Stalk the Twilight Hunt (Patron of the Grassland - Autumn)

[reefwood]

Stalk the Twilight Hunt
Patron of the Grassland

Stalk is a large quadruped with a feline face, whiskers of thin grass, the front paws of a canine and hindquarters of an antelope. Tinges of grey pepper the light brown fur covering his body and the black stripes running along his sides. His movements are measured and methodical. Never taking a step more than needed.

Stalk values patience, purpose, and persistence. He espouses the importance of taking time to make a decision, carefully weighing the factors and repercussions, and seeing it through without wavering. Every creature, great or small, has its place and part to play in the bigger picture. Balance keeps it all together and keeps it all going. Hierarchy is of particular to concern. A herd or pack must have an alpha that is both strong and wise in order to thrive. Any challenger must be assessed, and if unfit, cannot be allowed to take control. Strains to the environment are also to be prevented. Excessively large litters or overgrowth should be culled quickly.

Stalk is the vast expanse that has seen countless seasons come and go. The horizon where no beast or plant rises too far above the rest. He is the grasses which stand side-by-side and the flock that flies in formation. He is the herd that watches for danger and the pack that hunts as one.

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Region (Grassland): This flat swath of land is as diverse as any other region. Fields of tall bamboo run along the border of the Jungle. A warm savanna with scattered trees is in the north. A cool prairie covered in flowing grass is in the south. A steppe of scrub grass sits against the western Cliff. Reeds thrive along the border of the Marsh. Across these fields roam antelopes, bison, giraffes, horses, zebras, badgers, baboons, cheetahs, lions, coyotes, hyenas, hares, kangaroos, hedgehogs, meerkats, buzzards, finches, ostriches, peacocks, pheasants, lizards, and snakes.

Season: Autumn

Day/Time: Autumnal Equinox / Dusk

Manifestation: All the Caretakers must gather in the Grassland the day before the Autumnal Equinox. At dusk, the path of an animal will be revealed. It must be tracked and hunted within the next 24 hours but must not be attacked until it is fully alert and capable of defending itself or fleeing. If successfully killed, it is to be eaten by all the Caretakers the following dusk for Stalk to appear.

Influence: Effects on speed are impeded in the Grassland. The target of a speed effect receives a bonus to Wisdom-based checks equal to +1 for every 5 ft of speed lost for the duration of the spell. For example, the Longstrider spell would only provide a +5 ft enhancement bonus to speed, instead of 10 ft, in the Grassland, but the target would receive a +1 bonus to Wisdom-based checks for the duration of the spell. This influence spreads to the entire Valley at dusk on the Autumnal Equinox, and each day that follows there is a 10% less chance of this influence being felt outside the Grassland (Day 2 = 90%, Day 3 = 80%, etc).

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Stalk casts his own individualized version of the Awaken spell, which includes a blessing of minor boons connected to his specific abilities and tenets. The blessing is the same for every Caretaker he awakens, but on rare occasion, by chance or fate, a Caretaker is infused with a greater blessing of more significant strengths and weaknesses representative of the Patron. You must select the standard Blessing or the Greater Blessing and take all the qualities of the one you select.

Blessing of the Twilight Hunt
+1 Will
+1 Survival

Greater Blessing of the Twilight Hunt
Seasoned: +4 Wis / -2 Str
Slow But Steady: This creature reduces all forms of movement by 10 ft but receives a +2 bonus on all checks and saves to avoid becoming fatigued or exhausted or slowed in any way.
Coup de Grapple: This creature may perform a coup de grace against a pinned opponent as part of the standard action to maintain the grapple. The grappled opponent receives a +4 bonus to their CMD to resist the coup de grace.