Forest Lord
The Forest Lord is a defender of the natural world, the guardian of an unsettled wilderness he claims as his domain. He attends to the welfare of animals and retaliates against trespassers. Rarely affiliated with a clan or tribe, the Forest Lord prefers to operate alone. A Forest Lord considers himself related to a particular kind of animal, called his animal kinsman. Select the kinsman as part of the character creation process. Once chosen, the kinsman type never changes. The player selects a kinsman type subject to the DMs approval. A Forest Lord's kinsmen encompass all species of the type, not just a specific animal. For instance, if a Forest Lord has chosen felines for kinsmen, he considers himself related to all types of felines, such as tigers, lions, and even housecats. Animal kinsmen include outworld species as well as those native to the Forest Lord's homeland. Kinsmen must be non-magical, and must have an Intelligence of semi- or lower (4 or less).
Role
If an adventuring party enters a Forest Lord's territory, they are likely to encounter the Forest Lord himself. He may agree to guide them through his domain, and may even remain with the party if they convince him his skills are needed elsewhere. Most Forest Lords eagerly aid threatened animal kinsmen in the outworld. They may also want to observe unusual creatures in their natural habitat, intervene in natural disasters, and secure treatment for ailing animals. A Forest Lord is cooperative but distant, preferring the company of animals to people. He enjoys chattering with horses, swinging through trees with monkeys, and sunning himself on stones with serpents. Though typically stoic and reserved, he explodes when confronted with poachers or trophy hunters, and may have to be physically restrained from tearing them apart.
Distinctive Appearance
None
Special Benefits
Stealth: A Forest Lord receives a +2 bonus to all Hiding proficiency checks. In natural settings, he has a 5% chance per level (to a maximum of 95%) to Move Silently.
A Forest Lord recovers lost hit points at twice the normal rate. This does not apply to magical healing.
A Forest Lord can Speak with Animals at will with his animal kinsmen. He may speak with other animals if he first makes a successful Wisdom check. This ability is otherwise similar to the 2nd-level priest spell, but requires no components or casting times.
In his homeland terrain, a Forest Lord can attempt to summon animal kinsmen. He thumps his chest and screeches at the top of his lungs for 14 rounds, then makes a Wisdom check. If the check succeeds, 1d4 kinsmen arrive within the next hour (assuming the DM decides they’re available). The kinsmen act as followers for the next 2d6 hours, obeying the Forest Lord’s commands. A Forest Lord can attempt to summon kinsmen once per day.
By swinging and leaping from branch to branch, a Forest Lord moves through the tree tops at a base movement rate of 12.
Special Hindrances
Weapon Restriction: The Forest Lord suffers a non proficiency penalty of -2 when using weapons he has not made himself.
The Forest Lord must honor his animal kinsmen in the following ways:
- He may not wear clothing, wield weapons, or use products derived from his kinsmen.
- He may not intentionally or unintentionally harm a kinsman, and must intervene to prevent others from harming a kinsman.
- He must protect his kinsmen from predators.
- He must care for injured or ill kinsmen.
- He must liberate captive kinsmen, including those in zoos, game reserves, and commercial enterprises. (He may use his speak with animals ability to determine if a particular animal is being held against its will).
If a Forest Lord violates any of these principals, he is consumed by remorse and cannot use his special benefits for 4d4 days. If his action or inaction results in the death of a kinsman, he is denied his special benefits for the next 1d4+1 weeks. An atonement spell halves the duration of this penalty.
Class
Attribute Requirements
None
Barred Beliefs
None
Race Requirement
None
Bonus Weapon Proficiencies
None
Required Weapon Proficiencies
None
Recommended Weapon Proficiencies
Blowgun, dagger, javelin, short bow, sling, spear. Wood and bone are the most common materials.
Barred Weapon Proficiencies
None
Bonus Non-Weapon Proficiencies
Alertness, Weaponsmithing (Crude)
Recommended Non-Weapon Proficiencies
Animal Handling, Animal Lore, Animal Rending, Animal Training, Danger Sense
Barred Non-Weapon Proficiencies
Bartering, Boating, Horde Summoning
Equipment
A Forest Lord wears nothing but an animal skin loincloth or tunic. If adventuring in colder climates, he may acquire padded or leather armor, but generally avoids armor with an Armor Class better than 8. He rarely carries a shield, as it interferes with movement.
Wealth Options
Because he travels lightly, a Forest Lord begins with only d4 gp worth of tradable goods.
Homeland Terrain
Forest, Jungle
Economic System
Animal products barter. (Despite his isolation, he occasionally trades with neighboring tribes.)