A Curiously Common Bait

According to several bestiaries, cow's milk is one of the most desired food substances of many magical animals. Many creatures delight in climbing a cow at night and supping from her udder, including snakes, bats, and hedgehogs. A bestiary's more fantastic tales usually recount the behavior of a magical Beast of Virtue instead of mundane examples of the breed, making a maga think that any animal that follows such behavior must be magical. A common ploy is to leave a cow unattended in a field all night and wait for a magical animal to appear for dinner.

Any animal so situated, however, is universally regarded by superstitious peasants as evil or, at the very least, an ill omen. Discovering that a magus is baiting such animals will not bode well, and the neighbors will seek to stop the efforts by any means possible. There is nothing wrong with the cow, so stealing it is always an option. What peasant doesn't need an extra cow? Chasing off the watching grogs is another option; if no one sees an adder suck from the cow, maybe it didn't happen. Hungry animals won't drink from a dead cow's udders, so slaying the bovine will also stop the threat of summoning bad luck. But theft or violence isn't the only way to stop such a dangerous practice, and villagers may instead contact their local priest or secular authority to order the wizard to cease.

need to be moved again, from summer pasture to winter, one pen to another, and from owner to buyer. Magic can greatly assist this operation. A maga can create spells and devices that shrink, immobilize, or instantly transport beasts from one place to another. Besides magic, several mundane means will also transport beasts. Wheeled cages can be drawn by oxen, sacks and barrels will hold smaller quarry, and docile beasts can be driven or pulled by a leash.

Transportation stories allow the storyguide to highlight the nature of travel in Mythic Europe, including the problems and poor travel conditions that regularly occur. The caravan leader should expect washed-out roads, fallen bridges, flooded river fords, and ever-present gangs of bandits, to name the mundane troubles that lie ahead. Magical nuisances, including faeries, demons, and other magical beasts may be drawn to the travels, interested in the rarity of hauling a griffin, Beast of Virtue, or other exotic creature.

Once at its destination, a beast needs to be contained. Hopefully, the maga has had the foresight to construct an appropriate building (see earlier). If not, or if she has captured a creature she didn't anticipate, the beast will need to be held in a makeshift pavilion or ad hoc pen until an adequate structure is built. Magical wards are invaluable for keeping creatures, provided the beast can be held in check until the ward is finished. Delays and unforeseen events are always good targets for stories.

The Saddle of Settling the Wild Stallion

ReAn 44

Pen: 30, constant effect

R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Ind (up to Size +3)

When placed on an animal's back, this saddle calms the beast, allowing it to be easily handled and even ridden.

(Base 4, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +2 Size increase; +1 frequency, +3 environmental trigger, +15 Penetration)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (88), 2 seasons (66), 3 seasons (59), 4 seasons (55)

Instantaneous Transportation of the Captured Beast

ReAn 60

Pen: 30, 24/day

R: Touch, D: Mom, T: Ind

Instilled in a shepherd's crook, this device instantly transports an animal to anywhere that the wielder has an arcane connection to, typically a predetermined pen or cage. The wielder holds the arcane connection against the crook's shaft and touches the animal. Once the command phrase is spoken, the animal is transported away.

(Base 35, + 1 Touch; +5 frequency, +15 Penetration)

Base Level Interpretation: Rego Corpus base level 35 instantly transports the target to a place that the caster has an arcane connection to, and the Rego Animal guidelines explicitly state that the Rego Corpus guidelines can be used for animals.

Required Lab Total: 1 season (120), 2 seasons (90), 3 seasons (80), 4 seasons (75)

The Staff of Convenient Shipping

This staff has two powers. It shrinks an animal to a more easily managed size, and then changes it into a crate. These small crates can then be stacked and shipped, allowing easy transport of large orders.

Shrinking to the Convenient Size

MuAn 60

Pen: +30, 24/day

R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Ind

This power shrinks the animal 4 Sizes. It will not affect animals that start at greater than Size +7.

(Base 4, +1 Touch, +3 Moon, +2 additional Size reduction, +2 Target Size adjustment; +5 frequency, +15 Penetration)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (120), 2 seasons (90), 3 seasons (80), 4 seasons (75)

Changing to the Convenient Shape

MuAn(He) 55

Pen: +30, 24/day

R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Ind

This power turns an animal into a crate for a month. The animal does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe while under this effect.

(Base 15, +1 Touch, +3 Moon; +5 frequency, +15 Penetration)

Required Lab Total: 1 season (110), 2 seasons (83), 3 seasons (74), 4 seasons (69)