Tidal Blades
Traders can be found traveling all through Naviri for commerce, plying their personalities as much as their wares. Skilled negotiators and strong fighters, they're ruthless in commerce, but have a soft spot for compelling stories.
While there are some Navirian-born traders, the term "trader" most commonly refers to desert raders, also known as Stoenian traders. They make the voyage from their city of Stoen to Naviri twice a year, crossing the dangerous Droskani Desert in caravans pulled by giant domesticated beetles called droska. Traders are adept at moving their caravans safely through the desert; for example, they have learned to quickly discern the sand patterns that indicate a sandaconda lying in wait so they can detour around the monster.
Most traders speak Navirian fluently, but typically talk Stoenian among themselves.
Traders traveling between Naviri and Stoen are one of the main reasons it's become fashionable in Stoen to name babies using Navirian words.
Many traders use a system of bells on their caravans to communicate with each other across the long desert distances.
A bell that sounds like the soft twitter of birds indicates a safe gathering space, while a louder, single clong suggests approaching danger.
Motive: Trade, profit
Environment: Anywhere that wares are bought and sold
Health: 9
Damage Inflicted: Minor wound (3 points)
Movement: Short
Modifications: Speed defense as level 4; interaction and haggling as level 5
Combat: Traders are skilled fighters, particularly when it comes to defending themselves and their wares from thieves, monsters, and so on. They typically have a selection of weapons and cyphers among their goods, and will choose the best one for a particular fight.
Unless they feel threatened, most traders will not initiate an altercation, but will instead attempt o resolve the situation with conversation, stories, humor, or intimidation.
Interaction: Traders typically welcome all who approach, assuming goodwill until shown otherwise. They are full of stories of their travels, and encouraging of others who wish to tell of their adventures as well.
Use: Characters who wish to know more about Stoen, the desert crossing, or the monsters of the desert (particularly the sandaconda) may approach a trader and purchase their wares with the intention of learning during the exchange. Traders may encounter the PCs in the desert and come to their rescue, or vice versa.
Loot: 1d6 shells and a light weapon. They may have additional wares, such as a couple of cyphers, if they're with their caravan or in their market stall.
GM Intrusion: During an interaction, something startles the trader's droska, and it begins to rampage toward the characters.