Dolen Runehide
Male Trollkin Brigand/Warrior
Description: The smaller of the two Runehide brothers. Wears a deep hood that obscures everything but his frown. Always has a keen throwing axe close at hand that he fidgets with while he’s thinking, ready to hurl it at anything that comes too close, and several others hanging off a leather bandolier.
Background: You and your brother are refugees from the Thornwood Forest, and as far as you know, the only survivors of your kith. Battles in the Thornwood and the desperate exodus saw the rest slain. When the fighting drove you out, you and your brother turned to banditry and mercenary work to keep yourself fed, settling in the eastern edge of the Gnarls. Most of your money is made escorting caravans along the Gnarlwood Trail, or robbing those who refuse your services.
You’re the older brother, despite the impression some get from your smaller size. You’ve been keeping Fargas out of trouble your whole life, which has given you a sour outlook on most things—and most people. Recently, a farrow by the name of Morrg has cut in on the region. His warband did you the professional discourtesy of killing a recent client, which you and your brother are now blamed for. You are trying to locate Morrg to squeeze a bit of compensation out of him for the trouble he’s caused you.
Your first stop was a pygmy troll village in the Blackmarsh Valley. The pygs gave you and your brother a place to lay low after a rough patch a while back. Turns out Morrg got there before you. Now you’re traveling with the pyg chieftain and a handful of locals who have their own bones to pick with Morrg. Not the sort you are prone work with, and definitely the sort to keep an eye on, but having a handful of others around couldn’t hurt when things with the farrow turn violent.
Attitude: You are measured and quiet, letting others do most of the talking. Other people tend to talk and talk until they reveal something they didn’t mean to, or argue in circles until they are in a position you can use to your own advantage.
Personal Goal: Thanks to Morrg there’s a bounty on your heads, and humans up and down the Gnarlwood Trail looking to cash it in. There probably isn’t anything in Morrg’s camp that will exonerate you, but at least giving him a little payback will help even things out.
Relations with others:
Gullin Oakbreaker, “The Chief” – The pyg is decent enough. He seems wary about having you around, but his goals and your own align close enough for you to get along, and you owe him a favor for helping you out in the past. In your eyes, Morrg has stolen something valuable from you both.
Longchops, “The Hunter” – Most of the gatormen you know are primitive tribal gators from the Thornwood. This one seems to be a bit more civilized than the others, which is nice. His goals seem sensible; kill a farrow and get paid for the work. You can respect that.
Lurk “The Mystic” – Lurk is your kind of bog trog. Clever and out for his own best interests. You and Lurk share more than a few things in common.
Zocha “The Scout” – Your kith had to fight plenty of Tharn in the Thornwood Forest. She’s one to keep your eye on and never turn your back to.
The Brothers Runehide
You and your brother have been tracking Morrg back through the valley for a few weeks, trying to get a bearing on where the no-good employer-killing warlord is holed up. Along the road you ran into a pack of others with their own scores to settle. Best to let them lead the way.
You’re the group’s eyes. While the Tharn plans things out and the pyg coordinates them, you keep your eyes out for potential gaps in the enemy line to exploit, and ways to make the most out of your cosmopolitan crew. You also keep a lookout on your brother to make sure he doesn’t go off and get himself killed, which can be a real challenge.
Dolen Runehide
Male Trollkin Brigand/Warrior
Archetype: Cunning
Capable of bursts of true genius, the character is exceptionally intelligent and equally devious. He is capable of meticulous planning and the orchestration of the most sophisticated plots. His shrewd eyes see all the angles, enabling him to anticipate the likely course of action lesser minds will take. Characters with the Cunning archetype are wily, calculating, and capable.
A cunning character possesses a tactical genius and adaptability that gives him +1 on attack and damage rolls in combat. While in the command range of a Cunning character, a friendly character receiving orders from him also gains +1 on attack and damage rolls.
Additionally, a Cunning character begins the game with one of several benefits. Characters gain additional benefits as they accumulate experience points. Dolen has Savant.
Savant
The character can attempt to use skills untrained that normally cannot be used untrained, but he suffers a –2 penalty to the skill roll.
Tough
The character is incredibly hardy. When this character is disabled, roll a d6. On a 5 or 6 the character heals 1 vitality point, is no longer disabled, and is knocked down.
Fast Draw
A character with this ability gains +2 on initiative rolls. He also gains an additional quick action during his first turn of combat each encounter that can be used only to draw a weapon.
Feat: Revitalize
This character can spend 1 feat point during his turn to regain a number of vitality points equal to his PHY stat immediately. If he suffers damage during his turn, the damage must be resolved before he can use this feat. He cannot use Revitalize while incapacitated.
Find Cover
At the start of combat before initiative is rolled, this character can immediately advance up to twelve feet (2˝) and perform a quick action to take cover or go prone.
Onslaught
At the start of this character’s turn before moving or taking any action, he can make one ranged attack. After the attack has been resolved, the character must charge or run. The ranged attack is made before declaring a charge target.
Roll with It
When the character would ordinarily be knocked down, he goes prone instead. The character loses this ability while he is mounted.
Fargas Runehide
Male Trollkin Bushwhacker/Kriel Champion
Description: A physically impressive, personable trollkin who carries himself with the easy strength and bearing of a tried and tested warrior. Wears polished armor that doesn’t seem to weigh him down. Keeps his rifle in good condition and always has it ready, slung over his shoulder in a casual manner.
Background: You and your brother Dolen are refugees from the Thornwood, but through his wits and your skill you’ve carved out a place for yourselves as mercenaries here in the Gnarls. Between mercenary jobs you perform a touch of good old banditry, but only to make ends meet. You’ve been careful to not kill people (usually), especially humans, in order to avoid making the caravaneer’s guilds too angry with you.
Unfortunately some nasty farrow moved into the region and killed a caravan that you and your brother were escorting. Now there are men on the trail convinced that you are responsible for the killing. You’ve managed to avoid them by moving deeper into the Gnarls, following the trail of the farrow warband responsible for the deaths.
You’re the younger brother, but others tend to treat you with the respect that a senior brother would command. That’s just fine with you. Dolen’s smart and good at what he does, but you’re obviously the most admired member of the Runehide kith. You style yourself like the champions of your former kith, a true hero of the trollkin.
Attitude: Bold and enthusiastic, you’re a quick and powerful warrior and everyone deserves to know it. You’re the last real warrior of the Runehide kith, so you need to do everything in your power to prove your strength to others.
Personal Goal: You are interested in seeing the farrow warlord—whatever his name is—pay for messing up the good thing you and Dolen had going for so long. Dolen’s convinced that there will be no clearing your names, but maybe the farrow has something that could prove your innocence? If not, at least he’s sure to have some decent plunder for you to claim once he’s out of the way.
Relations with others:
Gullin Oakbreaker, “The Chief” – The pyg is a fun little guy to hang out with. He’s burly for his kind and doesn’t lack for courage. A take-charge sort, you could see yourself grabbing a drink with him and swapping war stories once things settle down. His whelp likes to hang out near you and seems interested in your rifle.
Longchops, “The Hunter” – Sure, his gun is bigger than yours, but that doesn’t mean its better. The two of you don’t have much in common, but you enjoy the opportunity to shoot with someone else every once in a while.
Lurk “The Mystic” – The bog trog is disturbing and his arcane fetishes smell terrible. Still, there’s no denying the skill with which he wields them, and how helpful his magic can be in a fight. Just find a good place upwind to stand.
Zocha “The Scout” – Zocha is a good fighter and clever. She’s probably even cleverer than Dolen, not that you’d ever tell him that. Seeing what she can do with her sacral blade is enough encouragement to stay on her good side—you’ve seen someone she stabbed literally explode.
The Brothers Runehide
You and your brother have been tracking Morrg back through the valley for a few weeks, trying to get a bearing on where the no-good employer-killing warlord is holed up. Along the road you ran into a pack of others with their own scores to settle. Best to let them lead the way.
You are the group’s champion. Let the others worry about figuring out how to get things done. You are the one who actually goes out and accomplishes them. Sure, other people help along the way, but it is Fargas Runehide who will see the farrow warlord wiped from the face of Caen.
Reverse
Fargas Runehide
Male Trollkin Bushwhacker/Kriel Champion
Archetype: Skilled
This character is extremely quick, nimble, and dexterous. He relies on his wits, skill, and luck in equal measure. A Skilled character gains an additional attack during his Activation Phase if he chooses to attack that turn.
Additionally, a Skilled character begins the game with one of several benefits. Characters gain additional benefits as they accumulate experience points. Fargas has Feat: Untouchable.
Feat: Untouchable
The character can spend 1 feat point during his turn to gain +3 DEF for one round.
Tough
The character is incredibly hardy. When this character is disabled, roll a d6. On a 5 or 6 the character heals 1 vitality point, is no longer disabled, and is knocked down.
Crackshot
The character can accurately track his target despite its attempts to take cover. When making a ranged or magic attack against a target that has concealment, cover, or elevation, this character gains +2 on the attack roll.
Defensive Line
While this character is base-to-base (B2B) with one or more friendly characters, he gains +1 ARM. While this character is B2B with one or more friendly characters who also have this ability, the bonus increases to +2.
Feat: Revitalize
This character can spend 1 feat point during his turn to regain a number of vitality points equal to his PHY stat immediately. If he suffers damage during his turn, the damage must be resolved before he can use this feat. He cannot use Revitalize while incapacitated.
Fast Reload
The character gains one extra quick action each turn that can be used only to reload a ranged weapon.
Load Bearing
This character is well practiced at fighting while wearing heavy armor. Reduce the SPD and DEF penalties from the armor the character wears by 1.
Roll with It
When the character would ordinarily be knocked down, he goes prone instead. The character loses this ability while he is mounted.