Maximilian de Mereling
New member
Out of Character Information
General Information
Physical Information
Further Information (new fields can be added in addition those already predefined)
Strengths
(List at least two strengths or advantages of this creature.)
Weaknesses
(List at least two weaknesses or vulnerabilities associated with this creature. Explain these weaknesses and how they can be exploited.)
Neutral
Historical Information
Considered amongst the prized equine breeds of Merelais, the War Percheron is descended from the Destrier de Merelais, but its precise origins are mysterious and kept secretive on purpose. While their earliest generations ironically displayed a soft and gentle demeanor, after periods of prolonged warfare and heated combat, visionary commanders noticed the potential of the first bloodlines of the percherons beyond mere logistics and weight-bearing. Through deliberate breeding and harsh conditioning, certain lines were transformed into instruments of war capable of delivering crushing charges against even the most disciplined infantry. Yet, even as their brutality became known by members of the royal court, the wrath of the War Percherons conflicted with the elegant image of the Kingdom, and thus their reproduction was fiercely filtered by royal decree out of pressure from those more principled sectors of society.
Met with skepticism by more traditional cavalry officers, the War Percheron has been tested amongst military officers, in select, key engagements, but have not been deployed in any battles of note due to reservations from conservative stakeholders in the Kingdom. Faced with particular hesitation especially from the Chevaliers, who favor Merelesian Destiers, traditional court factions were able to convince the Crown from implementing them in the Aether Wars, even as their potential was offset by loss after loss. Instead, the War Percherons have been restricted from battlefield use by those refusing innovation and progress in the face of protocol and ceremony, relegating their devastating powers against the tired and failed. While bloodlines have formed in selected stable houses in key duchies and fiefdoms inside the kingdom, the capital has been zealous in keeping them closely-guarded, debating whether they are noble companions or creatures of heresy and bloodlust as well as the ethics of such aggressive equines.
Whilst King Lestat refused to accept them into royal forces, with the fall of his regime and the brewing frustrations with the past, several forces have begun to more steadily use and mount the War Percherons, especially against the La Croix usurpers who took advantage of the chaos following the collapse of centralized authority. Instead favored by the Gendarme, though Chevalier resistance has remained, the ferocity of these mighty equines and the limited, but increasing battles they've observed have caused a revision of sorts to begin, with more seasoned warriors and war-riders taking them on. Whilst their use remains state-secret known only to those few who initially used them for research purposes, as knights and courtiers seek to turn the tables against their Ostrien enemies their taboo has been growing less and less widespread as results speak for themselves and efficiency is evidenced counter against symbolic prestige. Instead a growing symbol of resistence and Merelasian pride, the War Percherons have become emblems of those seeking to arm themselves against the encroachment of enemies, namely those rallied by the infantry lines of Karl I.
- Objective: To define the Merelais Percheron as a definitive heavy shock cavalry mount used exclusively by kingdom elite.
- Category: Creature, Non-Playable Race
- Image Credit: None/myself via Midjourney.
- Development Thread: N/A
- Permissions: Usable only characters from Merelais or associated with Merelais.
General Information
- Name: War Percheron de Merelais
- Aliases: Merelesian Juggernaut, Merelais War Percherons, Ironshield Chargers.
- Classification: Mammal (Equine)
- Intelligence: Semi-Intelligent
- Longevity: 20-25
- Population: Rare (Their breeding and raising is a Merelais state secret tightly-restricted to upper noble & royal stables and state-chartered horsemasters)
- Diet: Herbivore
- Locations: Kingdom of Merelais. (Namely Par'Leu as their breeding and rearing is treated as a state secret legally limited to research & development)
- Habitat: Open plains, fortified war-studs, and military training grounds; requires large grazing lands and structured conditioning environments.
- Magical: No
- Description: Mighty and majestic, yet mythical, the Percherons of Merelais are an exceptionally powerful equine bred and raised for the specific purpose of war and battle. Sacrificing aesthetic beauty for raw, destructive power, War Percherons are towering, incredibly-well muscled and conditioned for sheer aggression and violence at a moment's notice. Used sparingly due to their intensity to deliver cataclysmic shock charge damage, especially against infantry formations, War Percherons are unequivocal in their martial focus and brutality of scale. Where other horse breeds might be larger in size for weight-carrying purposes, War Percherons are arguably the largest and most muscular warhorse in Merelais, if not the entire continent. Feared in likewise fashion because of their temperament as for the devastation their charge often leave behind, riders of these great creatures are often considered considerably skilled for the amount of experience needed to claim them.
Physical Information
- Average Height: 1.80–2.00 meters at the shoulder.
- Average Weight: 950–1,300 kg
- Average Wingspan: N/A
- Average Length: 2.8–3.2 meters
- Colour Variation: Primarily black, deep charcoal, and iron-grey; rare war lines may exhibit dark blue-sheen coats under sunlight.
- Communication: Deep, forceful vocalizations (snorts, bellows), aggressive body posture, and strong responsiveness to experienced riders and war commands. Given their rarity, they only listen to commands in Langue de Merelais exclusively.
- Physical Description: War Percherons are immense, even among draft breeds, with exaggerated musculature, thick necks, and heavily reinforced bone structure. Their chests are exceptionally broad, allowing them to absorb and deliver massive kinetic force during charges. Their legs are shorter but denser than those of destriers, prioritizing stability over speed. Their heads are large and imposing, often fitted with reinforced chamfrons in battle. Compared to standard horses, they exhibit heightened aggression and intensity, particularly in trained war lines.
- Variants:
Aquillon Ironbreaker Perchero: The heaviest and most destructive variant, bred specifically for siege-breaking charges. Related to Aquillon War Destrier sub-breeds.
Neustravan Guardstead Percheron: Slightly more refined, used by elite household troops and royal guard units. Related to Neustravan Purebred Destrier sub-breeds.
Royal Par'Leu kinghorse Percheron: The original and rarest variant, maintained for prestige and impression, yet still exceedingly war-focused. Related to the Par'Leu Royale Destrier sub-breeds.
Further Information (new fields can be added in addition those already predefined)
- Social Ecology: Unlike their docile agricultural counterparts, War Percherons are raised under strict and often brutal conditioning. They are trained from youth to tolerate armor, noise, blood, and direct collision. Typically kept in isolated or controlled environments, they are paired early with specific riders to build trust and control. They are less social than standard warhorses and can exhibit territorial or aggressive tendencies, particularly males.
- Languages: N/A (Though uniquely responsive to trained verbal commands and rider cues in Langue de Merelais)
- Special Qualities: N/A
Strengths
(List at least two strengths or advantages of this creature.)
- Devastating Charge Momentum.. Their immense mass allows them to generate overwhelming kinetic force, capable of breaking shield walls, trampling infantry, and disrupting tightly packed formations.
- Extreme Durability.. Thick musculature and reinforced skeletal structure allow War Percherons to endure impacts, carry heavy barding, and remain effective even under sustained battlefield stress.
Weaknesses
(List at least two weaknesses or vulnerabilities associated with this creature. Explain these weaknesses and how they can be exploited.)
- Limited Speed and Maneuverability.. Slower acceleration and poor turning ability make them vulnerable to flanking maneuvers, skirmishers, and ranged harassment.
- High Resource Cost.. Require enormous amounts of food, training, and specialized care, making them rare and difficult to replace if lost.
Neutral
- Psychological Weapon. . Their sheer size and presence often terrify enemy infantry, sometimes breaking morale before impact. This this effect diminishes against disciplined or veteran troops.
- Strict State-Control . While they may be individually traded as resource goods, the breeding, training, rearing and education techniques needed to make this breed viable elsewhere is kept under lock & key by the Kingdom of Merelais, highly-regulating their use abroad.
- Controversial Creatures. . Though few deny the force and ferocity of these mounts, many debate whether their use is morally acceptable or instead reprehensible. The debate around them has limited their historical deployment in widespread war and combat.
Historical Information
Considered amongst the prized equine breeds of Merelais, the War Percheron is descended from the Destrier de Merelais, but its precise origins are mysterious and kept secretive on purpose. While their earliest generations ironically displayed a soft and gentle demeanor, after periods of prolonged warfare and heated combat, visionary commanders noticed the potential of the first bloodlines of the percherons beyond mere logistics and weight-bearing. Through deliberate breeding and harsh conditioning, certain lines were transformed into instruments of war capable of delivering crushing charges against even the most disciplined infantry. Yet, even as their brutality became known by members of the royal court, the wrath of the War Percherons conflicted with the elegant image of the Kingdom, and thus their reproduction was fiercely filtered by royal decree out of pressure from those more principled sectors of society.
Met with skepticism by more traditional cavalry officers, the War Percheron has been tested amongst military officers, in select, key engagements, but have not been deployed in any battles of note due to reservations from conservative stakeholders in the Kingdom. Faced with particular hesitation especially from the Chevaliers, who favor Merelesian Destiers, traditional court factions were able to convince the Crown from implementing them in the Aether Wars, even as their potential was offset by loss after loss. Instead, the War Percherons have been restricted from battlefield use by those refusing innovation and progress in the face of protocol and ceremony, relegating their devastating powers against the tired and failed. While bloodlines have formed in selected stable houses in key duchies and fiefdoms inside the kingdom, the capital has been zealous in keeping them closely-guarded, debating whether they are noble companions or creatures of heresy and bloodlust as well as the ethics of such aggressive equines.
Whilst King Lestat refused to accept them into royal forces, with the fall of his regime and the brewing frustrations with the past, several forces have begun to more steadily use and mount the War Percherons, especially against the La Croix usurpers who took advantage of the chaos following the collapse of centralized authority. Instead favored by the Gendarme, though Chevalier resistance has remained, the ferocity of these mighty equines and the limited, but increasing battles they've observed have caused a revision of sorts to begin, with more seasoned warriors and war-riders taking them on. Whilst their use remains state-secret known only to those few who initially used them for research purposes, as knights and courtiers seek to turn the tables against their Ostrien enemies their taboo has been growing less and less widespread as results speak for themselves and efficiency is evidenced counter against symbolic prestige. Instead a growing symbol of resistence and Merelasian pride, the War Percherons have become emblems of those seeking to arm themselves against the encroachment of enemies, namely those rallied by the infantry lines of Karl I.
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