War Tarns (from the Tarn-Keepers Manual)

  

 "I blew a note on the whistle, and it was shrill and different, of a new pitch from that of the Older Tarl. Almost immediately from somewhere, perhaps from a ledge out of sight, rose a fantastic object, another giant tarn, even larger than the first, a glossy sable tarn which circled the cylinder once and then wheeled towards me, landing a few feet away, his talons striking on the roof with a sound like hurled gauntlets. His talons were shod with steel — a war tarn. He raised his curved beak to the sky and screamed, lifting and shaking his wings. His enormous head turned towards me, and his round, wicked eyes blazed in my direction."

~Tarnsman of Gor~

 

The WAR TARN is the most common type of tarn seen on Gor. It is also the largest breed of tarn. Commonly they are a greenish brown, but they can come in many different colours ... black, white and multi-coloured are all mentioned in the chronicles. The colours can serve a purely aesthetic purpose, or a practical one ... for instance, a black tarn would be very useful in night raids and a white tarn in winter campaigns.

War tarns are bred for physical characteristics such as strength, speed and agility, but also for their psychological traits such as intelligence and aggression, among other things. They also have impressive stamina, able to maintain flight for long periods. Though a racing tarn would outpace them over short distances, over longer ones a war tarn would always outlast its rival. Further, in combat a war tarn would easily tear a racing tarn to shreds in moments.

 

You can identify a war tarn easily, as their talons are often shod with steel, both as a means to protect the talons and also as a show of pride and dressage. They are also more aggressive and dangerous. Tarnsmen say that it is important the tarn does not see its rider as being weak, or the rider will be devoured.

These tarns are also recognisable by their challenge scream; which is a cry of one tarn to another. It is a fierce and chilling sound - shrill, wild, defiant and piercing. A noise which is considered both beautiful and terrifying.

Tarnsmen themselves are well-trained and respected warriors. There are many weapons they carry into battle on tarnback, from the simple sword and shield, to spears, longbows and crossbows. The 'tarn lance' is used amongst the Red Savages. Many such weapons will be strung to their saddle pack, along with rations, a compass, maps, binding fiber, and extra bowstrings.

War tarns don't usually carry baskets, but rather long lengths of knotted rope which enable them to carry seven to ten men beneath them in a military siege. Some cities use a special form of defence against war tarns known as tarn wire. These are nettings of hundreds of thousands of dangerous wires, which prevent the tarns from landing anywhere.

 

These birds are also employed in capital punishment. The 'tarn death' is a gruesome punishment, which involves the sentenced man being literally torn apart by war tarns. It is said that no man can escape the tarn death.

The most famous war tarn in the chronicles is, of course, Ubar of the Skies - Tarl Cabot's tarn. He was a sable colored tarn, who demonstrated extraordinary intelligence and loyalty to its Master, beyond what is expected of most tarns.