Poacher

The resourceful poacher targets farmers raising indigenous animals such as sables and minks for their valuable furs. The daring snowbird sets his sights even higher by using his mastery of camouflage and speed to pilfer precious commodities from humanoid settlements and monstrous lairs. Once again, this crafty pair demonstrates the ability for some people to create something from nothing.

Humanoids convey status in numerous ways.

Monarchs wear ornate crowns and wield golden scepters to flaunt their wealth and power in a deliberate effort to awe dumbstruck onlookers. The aristocrats and nobles who curry favor from the royal family also spare no expense keeping up ostentatious appearances.

The ladies of the court bedeck themselves with magnificent jewels and gemstones, but the ensemble’s pièce de résistance is a spectacular jacket, stole, or wrap made from luxurious fur. Although many animals may give up their coat for this garment, the most expensive and desirable pelts come from mammals indigenous to the chilly taiga. The sable, a species of marten, stands alone atop the list of the most coveted furs. These carnivorous mammals inhabit the world’s cold forests. Trappers hunt them in the wild, but the most successful purveyors of this prized commodity keep these animals in captivity, raising and breeding them in a controlled environment. These farms usually spring up in the wilderness outside of a remote village or town with access to overland trade routes or a functional port. of course, the nearby presence of these costly assets piques the interest of a brand of thief who specializes in procuring them from others.

Derogatorily referred to as a poacher, these rogues occasionally steal pelts from the unattended snares of lone trappers, but they prefer taking live animals from an established gamekeeper. The animals’ lawful owners naturally take precautions to deter others from burglarizing their precious goods. Walls and fences keep unwelcome intruders out, while armed sentries and trained dogs patrol the perimeter. The poacher relies upon a combination of stealth, mechanical expertise, and his affinity for animals to infiltrate the compound’s outer defenses, unlock their cages, and claim his prize. Greed motivates most poachers to take this profound risk, but a small minority of these rogues seeks to rescue and free these unfortunate animals from their bonds and a premature death. Regardless of his motivation, the poacher’s set of skills also translates very well to any adventuring party’s needs, especially in the frigid environment he typically calls home.

Skills The poacher adds Handle Animal, Knowledge (nature), and Survival to his list of class skills and removes Knowledge (dungeoneering), Linguistics, and Swim. This alters the rogue’s class skills.

Open the Cage (Ex)

At 2nd level, a poacher can open a lock with astounding speed. This functions as the fast picks rogue talent, except the poacher can use the Disable Device check to attempt to open a lock as a move action at 10th level, and as a free action at 18th level. If the poacher selects the fast picks rogue talent, he may instead open locks as a move action at 2nd level, and as a free action at 10th level. In addition, the poacher can also sense the presence of traps on locking mechanisms. This functions as the trap spotter rogue talent, but applies only when the poacher comes within 10 feet of a trapped lock. If the poacher selects the trap spotter rogue talent, he makes two Perception checks when he comes within 10 feet of a trapped lock and uses the better result. This ability replaces evasion.

Soothe the Savage Beast (Sp)

At 4th level, a poacher can cast calm animals as a spell-like ability once per day. The poacher’s caster level is the same as his rogue level. At 8th level and every four levels thereafter, he can use this spell-like ability one additional time per day to a maximum of five times per day at 20th level.

This ability replaces uncanny dodge and improved uncanny dodge.

Rogue Talents: The following rogue talents complement the poacher archetype: black market connections, camouflage, canny observer, fast getaway, fast picks, ledge walker, nimble climber, rogue crawl, quick disable, quick trapsmith, trap spotter, and wall scramble.

Advanced Talents: The following advanced talents complement the poacher archetype: frugal trapsmith, hunter’s surprise, and improved evasion.