Hirhueh

A **hirhueh** ("horse-dragon"; plural hirhuehtře) is a horse-like reptile with the tail of a fish. This creature is native to the southern seas of the planet Novantir.

They reproduce by laying eggs, like other reptiles.

Naturally, hirhuehtre tend to make hideous neighing sounds. When they are angry or to announce their territory, male hirhuehtre (and the occasional alpha female in a rare group) roar.

## History

When the Druharzans were brought out of Gausari to Novantir at the dawn of history, some of the Druharzan chiefs migrated south to establish their own kingdoms. Unlike the other Druharzans, these tribesmen called upon Makravalas, the Great Father of the Celestials. Amused by their devotion, the purple god created a beast out of his own happiness and his laughter: Makaravos the Younger, the first true hirhueh.

There was an earlier Makaravos, but it looked more like a fish, whereas Makaravos the Younger was the prototype from which all hirhuehtre were based on. Makaravos was a happy creature, delighting only in the presence of the grifajes that venerated his creator and playing with them. The god was henceforth known as Sugalrih.

During ancient times, these creatures were kept as steeds for rulers. One day, Druvara wanted to ride a hirhueh as his personal steed instead of a raptor, but he was disappointed that his pet hirhueh, Zadlontras, was not able to walk on land with his clumsy fin. He prayed for two nights, and Makravalas visited him on a cloud. He brought the king to his pet's pool, and Zadlontras woke to find that his fin was replaced with two hind legs and a long tail: he became the first arahirri. Five mornings later, three golden eggs were spotted in front of Makravalas' idol in his shrine, which hatched into little arahirri. Weeks later, nine more eggs were found: the twelve little arahirries became the ancestors of the sacred steeds of Druvara's descendants.

For this, Makravalas became the third of three high gods in the Novantirna religion, alongside Odin and Lumbariz.

During the Sixth Galactic Empire, the southern Novantirna venerated the hirhuehtre as sacred animals; whereas their northern rivals hunted and killed hirhuehtre to eat their hearts for good luck.

## Personality

Nearly all hirhuehtre are good-natured creatures, friendly and brave. It is because of this kind and just nature that angered some civilisations, who saw absolute good in such strange and beautiful creatures as immortal and unnatural, so they were also murdered.

They could be driven to feral rage as animals, but in most cases, they refuse to even eat the flesh or blood of a sapient being, unless forced to or driven to berserk madness.

## Subspecies

Gold hirhuehtre (mirsivueh) are more intelligent, being able to learn to sing, and they are the most common hirhuehtre, They are the descendants of the first hirhuehtre, therefore, they are the default. They are also more docile and trainable, willing to work with humans in exchange for meat from slaughtered livestock, great fish, and whales. Some hirhuehtre have become so used to humans that they even behave like enormous lapdogs with fins and scales!

Red hirhuehtre (rodhueh) are more ferocious, used by officers and commanders to hunt down enemies in the water and tear them apart with the rodhueh's fangs.

Royal hirhueh (arahirri(es), now arahitri) were large golden crocodiles used as steeds for the Sadřavaes kings and emperors. The arahirries had their fins replaced with two powerful hind legs to help them run across the battlefield, as their riders guided them to their prey to be torn to pieces by their fangs.

The sarrugan is a variant of an arahirri, sold as an expensive, prestigious pet. Even as a luxury creature, in some Malendor worlds, they are venerated as living hirhueh, sacred messengers of Makravalas and other heavenly deities. In those devout realms, such as Rukthan, people bow their heads and speak in hushed tones out of respect and loving devotion to the Gods, not fear, for most hirhueh are benevolent and helpful. They even extend parasols to provide shade or greet the creatures whenever one follows its handlers.

A creature similar to the hirhueh is used as a steed for Tuxavin kings and knights, aside from the faster raptors. It is known as the körtölax, and its tall legs and feathers made it look more like a wolf with a dragon's head.

Some civilisations have created corruptions of these heavenly creatures. While nearly all hirhuehtre are good-natured creatures, these mockeries were simply savage beasts and brutes, devoid of the sapience and contentment from their creator gods.

## Trivia

* The hirhueh were inspired by Adagio Dazzle and Daenerys' dragons.
* One of Makravalas' titles is the "Father of Dragons", for creating the hirhuehtre. As a result, dragons are considered sacred in Novantir religion.
* One way to call an arahirri to charge is to prod its sides with your feet and say "si-re-du" or "si-be-du", archaic Sadravaen words for "hurry up".

## See also

* Glov-teg
* Jechmek, a notable hirhueh
* Loong