100 Years of Pardon - Character 4

100 Years of Pardon

Identities

Secret Identity: Soldado de Cuera

The soldado de cuera (English, "leather-jacket soldier") served in the frontier garrisons of northern New Spain, the Presidios. They were mounted and were an exclusive corps in the Spanish Empire. They took their name from the multi-layered deer-skin cloak they wore as protection against Indian arrows. When New Spain's visitador (inspector general) José de Gálvez organized the Portola Expedition, he was accompanied by a party of 25 soldiers, the "finest horsemen in the world."

These frontier soldiers were recruited from among the mestizo population, Hispanicized Indians, and freed slaves. Most of the officers were Criollos, whereas very few of the enlisted men had this distinction. The soldados de cuera manned the presidios that stretched from Los Adaes, Louisiana, in the East, across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, to the Pacific Coast of Alta California in the West. Recruitment took place mainly among the local population, accustomed to the local climate, who were expert horsemen, and expert trackers who knew the country. For the poor general population the service as a soldado de cuera was attractive, with many perks; besides a regular pay, also medical care, the possibility of land grants and promotions.

Character Portrait

Attributes and Skills

Agility	3d	Brawn	2d	Knowledge	2d	Perception	3d	Charm	2d
Acrobatics		Athletics		Language		Ride	1d	Command
Marksmanship		Intimidation		Medicine		Investigate		Deceive	1d
Melee	2d	Stamina		Scholar	1d	Stealth		Persuasion	2d
Sleight of Hand		Throwing		Science		Survival		Willpower

Gear

• (Your character is assumed to have any reasonable gear that matches your background, but feel free to list out any particular items here.)
• Horse
• leather jacket (cuera) and bull-hide shield (adarga)
• lance
• sabre
• short musket
• pair of pistols
• rope
• manacles
• extra blankets