Actaeon, the Cursed Hunter

“The Cursed Hunter: Trapped between man and beast, Actaeon’s tragic tale unfolds in a relentless pursuit for redemption.”

• Alias: The Cursed Stag
• Gender: Male
• Race: Human
• Occupation: Hunter
• Religion: Devotee of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt
• Allies: Forest-dwelling creatures, fellow hunters, wise seers
• Enemies: Artemis (due to the curse), hunters who oppose his skills
• Abode/Base of Operations: Roams the wilderness, dwelling in makeshift camps and natural shelters
• Nationality: Greek
• Languages: Greek
• Alignment: Chaotic Good
• Affiliation(s): None in particular, though he has deep respect for nature and its inhabitants
• Significant Others: None specified (free to be customized for the campaign)

In the dense forests of ancient Greece, Actaeon roams as a skilled and daring hunter. Blessed with exceptional tracking abilities and a keen eye, he seeks the thrill of the hunt, driven by a deep passion for the wilderness and the creatures that inhabit it. He is a young and ambitious man, known for his agility, strength, and unwavering determination.

Actaeon’s pursuit of hunting excellence stems from his desire to prove himself worthy of his lineage. Born into a noble family of renowned hunters, he carries the weight of his ancestors’ legacy upon his shoulders. Eager to uphold their honor, Actaeon trains rigorously, honing his skills with bow and arrow, spear, and blade. His ultimate goal is to become the greatest hunter of his time, surpassing even the feats of his forefathers.

With an insatiable thirst for adventure, Actaeon explores the untamed wilderness, venturing into the depths of forests, scaling treacherous mountains, and braving the dangers that lie beyond. His heart beats with the rhythm of nature, and he finds solace in the solitude of the wild, where he can test his mettle against the cunning and strength of elusive prey.

Actaeon’s passion, however, leads him down an unforeseen path when he stumbles upon a sacred grove hidden deep within the woods. In a moment of unfortunate fate, he accidentally gazes upon the goddess Artemis as she bathes, violating her sacred privacy. Enraged by his audacity, Artemis curses Actaeon, transforming him into a stag. The hunter becomes the hunted, pursued by his own loyal hounds, and the very animals he once pursued.

Now trapped in his own form, Actaeon strives to break the curse that binds him and regain his human existence. Fueled by determination and a desire for redemption, he embarks on a perilous journey, seeking the guidance of wise seers and powerful sorcerers who may hold the key to his salvation. Along the way, Actaeon must navigate treacherous encounters with mythical creatures, face his own inner turmoil, and confront the consequences of his actions.

Driven by his unwavering will and an unyielding spirit, Actaeon’s quest for redemption intertwines with his insatiable passion for the hunt. Through trials and tribulations, he seeks to regain his humanity, prove his worth, and restore his rightful place among the hunters of legend.

Actaeon, the Cursed Hunter

Medium humanoid (human), chaotic neutral

Armor Class: 15 (studded leather) Hit Points: 110 (13d8 + 52) Speed: 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12	18	14	10	14	16

Saving Throws: Dex +7, Wis +5 Skills: Perception +5, Survival +5 Senses: passive Perception 15 Languages: Common, Sylvan Challenge: 6 (2,300 XP)

Actions

Multiattack. Actaeon makes two attacks: one with his longbow and one with his shortsword.

Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Stag’s Wrath (Recharge 5-6). Actaeon channels his cursed nature, transforming into a powerful stag for 1 minute. While in this form, he gains the following benefits:

• Charge. If Actaeon moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a melee attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 9 (2d8) piercing damage.
• Hooves. Actaeon’s hooves count as magical weapons, and his attacks deal an extra 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage.
• Feral Instinct. Actaeon has advantage on Dexterity saving throws and gains a +2 bonus to AC.

Reactions

Wild Evasion. When Actaeon is subjected to an effect that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he instead takes no damage on a successful saving throw.

Equipment

• Studded Leather Armor
• Longbow
• Shortsword
• Hunter’s Pack
• Explorer’s Pack
• 20 Arrows
• Antler Necklace (Magic Item) – Grants Actaeon advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks related to tracking or survival in natural environments.

Description

Actaeon stands at an average height, with a lean and athletic build. His dark hair falls in tousled locks around his face, and his piercing green eyes hold a hint of wildness. He wears studded leather armor adorned with intricate patterns resembling forest foliage. A necklace of antlers hangs around his neck, a symbol of his cursed fate.

Currently, Actaeon finds himself deep in a secluded woodland, his senses heightened as he navigates the dense underbrush. His mood is a mix of determination and melancholy, driven by his eternal pursuit of redemption and a longing for release from the curse that binds him.

Actaeon’s surroundings are shrouded in an ethereal mist, the dappled moonlight filtering through the canopy above. The air carries an air of ancient magic, a reminder of the fateful encounter with the goddess Artemis that forever changed his destiny. The sounds of rustling leaves and distant wildlife accompany him, echoing the eternal hunt that now defines his existence.

CR: 6 (2,300 XP)

Currently in the World

Actaeon stands tall with a lean and muscular build, his body honed by a life spent in the wilderness. His tanned skin bears the marks of countless hunts and long hours spent under the sun. He possesses an aura of quiet strength, his piercing eyes reflecting a deep connection to the natural world. His dark, unkempt hair falls loosely around his face, framing a strong jawline and a prominent nose.

Currently, Actaeon finds himself deep within the heart of a dense forest. Sunlight filters through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air is filled with the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant calls of woodland creatures. Actaeon moves silently, his steps blending with the rhythm of the forest. His senses are heightened, every rustle and whisper of the woods alerting him to his surroundings.

In this moment, Actaeon’s mood is one of focused determination. His bow is held at the ready, an arrow nocked and poised for release. He tracks his prey with unwavering attention, his gaze keen and unwavering. Actaeon feels at home in this wilderness, at peace in the company of nature. He seeks to prove himself as a skilled hunter, to navigate the wilds with grace and precision, and to honor the teachings of Artemis, the goddess he reveres.

This amazingly tall, powerfully built humanoid has the head, antler rack, and a pair of lower legs of an elk. The rest of its body is humanlike, though covered in shaggy brown fur.

Originally  Posted by Boz of the En World forums.

On this Thread

Actaeon, son of Aristaeus and Autonoe in Boeotia, was a famous Theban hero, trained by the centaur Cheiron, who suffered the fatal wrath of Artemis.

Artemis was bathing in the woods near Boeotian Orchomenos when the hunter Actaeon stumbled across her, thus seeing her naked. He stopped and stared, amazed at her ravishing beauty.

Once seen, Actaeon was punished by Artemis: she forbade him speech – if he tried to speak, he would be changed into a stag . Upon hearing the call of his hunting party, he cried out to them and immediately was changed into a stag. His own hounds then turned upon him and tore him to pieces. The hounds were so upset with their master’s death, that Chiron made a statue so lifelike that the hounds thought it was Actaeon.

The actaeon is a solitary protector and hero of the woodlands and the creatures that live there. It is sometimes referred to as an “elk centaur,” although in reality its appearance is more similar to that of a minotaur than a centaur. Actaeons are part of a woodland “fraternity” that includes centaurs, treants, and other fey creatures such as dryads. They are something like folk heroes to the other inhabitants of the forest, who treat them with awe and respect.

Actaeons will often work with druid to preserve the safety of the woods, and many an actaeon has become a druid as well. Actaeons collect small hoards of treasure in well-hidden locations, like hollow tree trunks or beneath rocks. They collect coins and jewels to trade for tools, and food when it becomes scarce. An actaeon stands 9 feet tall and weighs about 550 pounds. An actaeon speaks Sylvan, and some actaeons can speak Common.

Actaeon
Large fey
Hit Dice	11d6+22 (60 hp)
Initiative	+4
Speed	40 ft (4 squares)
Armor Class	17 (-1 size, +4 Dexterity, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple	+5/+13
Attack	Spear +9 melee (2d6+4/x3) or gore +8 melee (2d8+4)
Full Attack	Spear +9/+9 melee (2d6+4/x3) and gore +3 melee (2d8+2)
Space/Reach	10 ft/10ft
Special Attacks	Breath weapon, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities	Arboreal alacrity, camouflage, damage reduction 5/cold iron, Low-Light Vision, wild empathy
Saves	Fort +5, Ref +11, Will +8
Abilities	Strength 18, Dexterity 18, Constitution 15, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 13, Charisma 13
Skills	Concentration +12, Handle Animal +13, Hide +14*, Intimidate +13, Jump +8, Knowledge (nature) +15, Listen +10, Move Silently +14*, Ride +6, Search +8, Spot +10, Survival +6 (+8 following tracks, +8 aboveground)
Feats	Alertness, Endurance (b), Power Attack, Track, Weapon Focus (spear)
Environment	Temperate forest
Organization	Solitary
Challenge Rating	9
Treasure	Standard
Alignment	Usually neutral
Advancement	By character class
Level Adjustment	+5

COMBAT

An actaeon is a formidable combatant, with a number of special tricks and powers. An actaeon will hide among the trees, practically invisible, and watch intruders in the forest. Anything that wantonly slays innocent woodland creatures, or defiles the woods in any way enrages the actaeon, which springs out of hiding to surprise its foes and exact vengeance upon them.

An actaeon carries a selection of wood and bone spears with it, and is quite capable of wielding them in conjunction with its antlers. An actaeon will use its polymorphing breath to dispatch enemies quickly and decisively, or if needed, summon woodland creatures to assist it.

Breath Weapon (Su): 10-foot cube, cloud of warm greenish mist lasting 1 round, three times per day, baleful polymorph (caster level 11th, forest animals only), Fortitude DC 17 negates. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day – summon nature’s ally VI. Caster level 11th.

Arboreal Alacrity (Su): When making a full attack action, an actaeon may make one extra attack with any manufactured weapon it is holding. The attack is made using the creature’s highest attack bonus with that weapon.

Camouflage (Ex): An actaeon can use the Hide skill in any sort of natural terrain, even if the terrain doesn’t grant cover or concealment.

Wild Empathy (Ex): This power works like the druids wild empathy class feature, except that the actaeon has a +6 racial bonus on the check (as well as a +2 synergy bonus from its ranks in Handle Animal).

Skills: An actaeon has a +4 racial bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks.

*An actaeon has a +8 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks made in forested areas.

ACTAEONS AS CHARACTERS

Most actaeons are druids, rangers, or barbarians. An actaeon cleric has access to two of the following domains: Animal, Knowledge, Plant, or Protection.

Originally found in Dungeons & Dragons Master Set (Frank Mentzer, 1983), Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).