Rogue

Rogues aren't just city dwellers. I never leave town without one.

— Grursh

Signaling for her companions to wait, a halfling creeps forward through the dungeon hall. She presses an ear to the door, then pulls out a set of tools and picks the lock in the blink of an eye. Then she disappears into the shadows as her fighter friend moves forward to kick the door open.
A human lurks in the shadows of an alley while his accomplice prepares for her part in the ambush. When their target - a notorious Slaver - passes the alleyway, the accomplice cries out, the Slaver comes to investigate, and the assassin's blade cuts his throat before he can make a sound.
Suppressing a giggle, a gnome waggles her fingers and magically lifts the key ring from the Guard's belt. In a moment, the keys are in her hand, the cell door is open, and she and her companions are free to make their escape.
Rogues rely on skill, stealth, and their foes' vulnerabilities to get the upper hand in any situation. They have a knack for finding the solution to just about any problem, demonstrating a resourcefulness and versatility that is the cornerstone of any successful adventuring party.
Rogues devote as much effort to mastering the use of a variety of skills as they do to perfecting their combat abilities, giving them a broad expertise that few other characters can match. Many rogues focus on stealth and deception, while others refine the skills that help them in a dungeon environment, such as climbing, finding and disarming traps, and opening locks.
When it comes to combat, rogues prioritize cunning over brute strength. A rogue would rather make one precise strike, placing it exactly where the attack will hurt the target most, than wear an opponent down with a barrage of attacks. Rogues have an almost supernatural knack for avoiding danger, and a few learn magical tricks to supplement their other abilities.
Every town and city has its share of rogues. Most of them live up to the worst stereotypes of the class, making a living as burglars, assassins, cutpurses, and con artists. Often, these scoundrels are organized into thieves' guilds or crime families. Plenty of rogues operate independently, but even they sometimes recruit apprentices to help them in their scams and heists. A few rogues make an honest living as locksmiths, investigators, or exterminators, which can be a dangerous job in a world where Dire Rat - and wererats - haunt the sewers.
As adventurers, rogues fall on both sides of the law. Some are hardened criminals who decide to seek their fortune in treasure hoards, while others take up a life of adventure to escape from the law. Some have learned and perfected their skills with the explicit purpose of infiltrating ancient ruins and hidden crypts in search of treasure.

Perception

Purpose

The classification of rogue covers a number of societal roles with a word that can mean, depending on context, a charismatic rulebreaker all the way down to a hardened criminal. Here are some of the many archetypes of rogue that are commonly encountered in Valine:

• The Inquisitive - with keen minds to unravel mysteries and root out secrets, these rogues have a sharp eye for detail both of their surroundings and the people they interact with
• The Mastermind - falling under this banner are spies and courtiers but the mastermind can encompass many other roles. Regardless of the specifics, these are the individuals that focus in influencing people. They deal in secrets and favors and their words can be as deadly a weapon as a blade.
• The Scout - skilled in stealth and survival beyond the streets of a city, these rogues are at home in the wilderness and serve as the eyes and ears of adventuring parties and war bands alike.
• The Swashbuckler - reliant on speed, elegance, and charm. The swashbuckler excels in single combat and has much in common with the fighter archetypes of the rake and Duelist.
• The Arcane Trickster - enhancing their stealth skills with arcane enchantments and illusions, they utilize their skills to pickpocket and burglarize, but a significant number choose an adventuring life over criminal endeavors.
• The Assassin - striking from the shadows, they use stealth, poison, and disguise to eliminate targets.
• The Thief - The thief hones their skills to relieve others of their possessions.
• The Phantom - some rogues operate in the area between life and death, discovering a mystical connection to death itself and even communing with spirits to gather information that would otherwise be lost.

by Rob Taylor

Zukdin Rogue

Type

Illicit

It's the network that make rogues so dangerous. There's never just one. Always a guild or a benefactor or a client to deal with too.

— Groudruck Blazingrock

by Rob Taylor

Firbolg Rogue

If a contract is taken out on you it's you or them. The bastards won't ever stop until one of you is dead. Gods help you if it's a guild contract.

— Grursh