Peasant Hero - Faerûn (Character Kit)

Class Information 	Class Information
Class Requirements 	Fighter (no multiclassing)
Racial Requirements 	Half-elf (moon, wild), gnome (forest, rock), halfling
Ability Requirements 	Constitution 9, Strength 9
Prime Requisite 	Strength
Aligments 	Any
Social Rank 	Lower class
Hit Die Type 	d10
Attack as 	Warrior
Save as 	Warrior
Advance as 	Fighter
Spell Ability? 	No
Exceptional Strength? 	Yes
Exceptional Constitution?	Yes
Starting Cash (x10 gp) 	2d6 gp (see below)
Proficiencies 	Proficiencies
Weapon Slots 	3
Initial Weapons 	See below
Additional WP Slot 	3
Additional Weapons 	Any
Nonproficiency Penalty 	-2
Nonweapon Slots 	3
Additional NWP Slot 	3
Available Categories 	General (gain Warrior category after 1st level)
Bonus Proficiencies 	Agriculture or fishing, animal handling or weather sense, firebuilding, local history
Recommended Proficiencies	Animal lore, baking, blacksmithing, brewing, carpentry, cobbling, dancing, fishing, hunting, leatherworking, musical instrument, riding (land-based), rope use, seamstress/tailor, set snares, stonemasonry, weaving
Secondary Skills 	Farmer, fisher, forester, groom, hunter, leather worker, mason, tailor/weaver, trapper/furrier, woodworker/carpenter
__TOC__
==Overview==
Peasants are uncommon among demihumans in the Realms, most of these being small-time farmers or herders living in human-dominated realms. Peasants are lower-class citizens who are tied to their lands for life, though many halflings say this suits them fine, so long as they are treated well by their lords. Peasants are generally poor warriors at best, but once in a while a peasant hero arises during times of war and disaster. Tethyr's Interregnum and Reclamation, Amn's war with the "Sythillisian Empire," Cormyr's stand against the Tuigan Horde, Thayan intrigues against the Dales and Aglarond, and occasional giant and humanoid attacks against Luiren have brought out heroic qualities in half-elves and the Small Folk.
==Description==
A demihuman peasant wears dirty but durable clothing, often supplemented by cloth wrappings in place of gloves and shoes. He is constantly filthy, has poor hygiene, and works with callused, weather-beaten hands. He never wears armor while working unless he knows of a local threat: giant beetles, giant ants, ankhegs, wild dogs, or other predators. Any armor he has is roughly made from leather or hides. Weapons often double as tools (see below). A peasant hero looks the same as a normal peasant, though he is usually larger, faster, or stronger than the norm, making great deeds easier.
Half-wild elves near the Yuirwood in Aglarond and in Deepingdale could easily take this kit, as many have human attitudes and farming lifestyles. Some rock gnomes in Tethyr are peasant herders of sheep and goats, and forest gnomes almost always lead farming and gathering lifestyles. Halflings in many places (for example, Luiren, Amn, Tethyr, Cormyr, Turmish) have small, lower-class farms where they raise crops and livestock.
==Roleplaying==
A peasant hero could be a farmer, shepherd, hunter, fisher, or minor craftsman. Until he became a hero, his main priority in life was to get through it day by day. Everyone can claim to be his master except for beggars or convicts, and the peasant hero has no polite skills such as etiquette, heraldry, or foreign languages. The episode leading a peasant to become a hero can be played out at the start of the campaign, or else assumed to have occurred in the recent past (all made up by the player with the DM's final approval). Weapons typical of Faerûnian peasants, human and demihuman alike, include the club, dagger, footman's flail, footman's pick, hand axe, knife, long bow, machete (slashing short sword), military fork, quarterstaff, short bow, short sword, sling, spear, and warhammer. Some of these weapons are derived from tools and may be used as such—the flail to beat grain, the pick to dig, the axe to chop wood, the bows and sling to hunt game, the military fork to lift hay, the staff to walk with, and the warhammer to pound things. Weapons that the DM deems are not used by peasants of a particular region (for example, horseman's weapons, lances, long pikes, most polearms, large swords) cannot be chosen at 1st level but might be learned at higher levels if circumstances allow. Peasant heroes can also pick punching or wrestling as weapon proficiencies.
==Special Advantages==
There are few advantages to being a demihuman peasant. However, a peasant hero who remembers his old homeland and neighbors, even the ones who weren't always kind to him, gains a -2 reaction modifier (toward "friendly") from NPC countrymen. If he is famous and daring enough (DM's option), the reaction bonus can go to -4, and he is given free food and shelter for a limited time in any home in his old community. Bad neighbors have a way of treating a now-famous local hero as their favorite person of all time.
==Special Disadvantages==
The weapon restrictions and fewer weapon slots, lack of polite skills, and tiny starting funds are important restrictions. Beyond these, a peasant hero starts out with only General category proficiencies. He receives proficiencies from the Warrior category only with higher levels, when he has traveled more of the world. He also cannot perform any special combat maneuvers, such as called shots, disarming foes, mounted combat, sapping (knockout blows), two-weapon styles, martial arts, or unarmed combat except punching and wrestling. These can be used only after he has reached 4th level, if they are widely permitted in a campaign without prior training.
When purchasing items at the start of the game, the peasant hero may buy one item costing a maximum of 15 gp, and the rest of the items purchased must cost 10 gp or less. After all his purchases are made, he discards all monies except for 1d6 gp. It is assumed that all the other items he carries were actually heirlooms, given or loaned to him by neighbors or family, or found (possibly on corpses on a battlefield). If items are determined by the DM to have been loaned, the peasant is responsible for returning them undamaged or buying them when he has the money available. This is also true if the peasant's equipment were loaned from a community pool or other local patron.
A peasant hero is often sought out by his home community for help when danger strikes. If he refuses to answer, the folks at home regard him with a +2 modifier to all NPC reaction rolls, thinking badly of him until he solves the community's problem.
If the peasant strikes it rich while adventuring, many of his friends and neighbors may be after him to share the wealth. Some may bring false (or true!) charges against him, asking payment for past misdeeds. Others plead blood ties for loans or gifts. Beggars are after him at all hours.
A peasant may also have an oath of loyalty to a liege, the usual thing in medieval feudalism and several Faerûnian countries like Tethyr. (This is not true in anarchistic Luiren, of course.) If a peasant proves himself a fighter and hasn't been rebelling against his liege, he may be commanded by his liege to join the army, fulfil a quest, or take on other responsibilities after being suitably rewarded for his earlier brave actions. If the peasant refuses, he could face arrest and other trouble.