Slave Warrior (Character Kit)

Slave warrior
Description: The majority of the noble and merchant houses of Athas field a force of armed guards to protect their properties and caravans. A number of these are free mercenaries, but almost all of these forces include fanatical slave war- riorspeople born into slavery and raised from a very early age to be loyal body- guards and enforcers. Player-character slave warriors may either be free of their patron houses or may elect to retain some ties with the houses they were born to fight for.
The slave warrior is one of the most highly skilled fighters on Athas. From early childhood, he has survived a brutal regime of exercise, training, and indoctri- nation designed to make him into a mind- less killing machine who would sacrifice his own life for the sake of his owners. Almost all slave warriors are visibly branded or tattooed with the emblem of their owning houses. They are the only slaves who are ever armed outside the arena.
Fighters and gladiators may take the slave warrior kit. Rangers require a less urban background to learn their survival skills. Muls, dwarves, and half giants are ideal for this kit; thri kreen and halflings are very difficult to indoctrinate and are rarely used in this way. In addition to all other requirements, a slave warrior must have a minimum Strength and Constitution of 13.
Role: The first decision the player of a slave warrior must make is whether or not the PC is still owned by his patron. Enslaved characters represent the elite of Athass slaves; they are well fed, receive good quarters, and are equipped with the finest gear money can buy. A PC slave warrior who is enslaved is assumed to go adventuring on the orders of his patron and may be recalled at any time for assignment to different duties.
Free slave warriors may have simply escaped or have won their freedom through some great act of courage. Of course, escaped characters must always watch for templars or slave hunters. Freed characters may occasionally be mistaken for escapees and attacked as well. In either case, the free slave warrior no longer has the resources and wealth of a noble or merchant house to aid him.
Weapon Proficiencies:
* Required: choice of spear, crossbow, or pole arm, and also a specialization in an unarmed combat style (not required for gladiator characters.) The slave warrior receives a bonus proficiency slot which may be used to specialize in any melee weapon.
Nonweapon Proficiencies:
* Bonus: Endurance, Heraldry.
* Recommended: Animal Handling, Animal Training, Blind- fighting, Gaming, Land-based Riding, Reading Lips.
Equipment: A slave warrior receives one set of any nonmetallic armor and a nonmetallic melee weapon of his choice for free. In addition, enslaved characters are completely equipped (including supplies and a mount, if appropriate) by their patron houses at no cost to the characters. There is a 5% chance per level that a characters patron house supplies him with a metallic weapon of his choice.
Special Benefits: Slave warriors are well known as powerful, single minded fighters. They gain a +3 reaction bonus with any civilized NPC they encounter, since few people wish to fight a slave warrior.
Enslaved slave warriors gain a bonus of +1 to attack rolls, +1 to damage, and a +1 bonus on saving throws when fighting in the direct defense of their patrons. Free characters lose this benefit.
Special Hindrances: Enslaved characters are not their own masters and must obey the orders of their owners. PC slave warriors are assumed to have earned a great deal of trust and responsibility, but are still required to spend one-third of their time on guard over some activity of their patrons. Characters who desire an extended reprieve from this requirement must demonstrate to their patron that the adventure will bring some tangible reward to the house. The DM should play this to great effect after all, whats the use of training an elite bodyguard if you just let him wander off into the desert all the time?
Free characters have lived as slaves all their lives and suffer a -3 reaction penalty in dealing with non-slave civilized characters. Escaped characters are suspicious and paranoid, and legitimately free characters still carry the social stigma of a slaves birth.
Wealth Options: Enslaved characters begin with only 1d4 × 10 cp, while free characters begin with the normal 5d4 × 30 cp. Enslaved characters must return 90% of any treasure to their patrons, including any gems, jewelry, or magical items. However, the patrons may often reward such characters for their loyalty.
Category:Character Kit
Category:Character Kit Dragon Magazine