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Scout

• Size: Medium or Small
• Type: Humanoid
• Alignment: Neutral
• AC: 13
• Initiative: +2 (12)
• HP: 16(3d8+3)
• Speed: 30 ft

ATTR	VAL	MOD	SAVE
STR	11	+0	+0
DEX	14	+2	+2
CON	12	+1	+1
INT	11	+0	+0
WIS	13	+1	+1
CHA	11	+0	+0

• Skills: Nature +4, Perception +5, Stealth +6, Survival +5
• Gear: Leather Armor, Longbow, Shortsword
• Senses: Passive Perception 15
• Languages: Common plus one other language
• CR: 1/2 (XP 100; PB +2)

Actions

Shortsword. Melee Attack Roll: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) Piercing damage.

Longbow. Ranged Attack Roll: +4, range 150/600 ft. Hit: 6(1d8+2) Piercing damage.

Lore & Background

Scouts are skilled rangers and explorers who specialize in reconnaissance, tracking, and survival in wilderness environments. These individuals come from various backgrounds - some are military scouts serving armies and nations, others are independent guides who lead expeditions through dangerous territory, and still others are wilderness experts who prefer the solitude of the wild to the complications of civilization.

Scouts possess an intimate knowledge of the natural world and are experts at moving unseen through various terrains. They serve as the eyes and ears of larger organizations, gathering intelligence about enemy movements, mapping unknown territories, and serving as advance guards for military units or exploration parties.

Combat Tactics

Scouts prefer to avoid direct confrontation, using their stealth and ranged combat abilities to strike from concealment before retreating to safety. They excel at hit-and-run tactics and know how to use terrain to their advantage.

Encounter Ideas

Wilderness Guide: A scout offers to lead heroes through dangerous territory for the right price. Military Intelligence: A scout possesses crucial information about enemy troop movements. Lost Explorer: A scout has gone missing in dangerous territory and needs rescue. Territorial Conflict: Scouts from opposing factions compete for control of strategic locations.

Environmental Effects

Scout presence indicates areas of strategic importance or dangerous wilderness. Their camps are well-hidden and leave minimal trace, though experienced trackers can find signs of their passage.

Treasure

Scouts carry practical equipment suited for wilderness survival, including quality weapons and armor, survival gear, maps of remote areas, and sometimes valuable information about hidden locations.

Plot Hooks

The Missing Report: A scout's failure to return suggests something dangerous in the wilderness. Rival Expeditions: Competing scouts race to map or claim a newly discovered territory. Nature's Warning: A scout brings news of environmental threats or supernatural dangers. The Perfect Guide: Heroes need a scout's expertise to reach an otherwise inaccessible location.

Lore & Background

Scouts are skilled rangers and trackers who specialize in reconnaissance, survival, and navigating dangerous terrain. These hardy individuals serve various organizations - from military units to exploration companies - providing essential intelligence and pathfinding services. Their expertise lies in moving unseen through hostile territory while gathering crucial information about enemy movements, terrain hazards, and resource locations.

Most scouts develop their skills through years of experience in wilderness environments, learning to read tracks, predict weather patterns, and survive on minimal resources. They often work alone or in small groups, relying on stealth and knowledge rather than brute force. Many scouts are former soldiers who specialized in reconnaissance, while others are simply individuals with natural talent for woodcraft and observation.

Combat Tactics

Scouts prefer to avoid direct confrontation, using their knowledge of terrain and stealth abilities to gain tactical advantages. When forced to fight, they rely on ranged weapons and hit-and-run tactics, striking from concealment before repositioning to new vantage points. They excel at using environmental features to control engagement distances and escape routes.

In combat, scouts prioritize mobility and battlefield awareness, constantly moving to maintain advantageous positions. They target isolated enemies or attempt to divide larger groups using terrain features. Their survival instincts make them excellent at recognizing when a fight is unwinnable and executing strategic retreats.

Encounter Ideas

1. The Missing Patrol A military scout unit has failed to return from a reconnaissance mission in hostile territory. The party must track them down, discovering clues about their fate while avoiding the same dangers that befell the missing scouts.

2. The Territorial Guide A scout offers to guide the party through dangerous wilderness, but their local knowledge comes with hidden agendas. The guide may be leading them into a trap, testing their capabilities, or genuinely trying to protect them from greater threats they don't understand.

3. The Intelligence Network The party encounters a scout who serves as part of an information-gathering network, carrying urgent messages about enemy troop movements or natural disasters. The characters must decide whether to trust the scout's information and how to act on intelligence that could affect entire regions.

4. The Wilderness Competition A contest between skilled scouts to map uncharted territory becomes complicated when participants start disappearing. The party must determine whether the competition has turned deadly due to sabotage, natural hazards, or something more sinister lurking in the wilderness.

Environmental Effects

• Trail Expertise: Scouts can navigate difficult terrain with ease, often knowing shortcuts and safe paths through dangerous areas
• Weather Prediction: Experienced scouts can often predict weather changes hours or even days in advance
• Resource Location: Scouts excel at finding water sources, edible plants, and suitable shelter in wilderness environments
• Danger Awareness: Their heightened senses and experience help them detect potential threats before they become immediate dangers

Treasure

• Detailed Maps (100-500 gp): Accurate charts of local terrain including hidden paths, water sources, and hazard locations
• Survival Gear (50-200 gp): High-quality equipment designed for long-term wilderness survival
• Intelligence Reports (varies): Written observations about enemy movements, resource deposits, or dangerous creatures in the area
• Tracking Tools (25-100 gp): Specialized equipment for following tracks and signs through various terrain types
• Weather Instruments (75-300 gp): Tools for predicting weather patterns and atmospheric changes

Plot Hooks

1. The False Trail A scout's seemingly accurate maps lead the party into unexpected danger, raising questions about whether the guide was deceived, corrupted, or deliberately misleading them. The truth may reveal larger conspiracies or supernatural influences affecting the region.

2. The Oath Keeper A dying scout entrusts the party with completing their mission to deliver crucial intelligence to distant allies. The journey tests the characters' wilderness skills while putting them in the position of temporary scouts for an important cause.

3. The Disappeared Territory A scout returns from an expedition claiming that a familiar landmark has vanished entirely, with no trace of its existence. Investigation into this impossible occurrence leads to discoveries about magical phenomena, planar shifts, or reality-altering events.

4. The Competing Loyalties A scout finds themselves torn between conflicting obligations to different employers or causes. The party becomes involved in helping them navigate the ethical and practical challenges of their divided loyalties while maintaining their professional integrity.