The Sterlus military uses a unique mechanical air force composed of gliders that soar above the clouds and rain hell from above. Gunners will glide on the wind, raining fire down on those below with their crossbows. Aerial mages will enchant their gliders with gust of wind enchantments to fly farther and sling spells at their enemies. Hawkmaster units are particularly unique, requiring a tag team of a hawk rider and a glider working in unison to fell their enemies. Soldiers will spend months with only the company of a handful of fellow soldiers in towers high above Sterlus waiting for the call to finally strike.
- Ability Scores: Dexterity, Strength, Wisdom
- Feat: Alert
- Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics and Perception
- Tool Proficiencies: Vehicles (Air)
- Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Light Crossbow, 20 Crossbow Bolts, Mirror, Signal Whistle, Map, Traveler’s Clothes, 16 GP; or (B) 50 GP
You gain the following benefits.
Initiative Proficiency. When you roll Initiative, you can add your Proficiency Bonus to the roll.
Initiative Swap. Immediately after you roll Initiative, you can swap your Initiative with the Initiative of one willing ally in the same combat. You can’t make this swap if you or the ally has the Incapacitated condition.
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I habitually lick my finger to check wind direction, even when I’m indoors or deep underground. |
| 2 | I’m always checking the tension on every strap and bolt. If it’s loose, we’re dead. |
| 3 | I’m slow to trust new people. If I haven't survived a combat with you, you’re just a stranger. |
| 4 | I have a "Tower Stare". I can stare at a horizon for hours without blinking, waiting for something to move. |
| 5 | I’m incredibly twitchy in enclosed spaces. If I can’t see the sky, I feel like I’m suffocating. |
| 6 | I treat my gear better than I treat most people. It's the only thing keeping me from a 500-foot fall to my death. |
| 7 | I have a morbid sense of humor about dying. If you can’t laugh at death, what can you laugh at? |
| 8 | I look down on those who aren't Sky Guard soldiers. If you haven't seen the world from the clouds, you haven't really seen it at all. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Synchronization. Total harmony between partners is the highest form of trust. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Perspective. From the sky, borders and petty squabbles look small. I fight for the big picture. (Good) |
| 3 | Velocity. Life is lived in the dive. If you aren't moving fast, you're already dead. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Superiority. We are the apex predators of the sky. The world below belongs to whoever has the highest perch. (Evil) |
| 5 | Equilibrium. Like a glider in a thermal, life is about finding the balance between the push and the pull. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Innovation. Sterlus tech is the future. I’ll do anything to prove our mechanical edge is the best on the planet. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My former flight partner was lost during a maneuver. I’m still looking for their remains or their gear. |
| 2 | I carry a piece of the first glider I ever crashed; it reminds me of the dangers of a single mistake. |
| 3 | My tower-mates are the only family I care about. |
| 4 | I owe my life to the Hawkmaster who caught me mid-air after my glider snapped. |
| 5 | I’ll do anything to protect the secrets of the Sky Guard from foreign spies. |
| 6 | I'll never forget the day our tower was bypassed and we had to watch our city burn from above, unable to help. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have zero patience for people who don't understand me. If we aren't on the same page, I'm out. |
| 2 | I’m secretly terrified of heights. I only joined the air force because of the prestige, and I’m one panic attack away from a disaster. |
| 3 | I am a reckless adrenaline junkie. If a plan doesn't involve a high-speed drop, it's a boring plan. |
| 4 | I underestimate anyone who fights on the ground. I assume they’re slow, stupid, and easy targets. |
| 5 | The sound of an hawk’s screech or a snapping cable still leaves me quivering with fear. |
| 6 | I'd rather crash my glider into a mountain than admit I misread the wind or made a tactical error. |
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