Tuesday Magic Item – Houndmaster’s Spear and Collars

Voddick took aim with his crossbow and fired to be rewarded with a yelp of pain.  “I hate fighting animals.  They did not ask to be here.”

“And we did?” said Gollaon helping his friend up higher on the hill.

“Well, no, but we knew the risks.”  He paused to recock his crossbow.  “If we can just get a shot at the hunter.”

“We can finish this,” nodded Gollaon, nocking an arrow.

Houndmaster’s Spear and Collars

These spears usually appear very practical and plain, especially for an enchanted item, with minimal decoration around their hardy shaft and brutal spear point.  Most include a butt spike for bracing into the earth against the charge of animals.  The collars are equally practical, usually studded leather echoing the colors and design of the spear they are tied to.

The Spear is a +2 Long Spear that gives it wielder +1d6 sneak attack damage when attacking a foe harried by animals wearing the Houndmaster’s Collars linked to it.  Additionally, the wielder gains a +1 dodge bonus to armor class against any foe being attacked by animals wearing the Houndmaster’s Collars linked to it.

The bearer further gains a +4 enhancement bonus to Animal Handling checks used on the animals wearing the linked Houndmaster’s Collars.  Once a day, they may designate a single target that can be perceived, through any sense including scent, and the animal wearing the Houndmaster’s Collars gain +4 to locate and track that target until the animals’ rest and gain a +1d6 sneak attack when engaging that target.

Animals wearing the Houndmaster’s Collar gain a +4 morale to saves against Fear when the wielder of the spear is close enough to be perceived and a +2 morale bonus to attack anyone the wielder of the houndmaster’s spear is engaged with.

Spear: Aura moderate transmutation; CL 9th
Slot none; Price 28,305; Weight 7 lbs
Construction Requirements
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, mass bull’s strength, charm animal, speak with animal; Cost 14,000 + 305 for the spear

Collar: Aura faint transmutation; CL 5th
Slot neck; Price 2,500; Weight –
Construction Requirements
Craft Wondrous Items, magic fang, owl’s wisdom; Cost 1,250

For D&D 5E:

Magic weapon (spear), rare (requires attunement) / Wondrous item (collar), rare (requires attunement from the animal)

First paragraph as above.

The Spear gives its wielder a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls and +1d6 sneak attack damage when attacking a foe harried by animals wearing the Houndmaster’s Collars linked to it.  Additionally, the wielder gains a +1 bonus to armor class against any foe being attacked by animals wearing the Houndmaster’s Collars linked to it.

The bearer further gains advantage on Wisdom (Animal Handling) rolls used on the animals wearing the linked Houndmaster’s Collars.  Once a day, they may designate a single target that can be perceived, through any sense including scent, and the animal wearing the Houndmaster’s Collars gain advantage to locate and track that target until the animals’ rest and gain a +1d6 sneak attack when engaging that target.

Animals wearing the Houndmaster’s Collar gain advantage to saves against Fear when the wielder of the spear is close enough to be perceived and a +1 to attack roll again anyone the wielder of the houndmaster’s spear is engaged with.

Notes: There are not a lot of linked magic items, thing designed to work in concert with each other, not much in the way of enhancing animal handlers, this does both.  And being hunted by packs of animals is always frightening, so it works for October.  I have worked with collars before to enhance packs.

Image edited from Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a hunting party; a man blowing a horn and a hound chasing a stag, an illuminated manuscript held by the British Library and is in the Public Domain.