You’ve dedicated your life to hunting and studying the creatures that stalk the night and terrorize villages. Whether trained by a guild, hardened by personal tragedy, or self-taught through bitter trial, you know how to track monsters, prepare for their strengths, and exploit their weaknesses. To common folk, you are both a protector and an unsettling figure — respected for your skills, but feared for your grim trade.
- Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Investigation
- Tool Proficiencies: Alchemist’s supplies, one gaming set of your choice
- Languages: One of your choice (often dependent on the monsters you study).
- Equipment: A set of traveler’s clothes, a trophy taken from a slain monster (fang, claw, bone, or hide), a worn journal filled with notes on creatures and tactics, a set of alchemist’s supplies, and a pouch containing 10 gp.
Every monster hunter sharpens their craft against a particular kind of quarry. Choose a specialty from the list below, or roll a d8.
| d8 | Hunter's Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vampires. You’ve studied their charms, curses, and thirst — and how to end them for good. |
| 2 | Lycanthropes. You track beasts who walk as men, using silver and keen eyes to pierce their disguise. |
| 3 | Fiends. Demons and devils are your chosen prey, their corruption an affront you will not abide. |
| 4 | Undead. You are relentless against shambling corpses, wights, and specters of the grave. |
| 5 | Dragons. Your hunts pit you against the most legendary of monsters, from wyrmlings to ancient terrors. |
| 6 | Aberrations. Mind flayers, beholders, and twisted horrors from beyond reality are your calling. |
| 7 | Giants. Ogres, trolls, and titans fall within your chosen hunts — the larger they are, the harder they fall. |
| 8 | Beasts. From owlbears to hydras, you specialize in creatures of fang and claw that plague the wilds. |
Your training allows you to recall useful details about monsters and inspire confidence in those who rely on you. When you encounter signs of a creature (tracks, remains, spoor), you can usually identify what type of monster it is and what dangers it presents.
Additionally, ordinary folk often look to you for protection or advice when rumors of monsters spread. You can usually find free lodging or aid in communities threatened by monsters, provided you share your knowledge or lend a hand against the threat.
Suggested Characteristics
Monster hunters are driven by necessity, vengeance, or duty. Many carry the scars of their profession, but some find grim satisfaction in their work — or even a strange sense of pride.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I keep trophies from every beast I slay. |
| 2 | I speak little, preferring to let actions do the talking. |
| 3 | I meticulously record details about every monster I encounter. |
| 4 | I see danger everywhere — paranoia keeps me alive. |
| 5 | I enjoy telling frightening stories by the fire, often embellishing them. |
| 6 | I am always calm, even when facing horrors others flee from. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Protection. Ordinary people shouldn’t suffer from things they can’t fight. (Good) |
| 2 | Duty. This work is a burden, but someone must bear it. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Vengeance. The monsters took everything from me — now I return the favor. (Any) |
| 4 | Balance. Nature’s predators must be culled when they grow too bold. (Neutral) |
| 5 | Fame. Tales of my hunts will outlive me. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Power. Knowledge of monsters is the path to mastering them. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | A monster killed someone I loved, and I’ll never rest until I destroy its kind. |
| 2 | I belong to a secret guild or order of hunters, and I must uphold their traditions. |
| 3 | I hunt to protect my village, my people, or my homeland. |
| 4 | I am searching for a legendary beast said to be unkillable. |
| 5 | I owe my survival to a fellow hunter who trained me. |
| 6 | A monster spared my life once; I need to know why. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I sometimes see people as prey or quarry, not allies. |
| 2 | I’m obsessed with hunting a single creature to the exclusion of all else. |
| 3 | I take reckless risks in pursuit of my quarry. |
| 4 | I’m scarred by nightmares of the monsters I’ve fought. |
| 5 | I have little patience for weakness in others. |
| 6 | I can’t resist telling exaggerated tales of my victories, even when they get me in trouble. |
You belong to a loose network, guild, or secretive order of monster hunters. This gives you access to resources that help you survive the trade. You can usually find safe lodging, a hot meal, and information at guild outposts, safehouses, or friendly taverns that recognize your affiliation. You may also be able to call on the guild for minor favors: access to training, simple equipment, rumor-sharing about monster activity, or introductions to local contacts.
However, your guild has expectations. They may assign contracts, expect a cut of your earnings, or require you to uphold certain codes of conduct. Ignoring these obligations risks losing their support.
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