Scouting (sage study)
Scouting is a sage study in the field of Wilderland, which offers a set of survival and orientation skills that ensure survival in the wild, ensuring a goodly supply of food, water, shelter and protection, whatever the landscape or weather. Scouting encompasses a breadth of knowledge essential for those who must navigate untamed regions, whether in pursuit of game, avoiding pursuit themselves, or simply forging a path through dangerous terrain. A scout is always thinking ahead, anticipating dangers and opportunities before they become apparent to others. Whether traveling alone or leading a larger group, the scout is the first to sense the landscape, determining the safest routes, identifying signs of activity, and assessing whether the environment is favourable or treacherous.
The essence of scouting lies in awareness. The scout is the eyes and ears of any expedition, reading the land for traces of movement, recent disturbances, or subtle shifts in nature that indicate changes in weather, danger, or opportunity. It is a discipline that emphasizes patience, caution, and an intuitive understanding of both terrain and the creatures that inhabit it. Scouts are the first to detect an approaching storm, sense an ambush before it is sprung, or recognize the faint trails that lead to food, water, or shelter. It is about understanding when to move quickly and when to linger in shadow, when to press forward and when to wait. A true scout is rarely caught off guard, for they do not simply react to their surroundings; they anticipate them, adapting to the ebb and flow of the natural world with practiced ease.
Scouting is also an essential component of travel in hostile or unknown regions. It ensures that a group does not stumble blindly into danger, but rather moves with intent, guided by the knowledge of what lies ahead. A scout marks the best paths, determines the presence of friend or foe, and ensures that no step is taken without understanding its consequences. It is a discipline of constant movement, observation, and silent calculation, ensuring that those who master it remain always one step ahead.
Sage Abilities
The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.
Amateur Status
- Catch Fishing: describes the angling skill of catching fish with a line or net.
- Evasion: describes skills at avoiding detection in the wild by most onlookers.
- Foraging: improved ability to find vegetables, roots, fruits and nuts in a wilderness environment.
- Hunting: locating, tracking and successfully bringing down small game in order to serve as a food supply.
- Pathfinding I: improve distance covered when crossing untracked wilderness.
- Tracking: locating creatures and animals that move in the wild according to the trail they leave behind.
Authority Status
- Camouflage: the ability to proficiently camouflage the body.
- Counter-Tracking: an advanced form of evasion, allowing a possibility of shaking off a tracker.
- Make Fire: the ability to produce fire using only dry tinder and friction.
- Pathfinding II: improves the safety of the ranger and others when crossing the wilderness.
- Sheltering: chooses the best place to rest and avoid the elements.
- Water Discipline: gives experience in knowing when to drink in order to avoid dehydration.
Expert Status
- Avoid Encounter: enables avoidance of dangerous creatures or monsters that are sensed to be active in the vicinity.
- Earth Hearing: the ability to track by hearing a distant quarry's footfalls through the earth.
