Treasure, XP, and Other Odds and Ends

Goblin Treasure

There were 10 goblins in all, though they were larger than any the PCs had ever seen.  They had a bonier forehead and generally somewhat "lumpy" or "brawny" features, making them exceedingly ugly even for goblins.  Here is what each was carrying:

(1)     Battered clay pot with the top cleanly removed, the bottom rotting away.  A pourous sack leaking stinking but harmless greenish ooze, which stains clothes and skin.  The sack contains a lumpy, congealed stew.  Studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, paring knife, battered wooden small shield, throwing axe, small purse with 13 copper and 2 silver coins.  [This one lives.]

(2)    An impossibly tangled ball of multi-colored thread, a well used key with its teeth heavily chipped and scratched, studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, small knife, battered wooden small shield, throwing axe, hooded cloak, and a purse with 9 copper and 6 silver coins.  [This one lives.]

(3)    A scratched brass ring, with three empty settings for precious stones; a glass eye, its iris to pupil ratio obviously meant for an elf rather than a human; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, small knife, new wooden small shield, axe, bright blue broad brimmed leather hat with long chin strap, and a purse with 27 copper and 2 silver coins.

(4)    A single copper coin melted and warped almost beyond recognition; a small ceramic figurine that has been crudely painted enough times it is more paint than clay nailed to a fishing hook that has been bent straight and thrust through a small rubber ball; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, dagger, battered metal small shield, throwing axe, short red cloak, and a purse with 19 copper and 1 silver coins.

(5)    A shuriken with a different insect impaled on each of its tines; a leather strap with buckles that seem to have been from some article of armor; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, small knife, battered wooden small shield, axe, blanket cloak with iron clasp, and a purse with 11 copper.

(6)    A heavily defaced angel pendant with its wings snapped off leaving ragged stumps; a large, well-groomed and heavily waxed moustache, some scraps of skin still cling to it; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, large knife, new wooden small shield, throwing axe, and a purse with 2 copper and 8 silver coins.

(7)    A reddish paste, presumably the remnants of some fruit made into a crude jam, that gives off a rancid stench; a pair of small ceramic figures depicting a bride and groom, the bottoms of which show some signs of being gnawed; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, small knife, battered wooden small shield, throwing axe, green felt hat with a battered crows feather in it, long black cape with black rabbit fur collar in excellent condition, and a purse with 29 copper and 7 silver coins.

(8)    A fist-sized gray rock, smooth and round, perfect for skipping across a lake and little else; a small harmonica with only three intact reeds, allowing it to produce only a handful of sour notes; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, small knife, battered wooden small shield, axe, loose woolen pullover with hood, and a purse with 4 copper coins.

(9)    A well used sling stone which shows signs of gnawing; a small chunk of soapstone carved into the likeness of a finger; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, long knife, new red painted wooden small shield, axe, and a purse with 3 copper and 6 silver coins.

(10)    A heavily oxidized brass nail, the deep green of a pine needle;  a crumpled and torn wanted poster displaying the uncanny likeness of Alvin; studded leather haubark and leggings, leather boots, small knife, battered red painted wooden small shield, throwing axe, homespun hooded cloak, and a purse with 9 copper and 3 silver coins.

XP

The PCs all received 4 points for the session.  Autumn was voted the bonus point for her out of combat moment of supreme awesomeness in slicing and catching the thrown apple in mid flight with her blades.

Odds and Ends

Allies as a power-up.

At any point, there should be at least one or two “shield grogs” in Wolverton.  These will be large-shield carrying henchmen built with the Guard template from DF 15: Henchmen and adjusted to the appropriate point level.  Such a character is worth 25% of your points, and appears all the time.  This costs 4 points.  A porter is also possible, though is more likely to be a paid henchman rather than an Ally as an advantage.

Spending points.

Learning new spells or other new skills not used thus far isn’t possible at the moment.  That said, feel free to improve any existing skills with earned XP.  Saving for advantages such as Combat Reflexes, improved attributes, etc., is also allowable.

Finally, a young man offers to join you on your quest:

That’s right, a 20-something fighter-type hears of your heroic battle and the capture of the stranger and asks to join you in your quest to find the missing women.  He’s detailed below.  He, too, could be purchased as an Ally if someone chose to do so.  Otherwise he can be brought along, rejected, hired, etc., as the PCs please.

Jory                                                                                                                                 62 points

Based on the Guard template from DF 15: Henchmen.  Jory was raised in Swallowfeld, the son of a fisherman.  Unlike the rest of his family, when he went out to sea, he saw endless possibilities, so at the age of 15 he enlisted with a passing naval vessel, eventually becoming a marine.  Now, after 4 and a half years, he has returned.  The military life just wasn’t for him, though part of his still longs for adventure, ever looking to the horizon.  When he mustered out, he purchased his sword and his haubark.

Attributes:

ST 12 [20]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 12 [20].

Secondary Characteristics:

Damage 1d-1/1d+2; BL 29 lbs.; HP 12 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 12 [0]; Basic Speed 6.00 [5]; Basic Move 6 [0].

Advantages:

Fit [5], Striking ST 1 (1d/2d-1) [5].

Disadvantages:

Callous [-5], Easy to Read [-10], Overconfidence (12) [-5],  Sense of Duty (Adventuring companions) [-5].

Quirks:

TBD (x3), Horrible Hangovers [-1], Wanderlust.

Skills:

Armoury (Body Armor) (A) IQ-1 [1]-9, Boating (A) DX+1 (Unpowered) [4]-12, Brawling (E) DX [1]-11, Climbing (A) DX [2]-11, Fishing (E) IQ [1]-10, Knife (E) DX [1]-11, Seamanship (E) IQ [1]-10, Shield (Buckler) (E) DX+1 [2]-12, Shortsword (A) DX+2 [8]-13, Wrestling (A) DX-1 [1]-10.

Gear:

Blanket Cost: $20; Weight: 4.

Canteen Cost: $10; Weight: 3.

Large Knife Dmg: 1d cut / 1d imp; Reach: C, 1 / C; Cost: $40; Parry: 7; Weight: 1; ST 6.

Leather Haubark (Arms, Body) DR 2; Cost: $150; Weight: 12.

Light Metal Buckler DB 1; Cost: $125; Weight: 4; DR/HP: 8/40; Block: 10; Damage: 1d cr.

Personal Basics $5, 1 lb.

Sack (Holds 40 lbs.) Cost $30; Weight: 3.

Shortsword Dmg: 2d-1 cut / 1d imp; Reach: 1 / 1; Parry: 9; Cost: $400; Weight: 2; ST 8.

Torch (×2) Cost: $6; 2.

$239

Alysa Priestess of Ianuaria

Here's an NPC healer that I intend to insert into the party.  She could show up whenever is most useful, such as ASAP, since the party is pretty beaten up.  Originally I had thought to have her rescued by the PCs, but without serious healing, that is unlikely to work.  I'm also happy to have her used by anyone else running DF for us.  I think Ianuaria is generic enough as a healing deity to be inserted into most games without much effort as a minor goddess.

Alysa Priestess of Ianuaria                         125 points

Alysa is a priestess of Ianuaria, a healing deity.  She’s built using the Initiate template from GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 15: Henchmen, taking advice from the Customization Notes to make a “Hospitaler” character.  The only change to the template was that Riding was switched with Boating (Sail or Unpowered) to be more consistent with the region.  The spell list came from DF 7: Clerics using a healing deity as a template.  The only change to the template was that Riding was switched with Boating (Sail or Unpowered) to be more consistent with the region.

    Ianuaria is taken from a Burgundian deity of the classical age associated with healing.  Her shrine was located at a healing spring.  The two water spells are consistent with the healing spring theme.  Her ostensible reason for traveling to the Lonely Coast was a search for a healing spring which she would dedicate to Ianuaria, though in truth she seeks to be a wandering healer, fighting the forces of evil and spreading the cult of her deity.

    She’s built as a pure healer, though she has some skill with the staff and is at least somewhat competent in the wilderness.  Her gear comes straight out of DF 13: Loadouts (for the Healing Cleric).

Attributes:

ST 10 [0]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 13 [60]; HT 12 [20].

Secondary Characteristics:

Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10 [0]; Will 13 [0]; Per 13 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 5.00 [-10]; Basic Move 5 [0].

Advantages:

Clerical Investment [5], Power Investiture 2 [10].

Disadvantages:

Compulsive Generosity (6) [-10], Disciplines of Faith† (Ritualism) [-5], Sense of Duty† (Adventuring companions) [-5], Stubbornness [-5], Vow† (Chastity) [-5], Vow (No edged weapons) [-10].

Quirks:

TBD

Skills:

Boating (Unpowered) (A) DX [2]-11, Climbing (A) DX-1 [1]-10, Diagnosis (H) IQ-1 [2]-12, Esoteric Medicine (Ianuarian) (H) Per-1 [2]-12, First Aid IQ [1]-13, Fishing (E) Per [1]-13, Hiking (A) HT-1 [1]-11, Pharmacy (Herbal) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12, Religious Ritual (Ianuaria) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12, Scrounging (E) Per [1]-13, Staff (A) DX+3 [12]-14, Stealth (A) DX [2]-11, Surgery (VH) IQ-2 [2]-11, Survival (Woodlands) (A) Per-1 [1]-12, Swimming (E) HT [1]-12, Theology (Ianuaria) (H) IQ-1 [2]-12.

Spells (All at 12):

Aura, Awaken, Body-Reading, Clean, Create Water, Final Rest, Healing Slumber, Light, Major Healing, Might, Minor Healing, Purify Food, Purify Water, Recover Energy, Relieve Sickness, Resist Disease, Resist Pain, Resist Poison, Stop Bleeding, Test Food.

Gear:

$897.50,46 lbs.

• Boots (p. B284) [Feet] DR 2*. $80, 3 lbs.

• Fine Quarterstaff (p. B273) [Torso] Damage sw+2 (1d+2) cr, thr+2 (1d) cr. $30, 4 lbs. Parry 10.

• Healer’s Kit (1, p. 26) [Sack or Backpack] $200, 10 lbs.

• Heavy Leather Leggings (p. B283) [Legs] DR 2. $60, 4 lbs.

• Heavy Leather Sleeves (p. B283) [Arms] DR 2. $50, 2 lbs.

• Holy Symbol (1, p. 26) [Sack or Backpack] $50, 1 lb.

• Holy Water ×3 (1, p. 26) [Sack or Webbing] $22.50, 3 lbs.

• Mail Shirt (p. B283) [Torso] DR 4/2*. $150, 16 lbs.

• Minor Healing Potion (1, p. 29) [Sack or Webbing] Heals 1d HP. $120, 0.5 lb.

• Ordinary Clothing (p. B266) [Torso, Arms, Legs] Initially free; replacement cost is $120. $0, 2 lbs.

• Paut (1, p. 29) [Sack or Webbing] Restores 4 FP lost to magic. $135, 0.5 lb.

DF: The Pick-Up Game

PCs:

Alvin (Dave) -- Human bard, equipped with wit, song, and rapier.

Autumn (Bill) -- Human swashbuckler, armed with a rapier and main-gauche, she needs little else.

Bjorn (Craig) -- Northman barbarian, armed and armored with anything he can get his hands on.  (Built “freehand” and including the “Northman” racial template that exists in another campaign, he’s still a classic barbarian -- big, strong, good in the outdoors, etc.)

RC (Rich) -- Human wizard, of the Coma Bat school of wizardry.  RC is a stand-in until I can determine his actual character name.

The campaign/scenario:

This has been conceived as a “pick-up” game we can use if/when we’re missing the player(s) required to move forward in our slated campaign, or if the slated GM just isn’t quite ready to go.  Everything I have done has been put together with the idea in mind that the PCs in question may be ported over to another setting, or so that adventures/locations can be quickly inserted after a brief travel montage.  

All of the PCs save RC have been ported into a “generic” setting.  I let them keep their previous loot, save for their horses, which don’t make much sense in the current location, mostly because I thought it would be more fun that way, and the player making a new PC (RC) didn’t mind starting with a new “unestablished” DF character with only $1000 in gear.  New PCs are, at least for now, 250+50+5 point GURPS DF characters.  Maybe if this game is played more often it will eventually be bumped up to something higher, such as “avg PC point level -50” or something similar.  Otherwise, the name of the game is “get characters together, start (and hopefully finish) a single session adventure.  (I, for one, won’t mind playing a starting DF character even if everyone else is of much higher point value, as starting DF characters in the default mode are highly skilled within their niche -- just pick the right niche and you’re good to go, and instantly valuable.)

World building involved 30 seconds to draw on a map and 30 minutes to read some supplements.  The former was done at the table on the day of the game, the latter had been done the previous week.  Using Raging Swan’s Lonely Coast, which is available for free -- making it easy for players to obtain if they so desire, coming up with a quick adventure was easy enough.  I really enjoyed the random weather, which enhanced play by providing even better cover for a dastardly trick a villain played on Autumn -- not to mention providing some much needed local color.  (BTW, There are also a handful of scenarios and village details available inexpensively for the Lonely Coast from Raging Swan at Warehouse 23 -- good products IMO.)  

The First Session

The game begins with the PCs, for reasons not quite determined, decided to make a fresh start here on the Lonely Coast, and arriving in Wolverton, the big town and heart of commerce.  Even so, it’s actually a small town with around 1800 inhabitants that sits across a sandbar from the baronial castle of Lord Locher.  Given $50 as walking around money by the ship’s captain as thanks for their working passage, they are cut loose.  Time to find an adventure!

The four adventurers end up following the half dozen sailors to the Salt Wolf, the dockside tavern and brothel.  Alvin trades performance for free ale, food, and companionship for himself, while the others figure out how to walk on land again.

    There’s an actual inn -- the creatively named Wolverton Inn -- about halfway up the hill.  Wolverton sits on a hillside leading down to the docks, and relative wealth can generally be measured by how high up the hill one lives, with the poorest living in dilapidated houses on the waterfront which are prone to flooding during the frequent periods of inclement weather.

The following morning, the party decides to go and visit the Baron.  The castle sits across a sandbar from Wolverton.  During high tide, you can cross the sandbar; otherwise, you can row a boat across the treacherous channel.  It’s an impressive castle built on the ruins of previous ancient fortification on a spot that is itself naturally fortified.  

The cross the sandbar and are met by a lone guard standing in a wooden watch tower next to the open gate.  He tells them that they have 45 minutes to visit the castle, or they’ll be stuck for much of the day.  The trip to the castle takes 15 minutes, so they decide to stay for the bulk of the day.

In the main courtyard, a minstrel is in stocks.  This gives Alvin an opening, of which he takes full advantage.  Upon meeting Lord Locher, he offers himself as a minstrel.  The Baron agrees, and so he joins him for lunch.  During this time, he learns that all of the young women of Swallowfeld have been taken.  Aha!  Adventure!

Meanwhile, the rest of the party goes to eat with the soldiers.  Autumn, the only female fighter or adventurer in the barracks, is given some less than good natured ribbing, especially since she wears no armor and carries “light” weapons -- rapier and main-gauche.  She decides to bring on a moment of sublime awesomeness to silence her critics.  She asks a guard to toss her an apple.  As the apple is in flight, she rises to her feet, fast draws sword and knife, cuts the apple into thirds, and impales those thirds onto her parrying blade.  She then calmly sits down and enjoys her apple.  This makes quite an impression.

The party meets to return to the inn.  En route, they decide to head out first thing in the morning to Swallowfeld and determine if they can be of service.  (Roll for weather: cool and drizzling.)  Their one piece of preparation is to purchase rain cloaks made of old sailcloth -- these come from the lost and found bin at the Salt Wolf.  Nothing else of significance is readily for sale; the next market day is two days hence, and they’d really prefer to get moving, since they suspect that Lord Locher will send out some of his men to deal with the situation within a day or two.  By then it might be too late; either way they’d lose and reward.

They set out early and make the 14 mile trek by just past lunchtime.  Once again, Alvin trades his entertainment services for free ale and food.  The others pay with coin.  As evening sets in, the place livens up with a mixture of people from the local tin mine, farmers, and other laborers.  One stranger catches Alvin’s eye, as he isn’t mingling and seems out of place in spite of his garb.

Alvin approaches him.  The conversation is… Odd.  Obviously the guy just wants to be left alone.  But in speaking to him, Alvin catches sight of a concealed shortsword, and possibly another blade.  Suspicious, he resolves to keep an eye on him.  He returns for another set, at which point the stranger rises and exits the tavern.

Alvin signals his comrades to follow.  They catch the “subtle” hint, and Autumn and RC follow him.  (Roll for weather -- it’s time again: cold and light fog.)  Out into the fog.  To aid her, RC casts invisibility on Autumn, who follows ever so quietly.  She’s able to follow him around a stable, where she suddenly finds herself struggling for stealth in muck in the dark and fog.

In the battle of Stealth vs. Perception, Autumn loses.  A stab in the dark to her vitals causes her to cry out in pain.  She ducks into the stable, back against the wall, ready to lash out at anyone who comes at her in the dark.  Several heart pounding moments pass without incident, though she thinks she might hear something in the dark.

Meanwhile, RC hears the cry and heads -- cautiously -- for the sound.  He moves into the dark and otherwise empty stable.  With a bit of luck, the two meet without incident.  RC cancels his spell and begins first aid, casting Continual Light at the highest level on a rock.  Light to work by…

After a couple of songs, Alvin gets nervous about his friends.  He stops, joking that the “ale really runs through you,” and brings Bjorn with him.  They find the pair in an empty stall.  RC casts another Continual Light on Alvin’s knife blade at torchlight level.  Then they set out to find the stranger.  Their quest doesn’t take long -- they pick up a trail that leads them to a narrow space between two houses across the street.

Following through the narrow passage, Bjorn hears barking and obvious struggling -- the stranger has found a dog, and that dog has taken exception to his presence.  Bjorn hurls his Axe of Return, strikes the stranger, and recovers his weapon.  The man drops.  The ruckus causes the owner of one of the houses to come out and watch.  

Shortly thereafter, Alvin and Bjorn take the stranger into the farmer’s house.  The farmer’s daughter is one of the missing girls, so he’s eager to lend assistance.  They use his table for first aid -- just to stop the bleeding and awaken the stranger.  As they finish, Autumn and RC find them.  The stranger wakes up and seems a bit cooperative, but not enough to give any useful information.

Alvin attempts to use bardsong to influence the stranger.  But something goes horribly wrong, and everyone in the room seems prepared to believe the worst of him.  Before anyone can act, or even really discuss this, both the front and rear doors fly open.  Some sort of -- goblins? -- come rushing in.  Not in the least prepared for this, both RC and Alvin require time to recover from the suddenness of the attack.

Autumn and Bjorn are in no way so constrained.  The battle drags on with Autumn and Bjorn generating piles of bodies around them, while the farmer, RC, and Alvin are clonked on the head.  But both Alvin and RC manage to recover and join the fight.  At the end, only Bjorn is unharmed.  Autumn is ready to collapse, and Alvin and RC are somewhat worse for the wear.

And so the session ends…