Beyond castle walls and the regularly patrolled paths of the elite run the muddy walks of the common folk, where the desperate people of the street scrape what lives they can from debris and dust. Some criminals, some hopeless castoffs, some unlucky, broken, or crazed, these are the true inhabitants of cities and those most knowledgeable of its people, ways, and secrets. Often viewed as dangerous and deceitful, these desperate folks merely do what they must to survive, denied the luxuries of honor or pride in the daily fight for survival. Charity, compassion, and a few coins often goes far with those forced to make their living off the streets, and while many exploit such a simple truth, others might win a devoted ally or informant.
Beggar CR 1
XP 400
Human commoner 1/rogue 1
N Medium humanoid
Init +3; Senses Perception +6
Defense
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 10 (+3 Dex)
hp 13 (2 HD; 1d8+1d6+5)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee club +1 (1d6+1)
Ranged club +3 (1d6+1)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Statistics
Str 13, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +0; CMB +1; CMD 14
Feats Endurance, Skill Focus (Survival)
Skills Climb +6, Knowledge (local) +5, Perception +6, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +8, Survival +6
Languages Common
SQ trapfinding +1
Gear club, begging bowl
Boon A beggar can watch a particular location or person in their city or town for 1 day and report back to the PC on what they observed.
Beggars are the homeless and hopeless wretches that eke out a meager existence at the fringes of society in cities and towns. Some are once farmers, craftsmen, or other working folk stricken blind or lame, while others are orphans from birth, subsisting on alms and charity so long they have known nothing else.
Beggars can serve as apprentice thieves and pickpockets (and not a few beggars supplement their begging this way). They might also be used as urchins, link boys, the inhabitants of a leper colony, or even cultists of a dark god of disease, thievery, or murder. Exchanging a beggar's Skill Focus (Survival) with Skill Focus (Sleight of Hand) or Skill Focus (Stealth) creates a better pickpocket or thief. Replacing Endurance with Weapon Finesse, as well as adding some light armor or an additional weapon, makes a beggar more effective in combat, as does replacing both of a beggar's feats with Dodge and Mobility.
A beggar might be accompanied by a village idiot (CR 2), or may team up with a street thug or a pair of pickpockets (CR 3). A pair of beggars may also trail after a dealer or pilgrim (CR 5), or work with a troupe of four wanderers (CR 7). Beggars working as thieves or pickpockets might form gangs of six (CR 6), while four thieving beggars might add their skills to a gang of eight bandits (CR 7).
Prostitute CR 1
XP 400
Human expert 1/rogue 1
N Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Perception +5
Defense
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex)
hp 11 (2d8+2)
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +2
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee dagger –1 (1d4–1/19–20) or sap –1 (1d6–1 nonlethal)
Ranged dagger +2 (1d4–1/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Statistics
Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 17
Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 11
Feats Deceitful, Skill Focus (Profession [courtesan])
Skills Acrobatics +6, Bluff +10, Diplomacy +8, Disguise +11, Knowledge (local) +5, Perception +5, Perform (act) +8, Perform (dance) +8, Profession (courtesan) +8, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +7
Languages Common, Elven
SQ trapfinding +1
Gear dagger, sap, elixir of love, disguise kit
Boon A prostitute can set up a meeting with a current or former client. Because the PCs know of the client's connection to the prostitute, they suffer a –2 penalty on Diplomacy checks with that person, but gain a +2 bonus on Intimidate and Sense Motive checks.
Prostitutes are workers for hire in the field of love. From cheap trollops to brazen strumpets, saucy tarts to haughty courtesans, they work the streets and backroom brothels of cities and towns, tending to the wants, needs, and dark desires of their clients, often in elaborate costume and makeup for erotic roleplay. Most prostitutes have at least a little larceny in their hearts, however, and those who procure their services would be well advised to keep a close eye on their purses.
Prostitutes could be used as members of a harem or an actors' troupe. A prostitute might also be a noble's or wealthy businessman's mistress, or even a barmaid looking to make a little money on the side. Prostitutes also make good low-level spies or undercover agents.
A dealer might serve as pimp for a group of four prostitutes (CR 6), or eight prostitutes might be performers in a minstrel's show (CR 8). A harem of six prostitutes is usually guarded by a eunuch slaver (CR 7). A barkeep might have a prostitute on his staff, along with two barmaids (CR 5), or a prostitute may be found in the company of a pair of noble scions (CR 5).
Dealer CR 3
XP 800
Human expert 1/rogue 3
N Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Perception +6
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 22 (4d8+4)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +2
Defensive Abilities evasion, trap sense +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk dagger +5 (1d4+1/19–20) or mwk sap +5 (1d6+1 nonlethal)
Ranged mwk hand crossbow +5 (1d4/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +2d6
Statistics
Str 12, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Deceitful, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Craft [alchemy]), Weapon Finesse
Skills Appraise +6, Bluff +11, Craft (alchemy) +12, Disable Device +6, Disguise +12, Escape Artist +9, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (local) +9, Perception +6, Profession (herbalist) +6, Sense Motive +6, Sleight of Hand +9, Stealth +9
Languages Common, Halfling, Orc
SQ rogue talent (finesse rogue), trapfinding +1
Combat Gear bloodroot posion (2 doses), oil of taggit (2 doses), striped toadstool poison (2 doses); Other Gear leather armor, masterwork hand crossbow with 10 bolts, masterwork dagger, sap, alchemy kit, disguise kit, thieves' tools
Boon A dealer can provide alchemical substances or poisons costing less than 500 gp at a 10% discount. He can also arrange for PCs to meet a more powerful crime boss or to plant illicit substances on a person or place.
Dealers are purveyors of drugs, toxins, poisons, and all manner of proscribed and questionable alchemical substances. Operating from hidden laboratories and kitchens, they import and concoct their wares to rule the streets through the power of their sweet seduction. (See Drugs and Addiction for a variety of drugs dealers might push.)
Dealers can be used as low-level poisoners and assassins, traveling charlatans or snake-oil salesmen, or even semi-honest alchemists, apothecaries, and street physicians.
A corrupt dealer may work together with a slaver and two prostitutes to lure and kidnap victims (CR 6) or run a gang of four beggars and four pickpockets (CR 7). A dealer might partner with an unscrupulous shopkeep (CR 4) or sleazy barkeep (CR 5), or may be engaged in illicit business with a noble scion (CR 5). A dealer might also be accompanied by two street thugs for protection (CR 5). An honest dealer might be apprenticed to a hedge wizard (CR 5).
