Difference between revisions of "Tiagra"

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It was probably during the [[Mage Wars#The Second Chaotic Period|Second Chaotic Period]] that the Tiagra saw the most widespread use. During this era, rogue mercenaries were extremely common, and these types of fighters prized Tiagras. It wasn't just a steed, it was a partner and a fellow combatant. In particular, during the end of the Dynastic Period and transition into the Second Chaotic Period, this was especially true.
 
It was probably during the [[Mage Wars#The Second Chaotic Period|Second Chaotic Period]] that the Tiagra saw the most widespread use. During this era, rogue mercenaries were extremely common, and these types of fighters prized Tiagras. It wasn't just a steed, it was a partner and a fellow combatant. In particular, during the end of the Dynastic Period and transition into the Second Chaotic Period, this was especially true.
  
While accounts from the First Chaotic Period are long-gone, it is well documented that [[Uther]] made heavy use of Tiagra in his [[Uther's Long March|long march]]. In his own words: "Were not a horse much better for the beurocracies of command, I would most certainly raise one of these animals for my own". He is said to have loved them, and organized many elite units, devising intricate battle strategies. Whenever possible, he would organize squadrons of ten to twenty fighters, each with at least three Tiagra, and use them to great effect. Uther called them "My kitty-grinders" for the way they tore through enemy formations.
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While accounts from the First Chaotic Period are long-gone, it is well documented that [[Eieber]] made heavy use of Tiagra in his [[Eieber's Long March|long march]]. In his own words: "Were not a horse much better for the beurocracies of command, I would most certainly raise one of these animals for my own". He is said to have loved them, and organized many elite units, devising intricate battle strategies. Whenever possible, he would organize squadrons of ten to twenty fighters, each with at least three Tiagra, and use them to great effect. Eieber called them "My kitty-grinders" for the way they tore through enemy formations.
  
 
Sadly, following the end of the Mage Wars and the start of the [[Ages#The Golden Age|Golden Age]], Tiagra again fell into disuse. Incorrect accounts circulated that they had been used (and according to some made) by the [[Marcon Alliance]]. And while later Golden Age historians would often claim that this led to large-scale Tiagra slaughter, contemporary accounts disprove this.
 
Sadly, following the end of the Mage Wars and the start of the [[Ages#The Golden Age|Golden Age]], Tiagra again fell into disuse. Incorrect accounts circulated that they had been used (and according to some made) by the [[Marcon Alliance]]. And while later Golden Age historians would often claim that this led to large-scale Tiagra slaughter, contemporary accounts disprove this.

Revision as of 17:36, 16 November 2018

Tiagra were a species of large, cat-like creatures used as battle steeds during the Mage Wars. They were created originally by magic and later bred for several thousand years before likely 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 its form by 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 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 steeds; the females were made larger so as to bear more young.

The females were modified to be longer and slower, able to produce and feed litters of 20 kittens. 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 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 steeds specifically for this fantastic speed. Unlike normal cats, Tiagra do not require long periods of rest, and can typically remain active for 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 principal changes to the Tiagra was making them omnivorous, and 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 animals could eat anything, they preferred meat, and feeding them the bodies of your enemies made economic sense.

Medicine

One major advantage the Tiagra had over the horse lay in its ability to recover from injury. While a lame horse often had to be killed, an injured Tiagra 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 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 beside their animals, especially in colder climates. Many accounts survive of the camaraderie soldiers and warriors shared with their Tiagra, of the trials they endured to protect each other. Even outside combat, Tiagras were highly sought-after by explorers and rogue fighters for their resilience and close connection to humans.

Of interesting note was the Tiagra's containment, or lack thereof. The animals never had to be tied up, and seldom needed paddocks. So strong was their bond to their particular human that they followed them quite willingly and stuck close. It was typically only when the rider had to go away on foot that the Tiagra needed to be fenced in, otherwise they would invariably follow their master. It should also be noted that fences were effectively symbolic, as a riderless Tiagra commanded a 35-foot vertical leap.

Training

Tiagras tended to develop a strong bond with a single person, with whom they would become life-time partners. Typically a warrior would pick his Tiagra while the kitten was still nursed by his mother. Once the animal was weaned, the rider (usually in training himself) would take on the task of raising and feeding his new cub, usually allowing the animal to follow him wherever he goes (or she; altough only male Tiagras were used as steeds, they were extremely popular amongst female warriors).

The Tiagra was specifically engineered to grow to maturity very quickly, but because of the size of the litters it is still a several-year process. One commentor writing during the Dynastic Period (when Tiagras were not heavily favored) said that "had [I] desgined the animal, I would have had it birth four large cubs instead of a score of small kittens, thus allowing each cub to mature in less than a year". In fact, Tiagras took six years to fully mature, but could be ridden as young as three, and were considered "battle-ready" by four. As part of the training, warriors would often take their juvenile Tiagra into battle with them alongside a horse (by some accounts occasionally riding a horse of his own). This helped desensitize the animals to battle.

Because of the lengthy training and bonding period, most armies still required traditional cavalries. The Tiagra riders, then, became elite troops. A single armored Tiagra with rider was considered worth twenty heavy cavalry units. Riderless, still good for at least twelve. Only warrior-tribes used Tiagra cavalry exclusively, and among these it was common for a single warrior to have as many as five Tiagra with him on the battlefield at once. Riding his best, while fighting beside the others.

History

The earliest recorded account of the Tiagra comes in B.G.A. 3440, by which time they were already in wide-spread use. Most likely they were created before 3500 B.G.A, but were certainly not around before 3600. A breeding manual from 3260 B.G.A. suggests an original creation date of 3531, but it is unclear as to whether they were actually made then, or if the authors of the manual only acquired them at that time.

By the 2900s, Tiagra's had were common throughout the interior of the Greater Continent and spread to the Agras Plain via Korrinth. Feral populations were rare (some surviving accounts indicate that even feral-born cubs would seek human companionship) but many populations were using them heavily in a military context. Perhaps the main weakness of the Tiagra should be noted here: as a steed for battle, they were second to none (except perhaps the Arugolaa), but outside of battle they were effectively useless.

The Tiagra population waned heavily during the Dynastic Period. While infintely breedable and easily trained, Tiagras tended to develop a life-time bond with only a single human rider (probably a deliberate a part of their original makeup). This made them ill-favored by many of the larger powers, who preferred animals that could outlive their riders and take on new masters. Or, more accurately, animals that could be killed and riders who didn't have to wait several years for a new one to mature. Horses, because they could be bred and trained en-mass, and because cavalrymen could be trained the same way, were far more popular.

Many armies kept Tiagra for their elite units, and many more smaller bands kept them. During the Dynastic era, private breeders throve, selling Tiagra as exotic pets and for personal protection (though more difficult to feed, Tiagra made much better guard animals than dogs). They also found use as hunt animals, being considerably easier to train than falcons and quite a bit more fun.

One contemporary account goes: "They were great fun to have as pets. Much more friendly and personable than lions, of course, being more like dogs or even massive house-cats. Unfortunately, much like house cats, they were nearly impossible to train. They would protect you from attackers, sure, and they were great fun to hunt with; though in reality the hunting trip consisted more of you following them and watching them hunt, than them waiting for any direction from you. For any other duties, they were essentially worthless. You couldn't train a Tiagra to heard your sheep. You might be able, with much trial and error, to teach one on command to go out into the field and kill a sheep for you. And, if you were exceptionally good, you might teach them to drag it's corpse back to you. In general, just keeping the Tiagra from killing your livestock was a chore in itself. But they were still quite comforting to have about, and wonderful with children".

Interestingly enough, Tiagra were particularly disdained by the Marcon Alliance. Because the Marcons used slave armies, they had little cavalry at all, and never even attempted to use Tiagra of their own. Meanwhile, their enemies made great and devastating use of them. Marcons seldom gave their front-line soldiers any armor at all, instead relying on numbers. This meant a typical Tiagra-striding warrior could rip his way through hundreds of enemy soldiers without the need to unsheath his own weapon.

It was probably during the Second Chaotic Period that the Tiagra saw the most widespread use. During this era, rogue mercenaries were extremely common, and these types of fighters prized Tiagras. It wasn't just a steed, it was a partner and a fellow combatant. In particular, during the end of the Dynastic Period and transition into the Second Chaotic Period, this was especially true.

While accounts from the First Chaotic Period are long-gone, it is well documented that Eieber made heavy use of Tiagra in his long march. In his own words: "Were not a horse much better for the beurocracies of command, I would most certainly raise one of these animals for my own". He is said to have loved them, and organized many elite units, devising intricate battle strategies. Whenever possible, he would organize squadrons of ten to twenty fighters, each with at least three Tiagra, and use them to great effect. Eieber called them "My kitty-grinders" for the way they tore through enemy formations.

Sadly, following the end of the Mage Wars and the start of the Golden Age, Tiagra again fell into disuse. Incorrect accounts circulated that they had been used (and according to some made) by the Marcon Alliance. And while later Golden Age historians would often claim that this led to large-scale Tiagra slaughter, contemporary accounts disprove this.

Instead, lacking any real use (even in the Dynastic Period, they were still common as war-steeds), Tiagra breeding simply dropped off. As armies disbanded and nations turned their swords to plowshares, civilians found little use for the massive cats and simply stopped buying them. It was largely due to bad information; care manuals written at the time claimed the animals required a very strict and expensive diet (when in fact they could eat almost anything), and were ferocious and difficult to handle (again, they were actually quite gentle and made excellent companions; it took considerable training to turn them into fighters, and then they only attacked on command).

Possible Extinction

No exact date is known for the extinction of the Tiagra, but by the middle of the Golden Age they were gone. Like many creations of the Mage Wars, they could not survive in the wild and relied on human intervention. However, it is well-documented that during the Mage Wars, Tiagra were exported to many distant worlds, and though none have been found to be living, there is still the distinct possibility.

It is also possible that wild populations of Tiagra are alive in remote regions of the Interior on the Greater Continent. They originated most likely along the Nara River, a region which was abandoned at the end of the Dynastic Period and never re-inhabited. While numerous expeditions have visited other parts of the Greater Continent, none has ever been to the Nara River Valley region.