Carter
Alternatively: Wainwright, Wheelwright, Chauffeur, or Coachbuilder.
Carters are those responsible for transporting most trade goods across cities, and on shorter journeys between settlements, or between farms and settlements. In some cities, they are asked to transport their goods at night to avoid clogging city streets, and they often deal with severe weather and dangerous conditions as they uphold local trade and transportation.
Unlike caravans, simple carters are unlikely to have anyone to guard them as they transport their simple goods from point a to point b. Normally this is fine, but when trouble does strike, and carters find themselves under attack, they often have to find the adventurer inside of them. Carters as adventurers will likely drive the party's cart or carriage, always making sure they have swift and comfortable transportation on the open roads.
Home on the Road: You have travelled far and wide on roads, both cobbled stone in cities and dirt roads in the country. As such, you excel at making your wagon into a home. You begin with a standard wagon, weighing 400lbs, fit to hold two people at the front, and 8 people in the hold (with no cargo there). However, you have the blueprints to make your wagon into a home, and perhaps even a moving fortress, with enough investment. The following upgrades must be purchased in descending order:
Undercarriage: (10sp, 4 hours, 450lbs total) An undercarriage is
installed to hold cargo and luggage just above the ground, freeing up space on
the wagon deck for people.
Comfortable Upholstery: (25sp, 8 hours, 475lbs total) The wooden benches and hard floors shall
be replaced with padded leather benches and carpeted floors. The driver’s bench
is outfitted not only with padded leather but also arm rests and a safety
tether for hard roads and fierce weather.
Mechanical Controls: (50sp, 24 hours, 500lbs total) A set of three controls
are installed in the driver’s seat. One lever controls a set of newly installed
breaks which allows you to travel more safely downhill. A second lever can
bring up or down the wagon cover, allowing the party to receive fresh air and
sunshine when they feel like it. A third lever can raise or lower a set of
stairs that allows for easy entry and departure from the wagon.
Sleeping Car: (100sp, 3 days, 925lbs total) A second wagon is
installed to the first, turning it into a wagon-train. A sturdy bridge with
hand ropes connects the two, allowing one to move between them mid-journey. The
second wagon is outfitted with hammocks, and floor beds, allowing for 10 people
to sleep inside at once. The hammocks work especially well because they allow
one to sleep somewhat soundly mid-journey.
Steel Wheels: (100sp, 3 days, 1100lbs total) The wheels and their
joints become entirely steel plated, so that attempts to jam or break them are
significantly hampered. Furthermore, large spikes are attached to the wheels
facing out, so that when the wagon train moves at full speed, it can deal
damage to neighboring vehicles and animals.
Dining Car: (200sp, 5 days, 1675lbs total) A third wagon is
attached to the wagon-train. This wagon is outfitted with a small kitchen
galley with cooking utensils, storage, counterspace, and a woodburning stove.
In addition, it holds a table that can seat 10 people at once. Not only can
this serve as a place to eat, but also as a place to relax, play games, work,
write, etc.
Bath Car: (250sp, 7 days, 2400lbs total) A fourth wagon is
attached to the wagon-train. This wagon is outfitted with a room fit for
bathing and defecation. There are partitions up to separate the three sections
of the car, one at the entrance with a wash bowl and mirror, another on the
left with a sizeable bathtub and another water vessel for filling the wash bowl
and bathtub, which collects rainwater, and a final partition on the right with
a chamber pot and storage cabinet. Furthermore, a lever in the bathtub allows
for the bathwater to be dumped out, and a fourth lever in the driver’s seat
allows the driver to decide when it is time to dump the chamber pot.
Rear Ballista: (500sp, 10 days, 2700lbs total) A platform is attached to the back of
the wagon-train which carries a fully battle capable ballista, outfitted with
armor plating to provide half-cover to anyone manning the ballista. Up to three
people can man the ballista at once (see DM for stats on Ballista).
Climate Control: (1000sp, 5 days, 2850lbs total) A complex series of
small canvas tubes connects the entirety of the wagon-train, with small slits
that allow for air to flow through every so often. This connects to the stove
in the kitchen, which can now be used to heat the entire wagon-train.
Furthermore, these also connect to large wind-catchers which sit on the outside
of the wagon, allowing for airflow from the outside to be channeled in to cool
the wagon-train as well. These two modes, heating and cooling, can be operated,
turned on and off, from two additional levers in the driver’s seat.
Armored Wagon-Train: (2000sp, 20 days, 3400lbs total) A series of segmented armor plates now
envelop the sides of the wagon-train, providing full cover to any attack aimed
from the ground at the wagon-train or those inside it. They still leave open
the top, allowing for flying enemies to still threaten the wagon-train’s
passengers. These plates shift with movement, allowing them even to cover the
bridges connecting the different wagons, and skirted plates hang down to
further protect undercarriage luggage, only giving way to allow for the deadly
wheel spikes to protrude from the train. Metal plates fully envelop the
driver’s seat, providing three-quarter’s cover to attacks aimed from any
direction (including from above). Furthermore, the side-seat to the driver is
outfitted with a mounted heavy crossbow which allows for attacks to be fired
out to targets in front of the horses.
If you choose Carter, you gain the following:
~Either a +1 to your Strength score or a +1 to your Wisdom score~
~A Skill Proficiency in either Animal Handling or Athletics~
~A Tool Proficiency with Land Vehicles~
~The following items: A wagon, a draft horse, a whip, a wide-brimmed hat, and a belt pouch with 10sp~
~Home on the Road feat~