Items · Transports · Magical
Bit and Bridle of Horsemanship
It was a fine harness and reins. The leather was soft and well tooled. The bit was so shiney one thought it could be silver. It looked like no bit and bridle that he had ever seen. Yet, it seemed familiar, like he had heard stories about this before.
Full Item Description
It appears to be a bit and bridle set. A bridle is a harness, consisting of a headstall, bit, and reins, fitted about a horse's head and used to restrain or guide the animal. The leather used in the bridle are made of a fine leather, much softer and thinner than a normal bridle. It looks like it would break if any one pulled hard. The leather is tooled with a swirling scrolling pattern that echos celtic scroll and knot work. The bit is always shinny, appearing to be silver. The spooling (the outside edging) has a distinctive knotwork design, with four strands bound by one.
It is interesting to note that the famous Keladon Riders, with their distinctive red uniforms, use that same design on their buttons and as a pseudo heraldic device for the riders. They do not use magic to work with their horses.
History
This is a classic enchantment, one found in many a grimoire. This enchantment is not as old as horse brass and other horse talismans that draws their roots from older shamanistic magic. This is ancient sorcery that is now difficult to perform because it is so old and so very different than current magics.
Magic/Cursed Properties
The Bit and Bridle works on both the horse and the rider. It grants the rider a greater understanding of the mount and its quirks. For the horse, it makes them calmer (not duller, just more focused and less excited) and more responsive (obedient). The horse is also less distracted by other things outside of what its rider wants it to focus on, making it suitable for crowded situations.
Game Mechanic
Significant pluses to riding rolls (as good a master class skill). The horse receives similar bonuses to avoid spooking, tripping, and floundering.
Alternate Versions
This item can be used for any animal that fits it. There are probably versions for every riding beast out there on a magical world. The basic enchantment is the same, only tailored for the beasts.
The Giant Tiger Riders of The Prallan Lands use harnesses like this to actually tame their battle cats.
These are also called Bit and Brides of Command and Harnesses of Skill.
Garage Sale
You might notice that this has a link to the Garage Sale. So some evil cultist, not known for his horse riding, might have one of these hanging around. The reasons? Put the bit in a victim's mouth, the harness over the head, and you have an obedient victim, who is focused on going where you tell them, and won't notice anything else if they happened to be freed. Good for kidnapping.
Scrolls
Twists, chapters, and details meant to stream with the submission — not general discussion.
No scrolls yet — leave one if you have a twist worth keeping.
Sign in to plant an idea scroll.
Enjoyed this? Sign in and cross blades for MoonHunter — five clashes, up to 25 XP.
Sign in to cross the blades.
Discussion
Reader talk, questions, and feedback — not scrolls.
No comments yet — be the first voice in the hall.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Also in
Codex hubs that gather this piece with similar work.
- Garage Sale from Hell MoonHunter
Bonds
Curated bonds across the Citadel — sign in to bind a bond. Kindred Favors are another thread in the same weave.
This article links to 1
- Horse Brass Scrasamax linked by MoonHunter
Links to this article 4
- Garage Sale from Hell MoonHunter linked by MoonHunter
- Generic Magical Items manfred linked by MoonHunter
- Horse Brass Scrasamax linked by MoonHunter
- More Realistic Horses and their care and maintainence Scrasamax linked by MoonHunter
Use alongside
Submissions that pair well with this one at the table.
-
Amulet of the Damned
‘I told Sir Ursus not to take the amulet, to leave it be in it's resting place. But he would not listen. We now trek to his place of hiding to remove the amule…
-
30 Horses
God forbid that I should go to any Heaven where there are no horses.
- R. B. Cunninghame-Graham
-
30 Merchants
30 Mostly Maddening Merchants
-
Centipede Nails
Many magical items adventurers seek out help them carry more loot, keep themselves fed and healthy, or just simply hack the bad guys to itty bitty bits. This on…
-
One man's plush toy...
Buttons, how could you?
-
Tower of Inversion
The dread Tower of Inversion, lair of the vile lich Zarakoth Xorast, contains five layers, each containing different tools of dark magic.
Another one off MoonHunter's worklist of ideas. This one has been hanging around for only a few months. Darn you Scras for forcing me to do this one. It was just a good idea.
Whats not to like. These are useful items. Love the Giant Tiger-Riders of Praxis! Deserving of their own seperate entry! Nice details (spooling knot design, different from shamanistic magic, etc)
A good and useful item, I would imagine it creating a sort of sympathetic bond between horse and rider (or animal and rider in the case of non-equines). To keep it from being overused/abused or otherwise mass produced, I would limit who could actually use it. I would say that to someone completely uneducated in horsemanship it would not very much for or against the rider or mount. A certain level of experience would be required, making it ideal for tempermental and dangerous mounts who tend to be the best for combat. A dull horse lacks the fire needed to withstand the rigors of battle, while an overly active horse is too easily frightened and tires quickly.
Maybe just doubling your skill bonus instead of just giving you a big bonus. That would eliminate much of abuse you are thinking of.
The horse might get double the stat bonus or some such.
Very good Item and very true to 'life' but I never in all days ever seen a horse turn into a flounder LOL but I guess this bridle would need to prevent that.
Updated: updated for spelling.