HERO WARS Playtest Characters

From: Michael Schwartz <mschwartz_at_mindspring.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 98 15:38:16 -0400


Hey folks,

With Robin's permission, I am posting the characters my HERO WARS playtest group developed. These were all created using the 100-word descriptive method, which was certainly touted as the preferred means of character creation in the post-Origins draft I received.

A note on format is in order... to aid Digest members in figuring out the character write-ups, I have chosen to highlight the important categories by bracketing them with special characters as follows: /core concept/,
[abilities], (goals), \supporting cast\ and <flaws>.

Michael Schwartz mschwartz_at_mindspring.com Ann Arbor, MI USA



"I've always said you can get more with a kind word and a two-by-four than with a kind word alone." -- Marcus Cole, Babylon 5

BACTRA GOOD-MEMORY [created by David Cinabro]


DESCRIPTION [100 words]

Bactra [Good-memory], a /Lhankor Mhy Sage/, is [famed among his people] for his [wisdom]. A [speaker of many languages], he is typically first to
[befriend strangers] and offer them [hospitality]. <Obsessive> in his
pursuit of knowledge, Bactra [works late into the night] or [journeys to nearby lands] to find the answers he seeks. Aided in his [searches] by \Sage Pardan of the Jonstown Library\, who taught him [quarterstaff fighting], Bactra collects [legends and stories, especially those of other clans], and keeps the [clan history]. His attempts to (divine when to raise the clan against the Lunars) have thus far all failed.

ABILITIES Mental: famed among his people 8/12, good memory 8/12, hospitable 8/12, wise 8/12.

Physical: quarterstaff fighting 8/12.

Skills: academic debate 8/12, befriend stranger 8/12, journey to nearby lands 8/12, Orlanthi myths 6/14, search 8/12, steal document 8/12.

Exotic: geography 6/14, history 8/12 (+3 for clan history), knowledge of other cultures 8/12, knowledge of other magical traditions 8/12, legends & stories 8/12 (+3 for those of other clans), literacy 6/14, scholarship 6/14, speak many languages 8/12, work late into the night 8/12.

Magic (Devotion): knowing 6/14, law 6/14 (-1), scholarship 6/14 (+1).

Goals: divine when to raise the clan against the Lunars.

Flaw: obsessive.

Supporting Characters: ally 8/12: Pardan [Jonstown librarian 6/14; other concept 8/12].

CUNNING MERLAR [created by Robert Schroeder]


DESCRIPTION [100 words]

[Cunning] Merlar is a [acrobatic] /Yinkini Shadow Brother/, [adored by
women] for his [catlike agility] and [feline charm]. [Tenacious] and
[resourceful], he [discovered a secret path to Kero Fin's Hall]. Captured
there, [unpredictable] Merlar [cheated death], [escaped his bonds] and, with \Tigron and Chantow, his alynx companions\, stole the Bad Dogs' Bark from \Enhinga Six-To-Kill\. As [scout], he [locates foes], [evaluates fortifications] and [gathers useful rumors] for his clan, and is skilled in [outdoor survival]. Merlar became [renowned as a freedom fighter] among the \Tarsh Exile community\, whose [language] and [customs] he learned. He has (sworn to reclaim Yinkin's Breath).

ABILITIES Mental: adored by women 8/12, cunning 8/12, feline charm 8/12, renowned as a freedom fighter 8/12, resourceful 8/12, tenacious 8/12, unpredictable 8/12.

Physical: catlike agility 8/12, climbing 6/14, close combat 6/14.

Skills: acrobatics 8/12, hunting 6/14, escape bonds 8/12, evaluate foe

8/12, evaluate fortifications 8/12, gather useful rumors 8/12, locate foe 
8/12, Old Tarsh custom 8/12, outdoors survival 8/12, scout 8/12, stealth 
6/14, Speak Old Tarshite 8/12.

Exotic: breed and train alynxes 6/14, cheat death 8/12, find secret path to Kero Fin's Hall 8/12.

Magic (Devotion): combat 6/14, emulate alynx 6/14, perception 6/14, stealth 6/14.

Goals: reclaim Yinkin's Breath.

Flaw: none.

Supporting Characters: adversary 8/12: Enhinga Six-To-Kill; community 8/12: Tarsh Exiles; follower 8/12: Tigron [alnyx 12/8; other ability 14/6]; follower 8/12: Chantow [alnyx 12/8; other ability 14/6].

HEORDAN KEEN-EYE [created by Michael Coyne]


DESCRIPTION [100 words + 9-word geas statement]

Accompanied by [Rostab and Leikan, his weaponthanes], /Humakti Death Lord/ Heordan [Keen-eye]'s [strong] arm is ready to (aid all who oppose the Lunar oppressors). Living amongst the \Sartar exile community\, he learned [mounted combat] and the [customs and languages of Prax and Heortland]. Able to [train and lead troops] and [gather military intelligence], Heordan is [renowned as a war leader]. His [wisdom],
[persuasiveness] and [impartiality] have allowed him to [negotiate] many
alliances. At home, he [leads the worship of Humakt] and [dispenses justice] to his people. He only has two regrets: the loss of Soulcleaver, and his <love for Brenna>. His <geas requires that he abstain from strong drink>.

NOTE: I have chosen to rule that the last sentence of the description below is a freebie and does not count against the 100-word total, as it defines part of Heordan's core concept as a Humakti Death Lord.

ABILITIES Mental: determined 8/12, impartial 8/12, keen-eyed 8/12, persuasive 8/12, renowned as a war leader 8/12, wise 8/12.

Physical: close combat 6/14 (+1/-1 with swords), strong 8/12.

Skills: battle tactics 6/14, dispense justice 8/12, evaluate foe 6/14, Heortland custom 8/12, horsemanship 8/12, intimidate 8/12, mounted combat 8/12, negotiate 8/12, Praxian custom 8/12, train and lead troops 8/12, speak Heortlander 8/12, speak Praxian 8/12.

Exotic: gather military intelligence 8/12, knowledge of the military 6/14, lead Humakt worship 8/12.

Magic (Devotion): anti-undead 6/14, combat 6/14, death/endings 6/14, honor 6/14, weaponthanes 6/14, war 6/14.

Goal: aid those who oppose the Lunar oppressors.

Flaws: love for Brenna, must abstain from strong drink (Humakt geas).

Supporting Characters: community 8/12: Sartar exiles; follower 8/12: Rostab [weaponthane 12/8; other ability 14/6]; follower 8/12: Leikan
[weaponthane 12/8; other ability 14/6].

KELULF THE STRONG [created by Jeff Morrison]


DESCRIPTION [95 words + 14-word geas statement]

Kelulf the [Strong], a [fearless] /Humakti Death Lord/ of [grim] and
[taciturn] demeanor, is [disliked by his clanfolk] for his [belligerence]
and [reputation as a killer]. [Tireless] in his efforts to (crush the Lunar and their allies), he <questions the honor and courage of all unwilling to rise against them>. Skilled in [mass combat], Kelulf takes
[pride] in [leading and training] the young men of the clan. His [quick
thinking] and [ruthlessness] have saved his life more than once. Kelulf is a \member of the Cold Wind movement\ and answers directly to \Sarostip Cold-eye\, its leader. <Given the opportunity, Kelulf must always deliver a death blow to any fallen opponent>.

NOTE: I have chosen to rule that the last sentence of the description below is a freebie and does not count against the 100-word total, as it defines part of Heordan's core concept as a Humakti Death Lord.

ABILITIES Mental: belligerent 8/12, determined 8/12, disliked by his clanfolk 8/12, fearless 8/12, grim 8/12, proud 8/12, quick-thinking 8/12, reputation as a killer 8/12, ruthless 8/12, taciturn 8/12.

Physical: close combat 6/14 (+1/-1 with swords), mass combat 8/12, strong 8/12, tireless 8/12.

Skills: battle tactics 6/14, evaluate foe 6/14, horsemanship 8/12, intimidate 8/12, lead and train troops 8/12.

Exotic: knowledge of the military 6/14.

Magic (Devotion): anti-undead 6/14, combat 6/14, death/endings 6/14, honor 6/14, weaponthanes 6/14, war 6/14.

Goals: crush the Lunar and their allies.

Flaw: questions the honor and courage of all unwilling to rise against the Lunars; given the opportunity, must always deliver a death blow to any fallen opponent (Humakt geas).

Supporting Characters: community 8/12: Cold Wind fanatics; patron 8/12: Sarostip Cold-eye.

NAGLEFANG WIND-RIDER [created by Peter Ion]


DESCRIPTION [100 words]

Naglefang, an /Orlanthi Storm Voice/, is [hot-tempered] and
[intimidating], his [piercing gaze] always seeking to [find flaws in
others]. [Driven] by his [hatred of Lunars], he (seeks their downfall) with [zealous] [energy]. [Needing little sleep] and possessed of keen
[night vision], Naglefang stole a copy of the \Book of Drastic
Resolutions\ from Lunar Headquarters. The [blasphemous knowledge] he gained [reading] it <scarred him horribly>, and he is [feared by his clanfolk]. Though [nimble] and [fleet-footed], Naglefang relies on his
[quick healing] and [swordsmanship] in a crisis. From \Mad-blood Hrolf
the Kolating\, he [learned the secret] of [riding upon the wind].

ABILITIES Mental: driven 8/12, energetic 8/12, feared by clanfolk 8/12, hatred of Lunars 8/12, hot-tempered 8/12, intimidating 8/12, piercing gaze 8/12, zealous 8/12.

Physical: fleet-footed 8/12, needs little sleep 8/12, night vision 8/12, nimble 8/12, swordsmanship 8/12, quick healer 8/12.

Skills: myths of Orlanth 6/14, reading 8/12.

Exotic: blasphemous knowledge 8/12, find flaws in others 8/12, give spiritual advice 6/14, knowledge of wind spirits & sylphs 6/14, learn secret 8/12, predict weather 6/14, ride upon the wind 8/12, speak Stormtongue 6/14.

Magic (Devotion): snow 6/14, storm 6/14, wind 6/14.

Goals: seeks the downfall of the Lunars.

Flaw: horribly scarred.

Supporting Characters: ally 8/12: Mad-blood Hrolf [Kolating shaman 6/14, other concept 8/12]; special item: Book of Drastic Resolutions [chaos lore 8/12]

XAN THE WANDERER [created by Paul Carolin]


DESCRIPTION [100 words]

Xan, a /Wanderer of Mastakos/, is [famous amongst his clanfolk] for his
[lightning-fast] [hand-to-hand skills] and ability to [inflict stunning
blows]. He [impressed his clan elders] with his [agility] and [fast healing]. When first he [explored the Other Side] to (seek the Rainbow Guardians), he discovered \??? his spirit ally\, his [gifts for learning languages] and [mimicking animal calls]. Xan has made many \anti-Lunar contacts\ throughout his [well-traveled] life, and (feels he must convince his clan to rise against the Lunars). [Gregarious] and
[charming, especially with women], Xan often gets into trouble because of
his <inability to hold his liquor>.

ABILITIES Mental: charming 8/12 (+1 vs. women/-1 vs. men), famous amongst his clanfolk 8/12, gregarious 8/12, impress clan elders 8/12, overcome conservative objections 8/12, resist loneliness 8/12, resist fear of the unexpected 8/12.

Physical: agile 8/12, close combat 8/12 (+2 when unarmed), fast healer 8/12, lightning reflexes 8/12.

Skills: commit route to memory 6/14, geography 6/14, inflict stunning blows 8/12, master vehicle 8/12, mimic animal calls 8/12, outdoor survival 6/14.

Exotic: choose most fateful path 6/14, gift for learning languages 8/12, well-traveled 8/12, knowledge of the Other Side 8/12, speak Tradetalk 6/14.

Magic (Devotion): combat 6/14, endurance 6/14, movement 6/14, wandering 6/14.

Goals: convince his clan to rise against the Lunars, seek the Rainbow Guardians (this is his Mastakos quest).

Flaw: unable to hold his liquor.

Supporting Characters: anti-Lunar contacts 8/12, ally 8/12: ??? [core concept 6/14; other concept 8/12].


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