A scaly-skinned unicorn-like creature with a dragon-like head and leonine mane

A Kirin (sometimes written Ki-Rin or Qilin) is a strange creature resembling a scaly-skinned unicorn with a heavier, dragon-like head and a wild leonine mane. Their scales sparkle golden, the hair of their mane and tail are rose gold, and their eyes are a deep lavender or violet color. Kirin are natural fliers and are said to prefer to never touch the ground. Those met in the wild are always solitary and apparently always male; nothing is known about how females might differ from males, for none have evidently ever been seen. They are extremely intelligent and can communicate with any other intelligent creature by means of their unique form of telepathy. The skin of a kirin is very valuable, up to 25,000 gp in value if not too badly damaged. However, as kirin are famously good creatures and much revered (indeed, almost worshiped), those who would buy such a skin are undoubtedly very evil indeed.

The noble kirin roam the sky, their feet rarely touching soil.

They have a stag's graceful body and cloven hooves, a pair of backward-facing antlers, and a thick mane and tail ranging from golden to brilliant reds or purples in the hues of the setting sun. Their hide resembles that of a dragon, the scales gleaming ebon or iridescent green or gold.

Rare in the extreme, kirin seldom meddle openly in worldly affairs, preferring a subtle hand in overturning the schemes of wicked spirits such as hags and oni. The blood of young kirin runs hot, however, and such spirited youths may serve as companions for clerics and paladins of clever wit and untarnished moral quality. Though their pride is generally too great to allow others to ride them, in extremis they might carry a wounded companion to safety.