Category Archives: NPCs

LL/AEC Rogues Gallery: The Fugitives Of Darlsfort

Wherein your humble scribe presents what might be an Adventuring Party for Labyrinth Lord/Advanced Edition Companion. These characters are all 1st level, were granted maximum HP (Advanced Style), and have a bare minimum of equipment. They were all created with 3d6 for stats, more often than not in order. And, as is now commonplace, they all have some snappy headgear.

Fleeing the frontier city of Darlsfort the night before an onslaught of goblinoid forces led by the evil sorceress Xeriaven, this group of young adventurers are ill-prepared for the challenges that await them in the dungeons and wildernesses they must traverse before they can hope to reach a new place to call home. Bickering, bitter recriminations and quite possibly brutal death await them on their journey.

Will Mad Piotr drag them all down with his unpredictable behavior? Will the pompous know-it-all Hagidox alienate himself from the safety of the group with his lectures and constant upbraiding? Will Sylmira grow weary of her childish companions and leave them to their fates if the opportunity presents itself? And what of the self-centered thief Rallen Pangkit? Are any safe when his turn to stand watch comes up? Only Mats Taldinson, dimwitted priest of Balder, has any chance of holding this loosely-knit group together long enough to navigate their way to a new life.

Piotr Vand / Human Illusionist 1 CN
Head Gear: Four-tasseled Hat
STR 10 INT 16 WIS 4 DEX 17 CON 10 CHR 9
HP 9 AC 7 Gold 104
Dagger, 6 Darts, Spellbook
Illusionist Spells: Hypnotism, Phantasmal Force, Refraction

Hagidox Mystarum / Human Magic-User 1 LN
Head Gear: Beaver-tailed Hat
STR 13 INT 14 WIS 8 DEX 13 CON 11 CHR 10
HP 4 AC 8 Gold 113
Quarterstaff, Dagger, 4 Darts, Spellbook
Magic-User Spells: Identify, Read Languages, Unseen Servant

Sylmira / Elf Magic-User 1 CG
Head Gear: Four-tiered Ziggurat Hat
STR 9 INT 14 WIS 10 DEX 12 CON 14 CHR 11
HP 5 AC 9 Gold 118
Quarterstaff, Spellbook
Magic-User Spells: Detect Magic, Erase, Magic Aura

Rallen Pangkit / Human Thief 1 NE
Head Gear: Short, Hacked Hair
STR 8 INT 12 WIS 10 DEX 18 CON 13 CHR 7
HP 7 AC 5 Gold 24
Shortsword, Dagger, Short Bow & 20 Arrows, Leather Armor, Thieves’ Tools

Mats Taldinson / Human Cleric 1 NG
Head Gear: Knit Skull Cap
STR 13 INT 7 WIS 15 DEX 12 CON 13 CHR 13
HP 9 AC 4 Gold 3
War Hammer, Banded Mail, Silver Holy Symbol
Cleric Spells: Cure Light Wounds, Light

A Dangerous Foe: Pianova di Triosso

Wherein your humble scribe presents a Barbarians of Lemuria villain he put together on a whim, for use in his own (highly-derivative) Kaalmuria setting.

Pianova Triosso is a powerful sorceress who makes her home in the Orecchi District of the City of Secrets. She is quite ill-disposed to men, seeing them as little more than chattel to be used to their best ends by women. Pianova seeks to use her arcane powers to overthrow the patriarchy that dominates Liria in favor of a new, women-centric government and will happily destroy any man who stands against her in this mission. She is exceptionally militant about her beliefs and sees any woman who does not stand firm against the barbaric animals called males as a collaborator who is scarcely better than a man (and no more deserving of pity).

Pianova is actively seeking out several artifacts she needs to cast some of her more aggressive incantations and heroes operating in Liria will quite likely run into her machinations at some point. The sorceress employs a number of spies and agents throughout the city’s taverns and inns, and little happens in Liria that she is not aware of.

Essences
Lifeblood 10
Arcane Power 15
Villain Points 5

Attributes
Strength 0
Agility 2
Mind 2
Appeal 2

Combat
Brawl 1
Melee 1
Ranged 1
Defense 3

Careers
Sorcerer 3
Sage 1
Assassin 2
Serving Wench 0

Boons
Quick Recovery
Power of the Void

Flaws
City Dweller
Greed
Distrust of Men

Languages
Lirian, Sorceric, Kellic, Thaxian

Equipment
Lirian Kris, d6-2

LL/RoCC Antagonist: The Sorcerer Rl’itaago

Wherein your humble scribe presents an antagonist for use with Labyrinth Lord and the brand new Realms of Crawling Chaos. Two appropriately Lovecraftian artifacts are included below. Both are the result of rolling on the Random Artifact Tables contained within RoCC, which I believe is Open Game Content and can be published here. I mention this mostly so that the mighty Dan Proctor gets proper credit.

The transformation of the sorcerer Rl’itaago into the Deep One he is destined to become is nearly complete, and his appearance testifies to this. Once a handsome young man, he now has “the Look” – he is hairless, hunched, and shambling, with spindly, webbed fingers and toes and unblinking, membrane-covered eyes. To avoid undue suspicion he hides in his room at the Yellow King Inn during daylight hours and moves about the great city of Khaarm only by night, cloaked and wrapped in heavy robes.

Rl’itaago is obsessed with the nature of the cosmos and seeks to learn as much as he can from the land dwellers before his eventual exodus to the sea. Any who visit Khaarm with artifacts of the Old Ones or who boast too loudly of exploits wherein they might have gained knowledge of the sort that Rl’itaago seeks will shortly find themselves a target for his attentions.

Over the course of his descent into inhumanity, Rl’itaago has come into possession of two hideous and powerful artifacts created by alien hands in ancient times: The Candle of Yshkor and the Pendant of the Steloloi. These items are described below.

Rl’itaago / Sea Blood Magic-User 5 Neutral Evil
STR 13 INT 17 WIS 7 DEX 13 CON 11 CHR 10
HP 18 AC 4 Gold 39
+1 Dagger of Venom, Bracers of Armor (AC 5), Candle of Yshkor, Pendant of the Steloloi

Magic-User Spells:
1st Level
Charm Person*, Comprehend Languages, Identify, Read Languages, Read Magic, Scribe, Sleep*, Unseen Servant*, Ventriloquism*

2nd Level
Amnesia, Auditory Illusion*, Phantasmal Force*, Powder of Ibn Ghazi, Ray of Enfeeblement*, Strength*

3rd Level
Dispel Magic, Hideous Graft*, Hold Person, Suggestion, Summon Night Beast*

Spells marked with an asterisk are the ones that Rl’itaago normally keeps in memory. The other spells are kept within his grimoire for use when needed.

Candle of Yshkor

Though this blood red candle burns slowly, it is close to halfway spent. When the candle is burning its owner may alter the passage of time, avoiding the effects of the previous combat round as though they did not happen. There is a 1 in 6 chance that the power of the Candle forces the combatants to relieve the round, resulting in twice as much damage as they suffered. 7 uses remain in the Candle of Yshkor. Whether an intentional effect or simply a twisted characteristic of its eldritch creation, all foods and liquids in close proximity to the Candle spoil instantly.

Pendant of the Steloloi

This wearer of this sickly green stone may drain life levels from opponents as Wight, but must make a save vs. Death or permanently lose one point of CON each time the power is employed. The Pendant of the Steloloi constantly whispers with a sibilant, indecipherable voice when worn.

LL/RoCC Rogues Gallery: The Outcasts Of Nogoloth

Wherein your humble scribe presents what might be an Adventuring Party for Labyrinth Lord/Advanced Edition Companion plus the brand new Realms of Crawling Chaos. These characters are all 1st level, were granted maximum HP (advanced style), and have a bare minimum of equipment. They were all created with 3d6 for stats, more often than not in order.

Driven out of the gloomy seaside town of his birth by the superstitious village elders, Jerald Istholam wandered southward along the rocky coastline of Nogoloth, pausing too often to stare out at the grey and moody sea that seemed to beckon to him darkly. Drawing upon the last reserves of his strength he turned away from the whispering waves and headed inland, intent upon making his way to the great city of Khaarm. There, amid the wisest sages and holiest priests, he would find the answers to the eldritch riddle of his lineage. Along the road to his ultimate fate he would befriend others whose very natures made them unwelcome in the petty and inconsequential civilization cobbled together by those sad creatures known as “men.”

Jerald Istholam / Sea Blood Cleric 1 Chaotic Good
STR 13 INT 10 WIS 15 DEX 10 CON 10 CHR 12
HP 8 AC 4 Gold 40
Mace, Shield, Chain Mail, Silver Holy Symbol
Cleric Spells: Command, Create Water, Fear

Lara / Subhuman Fighter/Thief 1/1 Chaotic Neutral
STR 16 INT 6 WIS 7 DEX 13 CON 16 CHR 11
HP 10 AC 7 Gold 96
Scimitar, Dagger, Leather Armor, Thieves’ Tools

Losh / White Ape Fighter 1 Chaotic Good
STR 16 INT 13 WIS 7 DEX 17 CON 16 CHR 7
HP 12 AC 4 Gold 97
Spear, Short Bow & 20 Arrows, Studded Leather, Shield

Dha’yacha / White Ape Hybrid Fighter/Magic-User 1/1 Chaotic Good
STR 12 INT 16 WIS 5 DEX 14 CON 10 CHR 8
HP 7 AC 5 Gold 67
Flail, Dagger, Light Crossbow & 10 Quarrels, Studded Leather, Shield, Spell Book
Magic-User Spells: Divine Weather, Magic Missile, Sleep

BoL Character: G’antonin Ancente Ecchius

Wherein your humble scribe presents yet another Barbarians of Lemuria character he put together as an NPC for use in his own (highly-derivative) Kaalmuria setting. More will follow at highly irregular intervals.

A priest of Sunere Luculum – an obscure Lirian deity opposed to the use of magic – G’antonin Ancente Ecchius acts as judge, jury and executioner in a never-ending battle against dark wizards and those who consort with demons. He mostly confines his activities to the city of Liria and its surrounding regions – both areas are all quite rich with sinners – but has been known to travel the width and breadth of Kaalmuria in pursuit of powerful sorcerers and witches. G’antonin is a man obsessed; stern, brooding, and hard to travel with. But when battle against the dark forces becomes inevitable, there are few men in all of Kaalmuria anyone would want at their side.

Essences
Lifeblood 11
Hero Points 5

Attributes
Strength 1
Agility 2
Mind 2
Appeal -1

Combat
Brawl 0
Melee 3
Ranged 0
Defense 1

Careers
Priest 1
Assassin 1
Hunter 1
Torturer 1

Boons
Magic Resistance
Detect Deception
Nose for Magic

Flaws
Distrust of Sorcery
Taciturn

Languages
Lirian, Thaxian, Kellic

Equipment
Sword, d6+1
Dagger, d3+1 (or d3 thrown)
Light armor, d6-2

Stars Without Number: Characters & Not A Review

Wherein your humble scribe presents a group of characters for Stars Without Number. These characters are all 1st level, were granted maximum HP, and have a bare minimum of equipment. They were all created by the book, with 3d6 for stats, more often than not in order.

What do a mercenary, a con artist, and a psychic healer have in common? Wanderlust and an eye for adventure, that’s what! All natives of Bragan IX, this group of old friends have returned to their homeworld for a reunion of sorts, and thus reunited seek their fortunes in limitless space.

Kara Starr / Human Warrior (Soldier/Mercenary) 1
STR 15 INT 9 WIS 12 DEX 14 CON 11 CHR 8
HP 8 AC 4 Credits 150
Business-0, Combat/Projectile Weapons-1, Combat/Unarmed-1, Culture/Bragan IX-0, Culture/Traveller-0, Tactics-1
Woven Body Armor, Revolver, SMG

Delfino Mars / Human Expert (Con Artist/Criminal) 1
STR 8 INT 14 WIS 12 DEX 13 CON 10 CHR 17
HP 6 AC 5 Credits 415
Business-0, Combat/Primitive-0, Culture/Criminal-1, Culture/Bragan IX-0, Gambling-0, Perception-0, Persuade-1, Security-0, Stealth-1
Woven Body Armor, Semi-Auto Pistol, Knife (2)

Vance Di Coromere / Human Psychic (Noble/Healer) 1
STR 6 INT 14 WIS 18 DEX 14 CON 14 CHR 13
HP 4 AC 4 Credits 325
Combat/Primitive-0, Culture/Bragan IX-0, Culture/Traveller-0, Leadership-0, Perception-0, Persuade-0, Tech/Psitech-0, Tech/Medical-0
Psychic Powers: Biopsionics-1 (Primary), Telepathy-1 (Secondary)
Psi Power Points: 3
Woven Body Armor, Sword, Knife, Lazarus Patch (5)

Definitely Not A Review

This is not a review of Stars Without Number, but I thought I’d make a few points.

Character creation is pretty darn fast in SWN, despite the handful of extra steps that it adds to the classic D&D-style process.
Character creation is decidedly not random, at least not in comparison to Traveller. You’re pretty much in control of who you’re going to play here. Whether this is a good thing or not depends on what you want from your RPG experience.
I’m not entirely sure why I’d play SWN instead of Traveller, but the game seems quite solid on my brief skimming of the rules.
That said, I find myself oddly ill-at-ease with the two distinct task resolution systems present in the game. I’m not a “one task system or die!” kind of guy, but having a d20 system for combat (and the similar, but not exactly so D&D-style saving throws) and a 2d6 system for skills – where both are modified by the same numbers (skill levels, attribute bonuses) feels off to me. I’m sure it works fine in play, but it’s not quite copacetic in my head. I really don’t know why this bothers me. It might just be something in the air.
I haven’t read the Faction rules yet, and those may well be the thing that makes SWN preferable to Traveller for some purposes and playstyles.
The plethora of random tables makes SWN worth downloading regardless of anything else.

In the end, Stars Without Number seems like an interesting blend of D&D and Traveller. And though in my mind it doesn’t replace Traveller, I can see where it would have significant appeal for anyone already familiar with old school D&D (or any of the retroclones thereof) who either didn’t have access to, or didn’t have interest in, the big daddy of scifi games. If that’s you, this may be the game for you. And if not, it’s still worth the bandwidth to download.

Mystery Men: Los Defensores De Monterrey

In case you missed the news, the beta of Mystery Men is now available. That means it’s time to whip up a few characters to see how the rules work. I opted to start these heroes with 40,000 XP for power building. That might be a bit high, but at least it’s not the planet buster/demigod level noted in the rules. And now, without further ado, let’s check out Mexico’s favorite crime-fighting trio, Los Defensores De Monterrey!

El Aguila Solar

One of the country’s earliest superheroes, El Aguila Solar represents the sun and its power and importance in Mexico. Crusading attorney general Hector Diaz y Montenegro is the third man to wear the mantle of El Aguila Solar, and was hand-chosen by the previous Aguila Solar. When not prosecuting criminal in accordance with the laws of Mexico, El Aguilar Solar serves the people by defending them from threats minor and cosmic.

Name: El Aguila Solar
Secret Identity: Hector Diaz y Montenegro
Background: Attorney General
Class: Adventurer
Level: 8
XP: 10,200

Strength: 15 (+4)
Intelligence: 2 (+0)
Will: 5 (+1)
Dexterity: 3 (+0)
Constitution: 8 (+2)
Charisma: 11 (+3)

Attack Bonus: +6
Feat Bonus: +3
Hit Points: 64
Defense Class: 10 (14 w/ Shield)
Speed: 2

Money: $170,000
Equipment: –

Powers: Energy Blade [P], Energy Bolt [P], Flight [P], Light II [P], Shield [P], Strike Blind [L], Sunbeam [S]

El Misterio Verde

Bumbling stage magician Miguel Oroto – who performs under the name El Miraculo! – is the last person anyone would suspect of being the greatest sorcerer in all of Latin America. Which explains why no one quite knows where El Misterio Verde disappears to when he is not needed by the people of Monterrey. Yet when danger rears its terrible head the green wizard appears from nowhere to defend his city.

Name: El Misterio Verde
Secret Identity: Miguel Oroto
Background: Stage Magician
Class: Sorcerer
Level: 6
XP: 6,700

Strength: 6 (+1)
Intelligence: 6 (+1)
Will: 9 (+2)
Dexterity: 8 (+2)
Constitution: 6 (+1)
Charisma: 8 (+2)

Attack Bonus: +3
Feat Bonus: +2
Hit Points: 30
Defense Class: 12
Speed: 2

Money: $700
Equipment: –

Magic Pool: 15,000 XP
Powers: Hypnotic Pattern [P], Illusion III [P], Invisibility I [P], True Seeing [S], Zone of Truth [L]

Profesora Mañana

Daniela Campos, professor of science at Universidad de Monterrey, uses her keen intellect and astounding technical skills to fight the criminal element throughout Nuevo Leon. No challenge is beyond her capabilities and no villain has yet been able to stand against her amazing devices.

Name: Profesora Mañana
Secret Identity: Daniela Campos
Background: Science Professor
Class: Scientist
Level: 7
XP: 8,700

Strength: 4 (+0)
Intelligence: 15 (+4)
Will: 6 (+1)
Dexterity: 5 (+1)
Constitution: 4 (+0)
Charisma: 5 (+1)

Attack Bonus: +3
Feat Bonus: +3
Hit Points: 33
Defense Class: 11 (15 w/ Armor)
Speed: 2

Money: $8,000
Equipment: –

Invention Pool: 18,000
Powers: Analyze [S], Armor* [P], Entangle* [P], Heal Wounds II* [L], Hypercognition [S]

* Powers marked with an asterisk are object-based and therefore cost 1/2 as much

Mini Six Character: Detective Sergeant Arthur Dietrich

Wherein your humble scribe attempts to honor the recently departed Steve Landesberg by writing up his most famous character, Detective Sergeant Arthur Dietrich as a Mini Six/Precinct ’77 character.

If it’s true that childhood imagination games like “Cowboys & Indians” and “Cops & Robbers” are the original RPGs, then it’s likely that my first character was, shall we say, an homage to (read as: blatant knock off of) Detective Sergeant Arthur Dietrich, of Barney Miller fame. When it came to cops, other kids wanted to be Dirty Harry, Starsky & Hutch, or even Ponch & John. But not me. I wanted to be the calm, intellectual detective who confounded everyone with his dry wit and subtle sarcasm. I was an odd kid, go fig.

So when I heard this morning that Steve Landesberg, the actor who portrayed this childhood icon of mine passed away yesterday, I felt the need to complete the circle a bit and write up ol’ Dietrich as a “proper” RPG character. So consider this my odd adult effort at a tribute to one of the great offbeat cops of all time and the actor who played him so very well.

First, let’s watch the opening of Barney Miller to get in the mood (and man, that bass line does it for me every time):

And now, let’s meet the real star of the show…

Detective Sergeant Arthur Dietrich
Might 2D+2 Agility 2D+1
Wit 4D Charm 3D
Skills: Brawling 3D, Muscle 3D, Dodge 3D+1, Investigation 5D, German 4D+2, Legalese 4D+1, Sciences 5D, Humanities 5D, Good Cop 4D, Bad Cop 3D+1
Perks: Destiny
Complications: none
Gear: Badge, Handcuffs, Service Revolver (4D)
Static: Dodge 10, Block 9, Parry 8
Body Points: 30
Armor: none

Traveller: The Crew Of The Free Trader Nobuharu

Wherein, in honor of the currently still free (through December 31st) classic Traveller Starter Edition, your humble scribe presents a group of characters for (classic) Traveller. All of these were rolled up by-the-book using said Starter Edition.

Working their way through the Claybourne Subsector, the crew of the Free Trader Nobuharu – brainiacs all – have found themselves a bit short on this month’s payment. Not wanting to lose possession of the one thing that sets them apart from the rest of the rabble, these streetwise geniuses have stumbled upon the Governor of Posada’s need to have a trio of “embarrassing” individuals escorted “elsewhere” in the subsector. The ladies in question don’t seem particularly difficult to deal with, and their high passages – as well as a generous “discretion bonus” – have been paid for in cash. What could possibly go wrong?

Wes Galinol
A67C78 Age 34 4 Terms (Service: Merchants, Final Rank: Captain)
Jack of All Trades-2, Streetwise-3, Steward-1, Pilot-2
Free Trader
Cr25,000

Vicki Bergeron
548A79 Age 38 5 Terms (Service: Merchants, Final Rank: 1st Officer)
Streetwise-2, Navigation-3, Steward-1, Jack of All Trades-1, Electronic-1, Pilot-1, Gunnery-2
Low Psg
Cr50,000

Ulysses Kielty
685B98 Age 22 1 Terms (Service: Navy, Final Rank: Lieutenant)
Medical-1, Navigation-1, Engineering-1, Computer-1
Cr20,000

Octavio Basilio
C73BB6 Age 38 5 Term (Service: Marines, Final Rank: Force Commander)
Cutlass-1, Leader-4, Admin-1, Tactics-3, Revolver-1
Cutlass, TAS
Cr30,000

Traveller: Sneaking Stinson Through The Stratosphere

Wherein, in honor of the currently free classic Traveller Starter Edition, your humble scribe presents a group of three characters for (classic) Traveller. All of these were rolled up by-the-book using said Starter Edition.

Mustered out on Budapest in the Claybourne Subsector, this group of miscreants is looking for work. One of them overheard a little rumor in the B-class starport bar that there’s a scientist in the capital city who is looking for a group to escort her (or him?) offworld so that he can conduct his research without further interference by the planet’s highly bureaucratic government. Of course, just finding this scientist (Stinson? Simson? What was that name, exactly?) will be hard enough. Getting him (or her?) through the red tape to get offworld might prove to be nearly impossible. Maybe they’ll just go back to drinking until an easier patron comes along…

Ernesto Meltzer
686A48 Age 22 1 Term (Service: Marines, Final Rank: NCO)
Cutlass-1
Cr5,000

Keisha Benton
8CB838 Age 38 5 Terms (Service: Merchants, Final Rank: 2nd Officer)
Steward-2, Steetwise-1, AutoPistol-1, Electronics-2, Jack of All Trades-2
AutoPistol
Cr80,000

Katie Craine
78B674 Age 30 3 Terms (Service: Army, Final Rank: Major)
Rifle-1, SMG-1, Blade-1, Forward Observer-1, Mechanical-2, Tactics-1
Low Psg
Cr30,000

Rodney Calastine
7C78A3 Age 26 2 Terms (Service: Navy, Final Rank: Lieutenant)
Medical-1, Engineering-1, Navigation-1, Pilot-2
Cr15,000

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