Hoardsacker (Character Kit)

Hoardsacker
Description: Hoardsackers are not interested in petty theft. These rogues are nearly obsessed with the notion of uncovering lost treasures stolen from dwarven hands by dragons. To a hoardsacker, the grandest of endeavors is to sneak into one of the beast’s lairs and “recover” dwarven treasures from the wyrm’s centuries-old mound of loot.
Needless to say, hoardsackers tend to be some of the more overconfident dwarves a person could meet in a tav- ern. Some truly believe in the service of reclaiming ancient wealth and returning it to its rightful families and lands. Others are no better than the drakes who stole the treasure initially and keep their own caches of buried loot from others.
Hoardsackers tend to be fairly charismatic ne’er-do-wells who enjoy the attention that the boasts of their larcenous tasks bring. The kit requires minimum Dexterity and Charisma scores of 13.
Role: Most “sensible” dwarven rogues consider the profession of hoardsackers too risky, not just because of the dangerous “victims”
from which they steal but also because
of the blatancy of their acts. Certainly these daring dwarves want others to know that they are thieves but not stealers from dwarves, only robbers of the great hoards of dangerous wyrms. Hoardsackers never pass up the opportunity to boast of their profession and the fine distinctions between it and common thievery.
Word of a hoardsacker’s visit to a village will bring out the local youths who are eager to hear of his tales and wonder if his next theft is to happen nearby. The rogues often take advantage of such renown by using the attention to secure cheap lodgings and even sometimes henchman for a particularly harrowing adventure.
A hoardsacker can find his services much wanted by his kin when they learn of ruins once belonging to long- dead dwarves. There may not be any dragons slumbering in the ancient tunnels, but something might have gathered a great deal of treasure, and a hoardsacker would be most useful in learning what creatures prowl the halls. Wizards too often have dealings with these rogues, not for material wealth discovered but to have a hoardsacker bring back some dragon remains or moltings prizes as material components for spells and magical creations.
There are no additional alignment restrictions for hoardsackers other than the normal for the rogue class.
Weapon Proficiencies: It is not so much that weapons can aid the trade of a hoardsacker—after all, common blades mean little to a dragon’s hide— as it simply is best to be armed for emergencies. Studded leather, elaborately decorated with spikes and styl- ized scales, is often specially ordered by hoardsackers, who can wear any type of armor while suffering the standard penalties to thief abilities. 
Required: None. 
* Recommended: club, dagger, short sword.
Nonweapon Proficiencies:
* Required: Alertness, drake lore (new). 
* Recommended: Appraising, intimidation, looting, mining, rope use.
Skill Progression: A hoardsacker should emphasize the skills of Move Silently, Hide in Shadows and Open Lock, since these are the most vital for his trade. These skills traditionally allow the hoardsacker to sneak into a dragon’s den and loot it of the most precious of treasures quickly.
Special Benefits: As part of the
hoardsacker’s natural confidence, he receives a +1 bonus on saving throws vs. dragon fear. As he increases in experience, this bravado swells, and the bonus increases by +1 for every three levels of ability (+2 at 3rd level, +3 at 6th, etc.).
After encountering his first dragon of a particular type and surviving, a hoardsacker is entitled to a +1 bonus against breath weapons from that type of dragon breath weapon.
At 6th level, the hoardsacker may instill those around him with courage while facing a dragon, granting them a bonus against dragon fear. He must first speak to the intended recipients of the benefit for a number of rounds equal to his current saving throw bonus (four rounds for a 7th level hoardsacker). Afterward, one individual per level of the hoardsacker may gain +1 on their saving throws vs. the fear aura of dragons. This bonus lasts only for a single encounter but may be instilled in the same individuals again and again.
Special Hindrances: Most older dwarves consider the burglary of dragons’ hoards to be a foolhardy
endeavor. Some believe that the activities of hoardsackers are the true cause for recent attacks on dwarves by dragons. When dealing with any old or venerable dwarf, a hoardsacker suffers a +2 on all reaction rolls.
A hoardsacker cannot reach the 6th level of ability without robbing an adult dragon’s lair of treasure equivalent to 5,000 gp. To reach the pinnacle of his craft, 12th level, the hoardsacker must survive a grand theft from an ancient wyrm’s hoard worth at least 20,000 gp.
Wealth Options: 4d4 x 10gp
Category:Character Kit
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