Vault Hunters: Inquisitors of Abadar

"Will you stop looking over your damn shoulder?" Garris grunted as he leaned forward to poke the fire. "There ain't nobody there."

"I thought I heard something," Naius said, settling back against the rock he'd been leaning on.

"You're in a forest, that's going to happen," Marren said. She had a book open in her lap, and turned a page. "We're two days out from anything you'd call a road, and five days out from the nearest settlement. You can put your hackles down."

"They're gonna come for us," Naius said, nodding toward the laden donkey cart tucked under a canvas cover. "Long as we've got that."

"A few more days, and it won't be our problem anymore," Garris said as he reached into a pouch to roll a smoke. "We'll have coin in-hand, and we can go our separate ways."

The fire crackled, and Marren frowned. She raised her head, peering out into the darkness. She closed her book slowly, pursing her lips.

"Do you hear that?" she asked.

"Kid's got you spooked, Garris said, sticking his smoke in his mouth. "I don't hear nothing."

"That's what I mean-"

Marren didn't get time to finish her thought. Something flew out of the darkness, landing in the fire. Naius caught a glimpse of cotton, and smelled something caustic, when the bag exploded. The deafening roar was like having his ears clapped, and the burst of brightness left him seeing starbusts. Choking smoke clawed at his throat, and he scrambled to his feet, falling behind the stone he'd been seated at as he coughed, tears streaming from his eyes. Marren was shrieking, pointing her fingers into the night, but before she could finish her spell, a whistling set of bolos wrapped around her arms. The cord bit deep, and she yelped, tripping and falling over, the magic of her spell dissipating into the night.

Garris made a run for the cart, and there was a snap from the darkness. A crossbow quarrel erupted from the back of Garris's leg, and he sprawled, roaring in pain. The roar trailed off, and he groaned, rolling over bonelessly. Narius turned to run, but when it did, something crashed into the side of his head, sending him sprawling to the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was staring up at a leveled crossbow pointing right between his eyes. That was bad enough... but the man holding it was worse. Tall, broadshouldered, and darkhaired, he had sharp features that made him stand out... but it was his eyes. His eyes were the sharp blue of a hungry wolf.

No one ever looked into Atticus Geld's eyes, and forgot them.

"I'd suggest you stay where you are," the inquisitor said. "I have questions. And I would like them answered promptly. Can you do that?"

Naius nodded. Geld smiled, and it made Naius shudder. His eyes weren't the only thing that made him look more a wolf than a man. "Good. Pick up your friend, and bring him back to the fire, if you would. If all of you cooperate, I'll make sure you can walk to your hearings under your own power."

The Untouchables

Abadar is thought of by many as the light of civilization. A god of merchants and cities, his temples often act as banks, and his servants help maintain the stability of both life and economy. However, where there is great wealth kept in a single place, there will always be those who choose to try to take it for themselves. And just as the Vault Breakers will test the defenses of temples and banks to ensure they are as safe as they can be, the Vault Hunters are the ones who seek out those who have stolen from civilized institutions and organizations to bring them to justice. And while one would think this involves bank robbers and bandits, these Vault Breakers may also uncover schemes to embezzle money, to commit insurance fraud, as well as other forms of so-called "ink thievery," which the rest of us would think of as white-collar crimes.

So who best embodies this creed? Who possesses the skill set within the clergy?

One of the best options for a Vault Hunter is an inquisitor. Mobile, able to levy their judgments, and to use their magic to uncover thievery, they bring quite a lot of potent power to bear. A cleric of Abadar could also fill the role, and while they might lack some of the unique abilities of an inquisitor, they bring quite a lot of magic to the table. One could even fill this role as a paladin, if they chose to. While rogues, rangers, and slayers could also fill this role, and they might be just as devout as the next person, the lack of a divine connection does rather take something away from the Vault Hunter concept.

Lastly, it's important to ask where such a person comes from. Were they raised to believe in goodness, fairness, the rule of law, and that sometimes one must take action to preserve civilization? Or were they bandits or thieves themselves, and they found religion, so now they fall under the old saying of, "Send a thief to catch a thief"? Or were they a banker, merchant, or lawyer who simply wanted to get out from behind a desk and into the field for some action?

And for those looking for allies, enemies, and other NPCs to fill in your character's background and story, check out some of these supplements by yours truly:

- 100 Town Guards: Whether this was where your Vault Hunter got their start, or they simply spend time with those who man the walls, consider this for filling in your backgrounds.

- 100 Random Bandits To Meet: Whether they're old friends or new enemies, who knows what you'll find among the dregs of the violence trade? For those looking for a seagoing variant, check out 100 Pirates To Encounter!

- 100 Prisoners For A Fantasy Jail: Sometimes you end up putting your enemies behind bars... but will they stay there? And if that's where you found religion, how did you get out?

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That's all for this week's Unusual Character Concepts post!

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