Escort (5A)

This is an original Fighter subclass for 5A

An escort is the companion and guardian of another character. Some escorts serve an individual, family, or organization, while others are bodyguards for hire or knights errant who attach themselves to one individual at a time. Others may work as a batman, bodyguard, coachman, footman, muscle, or as career squire who does not aspire to knighthood.

Greyhawk Escorts and bodyguards exist in almost all cultures. Escorts for hire are common in cosmopolitan cities. Among dwarfs and beastfolk, a young person whose life was saved might become a lifelong escort for their saviour. Elves are usually too independent-minded to become escorts, making the few who accept the role even more valuable.

Subclass Abilities

Batman

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with land vehicles and cook’s utensils. You can don armor and help others don armor in half the normal time.

Escort a Ward

At 3rd level after a long or short rest you select a willing creature within 30 feet to be your ward. The relationship lasts until the end of your next long rest or until you take a new ward.

While within 5 ft. of your ward, you and your ward both gain a +2 bonus on Armor Class and saving throws.

Ever-present Escort

Starting at 3rd level, you are able to be very unobtrusive when acting discreetly within 30 ft. of your ward. You are able to use Stealth to hide against creatures of the Humanoid type even when you don't have cover or concealment. You cannot use this ability against a humanoid creature hostile to your ward.

To the Rescue

Starting at 7th level, you have learned ways to protect your ward. When your ward is attacked or has to make a saving throw, you can use a reaction to move within 5 feet of your ward. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If you do this in response to an attack, all attacks against your ward until the end of your current turn are redirected to attack you, and can attack you even if you are out of reach or in full cover. You can only use this if your speed (or the speed of your vehicle or mount) is sufficient to move adjacent to your ward. You can use it even if you start within 5 ft. of your ward.

Pre-emptive Escort

At 10th level, when you use To the Rescue, you can also make a weapon attack at the creature that attacked your ward or forced your ward to make a saving throw. This attack happens before their action.

Ward Exemplar

At 15th level, when you Escort a Ward, you can imitate some of your ward's abilities.

If your ward is proficient in a skill, you are also proficient in that skill. If you are already proficient in that skill, there is no additional effect.
If your ward is proficient with saving throws for a certain ability, you are also proficient with saving throws for that ability.
If your ward is able to use a certain magic item, you are also able to use that magic item.

Ward the Camp

At 18th level, your discretion becomes legendary. You you can cast Nondetection without a material component, but you can only target yourself and your ward. You can also cast Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum as a ritual by inspecting and cleaning the area to be protected. You can end either effect as an action. Though these function as magical spells, they are actually effects of your labor, and you have no limit on how often you can use these abilities.

Designer's Notes

A militarized Servant, the escort is less servile bust still focused on serving another.

The +2 bonus at level 3 is perhaps a bit too strong, but I detest +1 bonuses.