Tuulikki — The Forest Hunt-Guide
At a Glance
| Name | Tuulikki, The forest maiden who turns the wild game toward or away from a hunter |
|---|---|
| Nature | Fey guardian of the northern forest |
| Tradition | Finnish and Karelian runo poetry, especially Kalevala Runo XIV |
| Alignment | Chaotic Good (campaign interpretation) |
| Home | The Many-Forked Trail, a deep path in Tapiola that crosses into Midgard |
| Household | Tapio and the household of Mielikki |
| Domains | Nature, Travel, Hunt and Protection |
| Symbol | an antler above a green birch branch and a winding trail; original to the setting |
| Purpose | She steers the deer, elk and other wild game along the forest paths, answering a hunter’s song but not every hunter’s demand. |
| Related | Tapio and Mielikki |
| Role in play | Hunting guide, trail-keeper, defender of game and arbiter of fair pursuits |
The king’s hunters have returned with the wrong elk. Its antlers are hung with strips of blue cloth, its hooves leave human footprints, and the animal turns to face each man who claims to have killed it. The royal hunt is meant to celebrate a marriage. Instead, Tuulikki has guided the hunters to the very creature whose release will decide whether the forest permits the wedding party to cross its lands.
Tuulikki belongs to the household of Tapio, lord of the forest, and appears in the epic songs as a guide to the game sought by hunters. In Kalevala Runo XIV, the hunter invokes the maid of the woods and asks her to drive game toward him, clear obstacles and prevent an elk from escaping along another path. These are exacting requests to someone who knows the living forest better than any armed stranger does.
In this world Tuulikki can direct the course of beasts and reveal a trail that exists only for as long as the animal chooses it. She knows the hunger of those waiting through winter and the anger of a forest emptied by a thoughtless royal hunt. She is not a priestess of perpetual slaughter: an animal taken for food and one killed merely to prove a lord’s power do not call forth the same answer.
What Is Happening Right Now?
The Blue Elk at the Wedding
A noble bride refuses to cross a forest because her promised husband has been ordered to kill the blue elk as proof of his courage. The creature carries a ribbon from her childhood around one antler. Tuulikki has brought it deliberately into view and waits for someone to recognise the gift. The party must learn who tied the ribbon and why a forest guide has risked the animal’s life to expose the prince’s vow.
Thirty Tracks and One Hunter
Every morning a royal hunting party finds thirty separate sets of elk tracks leading out of a single hollow. The men follow them until dark and return with no game. The chief huntsman threatens to burn the hollow. Tuulikki will lead the hunters to a real animal if they first release a forest family kept under guard for refusing to reveal a hidden path. The adventurers can settle the bargain or find another way to feed the camp.
The Hunter’s Broken Horn
A silver signal horn sounds from the forest although its owner died during last winter’s hunt. The sound lures younger hunters onto a road ending in a sinkhole. A frightened poacher admits he stole the horn from a shrine of Tapio. Tuulikki offers to show the party where the dead man fell, but insists the shrine be restored before another horn is sounded.
Meeting the Hunt-Guide
Tuulikki is a swift-moving young woman dressed in green wool and birch-bark leather, with an antler-shaped clasp at her shoulder. She travels with a slim staff and rarely needs a weapon. Her eyes follow tracks that other people cannot see, and she stops speaking whenever the wind shifts. Hunters who mistake her silence for ignorance discover that she has already circled their camp.
When the Game Turns
Her Chaotic Good nature makes her willing to frustrate an order that would destroy a herd or leave a family starving. She may lead a just hunter to food and send a wasteful noble round the same hill until nightfall. She values skill, patience and an honest reason for taking a life; she despises snares left where children or farm animals may suffer.
Runo XIV and the Moose of Hiisi
When Lemminkäinen seeks the moose of Hiisi, he bargains for the aid of the forest household and addresses Tuulikki. She is asked to make the quarry come into reach and stop it from veering aside. The request is not the same as the cattle-protection prayer for Tellervo. In one tale the protected thing is a herd returned to a household; in the other the guide is asked to bring wild game to a hunter. A good campaign should make those duties visibly different.
Signs along the Trail
Broken branches turn back toward the tree they came from; a deer that has fled a hunter pauses on a rise where it can be seen; a path of hoofprints leads to a dry ford despite recent rain. None is an invitation to kill everything along the route. Tuulikki’s favour lasts only as long as the hunter honours the terms of the pursuit.
The Many-Forked Trail
Deep in Tapiola a forest road circles a stand of ancient pines and divides into many branches. No two travellers see all the same branches. One reaches the midwinter hunt in a northern valley, another the deep wood of the Fey World, a third a clearing where elk gather at dawn. Tuulikki watches the crossings from a fallen birch and decides which travellers have been offered guidance.
There are no fixed city gates or tax collectors at her border. The path itself answers the balance between hunter, quarry and land. A hunter carrying food for his dependants may find a clear track; a company demanding trophies discovers its route flooded or overgrown. A lost child is guided to the nearest friendly hearth without first being asked to prove bravery.
Regional Effects
The Right Track. A creature guided by Tuulikki cannot lose a chosen quarry by nonmagical means until the creature reaches a safe refuge or leaves her territory.
Hidden Crossings. Paths appear through difficult forest terrain for visitors she has admitted, then close after they pass.
The False Horn. A hunter who breaks an oath may hear a distant hunting horn and find his companions safely elsewhere.
The Deep Refuge. Beasts pursued solely for sport can reach glades where arrows and spears are hindered by living branches.
Divine Gifts and Spells
Domains: Nature, Travel, Hunt and Protection. These describe her function in the campaign’s divine traditions rather than ancient formal categories.
Domain Spells
| Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 1st | Hunter’s Mark, Longstrider |
| 2nd | Locate Animals or Plants, Pass without Trace |
| 3rd | Conjure Barrage, Nondetection |
| 4th | Freedom of Movement, Locate Creature |
| 5th | Commune with Nature, Tree Stride |
| 6th | Find the Path, Wind Walk |
| 7th | Plane Shift, Teleport |
| 8th | Animal Shapes, Mind Blank |
| 9th | Foresight, Shapechange |
Path of the Living Quarry. A faithful hunter may follow a fresh trail even where a mundane track has been washed away, but the power does not reveal what a quarry thinks.
Guide’s Refuge. A traveller lost between forest paths may ask Tuulikki for a safe route, offering a true account of why the journey matters.
Game Statistics
Tuulikki, Guide of the Unseen Hunt
Medium Fey, Chaotic Good
AC 23 (forest ward); Initiative +10 (20); HP 315 (30d8 + 180); Speed 40 ft., Fly 80 ft. (hover)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 30 (+10) | 22 (+6) | 22 (+6) | 28 (+9) | 24 (+7) |
Saving Throws Dex +16, Con +12, Wis +15, Cha +13; Skills Nature +12, Perception +15, Survival +15, Insight +15; Resistances Cold, Psychic; Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened; Senses Truesight 90 ft., Passive Perception 25; Languages Finnish, Karelian, Sylvan, telepathy 120 ft.; CR 19 (22,000 XP; PB +6)
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Tuulikki fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Spoor-Sense. She ignores Difficult Terrain created by nonmagical undergrowth. After examining a creature’s tracks for one minute, she knows the direction it last travelled and has Advantage on checks to follow that trail until the next dawn.
Actions
Multiattack. She makes three Pathfinder’s Arrow attacks.
Pathfinder’s Arrow. Ranged Spell Attack Roll: +16, range 150 ft. Hit: 27 (6d8) Force damage plus 13 (3d8) Psychic damage.
The Hunt Turned (Recharge 5–6). Creatures she chooses in a 40-foot-radius Sphere centred on a point she sees within 120 feet make a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, each takes 45 (10d8) Force damage and has the Prone condition until the end of its next turn. On a success, each takes half damage and suffers no additional effect.
Hunt-Guide’s Command (3/Day). Up to three willing creatures within 60 feet may move up to half their Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. They have Advantage on their next Dexterity saving throw before the end of their next turns.
Bonus Actions
Run the Hidden Trail. She teleports up to 40 feet to an unoccupied space she can see within 10 feet of a living plant or clearly visible animal trail.
Reactions
Break the Pursuit. When a creature Tuulikki can see within 60 feet makes an attack roll, she can impose Disadvantage on that roll before its result is known. If the attack misses, the attacker cannot make Opportunity Attacks until the end of its turn.
Legendary Actions (3/round)
She takes one Legendary Action at the end of another creature’s turn and regains all three at the start of her turn. Step. Move up to half her Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. Pathfinder’s Arrow (Costs 2 Actions). Make one Pathfinder’s Arrow attack. False Trail (Costs 2 Actions). One hostile creature Tuulikki can see within 60 feet makes a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature cannot take Reactions until the end of its next turn and has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before then.
Tuulikki, Guide of the Unseen Hunt
Medium fey, chaotic good
Armor Class 23 (forest ward); Hit Points 315 (30d8 + 180); Speed 40 ft., Fly 80 ft. (hover)
STR 20 (+5), DEX 30 (+10), CON 22 (+6), INT 22 (+6), WIS 28 (+9), CHA 24 (+7)
Saving Throws Dex +16, Con +12, Wis +15, Cha +13; Skills Nature +12, Perception +15, Survival +15, Insight +15; Damage Resistances Cold, Psychic; Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened; Senses Truesight 90 ft., Passive Perception 25; Languages Finnish, Karelian, Sylvan, telepathy 120 ft.; Challenge 19 (22,000 XP; PB +6)
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Tuulikki fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Spoor-Sense. She ignores Difficult Terrain created by nonmagical undergrowth. After examining a creature’s tracks for one minute, she knows the direction it last travelled and has Advantage on checks to follow that trail until the next dawn.
Actions
Multiattack. She makes three Pathfinder’s Arrow attacks.
Pathfinder’s Arrow. Ranged Spell Attack: +16 to hit, range 150 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (6d8) Force damage plus 13 (3d8) Psychic damage.
The Hunt Turned (Recharge 5–6). Creatures she chooses in a 40-foot-radius Sphere centred on a point she sees within 120 feet make a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, each takes 45 (10d8) Force damage and has the Prone condition until the end of its next turn. On a success, each takes half damage and suffers no additional effect.
Hunt-Guide’s Command (3/Day). Up to three willing creatures within 60 feet may move up to half their Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. They have Advantage on their next Dexterity saving throw before the end of their next turns.
Bonus Actions
Run the Hidden Trail. She teleports up to 40 feet to an unoccupied space she can see within 10 feet of a living plant or clearly visible animal trail.
Reactions
Break the Pursuit. When a creature Tuulikki can see within 60 feet makes an attack roll, she can impose Disadvantage on that roll before its result is known. If the attack misses, the attacker cannot make Opportunity Attacks until the end of its turn.
Legendary Actions (3/round)
She takes one Legendary Action at the end of another creature’s turn and regains all three at the start of her turn. Step. Move up to half her Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. Pathfinder’s Arrow (Costs 2 Actions). Make one Pathfinder’s Arrow attack. False Trail (Costs 2 Actions). One hostile creature Tuulikki can see within 60 feet makes a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature cannot take Reactions until the end of its next turn and has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before then.
Tuulikki — CR 20
XP 307,200; CG Medium outsider (native); Init +14; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +40
DEFENSE
AC 36, touch 25, flat-footed 26 (+10 Dex, +11 natural, +5 deflection); hp 322 (28d10 + 168); Fort +22, Ref +26, Will +25; DR 10/cold iron; Resist cold 20, electricity 20; SR 30
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft. (hover); Ranged pathfinder’s arrow +38 touch (6d8 force); Special Attacks the turning of the herd (Su), hunt-guide’s command (Su)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 28th; concentration +35): at will—detect magic, freedom of movement, speak with animals; 3/day—greater dispel magic, control plants, find the path; 1/day—greater restoration, foresight.
STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 30, Con 22, Int 22, Wis 28, Cha 24; Base Atk +28; CMB +33; CMD 53; Feats Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness, Weapon Focus (ray), Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Alertness
Skills Knowledge (nature) +37, Perception +40, Survival +40, Sense Motive +40; Languages Finnish, Karelian, Sylvan
SPECIAL ABILITIES
The Turning of the Herd (Su). Once every 1d4 rounds Tuulikki releases a 40-foot-radius field within 120 feet, dealing 10d8 force damage (Will DC 33 half), with a failed save causing creatures to become entangled for 1 round. This save DC is Wisdom-based.
Tuulikki — CR 20
Medium Outsider (Native), Chaotic Good
Hit Dice 28d8+168 (294 hp); Initiative +14; Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft. (hover); Armor Class 36 (+10 Dex, +11 natural, +5 deflection), touch 25, flat-footed 26
Base Attack/Grapple +28/+33; Attack pathfinder’s arrow +38 ranged touch (6d8 force); Full Attack pathfinder’s arrow +38 ranged touch (6d8 force); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks the turning of the herd, hunt-guide’s command, spell-like abilities; Special Qualities DR 10/cold iron, darkvision 120 ft., resist cold 20 and electricity 20, SR 30
Saves Fort +22, Ref +26, Will +25; Abilities Str 20, Dex 30, Con 22, Int 22, Wis 28, Cha 24; Skills Knowledge (nature) +37, Listen +40, Spot +40, Survival +40; Feats Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 28th): at will—detect magic, freedom of movement, speak with animals; 3/day—greater dispel magic, control plants; 1/day—greater restoration, foresight.
The Turning of the Herd (Su)
Once every 1d4 rounds Tuulikki releases a 40-foot-radius field within 120 feet for 10d8 force damage (Will DC 33 half); those failing become entangled for 1 round. This save DC is Wisdom-based.
Adventures with Tuulikki
The Antler of the False King
A boaster presents the antler of Hiisi’s moose at a border feast. Tuulikki recognises it as a common elk’s antler altered by illusion. The real creature is still loose and threatens the sheepfolds. The characters can expose the false triumph, find the animal and prevent a royal hunt from becoming a massacre.
The Forgotten Crossing
A bridge through the deep forest has disappeared from every map. A merchant insists a forest maiden moved it to punish him. The truth is that his guards have been capturing children who gather berries along the old road. The party must rescue the missing children before the path will open for a caravan carrying medicine.
The Feast of Empty Plates
The hunting lodge has a magnificent hall full of trophies but no meat. The forest guide sends every animal away from the king’s arrows until the servants are paid. The lord orders the woods burned. The heroes can negotiate the workers’ wages, return stolen land to the local villages and discover which ranger still hears Tuulikki’s voice at dusk.
People and Places
Mythic Sources and Game Credits
Kalevala, Runo XIV invokes Tuulikki, a daughter of Tapio, to guide wild game to Lemminkäinen during the hunt for Hiisi’s moose. See also the forest household in Runo XXXII, which distinguishes the role of the cattle-guardian Tellervo. The Many-Forked Trail, the ethics and contracts of the hunt, emblem, domain spells, adventures and game statistics are original fantasy interpretations rather than fixed descriptions in the oral poems.
These four stat blocks are original fantasy interpretations, not official statistics. Their game terminology follows the applicable open-game licences, including CC BY 4.0 for material adapted from SRD 5.2.1.
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