A Beast represents standard biological fauna, mundane creatures, and non-magical wildlife that inhabit the natural world. Unlike magical beasts, spirit-bound familiars, or supernatural monsters, Beasts possess natural biological instincts, standard physical forms, and mundane intellect.

Beasts cover a wide range of natural fauna, from small aerial hunters like falcons to terrestrial predators like hounds. They rely on physical traits rather than arcane abilities:

Sensory Specializations: Natural physical traits like Keen Nose (favoring scent-based perception) or Sharp Eyes (favoring vision-based perception).

Physical Movement: Traversal relies on mundane movement profiles, including ground movement, swimming, or flying.

Standardized Attributes: Animals operate on baseline physical attributes (Strength, Agility, Constitution) and carry minimal or nonexistent mental attributes like Arcane or supernatural stats.

In tactical and campaign settings, Animals bridge the gap between simple wilderness encounters and companion mechanics:

Pets vs. Companions: A standard animal can function as a purely narrative “pet” operating in the social tier without complex stats, or as a fully statted “companion” that takes actions, holds initiative, and absorbs damage alongside an adventurer.

Skills & Interaction: Interacting with animals relies on specialized non-magical skills such as Beast Lore (knowledge and interaction), Riding (controlling beasts of burden), or Hunting & Fishing (tracking game).

Economic Value: Animals act as functional assets in the local economy. They serve as livestock, hunting aids, guard beasts, or mounts, purchased using standard currency like copper or silver pieces depending on their rarity and utility.

While spirits or spells can take the form of an animal (such as a wizard's familiar), true Animals remain fundamentally tied to the natural world, serving as the biological baseline for wild encounters and utilitarian companions.

Bestiary