Liver-Eating Johnson

Liver-Eating Johnson is a tall and rugged man with long hair and a thick beard. He often wears fur clothing and a coonskin cap. He is missing several fingers, having allegedly gnawed them off himself during a battle with the Crow.

• Alias – Liver-Eating Johnson, The Crow Killer
• Gender – Male
• Race – Human
• Occupation – Mountain man, hunter, and trapper
• Religion – Unknown
• Allies – Native American allies, fellow mountain men
• Enemies – Crow Native Americans, Blackfoot Native Americans, Colonial Army soldiers
• Abode/ Base of operations – Rocky Mountains, particularly in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming and Montana
• Nationality – American
• Languages – English, some Native American languages
• Alignment – Neutral Good
• Affiliation(s) – Independent
• Significant others – None known

Liver-Eating Johnson was a legendary figure in the history of the American West. Born John Jeremiah Garrison, earned his infamous nickname after a band of Crow Indians killed his wife and he swore to kill and eat the liver of every Crow he encountered.

As a mountain man and fur trapper, Johnson was known for his incredible toughness and survival skills. He survived multiple bear attacks and endured harsh winters in the Rockies. But after his wife’s death, he became a fierce warrior and skilled marksman who killed numerous Crow warriors in his quest for revenge.

Despite his reputation as a killer, Johnson was respected by many in the region for his courage and strength. He eventually became a deputy sheriff in Montana and worked to uphold the law in his community. However, he remained haunted by the loss of his wife and the violence he had committed.

Other notable characters in Johnson’s story include Jim Bridger, another famous mountain man who Johnson respected, and a number of other Native American tribes with whom Johnson had varying relationships.

Ultimately, Johnson’s story is one of survival, vengeance, and redemption, and his legend has become a part of American folklore.

Liver-Eating Johnson

Medium humanoid (human), neutral good

Armor Class: 16 (hide armor, shield) Hit Points: 138 (21d8 + 42) Speed: 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	8 (-1)

Skills: Athletics +9, Intimidation +2, Perception +5, Survival +5 Senses: passive Perception 15 Languages: English Challenge Rating: 9 (5,000 XP)

Background: Soldier

Equipment:

• Hide armor, Shield, Longsword, Hunting knife, Rifle and ammunition (5 shots), Bear trap, Powder horn, Canteen of whiskey

Abilities:

• Savage Attacks. When Johnson scores a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, he can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.
• Favored Enemy (Native Americans). Johnson has advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track Native American creatures and on Intelligence checks to recall information about them.
• Relentless Endurance. When Johnson is reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, he can drop to 1 hit point instead. He can’t use this feature again until he finishes a long rest.
• Battle Cry (2/day). Johnson can shout a rallying cry as a bonus action, granting all allies within 60 feet that can hear him advantage on their next attack roll.
• Bear Trap. As an action, Johnson can set his bear trap on the ground in a 5-foot square adjacent to him. Any creature that enters that square or starts its turn there takes 2d6 piercing damage and must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be restrained until it uses an action to break free.
• Rifle Shot. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d10) piercing damage.
• Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d8+6) slashing damage.
• Hunting Knife. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) piercing damage.
• Intimidating Presence. As an action, Johnson can attempt to frighten one creature within 30 feet of him that can see him. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of Johnson for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Legendary Actions:

Liver-Eating Johnson can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Johnson regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Extra Attack. Liver-Eating Johnson can make one additional melee weapon attack.
• Reload Rifle. Johnson reloads his rifle and can use it again on his next turn.

Lair Actions:

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Johnson takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

• Bear Trap. Liver-Eating Johnson sets his bear trap on the ground in a 5-foot square adjacent to him. Any creature that enters that square or starts its turn there takes 2d6 piercing damage and must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be restrained until it uses an action to break free. Battle Cry. Johnson shouts a rallying cry, granting all allies within 60 feet that can hear him advantage on their next attack roll. Smoke Bomb. Johnson throws a smoke bomb on the ground in a 10-foot radius centered on him. The area becomes heavily obscured, and creatures within the area are blinded until the start of Johnson’s next turn.

Reactions:

Opportunity Attack. Liver-Eating Johnson can make an opportunity attack when a creature he can see moves out of his reach. Parry. Johnson can use his reaction to add 3 to his AC against one melee attack that would hit him.

Magic Items:

Boots of Striding and Springing. Liver-Eating Johnson’s walking speed is increased by 10 feet.

Amulet of Health. Johnson’s Constitution score increases by 2, to a maximum of 20. Ring of Protection. Johnson gains a +1 bonus to AC and saving throws.

Jeremiah Johnson is a 1972 film by Sydney Pollack starring Robert Redford depicting his life.