Relic Hunter O.C.C.

Optional Class

Adventurers that are Scholars by trade but more Mercenary or Ranger in lifestyle, Relic Hunters explore the depths of the past both figuratively and literally. These men and women seek out ancient cities and lost catacombs in a quest for artifacts, making them just as skilled at surviving out in the wild as they are digging through old books in a library. Sometimes this is done for profit while other times in the pursuit of knowledge. This can range from highly skilled grave robbers to finding the resting place of a secret city only talked about in legend. To make ends meet and finance their next expedition, they often need to sell what they find or hire their services out to a wealthy backer. This can lead to Relic Hunters working for an academy of high learning, a rich noble who seeks to add trinkets to his collection, or a king desiring to locate a powerful artifact, such as the pieces of Castlerack.

Relic Hunters & Armor

Relic Hunters know how to fight when needed, but that is not their main focus. They generally prefer to wear light leather armor, such as Hard or Studded Leather. This allow for better maneuverability in a tight squeeze, silent they're not supposed to be, and light enough to let them flee if things go wrong. Heavy armor made of metal tends to be too rigid, noisy, and slow for their line of work. As a non-Men of Arms, when forced to wear heavy armor they suffer the standard encumberance penalties and their speed is reduced by half.

Relic Hunter O.C.C.

Alignment: Any, but lean toward Unprincipled, Anarchist, or Aberrant. Far too often, knowledge and relics of the past mean more to these characters than people or wildlife.

Attribute Requirements: I.Q. 10, P.S. 10, and P.E. 10 or higher. A high P.P. is also useful for squeezing through narrow and awkward openings, but not required.

O.C.C. Bonuses: +1 to Save vs. Horror Factor at levels 3, 6, 10, and 15.

O.C.C. Skills:

Anthropology

Archeology

Climbing

Detect Concealment & Traps

Excavation

History

Land Navigation

Language: Native Tongue at 98% and two of choice (15% each)

Literacy: One of choice (+20%)

Wilderness Survival

W.P. Two of choice

Hand to Hand: Basic

Hand to hand: basic can be changed to Expert at the cost of two O.C.C. Related Skills, or Martial Arts (or Assassin if evil) for the cost of three O.C.C. Related Skills.

O.C.C. Related Skills: Select two Scholar/Technical skills or Wilderness skills, and five other skills of choice (including additional skills from Technical and/or Wilderness) at level one, plus select one additional skill at levels three, six, nine, and twelve. All new skills start at level one proficiency.

Communications: Any (+10%)

Domestic: Any

Espionage: Detect Ambush, Escape Artist, and Forgery only.

Horsemanship: General or Exotic only

Medical: First Aid only

Military: Heraldry and Surveillance only.

Physical: Any, except Acrobatics and Boxing

Rogue: Any (+10% for Locate Secret Compartments/Doors only)

Science: Any (+10%)

Scholar/Technical: Any (+10% to all; except Gemology which is +15%)

Weapon Proficiencies: Any

Wilderness: Any (+10% for Spelunking only)

Secondary Skills: The character also gets to select four secondary skills from the previous list at level one, and two additional skills at levels four, seven, ten, and thirteen. These are additional areas of knowledge that do not get the advantage of the bonus listed in the parentheses. All secondary skills start at the base skill level. Also, skills are limited (any, only, none) as previously indicated in the list.

Starting Equipment: Two sets of clothing, a pair of boots, a pair of soft leather gloves, hat, belt, bedroll, backpack, one large sack, 1D4 small sacks, a water skin, food rations for 1D4 weeks, 2D4 sticks of charcoal or graphite (for writing and drawing), 4D4 sheets of parchment, 50 feet (15.2 m) of rope, grappling hook, 1D4+1 wooden or iron spikes, small hammer, shovel, brush and a few other digging and excavation tools, small mirror, and tinder box.

Armor: Starts with a suit of hard leather (A.R. 11, S.D.C. 30).

Weapons: Starts with a dagger and two additional weapons of choice. All are basic S.D.C. weapons of good quality. Magic weapons and other equipment must be acquired later. Since Relic Hunters often need to squeeze through small openings, narrow passageways, and/or surrounded by priceless artifacts; many prefer small weapons designed for precision.

Money: The character starts with 180 in gold, which can be used immediately to purchase more equipment or saved. Additional money will come from payment for jobs and/or booty.

Experience Table: Same as the Long Bowman & Squire.