Merchant

Organized traders who travel between settlements in well-armed caravans, buying and selling trade goods

Type: Person

Biome: Any

Stat Blocks

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy

Armor Class	5 [14]
Hit Dice	1 (4hp)
Number Appearing	0 (1d20)
Attacks	1 × weapon (1d6 or by weapon)
THAC0	19 [0]
Movement	90' (30')
Saving Throws	D12 W13 P14 B15 S16 (1)
Morale	Varies
Alignment	Neutral
XP	10
Treasure Type	A

Monster statistics extracted from online SRD wiki, not the published hardcover edition.

Organized traders who travel between settlements in well-armed caravans, buying and selling trade goods (e.g. gold, jewels, silk, spices, wine, etc.).

Special Abilities

Weapons: Sword and dagger.

Mounted: On horse, camel, or mule (by terrain).

Wagons: 2 per merchant. Pulled by horses, mules, or camels (by terrain).

Pack animals: 1d12 extra horses, mules, or camels.

Treasure: Should be reduced, if less than 10 merchants are in the group.

Variants

Caravan guards (4 per merchant)

For every merchant, 4 guards are present (1st level fighters). AC 4 [15], with crossbows, swords, daggers.

Armor Class	4 [15]
Hit Dice	1

Guard lieutenants (2 per 5 merchants)

For every 5 merchants, 2 lieutenants are present (2nd–3rd level fighters). AC 4 [15]. Equipped as guards.

Armor Class	4 [15]
Hit Dice	2-3

Guard captain (leads the guards)

Guards are led by a 5th level fighter. AC 4 [15]. Equipped as guards.

Armor Class	4 [15]
Hit Dice	5

OSRIC

Armor Class	Determined by armour worn
Hit Dice	1d6 hp
Number Encountered	50d6
Attacks	See below
Damage	By weapon
Move	120-ft
Alignment	Neutral
Intelligence	Mean (very to high)
XP	Variable
Size	Man-sized
Frequency	Common
Lair	Nil

Monster statistics extracted from online SRD wiki, not the published hardcover edition.

Merchant encounters are actually caravans of merchants, drovers, and guards. The caravan will also contain pack animals, carts, and horses. Of the number appearing rolled, only about 10% will actually be merchants. 10% will be drovers and the last 80% will be the guards.

The guards will always be led by higher level fighter of 6th to 11th level (1d6+5), his or her lieutenant (1 level lower than the captain), and 12 guards (2nd level fighters).

There is a 10% chance per 50 persons that a magic user of 6th to 8th level is present (1d3+5). There is a 5% chance per 50 persons that a cleric of 5th to 7th level (1d3+4) is present. There is also a 15% chance per 50 persons that a thief of 8th to 10th level will be present (along with 1d4 lower level thieves of 3rd to 7th level). All of the above leader or special character types are in addition to the number of merchants generated. At least 50% of the mercenary guards will be mounted on light or medium warhorses.