Mahout (sage study)

Mahout is a sage study in the field of Animal Training that builds a bond between individuals and the majestic elephant, creating a bond forged through trust and mutual respect. Such characters have immersed themselves in the intricacies of the elephant's behavior, learning to read their moods, interpret their calls, and guide their mighty strides.

Having spent years perfecting the art of elephant mastery, mahouts can anticipate their elephant's movements and guide them with precision. The elephant, in turn, can understand the subtle cues from its mahout, making them a formidable duo on the battlefield. The sheer might of an elephant can lay waste to adversaries, while its sturdy presence can act as a protective barrier for allies. Furthermore, the mahout can leverage the elephant's keen sense of smell and hearing, sensing danger or scouting for threats from a distance.

Beyond the annals of mahout mastery, even oliphaunts, colossal behemoths of towering stature and unparalled strength, can be mastered by means of this ability.

Sage Abilities

The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.

Amateur Status

• Bond of Trust: the elephant comes to know the character well, so that in the face of sudden disturbances or unfamiliar situations, the beast trumpets warning when it can and moves at once towards the mahout. Further, the beast declines to let another rider climb aboard, maintaining its distance towards all except its traditional rider.

• Bushcraft Pathfinder: the character, through guiding elephants through such places, has gained an understanding of jungles and rainforests, as a ranger does with jungle bushcraft. This aids in the detection of threats, finding water sources and recognising the best path towards wanted destinations.

• Mahout Guide: character has learned the intricate cues and gentle gestures required to steer elephants through tasks and day-to-day travel. The expertise ensures that the elephant can move at its maximum potential speed without any signs of fatigue. Urging the elephant into combat is not permitted with this ability.

Authority Status

• Battle Behemoth: allows directing of a war elephant in battle, using the elephant's bulk to cause incidental damage, guiding the beast to stomp, charge or swing it's tusks, breaking up enemy groups or destroying fortifications. Elephants can be barded, their tusks elaborated with metal sheaths and spikes, and their feet shod.

• Elephant Care & Feeding: gives knowledge about common elephant ailments and how to treat them. Characters can diagnose minor illnesses, administer basic first aid and apply traditional remedies to heal injuries and illnesses. This ensures the elephant's well-being and prolonged health.

• Elephant Taming: gives skills in locating elephants of the right approximate age for capture and close training, a process that takes many months. The ability also enables the mahout to imitate various elephant calls, used for communication with the elephant over distances or signaling other elephants to give ground.

Expert Status

• Echo of the Elephant: Tapping into the memories of the land, the mahout can evoke ancient elephantine spirits as guides through the deepest most impenetrable jungles and rainforests, towards unseen wonders where hundreds of elephants once served in armies or as labourers.

• Mahout Harmony: Through a mutual refined bond, the mahout is able to guide the elephant's movements intuitively, freeing the mahout's hands while the elephant still behaves as desired; instead of being directed, the elephant and mahout fight or act independently but always together.

• Oliphaunt Driver: Enables the mastery of these enormous beasts that serve as platforms to carry spearthrowers and archers. Oliphaunt can be knelt to enable scores of combatants to descend and fight hand to hand. Limited control of the oliphaunt in turning it's head to attack individuals is given.

Sage Status

• Oliphaunt Breeder: delves into the intricate and rare breeding patterns of these majestic creatures, giving breeders knowledge that ensures optimal mating conditions, with excellent chances of a successful conception. Invests offspring with exceptional health, vitality, and sometimes even unique traits or abilities passed down from chosen lineages.

• Titania's Gait: enables an elephant or oliphaunt to navigate what would seem impossible obstacles, provided they're at least three-quarters as wide as the moving beast. For all intents and purposes, the pachyderm's weight is reduced to 25% of reality, enabling them to cross narrow mountain paths, traversing swaying bridges, or navigate precarious locales with uncanny balance and steadiness. Slippery surfaces are likewise ignored.

• Tusked Ruination: target fortifications with devastating precision, allowing the beast to wrought damage on a magnificent scale, shattering walls, gates and even stone bastions.

See also,
Fighter Sage Abilities
Paladin Sage Abilities
Ranger Sage Abilities