An Animal-Keeper's Library

Animal Handling is the preeminent Ability for a character who hopes to raise animals. Several ancient authors have written books about the subject, starting with the Philosopher himself, Aristotle. Many of the texts focus on breeding and maintaining horses, with only a few commenting on other livestock. In either case, the knowledge is broad enough to cover other quadrupeds. The texts that are most readily available in the 13th century are listed first, followed by those harder to acquire. Animal Handling is the subject of every text.

Historically, such information was only used in regard to animals owned by the privileged: horses and dogs. The selective breeding and maintenance programs that the Romans applied to other livestock ended when the empire fell. In the 13th century, no one applies these principles to cows, sheep, goats, or swine. Consequently, those breeds have shrunk and become homogeneous. Cows, sheep, goats, and pigs exist in uniform populations with little variation, depending upon location. The average height of a 13th-century cow is approximately 110 cm at its withers (approximately three and a half feet). Selective breeding wasn't applied to other livestock until the 14th century. This doesn't mean that your covenant cannot apply these methods to other animals; being slightly anachronistic and ahead of the historical curve is all well and good for magi.

Historia Animalium was written by Aristotle and translated into Latin by Michael Scot around 1217. It is a tractatus Quality 10.

Georgicon, written by Virgil around 19 B.C., is a widely distributed tractatus of Quality 9.

Naturalia Historiae is a massive encyclopedia written by Pliny in 77 A.D. Sections of Book Eight can be read as a tractatus, Quality 7.

Hippiatrica is a veterinary treatise that was written by Hierocles in the mid-10th century. The complete book is unavailable, but sections survive which can be read as a tractatus, Quality 6.

Opus Agriculturae is a popular work, written by Palladius around 350 A.D., and is a tractatus, Quality 7.

Rei Rusticae, written by Columella around 53 A.D., is a tractatus, Quality 6.

Res Rusticae was written by the Roman Varro, and is the basis for Columella's work. It is a tractatus, Quality 6.

companion or grog-level animal handler is the Minor Supernatural Virtue: Master of (Form) Creature (Realms of Power: Magic, page 46), because it allows this character to efficiently train magical beasts. Remember that the Virtue is limited to one of the ten Forms, and a character with Master of Terram Creatures cannot train a creature aligned with Ignem, for example. This Virtue may be selected several times for a character, so it is possible to create a companion-level character who can train beasts aligned with every Form (ten selections of this Virtue). While such a character may be invaluable in the training yard, he could be next to useless anywhere else. A storyguide could stipulate that such a character must be a player character and not bought as an NPC specialist.

As characters with vocations, a menagerie's staff needs to spend half of the year working, with the other half open for training, teaching, adventures, and other departures. Since maintaining a menagerie is a daily affair, this is an abstraction. If a character actually leaves the menag-

erie for a season or more, he needs to be replaced. During this off-time, many staff members develop their vocational skills, either through training or teaching, and magi often make this a rewarding proposition with wage increases, better living conditions, and other perks. Training and teaching are effective ways to increase the skills of younger staff members, and study is advantageous for older, more experienced crew.