Unicorn

Throughout history, the term unicorn has been applied to a number of animals, both factual and mythological. This article deals mainly with a mythical horse that has a long horn protruding from the top of its head.

This stylistic depiction originated in medieval Europe, based on travelers' tales of an Asian animal, possibly a rhinoceros. In some folklore, the unicorn can only be tamed or ridden by a virgin, and eating its body parts bestows healing. It is often held to be stronger and more spirited than horses.

While modern popular cultural typically accepts the unicorn as an equid, some medieval depictions gave it a beard and cloven hooves like a goat.

In Harry Turtledove's fantasy worlds, the nature of unicorns varies from story to story.

Unicorn in After the Downfall

Unicorns co-existed with horses in the magical world that Captain Hasso Pemsel found himself in. To ride a unicorn did not require virginity, but required strong magical abilities. Hence, they were the favored mounts of wizards.

Much to Pemsel's surprise, his latent magical talents allowed him to master unicorns. He proved this to a group of doubtful wizards by mounting and riding one of their steeds. He also enriched his purse since they wagered he couldn't do it.

It had long been assumed that unicorns would only allow the tall, blond, blue-eyed Lenelli to ride them and would not tolerate any of the short swarthy Grenye on their backs - one of the points which the Lenelli habitually cited as "proof" of their racial superiority.

However, when the Grenye army was on its way to a decisive confrontation with the invading Lenelli, they encountered in a wood a unicorn who allowed Lord Zgomot, the Grenye ruler of Bucovin, to ride him - to the great surprise of Zgomot himself. This greatly boosted the morale of the Grenye, who saw it as a good omen towards the coming battle - and so it indeed proved.

Unicorn in The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump

When the flying carpet transporting it broke down, a unicorn broke out of its cage and became very agitated. David Fisher, who was commuting by, wondered if they could a find a virgin anywhere in Angels City that could calm the beautiful beast. A nunnery, he thought before he passed out of sight and mind of the scene, might be their only option.

Unicorn in Darkness

Unicorns were popular mounts for noblemen in Derlavai, and officers rode them during the Derlavaian War.

Unicorn in Every Inch a King

Unicorns could only be ridden by virgins. While this made them unsuitable as cavalry mounts in warfare, they were popular in the circus, where non-virgin acrobats would put on a show by attempting to ride one. Dooger and Cark's Traveling Emporium of Marvels had an act where Madame Ilona attempted to ride a unicorn. Her flips across its back, and cartwheels and somersaults around it, kept audiences riveted. Her skimpy outfit did not hurt either.

Unicorn in "Honeymouth"

A unicorn would have been the ideal cavalry steed, if not for the fact that it created intense feelings of sexual arousal in any non-virgin who rode it who was not a virgin. Eunuchs were tried, but they weren't aggressive enough. Children were also tried, but they didn't make adequate soldiers. Women soldiers didn't work, either. The only person who was able to ride a unicorn and keep his mind on the battle was Coradin, nicknamed Honeymouth.

Unicorn in "None So Blind"

Unicorn was the name given by the Baron Toivo expedition to the tropical continent from the Empire of Mussalmi to animals the size of mountain goats they discovered high in the equatorial mountains.

The animals had white fur, long flowing tails and a single horn in the center of its forehead. They strongly resembled legendary unicorns so the name was applied automatically. An immediate dispute arose among the savants in the expedition as to whether they should be classified among the horse kind or the goat kind. Since males had a single hoof on each foot and females had two, no immediate resolution could be reached.

The mage Kyosti wondered what preyed on the beasts since their numbers were significantly less than the plants which formed their food supply. One specimen was sacrificed as bait, being laid out in an outcropping with several marksmen hiding nearby. In this way, the expedition first discovered the large reptiles they named dragons.

Unicorn in The War Between the Provinces

Unicorns were the mounts favored by both Detinan armies during the Civil War. Jeb the Beauty and Ned of the Forest were some of the best-known unicorn-riding officers among the Northern rebels.

The donkey was a species closely related to the unicorn. It looked less impressive, as it lacked a horn on its head, and its argumentative temperament made it unsuitable as a mount.

Literary comment

While unicorns and donkeys exist in this world, horses apparently do not, but there are inconsistencies in this matter.

See also

• Nuggle, another fantasy equid.