Tiagra

Tiagra were a species of large, cat-like creatures used as battle steads during the Mage Wars. They were created originally by magic and later bread for several thousand years before going extinct early in the Golden Age.

Characteristics

It is known that Tiagra were artificial in origin, like many other creatures from the Mage Wars. Very likely, their original creators began with a large cat and manipulated it's form through the use of lesser-path magics. An adult male Tiagra is around eight nine feet in length and stands up to six feet tall at the shoulders. The females are significantly larger: up to twelve feet in length, but averaging nearly a foot shorter and with a significantly different body-structure. Only the males were used as steads, the females were made larger so as to bare more young.

The females were modified to be longer and slower, bit able to produce and feed litters of up to 20 kittens. It was observed that in the feral-born litters were much smaller, usually only 6 to 9, but typically all of the cubs would live to adulthood. Though slower than males, the females could still break seventy miles per hour in a dead run. Females have a low-slung body and short legs compared to other large cats. They have a slow metabolism(though faster than the males) and can store large amounts of energy. It has also been theorized that they possessed some magical ability(the males were known to) and that they could convert magic directly into life-force and thus sustain themselves during times of low food-availability.

The males were reported to reach speeds of up to eighty miles per hour even while carrying a fully-armored knight, but only in short bursts of perhaps a quarter-mile. They were especially prized as combat steads specifically for this fantastic speed. Unlike normal cats, Tiagra do not require long periods of rest, and can typically remain active for up to twelve hours a day.

The males have a sturdier bone structure with adaptations designed to allow for a saddle just behind the shoulders. The saddle was fitted to a special harness, the animals musculature was also modified to account for this. While not designed from the ground up to carry a rider, the adaptations made them very well-suited.

Diet

One of the key changes to the Tiagra was modifying them to be omniverous, and in fact expanding their dietary ranges far beyond that of normal animals. A Tiagra could(and probably would) eat nearly anything organic. On long marches they were usually fed the same grain as horses, but could also eat nearly any plant(including weeds and most grasses). Tiagra could even be fed table scraps, and often were. Their riders developed strong bonds, and frequently shared their meals.

Of course, perhaps the Tiagra's greatest selling-point came after the battle, when the animals were allowed to gorge themselves on the bodies of their slain enemies. Many accounts tell of victorious armies gathering and salting the arms and legs of the dead to help feed their Tiagras, which "hungered greatly for the flesh of the defeated". Much of this is probably an exaggeration, but while the animal could eat anything they greatly preferred meat, and feeding them the bodies of your enemies just made economic sense.

Medicine

One major advantage the Tiagra had over the horse lay in it's ability to recover from injury. While a lame horse often had to be killed, an injured Tiagra could typically still travel, and naturally healed quite well. They were also modified with improved healing abilities, but the cat's natural tolerance for injury made them especially resilient.

Use and Housing

The Tiagra were generally venerated among the people that kept them. They were never used as draft animals(and indeed were ill-suited to the purpose) and in fact were often not even used for marching. Soldiers rode their Tiagras into battle but kept horses for the long marches. The Tiagra were either made to walk(riderless and unencumbered) or, situation permitting, even carried on carts.

At night they slept in tents, with soldiers even bringing along blankets for their Tiagras. Since the animals tended to develop close bonds with their riders, it was not uncommon for soldiers to sleep huddled up beside their animals, especially in colder climates.