Animals carry gear or riders, fight in battle, and might be companions. An animal you purchase becomes your companion and uses the rules presented below. An animal companion that becomes incapacitated dies at the end of the round.

Bit and Bridle: You use a bit and bridle to control the steed you ride.

Dog: Smart and loyal, dogs make excellent companions and can be trained to perform in a variety of different roles. The commands a dog companion understands include such things as sit, fetch, stay, attack, heel, and the like.

Harness: You use a harness to tether an animal to a cart or wagon.

Horse: Any large animal trained or otherwise willing to bear other creatures as riders uses the rules for a horse. Examples include horses, ponies, mules, camels, oxen, and similar creatures. A horse can learn commands as a dog.

Hunting Bird: These animals are used for hunting game and to aid owners in battle. You can use their rules for hawks, ravens, and owls.

Pack Animal: Pack animals carry objects such as armor, weapons, and supplies needed for travel. Donkeys, ponies, mules, oxen, and horses are all common pack animals, while giant ants, flightless birds, and enormous worms represent more exotic offerings. See the dog entry for suitable commands.

Pet: This is a small, harmless companion animal such as a mouse, rat, cat, ant farm, songbird, turtle, tapeworm, or fish in a bowl. Pets can be commanded but cannot attack.

Saddle: A wood-and-leather seat to make riding steeds more comfortable. Saddles include stirrups.

Saddle Blanket: Such blankets are worn by a steed to cushion the saddle.

Saddlebag: A heavy leather bag that either straps onto the saddle or connects to another bag and placed over the back of a mount, a saddlebag can hold 8 items.

Warhorse: Beasts trained to serve riders in battle are accustomed to the noise and scents of conflict and keep their cool while also lending aid in the struggle. Such steeds include chargers and destriers, giant breeds of dogs, trained bears, great cats, or more exotic animals. Most can wear armor as well, which can be had for four times the normal prices.

Vehicles haul gear, make travel easier, and provide shelter from the elements. A vehicle is an object. When it moves, its Defense equals half the driver’s Agility score. Each 10 items of storage space can instead hold a passenger.

Carriage: This ornate conveyance allows passengers to travel in comfort and style. A typical carriage has a cabin with cushioned seats inside, doors to either side, and a bench in the front with a pair of lanterns to help the driver see at night. It takes two to four horses to pull a carriage. The cabin can hold up to six passengers and the bench can hold two people, one of whom drives. Most carriages have steps on the outside on which guards might stand. The cabin’s roof has room enough to store 30 items.

Cart: A two-wheeled conveyance used for hauling materials, a cart takes one horse or similar animal to draw. It can hold 30 items. A cart can travel across roads, paths, and relatively obstacle-free terrain, but does not improve the rate of progress.

Cycle: This two-wheeled conveyance moves when the driver pedals the gears. A cycle can carry one person.

Galleon: A large sailing vessel, a galleon boasts three or four masts with square rigging, and two or three decks. It can carry 500 tons of cargo. The ship measures up to 150 feet in length and 30 feet in width, and rises about 45 feet above the water. To sail a galleon, you need a crew of at least 200 sailors.

Rowboat: This small craft has room enough for six people. At least one person must move the boat by using the oars.

Sailboat: A modest-sized boat with one or more sails to catch the wind, this vessel can hold eight people and has cargo space for 20 items. For a sailboat to move, it must have at least one person tending the sails and one steering.

Wagon: Larger than a cart, a wagon features an open bed with a bench in front situated atop four wheels. It can hold 40 items. A wagon can travel across roads, paths, and relatively obstacle-free terrain, but does not improve the rate of progress.