The Brithan Hunter Discipline stresses the hunt and the kill, particularly of the creature known as "Brithan". All Brithan Hunters are dedicated to ridding Barsaive of the brithan forever. Almost all Brithan Hunters wear armour made from brithan hide. Brithan hunters all possess ranks in the Brithan Lore skill.

The first and most legendary Brithan Hunter was the infamous Brithan Bill. He is considered to be responsible for making brithans extinct in many parts of Barsaive.

On the Inclusion of the Brithan Hunter

When discussing the Brithan Hunter, one must first address why its description is found in this work. As any Questor of Jaspree will tell you, the brithan is a near (if not totally) extinct animal. Although the Bearers of Akasha have an illustrious past, there is much controversy of the "Brithan Incident" of 27 Sollus, 1508. Although most vindicate their actions, Questors of Jaspree, beastmasters and some others lament the destruction of the two brithans. No brithans were seen for years before, and none have been seen since. In this respect, the legacy of the Bearers of Akasha is tied in with the legend of Brithan Bill and his legion of Brithan Hunters.

The Legend of Brithan Bill

No one knows where he is from. Some say he came from the Wastes, with a Brithan head in his right hand and his harpoon gun in the left. Others say he came from Vasgothia, a re-Named Theran noble driven to the Hunt. No one knows how old he is. Grandfathers tell tales of his legend while troubadours sing songs of him and say the events happened mere weeks ago. He is Brithan Bill, the greatest hunter of the Post-Scourge era and slayer of the creature known as "Brithan".

On the Origins of Brithan Bill

The earliest tales of Brithan Bill have him appearing in the region of Ustrect, where huge herds of brithan wandered the southwestern edge of the Servos Jungle. Other than that, there is nothing factual concerning his homelands or his childhood. The most popular legend explaining his hatred of brithan is this - as a child, his parents were killed by ork bandits. A practical boy, Bill understood that things like that happened and accepted the loss of his family. One day, though, Bill went to visit his parents gravesite. Instead of the respectful, serene shrine, there was a brithan there, chewing on the flowers Bill left on his mothers grave. Upon seeing Bill, the brithan began its ritual dance. Bill's anger at this pointless act was compounded by the fact the Brithan was dancing atop the graves. Outraged by this repugnant beast, Bill seized his pitchfork and slew the brithan with one blow while it was still in mid-dance. Whereas the deaths of his parents was a progression of the world around him, this creature was a mockery of all that was natural. Bill took a blood oath dedicating his life toward the destruction of all brithan. At that moment, Brithan Bill was born. He prayed to the Passions Upandal and Raggok, and it is said they gave him the inspiration and power to create his harpoon gun.

The Rise of the Brithan Hunters

Within a year, the brithan herds of southwest Barsaive were depleted and the brithan hide trade was at an all-time peak. Soon, Brithan Bill would comb deeper and deeper into the jungle in search of brithan. As his legend grew, people began to eagerly await his return. One day, he returned with three mules, loaded down with brithan hides, and atop his head sat his cub skin cap. This was the image of Brithan Bill that made him a true legend. Over the next few decades, Brithan Bill moved from place to place in Barsaive, looking for large herds of brithan to destroy. The level of his skill and the unique talents he developed drew hunters of all levels to his side. Some he trained, most merely watched and learned. This is how the discipline of the Brithan Hunter was born. By the late 1400's, Brithan Hunters roamed Barsaive looking for a good brithan hunt.

On the Current State of Brithans

In 1500, Brithan Bill heard tales concerning Aracania, a far-off land where an entirely new breed of brithan was said to roam the plains in great numbers. In his absence, there has been great debate over the impact and importance of Brithan Bill. Most recently, Questors of Jaspree and beastmasters were up in arms when the Bearers of Akasha slew two brithans in the Servos Jungle. It is quite possible that they might have been the last brithans in Barsaive. All was not totally lost, though. An ork on his way to Cara Fahd came across one of the carcasses. He cut off the head, skinned it, cleaned it and sealed the sockets. It is now a prized hurlg stein that is said to be used by Krathis Grom herself. As for Brithan Bill, is believed that he will return someday to Call the Hunt one last time.

Important Attributes: Dexterity and Perception

Racial Restrictions: Windling

Karma Ritual: The Brithan Hunter pretends to become a brithan for his Karma ritual. After a half hour of snuffling and dancing, he stops suddenly, as if shot, then crumples to the ground and "dies".

Artisan Skills: Taxidermy, Jerky Making

FIRST CIRCLE

Talents

Karma Ritual

Missile Weapons

Mystic Aim(D)

Silent Walk

Tracking(D)

Dominate Beast(D)

SECOND CIRCLE

Talents

Durability (6/5)

Unarmed Combat

Brithan Dance*(D)

THIRD CIRCLE

Talents

Frighten(D)

Melee Weapons

FOURTH CIRCLE

Karma: The Brithan Hunter can now spend Karma to increase the damage of any attack made against a brithan.

Talents
Climbing
Wound Balance

FIFTH CIRCLE

Physical Defence: +1 Physical Defence

Talents
Animal Possession(D)
Brithanic Moan(D)

SIXTH CIRCLE

Call the Hunt: By calling out in a primal, bestial language, the Brithan Hunter can summon the animals of the forest to terrorize and kill a target Brithan. The Brithan Hunter must either be in sight of the target brithan or be in sight of one of the target brithan's tracks. He then takes 3 Strain and makes a Charisma-based Half-magic test. Any animals within a two-mile radius whose Social Defence is less than the result immediately swarm to the target brithan and attempt to tear it to pieces.

Talents
Find Cubs*(D)
Life Check

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New Talents:

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Brithan Dance
Step: Rank + Dexterity
Action: Yes Skill Use: No
Requires Karma: No Strain: 1
Discipline Talent: Brithan Hunter

The Brithan Dance talent allows a hunter to attract brithan. The hunter makes a Brithan Dance test and compares the result to the Social Defence of any full-grown brithan within Rank miles. Success means that the brithan will head directly towards the hunter at a good rate of speed, convinced a brithan of the opposite sex is there to mate with him/her. Upon arrival, the brithan is confused and will not act until he or she can succeed on a Willpower (10) Test, even if attacked.

There is a side effect to this talent. If the Brithan Dance is performed in view of other Name-givers or intelligent races, the Brithan Hunter must make a Charisma (18) Test or the attitudes of bystanders are shifted down two categories towards Hostile as they are enraged. Even his close friends may attack.

Brithanic Moan
Step: Rank + Charisma
Action: No Skill Use: No
Requires Karma: No Strain: 1
Discipline Talent: Brithan Hunter

The hunter lets out a snuffling moan, exactly like that of a brithan, and makes a Brithanic Moan Test against his opponent's Social Defence. The magic of this talent causes any opponent to be filled with pity, absolutely convinced that the hunter should be a brithan, and suffer a penalty equal to -1/Rank to all tests directed at the hunter for 1 round per success level gained on the Brithanic Moan Test (1 on Average, 2 on Good, etc).

Find Cubs
Step: Rank + Perception
Action: Yes Skill Use: No
Requires Karma: Yes Strain: 1
Discipline Talent: Brithan Hunter

The Find Cubs talent allows the Brithan Hunter to find the cubs of its prey. The hunter makes a Find Cubs test against the target's Spell Defence. If successful, the hunter immediately knows the direction and distance of all of the target's direct offspring, up to a number equal to his Rank. The talent will work on a recently-dead corpse as well. This talent requires an Excellent success unless the target is a brithan, in which case it requires only an Average success.

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Talent Knacks:

Brithan Seeming
Talent: Brithanic Moan
Cost: 100
Brithan Hunter Rank 9

The Brithan Seeming knack is an extrapolation of the Brithanic Moan talent. While Brithanic Moan gives its targets the confusing notion that the hunter is making brithan noises, Brithan Seeming makes its targets actually believe that they are seeing, smelling, etc. a brithan. The hunter takes 3 extra points of Strain and makes a Brithanic Moan test as normal. If he succeeds, he appears to be a brithan for the next hour, after which he can renew the effect with another test (and more Strain).

Brithan's Rage
Talent: Brithan Dance
Cost: 100
Brithan Hunter Rank 4

The Brithan's Rage knack allows the hunter to draw upon the indignation of a brithan upon seeing his ritual dance ignored. If the hunter is attacked while Brithan Dancing, his attack and damage tests are increased by 4 steps against that opponent for the rest of the combat.

Brithan's Anatomy
Talent: Missile Weapons
Cost: 100
Brithan Hunter Rank 6

Brithan's Anatomy is a talent which draws upon the Brithan Hunter's vast and expert knowledge of brithan anatomy to enhance his Missile Weapons attacks to great effect. Whenever the hunter makes a successful Missile Weapons attack against a brithan only, he can add his rank in Brithan Lore to the Damage step.

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Legendary Treasures:

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BRITHAN BILL'S HARPOON GUN
Spell Defence: 14
Maximum Threads: 2

Brithan Bill's Harpoon Gun is a complex weapon much like an extremely powerful crossbow. It fires huge harpoons, doing Step 14 damage on a successful hit. It is a Size 6 weapon and requires at Strength of at least 14 to properly wield. It takes a full round to reload.

Thread Ranks

Rank 1 Cost: 200
Deed: The wielder must use the Harpoon Gun in a battle with a brihan. The brithan must be killed by the hunter, although the Harpoon Gun need not be used to strike the final blow. The wielder receives 200 Legend Points for completing this task.
Key Knowledge:The wielder must know that the Name of the weapon is Brithan Bill's Harpoon Gun.
Effect: +1 to the wielder's Missile Weapons talent when using this weapon. Damage versus brithans only rises to Step 16.

Rank 2 Cost: 300
Key Knowledge: The wielder must know that the most famous wielder of this weapon was Brithan Bill.
Effect: +2 to the wielder's Missile Weapons talent when using this weapon. Damage versus brithans only rises to Step 18.

Rank 3 Cost: 500
Effect: Damage rises to Step 15, Step 19 versus brithans. In addition, the wielder can add a Karma point to damage above and beyond any other Karma he can spend.

Rank 4 Cost: 800
Deed: The wielder must strike the killing blow to a brithan with the Harpoon Gun. The wielder receives 800 Legend points for completing this task.
Effect: +1 Physical Defence

Rank 5 Cost: 1300
Key Knowledge: The wielder must learn that Brithan Bill's first brithan was killed in the Servos Jungle.
Effect: Damage rises to Step 16, Step 20 versus brithans.

Rank 6 Cost: 2100
Deed: The wielder must pledge to hunt and kill brithans whenever possible and wear their skins as trophies. If the wielder ever spares a brithan from kindness, laziness, et cetera, his thread snaps and he loses ALL ranks of the Harpoon Gun. The wielder receives 3400 Legend Points for completing this task.
Effect: +3 to wielder's Missile Weapons talent when using this weapon. In addition, Damage versus brithans rises to Step 21. Finally, the wielder can reload the weapon in a heartbeat by taking a point of Strain, magically creating harpoons. This allows the weapon to be fired every round in combat.

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CUBSKIN CAP
Spell Defence: 13
Maximum Threads: 2

The Cubskin Cap is a trapper's hat made of the soft skins of baby brithan cubs. It is large and soft.

Thread Ranks

Rank 1 Cost: 250
Key Knowledge: The wearer must know that the Name of this hat is the Cubskin Cap.
Effect: +1 Physical Armour, +1 Mystic Armour

Rank 2 Cost: 550
Key Knowledge: The wearer must know that the Cap's first skin was from the only cub of a brithan Named Hoolath.
Effect: +1 Physical Defence, +1 Spell Defence, +1 Social Defence

Rank 3 Cost: 850
Deed: The wearer must kill a brithan cub and add a scrap of its hide to the Cap. This Deed is worth 1250 Legend Points.
Effect: +1 Physical Armour. In addition, the wearer's Physical Armour can only be defeated by an Extraordinary success on the Attack Test.

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