Exclusive: RIFT details Beastmaster soul

Welcome to another installment in Massively's exclusive RIFT soul series. For the final update, the folks at Trion have graced us with an explanation of the Beastmaster. Unsurprisingly, Beastmasters are RIFT's answer to traditional pet-handling classes. In addition to being one half of a fearsome fighting duo, the Beastmaster soul also functions as a buffer for allies but is rendered weaker than his companions if the spirit-bond that binds him to his pet is severed.

Have a look at the new Beastmaster images in our gallery below, and then make your way past the cut for a bit of background, lore, and additional details. While you're at it, don't forget to check out the rest of our exclusive RIFT soul series including entries on the Bard, the Chloromancer, and the Cabalist.
%Gallery-108036%

Beastmaster Overview

The Beastmaster draws power from a bond with his spirit companion. This companion manifests as an ally in battle and emboldens the Beastmaster, granting him its power.

Strengths

The Beastmaster and his pet play off one another in perfect harmony, fighting in tandem and bolstering one another as their unity inspires greatness in nearby allies.

Weaknesses

The Beastmaster trusts his spirit companion to watch his back and give him strength. Deprived of this ally, he is weak in comparison to his fellow Warriors.

Background

The old forest once had trees that stretched nearly to the sky. Its canopy had housed many Elven villagers, peaceful forest-dwellers living as caretakers of the land. Now, the wood was unrecognizable: wild with oversized flora that choked the ancient trees and filled the air with noxious perfumes that poisoned Elf and beast alike.

There came a sound like the ripping of flesh as a sword hacked through a vine. Dhel had been following the vine as it snaked through a granitewood, into a cottage, and finally buried its feeding head in the chest of a dead Elven youth. Fury overtook him, and he hacked at the vine, screaming through gritted teeth. This attracted attention outside the hut, as the distant chittering of boglings rose to a blood-hungry din, punctuated by the bleating of a shambler.

The vine withdrew from the corpse and lashed at Dhel violently, knocking him through the wall of the hut. He landed within of a warband of boglings, who shoved spears in his face and squabbled about what order to cook his bits in.

"Naveer!" Dhel barked, knocking at the spears with his sword as no one answered. Sighing, he added, "Oh greatest of cats, I have need of you!"

A hunting cat sprang down from the trees overhead and straight into the group of boglings, batting them about with razor claws. Dhel leapt into battle beside Naveer, emboldened by her presence. Elf and cat fought side by side, and soon nothing was left of the boglings but scattered entrails.

Dhel had all but forgotten about the shambler until one of its enormous arms cut through the air. Only by drawing on Naveer's reflexes did he lunge away in time. He did not, however, successfully dodge the creature's enormous tongue, which struck him with a slap that nearly scrambled his brains. As he blinked away darkness, the shambler struck Naveer with a headbutt and sent her flying to strike a tree with a heavy thud. Dhel reached out to his companion, lending the cat his endurance as she had lent him speed.

Renewed, the cat sprang back up beside her master, gnashing her teeth. Naveer layered her roar over the Elf's battle cry, and they charged the shambler.

It tried to bowl them over, but Dhel parried its leg away as the cat slashed its tongue to sticky shreds. Dhel sunk his sword into the creature's throat, Naveer mauled it viciously, and at last the shambler gave a great bellowing cry and collapsed into the muck. The hunting cat leapt atop its back in victory and began bathing herself.

"Bathing on a corpse. I'll never understand cats," said Dhel, though in truth they understood one another very well. He gestured toward the cottage. "One last thing to clean up, Naveer."

They left nothing of the vine but pulp tatters, and before they set off, Dhel knelt down and closed the dead young Elf's eyes. "Oh, Bral. I wish I'd gotten here sooner," he whispered. "I promise, little brother, I will end this pollution."

Swearing an oath before Tavril, Dhel rose and looked to Naveer, stretched languidly in the sun like a spoiled tabby. "Come, my friend. It's time we hunt Greenscale himself." She yowled in appreciation, and the pair took to the green dragon's trail.

Quotation

"Face me, and you face more than a warrior and his companion. Ours is a bond forged of spirit and sinew. It will not break, but you might."