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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

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PFS LimitedMage for Hire

Not all mercenaries sell brawn and intimidating glares. Some sell their magical talents to earn a living. While there are many types of mages for hire, some of the sneakiest are specialized in divination, using their skills for infiltration and sabotage.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 18
Unspecific Lore: DC 16
Specific Lore: DC 13

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Weak are marked in red below.
NOTE: The -2 damage penalty to non-strike offensive abilities (-4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Weak Mage for HireCreature 2

Legacy Content

N Medium Human Humanoid 
Source Gamemastery Guide pg. 226
Perception +7
Languages Common
Skills Arcana +9, Society +7, Stealth +5, Thievery +7
Str +0, Dex +2, Con +1, Int +4, Wis +1, Cha +1
Items invisibility potion, spellbook, staff, thieves' tools
AC 15; Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +8
HP 16
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] staff +5 [+0/-5] (two-hand d8), Damage 1d4-2 bludgeoningArcane Prepared Spells DC 18, attack +10 (-4 dmg); 2nd flaming sphere, knock, see invisibility; 1st grease, mage armor, magic missile, true strike; Cantrips (2nd) dancing lights, daze, detect magic, electric arc, mage hand, message, shield
Wizard School Spell DC 18, 1 Focus Point (-4 dmg); 2nd diviner's sight

All Monsters in "Mercenaries"

NameLevel
Bodyguard1
Bounty Hunter4
Mage for Hire3
Monster Hunter6

Mercenaries

Source Gamemastery Guide pg. 226
A broad category that includes those wielding arms, spells, or even guile and cunning, mercenaries hire themselves and their expertise to those with the gold to pay for it.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Bribing Mercenaries

Unless a mercenary prides themself on their name or reputation, the PCs might be able to bribe them to switch sides, or at least stand aside. You can estimate a bribe by taking roughly 5% of the Party Currency value from the row corresponding to the NPC's level on Table 10–9.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Mercenary Banter

Here's some parlance commonly used by mercenaries.

Crackster: Someone adept at breaking locks or safes.
Diving: Theft or smuggling below ground, often through tunnels.
Foxing: To play at being asleep, usually for an ambush.
Medic: A healer.
Ram: A hard-hitting warrior.
Slinger: A spellcaster.
Sway of Coin: Swearing allegiance to whoever pays the most.
Waterline: A mercenary troupe's money: “Take time in town while the waterline's high, everyone.”
Whisperstep: Anyone who can move stealthily.