Encumbrance Limits
Size	None	Light	Heavy
tiny	× 1	× 2	× 3
small	× 2	× 4	× 6
medium	× 5	× 10	× 15
large	× 10	× 20	× 30
Multipliers indicates pounds per point of Strength score.

 Backpacks and large bags allow adventurers to transport heavy burdens while setting them down as needed to regain mobility. A hand cart makes it possible for a person of medium or larger size to haul hundreds of pounds beyond what is carried and worn. More robust carts and wagons transport tons of cargo when pulled by teams of draft animals. Aristocrats, financiers, and military commanders often travel with crowds of support staff and chests full of luxurious items. Adventuring parties blessed with great wealth may find excellent value in an entourage of hirelings and retainers, though these associates also introduce points of vulnerability. A squad of hired sentries is no substitute for a formidable friend keeping watch over the group.
 Inventory management is never a problem when every declaration is clear and all appropriate notes are recorded. Many groups simplify this process by designating one person or container to handle overflow – carrying any group possessions not otherwise specifically assigned. This compromise approach to ambiguity avoids the unfairness of stripping possessions from the group for failure to take perfect notes. It also avoids the unfairness of an item with no specific location spontaneously turning up in the hands of characters without the power to summon objects. These particulars can be extremely important when a member of the party is caught by a pit or a snare (not to mention suffering such grim fates such as disintegration or petrification.)
 Designated carriers typically have plenty of surplus capacity thanks to great Strength and/or magical containers. This approach can reduce bookkeeping and simplify looting, but even a portable hole only offers finite space. It is fair to rule a party abandoned anything they could not possibly have transported at an overland speed already applied to a completed day of travel. Adventurers utilizing a common purse do well to equip every member with a little coin for personal use. Otherwise individuals separated from their companions may find themselves without purchasing power as well. Some groups can be secretive about the storage of money and other valuables to better thwart thieves and other threats. Nothing should be concealed from your DM, not even information successfully hidden from NPCs.

Vehicular Travel Resting while in motion is only possible when an appropriate place of rest is also in motion. Some carriages and wagons offer sheltered space suitable for slumbering on the move. The finest coaches feature well-appointed cabins. Most seagoing vessels enclose enough space below deck for crews and passengers to rest. Some ships also contain several elegant staterooms for rent to well-monied passengers. Adventurers cannot rest while moving about inside a vehicle, but the movement of the vehicle itself does not prevent rest unless associated with something like extreme weather or a damaging collision.
 Bad roads or rough seas often create difficulties that must be overcome through skill – failures resulting in such bumpy rides or harrowing accidents as to spoil the rests of passengers and risk spills of well-secured cargo. This typically involves freeform roleplaying pitting the coordinated efforts of the party against hazards generated by the elements (if not also unruly passengers and/or improperly secured cargo.) Difficulty classes often vary as weather conditions interact with other challenges. On some routes, having the patience to wait out forecasted storms can make the difference between a successful transit and vehicular destruction.
 Mariners and teamsters often find themselves in need of capable artisans to make repairs. Woodworkers play a crucial role in maintaining most sorts of vehicles. Some sophisticated conveyances feature clockwork transmissions that can only be serviced by tinkers. Weavers have the knowledge to patch sails and associated riggings. A smith may be required to mend chains and wheel rims, not to mention keeping beasts shod. Minding the animals of an overland caravan tends to require multiple mounted wranglers. Confinement limits the prospect of shipboard animals making their escape, but they can wreak havoc all the same if distressed by rough seas. Even without hostile encounters, long distance travel tends to demand effective teamwork.

Teleportation There is no faster method of travel than teleportation. People and goods can instantly cross thousands of miles by way of this powerful magic. Leyline Riders have demonstrated the ability to cast Teleportation Circle, a spell that can instantly move small groups of people from one Standing Stone formation to any other. Their services sustain the flow of fresh information and luxury goods to the least patient aristocrats. In lands where some people struggle to afford ordinary bread, others gorge themselves on sweetcakes baked that morning in the ovens of distant lands.
 The services of Leyline Riders do not come cheap. Reliable forms of long distance teleportation typically consume materials far more valuable than those required for a transit between two established teleportation circles. Some spellcasters attempt more dangerous techniques, risking instant death to entirely bypass a lengthy journey. Each method of teleportation is governed by its own demands and procedures. No other means of travel is so effective at avoiding authorities stationed at borders and conventional city walls. The primary drawbacks of teleportation involve arriving at a location not recently viewed (unless scrying is employed for that purpose) and drawing the attention of diviners anticipating magical arrivals.
 Some of the most powerful adventurers routinely utilize teleportation. Aristocrats and other celebrities may do otherwise, instead cultivating their own popularity while on tour. Armies seldom employ teleportation to contend for distant territories, but it is a vital tool for deploying and recovering elite operatives. The ability to apply this power over great distances is rarely cultivated without developing a reputation in the eyes of local spellcasters as well as regional authorities. Teleportation can be ideal for moving to and from safe resting places. Yet it can also attract the attention of entities and institutions more likely to exploit than fear gifted spellcasters.

Planar Travel Epic journeys can also be abridged by leaving this world entirely only to return at a later time. Visiting other planes of existence requires an effort more ambitious than teleportation. Some techniques maintain a strong connection to this world, preventing their use for purposes of reaching distant lands here. Journeys into the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, the Feywild, and the Shadowfell typically feature these geographic limitations. Some visitors to those places leave unconscious physical bodies in this world only to awaken on return. Some other methods of departing this material world require return to a location near their point of departure.
 Yet there are forms of planar travel that fully transport adventurers into one of the Elemental Planes or one of the Outer Planes. This may involve exposure to hazards quick to kill any unprotected mortals. Most of these planes feature profoundly alien environments. Navigation and surival often require the use of additional magic. Powerful indigenous entities typically sense and sometimes show interest in visitors. From legions of devils to processions of angels, hostile forces tend to escalate until they overwhelm any disruption to the moral or physical fabric of these otherworldly realms. Missions on other planes of existence are best accomplished with speed and discretion.
 Alternatively, it may be possible to forge an alliance with the inhabitants of an extraplanar haven. No hideout could be more remote than an encampment at some extreme fringe of an Outer Plane. Adventurers with the resources to travel between worlds on a regular basis might trade the problems of earthly politics for the challenges of maintaining a home among cosmic bureaucrats or elemental aristocrats. Even brief visits to another plane of existence can facilitate long distance travel. Returning through a separate spell or effect often makes it possible to target a destination unrelated to any point of origin. Spontaneous gateways and portals sometimes provide risky opportunities to explore other planes of existence or return to relative safety of this world.

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Travel ↑  → Socializing ←  ↓ Trade ↓

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Influential Performers The Performance skill is a measure of how artfully an individual can dance, play, sing, and speak. Normally it has no direct relevance to interpersonal negotiations. Aside from settling questions about the abilities of performing artists, exercises of the Performance skill provide no information that could not be delivered with plain speech. Your DM may support Performance checks to improve the moods of an unreceptive audiences or establish the quality of ongoing entertainments, but these rolls seldom serve to settle a conflict with NPCs.  Using Performance to make others more willing to consider subsequent social appeals is sometimes possible. This requires an audience already willing to listen yet not eager to hear opinions from the party. Violent foes will not patiently watch an artistic performance, while friendly audiences are already willing to give new ideas a fair hearing. Even when a group seeks to persuade (or mislead) with messages embedded in a performance, such as the dialogue of a play or the lyrics of a song, those efforts succeed or fail chiefly as function of their plausibility and a non-Performance skill check , if warranted.

Socializing Tremendous detail informs the calculations used to model warriors clashing in combat. Battlefield outcomes as well as experiments conducted on inert targets provide abundant evidence informing the statistical mechanics of weapons and armors in action. Communication between people does not allow analogous studies to gather definitive data. Ambiguity is inevitable in areas where conversational roleplaying prompts the rolling of dice. This is made more pronounced by some group preferences. Some tables crave situations in which the words of players have immediate consequences. Ideally, DMs in these cases embrace the unpredictable nature of entirely acting out interrogations and negotiations with their players.
 Campaigns emphasizing this raw interplay of PCs and NPCs should still make some effort to consider skills. Verbal sparring always benefits from mutual notions of fair play and good faith. Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion each reflect character aptitudes. Your DM might choose to respond poorly to conversational gambits unsupported by the applicable proficiency. Since no dice have been cast, any basis for specific reactions to player behaviors or speeches cannot extend beyond the most obvious and certain outcomes. Both skill checks and roleplaying efforts of this sort should be limited to situations where an intelligent monster or NPC might possibly be influenced by the particulars of communication.
 There are also tables that prefer little or no effort to roleplay the communications associated with skill checks. Your DM might ask for some specifics – a statement of intent if not also some actual arguments, threats, or pleas to flesh out any effort at Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion respectively. Much like disregard for social skill mechanics can place shy inarticulate characters on equal footing with silver-tongued counterparts, failing to consider conversational substance can place the implausible ideas on equal footing with the most cunning ruses or thoughtful appeals. Whatever standards your table adopts, efforts to exert influence should always consider both the specifics of the interaction and the relevant skills of participants.

Initial Reactions Most people experience a variety of moods over the course of an ordinary day. Even the least volatile people sometimes deal poorly with personal losses and other distressing news. Minor ailments such as congested breathing or troubled digestion can give rise to uncharacteristically bad tempers. From the noise of nearby construction work to the news that a lucrative business opportunity is no longer available, all manner of things can make an NPC to less receptive during intitial encounters. 3d6  Reaction DC under 4  irritated +10 4-5  unwelcome +5 6-7  displeased +2 8-13  indifferent – 14-15  pleased -2 16-17  welcome -5 over 17  delighted -10  There is another side to this coin. An audience obtained just after a satisfying meal, a chance encounter just after a favorable astrological consultation, and a meeting conducted in the aftermath of a happy wedding are all conversations that could go better than expected thanks to unusually upbeat attitudes.  When in doubt about the receptivity of any unfamiliar NPC to ordinary social encounters, roll 3d6 and consult the reaction table above. If the party approaches as enemies intent on parley, roll 2d6 instead. If the party arrives on time or slightly early to a scheduled meeting, roll 4d6 instead. This reflects the circumstances surrounding that first impression, and it often provides a DC modifier to all social skills during that encounter. Here are some suggested interpretations of those results.  irritated — visibly upset on approach  unwelcome — rude and resistant  displeased — skeptical and wary  indifferent — immersed in routine business  pleased — curious and receptive  welcome — polite and enthusiastic  delighted — visibly joyful on approach  Though it is possible to consult the reaction table again to randomly select a mood for an NPC during each subsequent encounter, the social skill difficulty class modifier should be minimized or ignored in these cases. Once two people have established a prior working relationship, transient moods are normally set aside in service to the particulars of that relationship and any ongoing collaborations.

 Social skills are typically opposed by Insight. Overcoming someone's passive Insight might enable the most basic acts of Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion. This sort of success will not convince a clear-eyed observer that a blue sky is green or that a random bystander is a dangerous assassin. It could convince someone of a vague peculiarity in an otherwise ordinary horizon or to become generally suspicious of an otherwise ordinary person. Typically recruited for their might and toughness, security personnel often lack the sensitivity to resist expert fast-talking. Yet even slow-witted guards usually seek to confirm what they have been told before lashing out at strangers or allowing outsiders to pass unimpeded.

Seeking Support Adventurers often desire favors from NPCs. Earning such a favor might be required simply to shop at a public market or take refreshments at a popular tavern if a sufficiently notorious or strange-looking party is involved. Some highly experienced adventurers routinely require exotic goods and/or specialty services always in scarce supply. In some jurisdictions, adventurers require verbal approval and/or official badges to legally bear weapons and wear armor in public. Player characters might also reach out to authorities in the hopes of being granted other official privileges or being tasked with a rewarding quest.
 While any social skill can be deployed in pursuit of an NPC's support, context matters. A lone guard managing admissions to a crowded festival might stand aside and grant entrance after adventurers have skipped the line even though they only offered a subtle hint of aggression. That same guard tasked with protecting a royal infant might decide to make a stand, either unable to abandon a defenseless baby or unwilling to fail the crown in this much more important matter. Of course, festival perimeter guards tend to be less astute and experienced than guards at critical postings in the heart of a royal palace. Even so, each NPC will weigh the consequences of failure against whatever ruse, sympathy, or threat the party brings to bear.
 For especially difficult requests, it is often best to lay groundwork beforehand. Conversing with associates and subordinates of a decision-maker can yield information useful in tailoring a plea. Effective use of Insight and Investigation sometimes indicates specific topics that should be downplayed or emphasized when dealing with a particular authority figure. This work might also uncover influential supporters of a proposal and/or tasks that can be performed in advance to make that proposal more appealing. When the connsequential conversation finally occurs, preparatory efforts can do much to lower the difficulty of the final check. If the outcome remains in doubt, it should be resolved with a Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion check respective of whether the group delivers an appeal based on lies, threats, or sentiments.
 NPCs normally do not need to be influenced to act in their own interests or the interests of factions commanding their loyalty. If a party simply wishes to report actual danger or propose a viable solution to a mutual problem, there is no need to back that with any sort of strong social pressure. Lingering doubts and other resistance in these cases shifts the burden from a call for bold action to the due dilligence of allowing trusted sources to contradict or verify assertions made by PCs. It can be extremely difficult to convince an aristocrat that elite warriors must immediately be rallied to defend the realm, but it is not so difficult to convince that aristocrat to step onto a nearby balcony and look for a huge winged monster soaring above the horizon.

Negotiating Concessions For any social skill check, the player furnishing that skill should articulate one clear purpose. This usually involves getting agreement from NPCs to pursue a specific plan of action. Unlike the Charm Person spell, a social skill cannot cause instant friendship, even when expertly used. Instead, real and enduring relationships between characters are forged through many memorable interactions. No single skill check converts an associate into an admirer or a thrall, yet each is another stone in the foundation of a relationship built on fear, fondness, or trickery.

Social Adjustments Countless circumstances can influence the outcome of a social situation. Adventurers often coordinate their activities, delivering timely support of their primary spokesperson. Any social skill check made with the help of a second character also proficient in that skill can be made with advantage. The Enchance Assistance cantrip is a common technique many spellcasters use to further improve these collaborations. Typical adventuring parties not only feature a charismatic speaker, but also the talent to make strong social appeals as a group.  DC cause  -10   life saved by PCs earlier that day  -10   suggestibility through intoxication   -5  enjoying ongoing festivities   -5  offered opportunity for advancement   -2  eating a satisfying meal   -2  hearing thoughtful questions   -2  learning secret information   -2  reviewing supportive documents  As with all else, these modifiers are applied at the discretion of the DM. For example, sharing that a famous aristocrat leads a double life at the vanguard of a vigilante crime-fighting team could make a confidant more receptive to infuence. Yet it surely would be irrelevant to a distant tribal chief with no prior knowledge of either persona. Also, sharing a secret already known to your target would not help your cause except in cases of Intimidation paired with the threat of exposing that secret.  Likewise, Persuasion is usually the only skill that benefits from plying an associate with fine food and wine. Each of these modifiers can be reduced (e.g. less severe intoxication) or disregarded (e.g. reviewing documentation that is a standard expectation of proceedings underway.) Of course, there are plenty of circumstances that can work against the party as well. Social skill checks involving the use of different languages within a language group are normally made with disadvantage. DCs can be elevated by a variety of factors, incuding the following.  DC cause  +10   requires epic betrayal  +10   demands extreme sacrifice   +5  personal position or status at risk   +5  uncomfortable in this environment   +2  lacking food/water/shelter   +2  hearing ignorant assumptions   +2  learning PC weakness(es)   +2  uncovering personal leverage  Again, these modifiers are conditional and not always applicable. Revealing a weakness certainly makes it more difficult for a group to use Intimidation, but the same disclosure might instead build trust as a form of sharing secret information. The discomfort of persistent hunger might be turned to receptivity through the gift of a partial or low quality meal. Also, your DM always retains discretion to rule any attempt impossible. For example, a suicidal act surely is an extreme sacrifices, but talking an NPC into self-destruction is only possible in extreme circumstances like directing a religious fanatic to die in an act of crucial service to a holy purpose.

 Frequent use of Deception can drive a victim to regard exploitation as essential collaboration. Such NPCs may find themselves deeply dedicated to an outright fictitious cause. Frequent use of Intimidation often makes victims hostile, but these NPCs will nonetheless rush to obey their abusers. This wicked social dynamic is normal for slaves and thralls. Frequent use of Persuasion cultivates genuine respect, giving rise to understanding if not also sympathy with the core beliefs of another being. This is the basis of strong friendships. From requesting minor personal favors to hosting large social gatherings, highly influential characters build relationships by frequently directing their skills at others.
 Cultivating these relationships can be no less important than developing combat capabilities and learning to survive in strange lands. Just as a group of adventurers can thrive in situations that would surely overwhelm any single member, a party with a network of reliable supporters can endure hostility that would crush that same group left to their own devices. There are countless ways allies and followers might serve an active adventurer. As a campaign advances, parties often must decide between pooling their resources and companions in support of a single stronghold or raising up separate houses for each member with strong social ties. Wise choices at these junctures can give rise to institutions that leave lasting impressions on the world.

Ongoing Relationships ???

Commercial Connections Any accomplished adventurers inclined to stay in one place for years at a stretch will naturally accumulate entourages of supporters. Some establish new settlements in troubled borderlands or along frontiers newly rid of intolerable dangers. Others build communities within communities, raising up their own houses within larger fortified structures. Aside from outliers able to call upon extraordinary magic, adventurers must pay dearly to fund the construction or rennovation of secure facilities. Though novice adventurers might need to mind costs to the extent of conserving ammunition, their more seasoned counterparts rarely lack the resources to maintain excellent supplies.
 Even adventurers skilled enough to manufacture their own gear often choose instead to employ hirelings for this purpose. PCs conserve their valuable time while also enjoying a steady stream of custom-made wares. Paired with a suitable workshop, this sort of operation can become highly efficient and productive – a potential problem should any of these items find their way into competition with a local guild monopoly.

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Socialzing ↑  → Trade ←  ↓ Research ↓

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Trade ↑  → Research ←  ↓ Spellcasting ↓

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Seeing Things Different folks view the world in different ways. Human communities tend to schedule activities around the availability of daylight. For these people, dusk is followed by a span of time when fire or magic must be employed as alternatives to sightlessness. Many other races find the dim light provided by the Moon and stars adequate for almost all activities. They have little use for bright light when they are not exploring, painting, reading, or writing.  ∢ Normal Vision: Ordinary adventurers can see all the way to the horizon in good light on a clear day. 120 feet is the typical distance beyond which it is not possible to clearly identify the faces of individuals. Normal vision only perceives areas lit by bright light, cannot penetrate obscurement, and can be disabled by either blindfolds or magic.  ∢ Darkvision: Some people can visualize nearby shapes in dim light. Darkvision is clear enough to identify individuals, but it cannot be used to read after dark. This sense cannot penetrate obscurement, it does not function in total darkness, and it can be disabled by either blindfolds or magic.  ∢ Hellsight: This ability makes it possible to fight and read in total darkness. This sense cannot penetrate obscurement. Hellsight can be disabled by either blindfolds or magic, though it is not impaired by magical darkness.  ∢ Blindsight: This ability makes it possible to fight in total darkness. It also ignores illusions and obscurement. Blindsight cannot be used to read, even in bright light. Yet it also cannot be disabled by blindfolds, magical darkness, or ordinary blindness magic. A creature cannot suffer the blinded condition while this ability is active.  ∢ Truesight: This ability makes it possible to fight and read in total darkness. It ignores obscurement and reveals the true nature of all creatures, objects, and places covered by disguises or illusions. Truesight can be disabled by either blindfolds or magic, though it penetrates magical darkness.

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Research ↑  → Spellcasting ←  ↓ Combat ↓

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Spell Identification Familiarity with magic makes it possible to understand what spellcasters are attempting to accomplish before their efforts are complete. Some gestures or words quickly draw the attention of nearby persons knowledgeable in Arcana. Identifying a spell in progress presents a DC equal to the relevant spellcasting DC plus the level of the spell itself. For example, if a 9th level sorcerer with a spellcasting DC of 16 were to cast the 4th level Polymorph spell, identifying that spell would present a DC of 20. A passive arcana of that value or higher would allow for instant recognition without any effort on the part of the observer.  In most cases, this passive approach only supports the recognition of cantrips and spells of lower level. When a spellcaster hears the verbal component of spellcasting or sees another spellcasting component in use, that observer can use their reaction to scrutinize that effort more closely. This allows for an Arcana skill check at the DC required to identify the spell. Even after success, that reaction is used. Yet successful observers still have time to signal allies intent on casting a spell like Counterspell or Power Struggle to cancel the original spell.

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Spellcasting ↑  → Combat ←  ↓ Pursuit ↓

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Combat ↑  → Pursuit ←  ↓ Looting ↓

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Pursuit ↑  → Looting ←  ↓ Foraging & Hunting ↓

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Looting ↑  → Foraging & Hunting ←  ↓ Equipment ↓

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Foraging & Hunting ↑  → Equipmment ←  ↓ Arms & Armors ↓

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Equipment

Baseline Equipment The listings that follow provide hard minima for value and weight, but there is much variation among individual wares. For normal equipment to perform as listed, it must be at least as heavy as the designated weight for that item. Materials and labor together must produce at least the listed cost in value to complete the crafting of an item.  Yet costlier and heavier variations are not rarities. Additional weight provides no benefit save for greater burden when hauled away by enemies or opportunists. Additional cost can enhance the appearance of an item. Some decorative modifications, such as silvering a weapon or embossing a holy symbol onto an item, also provide enhanced capabilities.

 As with reading, outfitting is an endeavor most adventurers perform with enthusiastic confidence. Many ordinary folks have little or no experience shopping outside their own town or village. Every member of an adventuring class has working knowledge of specific supplies and weapons – including the acumen to distinguish useful goods from gimmicks with no practical value. When individual pieces of gear could possibly make the difference between life and death, such savvy customers are sure select durable and reliable options. Yet style also matters a great deal to many adventurers. A remarkable personal aesthetic is sure to inspire more compelling bards' tales.
 Your DM should provide clear information about equipment options prior to and during your campaign. It is normal for characters with privilege, wealth, and easy access to a major city to also enjoy fair prices on all sorts of normal gear. Purchasing options could be restricted for characters with no aristocratic support, and they probably will be limited for characters relying on the artisans and traders of a single small community. At remote outposts or villages, reserves of adventuring equipment might be minimal and made available only at extortionate prices. At the other extreme, adventurers known to be active in defense of a settlement sometimes receive a procession of gift-givers, including merchants eager to support prospective local heroes.

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Equipment ↑  → Arms & Armors ←  ↓ Mascots & Mounts ↓

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Arms Dealers The listed prices for fighting gear are the minimum payments expected by well-stocked merchants making legal sales. Even where laws do not restrict civilians or outsiders from this business, local authorities are often alerted about any notable purchases of combat equipment. Some outlaw organizations and secret societies are likewise informed despite lacking the official status of governments.  For those who know where and how to inquire, organized criminal syndicates often offer an excellent array of contraband items – though their price may be a service rather than a fee. Many less sophisticated gangs sell arms and armor for coin, but they may pair limited selections with extremely inflated prices. People known for furnishing weapons to perpetrators of deadly mayhem are likely to be hunted by a variety of law enforcers and/or vigilantes.

Arms & Armors Anyone equipped for combat will be assessed by the eyes of passers-by. Ordinary civilians often note the presence of danger and keep a respectul distance. Scouts and spies may keep logbooks documenting the attire, capabilities, routines, and weapons associated with every person of interest. The most insightful combatants observe more than the choice of gear others take into battle. They also evaluate how crucial items are rigged and worn. These details can differentiate highly experienced adventurers from persons of lesser prowess. It is often possible to make sound inferences about specific combat techniques and fighting styles by taking notice of personal preferences in arms and armor.
 Societies supporting private ownership of military equipment sometimes see household weapon collections functioning as financial reserves. Individual pieces are sold when a family faces an urgent need for coin. Adventurers may do likewise, collecting non-magical gear from fallen foes to resell at an appropriate market. Great care should be taken in efforts to cash in on collected battle gear. Some authorities enforce serious penalties for providing arms or armor to outlaws. Most regimes exercise oversight in this sector of trade. Lengthy negotiations may be required to find a legal buyer willing and able to pay a fair price for a big lot of used combat equipment. Often the best available deal involves surrendering salvage to military officers, claiming the value of a haul as credit against tax obligations assessed on greater treasures.

BASIC WEAPONS
Weapon	Cost	Weight	Damage	Properties
blowgun	1 gp	1 lbs.	1 piercing	light, loading, missile (range 25'/100')
crop	1 gp	1 lbs.	1 bludgeoning	light
crossbow	25 gp	5 lbs.	1d8 piercing	loading, missile (range 80'/320'), two-handed
cudgel	1 sp	1 lbs.	1d4 bludgeoning	light
dagger	2 gp	1 lbs.	1d4 slashing	finesse, light, thrown (range 20'/60')
dart	5 cp	¼ lbs.	1d4 piercing	finesse, light, throwing (range 20'/60')
dirk	2 gp	1 lbs.	1d4 piercing	finesse, light
greatclub	1 sp	10 lbs.	1d8 bludgeoning	two-handed
hammer	2 sp	2 lbs.	1d4 bludgeoning	light, thrown (range 20'/60')
handaxe	5 gp	2 lbs.	1d6 slashing	light, thrown (range 20'/60')
javelin	5 sp	2 lbs.	1d6 piercing	thrown (30'/120')
mace	10 gp	4 lbs.	1d6 bludgeoning	—
needle	2 sp	¼ lbs.	1 piercing	light
razor	1 gp	½ lbs.	1 slashing	light
rock	1 cp	2 lbs.	1 bludgeoning	thrown (range 10'/30')
quarterstaff	2 sp	4 lbs.	1d6 bludgeoning	versatile (1d8)
shortbow	25 gp	2 lbs.	1d6 piercing	missile (range 80'/320'), two-handed
sickle	1 gp	2 lbs.	1d4 slashing	finesse, light
sling	1 sp	—	1d4 bludgeoning	missile (range 30'/120')
spear	1 gp	3 lbs.	1d6 piercing	thrown (range 20'/60'), versatile (1d8)

BASIC WEAPONS
 There are twenty categories of arms most civilians can wield effectively after modest training. Many of these basic weapons are easily manufactured, and some are common objects in any modern settlement. They tend to be readily found even in places where authorities heavily regulate the personal possession of weaponry. Adventurers are often able to bear these basic weapons openly without prompting any public alarm.
 blowgun: Sometimes designed to resemble a scroll case or a flute, these hollow tubes rely on ir wielders' lungs to launch small needlenose darts. The missiles themselves almost never inflict serious injury, but they function well as a delivery system for tranquilizers and other venoms. In wild places where strong poisons can be harvested from natural sources, tribal warriors tend to make excellent use of blowguns. Urbane people often regard this weapon as a primitive tool employed only by scoundrels involved with abductions and assassinations.
 crop: This slender rod typically features a comfortable grip at one end and a broad flat pad at the other. Normally used for motivating steeds, crops are also a common tool of corporal punishment. The striking surface is designed to inflict minimal injury while still delivering a jolt of pain commensurate with the force behind an attack. Many aristocrats possess a personal trapping, like a folding fan or a walking cane, modified to function as an effective crop. These implements of discipline also make it possible to perform armed combat maneuvers in the absence of any more deadly weapons.
 crossbow: Developed early in the Age of Heroes, these simple mechanical devices feature the limbs of a bow laid across a weapon stock designed to remain stable while aiming and launching projectiles known as bolts. Most crossbows feature a release that fires each shot with a pull of the trigger on the underside of the weapon. Many also feature pulleys or levers so that drawing the string for another shot does not require extraordinary strength. Even so, the power of these weapons is offset by complex operations that typically result in a slow rate of fire.

Weapon Properties

entrap: This weapon incorporates features designed to hook targets or wrap around limbs. Such adaptations improve the effectiveness of special maneuvers like disarming or pinning enemies.  finesse: This weapon is extremely well-balanced and precise. When you make a melee attack with it, you can replace your Strength modifier with your Dexterity modifier for purposes of rolling to hit and determining damage.  hands free: This item can be secured in some manner akin to a glove or a bracer. Your hand so equipped is free for other activities except when it is performing an attack or combat maneuver with the affixed equipment. You have disadvantage on Sleight-of-Hand checks and tool use checks while equipped with any item featuring this property.  light: This weapon is relatively easy to use or conceal. Characters of small size can wield such a weapon with one hand. Wee folk can wield one light weapon with two hands.  loading: Preparing to attack with this weapon takes so much time that it normally cannot launch more than one attack each round.  missile: This weapon can only be used to make ranged attacks with ammunition. Each attack reduces a supply of arrows, bolts, bullets, darts, javelins, or needles.  reach: This weapon is capable of striking targets up to 10 feet away with melee attacks.  substitute: This weapon is capable of inflicting two damage types. Each attack can deal the standard damage type for that weapon or the indicated alternative.  throwing: This weapon can be used to make melee attacks, and it can be thrown to make ranged attacks.  thrown: This weapon cannot be used to make melee attacks. It can only be thrown to make ranged attacks.  two-handed: This weapon can only be used to attack when wielded with two hands. Even then, creatures of small size have disadvantage on attacks with this weapon.  versatile: This weapon can be wielded with one hand, though when two are used by a creature of medium size, an improved damage die can be rolled for that attack.  Strength/Dexterity: These physically demanding weapons automatically miss when a wielder attacks without an ability score of at least the indicated minimum.

 cudgel: Little more than an improvised weapon crafted into a more reliable form, cudgels are often carried by enforcers in need of an inexpensive sidearm. The least militant constabularies typically issue these common clubs to guards on patrol. A wide variety of durable objects, from the belaying pins of sailing vessels to the cranking handles of grindstones, require no modification to function as cudgels. Much like throwing a punch, adventurers of every class are proficient in the basics of fighting with cudgels.
 dagger: Though aristocrats and their admirers often prefer to dine with a small array of tableware, many civilized communities still see ordinary folks consuming their meals with no utensils to supplement one large personal knife. Daggers are so common that they are rarely forbidden in even the most secure sanctums. Another of the weapons familiar to all adventurers, daggers are easily concealed and rarely cause for suspicion from authorities when worn openly. Nonetheless, a well-maintained blade of this type can inflict a deadly wound even when thrown at a nearby enemy.
 dart: A proper war dart is much more intimidating than the relatively tiny darts used as blowgun ammunition. Darts made for hurling often have jagged or barbed tips to inflict more severe injuries. Yet another weapon with which all adventurers are proficient, darts are especially easy to fashion or procure. Primitive communities often employ darts to hunt small game. Though darts see little use in modern warfare, specialists able to hurl many darts with both speed and precision can be extremely effective at fighting in close quarters.
 dirk: Designed with a remarkably slender blade, dirks are built to puncture material in the same way daggers are built to slice it. The two weapons look similar and may be categorized together by merchants, but they are not the same. Dirks cannot be balanced for effective throwing. They do not function well when cutting food, and they are much more suited to scrimshaw than woodcarving. Yet their thin and narrow blades are extremely durable – able to resist breakage under stresses that might shatter a dagger. Thus dirks are ideal for exploiting small gaps in otherwise formidable defenses.
 greatclub: Though these weapons can be fashioned from whole logs with relatively little effort, some greatclubs are embellished with rich decorative details and finished with fine lacquers. They may also benefit from leathered grips and studded striking surfaces. Communities without their own metalworking capabilities often attach tremendous esteem to defenders wielding these brutal yet basic bludgeons. Legendary warriors have been known to enter duels wielding nothing but a fresh hewn greatclub – pointedly flaunting the extent of their skills without benefit of advanced weaponry.
 hammer: This common tool takes many forms depending on the cultural background of its maker. Yet all hammers serve the same practical purpose of delivering forceful impacts with precision. Hammers typically feature a well-defined striking surface perpendicular to a grip. The same balance that eases repetitive motions by workers also makes these implements viable thrown weapons. Hammers of this size are rarely ornate, though famous exceptions exist in the form of gavels used by the presiding officers of various political assemblies.
 handaxe: Another common tool that functions well as a weapon, small axes are considered essential by foresters and woodworkers. Many armies issue handaxes as supplemental weapons to be hurled during skirmishes and used peacefully when clearing terrain or gathering resourcers. Handaxe throwing competitions are a popular event at many rural festivals. This weapon seems out of place in some urban settings, and a bandolier of handaxes may be regarded as a military weapon. Yet most authorities understand it is normal to carry a handaxe or two when prepared to travel through wilderness.
 javelin: Ever since a pair of these became standard issue for Truscan Legionnaires, large infantry forces have been training with javelins. These weapons have little use as tools, and javelin-based games tend to differ little from military exercises. Restrictions remain difficult to enforce outside city walls because javelins can be produced quickly from ubiquitous supplies. Primitive tribes often stockpile these weapons, using them copiously for both hunting and defense. More advanced societies also employ these affordable weapons to hunt and fish.

Hiring and Shopping Obtaining quality goods and services is especially easy in metropolitan areas where competing emporia dedicate much of their funding to impressive inventories of desirable items. Elsewhere it is not always possible to obtain a specific piece of legal merchandise within hours of seeking its purchase. Especially with regards to weapons and armor, the best quality is often the result of commissions issued to artisans. These efforts allow for the balance and fit of each piece to be precisely personalized.  A proficient artisan working a full day at a temporary camp converts 25sp of raw materials into twice that value in finished goods. Thus well-supplied fletchers are expected to produce 100 arrows or bolts for each day of work. Likewise, an armorer in the field requires two days of labor to craft a shield sturdy enough to survive the strikes of many battles. The simplest steel swords also require two days of effort to produce, while ten days are needed to forge a reliable greatsword. These time requirements can be reduced by collaborations as well as dedicated facilities in appropriate buildings.  Even so, having goods made to order is not an instantaneous process. Armorers and weavers often conduct extensive measurements of clients' bodies. The limbs of bows must rest overnight, sometimes repeatedly, before holding functional shapes. A project like a suit of full plate armor might keep all the workers at a thriving smithy busy for more than a month. Major endeavors allow more artisans to collaborate by working in parallel on individual components, but seasoned hands must oversee the group to achieve proper assembly and verify equipment is fit for rigorous service.  Your DM should be able to specify the availability of non-magical equipment in your campaign. Extended downtime in a large city normally allows characters to obtain whatever legal goods they are willing to purchase at the standard price. Variations might be caused by anything from local surges in demand to regional shortages of essential supplies. Foreign imports, illicit transactions, and personal commissions are all possibilities for characters employing the wherewithal to make appropriate arrangements. Gearing up on short notice may require paying a premium even if negotiations are successful.

 mace: Often made entirely of metal, maces are popular among adventurers determined to abstain from spilling the blood of their enemies. With much of their weight in the rounded or flanged striking end of a lengthy rod, maces compensate for poor balance by channeling the power of each attack into a crushing blow. This weapon was particularly popular with clerics during the Age of Heroes, though modern faiths are more likely to promote the flail or the morningstar in its place. Maces are rarely mistaken for simple tools. Yet stern authorities may tolerate them due to an association with honorable and restrained holy warriors.
 needle: These slender pieces of metal are ideal for creating tiny punctures in fabrics and skins. They are seldom sold as weapons, though this sometimes occurs for needles integrated into handles large enough to grip. A more likely combat application sees needles backed with lumps of cork, resin, or wax for use as blowgun ammunition. Though this method enables effective ranged attacks, needles inflict the smallest of injuries. The are most deadly when combined with poison. Hairpins and sewing needles are often stored openly even in the most secure strongholds. Leatherworker's kits and weaver's kits contain at least one reliable needle when they are fully stocked.
 razor: A common possession among people who shave some of their own hair on a regular basis, razors are easily kept sharp because they are so thin and small. These items are also fixtures in a wide variety of toolkits, being well-suited to making precise cuts in all sorts of materials. Razors are not particularly terrifying in battle. When no bigger blade is available, these implements can be used to inflict minor lacerations. Yet, for a completely defenseless victim, many small cuts can add up to a threat no less deadly than an executioner's greataxe.
 rock: A halfling proverb insists that nothing is more valuable than a good throwing rock at just the right moment for it. These humble weapons are less likely to be crafted than found ready-to-use. Their production may involve shattering a larger stone rather than any sort of assembly. Abundant supplies of rocks can be collected from the beds of streams, the foothills of mountains, and the remains of ancient or damaged walls. Weaponized rocks must be hefty enough to deliver real damage, yet light enough to be hurled accurately.
 quarterstaff: Banning this weapon is no more practical than policing the particulars of tentpoles and walking sticks. Staves of wood are themselves a common precursor to many furnishings and other goods. A weaponized staff can be shod in iron and covered with decorations, though ideal lumber can be turned into a proper quarterstaff simply by shaping and finishing one continuous piece. As a weapon that predates written lore, the proliferation of staff fighting techniques is immense. No single person knows them all, but every adventurer has some degree of familiarity with the quarterstaff.
 shortbow: Elves invented archery, and humans immediately adopted this technology to better defend livestock from wild predators. The basic shortbow is another weapon with origins in the distant past. Its modern counterparts operate on essentially the same principle – a taut string spans a wooden arch, storing energy when pulled so that an arrow can be released with much more power than it might be thrown. These simple yet effective weapons are considered essential hunting tools for travellers crossing lands where local game is neither protected nor reserved by law.
 sickle: These implements are common on all sorts of farms and a staple of garden toolsheds. Short curved blades make quick work of connective tissues in plants and animals alike. Though not a popular weapon, these hooked knives cut as well as daggers so long as they remain in hand. Druids are particularly comfortable with sickles due to their aptitude for gathering herbs. Some monks favor a pair of sickles as a means to inflict cuts while maintaining the swift motions of their martial arts style. Even so, sickle-wielding combatants are small in number relative to agricultural users.

PERSONAL AMMUNITION
Item	Cost	Weight	Weapons
arrows (per 20)	1 gp	1 lbs.	bows
bolts/quarrels (per 20)	1 gp	1½ lbs.	arbalests, crossbows
bullets/pebbles (per 20)	4 cp	1½ lbs.	slings
needles (per 20)	1 gp	1 lbs.	blowguns

 sling: This weapon is often nothing more than a leather strap woven through a more rugged piece of leather sporting a small depression or pocket. Attackers secure a round stone or metal ball within that indentation, whirl the sling around at high speed, then release one end to determine the direction of the bullet. With enough practice it becomes possible to deliver these attacks at considerable range. Because they are extremely easy to produce and conceal, bans on slings are all but impossible to enforce outside the most tightly regulated institutions.
 spear: Differing from the javelin primarily as a matter of size, spears are the mainstay of barbarian and goblinoid hordes. These weapons are too heavy to be thrown long distances, but their thrusting attacks convey great force. Practically a primitive polearm, spears remain popular among auxiliaries and militias with relatively little funding. Though useful for some sorts of hunting and fishing, authorities often treat spears like military weapons. The indignity of being disarmed may surpass the insecurity of it, since the shaft of a disassembled spear is a functional quarterstaff.

MILITARY WEAPONS
Weapon	Cost	Weight	Damage	Properties & Requirements
arbalest	100 gp	9 lbs.	1d10 piercing	loading, missile (range 150'/600'), two-handed, Strength 15*
atlatl	1 gp	1 lbs.	1d6 piercing	loading, missile (range 60'/240')
bagh nakh	5 gp	½ lbs.	1d4 slashing	hands free, light, Dexterity 13
battleaxe	10 gp	4 lbs.	1d8 slashing	versatile (1d10)
bec de corbin	25 gp	5 lbs.	1d10 piercing	reach, substitute (bludgeoning), two-handed
broadsword	30 gp	4 lbs.	1d8 slashing	substitute (piercing)
catch pole	12 gp	6 lbs.	—	entrap, reach, two-handed
chakram	5 gp	1 lbs.	1d6 slashing	throwing (range 100'/300'), Dexterity 15
flail	10 gp	2 lbs.	1d8 bludgeoning	entrap
gauntlet	5 gp	1 lbs.	1d4 bludgeoning	hands free, light
glaive	20 gp	6 lbs.	1d10 slashing	entrap, reach, two-handed
greataxe	30 gp	7 lbs.	1d12 slashing	two-handed, Strength 13
greatbow	75 gp	4 lbs.	1d10 piercing	missile (range 180'/720'), two-handed, Strength 15
greatsword	50 gp	6 lbs.	2d6 slashing	two-handed, Strength 13
halberd	20 gp	8 lbs.	1d10 slashing	reach, substitute (piercing), two-handed
hand crossbow	75 gp	2 lbs.	1d6 piercing	light, loading, missile (range 30'/120')
hatchet	5 gp	2 lbs.	1d6 slashing	light, substitute (bludgeoning), thrown (range 20'/60')
lance	10 gp	4 lbs.	1d12 piercing	reach, two-handed**
Weapon	Cost	Weight	Damage	Properties & Requirements
longbow	50 gp	3 lbs.	1d8 piercing	missile (range 150'/600'), two-handed, Strength 13
longsword	15 gp	3 lbs.	1d8 slashing	versatile (1d10)
maul	10 gp	10 lbs.	2d6 bludgeoning	two-handed, Strength 13
morningstar	15 gp	4 lbs.	1d8 piercing	—
net	1 gp	3 lbs.	—	entrap, throwing (range 10'/30')
pike	5 gp	8 lbs.	1d10 piercing	reach, two-handed
poleaxe	20 gp	6 lbs.	1d10 slashing	reach, substitute (bludgeoning), two-handed
rapier	25 gp	2 lbs.	1d8 piercing	finesse
sabre	25 gp	2 lbs.	1d6 slashing	light, substitute (piercing)
scimitar	20 gp	2 lbs.	1d6 slashing	finesse, light
scythe	10 gp	6 lbs.	1d10 slashing	reach, two-handed
shortsword	10 gp	2 lbs.	1d6 piercing	finesse, light
shuriken	5 sp	¼ lbs.	1d4 slashing	finesse, light, throwing (range 20'/60'), Dexterity 13
spetum	10 gp	8 lbs.	1d10 piercing	entrap, reach, two-handed
trident	5 gp	4 lbs.	1d6 piercing	entrap, thrown (range 20'/60'), versatile (1d8)
war pick	5 gp	4 lbs.	1d8 piercing	substitute (bludgeoning)
warhammer	15 gp	4 lbs.	1d8 bludgeoning	versatile (1d10)
whip	1 gp	3 lbs.	1d4 slashing	entrap, finesse, reach
Weapon	Cost	Weight	Damage	Properties & Requirements
* Cranked arbalests lack this requirement, but an action must be used to ready these weapons before loading. ** In mounted combat it is possible to attack with a lance couched underarm and held in one hand.

Archery Policy Community attitudes about archery are varied in the extreme. Some authorities outlaw any civilian use of missile weapons, confining all legal shooting to the aristocracy and military. Others actively sponsor public archery competitions, both to promote a more defensible homeland and to support trades enriched by hunting. The availability of bows, crossbows, and munitions from local vendors also varies in this way. Upstanding merchants are unlikely to defy bans or regulations requiring official license.  Simply loosing an arrow or bolt in a crowded place may be a serious crime, regardless of intention. Yet harrowing displays of precision shooting sometimes serve as popular entertainment. Proven heroes are often welcome to seek licenses for the carry and use of otherwise restricted weapons. Popular heroes may generate pressure to be granted such privileges without any fees or tests. While wilderness exploration and dungeon delving often occur outside any legal oversight, adventurers in modern towns or cities do well to learn local laws and customs, respecting them when possible.

MILITARY WEAPONS
 Several thousand years of feudal and imperial warfare drove a global proliferation of weaponry too diverse to fully catalog. In addition to twenty types of basic weapons, there are thirty-six functional categories of military weapons available in the modern world. Though some laborers' tools might qualify as one of these weapons, all of these items are widely considered dangerous in the hands of a confused or hostile individual. City guards may demand visitors leave military weapons at a gatehouse on entry, and most merchants will not welcome unfamiliar visitors so heavily armed.
 arbalest: Favored by assassins and snipers, this powerful crossbow is more than many people can manage. Only a truly strong person standing on part of the weapon while pulling upward can manually draw the string for another shot. Some arbalests feature a winch and crank to assist with this task, though that method requires an action from the wielder merely to prepare for the next attack. With unsurpassed range and power, the arbalest is ideal for defending fortifications or engaging distant targets. A limited rate of fire is the primary shortcoming associated with this weapon.
 atlatl: A long wooden paddle with a notched block or curl at one end, the atlatl is used in conjunction with javelins to attack at greater range. Using one weapon to throw the other creates leverage for a more powerful launch. A slender cord or strap spiralled around each javelin sets it spinning in transit. This stabilizes the missile, contributing to the atlatl's extended range. Though superior to simply throwing a javelin, the atlatl is technologically primitive. Even tribal warriors with shortbows consider themselves ready to overpower rivals wielding atlatls.
 bagh nakh: Known by many Mainlanders as “tiger claws,” this weapon fits securely around the hand. It allows wielders to make savage raking attacks with a row of metal talons. Bagh nakh are typically worn in pairs with the damaging surfaces situated over the palms just above the wrist. This makes it possible to grab other items or even wield other weapons without removing the bagh nakh. Straps or bracers can be affixed to keep bagh nakh secure during use. Alternatively, these weapons can be integrated into protective gloves or mitts.

Buying Weapons Each of the most lucrative trades in some cities is dominated by a single guild. Even in towns and villages, artisans in the same line of work tend to be well-acquainted. After all, they share a common set of needs and challenges if not also customers. In jurisdictions where governments encourage independent leatherworkers, smiths, and woodworkers to sell weapons without restriction; local authorities may investigate new customers or anyone stockpiling arms. In many realms it is a serious crime to provide armor or weapons to outlaws.  Adventurers should be mindful of this as they outfit themselves. A political patron might be able to provide quality supplies at little or no expense. No such support is available to newcomers suspected of working for a hostile or renegade cause. Area vendors may be unwilling to accept such customers. Trade in weapons and armor is uniquely sensitive to these concerns. Suppliers anywhere near an ongoing military conflict might be forced into exclusivity agreements with one faction or another. Without military or aristocratic connections, it is sometimes difficult to buy most weapons.  In addition to the criminal underworld, there are well-known workarounds. Wood elf tribes are often willing to sell arrows, bows, and swords to visitors able to show consistent respect for the forest itself. Their traders rarely traffic in bulk goods, but high prices are paired with excellent quality. Many dwarven outposts also offer excellent wares while doing business with any visitors willing to honor the local protocols of fair trade. Some even offer incentives for customers to pay with shipments of fresh food and drink rather than conventional currency.

 battleaxe: A popular military weapon since the Age of Heroes began, the battleaxe is second only to the longsword in prominence across the content of epic sagas. Typically sporting a large wedge-shaped blade at the end of a long stout shaft, these are the most imposing weapons that can be wielded with one hand. Yet they can also be wielded with two, becoming all the more deadly for that additional application of muscle. Some woodcutting axes function as battleaxes, though most of these weapons are forged for battle and richly embellished by proud owners.
 bec de corbin: Referred to as a "raven's beak" outside Galloria, this elegant polearm was devised to counter heavily armored foes. A slender curved spike gives this weapon its name. That feature is adapted to penetrate tiny gaps between protective plates. It may be accompanied by a straight spike running parallel to the shaft of the weapon. Yet the bec de corbin can also deliver effective crushing attacks with a hammer-like feature on the reverse of the beak-like protrusion. This makes it possible to expoit the absence of padding should the weapon be thwarted by silk.
 broadsword: The largest of the cut-and-thrust blades, broadswords are equally capable of impaling or slicing opponents. This makes them popular with modern soldiers as well as a common sidearm in communities where ordinary people wear swords at their hips. Though as heavy as a battleaxe, broadswords tend to be well-balanced with straight flat blades that end in a fine point. The quality of steel required for such a weapon to endure the rigors of combat meant that broadswords were incredibly rare prior to the Great Consolidation.
 catch pole: This weapon is ideal for restraining persons meant to be captured alive. This equipment can also be used to restrain dangerous beasts. Catch pole designs are widely varied. Most are produced in small numbers by smiths supplying constables or monster hunters. Some feature a hinged hoop of metal closed by pushing a lever or triggering the release of powerful springs. Some designs instead rely on a loop of chain or reinforced cord pulled tight after being properly positioned.
 chakram: Though the size of a dinner plate, this metal weapon typically weighs much less because it is nothing more than a flattened ring with a continuous razor-sharp edge running along its perimeter. Some warriors wear chakrams on their limbs or stack several on a tall helmet. They are not easily handled or stored in conventional containers. Yet these weapons sail smoothly through the air for great distances when thrown or flung properly. A skillful chakram attack might sever a limb or even a head. The weapon remains deadly until it comes to rest. Lacking any suitable grips, chakrams cannot deliver effective melee attacks.
 flail: In its simplest form, a flail is two identical pieces of wood connected by a short chain. Most flails are the product of more ambitious designs featuring a brutal-looking mass of metal dangling from a purpose-made handle. That chain makes it possible to build up momentum by whirling part of the weapon in circles. These efforts allow for more powerful attacks and more effective misdirections. Yet flails also have the ability to trap the weapons or limbs of opponents by wrapping around them. Thus they are well-suited to warriors intent on disarming or restraining opponents.

Carrying Weapons Equipment bundled up inside a pack or case is not evident to onlookers, but it is also not available until extracted from that container. Weapons normally must be carried or worn in a plainly visible manner to be ready for access in time of need. Some adventuring parties rig for urban adventures by stowing their most fearsome weapons as cargo and adopting the personae of travelling merchants or scholars. Though this allows the group to do business without spreading fear among civilians, it also leaves adventurers less prepared to deal with any sudden outbreak of violence.  Becoming deputized by local constables or licensed by their aristocratic superiors solves this problem. The sight of authorized weaponry tends to support, rather than undermine, a sense of security among the general populace. Powerful magic provides an alternative, allowing weapons to instantly teleport from a secure container to a position ready in hand. Mechanical options exist as well, such as an undergarment harness capable of extending and retracting light weapons from places of concealment. Skilled individuals can attempt this trick purely by Sleight-of-Hand.

 gauntlet: At least one pound of metal affixed to each hand can weaponize fists without any training in unarmed martial arts. Often this involves adding a little weight and cost to a suit of armor, allowing every punch hit like cudgel. One popular variation resembles four rings fused to each other and a larger lump of metal. These knuckledusters also enable powerful punches. Another method uses leather straps to secure metal plates for use as striking surfaces. Some forms of this bludgeoning weapon can be worn in pairs without impeding the use of hands for other purposes.
 glaive: Both the glaive and the scythe are polearms ending in long blades capable of delivering wicked lacerations. Glaives are distinguished by one or more hooks useful for disarming or dismounting foes. Weapons or limbs can become caught on these hooks, then wrenched with an aggressive twist of the shaft. Armies trained and equipped with glaives present a serious threat from two front ranks. Even where this is not standard equipment for a large force, polearms like the glaive may be issued to elite guards protecting aristocrats and senior officers in the field.
 greataxe: The largest axe a person of human stature can employ effectively, this weapon makes a statement just by appearing on the battlefield. Though deadly in that context, perhaps even more lives have been ended by greataxes beheading condemned criminals. Some warriors think these weapons too unwieldy for warfare. Yet executioners' axes inspire profound fear for reasons that go beyond their role in law enforcement. As deadly as any polearm while not so lengthy, the greataxe is an excellent choice for warriors intent on directing their full power into attacking a single target.
 greatbow: The earliest of these towering bows were designed for cavalry archers seated well above the ground. Modern greatbows can be wielded standing on level ground, though only by individuals strong enough to flex the mighty limbs of these imposing weapons. Surpassing the longbow in both range and power, the greatbow is associated with the most elite archers. It also makes an ideal alternative for warriors focused on hand-to-hand fighting with heavy weapons. Despite its physical demands, this weapon does not slow the rate of fire for persons strong enough to operate it.

Weapon Accessories Merchants often give basic yet serviceable harnesses, scabbards, sheaths, and quivers to weapon buyers in need. Some adventurers prefer to purchase and wear bespoke goods of this sort. Each of these items keeps weaponry at the ready while minimizing the clattering sounds of motion. Many also cover sharp edges and points to prevent incidental injuries during rough and tumble action amidst allies and bystanders. Even in communities where their ownership is unregulated, drawing and wielding any weapon is a menacing act.  Between battles, adventurers must take good care of this crucial equipment. Not only do used blades require sharpening, but many metal items benefit from thorough cleaning and a little mineral oil after any use. Corrosion can occur quickly from ordinary handling. The rigors of a challenging campaign do even more to bloody, dent, and otherwise damage crucial gear. Proficiency with any sort of equipment conveys the ability to effectively maintain and repair those items, preserving function despite heavy use.

 greatsword: The greatsword evolved from the answer of countless bladesmiths to the question, "can you make it any bigger?" Modern greatswords tend to be balanced for practical use. Even so, some brawn is required to manage the heft of a blade like this. No non-magical weapon fit for human hands inflicts more severe injuries than a greatsword. Seasoned wielders are no strangers to battlefield dismemberments and decapitations. Condemned criminals sometimes request execution with this weapon in the belief it is more dignified and reliable than any axe.
 halberd: These ferocious polearms feature heads with both axe-like chopping edges and spear-like stabbing points. Precise configurations vary, but any proper halberd allows its wielder to choose between slashing or piercing targets. A weapon popular with elite sentries, this polearm provides plenty of options in the hands of well-trained wielders. Halberdiers tend to be elite troops with advanced abilities. As impressive as they might be on parade, a coherent unit of these specialists can be all the more devastating in battle.
 hand crossbow: Long associated with assassins and the criminal underworld, these miniature crossbows are small enough to be operated by wee folk or utilized with a single hand by people of greater stature. Folding versions allow for easy concealment, though even standard hand crossbows can be hidden up a cowled sleeve or inside a large pouch. As deadly as a shortbow when expertly wielded, the hand crossbow is also a vicious alternative to the blowgun – venemous bolts compensating for the weapon's relatively low damage and rate of fire.
 hatchet: Often confused with a handaxe, a proper hatchet is distinguished by equally prominent cutting and hammering surfaces. Handy as both weapons and tools, hatchets can perform all the functions of handaxes and hammers. Yet in combat hatchets can confound wielders with no training in the particulars of their use as a weapon. Individuals proficient with a handaxe can apply their proficiency bonus to slashing damage melee attacks made with hatchets. Proficiency with hatchets is required to apply that bonus to any sort of throwing or bludgeoning attack made with these weapons.

Alloyed Arms Nearly all modern purchases involving metal items intended for combat feature steel of respectable quality. Dwarves and humans alike make heavy use of coal-fired furnaces to process raw iron into metal that balances durability with flexibility. Steelmaking processes are as diverse as the shapes of polearm heads. Reliable results are the norm because succinct guides blending both ancient and modern smithing lore have become popular literature.  Simply reading an excellent specimen of these books does not make a blacksmith. This knowledge provides a foundation atop which trained practitioners adapt and innovate. From the prevailing climate to the qualities of available ore, many small adjustments allow competent artisans to make fine steel from local precursors. Of course, imported metal is also an option, especially in regions with few productive mines. Some smiths focus exclusively on finishing blanks – prefabricated pieces started by colleagues or die cast at foundries.

 lance: Heavy cavalry favor this weapon for good reason. It is difficult to survive, never mind deflect, the pure power of a modern military lance paired with the momentum of a charging warrior on horseback. Unlike the easily-shattered lances of sporting competitions, these implements of violence are optimized for lethal effect. No other weapon of such length can be wielded in a single hand by mounted warriors. Ideally, a lance charge inflicts impalement before the hostile target is close enough to lash out with an axe or a sword.
 longbow: The signature weapon of ancient elven warriors, the longbow delivers respectable power across an impressive range. Each is carved from extraordinary wood subjected to precise reshaping and curing methods. Some muscle is required to make effective use of a longbow, but that power allows for an uninhibited rate of fire paired with fierce strikes from any arrows that find their mark. Longbows remain the weapon of choice for defending fortifications. Some nations foster strong traditions of civilian archery allowing them to swiftly recruit effective armies of competent military archers at the outbreak of war.
 longsword: No weapon has been reported in the hands of more legendary warriors than the longsword. Almost every major cultural group during the Age of Heroes developed its own variation of this heavily idealized steel blade. Not counting arrows and bolts, more than half of the magical weapons created during that era were longswords. Though affordable in plain forms, many modern longswords are embellished with gilt inlays or precious stones if not also enchantments. Aristocratic warriors often favor longswords when circumstances compel them to fight on foot.
 maul: The God-King Silvanus personally flattened his foes with a weapon that took this shape. Divine power is not a normal feature of these huge hammers, but their crushing strikes can still pulverize enemies. Large hammers used in construction and mining trades may require no modification to function as combat mauls. Farmers and freeholders may keep such implements handy for installing fenceposts or splitting firewood (in conjunction with the placement of a hatchet or metal wedge.) All this practical utility makes it difficult to enforce effective weapon ownership restrictions in the case of mauls.

Fillagree and Inlay Wealthy individuals often flaunt what they have by adorning weapons and armor with precious metals. Many of these techniques preserve the original shape of functional gear. Either tiny pieces of new metal are fused into crafted carveouts, or alchemical pastes are applied through stencils to dissolve steel and deposit another metal in its place. These embellishments often feature elaborate shapes incorporating natural, personal, political, or religious iconography.  Of course, none of this is cheap or easy. A jeweller must collaborate with an alchemist or smith to perform this work. Painstaking precision allows these changes to have no negative impact on the damage-dealing, handling, and protective performance of items. Some even function as enhancements, mostly by boosting receptivity to enchantment. Yet one popular procedure, silvering, substiantially improves the damage weapons inflict on certain sorts of shapeshifters.  100gp is the standard fee urban guilds charge for applying silver to a heavy bludgeon or long blade. Most weapons with the light property can be silvered for half that price, while a dart or a single piece of ammunition is normally silvered for 10gp. Even wooden bludgeons can be silvered through the addition of metal bands, studs, and/or tips. Unlike the gilding of weapons, added silver is applied directly to striking surfaces. Its upkeep only requires proficiency with the silvered item.  By contrast, gilt gear features thinner deposits of precious metal spread across more area. This eyecatching adornment can be accomplished with only a little greater expense than silvering, but it conveys no benefit when fighting shapeshifters. The routine wear and tear of adventuring quickly degrades the quality of this feature. Travelling with mutiple artisans and their costly supplies is essential to maintain gilding on arms or armor actively used throughout a violent campaign.  Some leaders believe these displays of riches inspire onlookers. Yet many warriors see gilt equipment as fit only for parades – unsuitable for serious soldiers. When well-kept, the shimmer of these items certainly adds an element of pageantry to an arrival. Simultaneously arms and jewelry, gleaming golden gear may pass for decorative fashion rather than functional fighting equipment. Scoundrels sometimes bear gilded items to claim higher status along with privileges they are not entitled to by law.

 morningstar: There is no mistaking these for anything other than weapons of war, except perhaps implements of torture. The signature feature of the morningstar is a small weighted end with more than a few metal spikes radiating outward. This sits atop a sturdy shaft with a reliable grip. Attacks are meant to drive one or more of those spikes deep into foes. While this weapon is a little less deadly than a battleaxe or a longsword, it tends to inspire at least as much fear. Most popular with villains for that reason, it is also favored by followers of Ra for its resemblence to a rising sun.
 net: The only true weapon designed to inflict no damage, nets are instead meant to restrict the movements of others. Weights around the perimeter of most nets allow them to spread quickly when cast. Yet each throw is crucial, as it is not practical to gather and prepare an unfurled net during combat. Attacking with an unfurled net in hand limits the range of the weapon to 5 feet. A successful attack automatically entraps one creature of large size or smaller. Escaping a standard net or freeing a creature from one requires an action as well as a successful Strength ability check of DC 12. Alternatively, the net can be destroyed by striking Armor Class 10 with at least 5 points of acid, fire, necrotic, or slashing damage.
 pike: In some languages the term for this weapon is synonymous with any extremely long thin object. Combat pikes fit that description, featuring elongated spearpoints on the business end of proper polearms. When a military formation readies pikes at the front two ranks, the result is no deadlier than any other polearm formation, yet the sight of all those slender steel thorns is especially threatening. Primarily used in battle, pikes are also involved in executions both as a means of displaying severed heads and (in a few draconian regimes) a tool for execution by impalement.
 poleaxe: With a head suggestive of an oversized hatchet, the poleaxe presents wielders with a choice of striking surfaces. A wicked axe blade backed by a hefty pounding surface together deliver chopping and crushing attacks. A lengthy shaft makes it impractical to use this weapon as either a woodcutting axe or a crafting hammmer. Yet that additional reach allows small groups so equipped to lash out in unison at a single target. Though among the first polearms to see widespread use, a modern resurgance sees this weapon popular with elite infantry units practicing sophisticated fighting styles.
 rapier: Popularized when Truscan culture dominated Mainland from coast to coast, the rapier has long been considered an elegant sidearm suitable for aristocrats. Each of these slender blades is forged from fine steel and remarkably well-balanced. Though much less venerable than the battleaxe or the longsword, the rapier has inspired a comparably vast body of lore dealing with fighting styles and techniques specific to that weapon. It is not unusual for an accomplished military officer to bear scars inflicted during youthful rapier duels to the first blood.
 sabre: Favored as both a primary weapon among mariners and a secondary weapon among mounted warriors, sabres are designed to deliver forceful attacks with equal effect whether slicing or impaling an enemy. By appearance and effect, sabre-wielders often seem wild and unpredictable. Their techniques vary from moment to moment, yet all attacks benefit from powerful motions rather than the subtle precision normally associated with light blades. Sabres still make an excellent sidearm for professional soldiers because they cannot be effectively thwarted without metal plates layered over costly silks.
 scimitar: Early weaponsmiths often lacked the combination of materials and skills required to produce blades that could endure long campaigns of both slashing and piercing strikes. Designs that favored slashing became popular in many societies despite requiring more metal and labor. Scimitars were the most popular form of sword in realms where weaponry was more likely to be bronze than steel. Modern scimitars feature razor-sharp cutting surfaces of quality steel along the leading edges of curved blades especially suited to cleaving through dense materials without becoming lodged in them.

Substandard Equipment Adventurers know when an item they are able to use proficiently functions as well as normal versions of that equipment. This does not rid the world of all inferior goods. Buyers seeking such wares often need not look far to find them. Tiny communities tend to employ primitive technology covering gaps in the specialties among local artisans. Internal corruption or a resource shortage can drive some workshops to utilize cheaper materials.  Deficiencies might include decreased accuracy, increased weight, reduced damage, and reduced protection. Some inferior goods require constant upkeep. Items that are badly crafted or fashioned from substitute materials might even break outright during ordinary use. Characters are aware of these inadequacies in items they can use proficiently. Even after handling merchandise, assessing the reliability of less familiar equipment is often about the integrity of the vendor more than the capabilities of the gear.  There are rare instances where substandard equipment is desireable. Wooden swords naturally inflict reduced damage, making them ideal for training inexperienced students. Surplus weight can make weapons less desirable to thieves as well foes low in strength. Inferior weapons might lack the entrap, finesse, hands free, light, reach, substitute, thrown, and versatile properties. Inferior armor might lack the quick and reduce properties. Substandard gear retains all properties that provide no explicit benefit.

 scythe: Even human tribes with no written language may personify death as a tall person wielding one of these grain harvesting tools. Agricultural scythes typically feature heavy curved blades mounted perpendicular to the end of lengthy wooden poles. Trained hands can utilize them in combat as well as military scythes sporting long curved blades roughly parallel to their reinforced shafts. Rows of wheat or columns of infantry can be cut low through persistent and skillful use of a scythe. A complete ban on these items invariably makes farmers less efficient and more rebellious.
 shortsword: Whether cataloged as their smallest sword or their largest knife, every significant military power stockpiles these weapons in their armories. This is also the weapon of choice for martial arts styles with an emphasis on stabbing maneuvers. Truscan Legionaires conquered Mainland largely by fighting with these little swords in the gaps between towering shields. Though a common secondary weapon with professional infantry, the shortsword is also a popular primary weapon among gnomes, goblins, halflings, and kobolds equipped for personal defense.
 shuriken: Typically a pinwheel-shaped piece of dark flat iron featuring at least four sharpened edges, shuriken are blades than can only deliver effective attacks when thrown. Originally developed to equip the operatives of an intelligence bureau in the Orient, these weapons were designed to allow a single person to carry many concealed with different places and methods. They soon became popular with a wide variety of warriors intent on varying their own tactics through unexpected thrown attacks. Mainlanders often refer to shuriken as “throwing stars.”
 spetum: These polearms are distinguished from pikes by a pair of large prongs or hooks flanking an elongated spearhead. These protrusions are designed to snag the limbs and weapons of opponents A spetum may resemble an extremely long trident, though they have no noteworthy history of serving as fishing implements. A spetum is certainly not suited to be thrown as a weapon. Yet they are quite capable keeping enemies at range or even unseating warriors on horseback. Garrisons stationed in flat lands where hostile cavalry operate sometimes train units with this weapon to mitigate the mounted threat.
 trident: This distinctive weapon evolved out of fishing tools featuring additional points mounted on a single spear. Such a design reduces the degree of accuracy required to impale a slippery target visualized only through rippling waters. The Imperium Maris was originally carved out by trident-wielding armies, and many tritons continue to favor this weapon. A trident performs much like a simple spear, but in combat its additional features can assist with disarming or pinning maneuvers. Tridents can be thrown, though few combatants would choose to haul around a copious supply.

Cultural Variations These fifty-six weapon categories are functional in nature. Other names and styles can be applied to weapons in these categories. For example, a sort of knife known as a stiletto performs the same role as a dirk. It is not necessary to answer a complicated cultural question like, "is a stiletto a type of dirk (or vice versa)?" to record the appropriate information for a weapon in that category. Thus a stiletto is treated like a dirk for gameplay purposes. As always, defer to the rulings your DM makes about the damage, handling, and properties of weaponry in play.

 war pick: Both miners and mountaineers are familiar with tools that could serve as these weapons. The definitive characteristic of a war pick is a weighted end sporting a point hard enough to chip away at rock opposite a flat surface ideal for hammering chisels and pitons. While the look and feel of these items varies, a proper war pick still presents both of those options with each deadly swing. Some heavy cavalry units favor these weapons as sidearms to be drawn after abandoning their lances. Though dwarves often lavish greater glories on axes and hammers, practical war picks are also an important part of their underground arsenals.
 warhammer: There are many legends of dwarven heroes wielding warhammers to flatten enemies who dared to make light of their statures. The lore of orcs also extends high praise to warriors known to slay many foes with these powerful weapons. Artisans and laborers use smaller metal hammers and/or mauls in many trades, but warhammers tend to be distinctively military items. Mallets of similar size and shape typically feature wooden heads designed to do less damage to the supplies being knocked into place. By contrast, the head of a warhammer is solid metal clearly intended to crush whatever it strikes.
 whip: Wrangling large beasts is sometimes supported by a method of deterring behaviors without inflicting any lasting damage. Whips were first developed to serve this purpose. Driving a wave of motion along the length of these braided leather items delivers a loud cracking sound along with a striking motion so fierce as to inflict proper lacerations. Alternatively, a whip can be used as a lash to wrap around a limb, effectively grabbing another creature from a short distance away. Slavers and the most cruel overseers of free laborers sometimes employ whips as tools for disciplining people.

Types of Armor Anyone is capable of wearing any type of armor. Most adventurers limit themselves because attacks become awkward and spellcasting is outright impossible while encased in an uncomfortable layer of physical protection. Using protective gear without the appropriate proficiency makes all spellcasting impossible while preventing players from applying their proficiency bonus to attacks of any kind. Thus many travellers cultivate personal comfort with leathers rugged enough to have some defensive value even against blades and tusks. Like other forms of light armor, these suits of leather do little to weigh down wearers or restrict movements. Some forms of light armor are acceptable attire even at the most peaceful gatherings.  Medium armor is considered combat equipment. It tends to feature compromises balancing protection with mobility. Wearers enjoy limited benefit from their own agility paired with solid coverage over vital areas. Rank and file soldiers are often equipped with this gear, while heavy armor is reserved for specialized troops. Veterans of those forces often go on to become fighters or paladins – proficient with all widely-used arms and armors. Heavily armored combatants rely much more on blocking aggression than evading it, being clad with some sort of metal from head to toe.  It is not possile to wear more than one suit of light, medium, or heavy armor. An insert is not designed to be worn by itself, instead providing benefit only when installed inside an item of medium or heavy armor that does not have the partial property. Each suit of armor can only feature one insert at a time. Though it is possible to wield more than one shield at once, only one contributes to the Armor Class of that wielder. Each shield occupies one hand as if it were a weapon. Some warriors learn to deal damage with these primarily defensive items. It is not possible to wear more than one helm at once, though this armored headgear can offer coverage of a vital area otherwise exposed by light or partial suits of armor.

ARMOR & ACCESSORIES
 Wearing garb of hide, leather, silk, or other textiles rarely raises alarm among authorities. Weightier counterparts imply an expectation of imminent violence. Dutiful merchants and peacekeepers will not welcome the arrival of unfamiliar visitors clad in potent personal protection. The proliferation of defensive items worn by warriors through the ages is too diverse for comprehensive documentation. Modern military planners favor a scheme categorizating protective gear into twenty-five types, setting style and decorative details aside to focus purely on defensive capabilities.
 battle dress: Valued at the equivalent of eight fully trained warhorses, a personal suit of battle dress is typically produced by a team of top-tier armorers. Their elaborate creations build on the protection offered by plate armor through countless small improvements. From armpit rondels to visor clasps, every feature is designed for the most effective possible personal defense. That mindset also means preserving as much range of motion as possible. Exceptionally strong individuals wearing battle dress without a bulky inner lining can run and even swim well despite the weight of it all.
 breastplate: This happy medium balances the security of plate armor with the freedom of no armor. Metal covering the torso protects many vital areas while imposing a burden that does not slow the stride of most adult humans. Individuals not normally known to wear armor may be hastily equipped with a breastplate just prior to an anticipated attack. Many aristocratic patrons issue these items to loyal guards as both a display of personal wealth and one part of a comfortable uniform. Most breastplates can be worn or removed by performing a single action with two free hands.
 brigandine armor: Whereas plate armor relies on fine alloys and superb crafting to create a suit of excellent steel, brigandine armor utilizes cheap metal components to reinforce an extremely rugged suit of cloth, hide, and/or leather. Crude plates and rods may be riveted to the armor or stitched into individual pouches. This design prevents clanging sounds from being generated by motion, yet it also tends to feature many gaps and weak points. Because this approach does not require rare materials or specialized artisans, brigandine is an affordable way to be (mostly) protected by metal.
 buckler: Well-trained warriors know how to make active use of shields. From brutal punches to forceful parries, these maneuvers rely much more on the durability of a shield than its size. The buckler provides a lightweight alternative to traditional shields while still facilitating most of the same combat techniques. These bucklers can be affixed to a forearm, leaving the associated hand free to wield another item. Even when secured in a hands free manner, a buckler does not provide its armor bonus or facilitate shield maneuvers when the associated hand is otherwise occupied.

Armor Properties

bulky: This armor is cumbersome well beyond the burden of its weight. While wearing it your speed is reduced by 5 to a minimum of 10. The wearer also has disadvantage on all Acrobatics and Athletics checks.  noisy: This armor features many solid pieces that clatter or jingle during normal movements. While wearing it you have disadvantage on all Stealth checks related to sneaking.  nonmetallic: If this armor does not normally feature negligible metal content, some variants made without metal deliver standard performance. Crucial druid abilities are not compatible with any attire featuring more than a small amount of metal.  partial: This armor does not cover the entire body. Other garb, if any, should be visible to observers.  quick: This armor is extremely easy to wear and remove. A single action with two free hands is sufficient to go from holding this armor to wearing it or vice versa.  reduce: This armor provides excellent protection against a specific damage type. Each time you suffer damage of that type while wearing this armor, reduce that hit point loss by the listed number.

 chain armor: Widely available during the Age of Heroes, chain armor is now particularly affordable in realms where steel wire is manufactured in both abundant quantity and excellent quality. Smiths laboriously turn thousands of small lengths of wire into a mesh of interlocked loops. Some designs see each link closed with a tiny rivet while others rely entirely on the strength of those loops. Though the jingle of this mail in motion is not as loud as the clattering of plate armor, chain armor also complicates any attempt at sneaky movement.
 chain shirt: These hefty garments provide decent protection while being relatively easy to wear and remove. A chain shirt might be the main component of a full suit of armor, or it might be worn with no additional protection. It is possible to conceal one of these items under heavy clothing, but even then the sound of tinkling chain links may betray its presence as its wearer moves about. Constabularies and militias often maintain stockpiles of chain shirts for equipping members newly deputized to deal with an emergency.
 feymesh armor: These exotic suits are not necessarily magic items, yet powerful rituals are required to produce feymesh. It features delicate rings of mithral adorned with spirals of phase spider silk. Scattered in mystically significant constellations atop a backing of supple leather or fine silk, these rings project panels of pure force spreading outward from those clusters. This defensive barrier is neither impenetrable nor airtight, but it offers protection equivalent to chain in the form of a sleek light bodysuit comfortably worn by most adventurers.
 feymesh lining: Feymesh material is so flexible and thin that it can be used to enhance the protection offered by full suits of heavy or medium armor. This process essentially secures an entire suit of feymesh armor inside the heavier equipment. Though the two forms of protection are somewhat redundant, feymesh force barriers enhance the ability of that outer layer to deflect all sorts of attacks. Typically valued at more than double its own weight in pure platinum, feymesh lining is rarely installed in armor that was not intended for a notable aristocrat.

Sizing Armor Armor feels and looks best when fitted to the form of a specific individual. Armor designed for creatures of the same general size will function normally when worn by others. Heavier suits typically feature adjustable segments and straps to accommodate afflictions and injuries. Appropriated armor might be seem a poor fit in the eyes of astute observers, but anyone of the same general size proficient with that type of armor will know how to rig it for effective personal protection.  Aside from shields, armors designed for small combatants weigh half as much as the standard for that type. Cost remains the same, as superior materials and reinforcement techniques must be used to achieve the same level of personal protection. These suits cannot be adjusted to cover combatants of either medium or tiny size. Armor meant to be worn by wee folk is one-fifth the standard weight while offering standard protection at standard cost. It cannot be adjusted to fit creatures of small or larger size.

 field dress: These incomplete versions of battle dress feature gaps in coverage to increase mobility and reduce weight. Each suit still features an impressive array of plates forged from high grade alloys. Reinforced bracers and greaves can be confidently used to block deadly weapons. Yet these suits weigh no more than ring armor. Their excellent fit pairs with well-articulated joints to make these suits significantly more comfortable. Thus this armor is often favored by elite military officers reluctant to clad themselves in anything more cumbersome.
 helm: Full suits of heavy or medium armor feature protective headgear. For medium armor this may be no more than a steel skullcap or conical helmet, while heavy armor normally features an elaborate helm with some degree of facial coverage. Helms of all sorts are largely interchangeable, though suits of medium or heavy armor lacking any protective head covering reduce their Armor Bonus by 1. Magic crowns and helms pair effectively with any suit of armor this way, though magic caps and hats leave armored suits incomplete. Military helms provide an Armor Bonus of +1 to individuals wearing a breastplate, chain shirt, light armor, or no armor at all.
 hide armor: These suits of toughened animal skins often serve as garb for young warriors in tribal societies. Less flexible than properly cured leathers, hide armor offers the same level of protection in a less elegant form. Though this is far from an ideal piece of military equipment, it does possess the virtue of quick and easy production. Where game or livestock are abundant, fresh kills give leatherworkers everything needed prepare full suits of hide armor overnight. Villages under threat often must choose between preserving their herds or preparing to defend their homes with the skins of precious beasts.

Wearing Colors Most modern armies moderate the chaos of battle with vivid armbands, cloaks, headbands, tabards, or tunics. Imperial forces and other well-funded organizations tend to sport uniform armor and garb. Other armies are often composed of recruits bearing their own armor and weapons in battle. Equipping every loyalist with a colorful accessory reduces the frequency with which friends are mistaken for foes.  This practice is also evident in unconventional conflict zones, like urban gangs strugging for territory. Outsiders sporting the wrong color could be mistaken for enemy combatants. Trouble sometimes follows from wearing a friendly color while lacking any affiliation with the associated faction. Powerful enforcers will be sent against individuals known for infiltrating a group or simply defying the will of a wartime leader.  Civilians often regard a number of colors as meaningful identifiers. Some urban guilds reserve a specific hue for the garb of their personnel, and aristocratic houses may do likewise. Like crests and emblems, signature colors provide a visual way to indicate belonging. Local governments may enforce exclusivity as a way to protect the integrity of elite institutions. Adventuring equipment often features bare steel, undyed textiles, and/or unpainted wood to minimize misunderstandings related to color.

 lamellar armor: Typically fashioned from many small metal sheets interconnected with durable cords or wires, this ancient form of body armor can also be produced using bone, ceramic, shell, or wood. Even the metallic versions often feature backings of hide, tile, or wood to support each small slab of bronze or steel facing outward. Taut linkages between adjoining elements stabilize each layer while also limiting flexibility. This makes it especially difficult to fit lamellar armor without leaving signficant gaps in coverage. Despite those gaps, a full suit in this category slightly reduces the foot speed of most warriors.
 laminar armor: Though each contains more metal than druids can comfortably wear, suits of laminar armor make the best defensive use of limited iron resources. These elaborate items are typically built outward from tailored harnesses. Fashioned from the most durable sorts of leather, these suits are mostly covered with thin metal plates designed to overlap while minimizing the inevitable restrictions imposed by such cumbersome protection. These pieces are reinforced with many layers of heavy laquer, pairing remarkable durability with a vivid glossy finish.
 leather armor: Most cultures consider leather garb fashionable, so this armor does not raise suspicion among strangers in the way strolling down a boulevard wearing chain armor or trying to get some shopping done sporting brigandine normally would. Rogues are particularly fond of leather armor precisely because it allows them some protection without generating unwanted attention at venues where business takes place. Though considered an acceptable clothing choice in most circumstances, it is also possible to conceal a full suit of leather under ordinary attire.
 leather coat: This popular garment delivers some of the protection provided by leather armor in a form that can be swiftly worn or removed. Anywhere save the hottest climates, these items seem like a reasonable selection. Many non-combatants wear leather coats as protection against bad weather rather than some sort of anticipated violence. As with greatcloaks and robes, some leather coats are voluminous enough to conceal any weapon without the two-handed property. Street merchants both illicit and legal sometimes convert the interiors of their leather coats into organized displays of inventory.

Wearing Armor Most protective garb is not donned as simply as ordinary clothing. A proficient user entirely dedicated to gearing up as quickly as possible requires 1 minute per point of Armor Bonus to secure a suit of armor properly. An assistant also proficient in that type of armor can reduce this time by half. Individuals lacking proficiency or proceeding at a relaxed pace typically take around 20 minutes to secure a suit of armor effectively.  Frantic removal of armor requires much less time regardless of proficiency. Each doffing action taken with two free hands reduces the Armor Bonus of a suit by 1. It is entirely removed when that bonus diminishes to 0. Armors with the quick property are exceptions to these rules. Such items can be entirely donned or doffed by taking a single action with two free hands.

 padded armor: The cheapest available suit of full armor may be little more than layers of rugged clothing stuffed with straw or feathers. Despite their simplicity, these suits can be particularly effective against bludgeoning strikes. Yet they also make climbing, jumping, and running awkward. Swimming suffers as well, with thick soft layers quick to absorb great amounts of water. Padded armor is another of those items that turns up often when a small community hastily prepares for violence. Farmers with high quality scarecrows may have all the constituents of these suits already gathered.
 padded lining: The ability to minimize crushing injuries is a defense desired even by warriors able to afford much better protection than padded armor. If a full suit of medium or heavy armor is appropriately oversized, effective padding can be incorporated as an inner layer. This does nothing to change the Armor Class of the wearer, and it will convert a suit fit for running and jumping into something significanty bulkier. Even so, plate armors are often paired with padded linings in order to attain special protection against a broader variety of weapons.
 pavise: These large shields are notable because their designs allow freestanding deployment. A planted pavise can provide total cover to one creature of medium size or smaller crouching behind it. Such hefty shields also enable special maneuvers among military units so equipped. Elite constabularies train groups of enforcers to use lines of pavises for crowd control. Savvy archers may take shelter behind a pavise even if the enemy originally hauled it into battle. The only major drawback of these shields is the fact that they weigh more than even the heaviest personal weapons.

Equipment Combinations Some forms of non-magical equipment can be fused, incorporating the functions of multiple items into a single possession. Though armors, shields, and weapons are often involved in these combinations; these items can only be combined with each other through the installation of one lining and/or one type of hands free item in a suit of armor. Enchantment or tinkering is required to combine the properties of multiple weapons in a single item, merge the functions of a shield with a weapon, or incorporate a weapon without the hands free property into a suit of armor.  Holy symbols can be painted on or carved into a wide variety of equipment. Shields and armor, including items with the partial property; join books and clothing as items prosperous worshippers often adorn in this way. Shields may also double as mirrors, though it can be arduous to maintain large non-magical silver surfaces. Items like a chain or a rope might be usefully incorporated into a backpack or bag. Items that do not function primarily as containers cannot hold much, but incorporating a secret compartment can be as affordable as adding a small pouch to the combination.  In cities where skilled artisans of all sorts are easily commissioned, adding 5gp to the sum of the costs of the items involved can be enough to create whatever fusions your DM approves. This work also requires at least a day or two of labor, as ready-made equipment combinations are rarely available at public markets. These blends do not create any capabilities beyond those their constituent items originally possessed.

 plate armor: First developed early in the Age of Heroes, plate armor was once largely reserved for artistocratic warriors and their annointed champions. Though it remains a costly and elaborate form of personal protection, modern plate armor says more about wealth than rank. At half the price of battle dress with nearly as much effectiveness, these massive suits offer few gaps in coverage provided by resilient steel. Properly forged and fitted, all that metal does little to impede the motions of sufficiently strong wearers, though it will generate quite a clangor during a sprint.
 ring armor: Though technically a metallic item, ring armor is essentially a suit of leather reinforced with a large number of non-interlinked brass, bronze or iron loops. In some cases these designs are a shaped by the availability of scrap materials, while other suits of ring armor feature flawless shining circlets of die cast metal. Either way, those protective additions add a great deal of weight to the suit and make a little noise in motion. The ensemble is typically completed by a padded helmet or coif sporting metal rings similar to coverage elsewhere.
 scale armor: Seasoned veterans know this to be the loudest of all armors. With hundreds or thousands of thin protective plates only secured along their upper edges, these suits practically sing while their wearers engage in athletic movements. Those jingling scales are typically tiny sheets of fine steel, but scale armor can also be produced using bones, ceramics, or shells. The scales of armored beasts also serve this purpose well. Dragon scales are especially prized because the suits they make are easily infused with enchantments granting exotic forms of damage resistance.
 shield: Like the quarterstaff, the basic shield is such an ancient implement of warfare that its origins remain undetermined. Typically some combination of metal and wood, a standard shield provides a sturdy barrier for blocking all sorts of weaponry. Some warriors will also learn special techniques like using a shield as a bludgeon or pressing forward with a shield to pin an adversary's weapon. Though shields are not normally expensive, many exceptions serve as platforms to present heraldic or religious symbols. The best silversmiths can even modify a shield so that it doubles as a large mirror.
 silk armor: Most silk clothing offers no protective value, being purely a fashion statemment. Yet layers of the right sorts of rare silks, worn loose save for a small number of cords or sashes, combine a little bit of general protection with the ability to minimize injury from piercing attacks. Even when an attack penetrates flesh, the innermost layers of silk may continue to surround a weapon, keeping the wound relatively clean and small. The same excesses of material supporting this protective function also flow in ways that sometimes help mesmerize or misdirect opponents.

Concealing Armor If it is not bulky, light armor can be worn underneath conventional clothing. Provided those clothes are not particularly revealing and their fit is adjusted properly, the armor within is not at all apparent to observers. Medium armor that is not bulky can also be concealed, though this requires outerwear like a greatcloak or a full robe. Some helms can be covered by hoods. Heavy armor features even greater coverage and massive reinforcing components. Whether or not it is bulky, the wearing of heavy armor cannot be hidden by nonmagical means.

 silk lining: More prized by some cavalry archers than the armor into which it is fitted, having a silk lining installed costs well above the price of a trained warhorse. This effort has no effect on Armor Class, but it does make piercing attacks less effective against the wearer. Effective use of range can prevent a combatant from facing much risk from other types of weapons. This sort of lining is particularly popular with aristocrats not only because silk is widely considered an elegant fabric, but in a properly fitted suit of heavy armor it does not inhibit running at top speed.
 studded armor: Social acceptance of this attire varies by culture. Suits of leather reinforced with a great many solid metal studs or spikes may seem aggressive in ways that simple leather armor does not. Attitudes about such garb vary from one neighborhood to the next as well as one realm to the next. Sometimes associated with robbers and other ruffians, studded leather can prompt authorities to persecute strangers clad in this way. Uniform suits of this type are rare, but they have been produced for notable forces of irregulars featuring special skills and/or some spellcasting ability.


 ⩺  Alchemists' Supplies Modern times benefit from thousands of years of accumulated lore about the mixing substances to cause reactions. These processes are not as well-studied as techniques of weaving magical phenomena together, but alchemical studies are available at select guilds and all universities. An array of reagents along with specialized mixing vessels make it possible to prepare a wide variety of useful substances. Inks, paints, and cleansers often perform best when formulated for a specific use. Great skill makes it possible to dissolve some substances while doing no worse than spreading dampness over surrounding material. The pinnacle of this craft allows for the production of deadly corrosives as well as durable adhesives.
 ⩺  Brewers' Supplies Alehouses played a crucial role in many societies throughout the Age of Heroes. As communities outgrew their own sources of clean drinking water, the danger of contamination could be addressed through fermentation and fire. This process can produce foul smells, yet its end result converts grain and questionable water into a brew with enough alcohol that it will not harbor any sickness other than the potential for drunkenness. Skilled brewers carefully regulate the temperature and ventilation of each batch to determine both palatability and potency. Modern ales and beers tend to be made in large vats at urban breweries. Individuals preparing small batches preserve countless variations of this ancient craft.
 ⩺  Calligraphers' Tools Most adventurers can read and write multiple languages. Basic literacy makes it possible to inscribe words in dust using only a finger, place chalk messages on stone surfaces, and ink legible notes on paper. Calligraphers do more than write words that others can read. Their elaborate techniques satisfy the protocols of high society. Much business and personal correspondence outside the aristocracy also follows these protocols, as a well-penned missive is a sign of respect. Some professional calligraphers busk, transcribing dictation or copying an existing document on demand. Others peform longer projects in institutional settings, duplicating or embellishing entire books.
 ⩺  Cartographers' Tools Modern mapmakers are held to high standards. Fortunately, their craft benefits from sophisticated lore honed through many centuries of applying divination magic to study the fidelity of older maps.
 ⩺  Cooks' Utensils (includes farmer)
 ⩺  Disguise Kit
 ⩺  Forgery Kit
 ⩺  Healers' Kit
 ⩺  Herbalists' Kit (includes gardener)
 ⩺  Gaming Set
 ⩺  Glassblowers' Tools
 ⩺  Jewellers' Tools (includes engraver, gemcutter; prospector with Smiths' Tools)
 ⩺  Leatherworkers' Tools (includes furrier, tanner)
 ⩺  Masons' Tools (includes paver, sculptor; miner with Smiths' Tools)
 ⩺  Musical Instrument
 ⩺  Navigators' Tools
 ⩺  Painters' Tools
 ⩺  Poisoners' Supplies
 ⩺  Potters' Tools
 ⩺  Smiths' Tools (includes armorer, bladesmith, smelter)
 ⩺  Thieves' Tools
 ⩺  Tinkers' Tools
 ⩺  Weavers' Tools (includes dyer, seamstress, spinster, tailor, upholsterer; bookbinder w/ Calligraphers' Tools)
 ⩺  Woodworkers' Tools (includes bowyer, fletcher, carpenter, cooper, and wheelwright; papermaker w/ Calligraphers' Tools, shipwright w/ Navigators' Tools)

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Tools & Traps ↑  → Skills ←  ↓ Peoples ↓

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Core Skills Skills are central to the practices and techniques of adventurers. Each class finds two to four skills indispensible. Those skills are attained in the process of entering a class, and they must be retained to reliably use features of that class. Knowledgeable individuals can make inferences based on these particulars. All barbarians and rangers have some idea how to follow tracks. All clerics, druids, and monks know sound techniques for treating wounds. All bards and paladins understand what words might pacify an angry crowd.  Just about any competent adult can benefit from sufficient training in the lore and methods of an adventuring class. Continued improvement of these core skills is essential to advancement as an adventurer. Fighters must constantly work on their own physical fitness while also becoming better able to physically dominate others. Wizards must frequently contemplate both modern enigmas and past events to grow as practitioners. Bards make those same efforts while also honing their talents for the performing arts and public speaking. The core skills of each adventuring class serve as a foundation from which additional capabilities can be cultivated.

ACROBATICS  (passive DEXTERITY)
 This is a core skill for monks. Acrobatics is a supplemental skill for bards, fighters, rangers, rogues, and sorcerers. Characters without this proficiency may require assistance when scaling walls or traversing ledges. Passive Acrobatics determines what sort of balancing, climbing, and leaping a character can perform without risk of failure.

ANIMAL  HANDLING  (passive WISDOM)
 This is a core skill for rangers. Animal Handling is a supplemental skill for barbarians, bards, druids, fighters, and paladins. Characters without this proficiency may be uncomfortable around beasts of their own size or larger. Passive Animal Handling establishes the level of challenge a beast's upkeep can require without forcing regular checks to maintain control.

ARCANA  (passive INTELLIGENCE)
 This is a core skill for bards, sorcerers, and wizards. Arcana is a supplemental skill for clerics, druids, monks, paladins, rangers, rogues, and warlocks. Characters without this proficiency may harbor misguided notions about the nature of magic and magic-users. Passive Arcana indicates a threshold of complexity beneath which phenomena remain eminently predictable.

ATHLETICS  (passive CONSTITUTION)
 This is a core skill for barbarians, fighters, and rangers. Athletics is a supplemental skill for bards, druids, monks, paladins, and sorcerers. Characters without this proficiency may be unable to perform the climbing, leaping, or swimming required for a dramatic escape. Passive Athletics allows for automatic success during sufficiently light forced marches.

DECEPTION  (passive WISDOM)
 This is a core skill for rogues and warlocks. Deception is a supplemental skill for bards. Characters without this proficiency may become awkwardly self-conscious while telling lies of any consequence. Passive Perception is a crucial value that establishes the DC of efforts to hide from an observer.

HISTORY  (passive INTELLIGENCE)
 This is a core skill for bards, paladins, and wizards. History is a supplemental skill for clerics, fighters, rogues, and warlocks. Characters without this proficiency may find a mix of fanciful fictions incorporated into their understanding of the past.

INSIGHT  (passive WISDOM)
 No class offers this as a core skill. Insight is a supplemental skill for bards, clerics, monks, paladins, rangers, and wizards. Characters without this proficiency may be unable to discern a dishonest grifter from a beggar in need. Passive Insight is a crucial value that establishes the DC of efforts to mislead a character.

INTIMIDATION  (passive STRENGTH)
 This is a core skill for fighters, paladins, and sorcerers. Intimidation is a supplemental skill for barbarians, bards, monks, paladins, rangers, and rogues. Characters without this proficiency may falter in efforts to maintain a menacing look. Passive Intimidation allows a character to clear a path through sufficiently harmless gatherings.

INVESTIGATION  (passive INTELLIGENCE)
 No class offers this as a core skill. Investigation is a supplemental skill for bards, paladins, rogues, warlocks, and wizards. Characters without this proficiency may struggle to make meaningful deductions from clues uncovered while adventuring. Passive Investigation enables a character to notice subtle clues with greater implications.

MEDICINE  (passive WISDOM)
 This is a core skill for clerics, druids, and monks. Medicine is a supplemental skill for barbarians, bards, paladins, and rangers. Characters without this proficiency may be unable to hide their distress in the presence of gruesome wounds or unsightly afflictions. Passive Medicine allows a character to ignore the effects of exposure to some contagions.

NATURE  (passive INTELLIGENCE)
 This is a core skill for druids and monks. Nature is a supplemental skill for barbarians, bards, clerics, rangers, warlocks, and wizards. Characters without this proficiency may find false folklore mingling with their beliefs about wild fauna, flora, and fungi. Passive Nature grants a character accurate and certain knowledge about some common creatures.

PERCEPTION  (passive WISDOM)
 No class offers this as a core skill. Perception is a supplemental skill for barbarians, bards, clerics, druids, fighters, monks, paladins, rangers, rogues, and wizards. Characters without this proficiency tend to be distractible even in tense situations. Passive Perception is a crucial value that establishes the DC of efforts to hide and sneak within range of this character's senses.

PERFORMANCE  (passive CHARISMA)
 This is a core skill for bards. Performance is a supplemental skill for rogues, sorcerers, and warlocks. Characters without this proficiency may struggle to entertain any audience.

PERSUASION  (passive CHARISMA)
 This is a core skill for bards and paladins. Persuasion is a supplemental skill for clerics, rogues, and sorcerers. Characters without this proficiency are uncomfortable directly addressing large crowds of people.

RELIGION  (passive INTELLIGENCE)
 This is a core skill for clerics and paladins. Religion is a supplemental skill for bards, monks, and wizards. Characters without this proficiency may have difficulty distinguishing a popular teaching from a spiritual reality.

SLEIGHT-OF-HAND  (passive DEXTERITY)
 This is a core skill for rogues. Sleight-of-Hand is a supplemental skill for bards, sorcerers, and wizards. Characters without this proficiency cannot reach into another's clothing or pouches without raising the attention of that person.

STEALTH  (passive DEXTERITY)
 This is a core skill for rogues. Stealth is a supplemental skill for barbarians, bards, druids, fighters, monks, rangers, sorcerers, and warlocks. Excitement can cause characters without this proficiency to move or speak in an abruptly loud way. Passive Stealth establishes the DC of efforts to track a particular individual.

SURVIVAL  (passive CONSTITUTION)
 This is a core skill for barbarians and rangers. Survival is a supplemental skill for bards, druids, fighters, and monks. Characters without this proficiency are uncomfortable in remote wilderness settings far from any bustling markets or paved roads. Passive Survival permits characters to ignore some hardships related to a lack of shelter.

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Skills ↑  → Peoples ←  ↓ Bugbears ↓

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Ethnic Influences Each major human ethnic group is recognizable in appearance, style, and vocal accent throughout the homeland where those people are an indigenous majority. Experiences attained through association or travel also convey some degree of cultural awareness. Unlike minor ethnic groups that might be defined by ancient curses, empowered bloodlines, or tribal customs; major ethnic groups have their formative roots in the cosmetic and cultural particulars of humans mixing for millennia within the cramped confines of Archfey bastions.  The harsh segregation of that era gave way to free-spirited mingling of all sorts. Many modern non-humans share cosmetic characteristics with the most prominent human ethnic group in their native land. Halflings, goliaths, gnomes, hill dwarves, and wood elves are especially inclined toward regional assimilation on this surface level. Unless otherwise specified; the particulars of any individual's facial features, personal style, and pigmentation are likely to be similar to those of humans hailing from the same locale. This means many people do not look or sound foreign despite being clearly non-human.

 Even before the first people, there were dragons dedicated to surrounding themselves with both gold and magic. Yet hungry dragons can think of little beyond the need to devour meat. Redundant herds were crucial to the well-being of wyrms mature enough to slumber several years at a stretch. The earliest dragon labor pools saw humans far surpassing in numbers their dwarven, elven, and halfling counterparts. Networks of human drovers and farmers typically dispersed into camps near abundant foraging and grazing areas. Large human families were encouraged when they coincided with the growth of large herds. It is literally by design that humanity tends to proliferate across any arable land.
 The towering bastions of the Imperium Arcanum were only tolerable for most human inhabitants due to charms and trickery. War with dragonkind and research into new forms of life were both much higher priorities than enriching the lives of sheltered laborers. Dragonborn, firbolgs, gnomes, and orcs all have ancestors given form by the power of that ancient elven regime. Kobolds, pixies, and sprites have their roots in the same era; though peculiar events without coherent design are responsible for their creation. Changes in fey aesthetics drove a gradual transition from emphasis on gentle and delicate forms to the development of monsters meant to embody lethal savagery.
 The gods made their own contributions throughout the Age of Heroes. Lizardfolk, minotaurs, and typhonians were each shaped by coalitions of spellcasters commanded directly by deities. Nymphs, satyrs, and tritons each immigrated in huge numbers to this world when deities sought to populate forests and oceans with suitable residents. Bugbears, goblins, and hobgoblins all rose up from the Scarlands after divine wrath obliterated the Nameless Empire. Tieflings remain as the legacy of that diabolic regime. Unholy channels also gave rise to cambions, though they were never known to populate any territory primarily with their own kind.
 Today the two habitable continents of the world are heavily settled by human societies. The other twenty-four adventuring races are generally accepted as people by the laws of those societies. In some cases this legally binds them to the edicts of an emperor or king. It may also be the basis for opportunities like citizenship, property rights, and ennoblement. Even the least tolerant societies have been known to offer exceptional status for extraordinary public service from popular heroes. The most egalitarian cultures feature broader standards of inclusiveness. Some authorities go so far as to actively discourage mistreatment of monstrous-looking individuals.

Innate Spellcasting
Race & Form		Cantrip	1st Level	2nd Level
Cambions	★	Produce Flame	Command	Suggestion
Drow Elves	≬	Dancing Lights	Faerie Fire	Darkness
Forest Gnomes	∢	Message	Speak with Animals	Animal Messenger
Firbolgs	♣	Resistance	Disguise Self	Pass without Trace
High Elves	∢	Light	Feather Fall	Levitate
Nymphs	♪	Prestidigitation	Charm Person	Misty Step
Pixies	≬	Mage Hand	Color Spray	Invisibility
Satyrs	♪	Minor Illusion	Sleep	Enthrall
Sprites	∢	Mending	Faerie Fire	Invisibility
Tieflings	★	Thaumaturgy	Hellish Rebuke	Darkness
Tritons	≬	Shocking Grasp	Fog Cloud	Gust of Wind
Wood Elves	♣	Coiling Creeper	Entangle	Spike Growth
	♣	Speak with Animals	Speak with Animals	Speak with Animals

 The onset of the Age of Heroes saw widespread wariness of fey power, while modern norms feature broad equality for nine forms of fey with natural spellcasting abilities. Cambions, tieflings, and tritons likewise saw extremes of prejudice replaced by more open-minded perspectives early in the Great Consolidation. Even goblinoids, kobolds, and orcs are typically treated as people rather than monsters when they manage to speak coherently on their own behalf. This recognition does not provide immunity from criminal charges. To the contrary – identified outlaws may be hunted much more relentlessly than monsters or beasts responsible for the same level of harm.
 Even the most well-regarded adventuring races have produced villains responsible for atrocities. Even the most feared adventuring races have produced legendary heroes. No free-willed race exhibits uniform alignment. On balance humankind tends to be good. Yet every alignment is represented to some degree in any large freethinking human population. The Fivesquare Pantheon works through countless inspirations to coordinate robust clashes among diverse ethical and moral perspectives. Some theologists compare this process to the way cooking improves food, with religious narratives fuelling tensions that enhance the earnestness and thoughtfulness of prayers expressed by mortals.
 Each race and subrace has an outlook shaped by meaningful differences in capabilities. Historical circumstances and natural inclinations also influence alignment tendencies. As with humans, there will be all sorts of outliers in any sufficiently large population. Unlike humans, modern non-humans are not known to populate their own metropolitan centers. Even the huge underground cities of the Empire of Shadows house no more than tens of thousands of dark elves directing millions of workers, the latter mostly human. It is likewise under the Greater Ocean, where tritons thrive as a relatively small minority striving to maintain order throughout the turbulent Imperium Maris.
 Bearing all this in mind, the persona of a character extends far beyond name, class, race, and gender. A sense of place provides context for racial and ethnic attitudes. Some characters will feel tremendous belonging and devotion when they think of their own homeland. Others may feel conflicted about or hostile to its prevailing culture. Some characters will take great pride from what they have already achieved. Others may be eager to prove themselves or skeptical of any future prospects. Each detail of personal identity is a potential springboard to explore how a character thinks and feels. Their consideration is vital when preparing to breathe life into a role.

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 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡  ↑ Peoples ↑  → Bugbears ←  ↓ Cambions ↓

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