Elephants

Zenaj has no indigenous horses, but is populated by different species of elephant. In early history, elephants were used as draft animals and mounts, and even after trade introduced horses to the continent, the elephant remained the major mode of transportation throughout the land. There are two main types; the Black Tusks in the Veralan plains, and the White Tusks, in the Denvian jungles.

Black Tusks
In the north, the Veralans have domesticated huge, tough elephants that hold warriors on their backs. These elephants have dark hide and black tusks, leading to the derogatory term "black-tooth" among the Denvians, who see the Veralan elephants as inferior to theirs. Veralan riders are able to pilot their mounts with deadly efficiency. Traditionally bows were used from elephant-back, and this is reflected in the Veralan pantheon, where the god of archery and the goddesses of elephants and war reign supreme. The Black Tusks can fit roughly nine men on their back, and elaborate platforms have been built to accommodate these soldiers. On military campaigns, they may stay on the backs of their elephants for weeks at a time, reflecting an environment similar to sailors. In fact, when sea travel became significant to Veralan culture, the boats were often referred to as wet elephants.

White Tusks
In the dense rainforests of southern Zenaj, elephants evolved to be whiter and smaller than the Black Tusks, and early Veralans bred them to become faster and more agile as well. While no Denvian elephant could outrun a horse, the best could outlast a human, and definitely a Black Tusk. Denvian elephant riders are always spouses, one of which drives while the other shoots with a bow.