Scent Tracking Hounds

From: Scented Sanctum of Aromancy

Lore: The legend of Scent Tracking Hounds at The Scented Sanctum of Aromancy traces back to an ancient Perfumer who had a profound connection with nature and its magical scents. Inspired by the extraordinary olfactory senses of certain hound breeds, the Perfumer sought to infuse these natural tracking abilities with magical prowess. Through a combination of Perfumery Magic, enchantment, and careful breeding, the Perfumer succeeded in creating Scent Tracking Hounds. These hounds possess an uncanny ability to detect and follow both mundane and magical scents, making them invaluable assets for scent-based games and practical training exercises within the academy.

Use: Scent Tracking Hounds are highly sought after for their unique and specialized tracking abilities. They are employed in scent-based games, where students test their skills in evasive maneuvers and tracking. Additionally, the hounds are used in practical training exercises to help students master scent-based spellcasting and hone their olfactory perception. The Scent Tracking Hounds serve as loyal companions, aiding students in their magical pursuits and forging a deep bond between the Perfumers and their canine partners.

Values:

• Level One Stats: Provides a +1 bonus to scent-based tracking and detection rolls during scent-based games and practical training exercises.
• Skills: Enhances the students’ understanding of scent-based spellcasting and tracking, leading to improved precision and efficiency in Perfumery Magic.
• Preparation: Breeding and training Scent Tracking Hounds requires skilled Perfumers with expertise in animal enchantment and scent-based magic. The process involves carefully selecting hound breeds with exceptional olfactory senses, enchanting them with magical tracking abilities, and training them extensively. The breeding and training process can take several months to years to produce a fully trained Scent Tracking Hound.
• Cost: Due to the rarity of magical hounds and the effort involved in their breeding and training, Scent Tracking Hounds are considered valuable and exclusive. The cost of a fully trained hound is around 300 gold pieces.
• Process: The preparation of Scent Tracking Hounds involves a combination of magical rituals and extensive training sessions. Perfumers work closely with the hounds, forming a strong bond and attuning the hounds’ senses to magical scents, enabling them to track individuals or magical signatures accurately.
• Tags: Magical, Trained, Tracking, Olfactory.

Where and How the Recipe is Sold: The recipe for breeding and training Scent Tracking Hounds is one of the most treasured secrets of The Scented Sanctum of Aromancy. Only the most experienced and skilled Perfumers within the academy possess this exclusive knowledge. The academy values the unique abilities of these hounds and seeks to maintain control over their breeding and training to preserve their potency.

Scent Tracking Hounds are not sold or available to the general public or commercial establishments. Instead, they are bred, trained, and utilized exclusively within the academy. The breeding program is conducted discreetly and overseen by a select group of Perfumers who have proven their expertise in scent-based magic and animal enchantment.

Environment and How the End Results are Used: The breeding and training of Scent Tracking Hounds take place within the secluded and well-maintained grounds of The Scented Sanctum of Aromancy. The academy has dedicated training areas, where Perfumers and the hounds form close bonds and work together to develop the hounds’ magical tracking abilities.

Once fully trained, Scent Tracking Hounds become integral components of scent-based games and practical training exercises at the academy. During scent-based games, students test their evasion skills while the hounds employ their remarkable tracking abilities to pursue the students. The games foster a spirit of competition, enhance students’ agility, and allow them to experience the fascinating dynamics between scent and magic.

In practical training exercises, students work alongside the Scent Tracking Hounds to master scent-based spellcasting and improve their olfactory perception. The hounds help the students refine their magical control and teach them the intricacies of scent-based magic, paving the way for advanced spellcasting techniques and a deeper understanding of Perfumery Magic.

The end results of using Scent Tracking Hounds are twofold: the academy benefits from skilled and talented Perfumers who have mastered scent-based magic, while the hounds find devoted companionship and a sense of purpose through their partnership with the students. The deep bond between the Perfumers and their canine companions strengthens the spirit of cooperation and loyalty within The Scented Sanctum of Aromancy, fostering an environment of shared knowledge, growth, and camaraderie.

Legend of the Enchanted Hounds

In the days of yore, when the land was covered in mist and mystery, there lived a Perfumer of great wisdom within the hallowed grounds of The Scented Sanctum of Aromancy. This Perfumer, whose name has long been forgotten to the sands of time, was known for a profound connection with nature and the magical essence of scents.

The tale begins with the Perfumer observing the extraordinary olfactory prowess of certain hound breeds. Captivated by their natural abilities, the Perfumer embarked on a quest to merge these innate talents with the art of Perfumery Magic. Through years of dedication, enchantment, and careful breeding, the Perfumer succeeded in creating the legendary Scent Tracking Hounds.

These hounds were unlike any other, possessing an uncanny ability to detect and follow both mundane and magical scents. Their eyes sparkled with intelligence, and their noses glowed faintly with the power of enchantment. The hounds became invaluable companions within the Sanctum, their skills employed in scent-based games and practical training exercises.

Legend speaks of a grand event known as the Festival of Scents, where students of the academy tested their skills in evasive maneuvers and tracking games. The Scent Tracking Hounds, guided by their magical senses, pursued the students through enchanted gardens and aromatic groves. The air was filled with laughter and the sweet fragrance of flowers, as the bond between Perfumers and their hounds grew stronger.

In addition to games, the hounds were vital in training exercises, helping students master the art of scent-based spellcasting. The hounds’ acute senses and loyalty aided the students in honing their olfactory perception and magical control. Together, they explored the deepest mysteries of Perfumery Magic, uncovering secrets long hidden within the fragrant air.

The preparation of these hounds was a sacred process, involving the careful selection of breeds with exceptional olfactory abilities. The Perfumer, using ancient rituals and enchantments, infused the hounds with magical tracking powers. This meticulous process took many months, sometimes years, to produce a fully trained Scent Tracking Hound.

Due to their rarity and the immense effort involved in their creation, these hounds were considered treasures of the Sanctum. They were not sold or traded but were cherished and revered within the academy. Only the most skilled and dedicated Perfumers were entrusted with the knowledge of their breeding and training.

The legend of the Enchanted Hounds tells of loyalty, dedication, and the profound bond between Perfumers and their canine companions. It is a story of how nature’s gifts can be enhanced through magic, creating beings of remarkable abilities and forging partnerships that transcend time.

Moral of the Story: True magic lies not only in the spells we cast but in the bonds we form and the dedication we show to our craft. The harmony between nature and enchantment can create wonders that touch the soul and inspire greatness.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A magically enhanced hound with extraordinary olfactory abilities, capable of tracking both mundane and supernatural scents.
• Stats:
  • STR: 70
  • CON: 60
  • DEX: 80
  • SIZ: 50
  • INT: 30
  • POW: 50
• Skills:
  • Track (Scent): 80%
  • Spot Hidden: 60%
  • Listen: 70%
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: Scent Tracking Hound provides a +20% bonus to any Track rolls involving scent.
  • Sanity Cost: The presence of a magical creature may cause a minor Sanity loss of 1/1d4 points when first encountered.
  • Bonding: The hound must form a bond with its handler, which requires a successful Animal Handling roll (base 50%).
• Special Effects:
  • The hound can detect and follow supernatural scents, making it invaluable for tracking otherworldly entities and phenomena.

Blades in the Dark

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A finely bred and magically enhanced hound used for tracking and detection in the city’s underworld.
• Item Type: Cohort (Expert)
• Stats:
  • Quality: 2 (Good)
  • Edge: Keen Senses
  • Flaw: Easily Distracted
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: Provides +1d to Hunt or Survey rolls when tracking by scent.
  • Usage: The hound can assist in a score once per session without suffering harm. Additional uses may result in stress or injury.
  • Training: The hound requires downtime to maintain its training, needing a successful Training action per downtime period.
• Special Effects:
  • The hound’s keen senses can also detect hidden items or secret passages when used to Survey a location.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Scent Tracking Hound

• Medium Beast, Unaligned
• Armor Class: 13 (Natural Armor)
• Hit Points: 22 (4d8+4)
• Speed: 40 ft.
• Stats:
  • STR: 14 (+2)
  • DEX: 16 (+3)
  • CON: 12 (+1)
  • INT: 3 (-4)
  • WIS: 14 (+2)
  • CHA: 8 (-1)
• Skills:
  • Perception: +5
  • Survival: +4
• Senses:
  • Passive Perception: 15
• Mechanics:
  • Keen Smell: The hound has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
  • Tracking: Provides a +2 bonus to Wisdom (Survival) checks to track by scent.
  • Magic Resistance: The hound has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Actions:
  • Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing damage.
• Special Effects:
  • The hound can detect and follow magical scents, providing invaluable assistance in tracking magical creatures or items.

Knave

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A magical hound with enhanced olfactory abilities, used for tracking both mundane and magical scents.
• Item Type: Companion
• Stats:
  • HP: 4
  • Defense: 13
  • Attack: Bite (1d6)
  • Abilities: Keen Scent (Advantage on Tracking)
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: Provides a +2 bonus to any Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) rolls involving tracking by scent.
  • Usage: The hound can be used to track scents up to three times per day before needing rest.
• Special Effects:
  • The hound’s enhanced senses allow it to detect hidden or magical scents, making it an invaluable companion for scent-based tasks and investigations.

Fate Core

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A magically enhanced hound with extraordinary olfactory abilities, used for tracking both mundane and supernatural scents.
• Aspect: Scent Tracking Hound
• Stats:
  • Skills: +4 to Notice and Investigate rolls involving scent.
• Stunts:
  • Keen Senses: Gain +2 to Notice when using scent to track.
  • Magical Tracker: Once per session, automatically succeed on an Investigate roll involving magical scents.
• Mechanics:
  • The hound can be invoked to provide a +2 bonus to any roll involving tracking or scent-based detection.
  • The hound’s Keen Senses stunt allows it to gain a +2 bonus on Notice rolls when using scent to track.
• Special Effects:
  • The hound can create an advantage related to tracking or detecting hidden objects by scent.

Numenera & Cypher System

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A hound with magically enhanced olfactory abilities, capable of detecting and tracking scents.
• Level: 4
• Stats:
  • Might: 12
  • Speed: 14
  • Intellect: 6
• Skills:
  • Perception: Specialized in tracking by scent.
  • Survival: Trained in scent-based tracking.
• Mechanics:
  • The hound acts as an asset, reducing the difficulty of any tracking or detection tasks involving scent by one step.
  • The hound has three uses of its tracking ability before needing rest (typically once per day).
• Special Effects:
  • The hound can detect and follow supernatural scents, making it invaluable for tracking otherworldly entities and phenomena.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Scent Tracking Hound

• Medium Animal
• Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
• Hit Points: 22 (3d8+6)
• Speed: 40 ft.
• Stats:
  • STR: 14
  • DEX: 16
  • CON: 14
  • INT: 2
  • WIS: 14
  • CHA: 6
• Skills:
  • Perception: +7
  • Survival: +5
• Senses:
  • Scent (Imprecise): 30 ft., low-light vision
• Mechanics:
  • Keen Scent: The hound has advantage on Perception checks that rely on smell.
  • Tracking: Provides a +2 circumstance bonus to Survival checks to track by scent.
  • Magic Resistance: The hound has a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Actions:
  • Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8+2 piercing damage.
• Special Effects:
  • The hound can detect and follow magical scents, providing invaluable assistance in tracking magical creatures or items.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A hound with magically enhanced olfactory abilities, used for tracking both mundane and supernatural scents.
• Attributes:
  • Agility: d8
  • Smarts: d6 (A)
  • Spirit: d6
  • Strength: d8
  • Vigor: d8
• Skills:
  • Notice: d8
  • Survival: d8
• Edges:
  • Keen Senses: +2 to Notice rolls involving scent.
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: The hound grants a +2 bonus to Survival rolls when tracking by scent.
  • Pace: 8; Parry: 6; Toughness: 6 (1)
• Special Effects:
  • The hound can detect and follow magical scents, making it invaluable for tracking supernatural creatures or magical items.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A magically enhanced hound with extraordinary olfactory abilities, capable of tracking both mundane and supernatural scents.
• Stats:
  • Body: 4
  • Agility: 5
  • Reaction: 4
  • Strength: 4
  • Willpower: 3
  • Logic: 2
  • Intuition: 4
  • Charisma: 2
  • Edge: 2
  • Essence: 6
• Skills:
  • Perception: 8
  • Tracking (Specialization in Scent): 10
• Qualities:
  • Keen Senses (Smell): +2 dice pool bonus to Perception and Tracking checks involving scent.
  • Enhanced Olfactory Sensors: Can detect and identify magical scents.
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: Provides a +2 dice pool bonus to Perception and Tracking checks involving scent.
  • Magical Detection: The hound can detect and follow magical scents, providing invaluable assistance in magical investigations.
• Special Effects:
  • Once per session, the hound can automatically succeed on a Perception or Tracking test involving a magical scent.

Starfinder

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A hound with magically enhanced olfactory abilities, capable of detecting and tracking scents.
• Item Level: 5
• Stats:
  • Type: Animal Companion
  • CR: 2
• Attributes:
  • HP: 20
  • EAC/KAC: 14/16
  • Fort/Ref/Will: +4/+6/+3
  • Speed: 40 ft.
• Skills:
  • Perception: +10
  • Survival: +8
• Senses:
  • Low-light vision, Scent (30 ft.)
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: Provides a +2 enhancement bonus to Perception and Survival checks involving scent.
  • Magical Detection: The hound can detect and follow magical scents, making it invaluable for tracking magical creatures or items.
• Special Effects:
  • Once per day, the hound can use its magical scent ability to track a creature or object, automatically succeeding on the Survival check.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A hound with magically enhanced olfactory abilities, capable of tracking both mundane and supernatural scents.
• Stats:
  • Endurance: 8
  • Strength: 6
  • Dexterity: 7
• Skills:
  • Recon: 3
  • Survival: 2
  • Perception: +2 DM when tracking by scent.
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: Provides a +2 DM to Recon and Survival checks involving tracking by scent.
  • Magical Detection: The hound can detect and follow magical scents, providing invaluable assistance in tracking supernatural entities or objects.
• Special Effects:
  • Once per week, the hound can automatically succeed on a Recon or Survival check involving a magical scent.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Scent Tracking Hound

• Description: A finely bred and magically enhanced hound with exceptional olfactory abilities, used for tracking both mundane and supernatural scents.
• Stats:
  • WS: 35
  • BS: 0
  • S: 35
  • T: 30
  • I: 40
  • Ag: 45
  • Dex: 30
  • Int: 20
  • WP: 30
  • Fel: 20
• Skills:
  • Perception: +10
  • Survival: +10
• Traits:
  • Keen Senses: +10 to Perception checks involving scent.
  • Tracker: Provides a +10 bonus to Survival checks to track by scent.
• Mechanics:
  • Special Ability: The hound grants a +10 bonus to Perception and Survival checks involving scent.
  • Magical Detection: The hound can detect and follow magical scents, providing invaluable assistance in tracking magical creatures or items.
• Special Effects:
  • Once per session, the hound can automatically succeed on a Perception or Survival check involving a magical scent.