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BEAST GUNNER

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The art of creating the weapons most commonly referred to as “beast guns” (page 154) is truly ancient, with the first iterations of the weapons created on the continent of Arcadia well over 10,000 years ago. This means that beast guns predate all other forms of firearm crafting in Arcadia, even the legendary star guns, whose secrets have been lost to the ages. The tradition of designing beast guns has persisted throughout Arcadia well into the modern era, though it has become increasingly rare as the proliferation of classic firearms and the prestige associated with star guns has allowed more people access to equivalent destructive power without the intense requirements behind crafting a beast gun. However, beast gunners remain virtually unknown outside of Arcadia.

The art of bonding to a beast gun and gaining the full magic of a beast gunner is an extended ritual with multiple steps, beginning with the hunt. A person seeking to bond to a beast gun typically does so with a brand new weapon made after they hunt down the creature themselves. This involves telling the story of the hunt, the beast, and the weapon created from the hunted creature. Finally, the weapon is carefully modified and tailored to ensure a proper bond between the beast gun and the prospective beast gunner. However, it’s also possible to bond to an heirloom beast gun passed down through the generations by adding symbolic fresh components from the same kind of creature, after performing the same ritual hunt necessary to forge a new weapon with the intent of establishing a bond.

To perform the ritual the prospective beast gunner must first plan a hunt to slay the creature corresponding to the beast gun, whether they wish to bond with a brand new beast gun or establish a link to an old beast gun. Typically, these ritualized hunts can include up to five assistants plus hunting beasts like canines or birds who help corner the beast and bring it down. If the assistants are significantly more powerful than the hunted creature, or if there are so many assistants the creature never stood a chance at survival, the magic simply fails during the bonding process and the hunt and organic materials are wasted, usually much to the shame and chagrin of the hunter. The same doesn’t apply if the prospective beast gunner hunts the creature alone, even if they are significantly more powerful than the creature, such that the creature never stood a chance against them in a one on one fight.

You’re one of those who successfully completed the hunt and bonded with your prized weapon. Now, you seek to discover the hidden depths that others who think they know how to use beast guns can only imagine.

TABLE 1: BEAST GUNNER FEATS
Feat Names Level Skill
Feat		 Benefits
Beast Gunner DedicationGG 6 – You’ve bonded to your beast gun and unlocked the first hints of its hidden potential.
Basic Beast Gunner SpellcastingGG 8 – You’ve unlocked the first secrets of beast guns, granting you the power of their synergistic magic.
Call GunGG 8 – You build a powerful magical connection with a chosen gun or crossbow, gaining the ability to conjure it directly to your hand from any distant location.
Drain VitalityGG 10 – You draw out the bestial magic energy within your bonded beast gun to fortify yourself, purge ongoing harm, and bolster your life force with a sheath of swirling life essence.
Expert Beast Gunner SpellcastingGG 12 – You’ve learned the deeper secrets of beast guns, making you an expert in the magic they grant you.
Controlled BulletGG 16 – You create a direct magical connection with your beast gun, allowing you to guide the beast gun’s next shot by taking control of the projectile directly, steering it through the air, and swerving and veering it to continue to hit target after target.
Master Beast Gunner SpellcastingGG 18 – You’ve learned the final truth of beast guns, making you a master in the magic they grant you.