Grogs

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: In the Ruins of Bibracte
29

1 of 4 - Osster the Bear, Shield Grog to Jormungand

Name: Osster the Bear
Covenant: Formerly known as Horti Sessrumni

Characteristics: Int -3, Per +3, Str +3, Sta +3, Pre +1, Com -3, Dex +2, Qik -2
Size: +1
Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0 [0]
Warping Score: 0 [0]
Twilight Scars: n/a
Personality Traits: Angry +2, Clean -1, Loud +2, Loyal +2, Reckless +3
Reputations:

Virtues: Berserk[1], Large[1], Tough[1]
Flaws: Afflicted Tongue[+1], Obese[+1], Reckless[+1]

Combat -
Maul - Init -3, Att 15, Def 3, Dmg 15
Lance - Init -1, Att 10, Def 1, Dmg 8
Javelin - Init -3, Att 4, Def 2, Dmg 8
Punch - Init -3, Att 6, Def 1, Dmg 3
Kick - Init -4, Att 6, Def 0, Dmg 6
Gauntlet - Init -3, Att 6, Def 2, Dmg 5

Soak: 15 (With Full Chainmail)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: Light -1 (1-6), Medium -3 (7-12), Heavy -5 (13-18), Incapacitated (19-24), Dead (25+)

Abilities: Animal Handling(Horses) 1, Area Lore - Normandy(Castles) 1, Area Lore - Saxony(Castles) Athletics(Climbing) 2, Awareness(Searching) 2, Brawl(Grappling) 3, Carouse(Drinking) 2, Charm(Soldiers) 1, Craft: Siege Engines(Siege Tower) 3, Great Weapon(Maul) 5, Guile(Lying) 1, Language, Native - French(Cadences) 5, Language, German (Cursing) 3, Language, Old Norse (Courting) 2, Music (Singing) 1, Profession: Siege Soldier(Breaching) 3, Ride(Battle) 3, Single Weapon(Lance) 2, Stealth(Hiding) 1, Survival(Battlefield) 1, Swim(Holding Breath) 1, Thrown Weapon(Javelin) 1

Equipment: Full Chainmail, Maul, Long Spear(Lance), 2 Javelins, Cross Saw, Rope, Grappling Hook, Box of Nails, Canteen, Bedroll, Medium Shield(not usually carried)
Encumbrance: 14(4)

Osster only showed up five or six years ago to the former Horti Sessrumni Covenant. He had come through earlier in one of the marauding/invading armies and had watched the officers be entertained. At the time, he fell in love with Jormungand's sister and always imagined coming back. During one of the many sieges he participated in he took a nast hit from a mace upon his helmet and bit half his tongue off. Eventually, he deserted from Philip II's army before it went crusading and returned to the manorhouse. After a few weeks, he achieved an invitation into Asvana's bed, and hasn't left since. For Asvana's sake, he has sworn to protect Jormungand. He is NOT okay with the few times Jormungand has joined himself and his sister in bed, although has learned to put up with it, and thoroughly pummeled Jormungand to a pulp the one time the young magus invited the Bear to ravish him like his sister. After saving each other's lives a few times (Osster by fighting, Jormungand by healing after the fighting) they've come to an uneasy but acceptable truce.

Quotes -

"Ya kno, ich haddly da ware toos be teats the---tweats de--hoony, getodder 'ere!!"
"'EEWAAARE DE BEAAAAARRR!! AAAAUUGGHHH!!!"
"Yous tech me agin, oonds eye's well bee turching yous a lot wid ma' heavy fists!"

30

(maintained on Obsidian Portal)

Background/Description
Mélanie la coureuse (the runner or racer) is Mons Electi's Cursor, the grog responsible for proving that their Seisin is within a day's journey there and back. She was chosen in a competition around the time that the covenant was founded, and won the race easily. In her mind, the covenant would fall apart without her, since they would lose almost all their magic. She has spent much of her time since her selection in training, learning and memorizing where the covenant's vis sources are, running there and back to determine best route to take.

Mélanie is a tall, gangly, long-legged girl with long chestnut brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin.

31

Born among Blackthorn's covenfolk, Elain was recruited as a Tremere soldier by Goliard herself. He served as a custos there for eight years, before Goliard released him to become shield grog to Laetitia.

Elain is somewhat reticent, but is approachable and friendly.

Age: 29

Int -2 Per +1
Str +2 Sta +2
Pre 0 Com -3
Dex +3 Qik +2

Custos, Skinchanger (white wolf), Blackthorn Native*; Continence, Dutybound (House Tremere), Offensive to Animals

Athletics 3 (30)
Awareness 3 (30)
Bargain (innkeeps) 2 (15)
Brawl (dodge) 3 (30)
Chirurgy 2 (15)
Hunt 3 (30)
Latin 4 (50)
Leadership (Tremere soldiers) 2 (15)
Order of Hermes Lore (Tremere) 1 (5)
Profession: soldier 3 (30)
Ride 3 (30)
Single Weapon (longsword and heater shield) 5 (75)
Stealth 1 (5)
Survival 3 (30)
Swim 2 (15)
Welsh 5 (native)

*Heirs to Merlin says that everyone born at Blackthorn can see in the dark. (This is why Laetitia has Strong Faerie Blood.) Being a major virtue, though, that's not an option for Blackthorn's covenfolk; so I figure a minor virtue could confer the ability to see normally in darkness.

32

Age: 24

Int 0 Per +1
Str +1 Sta +1
Pre 0 Com +2
Dex +1 Qik 0

Covenfolk; Common Sense, Gossip; Busybody, Soft-hearted

Area Lore: Potenza 2 (15)
Awareness (style) 3 (30)
Bargain (clothing) 3 (30)
Charm 2 (15)
Craft: dressmaking 5 (75)
Folk Ken 3 (30)
Guile 2 (15)
Intrigue (servants) 3 (30)
Italian 5 (native)
Leadership (servants) 1 (5)
Music 3 (30)
Order of Hermes Lore (Magvillus) 1 (5)
Profession: chef 5 (75)
Welsh 4 (50)

33

Age: 25

Int +2 Per +2
Str 0 Sta 0
Pre 0 Com 0
Dex +1 Qik 0

Covenfolk; Free Expression, Puissant Cooking; Busybody, Lost Love

Area Lore: Potenza 2 (15)
Animal Handling (dairy cows) 3 (30)
Athletics (chasing chickens) 2 (15)
Bargain (food) 5 (75)
Carouse (gourmand) 3 (30)
Charm 2 (15)
Craft: cheesemaking 5 (75)
Folk Ken 2 (15)
Leadership (kitchen scullions) 2 (15)
Profession: chef 5 (75) +2
Survival (truffle hunting) 3 (30)
Swim 2 (15)
Teaching 2 (15)

34

Vin Diesel

Virtues: Second Sight, Warrior, Well-Traveled
Flaws: Branded Criminal, Judged Unfairly, Weakness: children and giant cats

Int 0, Per +3
Pre -2, Com -2
Str 0, Sta +1
Dex +2, Qik +2

Warping 0.2

Size 0, Age: 33, Personality: Brave +3, Loyal +1, Sociable -2, Sinister Anti-hero +1

Knife (brawl or thrown) Init +2 Attack +6, Def +5, Damage +2, Range 5

Soak +3 (partial leather, Sta), +6 with Doublet

Abilities:
AL:Cijara Lore 4 (game trails)
Athletics 4 (climbing)
Awareness 5 (bodyguarding)
Throw 4 (knife)*
Brawl 4 (knife)
Folk Ken 1 (capacity for violence)
Guile 2 (pretending I'm unarmed)*

Hunt 5 (people)
Stealth 2 (hunting)
Survival 4 (woodlands)

Native Lang: Castill/Spanish 5 (ominous grunting)
Latin 3 (orders)*

Second Sight 6 (ghosts)

  • = from Virtues
35

Begin random grog project:

Name: Alexandre
Age: 31
Gender male
Total Experience: 470
Available Experience: 0

Int -1 Pre 2
Per 0 Com 0
Str 3 Dex 1
Sta 1 Qik -2

Virtues/Flaws:
Warrior,Custos, Latent Magical Ablilty, Generous (major)

Abilities:
Score Experience
2 Athletics 15
2 Awareness 15
2 Bargain 15
5 Bows Short Bow 75
1 Charm 5
2 Concentration 21
2 Etiquette 22
3 Folk Ken 30
5 French 0
5 Single Weapon Sword 75
3 Guile 30
1 Legerdemain 10
2 Living Language German 15
3 Latin 30
2 Music 15
2 Organization Lore 15
3 Profession: Hunter 31
2 Stealth 15
1 Survival 6
3 Ride 30
3 Thrown Weapon knife 30

as of 1229.2

36

Name: Bernard
Age: 25
Gender Male
Total Experience: 380
Available Experience: 0

Int -2 Pre 0
Per -1 Com 2
Str -1 Dex 0
Sta 2 Qik 0

Virtues/Flaws:
Relic, Reserves of Strength, Outsider, Disfigured

Abilities:
Score Experience
1 Animal Handling 11
1 Athletics 5
2 Awareness 18
2 Brawl 15
1 Concentration 14
1 Etiquette 10
2 Folk Ken 15
5 French 0
1 Guile 7
3 Hunt 30
3 Ride 30
3 Latin 20
2 Music 15
2 Organization Lore 15
5 Single Weapon sword 75
3 Ranged Weapon Crossbow 30
2 Stealth 15
2 Survival 15
3 Swim 30

as of 1229.2

37

Name: Daniel
Age: 22
Gender Male
Total Experience: 480
Available Experience: 0

Int 1 Pre -2
Per 2 Com 0
Str 4 Dex 1
Sta 0 Qik -1

Virtues/Flaws:
Great Strength, Affinity with Sword, Puissant Stealth
Covenant Upbringing, Continence, Outcast

Abilities:
Score Experience
2 Area Lore: 15
2 Bargain 15
2 Carouse 15
1 Concentration 10
2 Etiquette 15
2 Folk Ken 15
5 French 0
2 Guile 20
2 Hunt 15
2 Intrigue 23
3 Latin 30
3 Leadership 30
2 Legerdemain 22
1 Living Language German 14
2 Profession: Hunter 15
3 Thrown Weapon Javelin 30
2+2 Stealth 15
2 Survival 15
2 Swim 17
2 Teaching 15
7 Single weapon sword 95

as of 1229.2

38

Name: Christian
Age: 30
Gender Male
Total Experience: 455
Available Experience: 0

Int -1 Pre -1
Per 2 Com 3
Str 3 Dex -2
Sta 0 Qik -2

Virtues/Flaws:
Warrior, Custos
Social Handicap, Visions

Abilities:
Score Experience
2 Athletics 15
2 Awareness 15
3 Bows Cross Bow 50
2 Carouse 15
2 Charm 20
2 Chirurgy 15
3 Craft: Brewing 30
2 Dominion Lore 15
2 Folk Ken 30
5 French 0
1 Legerdemain 10
3 Area Lore 30
2 Magic Lore 15
2 Music 15
3 Ride 30
2 Profession: Warrior 15
2 Brawl 22
2 Stealth 15
2 Survival 15
1 Teaching 5
5 single weapon sword 75

as of 1229.2

39

Emmanuel
Age: 35
Gender Male
Total Experience: 530
Available Experience: 0

Int 3 Pre 2
Per 0 Com -3
Str 2 Dex -3
Sta 3 Qik 1

Virtues/Flaws:
Warrior, Faerie Blood, Light touch
Poor Student, Lesser Malediction, Delusional

Abilities:
Score Experience
3 Area Lore: 30
3 Awareness 30
5 Bargain 50
3 Brawl 30
2 Charm 15
3 Chirurgy 33
2 Concentration 15
3 Etiquette 30
5 French 0
3 Latin 30
3 Thrown weapon knife 30
3 Guile 30
3 Hunt 30
2 Legerdemain 15
3 Stealth 30
3 Survival 30
2 Swim 15
2 Teaching 23
4 Single weapon axe 75

as of 1229.2

40

No name for this one? I suggest we make him a goblin-blooded. The Malediction and Delusion need to be worked out...

For some reason, he's the most evocative of these grogs for me, and I really want to make him a Muslim or a Jew, but both of those would require the Educated virtue. Why else might he be an outcast? Is it related to his Continence?

Oh, gods. Grog with a Relic! Run away! ~flees~

Potential apprentice for the Flambeau, I see. No craft score else I'd swoop him up.

In general, these grogs, while being acceptably random, are not terribly optimized for any type of activity. They tend to have one or two high combat scores, but low scores in Awareness, or anything like that. I understand it is a free script, but still....it'd be nice if there was a general flavor category to them, like "stealthy guy," or "shield grog."

41

Then, probably better way is to have them as bland and generic as possible.
One problem I have with these grogs is that their v/f "talk" to me, which isn't good for generic characters, as it may take the focus away from the ones we want to focus on.

=> Maybe have something like this (yes, I'm deliberately having them globaly weaker than PC grogs):

  • Useful stat A @2, useful stat B and C@1, all other stats @0
  • Main skill @5, secondary skill @4, related skills @2, all other general skills @1.
  • No special v/f

So, A warrior?
Strength 2, dex 1, Sta 1
Great weapon 5, bows 4, all weapons, brawl, leadership, awareness 2, rest @1

Another warrior?
Dex 2, str1, quick 1
Single weapon 5, awareness 4, all weapons and brawl 2, rest @1

A crafter?
Dex 1, int 1, Com 1
Craft 5, bargain 4, social skills 2, rest @1

It can even be more abstracted, such as
1 Main stat + skill 7
4 secondary stats + skills 5
all other stat + skills 2
This may include supernatural stats, such as SS, although I would keep these the more mundane possible, leaving special attributes to PC grogs if possible

42

Whereas that is exactly what I'm looking for from a grog generator -- something that creates a memorable character through randomness while still producing generically useful characters.

Daniel, in the above group of grogs, is the perfect example of this.

Virtues/Flaws:
Great Strength, Affinity with Sword, Puissant Stealth
Covenant Upbringing, Continence, Outcast

That's enough for me to hand to a player not involved in the thread and have them not get bored playing a 2ndary character. There are a few decisions left to make which are definitively colored by the player (imagine the choices that Peregrine, you or I would make to explain why he's an Outcast), but the heavy lifting has been done for us.

43

Chastity, Forge Companion, Age 36
(Silversmith Specialist 8),
Other Notable skills: Carouse, Guile, Bargain(drinks)

Virtues:
Faerie Blood (Dwarf), minor supernatural
__
__

Flaws:
Disfigured, minor, General
Lecherous, minor, personality
Small Frame, minor general

and her daughter, Patience, age 6
Virtues:
Faerie Blood (Dwarf), major supernatural

Flaws:
Small Frame, minor general
__
__

Chastity is Viscaria's forge companion. She's built like a dwarf, with a face like a mining accident. When not in the forge, she's usually somewhere near a bottle -- hoping to find someone who'll get drunk enough to ignore her face long enough to make her feel like a woman.

Her daughter, Patience, was born of one such night of drunken escapism. Chastity barely counts as a mother. Viscaria is at least a strict master craftsman who treats Patience like an apprentice craftsman. Vin Diesel has a secret soft spot for the kid, and has been teaching her how to handle a blade and use her Second Sight -- when no one is looking. Sad to say, but Vin is the closest thing she has to a parent right now.

44

Submitted for your consideration - anything that he should have, or shouldn't have, or whatever, to make him fit the role will be considered. Cut-and-paste from my Metacreator .rtf file. Current as to Fall, 1223, when he may be needed in the Danced with the Devil thread.

Henri
Covenant: Mons Electi
Saga: In the Ruins of Bibracte
Characteristics: Int +1, Per +1, Pre +2, Com +2, Str 0, Sta 0, Dex 0, Qik -1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25), Height: 4'11'', Weight: 121 lbs, Gender: Male
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Virtues and Flaws: Educated (50/50), Privileged Upbringing (50/50), Covenfolk, Fragile Constitution (Healing: -3), Busybody
Combat:
Dodge: Init: -1, Attack --, Defense -1, Damage --
Fist: Init: -1, Attack +0, Defense -1, Damage +0
Kick: Init: -2, Attack +0, Defense -2, Damage +3
Soak: 0
Fatigue levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Area Lore: Bibracte 3 (Politics), Area Lore: Mons Electi 4 (Magi), Artes Liberales 2, Autocrat 4, Awareness 2, Bargain 1, Charm 2, Etiquette 2 (10), Folk Ken 4, French 5, Greek 4, Guile 2 (5), Intrigue 2, Latin 5, Order of Hermes Lore 3
Equipment:
Encumbrance: 0 (0)

45

[size=125]Falko[/size]

After scurrying from town to town for a while in Flanders, usually on the advice of local constables who had him pegged as a troublemaker, Falko befriended a strange fellow named Marcus (although the unfortunate details of their first meeting are best left forgotten). Marcus found it satisfying to have someone around who can not only guard his person but actually get the drop on him occasionally in friendly competition. For his part, Falko was fascinated by the pyrotechnics that Marcus can produce, and has composed several descriptive ditties about them, if you'd care to listen.

Gender: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 142 lbs
Birth year: 1198
Age: 25
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Handedness: Left

Characteristics: Int 0, Sta +2, Str +2, Dex +1, Qik +4, Com 0, Prs 0, Per -3
Size: 0

Personality Traits: Loyal +3, Brave +3, Jolly +2, Enjoys Fire +3
Virtues: Covenfolk; Great Quickness, Tough
Flaws: Compulsion (singing, especially when under stress), Judged Unfairly

Combat
Equipment: Great sword, partial leather scale, gauntlets
Soak: +8
Great sword: Init +6, Attack +12, Defense +12, Damage +11
Dodge: Init +4, Defense +7
Gauntlet: Init +4, Attack +5, Defense +9, Damage +4
Fist: Init +4, Attack +4, Defense +7, Damage +2
Kick: Init +3, Attack +4, Defense +6, Damage +5
Encumbrance: 0

Abilities
Athletics 3 (running)
Awareness 3 (threats against magi)
Brawl 3 (gauntlet)
Carouse 2 (drinking songs)
Charm 1 (first impressions)
Concentration 3 (defending)
Folk Ken 2 (first impressions)
Great Weapon 5 (great sword)
Guile 1 (quick lies)
Latin 3 (taking orders)
Low German 5 (Flemish)
Music 1 (singing)
Stealth 3 (quickly)
Survival 3 (building fires)
Swim 2 (quickly)

(Edited xp in Abilities, to bring Great Weapon down to 5, and combat stats.)

46

[size=125]Jehanne[/size]

When you visit a village of mundanes and learn of a teenage boy whom all the villagers shun and feel uncomfortable around, and the boy says he feels like he hasn't realized his true nature yet ... you grab him back to the covenant and test him for the Gift, right? Well, sometimes that boy is just bereft of social skills. At least Mons Electi is a marginally better environment for him to express his preference for women's attire; quite a few covenfolk don't actually realize that Jehanne the large tactless woman is the same person as Jehannot the conventionally dressed warrior. Everyone in the turb knows Jehanne's open secret, and while they are suitably revolted by it, they've learned that bringing it up around Jehanne is a great way to get on the losing end of a painful wrestling march.

Gender: Male
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 177 lbs
Birth year: 1198
Age: 25
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Handedness: Right

Characteristics: Int +1, Sta +1, Str +4, Dex +2, Qik 0, Com -1, Prs -2, Per +2
Size: 0

Personality Traits: Loyal +3, Brave +3, Tactless +2
Virtues: Covenfolk; Great Strength, Improved Characteristics
Flaws: Ability Block (reading people)[sup]1[/sup], Transvestite

[sup]1[/sup] Jehanne cannot put experience points into Bargain, Charm, Folk Ken, Guile, Intrigue, Leadership, or Teaching.

Combat
Equipment: Mace and chain, full chain mail, heater shield
Soak: +10
Mace and chain, with heater shield: Init +2, Attack +11, Defense +9, Damage +11
Mace and chain, without heater shield: Init +2, Attack +11, Defense +6, Damage +11
Dodge: Init +0, Defense +4
Fist: Init +0, Attack +6, Defense +4, Damage +4
Kick: Init -1, Attack +6, Defense +3, Damage +7
Encumbrance: 0

Abilities
Area Lore: Burgundy 2 (hidden places)
Animal Handling 2 (judging moods)
Athletics 4 (strength)
Awareness 3 (bodyguarding)
Brawl 4 (grappling)
Carouse 2 (chugging)
Concentration 2 (keeping watch)
Etiquette 2 (magi)
French 5 (Bourguignon)
Hunt 2 (large animals)
Latin 2 (bodyguarding)
Single Weapon 5 (mace and chain)
Stealth 1 (hiding)
Survival 3 (judging the land)

(Edited xp in Abilities, to bring Single Weapon down to 5, and combat stats.)

47

Quick glance: Weapon skills are too high. At chargen, no ability can have (aside from affinity) a level above age/5.

Ah, we're going out. Have a nice WE, people! :smiley:

48

Ah, good point Fixer, thanks. I've edited the characters.
Have a good weekend too. I'll be dancing tonight :smiley: