Silvermane Pack

The Mighty Leaders of the Wulven People

Pack Description

The mighty and ferocious leaders of the Wulven people with fur that shines like beautiful silver, the Silvermane pack is the closest and only analogue to "royalty" in Wulven culture. Smaller in stature than their kin, the Silvermane nonetheless are considered the de-facto leaders of the entire Wulven race...and while this by no means all other packs pay deference or tribute to them as kings, they always organize the traditional Wulven moots held a couple of times a year, always serve as the diplomats and envoys that go far afield to represent their people, and are simply highly respected within Wulven culture. This is due in part to an unusual prowess that the pack as a whole has for wordsmithery, true diplomacy, and all forms of talking and persuasion. They are well-spoken(not necessarily well-mannered, as is typical for Wulven) and unlike most of their kin can genuinely speak persuasively as leaders. They are also highly glorified as the Wulven Ideal of manliness, due in part to a very popular rumor based in fact that Muzaka himself, the mighty Patron God of all Wulvenkind, was originally a Silvermane himself. A common turn of phrase used to describe the Silvermane by other Wulven is "Small in stature, larger than life", and while they are skilled wordsmiths they should by no means be underestimated in combat, which they are said to excel at and embody the very concepts of Wulven combat, and fighting for the thrill of the fight, not the act of killing. They are also the only Wulven pack to actively utilize weaponry in their common culture, as most others simply hunt with maw and claw. They exemplify and exonerate Wulven ideals and command a great deal of respect within the Wulven race for their even-temperedness when it is required yet simultaneously for their love of great drink, preference for only the mightiest fights, and their silver tongues.

Pack Mechanics

Pack Trait: Become a medium sized creature, and gain weapon proficiency with all bladed weapons.
Though smaller in statue than their Wulven brethren, the Silvermane pack makes up for this with both their Silver Tongues, and unparalleled skill with a blade.

Alternate Pack Traits:

We fight for the thrill, not the kill: As the standard Wulven racial trait, but rather than working with natural weapons, works with bladed weapons only. Replaces the standard “We fight for the thrill not the kill” racial trait.
The Silvermane tribe are notable amongst all the Wulven packs in many ways, but none are more obvious than their love and proficiency with bladed weapons. Where other Wulven prefer to use their claws and teeth, the Silvermane often consider it a point of pride and honor that they are as deft in non-lethal combat with a blade as their kin are with their own bodies, and believe that by elevating the art of Martial Combat to new heights, they may become closer to Muzaka and shine all the brighter.

Wulven Diplomat: Gain Weapon focus as a bonus feat. Replaces Hunter’s Nose.
Due to their nature as the reigning pack of Wulven Society, The Wulven of the Silvermane tribe are more adapted than others of their kin to the ways of diplomacy and civilization...but nonetheless, "Wulven Diplomacy" is at its best when both parties bond with each other over a good fight, a better drink, and a hearty laugh. To this end, Wulven "Diplomats" often hone their art of bladed combat even higher to represent their people well in their diplomatic matters.

200% Concentrated Wulven: Gain Fast Healing 2 and DR 10/Silver. Replaces Defined by Conflict.
Because of their smaller stature compared to other Wulven packs, the Silvermane Wulven are sometimes mocked by their kin and outsiders as being "lesser" for their reduced size. This, however, is not the case. Despite their size, the Silvermane Wulven often boast quite proudly that they are in fact, simply more condensed..."the same amount of Wulven, in a smaller package!". Perhaps as a result of their smaller stature and condensed nature that they believe echoes how their god, Muzaka, was in life, some Silvermane Wulven find their bodies losing a bit of their innate health in exchange for rapid healing and vastly increased hardness which only the most powerful of weapons can bypass.

Lords of the Wulfpack: Gain a racial +4 to Diplomacy and a racial +2 to Sense Motive and Intimidate, and one of the three is always a class skill for you. You cannot be affected by the effects of Alcohol if you do not wish it. Replaces We Fight! We Drink! We Learn!.
As the "ruling" pack in Wulven Society that governs and oversees the Wulven people, the Silvermane pack is more adapted than any other to diplomacy, charismatic talking, and other things often absent in other Wulven. Some among them are born with such magnetic charisma they are natural-born leaders, and forgo some of their knowledge of the natural world in exchange for a silver-tongue and a surprisingly sharp tongue and sharper wit which many don't quite expect a Wulven to have that lets them debate with the most well-trained of diplomats and statesmen. To the Silvermane, ruling in this manner is in itself a sacred act, for like Muzaka once ruled the Wulven tribes as king, they themselves study the ways of diplomacy and negotiation to better themselves in his ferocious image.

Pack Feats:

Unfiltered Wulven:
Prerequisites: "200% Concentrated Wulven" Alternate Trait, Character Level 9th
Effect: Gain Regeneration 5 negated by Silver OR fire.
Taking their embodiment of the concept of "More Condensed Wulven" to its furthest heights, some rare Silvermane Wulven find that, as they strive to embrace their smaller stature and bring themselves ever close to the "purity" that is Muzaka's divine image they begin to inherit a shard of his fabled "invincible" body that, according to Wulven Mythos, was mighty enough to endure the earth-shattering blast that wiped the high orcs from the world with barely a scratch, their bodies adapting and moulding into a vestige of Muzaka's mortal form as they gain unparalleled regenerative powers and become nigh-incapable of death.

Never fight to kill:
Prerequisites: "We Fight for the thrill, not the kill" alternate trait, Character level 5th
Effect: May deal nonlethal Damage with any type of weapon at no penalty. You deal an extra point of nonlethal with natural attacks.
Though all Wulven despise the thought of killing those they fight, the Silvermane alone strive to achieve this no matter the weapon they choose to use. Only a select few amongst them are able to achieve this however, and when they do they become capable of fighting ferociously no matter the weapon they wield, dealing out strikes with the flat of their blades, claws, the hilts of clubs, or anything else they desire...in this way, these Wulven become true "Weaponmasters" capable of fighting with whatever they have on hand.

Wulflord's Aura:
Prerequisites: Character Level 5th
Effect: Allies within 10 feet of you gain a +4 morale bonus on saving throws versus fear and confusion effects, as well as a +6 to any saving throw made to resist the effects of alcohol.
It is a common Wulven turn-of-phrase to refer to Silvermane Wulven as "Standing small but Striding tall", and none exemplify this almost kingly charisma they seem to possess than the rare Silvermane who develops the "Aura of the Wulflord". So mighty, magnetic, and reassuring is the might and strength of their personalities that these Wulven's mere presence is enough to reassure their allies that all will be fine, that they will live to fight another day...even magical fear slides off the minds of those near these Wulven. After all, it's quite impossible to fear anything when one of these mighty Wulven is at your side, wading into battle like a majestic emperor.

Muzaka's Chosen:
Prerequisites: Character level 11th
Effect: A number of times per day equal to (1+ STRMOD, Minimum 1)Whenever you knock an enemy out through nonlethal damage, you may emit a 30 foot burst of positive energy that auto-stabilizes all dying creatures and brings them up to 0 HP. Selective channeling and other channeling feats apply to this burst as normal. Your nonlethal damage pierces all nonlethal immunities a creature may have, and you are always capable of knocking creatures unconscious even if they could not normally be.
One of the rarest gifts for a Silvermane to receive, the gift of becoming Muzaka's chosen is only given to the proudest and mightiest of Silvermane Wulven, or those who best embody the ideals of their patron saint, Muzaka. Those who receive this gift become capable of releasing mighty bursts of roaring energy each time they down a foe which stabilizes and heals friend and foe alike...and while the Wulven tradition of refusing to kill unless absolutely necessary often seems completely alien to most outsiders, to these Wulven who are chosen, it is a way of life and an ideal they would die to uphold...for they believe that, if the greatest of Wulven, Muzaka, fought and won all his battles and ascended to such legendary heights through such means and became so great, then if they wish to become as great as he they should have no need for killing, lest they taint their greatness with dishonor...no matter what kind of enemy they face, they somehow are capable of rendering into unconsciousness.

There's no escaping a good fight:
Prerequisites: "Muzaka's Chosen" Pack Feat, Character level 13th
Effect: If a creature has perished or died within the last round, your 30ft burst restores them to -1 hp and stabilizes them from bleeding out any further. This ability has a 20% chance of working on creatures that normally cannot be brought back to life once they die, such as constructs or non-native outsiders.
Living, walking embodiments of the Silvermane pack's most precious ideals and those of the Wulven people, these infinitely rare Silvermane Wulven who ascend to heights unheard of become capable of anchoring the spirits of the recently dead back to their material forms, that they might experience the sorrow of defeat rather than the infinite void of cold death, and perhaps better themselves for an eventual rematch. Incredibly, the mighty roars of energy that these wulven give out not only force the spirits of the recently dead back to life, but can also revitalize and revive creatures not normally capable of being returned after death, such as Constructs or Outsiders...truly, none can escape a Silvermane Wulven's pure desire to see his foes reveling alongside them in the joys of combat rather than lying dead on the ground.