The Rider’s Bag–What’s inside?

The riders of Aviandria are known for being prepared for anything. One thing that has allowed them to gain this reputation is their Rider’s bag, or sometimes called Rider’s pack. It’s nothing more than a large bag, usually made of leather and worn over one shoulder. Here and now we’d probably call it a messenger bag. Nothing really out of the ordinary. The real difference is in what is carried inside the bag. The contents of a Rider’s bag isn’t really a secret, but few people actually know exactly what they consist of. After you read this, you will be able to join the list of those who do.

*Keep in mind, the picture is what I put together as a visual. Therefore, some things are definitely more modern (hence the nice, bright red plastic handled scissors). However, since I don’t have access to a real rider’s bag right now, this will have to do. 

1-First aid kit -Every rider carries the items to care for basic cuts, scrapes, and bruises. A few, like Alder, carry more extensive medical supplies if they are trained in more advanced medicine. Obviously, they wouldn’t have access to all the things you will find in lists for first aid kits, like disposable gloves, and anything plastic, latex, rubber, or silicone. The basic kits would include:

• Antibacterial salves and herbs for a variety of uses.
• Clean bandages in several sizes and shapes.
• Basic tools for simple sutures.
• A small pair of scissors (yes, they’ve invented scissors in Aviandria.)

2-Rope and twine- You never know when you might need to tie something. They don’t have the convenience of lightweight but strong rope, like paracord, so they can’t take super long lengths of rope, but they have at least two or three yards.

3-Flint, steel, char cloth, and tinder- They would seriously love matches, but they get proficient enough, they can do nearly as well with these things.

4-A candle- Although a pain to light without matches, sometimes having a portable light source is worth it.

5-Spare bowstring, extra arrowheads, and a few fishing hooks- There isn’t enough room in their packs for much food, and what they can carry isn’t always very appetizing. If they are going to be away for more than a day or two, it usually requires supplementing with some hunting and gathering.

6-Good, versatile knife- This knife must be able to act as a good number of things, so it has to be strong, but not so big that it is clumsy to work with.

7-A small pad of paper and a pencil- This often comes in handy if one needs to leave a note or record something. Of course, pencils are more the charcoal variety and smudge easily, but they work in a pinch and are much easier to deal with than a quill and ink.

8-Needle and thread- For all mending needs. These are kept separate from those in the first aid supplies.

9-Food rations- usually enough food to get by for a day or two. It has to have a decent shelf life, so it usually isn’t very appetizing. It is often along the lines of some sort of dried meat, some hardtack like biscuits, and a bit of dried fruit to balance it out.

10-A modest amount of money- It’s far from a fortune, and riders are encouraged to only spend it in an emergency. Considering it usually comes out of their pay, they usually don’t.

11-A good pair of leather gloves- Great for gathering wood without getting splinters, or moving rocks, or anything involving bugs and spiders, gloves come in handy more often than you might imagine.

12-An extra pair of socks- Because riders try to be clean and hygienic whenever possible.

13-Personal Hygiene Items- Things like soap, tooth care, etc. The items may vary slightly from rider to rider since they are personal, but all riders will have them.

14-A loud whistle- But only when they aren’t wearing it around their necks. They use this to call their rocs or signal to other riders.

This might seem like a lot of stuff, but if they pack carefully, they have enough room for a few personal items. Some like to have a small instrument like a flute and others might bring a small personal sketchbook and sketching pencils, etc. And with some really tight packing, there may even be room for a change of clothes if the need for them is foreseen. They may also have special items that a certain mission might require.

A rider goes hardly anywhere without his or her bag. There are other pieces of equipment they don’t always carry, such as their bows, shortswords, or bedrolls, but if a rider is on duty, they will probably have their bag with them. In some situations, their bag can be lifesaving. Generally, they are just all-around useful.

What would you like in your rider’s bag if you were a rider?