Thursday, November 28, 2013

AFF NPC: Arcane investigator

Hello, gamebookers! I said that I would have Windhammer reviews up, but this is the busiest time of the year for me (parents' evenings, mocks etc.) and so I ahven't had a chance to do them.  In previous years, I've got around this problem by writing a load of posts during the holidays, when I have more time and then scheduling  them for the winter months.  However, since I can't do this for Windhammer as the results come out in November, I will have to hold fire on them, but they will be out.

In the mean time, here is the next post I have scheduled.  Enjoy!

Today's NPC is not really a villain - it is an AFF version of the paranormal investigator.  It will have a different spin to today's investigators as Titan is a world where most people know that magic exists.  However, villages may still have strange occurrences such as ghosts, demon portals opening or the ill effects from magical effects happening.  The investigator here is a non spellcaster (I will post a magical version and then a non human version later) who does not know how magic works, but has studied to the extent that they can detect it and identify magical things.  They can then use their knowledge to organise rituals or contact a relevant magic user to help them.  After all, there are not many spellcasters on Titan and a lot of them are too apathetic, insane or evil to deal with supernatural dangers that occur due to fallout from the War of the Wizards, schemes of the Demon  Princes or the tricks of non human races.  Or the spellcasters may be the ones causing all of these.

These investigators may either be independent, searching for 'The Truth' or just after some gold or they may be working for a patron, such as a lord, temple or a powerful spellcaster in order to stop supernatural occurences happening, or, in some cases, suppress witness accounts of supernatural occurrences that they, themselves have caused.

If there is some mysterious supernatural event in your adventure, these people may soon turn up and may be helpful or a hindrance.

Arcane Investigator (non spellcaster)

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED:  1-3

LOCATION:  Anywhere

REACTION:  Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

CREATURE TYPE: Humanoid (human)

SKILL:                      7

STAMINA:               12

LUCK:                      12

MAGIC:                    0

MAGIC POINTS:     0

SKILLS: World Lore (1), City Lore (1), Religion Lore (1), Awareness (1), Common Speech (4), Swords (2), Sneaking (2), Locks (2), Magic Lore (1), Second Sight (1), Secret Signs (1), Trap Knowledge (1), Dodge (1), Con (1)

TALENTS: Dark Veil,

WEAPONS: Shortsword, dagger, silver dagger,  throwing dagger, silver throwing dagger.

ARMOUR:  Leather Cuirass

SPECIAL:  This is an arcane investigator at the beginning of their career.  If they work for a patron, these people will have access to all kinds of esoteric equipment from such as holy water, silver weapons, magical sundries and holy items.  Independent investigators will have less access to these things, but will seek them out wherever they can.  This arcane investigator is basically a thief with enough magical knowledge to identify a magical effect.  Their job is usually to break into a dungeon or building and to report back.  This arcane investigator has been selected based on their ability to be able to sneak past demonic entities with their Dark Veil talent, which is very useful as Demonspawn are usually used as guards.

More experienced arcane investigator (non spellcaster)

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED:  1

LOCATION:  Anywhere

REACTION:  Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

CREATURE TYPE: Humanoid (human)

SKILL:                      7

STAMINA:               15

LUCK:                      12

MAGIC:                    0

MAGIC POINTS:     0

SKILLS: World Lore (2), City Lore (1), Religion Lore (2), Awareness (2), Common Speech (4), Swords (2), Sneaking (2), Locks (2), Magic Lore (2), Second Sight (2), Secret Signs (2), Trap Knowledge (1), Etiquette (1), Disguise (2), Dodge (1), Brawling (1), Bargain (1), Con (2), Sleight of Hand (1)

TALENTS: Attuned, Dark Veil

WEAPONS: Shortsword, dagger, silver dagger,  throwing dagger, silver throwing dagger.

ARMOUR:  Leather Cuirass

SPECIAL:  This is a more experienced arcane investigator who may do some extended fieldwork or infiltrate a cult over some time.  Their skills are moving from breaking and entering to also interacting with people to get what information or assistance they need.  These investigators may have access to a potion or scroll in addition to the magical sundries to help them out.

Arcane investigator chief

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED:  1

LOCATION:  Anywhere

REACTION:  Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

CREATURE TYPE: Humanoid (human)

SKILL:                      8

STAMINA:               16

LUCK:                      12

MAGIC:                    0

MAGIC POINTS:     0

SKILLS: World Lore (3), City Lore (2), Religion Lore (3), Awareness (3), Common Speech (4), Swords (2), Con (2), Sneaking (2), Locks (2), Throwing (1), Magic Lore (3), Second Sight (3), Secret Signs (3), Etiquette (2), Disguise (3), Dodge (2), Brawling (2), Leadership (1), Stewardship (1), Bargain (2), Sleight of Hand (1)

TALENTS: Attuned, Dark Veil, Clearsight,

WEAPONS: Sword, dagger, silver dagger,  throwing dagger, silver throwing dagger.

ARMOUR:  Leather Cuirass

SPECIAL:  This is a leader of a group of arcane investigators.  This investigator will have access to all the magical sundries they need.  This one also has one enchanted item - a bone medallion which reduces all damage from undead creatures by 1.  Ironically, even though a group of arcane investigators will come across many magical items in their time, they usually come across the unpredictable, inscrutable and dangerous ones, so they are no more likely (or even less likely) to have powerful magical items than other adventurers.  However, they do have a ready supply of potions, sundries, scrolls and a minor item or two such as a blue candle or pickled shapechanger brain.  This arcane investigator will do less routine fieldwork and only go out for special missions.  They have started learning some of the skills of managing a domain and leading a group of younger investigators.

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