Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Chaosium Digest Volume 07 Number 09
Chaosium Digest Volume 7, Number 9
Date: Sunday, October 2, 1994
Number: 1 of 3
Contents:
More Background for Elric!, Part One (Frederic Moll) ELRIC!
Editor's Note:
Hey all. Welcome back to a large issue of the Chaosium Digest. Not
only will three Digests be going out this evening, but next week
should be large again, with Nephilim reviews, and Call of Cthulhu
computer game reviews all planned. Please, keep the submissions
coming in! The Chaosium Digest readership is now up to 517
subscribers, and still growing every day.
FTP Site Moved: A quick reminder to all long-time readers of the
Digest that the Chaosium Archives have moved over to
ftp.csua.berkeley.edu (128.32.43.51). The old soda archives are now
falling into disuse, and no longer being updated. If you're not
familiar with the ftp site, it contains the complete archives of the
Chaosium Digest, reading lists for most of Chaosium's games, the old
Mythos Delvers magazine, information repositories for Chaosium,
Necronomicon Press and Pagan Publishing and a whole lot more.
Herald of Doom Update: Back in V7.3 of the digest, I mentioned Herald
of Doom, a new Elric! newsletter. Early this week, I got a letter
back from Malcolm Wolter, updating me on the status of the premier
issue. He says that it is still in production, but proceeding on
time. He's just waiting for all the art to arrive, and says that all
copies should be received no later than All Hallow's Eve. If you'd
like to support this new Elric! publication, you can send $4 for the
first issue to:
Pale Prince Publishing
2900 Rolido, #168
Houston, TX 77063
Passions in Pendragon: David Dunham wrote a few notes on passions, in
reply to the query in V7.8, saying that he too saw Hate used more than
Love. However, he noted that a Hospitality inspiration might be
appropriate when someone threatened to kill one of your guests, or a
Honor inspiration might be appropriate if you were insulted and ended
up in a duel. I think a terrific idea for an article would be a set
of vignettes for each of the passions (ie, ideas for scenes in which
the various passions might used). Drop me a line if you'd like to
contribute a few ideas for such an article.
Searching for Yog-Sothoth: Chaosium is planning a 1990s version of
Shadows of Yog-Sothoth, completely rewritten but with a little of the
old stuff. Thus, they are trying to contact three authors for the
original book: Marc Hutchinson, Randy McCall, and Ed Gore. If you
have any information on how to reach these people, mail Lynn Willis
(LWWillis@aol.com).
New French Products: French players of Chaosium games will be happy to
know of several upcoming products. Les Dieux Nomades, the French
re-edition of Nomad Gods is scheduled for release in October or
November. Merlin, which will be a 48 page supplement including the
new magic rules for Pendragon (from the Fourth Edition), is scheduled
for October. Finally, Melnibone, the French translation of the first
Elric! supplement is scheduled for November.
Recent Sightings:
All French sightings this month. Thanks again to Frederic Moll.
* Elric! - "Customisez votre personnage", a nine page article of
optional rules for fleshing out characters during their creation
(partially reprinted in this issue), Tatou #20 [September/October,
1994] ; "Les Secrets Interdits", a six page scenerio, continued from
"Parole de Demon" in the previous issue, Tatou #20 [September/October,
1994]
* Pendragon - "Les Ecuyers", a five page article on squires, including
portraits of 20 squires (such as the cowardly squire and the alcoholic
squire) who can add spice to the life of their knights, Tatou #20
[September/October, 1994] ; "La Cour d'Oberon", a four page
description of the faerie court, including faerie scenerio ideas,
Tatou #20 [September/October, 1994] ; "Un bienfait n'est jamais
perdu", a seven page scenerio set during the first years of Arthur's
reign, Tatou #20 [September/October, 1994]
--------------------
From: FREDERIC MOLL <100350.1766@compuserve.com>
Subject: More Background for Elric!, Part One
System: Elric!
More Background for Elric characters
part 1
Foreword
A big part of this text comes from an article written in French by
Eric Simon and published in issue 20 of Tatou magazine (published by
Oriflam). I've taken the liberty of translating most of its content
into English for the gamers who don't understand or read "la langue de
Moliere" (also known as French in our modern world) or don't get
issues of Tatou Magazine. I hope there are not too many errors. This
translation is being printed with permission from Oriflam.
Remember that this is optional material for Elric...
Tables of Background
These tables are used after the adventurer occupation has been
determined by the player. Simply roll 1d10 and refer to the
descriptions given below. Not all the occupations are treated here
(others will be published in a future issue of TATOU and maybe in the
Chaosium Digest).
Beggar Craftperson Hunter Merchant
d10
1 Temple City Knowledge Area Knowledge Bad Associate
2 Spy Enemy Merchant Animal Knowledge Claim
3 Blackmail Legacy Beasts' Curse Antiquarian
4 Tout Craft Secret Hated by Baron Slave Merchant
5 Catacombs Embrss. Witness Treasure Knowl. Angered King
6 Corpses Traffic Dexterity Murder Witness Caravaneer
7 Victim Black Sheep Resilient Ransomed
8 Kidnapper Thief Murderer Animal Companion War
9 City Knowledge Poverty Hunting site Taxes
10 Free choice Free choice Free choice Free choice
Minor Noble Peasant Farmer Sailor Slave
d10
1 Duelist Tax Collector Pirate Scars
2 Bracelet Peasant revolt Ports Knowledge Free Man
3 Royal Court Peasant Defender Corsair Torturer Master
4 Don Juan Mercenaries Mutilated Wizard Master
5 Ancestral Weapon No money Watch Marked
6 Successful Merc. Looted Galerian Murderer
7 Domain Seized Very Healthy Treasure Island Miner
8 Rescuer Lord's Right Shipwrecked Rescuer
9 Gambling Father Away Bad Luck Storm
10 Free choice Free choice Free Choice Free choice
Soldier Thief
d10
1 Gates Guard Last Survivor
2 Treasure Guard Secret Passage
3 Honour Guard Dexterity
4 Training Infamy mark
5 Executioner Grd. Banned
6 Fortress Gangs War
7 Big Battle Sorcery
8 Temple Guard Good Job
9 Desertion Ring
10 Free choice Free choice
Background Descriptions
These short descriptions are followed by a summary of the gains or
losses resulting from the background when appropriate.
Beggar backgrounds
* Temple : A few years ago, you "resided" in a great temple in
exchange for small services. Now, each priest and acolyte of the
religious center is known by you.
Becoming a friend of this cult, you can expect their help (spiritual,
material or of another kind) in case of small difficulties.
* Spy : Being the spy for a gang of thieves, you tell them about rich
travelers arriving in the town, the paths of the watchmen and such.
One day, they decided that you knew too much, and they broke the
association. After a night of beating, they threw you in the cold
water. Luckily, you caught a piece of floating wood and reached the
bank of the river.
* Blackmail : One night, you saw a murder in a dark alley. The
murderer was a rich merchant and the victim a prostitute. For a year,
you blackmailed him and earned Bronze easily. However, recently,
you've spotted a killer that was shadowing you. Maybe you've been
demasked. Better to leave this city.
You have 500 more bronze.
* Tout : You were a tout for prostitutes in your city.
You know each of them and their protectors.
* Catacombs : During the winter, you lived in the catacombs. While
exploring, you found very old tombs. Inside, there were jewels and
other precious things.
You have 400 more Bronze and an excellent knowledge of these
catacombs. No one will find you inside them if you don't want to be
discovered.
* Corpses Traffic : You worked for a physician that was also a bit of
a sorcerer. You brought him corpses found in the streets and buried
in public graves. One day, he disappeared. Was he arrested or a
victim of his sorcery? You don't know, but you thought that leaving
this city was the best thing to do.
You have developed an insensibility to the sight of corpses.
* Victim : A few nights ago, you were beaten roughly by drunken young
nobles. After more than one hour of punching, they left you in the
street.
You have broken fingers and even lost some teeth. You have also
definitely lost one point of DEX.
* Kidnapper : You were a kidnapper that took young children, mutilated
them and sold them later to other beggars. One day, your co-workers
were arrested. Better to leave this town before they speak of you.
You take enough time to collect 1d6 x 10 Bronze.
* City Knowledge : Since you were a child, you lived in the poor world
of a city (anyone you like in the Young Kingdoms). Now, you know each
of the thieves, prostitutes, beggars and others members of the night
side. You also know each alley, all the taverns and the old ruins of
the city.
Maybe you can use this knowlege to earn money.
* Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your
occupation.
Craftperson backgrounds
* City Knowledge : Having lived for years in the same city, you know
everything about this city (alleys, taverns, important peoples,
customs, etc). You have also developed strong friendships.
You can hide in this city for months. You know where to find what you
seek and who you can trust. Even better, you can expect a discount of
at least 10% on what you can buy.
* Enemy Merchant : Everytime you talked to your fellows about the low
prices the merchants paid for your work, they seemed tired of hearing
you, and unable or unwilling to do anything about it. Recently, at
the market, a merchant offered you the lowest price you'd ever heard
for your work. It was too much for you and after a few minutes of
harsh discussions, you punched him and knocked him down in the middle
of the mob circling you. You understand that the merchant was made
fun of and now wants your head (his aides have paid the watch and the
judges).
Your only hope was fleeing before they caught you. Sorry, no gain,
just a loss of work and reputation in your home city.
* Legacy : One day, a man came to you as a friend of a distant
relative, and told you about his death. He gave you a small chest and
left quickly without saying more.
Add 1,000 Bronze to your money and use them as you want.
* Craft Secret : After years of research and experiments on the works
given to you by your old master just before he died, you have devised
a revolutionary process for your craft: a machine that allow you to
work 10 times faster than before!
You can sell this secret to a Craftsmen guild or even to merchants for
a big sum of money. You can also use it for yourself. However, don't
forget that if this machine is built, most of the members of your
profession will quickly become beggars. (Maybe this has happened
before in Nadsokor.)
* Embarrassing Witness : You were the witness to something that nobody
should have seen (murder, rape, thieving, treason). Unfortunately,
the person who committed it was one of the most powerful inhabitants
of the city where you lived and you were seen. You ran away, quickly
followed by armed men that broke down the door of your home. You took
a small package and left the city!
Now, you are out of the reach of this powerful person. Will you
return to the city one day, to reveal the truth, or will you try to
forget the affair?
* Dexterity : You have worked with application and developed an
excellent coordination and a great manual agility.
You gain 1 point of DEX.
* Black Sheep : Every time something bad happened in your family, they
thought you were responsible for it. Tired of this, you decided one
day to leave your family (can you really call it a family after all
what they've done to you?).
* Thief Murderer : One night, you heard suspicious noises downstairs.
You discovered that a thief was taking all your goods. Quickly, you
confronted him and a fight began. Avoiding his knife, you grabbed one
of your tools and hit him. He was dead on your floor. Two days
later, you found threatening writings on your door. The dead thief
was a member of a gang. Leaving your workplace for a few months is a
good idea, until everything cools down.
* Poverty : In your country, there are lot of craftsmen and it is very
difficult to sell your work, and even harder to get a good price for
it.
You earn only half of what you should have normally. Try to work in
another country or do something else.
* Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your
occupation.
Hunter backgrounds
* Area Knowledge : You've hunted for years in this area and you know
everything about it (each tree, cavern, hamlet and river). You also
know the dangerous places and how to avoid them.
You could live for years in this area easily and without being caught
by other people.
* Animal Knowledge : You hunt only one species (player's choice) and
know everything of its behavior.
While tracking/hunting this species, add 30% to your skills related to
hunting (even combat skills).
* Beast's Curse : The roles are reversed. You are pursued by a
magical beast. Until now, every time you met it, you fled. Now, an
old sorcerer has told you that it is a Beast Lord curse. Maybe you
have disturbed one of their nartural sanctuaries. It's up to you to
lift this curse!
* Hated by Baron : After beating some of the men sent by the Baron on
whose property you hunted, he sent mercenaries to kill you. The only
way of keeping your life was to go away.
* Treasure Knowledge : During a hunt in a deep forest, away from human
settlements and roads, you found, after a long and painful fall, a
Melnibonean tomb. You picked up a few golden nuggets before seeing
creeping shadows that were crawling in your direction. You quickly
found an exit!
You still know where the tomb should be and you also have 800 Bronze
from selling the gold nuggets.
* Murder Witness : While hiding during a hunt, you were the witness to
a murder. Your best friend killed his brother/sister. To avoid any
problems you choose to go away from him.
* Resilient : Life in the wildness has strengthened your body.
You gain 1 point of CON.
* Animal Companion : A few years ago you caught a young animal. Since
then, you have trained it and it is now your hunting companion.
Choose the species : Hawk, Wolf, Bear or Ape, and determine randomly
its characteristics.
* Hunting Site : You have found a place of reproduction for a species.
During a few weeks, thousand of animals come to this place to mate.
This is an extraordinary hunting site!
Determine the species. The result of your previous hunts in this site
is 300 Bronze.
* Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your
occupation.
Merchant backgrounds
* Bad Associate : Years of work have been destroyed by your best
friend, your associate. With the help of the Goldar priests, he was
able to take all your goods and had you accused of an imaginary rape
(there was four witnesses, corrupted by him). You don't want to
finish your life in a dark cell and decided to leave this country,
swearing to come back later and get your revenge.
* Claim : You have a claim of more than 20,000 Bronze. Just meet the
person who signed it and you will have a small fortune.
Unfortunately, he is a Pan Tangian, even worse, a high priest in the
Chaos church (or someone equivalent if your game master doesn't like
this one).
* Antiquarian : You sold Melniboneans antiques to rich and decadent
families. You also used the services of a band of tomb robbers who
steal from ancient Melnibonean mausoleums. Unfortunately, the last
statue you sold to a duke was a demoniac one. The duke and all his
family where slaughtered!
After being charged of murder, you decided to flee leaving behind you
your villa, your gold, your slaves, your concubines, etc.
* Slave Merchant : You lived as a slave merchant, a rather successful
profession. One day, you thought it was the best deal you'd ever
made, when you sold 10 young boys and girls to an unknown man.
However, you didn't know he was a sorcerer. The next day, they found
in the woods the 10 corpses, all with their throats slit and recent
demonic marks about them. Since this slaughter, you have decided to
never do again the job of slave merchant.
* Angered King : When you sold this magnificient stallion to the
king's son, you thought it was a good transaction. Unfortunately, the
young idiot has fallen from the horse and broke his neck. Now, the
royal guard is seeking to break your neck. Go and see others
kingdoms, it's better for your health.
* Caravaneer : With caravans, you have trekked over one of the Young
Kingdoms continent. During these long travels, you've seen lot of
kingdoms and cities.
In the continent of your choice, you know at least one inn in each
town, the major roads, the thieving barons, the great markets and the
richest merchants.
* Ransomed : Before being kidnapped by a group of thieves, you were a
rich merchant. Now, they have left you your freedom, but you lost a
large quantity of money after being obliged to sell all your
possessions.
After this horrible event, you decide to become rich again, but in
another country.
* War : Your city was besieged by the army of an enemy kingdom and
later they launched an assault on it. During the looting, the
warriors and the nobles commanding them took all your fortune.
However you're still alive. Other merchants were covered with oil and
thrown in flames.
* Taxes : Your king spends too much money. Recently he decreed an
exceptional tax and the seizure of the possessions of merchants who
have "stolen" money from the kingdom treasury. Unfortunately, your
name was on the list of these merchants. Now, you are banned from the
kingdom for an unjust reason.
* Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your
occupation.
Minor Noble backgrounds
Duelist : You have a fascination for duels, and you have won a lot of
them. The last opponent you killed was the elder son of a duke.
Since his death, the father has sent his best guards against you. You
have killed about five of them, but he seems to have a lot of guards.
* Bracelet : On your right arm you're wearing a large gold bracelet.
This piece of jewelry came from your ancestor who got it by killing a
Melnibonean during the wars. If you want to sell it, you can get in
return many thousands of bronze, but it is a family possesion.
* Royal Court : For more than a year, you lived at the court of a
Young Kingdoms ruler (choose which one, except Melnibone and Pan
Tang). You learned there all the court intrigues.
You accomplished many missions for the court. Unfortunately, there
was a misunderstanding between you and the royal mistress, who hates
you for an unknown reason. So, one day, you decided to leave.
* Don Juan : The last victim of your talent for seduction was a young
and kind countess. Her husband, an old crow who often speaks with the
king, has discovered your relationship. The countess was sent away to
a faraway domain of her husband and now, the count's men are tracking
you.
* Ancestral Weapon : Your family has a very old weapon (many centuries
old at least). All your ancestors wielded this weapon.
Determine the type of weapon. Due to the worksmanship of this weapon,
it does 2 additional damage points.
* Successful Mercenary : As a mercenary, you were in many battles and
sieges. During a battle, you captured a baron. His ransom enhanced
your way of life for several months.
Right now, you still have 1000 Bronze from this ransom.
* Seized Domain : Your family's domain was seized by your overlord
when you were young. Victim of a false accusation, your family lost
every possession and was banned. You knew that this was the result of
a plot. Now, your parents are dead. Will you forget this episode of
your life or will you seek justice?
* Rescuer : You rescued a young lady from brigands. She was a duke's
daughter. You received an invitation to his palace, but were thrown
out when your love for his daughter was discovered. A marriage with a
young noble without wealth would have ruined his reputation.
Now you must find wealth if you want to marry her.
* Gambling Father : Your father was a gambler and lost everything
(castles and lands). You have decided to regain the status of your
father and reconstruct your father's domain.
* Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your
occupation.
to be continued....
--------------------
The Chaosium Digest is an unofficial discussion forum for Chaosium's
Games. To submit an article, subscribe or unsubscribe, mail to:
appel@erzo.berkeley.edu. The old digests are archived on
ftp.csua.berkeley.edu in the directory /pub/chaosium, and may be
retrieved via FTP.
