A Ki-rin is a magical, intelligent creature of the Far East that is capable of flight and resembles a horned horse similar to a unicorn. According to the sages of Grand Cathay, the race of Ki-rin was born of the union of Air and Earth when the mortal world was young. The story is typical of the Far East, and hence manifestly fanciful, but does reflect accurately the potency of these creatures.
Ki-rin are creatures of wholly unnatural composition, although appearing not unlike normal flesh and blood. They live amongst the devastating forces of lightning, storm and thunder. Ki-rin are aerial creatures that ride the roaring winds and storm clouds, bellowing like thunder and screaming great cracks of lightning through the disturbed air.[1a]
Ki-rin have horse-like bodies, with long, flowing manes spun with sparks of silver lightning. In the centre of the creature's forehead sprouts a long silver horn, used to impale its foes. They are occasionally ridden by powerful Far Eastern heroes, particularly the samurai lords of Nippon.[1a]
Trivia
In the real world, qilin, or kirin, are hooved creatures that appear in Chinese and Japanese mythology. Some people translate "kirin" as "unicorn" due to their hooves and horns, even though actual kirin from eastern mythology look more like deer and dragons.