Mercenary (Caravan Guard)Mercenary (Caravan Guard) CR 1Source GameMastery Guide pg. 282 XP 400 Human fighter 2 N Medium humanoid Init +5; Senses Perception +4DefenseAC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 18 (+7 armor, +1 Dex, +1 shield) hp 16 (2d10+5) Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +1; +1 vs. fear Defensive Abilities bravery +1OffenseSpeed 20 ft. Melee lance +5 (1d8+3/×3) or longsword +5 (1d8+3/19–20) or kukri +5 (1d4+3/18–20) Ranged heavy crossbow +3 (1d10/19–20)StatisticsStr 17, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8 Base Atk +2; CMB +5; CMD 16 Feats Alertness, Animal Affinity, Improved Initiative, Rapid Reload Skills Handle Animal +5, Intimidate +3, Perception +4, Profession (driver) +5, Ride +1, Sense Motive +3, Survival +5 Languages Common Gear banded mail, buckler, heavy crossbow with 10 bolts, kukri, lance, longsword, light horse (combat trained) with saddle, 1 gp
Boon Caravan guards can arrange for PCs to travel with a caravan to a destination of their choice, either as guests or as guards.
Caravan guards are sturdy veterans with an eye for troublemakers. Often surly and pugnacious, they ride alongside pack and wagon trains with crossbows at the ready, but if real danger threatens most are more comfortable fighting with their boots safely on the ground and sword and shield in hand.
Caravan guards can serve as scouts, messengers, or outriders. Replacing a caravan guard’s Alertness and Animal Affinity feats with Mounted Combat and Mounted Archery makes him more adept at fighting from horseback. Replacing Rapid Reload with Ride-By Attack or Trample, coupled with the Mounted Combat feats, creates a low-level nomadic horse warrior. For better flavor, exchange his longsword and heavy crossbow for a scimitar and composite shortbow.
Two slavers might use four caravan guards to watch their chattel (CR 7), while a squad of six caravan guards might accompany a highwayman (CR 8), or guard a group of six vagabonds (CR 8) or five pilgrims (CR 9). A troop of eight caravan guards is usually led by a sellsword (CR 9), or a traveling merchant or merchant prince can hire eight caravan guards to guard his caravan (CR 8 or 10).
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