This more down-to-earth (or wherever) non-celestial unicorn is based on the unicorns in Mercedes Lackey’s 500 Kingdoms novels. In this fantasy-verse, All. The. Fairy. Tales (and legends, tall tales, exasperated moms’ threats, bawdy songs, etc.) can and always do come true–and the results oftener than not aren’t pretty. As in, they can make the original Messers. Grimm look like Disney Princess scriptwriters. So the role of Elvish and Human Fairy Godmothers (and their associates) is to avert these horrible fates. The novels are very good reads.
One of the rules of magic in the 500 Kingdoms universe is that magical creatures can be either very clever/intelligent or beautiful, never both. Hence, these unsurpassingly lovely unicorns have about the same brainpower as a pile of rocks, and barely enough sense to survive a non-evil enchanted forest. They are drawn to virgins, will follow them about (yes, while begging to lay head in lap), hang out in their gardens and under their windows, and are as persistent as a Labrador retriever who knows you have treats. Elena, the titular heroine of The Fairy Godmother, describes them as “fawning lapdogs or a surfeit of Turkish Delight.”
Unlike in some fantasy novels, unicorns aren’t antagonistic towards “experienced” folk, and in general aren’t violent. While most of them prefer to follow and admire the nearest virgin, annoy gardeners by eating new peas instead of lilies and the like, they are quite capable of either self-sacrifice or doing lethal damage, if motivated. Indeed, there is an Order that includes several male knights paired with unicorns. A Paladin or Eldritch Knight PC, possibly a wizard or sorcerer, bonded and mounted on one of these unicorns would not be out of place in a campaign inspired by the 500 Kingdoms or similar settings.
Statblock created with D&D Beyond.
Original artwork is © 2/2019 by me, Lin Whitson.
Linda Whitson
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