Dire

"And there stood its towering form; Saliva, and foam dripping from its spiked maw. Bony protrusions escaping at its shoulders, joints, and spine. Its eyes glowed a crimson red. It could smell my fear and I could see its hunger. But as quickly as emerged from its lair, it retreated. For reasons unknown... I am still alive."
— Rudith Lawson, Captain of the Gaurd of Moristpor

Transmission & Vectors

As far as anyone can tell, an animal can not become a dire creature by natural means and it is only a circumstance of birth. Some corrupted druids or transmutation wizards have learned how to transmit this condition onto animals, but these methods are usually a temporary spell. There are magical and alchemical means to force it to permanence, but the practice is dangerous and can result in the death of the animal (or the caster).

Causes

The original cause of dire animals was Wild Magic, however, through years of breeding and natural selection, more and more dire creatures are being born with it in their blood. Sometimes it skips a generation, sometimes more. Many alchemists and wizards have been attempting to duplicate the results, to no avail. One transmuter came close, however, creating instead the infamous Owlbear which has begun to be a growing problem and quite an invasive creature since its accidental inception.

Symptoms

It is easy to tell if a creature was born dire simply by its size. It can be up to double the size, perhaps more. They also exhibited more fearsome predatory instincts and or defense mechanisms. Their teeth and claws are longer and sharper, their sensory abilities become far superior, and they have a natural plating of boney extrusions present throughout their body.

Treatment

There is no known treatment for the physical alterations found in dire animals. However, those particularly skilled at animal husbandry have been able to calm and even train a dire animal to be a companion and force to be reckoned with. The mental ferocity seems to be treatable, but the physical deformities are permanent.

Art By: Kevin Elliott

Hosts & Carriers

Dire status seems to only affect animals or beast-like creatures. Humanoids, monstrosities, dragons, etc. all seem immune to the effects. There are rare occasions, however, when a magical creature such as an almiraj or unicorn where some have been born dire.

History

There very first dire creature is said to have belonged to a sorcerer born with uncontrolled magical power coming for the force of magic itself. As a side effect of one of his spells, it created a backlash, turning his rat familiar to change and turn dire. The rat then turned on its master, killing it in a maddened rage of gnashing and gnawing before proliferating in the wild with others of its kind.

Cultural Reception

Many tribes have long regarded the presence of dire animals as powerful totem animals, worship them with almost god-like sovereignty. Some of the barbaric tribes of the southern tundras will them out in an attempt to conquer the beasts to prove their worth among their people. Many of these tribes also revere the rare ore of Obinite. There seems a mystical force that seems to pull dire creatures toward it. Though it is confirmed not to create dire animals, there are many records of the beasts being attracted to it.

Art By: Ksenia Kozhevnikova

Dire Template

Armor Class: +1
Hit Dice: +3
Size: +1 Category
Abilities:

Strength +5
Constitution +3
Charisma +1

Natural Attacks: The damage die of any natural attacks are increased by an additional die category. If the damage is a d12, add an additional die rather than increasing its value.