Noble Deer

Deer are hoofed mammals and are usually characterized by bony, branching antlers, which are shed and regenerated annually. They generally have lithe, compact bodies and long, powerful legs suited for rugged woodland terrain. Deer are also excellent jumpers and swimmers. Deer are ruminants, or cud-chewers, and have a four-chambered stomach. The teeth of deer are adapted to feeding on vegetation, and like other ruminants, they lack upper incisors, instead having a tough pad at the front of their upper jaw. Some deer do consume meat when it is available. Deer are highly variable in size, generally becoming larger the further away they live from the equator. Male deer (also known as a buck or stag) usually weighs 130 to 290 pounds. The female (doe) in usually weighs from 88 to 200 pounds. The average summer weight of adult males is 150 pounds and is 100 pounds in adult females. Length ranges from 37 to 87 inches, including a tail of 3.9 to 14.4 inches, and the shoulder height is 21 to 47 inches.

Species Descriptions

Beautiful, gentle, and vulnerable; noble deer have a unique outlook on the “serve or challenge” question.

They choose, for the most part, to serve. And yet they remain wild; hunted for their meat, hide, even their sinew and bones. And that is how they serve. So if one or two farmers lose some tasty crops to browsing noble deer, they figure they are beyond entitled.

This strange, almost masochistic relationship with the two-legs runs both ways. Humans and elves love the sport and meat that deer offer, but they also revere these quiet, lovely creatures. Many gods have used noble deer emissaries to impart vital knowledge or instruction to mortal heroes.

Noble Deer Species Traits

• Ability Score Modifiers: +2 Wisdom; noble deer are always aware of their surroundings.
• Size: Medium.
• Base Speed: 40 ft. The deer has a +4 speed bonus to Acrobatics checks made to jump.
• Natural Armor: +2.
• Natural Weapons: antlers (1d8) (bucks only), slam (1d4) (does only), and bite (1d2).
• Senses: Low-light vision (Ex), scent (Ex).
• Bonus Feat: Alertness.
• Family: Mammal.
• Noble Animal Type: Noble deer have the noble animal type except where superseded by other species traits and features.
• Social Group: Herd.
• Automatic Languages: Herdspeak and High Fauna.
• Bonus Languages: Bat, Camel, Canine, Common, Crocodilian, Elephant, Equine, Feline, Hyena, Lizard, Monitor, Raptor, Rodent, Serpent, Simian, Songbird, Ursine, and Woodland.