2025 Apr 25: War-monsters

 While the war-chariot is the end-all be-all of modern warfare (as most creatures aren't large or domesticated enough to be ridden, not to mention the lack of stirrups), there are some creatures that are large and docile enough for a platform to be constructed upon their backs, from which archers fire can fire. This of course is less effective than actual chariots, since these monsters are usually slow and plodding creatures, much more prone to getting caught by infantry than chariots are. Their prestige is also lower, as they are often seen as weapons used only by those monarchs whose realms cannot afford enough chariots for their armies.

The most often used creatures for this purpose are giant beetles, though some giant lizards, giant tortoises, very young ortanar, and some strange metallic beings, are also used. Some of the less financially capable Sorcerer-Kings have even operated quite extensive and long breeding programs for creating such creatures either by modifying existing beings, or creating them out of whole cloth. Naturally the best ones are created when the sorcerer in question can resist their natural urge to make the creatures as fearsome and aggressive as possible, since they are supposed to stay in formation with the rest of the army, which the more bloodthirsty creations are not likely to do, even if they can somehow be prevented from decimating the warriors on their own side.

 The Scorpion on top is wildly anachronistic though.
Image by Gus Hunter at Wētā Workshop