The youngest of the Merry Men is today’s subject in Mythological Figures: Will Scarlet!
Will Scarlet appears early on in the legends of Robin Hood in the ballad A Gest of Robyn Hode, where he helps capture Richard at the Lee then later laughs at the cheapness of the knight’s clothing. His origins come later in Robin Hood and the Newly Revived—he’s found finely dressed and hunting deer in Sherwood, and after fighting they come to an accord. Renaming him from Young Gamwell to Will Scarlet, Robin Hood offers him a new life among bandits after his flight from his family’s estate following the murder of his father’s steward. Sometimes the details change but more often than not Will is depicted as one of the Merry Men’s youngest members, a conflicted and temperamental youth that ultimately dies in battle against the Sheriff of Nottingham’s forces.
ENWorld member Dioltach dropping the knowledge! “Obligatory input from my Middle English studies: in the earlier Robin Hood literature, Will Scarlet wasn't always called Scarlet: he was alternatively known as Will Sherlock, Will Shylock, and Will Skylark. The last of those is perhaps the most telling version, as it points to a generic figure with a defining trait of being work-shy, or perhaps a troublemaker.
Design Notes: This youthful warrior was said to be the best swordsman of the Merry Men and sometimes used two weapons in battle, so we’re giving him two shortswords and the two-weapon fighting style. Plus the sword feat. Let’s do the numbers! The DMG puts Will here at 7.916, and the Blog of Holding at 8.66, so CR 8 seems spot on.
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 93 (11d10+33)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +7
Skills Animal Handling +4, Athletics +7, Perception +4, Survival +4; vehicle (land)
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages English
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Background: Folk Hero. Will is always able to rely on the hospitality of commoners to help him hide or rest provided he poses no danger in doing so, going so far as to shield him from being discovered (though not at the cost of their lives).
Action Surge (1/Short Rest). Once on his turn, Will can take an additional action on top of his regular action and a possible bonus action.
Indomitable (1/Long Rest). Will can reroll a saving throw that he fails but must use the new roll.
Maneuver Master (5d10/Short Rest). Will can expend a maneuver dice to perform a single maneuver with an attack.
Second Wind (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Will can use a bonus action to regain 1d10+11 hit points.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. Will attacks three times when he takes the Attack action. When he uses a bonus action to engage in two-weapon fighting, he adds his ability modifier to the damage of his fourth attack.
Shortswords. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.
REACTIONS
Feat: Master of the Sword. Will gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls made with swords (included above), he has advantage on opportunity attacks made with a sword, and when wielding a sword and attacked he can use his reaction to gain a +1 bonus to his AC until the start of his next turn or until he is disarmed.
Will Scarlet appears early on in the legends of Robin Hood in the ballad A Gest of Robyn Hode, where he helps capture Richard at the Lee then later laughs at the cheapness of the knight’s clothing. His origins come later in Robin Hood and the Newly Revived—he’s found finely dressed and hunting deer in Sherwood, and after fighting they come to an accord. Renaming him from Young Gamwell to Will Scarlet, Robin Hood offers him a new life among bandits after his flight from his family’s estate following the murder of his father’s steward. Sometimes the details change but more often than not Will is depicted as one of the Merry Men’s youngest members, a conflicted and temperamental youth that ultimately dies in battle against the Sheriff of Nottingham’s forces.
ENWorld member Dioltach dropping the knowledge! “Obligatory input from my Middle English studies: in the earlier Robin Hood literature, Will Scarlet wasn't always called Scarlet: he was alternatively known as Will Sherlock, Will Shylock, and Will Skylark. The last of those is perhaps the most telling version, as it points to a generic figure with a defining trait of being work-shy, or perhaps a troublemaker.
Design Notes: This youthful warrior was said to be the best swordsman of the Merry Men and sometimes used two weapons in battle, so we’re giving him two shortswords and the two-weapon fighting style. Plus the sword feat. Let’s do the numbers! The DMG puts Will here at 7.916, and the Blog of Holding at 8.66, so CR 8 seems spot on.
Will Scarlet
Medium humanoid (human), neutral good fighter (battle master) 11Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 93 (11d10+33)
Speed 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
16 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 16 (+3) | 10 (+0) | 10 (+0) | 11 (+0) |
Skills Animal Handling +4, Athletics +7, Perception +4, Survival +4; vehicle (land)
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages English
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Background: Folk Hero. Will is always able to rely on the hospitality of commoners to help him hide or rest provided he poses no danger in doing so, going so far as to shield him from being discovered (though not at the cost of their lives).
Action Surge (1/Short Rest). Once on his turn, Will can take an additional action on top of his regular action and a possible bonus action.
Indomitable (1/Long Rest). Will can reroll a saving throw that he fails but must use the new roll.
Maneuver Master (5d10/Short Rest). Will can expend a maneuver dice to perform a single maneuver with an attack.
Disarm. A creature Will has hit with an attack takes 1d10 additional damage and makes a DC 16 Strength saving throw or drops one held item of his choice.
Feint. Will can use his bonus action to feint against one creature within 5 feet. He has advantage on his next attack roll against that creature as long as it before the end of his turn. On a hit he deals 1d10 additional damage.
Parrying Twist. Will uses his reaction when damaged with a melee weapon attack to reduce the damage by 1d10 + 3.
Sweep. Will chooses a creature adjacent to him and his target, and within his reach. On a hit, the adjacent creature takes 1d10 damage (of the same type as the weapon attack).
Trip. Will deals 1d10 additional damage and if the target is a creature of Large size or smaller, it makes a DC 16 Strength saving throw or is knocked prone.
Second Wind (1/Short Rest). On his turn, Will can use a bonus action to regain 1d10+11 hit points.
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. Will attacks three times when he takes the Attack action. When he uses a bonus action to engage in two-weapon fighting, he adds his ability modifier to the damage of his fourth attack.
Shortswords. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.
REACTIONS
Feat: Master of the Sword. Will gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls made with swords (included above), he has advantage on opportunity attacks made with a sword, and when wielding a sword and attacked he can use his reaction to gain a +1 bonus to his AC until the start of his next turn or until he is disarmed.
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