Category: Fantasy

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Enchantress of Venus


FATE: Enchantress of Venus

Or, a little more Planetary Romance for your life thanks to Leigh Brackett

Draft 1.0 April 11, 2013 - Blue Tyson

SETTING

Old Venus. Lush, dangerous jungles where the air can be too thick and heavy and mysterious, misty seas beyond which lie dangerous outposts of the primitive and ancient. Like on Mars, immigration from Earth is driving back the older native populations, sometimes violently.

ISSUES

Stark's friend the barbarian prince Helvi is missing!
What the hell is going on in Shuruun, the pirate city?

THE PLAYERS

Eric John Stark

N'Chaka, Man-Without-a-Tribe
Outlaw of Mars and Earth
Wild Man of Mercury
Very Bad Girl Magnet
Fights For the Oppressed

F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Incredible +4
P: Incredible +4

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity -Excellent (-2)

Other Skills

Amazing (+5) Alertness, Sword, Spear
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Survival
Excellent (+2) Contacts, Investigation, Ride, Swim
Good (+1) Guns, Stealth

Helvi

Barbarian prince of Yarell
Friend of Stark
Lost His Brother Tobal to Lhari Slavery

F: Excellent +2
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Good +1

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity Good (+1)

Other Skills

Amazing (+5) Alertness, Sword, Spear
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Survival
Excellent (+2) Contacts, Investigation, Ride, Swim
Good (+1) Guns, Stealth

Malthor

Ship Captain
Secret Slaver For the Lhari
Would Even Sell His Daughter Into Slavery

F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Good +1
I: Good +1
P: Good +1

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity Excellent (+2)

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Sail
Excellent (+2) Deceit, Intimidate
Good (+1) Leadership

Mike Larrabee

Lame Earthman stuck in Shuruun
Known for the Royal Venus Bank Job

F: Typical +0
A: Poor -1
S: Typical +0
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0

Resources Poor (-1)
Popularity Typical (0)

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Burglary
Good (+1) Leadership, Sail

Zareth

Young Daughter of Malthor
Too Brave For Her Own Good
More Honest than Dad Would Like

F: Poor -1
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Good +1

Resources Feeble (-2)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Excellent (+2) Rapport, Stealth

Grandmother

Lhari Matriarch
Hugely Massive and Fat

F: Awful -3
A: Awful -3
S: Typical +0
E: Poor -1
R: Excellent +2
I: Excellent +2
P: Remarkable +3

Resources Remarkable (+3)
Popularity -Remarkable (-3)

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Intimidate, Leadership

Varra

Lhari Falconer
Not Keen on Marrying Egil
Would Rather Like Most of Her Relatives Disposed Of

F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Excellent +2
I: Excellent +2
P: Excellent +2

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Excellent (-2)

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Falconry

Egil

Lhari Cruel Wannabe
Really Wants To Marry Varra

F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Remarkable (-2)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Guns, Leadership

Cond

Lhari Cruel Double Wannabe
Egil's brother

F: Good +1
A: Typical
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Poor -1

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Remarkable (-2)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Guns, Leadership

Arel

Lhari Useless One and Not Sad About It
Happy To Be Out of the Spotlight, She Is

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Good +1
I: Good +1
P: Good +1

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Remarkable (-2)

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Falconry

Bor

Young Lhari

F: Typical (+0)
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Good (+1)
Popularity -Good (-1)

Other Skills

Excellent (+2) Reptile Handling

Treon

Deformed Llari
Deferential But Different

F: Poor (-1)
A: Poor (-1)
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Excellent +2
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0

Resources Good (+1)
Popularity -Good (-1)

Other Skills

Excellent (+2) Lore, Mysteries

Lhari

Displaced ancient race of overoptimistic crazed slave rulers with a Frankenstein complex. Only a few remain thanks to past follies.

Nerve Gun (+3)

The Lhari weapon can be set to cause paralysis or death.

Lhari guards

Treat these as Good (+1) minions if doing important duties, Typical (+0) if not, armed with Nerve Guns and swords.

Lost Ones

Poor (-1) Overworked undersea slaves. In normal health, or those not worked too hard yet will be Typical +0 Venusians in general. Lhari tech lets them work, but not for too long. Housed in a camp and barracks and kept under control by collars and guards with Nerve Guns.

Slave Collar

Nerve Charge (+3)

This attacks a slave who tries to cross an invisible energy barrier, or electric eye in effect. It will continue to do so if they persist.

PLAYERS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE STORY SHOULD NOT READ THIS PART

This could be run for one player, using Stark or their own equally highly capable character with Warrior skills. The story sequence then will likely be as the short novel in general.

ONE PC VERSION

1. Stark takes sail across the Red Sea to try and find his friend Helvi. Malthor the ship captain gives him far from the full story.

2. Thrown overboard, Stark is on his own to attempt to swim back to land and make his way through jungle and town to Shuruun.

3. Stark manages this without much effort and Malthor's daughter seeks him out. He learns of the Lhari, the Lords of Shuruun and decides to boldly pay them a visit, front door style.

4. He meets the family of rulers and Very Bad Girl Magnet attracts Varra, which displeases Egil enough to shoot him with his nerve paralysis gun after he has had some discussion with the matriarch.

5. Stark is put into slavery with the rest of the Lost Ones and is reunited with Helvi and Zareth. He begins to plan. Varra and her infatuation will be useful if he can make a deal with her. A deal is definitely what she wants. Stark killing the relatives she despises in return for an end to slavery.

6. Malthor sets a slave up with a weapon to ambush Stark. Despite losing against Stark himself it is just a knife. Malthor is unarmed. Malthor is not remotely a match for Stark. All part of Egil's machinations. Zareth has followed and attacks Egil who is forced to shoot at her, not Stark. She is mortally wounded. Egil becomes another no contest that Stark will have no mercy about in a Taken Out scenario.

7. Stark investigates with Treon's input, deciding to look into the super science that the Lhari are interested in. They find a thought-recording of the ancients detailing their Frankenstein quest and downfall. Treon is able to find a machine that restores him to normal Lhari stature. Effectively raising all his physical attributes one rank, removing the monster taint.

8. Stark and Treon come across guards on the slaves and fight them, the guards possessing superior weaponry and Treon lacking skill.

9. They free the slaves. There are over an hundred and twenty guards. Less of each after the unavoidable confrontation. No guards left, only high double figures of slaves if you don't want to waste time rolling. These twenty guards were of the Typical (+0) variety and only had swords.

10. Treon shows Stark a secret tunnel and way back to the Lhari courtroom.

11. It is Llari, Stark, Helvi and 90 odd slaves vs Llari and around 50 guards. Then Mike Larrabee and the ordinary townspeople (Typical (+0 Mob) arrive. Once Larrabee's leadership gets them involved in the fight it is quickly over. End of Lhari, guards and half the slaves.

12. Of course they didn't kill Bors pet dragon. Eveyone loves a smart pet lizard. Stark or the locals can free it or give it a new home as preferred.

MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITH STARK

If a group of two or three wanted to play Stark and friends then Helvi and Zareth could be used as PCs. If any PCs had met Stark previously and worked with them he would be happy to accept their help in travelling to Shuruun on an adventure. He'd be happy to trade such service in return, never being much in the way of cashed up. The inserting of extra competent opponents means using enough guards or of Malthor's underlings to dump them into the sea. Several for each, as a suggestion. With surprise, likely to be accomplished. If any possess Alertness like Stark's they may get the chance to fight back. Either way, two choices, swim or ship to get to sthore.

MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITHOUT STARK INITIALLY

Stark has gone off to look for Helvi and has left the PCs a message about his intentions and the possibility that the pirate city of Shuruun will be rough. Another of Malthor's captains can provide transport and similar impromptu swimming if they learn of the character association with Stark. Then the PCs must follow in Stark's footsteps. Do they confront the Lhari, try raiding the slave camp? If they end up enslaved, things happen as per the story sequence in general. If they manage to free Stark, Helvi and Zareth then the final confrontation gets moved up most likely and the super science investigation after the corpses are cleared.

THE LADDER

Being a big Marvel Super Heroes fan from way back, this is how I like to think:

Value Adjective

+13 Cosmic 5 (Class 5000)
+12 Cosmic 3 (Class 3000)
+11 Cosmic 1 (Class 1000)
+10 Legendary Z (Shift Z)
+9 Legendary Y (Shift Y)
+8 Legendary X (Shift X)
+7 Unearthly (Epic)
+6 Monstrous (Fantastic)
+5 Amazing (Superb)
+4 Incredible (Great)
+3 Remarkable (Good)
+2 Excellent (Fair)
+1 Good (Average)
+0 Typical (Mediocre)
-1 Poor
-2 Feeble (Terrible)
-3 Awful 0 (Shift 0)
-4 Abysmal

FASERIP - basic human attributes

Physique is split compared to Core, into a Strength component and an Endurance component, the latter of which should be used for the Stress track. Reason is native intelligence.

Fighting (Fight)
Agility (Athletics)
Strength
Endurance
Reason
Intuition (Notice)
Psyche (Will)

secondary

Popularity is a measure of charisma, reputation and public influence. If you like, bad people can have a negative popularity ladder equivalent. Supervillains, mass murderers, ruthless thugs in The Ball, etc.

Popularity
Resources

REFERENCES

Short Novel

Enchantress of Venus http://archive.org/details/EnchantressOfVenus

Author

Leigh Brackett (ology) http://leighbrackett.blogspot.com/

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Black Amazon of Mars


FATE: Black Amazon of Mars

Draft 1.0 April 09, 2013 - Blue Tyson

SETTING

Old Mars. Where you can breathe the air and water is hard to find. Colonisation from Earth and the population growth of the native humans has driven the old races out in most cases. The same is happening to the primitive tribes and wilderness areas. The cold desert Norlands is one such area that still survives, near the ancient city of Kushat, beyond which lies the Gates of Death.

From the story introduction, first publication:
"Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city—with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel—ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures—at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!"

ISSUES

The Talisman of Ban Cruach has been stolen!
The Riders of Mekh are expanding their territory

THE PLAYERS

Eric John Stark

N'Chaka, Man-Without-a-Tribe
Outlaw of Mars
Very Bad Girl Magnet

F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Incredible +4
P: Incredible +4

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity -Excellent (-2)

Other Skills

Amazing (+5) Alertness, Sword, Spear
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Survival
Excellent (+2) Contacts, Investigation, Ride
Good (+1) Guns, Stealth

Ciaran the Warlord of Mekh

Lust For Conquest
With This Axe I Rule!
No, I Won't Take Off My Helmet

F: Remarkable +3
A: Excellent +2
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Remarkable +3
P: Remarkable +3

Resources Remarkable (+3)
Popularity Incredible (+4) [Riders of Mekh only, initially]

Other Skills

Amazing (+5) Axe
Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Leadership
Remarkable (+3) Ride, Survival, Disguise
Excellent (+2) Deceit

Camar the Martin

Overoptimistic Thief and Warrior

F: Excellent +2
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Excellent +2
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Good +1

Resources Poor (-1)
Popularity Typical (0)

Other Skills

Excellent (+2) Burglary, Lore
Good (+1) Ride, Survival

Thord

Mekh War Party Leader
Ciaran's Second In Command
Insecure of Prowess

F: Excellent +2
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Excellent +2
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0

Resources Good (+1)
Popularity Good (+1) with the Riders of Mekh only

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Whip, Sword
Excellent (+2) Ride, Survival

Riders of Mekh

Barbarian Cavalry With Spears

Good (+1) quality army

Otar

Old Madman
Adviser to Ciaran

F: Feeble -2
A: Poor -1
S: Feeble -2
E: Typical +0
R: Good +1
I: Remarkable +3
P: Good +1

Resources Poor (-2)
Popularity Poor (-2)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Lore, Mysteries

Thanis

Kind-hearted but Dodgy By Necessity
Sister of Balin

F: Typical (+0)
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical +0
Popularity Typical +0

Other Skills

Good (+1) Burglary

Balin

Pretty Good Thief
Looks Out For Thanis

F: Typical (+0)
A: Excellent +2
S: Typical (+0)
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Good +1
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical +0
Popularity -Good -1

Other Skills

Excellent (+2) Burglary, Contacting, Sleight of Hand

The Old Race

Good (+1) telepaths
Typical (+0) fighters
Vulnerability to heat

Ban Cruach

Ancient Martian King.

Has a statue and a sword at the Gates of Death. You can interact with his personality with the Talisman of Mekh. A highly competent and efficient ruler and general in his time, he broke the hold of the Old Race on the Norlands.

Talisman of Ban Cruach

An artifact of importance to Kushat and when used you can commune with the personality of the dead ancient king and discover some of what life is like and of beyond the Gates of Death.

Sword of Ban Cruach

Icebreaker
Old Race Bane

Force Sword with Beam Multi-Attack Old Race (+5)

PLAYERS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE STORY SHOULD NOT READ THIS

This could be run for one player, using Stark or their own equally highly capable character with Warrior skills. The story sequence then will likely be as the short novel.

ONE PC VERSION

1. Stark's friend Camar has been Taken Out to the death. He stole the Talisman of Ban Cruach from Kushat and now entrusts it to you.

2. Stark travels with the Talisman, running afould of the Riders of Mekh and their leader Lord Ciaran. He experiences contact with Ban Cruach's personality.

3. Stark escapes and goes to Kushat where a brother and sister discover what he has been up to and Stark tries to warn the city and its nobility to expect an attack.

4. The Riders attack Kushat. Stark fights for the defense, seeking out Ciaran personally.

5. Stark just manages to defeat Ciaran, forcing helmet removal. The secret is revealed, Ciaran is really Ciara. Force of personality and ability and past successes enable her to retain her leadership position. Now she can reveal she had more than warriors-as-equals interest in keeping Stark around given her secret is out. Something his Aspect will compel him to be interested in.

6. Stark and Ciara travel with Balin beyond the Gates of Death to put things right. They discover the Old Race of telepathic cold dwellers and are taken captive.

7. Stark manages to get free and thanks to his familiarity with the ancient king is able to operate his sword - a super science force weapon designed to combat the Old Race and make things very hot for them.

8. Stark defeats them and frees his friends, returning to Kushat.

MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITH STARK

If a group of two or three wanted to play Stark and friends then if one PC has modern medical skills or advanced superscience gear Camar could be saved and become a PC or saved or not with Stark and the healer. The Riders of Mekh and Old Race opposition would need to be beefed up minion style to provide a challenge capable of capturing them. Otherwise, play would continue with the above sequence as the adventure skeleton.

MULTIPLE PC VERSION WITHOUT STARK

Stark has gone off with the Talisman, leaving his dying friend as requested. The PCs discover Camar before he expires, or stop him doing so if within their skills and he asks them to help Stark.

If the PCs can find and rescue Stark then the sequence can continue as above. They will likely have an easier time convincing the Kushat people of danger depending on how motley and dodgy they actually are. Add a couple of junior officers using Thord as a guide that the PCs can oppose in the battle for Kushat. There will be plenty of garden variety Riders of Mekh for them to handle if they feel like it, but leaders are key as usual.

THE LADDER

Being a big Marvel Super Heroes fan from way back, this is how I like to think:

Value Adjective

+13 Cosmic 5 (Class 5000)
+12 Cosmic 3 (Class 3000)
+11 Cosmic 1 (Class 1000)
+10 Legendary Z (Shift Z)
+9 Legendary Y (Shift Y)
+8 Legendary X (Shift X)
+7 Unearthly (Epic)
+6 Monstrous (Fantastic)
+5 Amazing (Superb)
+4 Incredible (Great)
+3 Remarkable (Good)
+2 Excellent (Fair)
+1 Good (Average)
+0 Typical (Mediocre)
-1 Poor
-2 Feeble (Terrible)
-3 Awful 0 (Shift 0)
-4 Abysmal

FASERIP - basic human attributes

Physique is split compared to Core, into a Strength component and an Endurance component, the latter of which should be used for the Stress track. Reason is native intelligence.

Fighting (Fight)
Agility (Athletics)
Strength
Endurance
Reason
Intuition (Notice)
Psyche (Will)

secondary

Popularity is a measure of charisma, reputation and public influence. If you like, bad people can have a negative popularity ladder equivalent. Supervillains, mass murderers, ruthless thugs in The Ball, etc.

Popularity
Resources

REFERENCES

Short Novel

Black Amazon of Mars - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32664

Author

Leigh Brackett (ology) - http://leighbrackett.blogspot.com/

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Death Kittens of Rah-Tlu

Death Kittens of Rah-Tlu

These little monsters usually appear in the form of a bedraggled kitten. Generally with some sort of black colouration, even if only in part.

If someone takes possession, every day roll 1d20. On a 1 the beast will attack when the owner is not paying attention. A successful scratch or bite requires a save vs poison or die.

If the save is successful for 2d6 days the survivor has an irrational attraction to possession and protection of the Death Kitten. If the beast is threatened or someone or something tries to remove it from the possession of the current owner, a save vs Wisdom must be made not to fly into a berserk rage.

FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 9
MOVE: 18"
HIT DICE: 1d2 HP
% IN LAIR: 0%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d2 - 1/1d2 -1/1 point
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Death Poison
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average (low)
ALIGNMENT: Chatoic evil
SIZE: VS
PSlONlC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

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Superpowers in D&D type fantasy

This was from a Secret Santicore request I received, so you can find it in Santicore as well as here :-

https://docs.google.com/document/d/147f2BwLiGVGJpcNHzvh2HGleuvD4sYoUzIGMGkBugZQ/edit

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The Dark Is Rising

FAE: The Dark is Rising

Draft 1.0 - August 19, 2013 - Blue Tyson

A Newbery Medal winning children's book series by Susan Cooper, with Arthurian, Celtic and Norse mythological and fantasy themes, set in England and Wales. The old theme of the struggle between Dark and Light, manipulating humanity from the outside.

A couple of prophetic poems foreshadow the events of the five book sequence.

The Dark is Rising

When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back;
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.

Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;
Wood from the burning, stone out of song;
Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw;
Six Signs the circle, and the grail gone before.

Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold
Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old;
Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea;
All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.

Grail Poem

On the day of the dead, when the year too dies,
Must the youngest open the oldest hills
Through the door of the birds, where the breeze breaks.
There fire shall fly from the raven boy,
And the silver eyes that see the wind,
And the light shall have the harp of gold.

By the pleasant lake the Sleepers lie,
On Cadfan’s Way where the kestrels call;
Though grim from the Grey King shadows fall,
Yet singing the golden harp shall guide
To break their sleep and bid them ride.

When light from the lost land shall return,
Six Sleepers shall ride, six Signs shall burn,
And where the midsummer tree grows tall
By Pendragon’s sword the Dark shall fall.

Y maent yr mynyddoedd yn canu,
ac y mae’r arglwyddes yn dod.
(The mountains are singing, and the Lady comes.)
--Susan Cooper

CHARACTERS

Will Stanton

The youngest Old One
Recovering from serious illness hampered my development
Hard to remember all my siblings
Holidays get really conflicted

Ca +3
Cl +2
Fl +0
Fo +1
Qu +3
Sn +1

Merriman Lion

Legendary Old One field leader and family guardian
Made some serious personnel mistakes
I remind you or Merlin, do I?

Ca +1
Cl +2
Fl +3
Fo +2
Qu +1
Sn +0

Simon Drew

Oldest child and bit of a sailor
Has a sister and a brother
Holidays get really conflicted
My great uncle is more than he seems

Ca +0
Cl +1
Fl +2
Fo +3
Qu +2
Sn +1

Jane Drew

Middle child can see both sides
Two brothers is plenty
Holidays get really conflicted
My great uncle is more than he seems

Ca +3
Cl +2
Fl +1
Fo +0
Qu +2
Sn +1

Barney Drew

Youngest child is rather arty
Has a sister and a brother
Holidays get really conflicted
My great uncle is more than he seems

Ca +1
Cl +3
Fl +0
Fo +1
Qu +2
Sn +2

Bran Davies

Albino unaware Son of Pendragon
Dark bastards killed my dog
The magic sword is for me, immortality not so much

Ca +0
Cl +1
Fl +3
Fo +2
Qu +2
Sn +1

The Walker

Vagabond ragged ex-killswitch wreck
Immortality is a curse
Hawkin, Signbearer

Ca +3
Cl +1
Fl +2
Fo +1
Qu +0
Sn +2

The Black Rider

Dark Lord who prefers the direct approach
Join the Dark, won't you?

Ca +1
Cl +1
Fl +2
Fo +3
Qu +2
Sn +0

The White Rider

Dark Lord of disguise
Manipulator of children

Ca +2
Cl +3
Fl +0
Fo +1
Qu +1
Sn +2

NAMED CHARACTERS

The Lady

The most powerful Old One.

The Sleepers

A high quality group of knights from Arthurian Times.

Pendragon

King of the Britons, cf Bran's dad.

Farmer Dawson

An Old One local to Will's area.

John Wayland Smith

Old One who is probably the blacksmith of legend.

ARTIFACTS

The Six Signs

Circles quartered by crosses, each made of the named material: wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, stone.

The Grail

Complete with ancient secret writing.

The Harp

Magic negater and Sleeper controlling instrument.

The Crystal Sword

Eirias, a sword that flames when the Dark is around. In an invisible scabbard, often.

The Book of Grammarye

Must be read by an Old One like Will to gain access to all their powers. Protected in a human proof magical clock.

The Doors

A space-time warping Old One teleport portal.

Midsummer Tree

Blooming every several hundred years, the silver flower from which enables the holder to cast the opposition side out of Time.

MAGIC

Three types:

Old Magic - that of the Light and the Dark

The various agents of either sides can use their abilities in a variety of ways, including to hide their activities from humans. Generally to be approached as a Create Advantage.

Wild Magic - from primal forces and entities

To gain access to aid or information here will generally require a Challenge.

High Magic - The most powerful kind

To gain access to aid or information here will generally require a Challenge and a Contest.

PLAYING THE GAME

Old Ones have superpowers but should not be using them when NPC humans will get in the way, keeping a lid on. Use will also attract enemies from the other side. In scenes this will mean the Old Ones are decoys and defenders as the humans try to achieve the actual goals as is often the case in the series.

Play Tweaks

1. A possible away to approach this is that being an Old One costs refresh and Old Magic stunts cost Fate Points to use, keeping the magic low key and Light-Dark conflicts short.

2. Give human characters extra refresh is another possibility to reflect their pivotal role. A bit Dresden Files either of these.

3. Instead, have Old One magic use of any significant level cost multiple Fate Points.

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Creating Conan

A chronological overview, for 2d20.

Creating Conan

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Tower of the Stargazer Key

A useful overview.

Tower of the Stargazer Key

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OSERIP – AD&D and FASERIP

An AD&D / FASERIP game.

In this case, via OSRC and 4CS.

OSERIP

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The Acronical

FASERIP OSERIP FACERIP

Acronical

F: RM (30)
A: EX (20)
S: GD (10)
E: EX (20)
R: GD (10)
I: GD (10)
P: TY (6)

H: 80
K: 26

Res: RM (30)
Pop: -GD (-10)

Powers

Body Armour FB (2)

Ability Drain – Every hit means the victim must make an Endurance roll or lose a rank from a random attribute.

Talents

Tracking of adulterers and their accomplices and associates

OSERIP AC – 7 Row Shifts

The acronical is a large insectile predator that strides on
six armored legs. Eight feet tall at the shoulder, it has a
dark maroon exoskeleton and serrated black hooks at
the end of both arms. It reeks of vomit.

Created by anhedonic priests many centuries ago, this
nocturnal creature stalks and kills adulterers. It hunts
married people who stray from the beds of their spous-
es, and it hunts those who fornicate with married peo-
ple.

Acronicals are drawn to the scent of such persons, and
can detect it from miles away. Hunting in small packs,
the beasts crawl across walls and ceilings, silent and
careful, closing in on their victims. They stalk everyone
who was peripherally involved in the duplicity — neigh-
bors who turn a blind eye, innkeepers who knew exact-
ly what was going on, and so forth. Those involved are
tracked down, attacked while alone, hamstrung, and
devoured by the acronicals while still alive.

Then the creatures will hunt the adulterers themselves.
They will be captured, brought together, and given a
chance to survive: a fight to the death, with the victor set
free.

However, the creatures have no intention of living up to
their end of the deal. After one has killed the other, the
monster will amputate the victor’s arms and legs, then
sing songs of love while the fornicator bleeds to death.
Adventurers may encounter the acronical in the wild. It
tends to favor caves or dungeons, where it can stage the
fatal battle between lovers.

The creature leaves behind a watery orange stool, and
when it is agitated, its chitin flakes off in small amounts.
Heroes tracking the beast will find this evidence in its
wake.

In combat, the acronical attacks with its scythe-like
claws, which inflict GD (10) points of damage. Each time
the monster hits, the target must make a saving throw
against poison or lose a point from a random attribute

RANDOM ATTRIBUTE

01-14 Fighting
15-28 Agility
29-42 Strength
43-56 Endurance
57-70 Reason
71-84 Intuition
85-98 Psyche
99-00 Player Choice

The Teratic Tome

Posted on

FATERIP: Conan – Red Nails

FATE: Conan – Red Nails

One seriously swordy pair, one ancient city of warring tribes, depraved lifestealers and maniac magicked minions. And a really big lizard.

Draft 1.0 April 21, 2013 – Blue Tyson

SETTING

A dead city with two warring tribes who refuse to leave the city, who live in fear of ghosts, wizards and dragons. And an ever youthful princess.

ISSUES

Will the dragon get them?
Who will win the war?
Are the wizards and ghosts real?

THE PLAYERS

Conan

Gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth
Sandalled feet, do your thing
Magic sucks
Money is for spending
Never shy with a sword

F: Amazing +5
A: Remarkable +3
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Remarkable +3
P: Incredible +4

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Remarkable (+3)

Other Skills

Unearthly (+7) Sword
Fantastic (+6) Knife, Shield, Spear
Incredible (+4) Alertness, Intimidation, Survival
Remarkable (+3) Leadership, Warfare
Excellent (+2) Burglary, Contacts, Ride, Stealth, Swim
Good (+1) Deceit

Valeria

Red Brotherhood Pirate
Celebrated In Song and Ballad
Excessively Brave Aquilonian

F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Good +1
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Remarkable +3
P: Remarkable +3

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Remarkable (+3)

Other Skills

Fantastic (+6) Sword, Knife
Incredible (+4) Alertness, Intimidation, Survival
Excellent (+2) Burglary, Contacts, Ride, Stealth, Swim
Good (+1) Deceit

Derketa Fruit

Amazing (+5) Poison

A Survival or other such skill check can notice these fruits in the area surrounding the dragon confrontation.. The poison in which can pretty much kill anything.

Dragon

Bench-legged Monstrosity About the Size of a Mastodon

F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Remarkable +3
E: Amazing +5
R: Feeble -2
I: Good +1
P: Poor -1

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Body Armour: Physical [scaly hide]
Excellent (+2) Claws, Teeth

THE PLAYERS

Burning Skull

Scary Masked Warrior

F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Good +1
I: Good +1
P: Good +1

Resources Good (+1)
Popularity -Good (-1)

Other Skills

Incredible (+4) Intimidation
Excellent (+2) Disguse, Sword

Burning Skull contains old wizard brain bits, being an actual skull used as part of a mask.

Techotl

Unbalanced Tlazitlan Survivor
Not down with the depraved royalty

F: Good +1
A: Good +1
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Excellent (+2) Sword, Spear

People of Xotalanc

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Good +1
E: Typical +0
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Poor -1

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Sword

People of Tlazitlan

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Spear, Sword

Stair Slitherer

Giant snake

F: Typical +0
A: Good +1
S: Typical +0
E: Excellent +2
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Poor -1

Other Skills

Good (+1) Frost Touch

Prince Olmec

Prince

F: Excellent +2
A: Good +1
S: Excellent +2
E: Good +1
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity Excellent (+2)

Other Skills

Remarkable (+3) Sword, Spear

Tascela

Princess of Tecuhltli
Overly youthful witch

F: Incredible +4
A: Remarkable +3
S: Excellent +2
E: Remarkable +3
R: Good +1
I: Good +1
P: Remarkable +3

Resources Excellent (+2)
Popularity -Excellent (-2)

Other Skills

Incredible (+4) Intimidation, Sword
Excellent (+2) Poison [Paralysis]

Yasala

Maid of Tascela

F: Typical +0
A: Excellent +2
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Good +1
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Excellent (+2) Deceit, Drugs, Stealth

Xatmec

Unfortunate Tlazitlan Guard

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Spear, Sword

Xotalancan Red Nails

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Good +1
E: Good +1
R: Poor -1
I: Poor -1
P: Poor -1

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Spear, Sword

Yanath

Tlazitlan Guard who accompanies Conan

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Spear, Sword

Topal

Tlazitlan Guard who accompanies Conan

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Typical +0
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Typical (+0)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Spear, Sword

Tolkemec

Supposedly dead Tlazitlan ruler
Possible Ghost
Definitely Crazy
Likes tittering and aging people to death

F: Typical +0
A: Typical +0
S: Typical +0
E: Typical +0
R: Poor -1
I: Typical +0
P: Typical +0

Resources Poor (-1)
Popularity Typical (+0)

Other Skills

Good (+1) Wand of Mummification

Wand of Mummifaction (+5) Withering Death Effect

PLAYERS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE STORY SHOULD NOT READ THIS PART

ONE PC VERSION

The player is Conan, or other very capable PC of their own. Valeria is another option. If Valeria is chosen, replace the possible roles in the sequence of kidnapping/drugging to be Conan and increase Tascela’s fighting and strength one rank each on the ladder to be equal and greater than Conan’s resepectively.

TWO PC VERSION

Conan and Valeria. So the sequence may differ quickly apart from being cornered by the dragon and quickly seeing the dead city.

MULTIPLE PC VERSION

May support the adventuriing pair – or save them from a dragon would be a good share a journey hook. Or if multiple PCs they could take the place of Conan and Valeria easily as long as some combat capability.

1. Conan meets Valeria in the wilderness
2. Cornered by a dragon that is basically impervious to normal weapons thanks to its skin
3. Find dead city in which two tribes fight an ongoing feud
4. Valeria meets the Burning Skull and finds it is a man in a mask
5. Techotl and Xotanc men attack – will grapple
6. Stair monster – actually a giant snake
7. Meet the prince and princess of Xuchotl – story of Tecuhltli stole the wife of Xotalanc over five decades ago
8. Yavala tries to drug Valeria – who whips her
9. The Xotalanca attack with a demon fifer – on successful sorcery roll gain surprise
10. Attackers of generic crazed men and women of the Xotalancas – The Red Nails – enough to outnumber opponents significantly until reinforcements, including Conan, Valeria, Olmec and Tascela can arrive
11. After victory, Conan goes scouting with two guards for more Xotalancas. The City has five levels, named after animals/birds.
12. They find the corpse of the stair slitherer…a giant snake
13. One of the guards tries to kill Conan…sucks to be him
14. Techotl arrives saying Valeria has been kidnapped
15. Conan rushes back and on the way finds Olmec in a death trap
16. Tascela poisoned Olmec and kidnaps Valeria, by surprise and because she is stronger
17. Olmec offers to help Conan ambush Tascela if he will free him.
18. But of course he trys to pearl harbour Conan and gets his neck snapped thanks to a Valeria warning
19. Ritual altar time! Valeria is to be sacrified to extend Tascela’s life.
21. Crazy wizard Tolkemec arrives and interrupts, mummifying Tascela’s Poor (-1) ritual attendants left and right.
22. Conan arrives and must get past a bear trap style device from the floor! Excellent (+2) strength.
23. Two heroes in trouble vs a magic wand maniac and a lifedrainer. Although Tolkemec wants to kill Tascela as well!

THE LADDER

Being a big Marvel Super Heroes fan from way back, this is how I like to think:

Value Adjective

+13 Cosmic 5 (Class 5000)
+12 Cosmic 3 (Class 3000)
+11 Cosmic 1 (Class 1000)
+10 Legendary Z (Shift Z)
+9 Legendary Y (Shift Y)
+8 Legendary X (Shift X)
+7 Unearthly (Epic)
+6 Monstrous (Fantastic)
+5 Amazing (Superb)
+4 Incredible (Great)
+3 Remarkable (Good)
+2 Excellent (Fair)
+1 Good (Average)
+0 Typical (Mediocre)
-1 Poor
-2 Feeble (Terrible)
-3 Awful 0 (Shift 0)
-4 Abysmal

FASERIP – basic human attributes

Physique is split compared to Core, into a Strength component and an Endurance component, the latter of which should be used for the Stress track. Reason is native intelligence.

Fighting (Fight)
Agility (Athletics)
Strength
Endurance
Reason
Intuition (Notice)
Psyche (Will)

Secondary

Popularity is a measure of charisma, reputation and public influence. If you like, bad people can have a negative popularity ladder equivalent. Supervillains, mass murderers, ruthless thugs in The Ball, etc.

Popularity
Resources

REFERENCES

Short Novel

Red Nails http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32759/32759-h/32759-h.htm

Author

Robert E. Howard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Howard

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