Sword Fighter

In some lands, you’re known as a Swordsworn, a Steelhand, or a Blade Master. You don’t care about a showy name—you justprefer to fight with a sword. You’ve fought with your sword for thousands of hours while training, in war, on expeditions, and during desperate battles in forgotten placesof the world. Maybe you fight as a mercenary, for yourself,oraspart of a group of adventurers. As long as you’ve got your sword, nothing can withstand you. You are upfor a fight anytime, even when startled directly from sleep. Sword held high, you’re ready to protect your allies, even if that means drawing your foes’ attention. So be it; they’ll meet you at your sword’s edge.

Background Options

  • Yougrewtoadulthoodasapitfighterwholivedbyyoursworduntilyouescaped,butyour former “employers” still hunt for you.

  • Someweeks backyou rescued an ally from asorcerer’s enchanted tower.

  • You racked up a considerable gambling debt a few months ago, still unpaid.

  • Born into a royal house, you were disowned after too many reckless duels, but you hope to return oneday and seize your birthright.

  • Your sibling was on a ship that disappeared on a journey across the misted sea last year.

  • You fled the war, not because you were afraid to fight, but because you were press-ganged into service by the enemy force when you were young.

  • The one who hired youtorecover an artifact died last month before the mission started.

  • A cult of rat worshipers tried to kidnap your family last year, but you burned out their den.

Sword Fighter Abilities

You gain all of the following benefits: Able to takethree more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add+2 to Might Pool Add+2 to Speed Pool Add+1 Edge in Pool of your choice Freely use all weapons Freely use all armor Gain one weapon of your choice Attier3andtier6,chooseanabilityfromtheFantasyGenreAbilitieslist

Combat Prowess: You add +1 damage to one type of weapon attack of your choice: melee weapon attacks or ranged weapon attacks. Enabler.

Expert Combatant: You are trained in a specific weapon attack of your choice, such asswords, axes, orbows;orinabroadercategoryofattackssuchaslightbashingweapons,lightbladedweapons,light ranged weapons, medium bashing weapons, medium bladed weapons, medium ranged weapons, and so on. At tier 2, you can choose to become specialized in the same attack method you chose at tier 1, but you must gain the skill normally. At tier 6, you can become an expert in a specific attack method (either the one you chose at tier 1 or another weapon skill you're already specialized in),but you must gain the skill normally. Enabler.

Expert, page (ref)

Swing Through (1 Speed): You attack with a sword in a way that has a greater risk of making an error but gainsan additional benefit. Your GM intrusion range for this attack increases by 2 (from 1 on a d20 to 1–3on a d20), but if you hit youcan choose oneof the following additional effects: Eat Steel: The foetakes +2 damage. Slice and Step: You reposition your foe or yourself an immediate distance away, easing your attack on your next turn (whether against that foe or a different one). Action.

Swing Through GM intrusions: Your sword chips or bends, reducing its damage by 1 until repaired. Your sword goes flying, landing a short distance away. Your foe deflects your attack, and you inflict a moderate wound on yourself.

A few abilities in this book include suggested GM intrusions because you’re more likely to triggeranintrusionwhenusingthoseabilities,andhavingsomeoptionsheremakesiteasierforthe GM.

[!example]

Sword Fighter Equipment Bundle

Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment. A sword, appropriate clothing, chainmail armor, ashield, a backpack, a bedroll, 50 feet (16 m) of rope, a crowbar, three torches, rations and water for three days, a tinderbox, and enough extra currency to buy a moderately priced item.

Equipment, page (ref) Currency, page (ref) Moderately priced items, page (ref) [END BOX


Part of Swords & Sorcery