demicorn lore post i promised <3 info under the cut
Pictured: two fullbody drawings of horses with horns and lion tails. One is dark grey with lighter grey hair and a red eye, with fuzz/feathers around their hooves and on their chin. The second is yellow and is wearing black and purple livery, typical of the Azerad military. The royal coat of arms is displayed on their front and back, depicting a cerberus on a checkered background, with the Sanguine and Infernal suns to its left and right.
"In recent centuries, trueblood unicorns have retreated to their ancestral forests to live peacefully in obscurity. Their legacy lives on in the humble demicorn; not as magically gifted as their unicorn ancestors, and harder to entertain than a regular horse, but invaluable to humans for their intelligence and capability in war.
Three centuries ago (c. 4590 PA), some unicorns agreed to share their genes with domesticated horses in effort to dissuade humans from capturing and exploiting trueblood unicorns. The resulting demicorns lacked the unicorns' feathered wings and towering stature, but maintained advanced intelligence and a horn that allows them to cast basic magics.
The majority of demicorns are under human ownership, with the biggest demicorn population being found in the kingdom of Azerad. Some, however, have broken free and are living wild in the Ilrune forests and Kalvar mountains. They are extremely aggressive and will attack any mortal who approaches, regardless of their supposed purity of heart.
Demicorns are virtually impossible to keep as pets. The combination of their intelligence and magical ability means they must be kept stimulated at all times, lest their boredom lead them to raze the stable they're kept in. Despite this, some nobles find them too alluring to ignore, and will purchase a demicorn foal to keep as a trophy, only for their estate to burn to the ground a few years later.
Although not legally enforced, most demicorns are kept under the Crown's control. They are excellently cared for, fed premium oats, apples, and sugar cubes, homed in the largest and warmest stables, and attended by expert demicorn handlers. Even still, demicorns are a pain to work with, as they are quick to anger and only listen to commands from people they are closely bonded to. They are not known for their loyalty. So why keep them?
They have been Azerad's greatest asset in the Demon war. They are bigger and stronger than the average warhorse, can comfortably carry up to three people on their backs at a time, and when paired with a magician, their magics can combine to a devastating effect. Combat is fun for a demicorn - they get to run free and far, use their magic at will, and blast devils to ash. Truly, if demicorns did not take such pleasure in killing, they would not have survived as long as they have. This is why it's doubly important to avoid wild demicorns at all costs. THEY WILL KILL YOU AND HAVE FUN DOING IT."
