Unicorns

Discovered within a layer during the apocalypse, the unicorns replaced the horses of a group of layer raiding nomads encountered by the Explorer. Large sturdy and frightfully intelligent the unicorns make for excellent steeds, if the rider treats them with the respect they demand. Their ability to store mana inside their heir provides for numerous sorcerouce and alchemical application

## Intelligence

Exactly how smart unicorns is something of a scholarly debate. The first specimens came form a Layer and yet where able to be domesticated by the nomads that found them with ease to the extent that it is practically considered common wisdom that they actually self domesticated with little input from the nomads, and here in lies the core of the debate.

Proponents downplaying the unicorn's intelligence oft sight this as a terrible move, abandoning a layer that was, as far as the tales go, rather nice. Certainly it wasn't falling apart like the world the nomads took them back too. This argument always spirals off into the debate about whether layers continue to exist after the they close, and if the unicorns could possibly have known this, which is it's own can of worms. The more common argument is that they are beasts of burden. Well treated beasts, but treated as beasts nonetheless. These people argue that the unicorns where made a race who wanted them to be easy to tame and train, which necessitates some intelligence, yes, but the idea that they might be anywhere close to being as wise as humans is preposterous.

The polar opposite of this group argue that they are actually smarter. than humans. Despite being domesticated Unicorns will not stand poor treatment and, as it is a bad idea to get on the wrong-side of an animal three times your body-wight with a giant horn, let alone an entire herd or even species of them (your average domesticated animal has never had a successful war of liberation waged in it's name after all). As a result Unicorns generally get the treatment they desire which generally includes things, like shelter, heat, brushing, decorations, cooked food and other luxuries that they would not get without civilization, a civilization they cant build themselves due to their lack of hands. The argument then, is that Unicorns domesticated humans as they get far more out of the deal than them and yet have made themselves indispensable due to their many beneficial abilities. Extreme proponents of this theory even argue that Unicorns are a layer spanning parasitic species who actively seek out and attach themselves to sentience host species.

A great many sub theories span the divide between these two ideas, with most people settling somewhere closer to the first for the sake of their own pride and sanity.

Whatever the case, Unicorns are smart: they are capable of understanding relatively complex instructions and patterns, form subconscious bonds with their riders allowing them to work in tandem to a great degree (something that is 100% a two way street), have some kind of language or way of conveying information between one-another and have even been known to show both loyalty and and hatred towards symbols (such as flags or uniforms), states organizations and possibly ideologies.

In summary, unicorns are suspiciously intelligent and that intelligence can be a great boon if they at treated well, or make them more trouble than they are worth if treated poorly.

## Mana Storage

The most notable thing about unicorns, baring their large stature, beauty and striking horn, is the ability for them to store mana within their long hair, which can be visible as a for of rainbow hued reflections when said hair catches the light in just the right way. The unicorns are able to feed off of mana, and likely require it as part of their diet (which is generally goat like but trends towards finer things if they can be acquired), and also are able to store it for use later in cases where food is not available. A well fed unicorn therefor can amass quite the stockpile of magical energy, which has numerous applications

### Direct Draw

Mana can be shared with the unicorns rider, making them for excellent steeds for mages and sourcerers, allowing greater power than the mage could wield themselves from the local enviroment. At a lower level the mana can be used to enpower enchantments on either the creature's barding or on the equipment of it's rider. This sharing however needs a strong bond between rider and mount if the unicorn is to be willing to share it's power. Forced sharing is likly to end poorly at the worst possible moment.

### Sheering

Alternatively, the hair can be cut off and used on it's own for various applications. Alchemy is a notable one, as a basic magic holding ingredient is vital for supernatural chemistry and unicorn hair is incredibly versatile in that regard, acting as a battery that can enhance other ingredient's power. Mana potions are the most obvious usage, ingestion of the hair (preferably with some added ingredients to make it more palatable and digestible), but the hair can be combined with medicinal components to restore health, or more exotic ingredients to improve or spur their effects

Enchantment is another use, as the hair can be useful to either power artifacts or create batteries. Wands consisting of a rod filed with hair are a straightforwards usage, while other uses include adding it to metal during the smelting process or creating runes using it.

Careful harvesting of hair can allow the unicorns to be used as (somewhat picky and demanding) sheep that can be regularly sheered for excess hair which that can be used on it's own. Unicorns will generally demand/require fine treatment for the best quality hair if they are being farmed making it a rather expensive investment even if the profits can be equally high. Whether pmapering the unicorns produce higher quality hair because they aren't passively burning mana when their needs are met or if they bur the mana deliberately in protest of subpar treatment is an oft debated subject.