Desert Hawk - Bedouin warrior on horseback with falcon

DESERT HAWK

Among the Vendar nomads of the Nemek desert, there exists a tradition as old as the sands themselves: the bond between warrior and falcon. These Desert Hawks, as they are known, are scouts and skirmishers without equal, their eyes sharpened by their avian companions and their blades swift as the desert wind. To travel "the journey" with a Desert Hawk is to travel in safety, for nothing escapes their watchful gaze.

BORN TO THE JOURNEY

3rd-level Desert Hawk feature

You gain proficiency in two of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Nature, Perception, or Survival. Additionally, you can use Wisdom instead of Intelligence when making Nature checks.

FALCON COMPANION

3rd-level Desert Hawk feature

You gain a trained bird of prey (falcon, hawk, or eagle) that obeys your commands. It uses the Hawk stat block and acts on your initiative. You can command it to perform the following actions:

ActionEffect
ScoutFlies up to 1 mile and returns, relaying basic information about terrain, creatures, water sources, or landmarks.
HuntSearches for small game. Over 1 hour, it locates enough food to count as one meal for one creature, or grants advantage on a Survival check to forage.
TrackFollows a creature or trail it has seen up to 1 mile, returning to indicate direction and approximate distance.
SentryKeeps watch during a long rest, counting as one creature's watch shift. This allows one additional party member to sleep through the night uninterrupted.

If your falcon dies, you can bond with a new bird over a long rest by succeeding on a DC 15 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check.

SKIRMISHER'S INSTINCT

3rd-level Desert Hawk feature

When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can move up to 10 feet before or after one of your attacks without provoking opportunity attacks. This movement increases to 20 feet while you are mounted.

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DUNEMARCHER

7th-level Desert Hawk feature

Your life of constant travel has hardened you, and your bond with your falcon deepens.

Resilient Companion

Your falcon gains the following benefits:

Expanded Training

Your falcon learns additional actions:

ActionEffect
RetrieveFetches an unattended object weighing 1 lb or less within 100 feet.
DeliverCarries a small object or message to a location or creature within 1 mile.
SurveyScouts your travel route. When used before a day's travel, your group can travel at Normal pace while gaining the benefits of Slow pace (Stealth-capable).

Falcon's Eye

As a bonus action, you can see through your falcon's eyes and hear what it hears until the start of your next turn. You are deaf and blind with regard to your own senses during this time. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Enduring Traveler

You have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to avoid exhaustion from extended travel or traveling at a fast pace. Additionally, you can travel at a Fast pace for a number of hours equal to your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus before needing to make such saves.

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VIGILANT WANDERER

10th-level Desert Hawk feature

Instinctive Warning

You add your Wisdom modifier to initiative rolls.

Dungewise

You gain the following benefits:

Evasive Instincts

When a creature you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the damage. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

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MASTERFUL SKIRMISHER

15th-level Desert Hawk feature

Harrying Maneuvers

Your hit-and-run tactics become devastating. You gain the following benefits:

You can force this saving throw a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Dungewise Expertise

Choose two skills from Animal Handling, Nature, Perception, or Survival that you are proficient in. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen skills.

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ONE SKY, ONE HUNT

18th-level Desert Hawk feature

You and your falcon achieve perfect synchronization, a bond spoken of in Vendar legend.

Apex Predator

When you use Action Surge, you gain the following benefits until the end of your turn:

Unbreakable Bond

Your falcon can no longer be permanently slain. If it is reduced to 0 hit points, it vanishes and reappears fully healed at the end of your next long rest.