Dark Unicorn | Tyrrapedia: Encyclopedia of Tyrra

Dark unicorns are a fairly recently (past 1000 years or so) documented phenomena, though they may have existed earlier and just been unchronicled. They appear much in the same manner as a true unicorn, except for coloration. They are an unnatural black color. No one is sure of where they come from, theories tend to focus on one of three possibilities:

They are true unicorns who have been corrupted by dark forces. how this is done usually involves the animal being tricked to commit atrocities, usually through alchemical elixirs (an example would be feeding the beast hallucinogens, berserk and paranoia poisons and letting hem run rampant through a corral of young children/other innocents) Parasitic infestation by chaos spirits is another common hypothesis as a means. Regardless of the method, the creature becomes evermore a force for corruption and darkness.

They are unicorns who have, at their core, given over to rage and vengeance. Being so consumed with hate (even toward the un-natural) darkens ones spirit. Such is the case with the unicorn. this is often dismissed as a allegorical tale, to keep people from becoming inquisitors and vigilantes.

They are analogs of the true unicorns created by one of the courts of power. Either chaos lords or the forces of the balance to offset the effect of the true unicorns.Another similar theory is that the Law knights originally stole away the dark unicorns (at great peril) and hid them in a featureless demi-plane. anytime they feel their side is losing, they release this agent of chaos, hoping to force people to their own rigid philosophy.

Irrespective of their origins, Dark unicorns are quite evil. They have a taint of corruption about them, that causes death and abnormality whereever they go. Similar to true unicorns, any standing body they drink from becomes effected. In their case, the water becomes putrescent, causing a variety of harms to the imbiber. Reliable reports have mentioned still births and hideous offspring among animals as well as the races of destiny (humans, Orcs, dwarves, etc) . Other reports indicate wounding effects, slowed natural healing, weakness, tainted blood, hallucinations and addictive effects (similar to euphoria poisoning)

Wounds from their horn are said to fester and rot, causing additional damage, sometimes damage unable to be healed by earthen magics. Death from this wound is said to be agonizing and almost certainly guaranteed to raise one as undead (under the beasts limited intelligent control). Undead and severely chaotically sympathetic persons are the only ones who are able to safely approach the beast, but unlike their cousins they will almost never allow a creature to ride them.

The bite of a dark unicorn is said to cause weakness, potentially due to their preference for rotten and putrid food. Their kicks are often reported to rend armor asunder, although whether this is a result of the force of the blow, or some corrosive effect is unknown.

The blood of the Dark unicorn may be used as a type of vorpal poison (whether this requires alchemical compounding is unknown to me) against beings of law. Lord Ki-shia Watanabe, a famed Law knight of the far east is said to have been slain permanently by a volley of arrows tipped with Dark unicorn blood some 500 years ago. Bathing in the blood of a dark unicorn will allow one to pass amongst mindless undead without being recognized as living. It may impart a chaos taint.

A dark unicorns horn is not only a powerful formal component, but a potent weapon, but requires a magical rendering to prevent it from harming the wielder. It is usually formed into a carved short sword, wound in adamantine. Descriptions of such blades usually include an unearthly sickening glow about them, and the ability to wound as necromancy. The horn is also used in the preparation of "Black Jakob", an obliterating alchemical solution.

The hide of the creature (again alchemically tanned and harvested in the proper manner) may be used to form implements of pain and torture like scourges and whips. the properties of this leather are that they do not do real damage, but cause true pain. Manacles and restraints of the material actually form maggot like tendrils that bore into the flesh of the victim requiring deep cuts to remove. They also tend to transfer some portion of the damage inflicted upon them to the wearer. Thankfully, as a result of these properties, they are only usable once. No sane person, no matter how evil or undead would ever sleep beneath one of the hides.

Unless burned, the carcass (perhaps the bones) of a unicorn will taint an area for many years if left to rot. Areas where such a beast has fallen often become havens for the wandering undead. the trees in the area tend to grow close, have stunted height and may begin to grow together and form a Darkgrove.