Bear-chucks (3.5e Equipment)

This is a pair of harnesses connected by a chain, meant for holding a bear in each harness.

A monk proficient with this weapon may consider it to be a special monk weapon.

A set of bear-chucks, properly sized for the wielder, will hold two bears that are each two size categories smaller than the wielder. Such bears may not exist for all size categories. Despite having two ends, this is not a double weapon, as it is wielded similarly to the manner of nunchaku. In addition to the normal damage of the weapon, the weapon deals damage equal to that of a natural attack of one of the bears, including any damage from a strength bonus that the bear has. Any special attacks or special qualities of the bear's that relate to this attack do not apply, but effects on the bear that are not inherently part of the bear (such as magic items or spells, but not feats) do apply. The wielder decides which bear performs the attacks, but does not decide which natural weapon is used. Each bear may only attack like this as many times per round as they could attack with a full attack action, and each individual natural weapon is similarly limited by how many attacks of its kind the bear could make. For example, a brown bear used to attack three times in one round would bite once and claw twice, and would be unable to perform any more attacks until the next round (but could be used as part of the weapon normally, there simply would be no extra damage from the bear attacking).

The bears will only deal this extra damage if the Handle Animal skill was employed to teach both bears the trick "be a bear-chuck" and if they are loyal to the wielder. Five ranks in Bear Lore gives a +2 synergy bonus on this Handle Animal check. In addition, the wielder receives a -4 penalty on attack rolls with the weapon if one of the bears is not properly trained, and a -8 penalty if neither is properly trained.

When bear-chucks are sundered, the attacker may choose either one of the bears or the chain between them to attack.

This weapon deals nonlethal damage if no bears are strapped in, and a -8 penalty is taken on attack rolls with the weapon if only one bear is strapped in. This is cumulative with any penalties from untrained bears.