Horned steed is an elemental of Lumen, a shape called out of the Welter in the form of a white steed with a single horn. A mage casts Summon horned steed, and it comes out of the light at a gallop.
It strikes first with raw power from its horn, then with its hooves, and it is fast. Its upkeep is paid in geld and mana; stop paying and it is dismissed.
Lumen cultivators tell a story about its temper. In the Age of the First Sealborn, a veteran struck out Wen Sarai of the Newcomer's Grace shortly after she arrived, and Daegred, the Sunward made the Newcomer's Grace, which shelters a newcomer until the Covenant first weighs their kingdom. The horned steed, they say, keeps that law in its own way. It will not let anyone ride it who has struck a newcomer.
Player-visible facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 4000 |
| Counter attack (defensive strike) | 800 |
| Hit points | 2500 |
| Recruitment cost per unit | Called or acquired; no recruitment price |
| Ordinary upkeep per unit per spent turn | 48 geld, 0.8 mana, 0 population |
| Can be dismissed | Yes |
These are base unit values. Battle reports show effective attack and hit points after current effects. Defence uses resistance; no single defence score is exposed.