Sparkhoof Horse

Sparkhoof Horses

Sparkhoof horses are a rare breed of horse found in Creation, amongst the breeders and priests of the Marukan Plain. They can originate with any of Creation’s horse breeds, though most root in Leopard Horse or Painted Horse stock, for they are not originally the result of breeding but of divine intervention.

Hiparkes, god of horses and horse-riders, takes an active hand in his purview, encouraging those who worship him to ride well and breed ever-finer steeds. When the god is particularly impressed by a rider or breeder, he will bestow his blessing upon the horse with whom they are paired. Amongst the Marukan, the breed is known as ‘the Blessed’ or ‘the Finest’.

Blessing of Hiparkes

The Blessing of Hiparkes changes the horse... its hooves become strong as steel, its muscles more lean and powerful, its coat fading to shades of grey and its mane darkening to grey-black. It becomes faster, gains endurance, and is a ferocious combatant with both hoof and essence-infused bite.

Mechanics

As a Horse, +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Valor, Essence 2 (Awakened Essence), Essence Pool X motes, Essence Bite (on successful hoof or bite attack).

Breeding

The greatest miracle of Hiparkes’ Blessing was discovered by the breeders of Marukan as they attempted to breed the best horses they could. While breeding a Sparkhoof horse to another horse produces offspring that seem to be of finer quality than the average, breeding Sparkhoof to Sparkhoof is a different matter: most offspring from such pairings are stillborn, but a small number survive, and those that do inherit the Blessing of their parents, being Sparkhoof horses themselves.