Scout

Some are hunters or keen-eyed trackers, some spies gathering vital intelligence behind enemy lines; some are skilled sappers and siege engineers, or experts at reading people and uncovering secrets. But scouts all have one thing in common: lacking either powerful magic or great might, they must rely on their talents and their wits to prevail.

Most scouting skills align with four broad paths:

• Theft and treachery
• Tracking and woodcraft
• Influencing others
• Battlefield engineering

Many Scouts, of course, dabble with multiple paths.

Advice for Scout Characters

Ranger or Scoundrel skill is essential - if not both - and most learn at least a couple of the skills branching off these two. Any scout will tend to eschew noisy heavy armour, so Body Development is invaluable for staying on your feet. Resist Poison is useful for beastmasters risking venomed bites or for thieves fearing treachery alike, while Iron Body can aid in escape or endurance..

Those seeking an extra edge may dabble in Alchemist for brewing poisons or useful potions, while investigators benefit from Evaluate to assess evidence and objects of interest. Diplomats and spies will find Intuition opens up a wealth of information-gathering skills. One of the greatest assets of any scout is surprise – most scouts will take at least some skills their enemies don't expect, especially magic.

Stamina

Most scout skills draw on a pool of stamina representing reserves of willpower, determination and focus.

Certain general and archetype skills grant stamina points — 5 per day per skill:

• No primary archetype: 15 stamina cap (can benefit from up to 3 skills)
• Scout archetype: 30 stamina cap (can benefit from up to 5 skills)

Once a character has purchased a skill that grants stamina, they can purchase Extra Stamina to increase their stamina up to their archetype cap.

Characters should have a visible means of tracking their stamina points and keep it on their person at all times.

See Stamina for full details, including which skills grant stamina points.

Scout Skills

No character can learn more than one Pinnacle skill (marked with * below).

Combat Engineer

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Device Proficiency	5	Scoundrel	3 stamina per use
Arcane Saboteur	8	Device Proficiency and Sense Magic	Stamina
Sapper	5	Device Proficiency	3 stamina per use
Trapper	6	Ranger	5 stamina per use
Siege Weapons	4	Projectile Weapons	Permanent
Siege Engineer	6	Siege Weapons	Permanent

Politician

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Battlefield Insight	5	Intuition	3 stamina per use
Detect Lies	6	Intuition	2 stamina per use
Diplomat's Insight	6	Intuition	2 stamina per use
Subterfuge	5	Scoundrel	2 stamina per use
Friendly Face	8	Diplomat's Insight	5 stamina per use
Silver Tongue*	8	Detect Lies	Pinnacle / 10 stamina per use

Rogue

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Chameleon	6	Ranger or Scoundrel	3 stamina per use
Move in Cover	10	Chameleon	2 stamina per use
Device Proficiency	5	Scoundrel	3 stamina per use
Arcane Saboteur	8	Device Proficiency and Sense Magic	Stamina
Subterfuge	5	Scoundrel	2 stamina per use
Scrapper	6	Scoundrel	Stamina Access
Poison Aptitude	6	Scrapper	Permanent
Maverick*	12	Scrapper	Pinnacle / Stamina

Woodcraft

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Beast Empathy	6	Ranger	2 stamina per use
Beast Command	8	Beast Empathy	2 stamina per use
Chameleon	6	Ranger or Scoundrel	3 stamina per use
Move in Cover	10	Chameleon	2 stamina per use
Tracking Proficiency	5	Ranger	3 stamina per use
Pathfinder	8	Tracking Proficiency	2 stamina per use
Trapper	6	Ranger	5 stamina per use
Hunter's Insight	8	Ranger and Intuition	2 stamina per use
Hunter's Mark*	12	Hunter's Insight	Pinnacle / 5 stamina per use
Harrier	6	Ranger	Stamina Access
Talon*	12	Harrier	Pinnacle / Stamina

Armour

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Medium Armour	2	Light Armour	Permanent

Resistances

Skill Name	Points Cost	Prerequisites	Use
Immune to [Body Effect]	6	Iron Body	Permanent
Immune to [Disease]	4	Resist Disease	Permanent
Immune to [Poison]	5	Resist Poison	Permanent

Note: Any character may have a maximum of 3 immunities in total.

Scout Study Paths

The four scout study paths are not defined by individual skills but by a scout's role or profession. As such, there is some overlap between paths (e.g. both rogues and politicians are skilled liars, and both survivalists and rogues are trained in stealth). When a scout completes a research project that could come under multiple paths, they should discuss with the research referee which path they are advancing.

Much study as a scout involves improving existing skills (using them more often, overcoming their limitations, extending durations etc.) rather than devising new abilities. There are exceptions: developing an Arcane Saboteur rite to slip through a ritual circle ward, for instance, or a Beast Command technique to summon a wild animal.

Study paths include the following:

Combat Engineer Path

A combat engineer is devoted to shaping the battlefield: breaking defences, setting traps and maintaining and operating terrible siege engines against their foes. Research in this path may include more devious or destructive traps, more swiftly destroying structures, and doing more damage with siege weapons (or disabling them more quickly). Working with a skilled mechanician or invoker, a combat engineer may learn to incorporate flasks of poisons or magical charms in their traps; alongside an Arcane Saboteur or a leyline magician, they may learn how to break down even magically-reinforced defences and sabotage leylines.

Includes research building on the Device Proficiency, Sapper, Arcane Saboteur, Siege Weapons, Siege Engineer and Trapper skills.

Politician Path

A politician's battlefield is the hearts and minds of others. Research on this path can extend to duplicating the various mind effects, or achieving levels of insight similar to mind-reading. The most talented liars can foil truth potions, magical compulsions, and even attempts via ritual divination to uncover the truth - or to tell a lie so persuasive that it seems to briefly alter reality.

Includes research building on the Battlefield Insight, Detect Lies, Diplomat's Insight, Subterfuge, Friendly Face and Silver Tongue skills.

Rogue Path

Masters of theft and guile, rogues sneak past guards, overcome traps and locks, lie and deceive, and dispatch their foes quickly and efficiently. Research on this path covers greater feats of stealth - masters are said to be able to become beings of shadow - and the ability to lie even under magical compulsion and truth potions. The slyest killers can slaughter even creatures with magical defences; the greatest lockbreakers can slip through wards, open magical portals and disable magical hexes.

Includes research building on the Chameleon, Move in Cover, Subterfuge, Device Proficiency, Arcane Saboteur, Scrapper, Poison Aptitude and Maverick skills.

Woodcraft Path

The arts of the tracker, the hunter and the trapper fall under this heading. Research on this path covers greater stealth in the wild and deeper insight into reading the world around them; true masters are said to be able to commune with nature spirits and travel between trees like dryads do. The keenest hunters can sense any target's weakness and shrug off their powers, while those most attuned to the beasts can summon animals to serve them, or even assume the powers and features of beasts themselves.

Includes research building on the Beast Empathy, Beast Command, Tracking Proficiency, Pathfinder, Trapper, Hunter's Insight, Hunter's Mark, Chameleon, Move in Cover, Harrier and Talon skills.

Example Scout Characters

Beast Tamer

Known as the best tamer in their homeland, they have joined the warhost to increase their knowledge of the beasts in the known world. Always eager to learn and meet creatures, they use their skills to further their knowledge.

Skills: Ranger (5), Beast Empathy (6), Light Armour (2), Fearlessness (4) and 3 Extra Stamina (3)

Description: A satchel at their side full of research notes and a small hunting knife on their belt. Practical clothes with multiple pockets for bribes and treats as needed.

Tracker

More at home in the woodlands than in camps, their skills have been honed to the point where they can read footprints and easily track their prey. Working in the warhost, they often go on scouting missions to find the enemy and report their movements.

Skills: Ranger (5), Tracking Proficiency (5), Chameleon (6) and Foraging (4)

Description: A large green cloak to blend into the woodland, a shortsword and buckler at the belt with a bandolier of tools for their trade.

Assassin

Not much is known about their background but their skills are not questioned. Often dispatched to eliminate targets quickly, they are efficient in what they do and know how to get out of danger if required. Not many will admit to hiring them but those that do get their money's worth.

Skills: Scoundrel (5), Scrapper (6), Thrown Weapons (2), Light Armour (2) and Subterfuge (5)

Description: Dark colours with a mask to cover their face and small throwing knives concealed on their person. A shortsword on their back with dark leather vambraces.

Diplomat

Sometimes looking out of place in a warhost of warriors and magicians, the diplomat is most at home in front of a crowd or in a room making deals. Making use of their silver tongue and negotiation skills, they are often deployed to converse with the enemy or make trade deals to further the efforts of their Monarch.

Skills: Intuition (5), Diplomat's Insight (6), Scholar (5) and Provenance (4)

Description: A brightly coloured cloak and large satchel to carry their writing utensils and coin purse, a small dagger concealed on their belt and a smile to charm even the grumpiest of soldiers.