Monday, February 26, 2018

Venture Backgrounds: Ruined Child Adventurer



Venture Backgrounds: Ruined (Former) Child Adventurer
Skills: Acrobatics, Investigation
Languages: One of choice (preferably esoteric)
Toolset: One of choice



You continue the family business of intrepid adventuring. The problem is that you didn’t choose this life; you were forced into from a young age. Forced to endure brutal conditions and emotional tragedy from an early age, you are the shell of whom you might otherwise be. Unable to function in everyday society, you have turned back to what you know.

Feature: Fanfare of the Bygone Days
As the Folk Hero’s “Rustic Hospitality”, though it applies to followers of your bygone days of youthful heroism rather than the common folk in general.

Suggested Characteristics
Ruined child adventurers tend to have complex relationships with their pasts. On the one hand, the trauma of childhood adventuring tends to shred any normal functionality in a person’s life to pieces. On the other hand, such an arduous early life may also imbue the otherwise pitiable soul with a few rare skills. As such, the ruined former child adventurer may view their childhood with a mixture of nostalgia and loathing.



Personality Characteristics (1d8)

1.       The memory of my parents will never leave me, much as I’d prefer them to.
2.       I don’t get too attached to other people. I’ve seen all too often the hired help doesn’t last long.
3.       Despite my best attempts to deny it, I’m still sentimental about my youth.
4.       I know many things, and I’m always the first one to remind everybody.
5.       I have the great tradition to uphold.
6.       I’m always on the lookout for somebody to try the latest thing I’m working on.
7.       When I look about, I always see how better things used to be.
8.       Everybody looks at me like I’m a frickin’ fossil, but I still got the magic. I’m cool. I’m hip.

Ideal (1d6)

1.       Style (Neutral) Every adventurer has to have an equally great style.
2.       Wealth and Power (Evil) I’m not really a villain, am I?
3.       Discovery (Any) The truth is out there.
4.       Idealism (Good) We are not merely people of adventure; we are people of hope.
5.       Excitement (Chaotic) I can’t feel alive unless I’m tied to a chair with a weapon pointed at my head.
6.       Belonging (Any) The things I do for love.

Bond (1d6)

1. I grew up. I'm not a child adventurer. I have my own business, and my own family.
2. My parents’ murder remains murder remains my only unsolved case ever.
3. This is all a part of my therapy.
4. I’ll show my old folks what I can do.
5. I weep for my own lost sidekick.
6. My order was founded to protect and serve humanity’s best, not to be a guild of calamitous intent.

Flaw (1d6)

1.       When I think of those who wronged me, I want to see them burn. Sometimes I want to see the whole world burn.
2.       Some people call me an addict, but I gotta have my meds.
3.       I don't get to meet many people I’m attracted to, and when I do, they play games.
4.       Everybody says I don’t talk to people, that I talk at them. I say they don’t listen.
5.       I can’t let anything go. It never ends.
            6.    I will stop at nothing to avoid living in my predecessor’s shadow.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Backgrounds of Venture: Murder Machine

Backgrounds of Venture

This is the first of a series of 5th Edition backgrounds based on the Venture Bros., this one based upon a certain Swedish Murder Machine.



Murder Machine
You are an officially recognized professional killer. You have a reputation for leaving a trail of dead bodies in your wake, and you will undoubtedly leave many more.



Skill Proficiencies: Athletics or Stealth (pick one), Intimidation
Tool Proficiencies: One type of Vehicles, one other Tool Proficiency of choice
Equipment: A belt with an attached scabbard or holster, a pack of tobacco or a bottle of booze, flint and steel, a suit of commoner’s clothing, identification papers, and a pouch with 10 gold pieces

Feature: License to Kill

You may kill without legal retaliation in lands that recognize your professional capacity. While not an excuse for wanton mass murder or the killing of certain high power figures, you may leave a few bodies lying here and there while pursuing your duties, though you may wish to call a cleaner.

Suggested Characteristics
Murder machines are usually grim and cunning individuals resilient in both body and nerve. Though they may enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, they typically have hidden depths that will often evolve given time and experience.

Personality Characteristics (1d8)
1.       I work hard; I play hard.
2.       I have a low tolerance for stupidity.
3.       For me, there’s a right and a wrong way to kill.
4.       What I listen to is really all about love and longing.
5.       I have my hobbies. So what if they don’t fit your stupid gender norms.
6.       I did something in the past I’m not proud of. When I’m weak, the memory haunts me.
7.       I’m never without a great story to tell, though my best accomplishments are classified information.
8.       I’ll never turn down a good wager.

Ideals (1d6)
1.       Honor (Lawful or Good) There’s rules. Separates us from the baddies.
2.       Might Makes Right (Chaotic or Evil) If force doesn’t solve your problems, you ain’t using enough of it.
3.       Professionalism (Any) It’s always cold in the home country.
4.       Thrills (Chaotic) I love fighting when I’m in the zone. It makes me feel like a real badass.
5.       Persistence (Any) I don’t give up easy.
6.       Toughness (Any) Never show weakness.

Bond (1d6)
1.       Though they’re not my blood, I have a family to protect. Nobody messes with MY family and gets away with it!
2.       There’s only been one person I’ve only ever really loved.
3.       I have secret orders.
4.       They killed my partner. I’ve got a score to settle.
5.       There’s a legendary monster I’ll take out one day.
6.       I’ve seen something horrible, of which I can never tell.

Flaw (1d6)
1.       They say I have temper problems. I say they have problems becoming maimed, mangled, and murdered around me.
2.       I could never say no to a pretty face.
3.       I may have left a kid or two somewhere along the way.
4.       Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not really out to get me.
5.       I act without waiting for backup. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.
6.       My trash talk sometimes gets me into trouble.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Actual Play: Darius Krin's Explorations of the Colossal Wastes of Zhaar


On Google Plus, I've been known for writing overly elaborate but somewhat humorous (I hope!) session write-ups of such disparate places as Barovania, Wampus Country, and New Feierland, among others. I have posted less of that lately on G+. However, my writing has not ended. Instead, I am using the more efficient GOOOOO-GGGLLLLE DOOOCCCCS! (Thunderclap!)

Of what I can share, I have the explorations of the rather scatterbrained artificer, alchemist, and tinker Darius Krin. Currently, he traipses about the Colossal Wastes of Zhaar. Called there by ancient and unknown magic, Krin allied with some fellow miscreants and set about learning about this alien land before ultimately beginning a search for a wrecked airship.

Krin's recollections of his travels are recorded here. Details on important persons and places may be found here. As continually updated documents, they are works in progress for the duration of the campaign. Note that these documents will contain SPOILERS for the Wastes.

About The Campaign
The campaign is a hexcrawl campaign usually run  weekly (if schedules allow) by +Ed Hackett  on G+. We used Fifth Edition rules, and FLAILSNAILS is allowed. We have a public G+ group you can ask Ed about if you're interested in joining.

About the Colossal Wastes of Zhaar
The Colossal Wastes of Zhaar  is a free, crowdsourced hexcrawl map made by numerous folks on G+. It is a precarious, highly fantastical desert land full of wonder that nonetheless languishes beneath the influence of the floating islands and flittering airships that drift overhead.