Beast Master

Standing tall, a Fire Crest Elf and his Lake Hydra battle a Tamidae bull that has been plaguing the trade route. Crested hair flying, he leaps to drive his sword into the sturdy beast's back as fiercely as the hydra itself. As the Tamidae whirls to pursue the elf, it meets resistance as crushing jaws seize it by the leg. It won't reach either of them. A Cenzai leaps over the neck of her River Hydra as they surge forward in unison. They move as a single blur of brown scales and grey fur to dispatch foe after foe. Shrieking its fury, the hydra stuns a particularly large Undead as its master delivers a fatal blow with her sword. Their movements flow seamlessly into one another as though they were the same creature.
Blinded but dauntless, a Tuskaar weaves and ducks through the forest. He is outnumbered as Panic Demons swarm in his wake. With a sharp turn, he side-steps a snare trap he's left behind. Bit by bit, the swarm is thinned as he expertly leads them through a network of traps he's laid around his tribe to keep them safe. As he charges toward the last stretch, there is a flash of green and brown as his Jungle Hydra lashes out with venomous fangs at the few demons unfortunate enough to make it through the labyrinth of pitfalls and snares.

Natural Empathy

The mark of a Beast Master is apparent from a young age. Those that follow the path and training to become a Beast Master are often spotted by their tendency toward beasts of any kind. They are often the children that would bring in strays or urge their parents to help an injured animal to recover. These youngsters have an unusually strong bond with nature that cannot be ignored. Even attempts by some parents to move to the cities for "a more refined way of life" prove pointless as their child almost undoubtedly will become the ringleader to packs of strays or feral wanderers.
As they grow, so to does the call of the wild. Those that become Beast Masters are inseparable from their pet. Whether they serve as hunters for their families, using traps or long-range tactics to hunt and provide, or guardians of their village, a Beast Master and their companion serve their role with the natural loyalty and fierceness of nature itself. Beast Masters understand the forces that drive and control beasts, and know-how and when a raging or terrified beast can be calmed. This uncanny ability for reading a situation has saved countless lives of both people and animals. The most powerful of Beast Masters have even been known to convince entire herds to change their migration patterns in the event of natural disasters that would put them at risk.
Their understanding of patterns and behaviors also makes Beast Masters superior hunters and trackers. Second only to a Ranger in terms of ability and stealth, a Beast Master can track nearly anyone or anything. Surprisingly silent and stealthy, even in the company of their large companions, Beast Masters are seldom noticed until they wish to show themselves. They train constantly with their beast—their best friend—to grow and get stronger together and learn ever more complex tactics and battle strategies. While some rely on fighting alongside their companion or supporting them from a distance, there are others who focus on driving enemies into traps with the help of their partner.

Outskirts of Society

Their close connection with nature means that many Beast Masters connect more with animals than people. They often take comfort in the fact that a beast will make it clear if they mean to harm you or not, compared to people who lie and manipulate. Due to their common discomfort in dealing with people at large and the obvious challenges that come with large beast companions like the hydra, Beast Masters commonly live on the edges of their towns and villages of residence.
Beast Masters are a group of people that trust their instincts, pay close attention to small changes in their environment, and trust the senses of their beast partners if they seem uneasy. This natural inclination and reflexive action have saved countless individuals from death or injury while traveling with a Beast Master. It is not uncommon for a Beast Master to rush their travel companions from a location with no explanation only to have a band of demons or dangerous creatures pass by moments later. The level of connection and trust between a Beast Master and their companion is so strong that is has been said that killing the beast of a Beast Master is the quickest path to meeting the Fire Eternal.
There can be issues in cities when a Beast Master visits as a result of the sheer differences in the beasts that commonly travel with them. Fire Crest Elves that visit Nethandre Star Kingdom, for example, might find that some areas are simply too small for their Hydra to accompany them or that people might challenge their Dire Wolf following them into the tailor. Naturally, this has caused no small amount of disagreements given the depth of the bond a Beast Master has with their companion. Most of the time, there are no issues while out hunting with their beasts and staying in their homes for a Beast Master. They ensure that there is more than adequate housing for their companions well before they ever bond with their first beast, and the "stables" are often better constructed than the Beast Master's own house.

Trial of Beasts

Dathmar Andeoshen is the Chieftain of the Fire Crest Elves and overseer of all Beast Masters-to-be. Once accepted as an apprentice, they are given task after task, beginning with the humble responsibility of assisting their elders in the care of their beasts and observation of their training. Many times they are presented with a young hydra or baby beast to care for to grow their sense of duty and connection with the world around them. Once they are deemed ready and their "stable" is complete, they are given their final and most important task: the taming of their first beast. This is much more than having a pet or a baby animal to care for. Often these animals, though still young, are perfectly capable of living out their lives in the wild. The Beast Master must build a relationship of mutual trust and respect with any beast of their choosing. Most commonly this beast is a variety of hydra owing to the close bond between the Fire Crest tribes and the hydra that live among them. It is possible, in rare instances, for a Beast Master to choose a different beast such as a Dire Wolf or Great Gryphon. Upon their successful return, they are presented with a cloak to signify their rank and status as a fully-fledged Beast Master. This cloak is emblazoned with the symbol of the Beast Masters and garners recognition for what they and their companion can offer wherever they may go. Some go so far as to get this symbol tailored or engraved into their armor as well.