Wildkeeper
Holding true to his instincts, a wood elf stands still in a silent
grove, waiting as the hordes of undead surround him. At the
very last second, a bright burst of light zips from a nearby tree
to his shoulder. Bringing his palm up to caress the face of his
companion, he is now confident in his victory.
Watching from the darkness, a half-orc crawls through the
mud as rain pours down overhead. He is a blade in the night,
unseen and unheard. However, as he stealthily moves beside
the underbrush towards his target, he is aware that he is not
the only predator stalking his prey. A flash of purple mist
disperses just as quick as it occurred, revealing a creature
with the visage of a skeletal wolf, its jaws firmly clamped
deep into the neck of the half-orc's target.
Searching through the masses of bodies after a battle, a
dwarven soldier cries out for his missing half. With the speed
of a cracking whip, a small squirrel-like creature appears at
his side, chirping in a sing-songy voice. He smiles down at the
animal, as if welcoming an old friend.
Be they a pair on a covert mission to assassinate a political
figure, or a powerful general riding his spirit into battle, a
wildkeeper and his spirit animal are representatives of the
raw strength achieved by joining man and beast. They are not
gods, nor are they of the fey or druids. On the contrary, they
are simply a devastating reminder of the power two parties
can obtain when they work together. When a wildkeeper is
born, their spirit gives life to an animal companion. This
animal companion is usually brought to the physical world
for the first time through a ceremony, or some other ritual.
Hard-Fought Victors
Hailing from the forests, wildkeepers focus on training their bonded animals. They practice fighting techniques known only to them, complimenting their combat abilities with that of their wildbond's. Wildkeepers focus their energy on strengthening their bonds to further unlock the capabilities of their spirit animal. However magical their spirit bond may seem, not every wildkeeper knows spells, as their spirits do not pull from the weave, but from the natural energies of the Material Plane. Due to this source, they are often observed meditating in nature, as a form of hardening one's inner power.Never Alone
Whether a baker, farmer, soldier, or mercenary, a wildkeeper will never be without his closest ally. Often times, their bond will grant them attention from those unknowing of wildkeeper traditions, be it negative or positive. Regardless, they are well respected for their tactical abilities on the battlefield, and their well spoken diplomacy off of it. That's not to say that wildkeepers are always friendly. Some wildkeepers draw their bond's power not from companionship, but from lust for power. As they feed their wildbond's ego, so too does their's grow as well. A wildkeeper's spirit animal will always reflect the true nature of their match.Creating A Wildbonder
As you create your wildbonder character, consider the nature of the ritual that gave you your particular capabilities. Was your life bond forged under the glow of a full moon, during a ceremony conducted by an ancient shaman? Did you discover your wildbond by accident during a near-death experience? Or did you instead receive careful teachings as you were brought up by an elder wildbonder, eager to show you their ways? You might even be just now discovering your bond, many years into your life. How do you treat your spirit animal? Are you relaxed and laid-back about any mistakes they may make? Or do you instead give harsh punishments in the form of beatings? Are you happy with the way your bond works? Or does the thought of your wild bond make you cringe and squirm? Is there any goal that you feel you were placed on this plane to achieve? Is your wildbond getting in the way of you succeeding? Are you best friends with your spirit twin, pushing everyone else away but them? Or do you instead try to spend as much time possible socializing with others, attempting to distance yourself from their alien ways?
Optional Rule: Multiclassing
If your group uses the optional rule for multiclassing in the Player's Handbook, here's what you need to know if you choose the wildkeeper as one of your classes.Ability Score Minimum. In order to multiclass, you must have at least a 13 in Dexterity and Wisdom to take a level in this class, or to take a level in another class if you are already a wildkeeper
Proficiencies Gained If wildkeeper isn't your initial class, you gain proficiency in simple weapons, martial weapons, shields, light armor, and one skill from the wildkeeper list when you take your first level in this class.
Quick Build
You can make a wildkeeper quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Dexterity your highest ability score, followed by Wisdom. Second, choose the outlander background.
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