[Kromm]

Here's an example of a possible companion (even hireling, though he'd be expensive) who's absolutely capable enough to be a PC but who wouldn't, if tacked on as an NPC, upstage the "real heroes." He isn't great at anything and is happy to serve . . . in a film, he'd be played by a retired MMA fighter-turned-bit actor who's name you can't recall, and killed off before the final act. Yet he's a meat shield who's useful in a multitude of roles and happy to do stuff a lot of players find boring – hardly a liability. (The party cleric will also appreciate how, with 20 HP, he gets a lot of value out of healing; see High HP and Healing, Exploits, p. 62.)

Alejandro Guerrero

245-point Human Knight

Alejandro is a veteran mercenary with the strength and vitality of a teenager, the wrinkles and gray hair of an old man, and enough scars and war stories to put most people's guesses nearer to the latter than the former. A soldier's soldier, he prefers leading a few troops to commanding many, and values carrying out orders above winning personal glory. He doesn't want for confidence and bravado – he just shows it by being the first to volunteer and the last to retreat.

Unlike flashy heroes who specialize in one weapon to show off and travel light, Alejandro is a generalist. Need another shield to hold the front line? How about someone with a polearm to strike from the second rank? An archer? Heck, muscle in a back-alley knife fight? Alejandro's your man. Since taking up delving to see the world, he has made his living using weapons other than oh-so-desirable swords (axes, glaives, halberds, maces, morningstars . . .), and fixing up armor, so that nothing goes to waste.

Alejandro's other notable feature is his resilience. He can take a lot of punishment before he goes down, doesn't seem to feel the pain, and then gets back up again in almost no time at all. He's mentally strong, too (Fright Check starts at 14 thanks to Combat Reflexes and Fearlessness). While he'll never be the stuff of legends, those bent on fame and fortune could do worse than to have him protecting their flank.

ST 15 [50]; DX 14 [80]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 14 [40].
Damage 1d+1/2d+1; BL 45 lbs.; HP 20 [10]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 14 [0].
Basic Speed 7.00 [0]; Basic Move 7 [0]; Move 5.
Dodge 10*; Parry 12* (Axe or Halberd), 11* (Kukri); Block 12* (Shield).

Advantages
Born War-Leader 2 [10]
Combat Reflexes [15]
Fearlessness 2 [4]
High Pain Threshold [10]
Recovery [10]
Sacrificial Block [1]

Disadvantages and Quirks
Chummy [-5]
Code of Honor (Soldier's) [-10]
Overconfidence (12) [-5]
Selfless (12) [-5]
Sense of Duty (Adventuring Companions) [-5]
Wounded [-5]

Has endless, boring tales about this war, that war, and the other war. [-1]
Prefers payment in arms and armor, "the universal coin." [-1]
Prefers to serve as "sergeant to somebody else's captain." [-1]
Takes pride in being a versatile warrior. [-1]
Wants to see the world, and loves to travel. [-1]

Skills
Armory (Body Armor)-11 [4]
Axe/Mace-16 [8]
Bow-15 [4]
Brawling-15 [2]
Climbing-13 [1]
Connoisseur (Weapons)-12† [2]
Fast-Draw (Arrow)-15* [1]
First Aid-10 [1]
Flail-15 [8]
Hiking-13 [1]
Knife-14 [1]
Leadership-12† [2]
Polearm-16 [8]
Riding (Horse)-13 [1]
Shield-16 [4]
Stealth-13 [1]
Strategy-11† [2]
Tactics-11† [2]
Wrestling-14 [2]

* Includes +1 for Combat Reflexes.
† Includes +2 for Born War-Leader.

Equipment

$3,500, 85.78 or 82.78 lbs. (Light encumbrance)†

Arrows ×12. $24, 1.2 lbs.
Axe, Dwarven. 2d+3 cut (reach 1); Parry 0, not 0U. $250, 4 lbs.
Canteen, Full. 1 quart water. $10, 3 lbs.
Clothing. $0, 2 lbs.
Coins. 9 copper. $9, 0.18 lb.
Composite Bow (ST 15). 1d+4 imp, Acc 3, Range 300/375, Shots 1(2), Bulk -7. $900, 4 lbs.
First Aid Kit. +1 to First Aid. $50, 2 lbs.
Halberd. 2d+6 cut (reach 2, 3*), 2d+5 imp (reach 2, 3*), or 1d+4 imp (reach 1-3*). $150, 12 lbs.†
Kukri, Fine. 2d+1 cut (reach C, 1) or 1d+1 imp (reach C). $200, 1.5 lbs.
Light Segmented Plate Armor, Suit. DR 3. $1,800, 48 lbs.
Medium Shield. DB 2; 1d+1 cr (bash). $60, 15 lbs.†
Personal Basics. $5, 1 lb.
Pouch. Holds first aid kit, personal basics. $10, 0.2 lb.
Pouch. Holds rations. $10, 0.2 lb.
Rations, 6 meals. $12, 3 lbs.
Shoulder Quiver. Holds arrows. $10, 0.5 lb.

† Enters battle with either the shield or the halberd, but never both.