it or it escapes the territory. Each summer, around time of longest day, larger herds of young percifores gather at sandy sea bottoms to perform wedding ritual. Herd forms sort of circle and every now and then stallion enters middle of circle, bows down it's head, and then starts to jerk itself in fairly elegant manner. Horn is being driven into the sand and pulled out with sudden movement of a head to create cloud of sand in which stallion dances. If any mare is impressed by stallion's dance, she approaches the stallion and neighs. Stallion then freezes in place and mare gently slides her horn along his heck. By that couple is created and they together leave ritual circle to find new territory.
If more mares are interested in one stallion, they both swirl up sand with their horn. Mare that makes bigger sand cloud gets to partner up with stallion.
Solitary percifore do not posses territory and move freely untill they partner up.
 
🏑 DOMESTIC BEHAVIOR
Bonding to one individual is very strong instinct and in domestic conditions it can apply to any other animal or humanoid. In that case percifore get's protective of such creature and loyalty could be easily compared to dog behavior. However this bond can be easily broken if opposite sex percifore is available.
Percifore will keep it's distance from larger groups of bigger or potentially dangerous animals.
In domesticity percifore do perform wedding ritual and couple then needs new area that they could consider new territory. As in wild, they will protect it as long as there's pregnant mare or foal. It is exceptional if percifore lets anyone enter to even do a maintenance.
 
πŸ›– STABLE REQUIREMENTS
They need some body of water, preferably with hideout inside. If kept without it, they can get severe skin condition due drying out. Their color turns dull, fins are kept clamped and if untreated percifore will be more susceptible to various skin infections. They need saltwater baths at least once a week. Despite territories in wilderness are huge, in captivity they can be okay with bare minimum of regular paddock size and shelter.

Examples of percifore coats.
LOPHIIFOS - abyssal breed [click me]
SPE END JUM GRA AIA WAA STR ELE INT DRE OBE COU RES
3
2
2
2
-2 4
0
2
2
4
0
4
2
 
 
Lophiifos symbol
Height and build: 165-170cm, light Arabian build
Habitat: Deep-water coral reefs, hydrothermal vent regions, sea cliffs, abyssal plains, dark water meadows, submarine ridges, black reefs, crystal kelp forests
Feed: fish, carrion of all kinds, mushrooms, coral polyps, various nuts, sea cucumbers, soft vegetables, garlic, mollusks, deep-sea arthropods
Max. dive depth: 5000m
Danger: Drying out in hot, dry environments, direct sunlight hurst eyes.
Visual references 
Breed sheet | Size chart | Fin variations | Traditional equipment

🌲 WILD BEHAVIOR
Sharp-fin
Living in dark depths (1500-4000m) makes lophiifoses technically taken unsocial equines as there's no need of herding in order to survive. Food is sparse and each lophiifos hunts independently. Depending on physical appearance lophiifoses hunt actively, or passively by luring prey (if numerous glowing spots present in coat).
Lophiifos has exceptional senses and vision detecting bio fluorescence on 100m range, which gives them advantage over most abyssal creatures, thus they are apex predators being able to take down even larger creatures, such as abyssal leviathan. Their neighs have high pitched nearly ultrasound component that spreads in water and has similar function to wolf howl. Lophiifoses use these neighs to communicate with nearby individuals. They group up to take down larger prey and mares have distinct mating calls.
Lophiifos stallions fight to death over calling mare and winner mates with her. Pregnant mares group up are slowly ascending to surface, since shallower waters are warmer and richer. Group of mares is accompanied by two or three strong stallions that fiercely protect them. This ascending is slowly paced to take up whole pregnancy period. When mare reaches depth of 50m she gives birth. Lophiifoses never ascend close to surface during day, unless it's really cloudy. Mares with foals spend five months in depth range of 50-500m. After that time they slowly start to descend into depths again. This descending takes roughly 1 year and during that time foals adapt to life in depths.
Soft-fin
Their behavior differs from sharp-fin in depth and relationship to sun and light. Soft-fin lophiifos live in depths around 500m and don't descent at all. They don't mind ascending during sunny day. However, in this depth is easier for large creatures to hunt down solitary individuals and soft-fins unlike sharp-fins are not considered as top predators. They are often being hunt by sharks and finflare varans. This makes them slightly more sociable than their deep-water counterparts.
 
🏑 DOMESTIC BEHAVIOR
Sharp-fins and soft-fins have unify behavior in domesticity. They are mostly active at night, during day they hide unless it's dark cloudy weather, preferably with heavy rain. If visibility is lower (heavy rain, mist), they often use neigh to localize other individuals or to roughly estimate terrain based on sound spread.
Occasional lurking or tries to hunt down smaller creature are common, higher frequency of such behavior signals insufficient diet. Lophiifos won't display any discomfort being on land, however in explicitly low atmospheric pressure will act very lethargically with signs of being in pain. This can be prevented by sufficiently deep body of water to hide in.
 
πŸ›– STABLE REQUIREMENTS
At least three meters deep body of water with either stairs or slope in as entrance is mandatory part of stall, to prevent serious illnesses, such as dryness of skin or pressure problems in long term. Water should be preferably saltwater, but brackish water is enough for highly domesticated lophiifos. Paddock doesn't need to be too large, but needs water with live fish, so lophiifos can hunt.

Examples of lophiifos coats.
DOLPHIR - coastal breed [click me]
SPE END JUM GRA AIA WAA STR ELE INT DRE OBE COU RES
2
2
5
3
-2 3
2 4
5
-2
2
1
0
 
Dolphir symbol
Height and build: 170-175cm, baroque body build
Habitat: widely distributing in seas along tropic and temperate belt
Feed: Fish, seagrass, kelp, mollusks, shrimp, regular horse food
Max. dive depth: 500m
Danger: Can hold breath only for 30 minutes.
Visual references 
Breed sheet | Size chart | Fin variations | Traditional equipment

🌲 WILD BEHAVIOR
Dolphirs are highly sociable. They form herds counting up to 15 adults members and their herds consist of mares, foals and youngsters of both sex. Adult stallions travel in groups of two or three. Smaller herds can form larger groups of 100 or more and occasionally exceed 1000 for short amount of time.
Herds occupy hunting or grazing ground for couple of hours, then they move to different one. Thanks to this their position constantly changes and they are on a move most of a day.
At night dolphirs lie down on water level with few individuals watching over herd underwater.
While on move they run close to surface or at water level, playing with waves, jumping, and splashing water in playful manner.
Hunting is done in strategic way, when few dolphirs chase fish shoal together and others run through and catch fish. They change roles, so everyone can eat. They also impale fish to share with less successful or with foals.
When group of stallions meet herd with willing mares, they try to mate, or fight over a mare if there's more stallion groups. Stallion groups have established "your turn" system. Only one stallion of group mates with encountered herd. When they meet another herd, it's another's stallion turn.
Dolphirs are hunted by big sharks and wyverns, which keeps numbers in balance.
 
🏑 DOMESTIC BEHAVIOR
Need to stimulate brain and to move are strong. Don't ever let them get bored. Or keep them alone. That would lead to severe depression, even self-harming behavior or aggression to keep brain stimulated. They require company of other equines or animals in order to stay sane. They will roll in mud whenever there's a chance. They will curiously explore everything new in their surroundings and will play with it to understand.
If there's any animal or horse dashing around their paddock, they will joyfully run along fence and jump as long as they see it.
They will gladly accept any training especially complicated dressage, as it triggers their intellect.
 
πŸ›– STABLE REQUIREMENTS
Dolphirs don't require body of water in their paddock or stable, but they will enjoy it if present. Doesn't have to be salty or too deep. The don't do well if kept for longer time inside enclosed stable, it is best to keep them all year long outside. They don't mind shifting temperature. It is mandatory to give them big enough paddock, best of long rectangular shape, so they can run.
Examples of dolphir coats.
BALTIR - arctic breed [click me]
SPE END JUM GRA AIA WAA STR ELE INT DRE OBE COU RES
0
3 3
2
-3 2
4
2
2
2
4
2
4
 
Baltir symbol
Height and build: 180-195cm, draft body build
Habitat: Colder waters of Norther and Southern ice ocean, colder pelagic waters, iceberg plains
Feed: Fish, kelp, shrimp, crustaceans, coldwater coral polyps, jellyfish, regular horse food
Max. dive depth: 500m
Danger: Can hold breath only for 30 minutes.
Visual references 
Breed sheet | Size chart | Fin variations | Traditional equipment

🌲 WILD BEHAVIOR
Baltirs are usually found in herds of five to ten, sometimes 20 individuals. Groups might be consisted of only females and foals, or by young and adult males. Male only groups are called 'units' as there's observed drilling of younger or lower ranked individuals. Dominant stallion patiently trains them in docility. It is interesting that baltirs show among themself very docile and peaceful behavior, yet obviously dominant individuals are respected and feared. If there's exceptionally aggressive individual, higher ranked or dominant individual (both mare or stallion) will challenge him to duel. It doesn't involve physical fight but slow-paced wrestling. Baltirs clash chest to chest and start to push, trying to push opponent back. Strongest and more stable individual wins. Baltirs barely use their horns for fight. It's more observed to serve for breaking of ice crust.
Ice crust breaking can be performed in ice thickness up to 50cm. First baltir disrupts structure of ice, then in full speed charges it head first. Strong neck and thick skull withstand the impacts and baltir breaches out of ice.
Baltirs sing. They have two kinds of neighs. Short land neighs and sea neighs that are deep, long and echoing. By this they can communicate on longer distances and if baltir stands back touching ice crust above him, vibrations are felt also through thinner ice crusts and can be detected by baltir standing atop of ice within range of 10m.
Baltir herds start migrate closer to equator each autumn. In this migration male and female groups merge and mating take place. Dominant stallions are in charge of picking mares they want to mate with. Lower rank stallions usually don't get chance to mate at all, as mares reject them.
At spring baltirs start to return to cold waters. Mares usually give birth next year on migration to equator.
 
🏑 DOMESTIC BEHAVIOR
The docility and peaceful behavior is their dominant trait. Stallions nor mares won't feel need to prove dominancy over different equine species including other nagian breeds, however they will form social structure similar to wild behavior with other domestic baltirs.
Tricky can be keeping single baltir with more temperament equines, as it will likely copy their behavior including aggression.
Domestic baltir won't run around paddock as crazy mustang, but will keep it's peace and tranquility. Occasionally it might run, but more likely will conserve energy. If controlled by humanoid, or part of dominant equines herd, baltir willingly submits their lead even if it's bad. Domestic baltirs are often very gullible towards humanoids. Autumn triggers both mare and stallion mating instincts.
 
πŸ›– STABLE REQUIREMENTS
Can be all year long kept outside, only for hot summer weather is refreshing body of water mandatory. In snowy winter they will act little bit more lively than normally.
Pay attention on food. Baltirs are prone to getting overweight as their natural metabolism is programmed to keep blubber in order to protect them from cold and their nature is to conserve energy. Best ways to get them moving is harness them. Their instinct is to prove as stronger than their opponent - the cargo.
Examples of baltir coats.


TRIVIA

  • Did you know, that nagian unicorn species was accidentally created? It was based years ago, on Dragon hill tournament: Let's rock on field which was just completely random horse design I needed to look dangerous.
  • Nagian horns are glass like material (tougher than glass, but with similar transparency) and can penetrate even steel armor. Also if horns get injured (crackling, break off, cut off) it becomes milky clouded
  • Older generations of unicorns were bred as battle units, trained for cruelty and hate towards non-naga creatures of all kinds and for hunting, sort of substitute hounds. But new generation of nagians that is imported among terrestrials are trained and raised by different standards, so majority of them are not killing machines nowadays.
  • There's existent rare disease that causes nagian unicorn to drip blood-like fluid from horn. It's called "capilaritis"
  • Two lophiifos nagians Tequilla and Rum were each bought for 1000 dA points from decision of buyer. Thanks to this duo was soft-fin variant of lophiifos created