Free DnD 5e Homebrew NPC
Corda Steinschlag: Guard NPC for DnD 5e
A towering young human fighter for DnD 5e who holds the road with shield and silence, concealing that she joined the Ashroad Reavers only three months ago and has never faced a real fight.
- Guard
- Human Fighter 1
- AC 16
- Ashroad Reavers
Caution: For GMs Only The sections below reveal Corda’s inexperience, motivation, unopened letter, combat behavior, Reaver role, and full statblock. Players should stop here unless their GM says otherwise. Reveal Full Information
NPC at a Glance
- Role
- Guard / Physical Blocker
- Importance
- One-Shot, Tier D
- Race / Type
- Human Humanoid
- Class / Level
- Fighter 1
- Background
- Folk Hero
- Alignment
- Neutral Good
- Location
- Front of the Ashroad ambush line
- Faction
- Ashroad Reavers
- Age / Status
- 17 / Alive
How to Use Corda at the Table
Corda is the Reaver who does not move when the party tries to walk past. She stands in the road with shield ready and says nothing unless someone speaks to her first.
Her size, armor, and stillness make her look like the most experienced person in the ambush. The truth is the opposite: she joined three months ago and has never been in a real fight.
Use the gap between appearance and experience to create tension. Corda can be a formidable obstacle without being cruel, confident, or committed to bloodshed.
Roleplaying Corda
Appearance
Corda is tall enough to fill a doorframe, with broad shoulders and the build of someone raised doing hard physical labor. She has warm dark brown skin, guarded dark eyes, and black hair pulled into a tight bun.
Details
A faint old burn scar marks the right side of her neck. Her clothes and armor are plain, functional, and well kept. Loose strands of hair at her temples are the only part of her presentation she neglects.
Motivation
She left home to discover what she is capable of. She knows the real test has not begun and is trying hard not to show how uncertain that makes her.
Combat Snapshot
Medium humanoid (human), neutral good. AC 16 (chain shirt, shield, Defense), HP 12 (1d10+2), Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws: STR +5, CON +4. Skills: Athletics +5, Perception +2, Intimidation +1.
Senses: passive Perception 11. Languages: Common. Challenge: 0 (0 XP).
Fighter Features and Tactics
Fighting Style: Defense. Corda gains +1 AC while wearing armor. This bonus is already included in her AC 16.
Second Wind (1/short rest). As a bonus action, Corda regains 1d10+1 hit points.
She plants herself in a narrow approach, keeps her shield toward the greatest threat, and uses her spear for control. She has the durability to delay skilled opponents, but not the experience to manage a prolonged melee.
Plot Hooks
- A perceptive character notices Corda repeatedly checking a sealed letter in her pack, each time deciding not to open it.
- The party recognizes that the imposing road guard is young, frightened, and neutral good before the Reavers force the confrontation.
- After the ambush, Corda must decide whether proving herself means remaining with the Reavers or standing against them.
Encounter Ideas
- The Silent Roadblock: Corda simply occupies the road and waits for the party to decide whether words or weapons come first.
- The First Real Blow: her reaction to being hit reveals that this is her first genuine battle.
- The Unopened Letter: returning the letter after combat becomes a quiet way to earn her trust.
- The Better Test: a character challenges Corda to prove her strength by protecting someone instead of robbing them.
Faction and Location
Corda joined the Ashroad Reavers three months ago. She serves at the front of their ambush formation, where her size, shield, and armor turn her into a physical barrier.
Her neutral good nature sits uneasily beside the faction’s work. She has not yet answered whether the Reavers are helping her discover her strength or merely deciding what that strength will be used for.
Jakk: Corda counts Jakk as an ally within the Reavers, giving the GM a personal connection to use when her loyalty is tested.
Full Statblock
Show copy-ready statblock
Corda Steinschlag Medium humanoid (human), Neutral Good Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield, Defense style) Hit Points 12 (1d10+2) Speed 30 ft. STR 16 (+3) | DEX 12 (+1) | CON 14 (+2) | INT 9 (-1) | WIS 11 (+0) | CHA 9 (-1) Saving Throws STR +5, CON +4 Skills Athletics +5, Perception +2, Intimidation +1 Senses passive Perception 11 Languages Common Challenge 0 (0 XP) | Proficiency Bonus +2 Fighting Style: Defense. Corda gains +1 AC while wearing armor. This bonus is included above. ACTIONS Handaxe. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+3 slashing damage. Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+3 piercing damage, or 1d8+3 piercing damage when used with two hands in melee. BONUS ACTIONS Second Wind (1/Short Rest). Corda regains 1d10+1 hit points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Corda Steinschlag in DnD 5e?
Corda is a neutral good human fighter and guard NPC who serves as a front-line blocker for the Ashroad Reavers despite having no experience in a real battle.
How should I use Corda in an encounter?
Place her in the road with shield raised and let her silence create tension. Her age, good alignment, and uncertainty support negotiation, surrender, or defection as alternatives to combat.
Why is Corda carrying a sealed letter?
The letter is from her mother. Corda checks it repeatedly but has not found the courage to open it, making it a personal hook and visible sign of her unresolved connection to home.
What challenge rating is Corda?
Corda is CR 0 with AC 16 and 12 hit points. She is unusually durable for her tier but inexperienced in prolonged combat.
Is Corda Foundry VTT ready?
Not yet. She is assigned to the runeforgestudio-ashroad-reavers compendium, and this article includes a copy-ready statblock and token image link for manual setup.