ELF-BRED ANIMAL*

The Valar elves mastery of nature has led to the development of magical enhancements to animal breeding, particularly within Abiad. Some experiments in that direction have created new creatures that are actually magical beasts, with unusual intelligence and supernatural or spell-like abilities. In general, however, the aim of these breeding programs is simply to create better animals — ones that are more suited for use in the work of daily life. These magically enhanced animals are called elf-bred.

A elf-bred animal looks essentially like a fine specimen of its kind. Sometimes one may display unusual coloration, including colors rarely found in nature. Its appearance is always slightly exaggerated, emphasizing the feature for which it was bred: A horse elf-bred for pulling loads has exceptionally large shoulder muscles, for example, while a dog elf-bred for tracking has a particularly long nose.

CREATING A ELF-BRED ANIMAL

"Elf-bred animal" is an inherited template that can be applied to any living animal (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

A elf-bred animal uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Armor Class: The base creature's natural armor bonus
increases by +2.

Special Qualities: A elf-bred animal is easier to train and handle than a normal animal.

Excellent Learner: A elf-bred animal can learn a maximum of eight tricks, and the DC for all Handle Animal checks involving a elf-bred animal is reduced by 2.
In addition, the time required to train a elf-bred animal for a purpose is reduced by 1 week (to a minimum of 1 week).

A elf-bred animal also gains one of the following additional special qualities.

Swift Breed: One of the creature's modes of movement increases its speed by 10 feet.

Thick-Skinned Breed: The creature's natural armor bonus to AC improves by an additional 2.

Tracking Breed: The creature gains a + 4 bonus on Survival checks made to follow tracks.

Abilities: One of the base creature's physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution) increases by 4. The other two physical ability scores increase by 2. A elf-bred animal always has an Intelligence score of 2.

Feats: A elf-bred animal gains one of the following feats as a bonus feat: Alertness, Athletic, Endurance, Improved Natural Attack, or Multiattack.

SAMPLE ELF-BRED ANIMAL

This example uses a heavy horse as the base creature and illustrates an animal elf-bred for versatility and speed.

Elf-bred Heavy Horse
Large Animal
Hit Dice: 3d8+9 (22 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (—1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+9
Attack: Hoof -1 melee (ld6+2)
Full Attack: 2 hooves —1 melee (ld6+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Excellent learner, low-light vision, scent, swift breed
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +6, Spot +6
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Run
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —

This heavy horse has notably long, sturdy legs.

* Elf-bred animals adapted for Testoria from the Ebberon Campaign Setting∞.

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