#engarde

Shoe!

(art by anonymous)

(This will probably be the last blade beast for the time being; I have plenty more, but I want to go back and do some work with them.)

CR4 CN Tiny Magical Beast (Blade Beast, Shapechanger)

Fickle, bold, and downright snarky birds, foilcatchers have an obsessive need for perfection in combat, testing their skill as duelists against other challengers. Few can match their fencing speed; only such successful challengers are offered the opportunity to wield such creatures as blades.

Having chosen a wielder does not dull a foilcatcher's wit, of course, and they expect their blademaster to keep up with them in both battle and in conversation. They have a love for the dramatic, and will keep quiet in a particularly emotional battle with a rival or nemesis, but will keep running commentary with their wielder if an opponent isn't willing to provide. There is typically a true fondness between a foilcatcher and their wielder- one who does not enjoy their company will simply leave, after all- but it generally manifests in teasing and challenges, and the expectation that the foilcatcher is their master's first choice in sparring parter.

Some foilcatchers possess the Keen enchantment rather than Agile; these foilcatchers are LN, have 8 HD  and a CR of 7, and are considerably rarer. They are much sought after by those who know and study blade beasts.