Tirawen

An enormous cousin of the little reef sea horse, growing eight to twelve feet long, with the same blunt horse-like head and curling, tapering tail. Schools of them drift along the prevailing currents, grazing on plankton and weed and shying away from anything larger than themselves. Their natural defence is a sharp head-butt, but those trained from a young age by coastal folk learn to wrap their long prehensile tail around a foe to bind and restrain it. Prized as swift, agile mounts beneath the waves, they move as freely up and down as forward, and their keen senses make them excellent lookouts. Predators and hungry raiders hunt them for their tender flesh.

Behavior

Travels in schools led by a dominant individual, following the currents.
Grazes peacefully on plankton and seaweed in warmer depths.
Flees rather than fights unless cornered.
Trained mounts coil their tail to constrict and pin enemies.
Uses keen senses to warn riders of approaching danger.

Abilities

Head Butt. A hard ramming strike from its bony snout.
Tail Constriction. Trained mounts bind a man-sized foe, fouling spellcasting and melee.
Vertical Agility. Moves up, down and sideways as nimbly as forward, dominating three-dimensional water combat.
Keen Senses. Sharp sight and heat-vision in the dark depths make it a vigilant sentinel.

Drops & Crafting

Tender flesh prized as a coastal delicacy
Tough hide for water-resistant leather
Strong tail sinew for cordage and bindings
Dried decorative specimens traded as curios