Re: Countering archers and bows?
There's also Acting. Focus on dodging that first arrow. But whether it's a near miss or a potential hit that you dodge, keel over "dead." This is a Quick Contest of Acting vs. the higher of IQ or Perception . . . but at a distance, the enemy will have range penalties to see what's going on. And the GM might let you make a Sleight of Hand roll as a complementary skill roll to clutch an arrow hidden in your gear to your heart as you spin dramatically and collapse.
Arrows are expensive. Unless all the archers have Bloodlust (a risk, I'll grant), they won't waste ammo shooting downed victims. Then, when the archers see you're all down, and come to salvage the arrows they can and loot your bodies, you can use Acrobatic Stand to dazzle them by leaping to your feet . . . or show off your skill at arms by stabbing them from your back at -4. Either way, if you happen to have the Dirty Fighting perk, it would be fair to let you benefit from it here.
All of this seems in keeping with the swashbuckling way, which is usually about cunning, agility, and of course daring.
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