Making a Character #

You play as young initiates of a free company of knights in a setting akin to the real Dark Ages. Think of a world with an Arthurian flair: grand castles, mighty moats, and Christian overtones. You are all beholden to a king who holds the seemingly divine right to rule over lands.

There are no fantasy races here. You are all some manner of human.

Attributes #

You have three Attributes:

• Thews modifies to-hit rolls and damage rolls in melee combat
• Wits determines when they can act in mutual surprise
• Charisma adds to reaction rolls from NPCs

Roll 1d4 once per Attribute to know the modifier of each.

Characters’ Starting Info #

Unless otherwise stated, you begin with the following:

Stats ¹ #

• Slaying of 8, your ability to strike foes in combat, adds to a 1d20.
• Evasion of 10, your ability to avoid attacks in combat, adds to a 1d20. ²
• Movement of 40m, your travel distance in feet per turn while exploring underground. ³
• Speed of 16 m, your maximum travel distance during a single combat round.
• Save of 6, your ability to avoid misfortune and harm, adds to a 1d20 + Class level. ⁴
• Move Silently of 6, your ability to avoid the witness of another, adds to a 1d20.

Adjust Evasion, Movement, and Move Silently, by your equipment.

Gear #

• A Holy Charm, for turning undead
• 5 rations
• waterskin
• 3 torches
• dagger
• 4d10 silver

Languages #

You know your mother tongue and its appropriate script.

Character Classes ⁵ #

Choose one from below. You can’t multiclass.

Fighter #

Mighty warriors.

Stats #

• 12 Hit Points (HP)
• Slaying of 10
• +2 to Saves vs instant death
• Cleave. Upon slaying an enemy, you are granted another attack.

Gear #

• Light Armor
• Helm
• Shield
• Spear

Thief #

Cunning thieves and spies.

Stats #

• 6 HP
• Move Silently of 8 + Thief Level
• +2 to Saves involving nimbleness and agility
• When rolling to search rooms, open locks, or disable traps, you add Wits and Thief Level to the roll.

Gear #

• Fine tools
• 30’ of rope attached to a heavy hook
• additional 4d20 silver

Hunter #

Skilled trackers and foragers.

Stats #

• 8 HP
• Move Silently of 8 in the wilderness
• Unable to lose the party during bushcraft
• Less likely to face danger while bushcrafting

Gear #

• Oiled Cloak
• Bow
• Quiver with 10 arrows

Sage #

Faustian scholars.

Stats #

• 4 HP
• Save of 8
• Fluent in 2 additional languages
• creature contracts—knows 1 creature’s true name
• The spell Glossolalia.

Gear #

• Parchment journal with writing implements
• Random wand with 1d20 charges
• A dagger

Witch #

Weird, potion-making hermits.

Stats #

• 6 HP
• Start with 1 permanently bound familiar
• candle magic — can craft 1 color
• Potion brewing — knows 2 recipes

Gear #

• Hovering broom (slower than a horse and can’t fly, carries 10 slots)
• candle in the color of known recipe
• a random potion you know

Bard #

Talented jacks-of-all-trades.

Stats #

• 10 HP
• Songs of Beguilement (Uses Charisma)
• Add Bard Level to Duel rolls too
• Move Silently of 8 in settlements

Gear #

• Instrument of Choice
• 8 Throwing Knives
• Padded Boots