A Vadalis beastkeeper is a member of House Vadalis with a unique connection to magebred animals and magical beasts . They are summon and command such creatures and are more often found adventuring in the wilds than working on a farm. [2] [3]
Culture
Among the members of House Vadalis, there are those who lack an interest in agriculture and mercantile activity, so they inevitably turn to other pursuits. [2] [4] Such folk are often rangers or druids who establish a closer-than-usual bond with the house's magebred and magical beasts, while others are magical researchers who shift their focus from creating and breeding these creatures to exploring the wilds in search of new ones. [5]
What links these Vadalis beastkeepers is a desire to tame not only magebred and magical beasts but also the magic that is inherent to them. [2] [1] They put their abilities and their companion animals to good use in service to the house as hunters, guides, warriors, and adventurers, a role they are well-suited for. [1] [6] [7]
Vadalis beastkeepers are fascinated by wild animals, mundane and magical, and would rather be with them than people, and would rather be in the wilderness or a small community with familiar faces than in a city. Nevertheless, they are not themselves bestial or crude [4] and they remain loyal and respected members of the house/ [4] [5]
Activities
Beastkeepers have wide-ranging and varied roles, often serving as hunters, guides, scouts, and even warriors and soldiers. [6] [5] Hunters may simply help house druids with rounding up their livestock, while others venture into the wilderness in search of magical beasts, such as collecting owlbear eggs. [2] [1] Scouts will guide travelers through the wilds, such as leading House Orien convoys across unknown and perilous lands. [1] [5] [7] Warriors will serve as bodyguards for other house members or be dedicated griffon riders . Lastly, some merely travel, explore, and adventure and try to study and discover new magical beasts. [4] [5]
While many beastkeepers serve Vadalis directly, others are more independent, hiring themselves out to parties outside the house or even acting as mercenaries. Those who adventure look to make their own fortunes. [4] [5] Unlike other dragonmarked houses , they are not closely tied to their house. [7] But, however they get by, they never forget their family or their duty to it, and whatever knowledge they acquire they send back to Vadalis and they may act as an emissary of the house as needed. [5]
While they may appear anywhere, Vadalis beastkeepers rarely enter cities, [5] [7] except as a member of a Vadalis delegation trading in beasts or to be part of an expedition soon setting off into the wilderness. [5]
Prerequisites
To become a beastkeeper, one must be a member of House Vadalis (however, bearing the Mark of Handling is not necessary) who has some prowess in battle and is trained in mounted combat, with associated skills in riding and the handling of animals, as well be knowledgeable in matters arcane and natural. Moreover, they need to have a companion animal or bonded mount. [1] Hence, most are rangers or others cross-trained as rangers or scouts , as well as some druids and the occasional paladin . [6]
Abilities
Beastkeepers may cultivate a wide range of skills, from riding and handling animals and surviving in the wild; to athletics like climbing, jumping, stealth, and swimming; keen senses and the ability to detect and finding things; to knowledge of the arcane, geography, and nature, as well assorted skill in crafting, an occupation, and healing. [5] In particular, their instincts and close familiarity with magical beasts mean they have a special knack for dealing with them, whether in hunting, handling, or riding them. [1] They may also choose to train more specifically for greater endurance, self-sufficiency, or a focus on particular skills or for mounted combat tactics, including archery, charging, tramping, and ride-by attacks. [1]
As they advance, the bond between a beastkeeper and their animal companion or special mount continues to grow, just as it would for a ranger, druid, or paladin. However, those who happen to have two or both such creatures would have to choose which to develop. Later, the companion or mount also becomes a magebred animal. [1]
Although not required, Vadalis beastkeepers who do bear the Mark of Handling bolster the power of its magical abilities, as if they are dragonmark heirs , though this has a limit. [1]
Over their careers, beastkeepers may prepare and cast a limited range of low-level divine spells , not unlike a ranger. [1] [5] These revolve around nature, beasts, survival, healing injuries and treating poison and disease, and particularly the summon nature's ally line of spells. With these spells, a beastkeeper may even augment their summon animals as magebred animals. They may also apply heal mount to an animal companion, not just a special mount. [1]
Like a druid or ranger, a beastkeeper has empathy with wild animals, enabling them to influence and pacify them. Eventually, they may do this with magical beasts without any impediments. [1]
Over time, continuous exposure to the magical energy of magebred animals and magical beasts rubs off on a Vadalis beastkeeper, until they ultimately undergo a lasting transformation. They acquire the traits of a magebred animal themselves. This enhances a physical aspect (greater strength, constitution, or agility), increases their movement speed, and toughens their hide against attacks. [1]
Tactics
Almost as adept in combat as a ranger or fighter , a beastkeeper is more often than not found on the frontlines of any battle. They operate in concert with their enhanced animal companion or mount and their summoned creatures to control the battlefield and aid their allies. [5]
Possessions
Although they are appreciated by their house for what they do, beastkeepers are not afforded any special resources or privileges and receive the same as those granted to everyone else. [5]
Relationships
Bound only by their ties to House Vadalis, beastkeepers have no organization of their own, either within their house or outside. They did on occasion gather to exchange information and teach one another. [5] Although accepted within House Vadalis, they receive no special services or
Little known outside House Vadalis, beastkeepers are by and large seen as simply rangers and druids and the like, and are treated accordingly. Despite this, there are stories of great Vadalis beastkeepers who acquired the traits of their magebred animals. [3]
Notable Members
- Alirrin Shir , a Vadalis caravan guard [7]
Appendix
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Keith Baker , Ari Marmell , Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked . ( Wizards of the Coast ), p. 131. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8 .
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Keith Baker , Ari Marmell , Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked . ( Wizards of the Coast ), p. 130. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8 .
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keith Baker , Ari Marmell , Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked . ( Wizards of the Coast ), pp. 132–133. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8 .
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Keith Baker , Ari Marmell , Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked . ( Wizards of the Coast ), pp. 131–132. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8 .
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 Keith Baker , Ari Marmell , Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked . ( Wizards of the Coast ), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8 .
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Keith Baker , Ari Marmell , Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked . ( Wizards of the Coast ), pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8 .
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Keith Baker , Ari Marmell , Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked . ( Wizards of the Coast ), p. 133. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8 .