Always drink upstream from the herd...

HERDER (#27/30, #117/365) [POT]

SKILL: 6

STAMINA : 6

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: Spear or Dagger

ARMOUR: None

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Towns or see below

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-3

TYPE: Humanoid

REACTION: Friendly-Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

Similar to shepherds, HERDERS are those who tend to a group of animals, though they are larger creatures than those of a shepherd's flock. Roll on or choose from the table below to determine the nature of these 3-18 herd animals and the habitat they prefer:

Roll Herd Animal Habitat

1 Camel Desert, Wilderness, Plains, Hills

2 Horse Plains, Wilderness, Desert, Forests, Hills

3 Donkey Hills, Plains, Wilderness, Desert, Mountains

4 Water Buffalo Marshes, Rivers, Lakes, Plains, Jungles

5 Cattle or Oxen Plains, Forests, Hills, Wilderness

6 Yak or Musk Ox Ice, Mountains, Hills, Wilderness

Herders can also be encountered in towns and other settlements, typically bringing their herd to the local livestock market for sale and trade, and pay some respects at the shrine to Varantar or Harrun or similar. 

If the Herder is encountered in the desert, they will be riding a camel; if in the mountains they will ride a mule; if in icy terrain, they will ride an elk or reindeer; if near water or jungle a Water Buffalo, in any other terrain they will have a horse. Their gear will depend somewhat on location, but generally all Herders are armed with a spear and a dagger, along with dusty, travel-stained clothing. To determine other possessions, roll 1-3 times on the table below for extra items of gear:

Roll Extra Gear

1 a musical instrument (roll: 1-2 Bamboo Pipe, 3-4 Bronze Bell, 5-6 Bone Whistle)

2 a Whip

3 a Leather Jack

4 a nice Hat

5 a Missile Weapon (Roll: 1-2 Javelins (1-2), 3-4 Shortbow and 2-12 arrows in quiver, 5-6 Bolas (1-2))

6 a Net

There is also a 1-3 chance the Herder will be accompanied by a trained DOG (SKILL 4 STAMINA 4 Small Bite). 

Herders, by nature of the size of their animal charges and the amount of food they consume on the hoof, are generally nomadic pastoralists shepherding their herds along the great trade routes, but also following seasonal trails, looking for food and pasture when the weather is warm and pleasant, and warmth and shelter when the weather turns cold. Their herds are valuable and they are lightly armed, so Herders are suspicious of strangers. They are grateful for protection however, and have been known to band together with other Herders or Merchant caravans, or even Mercenary bands or Strongarm riders, and are always happy to trade. The main enemy of the Herder tends to be Orc marauders, aggressive tribes of Centaurs and Felinaurs, and the occasional swarm of Xoroa, and they will gladly barter with a band of Heroes for protection travelling through a region rife with such dangers!