The Moonmane Charger is a slender, graceful horse with a build that conveys both speed and ethereal quality. Its coat ranges from silvery grey to soft moonlit white, with a mane and tail of unusual luminosity; in moonlight they seem almost to glow, though this is a trick of the highly reflective hair structure rather than any magical property. It stands a bit taller than most riding horses, with long, clean legs and a way of moving that barely disturbs the ground it covers. In forested terrain, especially at night, it is nearly silent.

Bred in Maxan in the forests of [Antaea](Antaea/Welcome to Antaea), where elven breeders developed the line through generations of selective pairing with the forest-native horse populations. Wild Moonmane bloodlines exist in Antaea's deepest forests. The breed is found throughout Antaea and is occasionally exported to buyers who can afford the price, primarily elven communities and wealthy rangers in other continents.

Intelligent, perceptive, and deeply attuned to natural surroundings. The Moonmane Charger reads its environment with uncommon awareness; it will register threats before its rider does and communicates this through posture and breathing shifts rather than panic. It is not a horse for domineering riders; it responds to trust and partnership. Once a genuine bond is formed, rider and mount move with near-wordless coordination.

Relies on speed and silent movement as its primary defense. It is not a combat animal, though its hoof strikes are respectable. Its greatest tactical value is in stealth and rapid movement in forest terrain, where it has a significant advantage over any other mount.

Price: 175 gp in elven settlements; 300 gp outside elven settlements

In [Antaea](Antaea/Welcome to Antaea), the Moonmane Charger is revered as a symbol of the elven relationship with the natural world. These horses appear prominently in Antaean ceremonies and celebrations, and elven scouts consider a well-bonded Moonmane partnership to be one of the deepest working relationships available to a ranger. The legend of the first Moonmane (born during a lunar eclipse, its coat absorbing the magic of the moonlit night) is a foundational myth of Maxan's equestrian tradition.

Large Beast, Unaligned

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 22 (3d10 + 6)
Speed 60 ft.

Senses passive Perception 11
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)