[Types]
A life well-lived, you believe, is a life in service to others. Should glory and elevated status one day find you, you’re confident you’ll use that office to bring peace and aid to all who are in need of a protector. Until then, you’re satisfied defending one ally at a time, pledging your weapon to their defense if their need be true.
You’re excellent in a fight but equally concerned with aiding your allies. You have on several previous occasions even interceded, taking an attack that would’ve otherwise brought one of your fellows low. You’re also adept at using the confusion such a sacrifice elicits in foes, returning the favor with the edge of your swift blade.
You gain all of the following benefits:
You are trained in a specific weapon attack of your choice, such as swords, axes, or bows; or in a broader category of attacks such as light bashing weapons, light bladed weapons, light ranged weapons, medium bashing weapons, medium bladed weapons, medium ranged weapons, and so on.
At tier 2, you can choose to become specialized in the same attack method you chose at tier 1, but you must gain the skill normally.
At tier 6, you can become an expert in a specific attack method (either the one you chose at tier 1 or another weapon skill you're already specialized in), but you must gain the skill normally.
Choose one character you can see. That character comes under your protection. You gain an asset on all tasks involving finding, healing, interacting with, and protecting them. When you use the help action to aid their block or dodge, you give them two assets instead of one. You can use the help action to aid their Intellect defense (including direct attacks like fear and mind control and subtle influences like persuasion and intimidation) and give them two assets when you do so. You can only protect one character at a time.
At tier 3, two characters at a time can be under your protection.
Whenever an ability grants a choice between two Pools, each time you use that ability you can decide which of those two Pools to spend your points from. You can't split the cost between both Pools.
When you take the attack meant for another character, you gain a benefit for your selflessness. The attack automatically hits you and inflicts its normal damage (plus the additional minor wound for taking the attack). You can immediately retaliate with an attack against a foe within range. If you took the attack for a person you are protecting with Noble Defender, this attack is eased.
Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment
A sword, appropriate clothing plus an extra set of refined clothing, chainmail armor, a backpack, a bedroll, 50 feet (16 m) of rope, a field journal (including pen and ink), three torches, rations and water for three days, a tinderbox, and enough extra currency to buy a moderately priced item.