An animal magically bred by House Vadalis might have any of a number of useful qualities—higher ability scores most notable among them—and is easier to train than a mundane animal. A magebred animal of any kind costs twice as much as its mundane equivalent.
The widespread use of magic on Eberron has led to the development of magical enhancements to animal breeding, particularly within House Vadalis. 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 magebred.
A magebred animal looks essentially like a f ne 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 magebred for pulling loads has exceptionally large shoulder muscles, for example, while a dog magebred for tracking has a particularly long nose.
CREATING A MAGEBRED ANIMAL
“Magebred animal” is an inherited template that can be applied to any living animal (referred to hereafter as the base creature).
A magebred 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 magebred animal is easier to train and handle than a normal animal.
Excellent Learner: A magebred animal can learn a maximum of eight tricks, and the DC for all Handle Animal checks involving a magebred animal is reduced by 2 . In addition, the time required to train a magebred animal for a purpose is reduced by 1 week (to a minimum of 1 week).
A magebred 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 magebred animal always has an Intelligence score of 2.
Feats: A magebred animal gains one of the following feats as a bonus feat: Alertness, Athletic, Endurance, Improved Natural Attack, or Multiattack.
MAGEBRED ANIMALS
Magebred Ghost Tiger
Magebred Brown Bear
This example uses a heavy horse as the base creature and illustrates an animal magebred for versatility and speed.
Magebred 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,
fl at-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+9
Attack: Hoof –1 melee (1d6+2)
Full Attack: 2 hooves –1 melee (1d6+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, EnduranceB, 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.
