"Oh? Lord Rhodes has a mount as well? Where is it? You may have someone bring it over," the High Priestess of the Moon said with a nod.
Her original intent behind having Tyrande share a mount with this outsider was to ensure his safety and guarantee they reached the Temple of the Moon as quickly as possible. It was a move born of necessity; if the outsider had his own mount, things would be much simpler—he could just summon it and follow them.
"My mount is a summoned creature, a holy lifeform I encountered while traveling through other worlds," Rhodes replied. He initially intended to summon his Wyvern King, but paused.
The Wyvern King was an incredibly fast flying mount, but since it was destined to appear ten thousand years in the future during the Third War, Rhodes wanted to avoid exposing any of his specific troop types from that era if possible. He intended to keep his Archangels, Phoenixes, Light Elements, and his construct army as trump cards, hidden unless absolutely necessary. He also ruled out Black Dragons and Titans—they were simply too world-shaking. He needed something new.
Fortunately, his "Refugee" structures had been consistently producing recruits. Not long ago, Rhodes had recruited a new Tier 6 unit from his structures: a Unicorn, which he had subsequently upgraded into a War Unicorn using a Hill Fort.
The War Unicorn is one of the more formidable Tier 6 units from the Rampart faction. It possesses a high attack and defense, significant damage range, 110 health, and a speed of 9. Statistically, it holds its own among other Tier 6 creatures, far surpassing Diamond Golems and even capable of trading blows with Dread Knights.
It possesses two incredibly potent special abilities. The first is Aura of Resistance: as a holy beast of the forest, it provides nearby units with a chance to resist harmful magic. In the game, players often overlook this passive, but in the world of Azeroth, it is a game-changer—acting like a permanent, passive Anti-Magic Shell for all nearby allies within a hundred-meter radius, granting at least a 10% magic resistance bonus.
The second ability is Blinding: a legendary skill that, like a Thunderbird's lightning, triggers on hit. If it activates, it is fatal for the enemy. Rhodes had once used a similar effect to control Arthas. When a War Unicorn uses this, its body erupts with golden light, searing the enemy's vision. Visually, the creature is magnificent—larger than a standard horse, draped in moon-silver fur, with a golden spiral horn atop its head.
When Rhodes first acquired it, he thought about empowering it with Holy Light, but decided against it. The War Unicorn is recruited from the "Unicorn Glade," a place of natural life. The best way to strengthen it was with Life Energy. Since he was going to the Temple of the Moon, he might meet Cenarius; he planned to ask the demigod for assistance then.
Rhodes held great respect for Cenarius and intended to formally establish a master-apprentice relationship to close the loop on the ten-thousand-year timeline. After all, Cenarius had provided the crucial crowd control that allowed Rhodes to personally kill Archimonde at Mount Hyjal rather than letting the Wisp explosion do it.
"My mount is unique; it is not a common beast, but a partner bound by contract from a distant realm filled with natural and holy power—a place called the Unicorn Glade," Rhodes explained as he raised his hand, summoning the War Unicorn from his system space.
To add a layer of mystery, Rhodes manipulated his magical power to create a spatial rippling effect accompanied by a burst of life essence.
A refreshing, soul-soothing fragrance filled the air, as if they were standing in an ancient forest after a spring rain. This pure, potent life energy made the Moon Priestesses shudder with delight; they knew this feeling well—it was the same energy signature as Lord Cenarius and the Emerald Dream.
This outsider, Rhodes, is no ordinary man, they thought. To possess such vast life energy and a summon that radiates the same... They stared intently at the emerald glow, eager to see what would emerge.
The emerald light coalesced in the open space before Rhodes, outlining an elegant yet powerful silhouette. As the light faded, a magnificent creature stood before them.
It was taller and sturdier than the most robust Nightsaber. Its body was covered in fur as silver and smooth as moonlight, shimmering with a pearlescent luster. Most striking was the spiral horn on its forehead—not made of bone, but carved from the purest golden crystal, with soft life energy pulsing within like a heartbeat. As it stepped, faint green ripples spread from its hooves, causing the grass beneath it to turn a deeper, vibrant green.
It was the Tier 6 creature of the Rampart—the War Unicorn!
Even the stoic High Priestess couldn't hide a flicker of amazement in her golden eyes.
"So... so beautiful!" a young priestess whispered, covering her mouth in awe. This beauty was different from the flashiness of Arcane constructs or the ferocity of wild beasts; it was a holy, serene beauty that perfectly aligned with the Night Elven aesthetic of nature and harmony.
Tyrande was utterly dazed. Her youthful heart was defenseless against such a divine creature. She took a small step forward, her voice trembling with longing. "Lord Rhodes... what is its name? I have never felt such peace from a creature. The light it radiates... it feels so warm, so holy."
Every Night Elf present was captivated. In terms of "cool factor" and elven taste, the War Unicorn hit the bullseye.
However, in the lore of Heroes of Might and Magic III, there is a specific myth: Unicorns only allow beautiful, pure elven maidens to ride them. They are creatures that take "standard-setting" to an extreme. If you aren't a pure maiden, you can't get on their back; if you are, they will follow you like a shadow.
They are, in a sense, incredibly picky.
"Traveler from afar, your partner is indeed extraordinary," the High Priestess praised.
Rhodes smiled and walked over to stroke the creature's smooth neck. The War Unicorn lowered its head obediently, rubbing its golden horn against Rhodes's palm.
"His name is 'Radiance.' He is a partner I met by chance during my travels," Rhodes lied, giving it a name that fit the setting. "He is gentle and loves nature. I believe he will be happy to travel with you all."
The High Priestess nodded. "Then let us depart."
Rhodes prepared to vault onto the creature's back. He pressed his hand against Radiance's spine and prepared to leap.
But to his surprise, the usually obedient Radiance suddenly stepped to the side, deftly avoiding him. Rhodes's hand hit empty air, and he stumbled, nearly losing his balance.
"Huh?" Rhodes looked at his summon in confusion. What's going on?
The War Unicorn turned its head, gave a soft snort, shook its silver mane, and then very clearly—yet gently—pressed its golden horn against Rhodes's chest, physically barring him from its back.
The message was unmistakable: Master, I'm sorry, but you aren't allowed to ride me.
Rhodes: "..."
Suddenly, Rhodes remembered the "lore trait" of Unicorns. His expression became very complicated. He had focused so much on the "cool factor" that he forgot the setting: in the game's lore, these were exclusive mounts for pure maidens.
You've got to be kidding me, you jerk. You really won't let me ride?
The Moon Priestesses were stunned. They had been immersed in the beauty of the beast, but seeing it "reject" its own master left them exchanging confused glances.