Unicorn

A unicorn was a mysterious, majestic, chaotic good magical beast found on Toril.

Characteristics
Unicorns exist to protect forests from intelligent creatures. They dwell deep within their forests, and shun most creatures, only conferring with fey such as pixies, dryads, and sprites, showing themselves only when they have to save their forests. Unicorns are strongly magical creatures, with most of their abilities coming from their horn. Unicorns are attracted to innocence; particularly young maidens. Some young women have even proven themselves to be capable of taming and riding a unicorn as a mount. Only the foolish, however, consider a unicorn to be a dumb animal. It is an intelligent magical beast with vast mystical powers at its disposal.

Description
A unicorn is a magical sylvan creature resembling a beautiful white horse. It is easily distinguished from a normal horse as it has glowing eyes, cloven hooves, a lion’s tail, a single long ivory horn (called an alicorn) that protrudes from its head, and males have a goat's beard.Unicorns are highly prized for the magical properties of their horns and their value as mounts. They can live up to 1,000 years, and show effects of aging only weeks before death.

Many unicorns revere the god Lurue.

Combot
They are able to sense evil nearby, and radiate an aura which protects them from most evil spells. A touch of the unicorn's horn can both heal wounds and cure poison.

Unicorns could fey step (teleport) to anywhere within their forest home. Unicorns attacked primarily by impaling foes on their horns, although they could also use their hooves as weapons.

Unlike most animalistic creatures who are not capable of speech, unicorns can speak Common and Sylvan.

History
A herd of unicorns used to inhabit the Shilmista Forest before they and the elves that tended them were slaughtered in 355 DR by Necroqysar Shoon VII for use in the Tome of the Unicorn and the Staff of Shoon.

Ecology
Unicorn horns were reputed to have magical and healing properties.

Notable unicorns

 * Kamerynn, a unicorn on the Moonshae Isles.
 * Andahar, a magical unicorn able to be summoned by Drizzt Do'Urden.

Varieties
Black unicorns were the evil counterparts of regular unicorns. They were created through magical breeding programs by the the Red Wizards of Thay. Dusk unicorns were a rare breed of unicorns that had a dark coat and mane. The birth of a dusk unicorn was seen as an auspicious omen among fey. Sea unicorns were aquatic unicorns.
 * Black unicorn:
 * Dusk unicorn:
 * Sea unicorn:

Trivia

 * The symbols of the goddesses Lurue and Mielikki were a unicorns.
 * A number of the locations in Faerûn were named after unicorns, such as Unicorn Run. *Unicorns were a popular theme for inns and taverns, such as The Unicorn and Crescent, the Weeping Unicorn, and The Jaded Unicorn.
 * The name of the year 355 DR, the Year of the Mourning Horns, may refer to the slaughter of unicorns in that year.

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * Darkwalker on Moonshae
 * Dawnbringer (mentioned)
 * Lady of Poison
 * Queen of the Depths
 * Night of the Hunter
 * Rise of the Hunter
 * Sons of Thunder
 * Starless Night
 * The Thousand Orcs
 * Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf


 * Sourcebooks:
 * Monster Manual 4th edition


 * Other:
 * A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt