You move swiftly, deftly, and quietly for your task is a dangerous one. You spend your time alone in hostile territory scouting for threats. You usually work at the head of an army, caravan, or adventuring party risking personal harm or capture for the sake of your companions. Your senses are keen, and your focus is unwavering. You've learned how to move quietly and track your prey. You've become comfortable in isolation, but often yearn for the rare moments when you can drop your guard and relax.
- Skill Proficiencies: Survival and your choice of: Nature, Stealth, Perception
- Tool Proficiencies: Cartographer's tools and Navigator's tools
- Equipment: a waterproof map case and a backpack containing a set of traveler's clothes, a set of wayfinding tools (Navigation or Cartographer), a small knife, and a signal whistle
| d6 | Scouting specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Imitating animal sounds |
| 2 | Using a mirror to see past cover |
| 3 | Using caltrops when making an escape |
| 4 | Setting traps for unsuspecting victims |
| 5 | Hiding in trees |
| 6 | Blending into the darkness |
You have an excellent memory for maps and geography, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you. In addition, you can find food and fresh water for yourself and up to five other people each day, provided that the land offers berries, small game, water, and so forth.
Suggested Characteristics
Generally stoic and confident in nature, most scouts are friendly and helpful to the people they know. They can seem to have a hard edge and be on guard when among strangers, but are adept diplomats and tend to choose pragmatic solutions over conflict. Scouts are not generally not assassins, as they know the value of favorable odds, but some scouts do revel in the silent kill of enemy scouts or lone threats.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | If my day is less than seventeen hours long, it feels wasted to me. |
| 2 | When I'm inside I'm always searching for exits |
| 3 | Danger is just a way life, I welcome it |
| 4 | My biggest concern is the well-being of the group I'm scouting for. |
| 5 | Scouting is a game to me, I push boundaries on purpose. |
| 6 | I regularly pick up, smell, or taste plants and other natural objects. |
| 7 | I live for the chances to relax in a safe place |
| 8 | I'm constantly looking for the tactical advantage in social situations. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pensive. Every situation requires it's own approach, good and evil are circumstantial. (Chaotic) |
| 2 | Watchful. It is the responsibility of the capable to look out for those who can't. (Good) |
| 3 | Pathfinder. The road exist for a reason, a path for those who agree to share it. (Lawful) |
| 4 | Deception. If they show you their back, they're begging for the knife. (Evil) |
| 5 | Freedom. Between the high road and the low road are the trees, and the trees offer shade. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Speed. One step ahead, no looking back. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I owe my companions my life, I'll watch their backs always |
| 2 | I live to explore the world, and I aim to see it all |
| 3 | I intend to be known throughout the world as the harbinger of doom |
| 4 | I'm on the hunt for an ancient creature that my fate is bound to |
| 5 | The army that I serve must prevail. |
| 6 | I won't be able to truly rest until I find my group that killed my family. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I assume every stranger is a threat |
| 2 | I sometimes forget I'm part of a group |
| 3 | I'm hesitant to kill beasts, even if they pose a risk |
| 4 | I love to make a kill that nobody will ever know about |
| 5 | I love glory, and will endanger my companions if I sense I good battle. |
| 6 | If I get stuck in a trap, I will signal my companions for help, even if it endangers them |
Your experience scouting ahead of parties has taught you a few tricks. You've learned to discretely mark your path in ways that only you and anybody you've taught to can notice. Subtle scuff marks or a stone wall, a pointed rock facing ninety degrees offset from your actual path, or leaves split just so are some examples of your trade-craft. When you are traveling alone, you may use these trail markers to always accurately guide your way back to your party if they haven't moved. Also, your party members may attempt to follow your trail by making a perception check instead of a survival check, and if you have taught them your marking methods, they may make that check at advantage. The DM will determine the difficulty of spotting the markers based on the environment.
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