diff --git a/cc.tex b/cc.tex
index e273598230f4168356483e2ececbaff6fb96697e..6c0371d29945c1419d5004f75f2cd66597f8a52d 100644
--- a/cc.tex
+++ b/cc.tex
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ These are the basic Traits which characters must use over and over again for eve
\begin{boxtext}
-\subsection{The Story of Thenton}
+\subsection{The Story of Sean}
After rolling the dice, my final results are Strength +1, Speed 0, Dexterity -1, Intelligence 0, Wits -1 and Charisma +1.
That doesn't look like it speaks of much, but consider what kind of human might be `Charismatic yet clumsy'.
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ His poems aren't terribly good (just look at that banal Intelligence score) but
Meanwhile, he earns his pay, and perhaps attempts to chat up a few ladies, based on his dashing good looks and likeable personality.
He just needs a name now -- something which captures the idea of a slightly silly fop, a knightly poet.
-`Thenton' should do it.
+`Sean' should do it.
Roll up a character of your own, and you can use it for practice rolls in a moment.
\end{boxtext}
@@ -206,13 +206,13 @@ Finally, a character's ability to speak with people, make friends, lie convincin
\begin{exampletext}
-The skinny man greets Thenton with overbearing enthusiasm as he continues to explained the mission.
+The skinny man greets Sean with overbearing enthusiasm as he continues to explained the mission.
``\emph{The book was stolen from our library}'' emphasizing ``our'' to make it obvious that it was as much his library as any other wizard's.
``\emph{It is very dangerous and we must have it back.
It contains a song - a bad one}''.
-Thenton pulls his face to its own centre for a moment. ``\emph{You mean, you think the song in the book is awful?}''
+Sean pulls his face to its own centre for a moment. ``\emph{You mean, you think the song in the book is awful?}''
``\emph{No no no. I mean yes}'', the wizard replied, as happily as ever.
``\emph{The book contains a song, the song contains the magic.
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ What kinds of things?}''
``\emph{That's a guild secret I'm afraid, but the important thing to know is to never let him sing.}''
-``\emph{Might he do that while we're charging towards him with swords and rope?}'', Thenton asks.
+``\emph{Might he do that while we're charging towards him with swords and rope?}'', Sean asks.
``\emph{Oh yes}'', the wizard grinned wider.
``\emph{After all, he is a bard.
diff --git a/combat.tex b/combat.tex
index 220f3486f5e7b2b9eb6ad7cf8978a11a51e31c39..0cf568661434e2f9292f12d38ed8de13557f5bf9 100644
--- a/combat.tex
+++ b/combat.tex
@@ -696,7 +696,9 @@ When the party take any part of the day to rest, they can heal a number of \glsp
The next morning the trio gave a wide berth to the area between the fallen village and the mountain, in the hopes of avoiding attack from the rear.
Unfortunately there was little they could do to hide themselves, and a band of hobgoblins from the village were following them.
The trio had reached halfway up the mountain by this point but the hobgoblins were faster than them, and stronger.
-Thenton thought for a moment about abandoning Hugi if there was a problem - his little dwarvish legs were no good for sprinting. Of course Hugi's death would not buy them much time, and Arneson would never stand for it. No, they would have to stick together to survive.
+ Sean thought for a moment about abandoning Hugi if there was a problem - his little dwarvish legs were no good for sprinting.
+ Of course Hugi's death would not buy them much time, and Arneson would never stand for it.
+ No, they would have to stick together to survive.
The trio climbed for a while longer, looking back every few moments to note how close the hobgoblins were behind them. An ogre was among their ranks, so they must have come from a very deep cavern.
@@ -710,9 +712,9 @@ Thenton thought for a moment about abandoning Hugi if there was a problem - his
The \gls{gm} decides that since the players have the higher ground, they will receive +1 to all rolls until the hobgoblins can reach slightly higher ground - probably after the first action.
One of the players must roll Initiative, so Arneson's player take the dice and rolls, producing a `5'.
-Each character's Initiative Bonus adds to this separately, so Thenton's Initiative of +1 gives him a total of 6; Hugi's Initiative of +0 gives him a total of 5 and Arneson's Initiative Bonus of +2 makes his total 7.
-The group then gain +1 each due to the higher ground.
-Meanwhile, the hobgoblins have rolled a `5' for their Initiative as well.
+ Each character's Initiative Bonus adds to this separately, so Sean's Initiative of +1 gives him a total of 6; Hugi's Initiative of +0 gives him a total of 5 and Arneson's Initiative Bonus of +2 makes his total 7.
+ The group then gain +1 each due to the higher ground.
+ Meanwhile, the hobgoblins have rolled a `5' for their Initiative as well.
The hobgoblins each have a +1 bonus to Initiative and the ogre has a +0 bonus.
The \gls{gm} knows the highest Initiative total is somewhere under 9 so she calls out,
@@ -723,7 +725,11 @@ The hobgoblins each have a +1 bonus to Initiative and the ogre has a +0 bonus.
Arneson's player needs to roll an 8 to hit the ogre, so he rolls and adds +1 for his Combat Skill. His total is `11' and he hits. He has already rolled his damage die at the same time. It landed on a `2'. He adds +2 for his Strength and +1 for the sword's Damage bonus for a total of 5. The ogre shrieks in pain as Arneson's sword sticks in. Arneson's action took 6 Initiative points so he goes down to `2', and the hobgoblin has spent 2 Initiative to defend himself.
- ``Seven!'', she cries. Thenton's player jumps in. He only deals $1D6+2$ Damage but he has a much better Combat Skill of +2. He rolls to Strike but misses the ogre with a `5'. His Initiative score reduces to 1, and he reduces the hobgoblin's from 6 to 4.
+ ``Seven!'', she cries.
+ Sean's player jumps in.
+ He only deals $1D6+2$ Damage but he has a much better Combat Skill of +2.
+ He rolls to Strike but misses the ogre with a `5'.
+ His Initiative score reduces to 1, and he reduces the hobgoblin's from 6 to 4.
``Six!'', beckons the \gls{gm}, and starts to describe leering hobgoblins stabbing at everyone's feet from the base of the great stone step the trio are sitting on. She gives them each a -1 to attack due to occupying the lower ground.
@@ -746,7 +752,7 @@ The hobgoblins each have a +1 bonus to Initiative and the ogre has a +0 bonus.
8 & Arneson deals 5 Damage to a hobgoblin. \\
- 7 & Thenton misses. \\
+ 7 & Sean misses. \\
6 & Most hobgoblins attack. \\
@@ -768,7 +774,7 @@ The hobgoblins each have a +1 bonus to Initiative and the ogre has a +0 bonus.
The other players want to attack the ogre, but he's making a movement action -- these count as \gls{quickaction} so they are allowed to operate before other actions.
Hugi disappears behind the crowd.
- The ogre's Initiative reduces to 0 and he is done for the \gls{round}, but Arneson and Thenton each have one action left.
+ The ogre's Initiative reduces to 0 and he is done for the \gls{round}, but Arneson and Sean each have one action left.
\end{exampletext}
@@ -1004,12 +1010,12 @@ Each weapon will have to be held in one hand, increasing its \gls{weightrating}
Dice clatter, she has rolled a `4' and that leaves a final score of 10.
Everyone falls down the mountain's steep incline except for a single hobgoblin.
- Thenton, on Initiative 1, is the last to act.
+ Sean, on Initiative 1, is the last to act.
He jumps off the cliff-side to attack the last hobgoblin.
He strikes with a score of 11, bypassing the ugly creature's Partial chain armour, then rolls $1D6+2$ for the Damage for a total of 4.
The creature is reduced to half its \glspl{hp} with a crimson gash across its throat.
- As Thenton's sword swooped down it opened up his target's arm. The last one standing cries out and withdraws his arm then backs off.
+ As Sean's sword swooped down it opened up his target's arm. The last one standing cries out and withdraws his arm then backs off.
``End of the \gls{round}!'', cries the \gls{gm}. ``Round two! Roll for Initiative''.
\end{exampletext}
@@ -1089,10 +1095,10 @@ Weapons also receive a -2 penalty to Damage.
The players start by assigning their Combat Skill.
On the last \gls{round}, they left it as the default - it added to the Strike Factor.
- Arneson repeats the move and Hugi has no Combat score to speak of, but Thenton has Combat +2.
+ Arneson repeats the move and Hugi has no Combat score to speak of, but Sean has Combat +2.
He knows speed is of the essence if he wants to save his friend, so he adds +2 to his Initiative Factor, giving him a total of +3.
- The characters roll to get their bearings but achieve only a `4', so Thenton will act at Initiative 7.
+ The characters roll to get their bearings but achieve only a `4', so Sean will act at Initiative 7.
The \gls{gm} rolls for the hobgoblins and achieves `9' - with Speed +1 they will act on Initiative 10.
\vspace{1em}
@@ -1102,11 +1108,11 @@ Weapons also receive a -2 penalty to Damage.
10 & The Ogre grapples Hugi. \\
- 7 & Thenton moves to stab the Ogre. \\
+ 7 & Sean moves to stab the Ogre. \\
6 & The Ogre deals 5 Damage. \\
- 5 & Thenton kills the ogre. \\
+ 5 & Sean kills the ogre. \\
\end{tabularx}
@@ -1123,7 +1129,8 @@ Weapons also receive a -2 penalty to Damage.
His Strength of +5 means he will roll $2D6+1$ Damage for a total of 4. Hugi is safe for now as the ogre luckily bites down on dwarvish helmet as Hugi's player marks off 4 \glspl{fp}.
``Nine! The ogre pulls Hugi down. Eight! He bites down on Hugi's face but gets a mouthful of helmet instead. Seven!''
- Thenton's player is acting now and takes two Initiative to run over to aid Hugi. He asks the \gls{gm} if he can sneak up on the ogre.
+ Sean's player is acting now and takes two Initiative to run over to aid Hugi.
+ He asks the \gls{gm} if he can sneak up on the ogre.
``You mean in the middle of a fight you want to backstab someone?''
@@ -1134,7 +1141,7 @@ Weapons also receive a -2 penalty to Damage.
``Okay - make a sneak roll.
If he sees you then he's going to stop the action and defend himself, otherwise your next attack can count as a Sneak Attack. Roll Speed + Stealth at \glsentrytext{tn} 6.''
- Thenton has no bonus to either, but that ogre is so dim the test is easily passed.
+ Sean has no bonus to either, but that ogre is so dim the test is easily passed.
``Six! The ogre gnaws into Hugi's face, this time without failure. 5 Damage!''
@@ -1142,13 +1149,19 @@ Weapons also receive a -2 penalty to Damage.
Arneson runs over to aid the fight.
-``Five! Thenton rolls for attack''
+ ``Five! Sean rolls for attack''
His Sneak Attack gives him +4 to strike the ogre - which he does - and +2 Damage, making his Damage roll $2D6$. His total is 7 Damage.
- ``Launching himself forward he lands the tip of his sword into the ogre's back just as teeth are sinking into the dwarf's face. It finds purchase and slides in only six inches before stopping. The giant whirls \gls{round}, ripping the sword out and pushing Thenton to the side. He screams and attempts to get up, then slumps back down onto the dwarf, blood pooling out of the gash on his back''
+ ``Launching himself forward he lands the tip of his sword into the ogre's back just as teeth are sinking into the dwarf's face.
+ It finds purchase and slides in only six inches before stopping.
+ The giant whirls \gls{round}, ripping the sword out and pushing Sean to the side.
+ He screams and attempts to get up, then slumps back down onto the dwarf, blood pooling out of the gash on his back.''
-``Finally!'', shouts Thenton. We're done. It's finished. We can {\dots}
+ ``Finally!'', shouts Sean.
+ We're done.
+ It's finished.
+ We can\ldots
``Four! Over a dozen hobgoblins can be seen marching down from the mountain.'', shouts the \gls{gm}.
@@ -1214,11 +1227,15 @@ When an enemy flees the scene, characters still gain full \gls{xp} for the fight
\begin{exampletext}
- Thenton's mind was racing - searching for anything to help he remembered his acting classes, the roar they taught to open a grand scene and how actors said their roar was such that it would terrify local ruffians around the town.
+ Sean's mind was racing -- searching for anything to help he remembered his acting classes, the roar they taught to open a grand scene and how actors said their roar was such that it would terrify local ruffians around the town.
- Thenton's player asks the \gls{gm} about making a moral check for the hobgoblins.
+ Sean's player asks the \gls{gm} about making a moral check for the hobgoblins.
- ``Well'', she ponders, ``you certainly don't outnumber them. They are not half dead. They might make a moral check at \gls{tn} 4 but they would get a +1 bonus for their Combat Skill. So no, not really. They are not terrified of Thenton waving his sword about, even if he took acting classes''.
+ ``Well'', she ponders, ``you certainly don't outnumber them.
+ They are not half dead.
+ They might make a moral check at \gls{tn} 4 but they would get a +1 bonus for their Combat Skill.
+ So no, not really.
+ They are not terrified of Sean waving his sword about, even if he took acting classes''.
So much for that plan.
@@ -1310,17 +1327,17 @@ Players are encouraged to suggest Skills which might help. While running away fr
\iftoggle{verbose}{
\begin{exampletext}
- Thenton's next plan was to run away as fast as possible.
-This was much more popular than his last plan of yelling at the enemy, though Hugi found it hard to move enthusiastically with an arrow in his shoulder.
-The hobgoblins of course realised that they had no time to reload so they just gave chase.
-They dropped their projectiles, pulled out their shortswords and started to clamber along the rocky face of the mountain.
-The trio could not move clearly up the mountain until they had gained some ground between themselves and the hobgoblins, and feared that there would be more openings to once-dwarven tunnels, now infested with hobgoblins, if they went further up from their present location.
+ Sean's next plan was to run away as fast as possible.
+ This was much more popular than his last plan of yelling at the enemy, though Hugi found it hard to move enthusiastically with an arrow in his shoulder.
+ The hobgoblins of course realised that they had no time to reload so they just gave chase.
+ They dropped their projectiles, pulled out their shortswords and started to clamber along the rocky face of the mountain.
+ The trio could not move clearly up the mountain until they had gained some ground between themselves and the hobgoblins, and feared that there would be more openings to once-dwarven tunnels, now infested with hobgoblins, if they went further up from their present location.
The basic \gls{tn} for such actions is 6 and the \gls{gm} lowers it by 2 because the trio have a good head start.
The hobgoblins add their Speed Bonus of +1 for a final \gls{tn} of 5.
The party roll an 8 but unfortunately Hugi isn't the fastest of people -- he's only four feet tall after all -- so his score is 7.
They needed that 8 to completely get away.
- Arneson and Thenton decide they're going to keep pace with him rather than running ahead.
+ Arneson and Sean decide they're going to keep pace with him rather than running ahead.
They're not caught yet, but run through three different distinct areas before making another roll.
The hobgoblins were fast on their trail as they clambered over the rocky mountain side.
@@ -1331,8 +1348,8 @@ Seeing only mist in the other side they decided to lose themselves in the crevic
Arneson's player wants to roll again while adding his +2 Stealth Skill. He is the only one with this Skill but the \gls{gm} says he can use it to help everyone hide. Arneson's player takes the dice and rolls; he scores 11.
They didn't go far, but only hopped down a few stony crevices before Arneson beckoned them to the side and requested they creep into a nook he had found.
-Hugi and Thenton could only just fit, with no spare room, so Arneson then bounded off to see what else he could find.
-He was still out looking for a spot when the great axes scraping down the cliff could be heard, and guttural voices complained about dangerously empty stomachs.
+ Hugi and Sean could only just fit, with no spare room, so Arneson then bounded off to see what else he could find.
+ He was still out looking for a spot when the great axes scraping down the cliff could be heard, and guttural voices complained about dangerously empty stomachs.
\end{exampletext}
}{}
@@ -1393,23 +1410,25 @@ With their \gls{fp} now replenishing quickly, the group can rest and worry less
\vspace{1em}
- Thenton's player starts by putting down two \glspl{fatigue} for the two rounds of combat.
+ Sean's player starts by putting down two \glspl{fatigue} for the two rounds of combat.
His armour has a \gls{weightrating} of 0, so it doesn't add \gls{fatigue}.
He receives three \gls{fatigue} for running across the mountain.
Five Fatigue Boxes are marked down in total.
- If the characters had continued being active that would be the end, but since they have finished the scene while resting, Thenton heals 4 Fatigue points leaving him with only 7 in total.
+ If the characters had continued being active that would be the end, but since they have finished the scene while resting, Sean heals 4 Fatigue points leaving him with only 7 in total.
Hugi isn't doing so well. He only had 2 \glspl{hp} left by the time he was running.
He gains the full 7 \glspl{fatigue}.
Finally, the \gls{gm} reminds him that he is bleeding from his wounds.
He is in no condition to patch them up while hiding, especially since nobody in the party knows anything about Medicine.
She decides to only award one more Fatigue point since the arrow is also stopping the wound from bleeding too much - that makes the total 8.
- Hugi's rest allows him to regenerate 3 Fatigue Points (he's not as strong as Thenton) so he receives 5 Fatigue Points in total.
+ Hugi's rest allows him to regenerate 3 Fatigue Points (he's not as strong as Sean) so he receives 5 Fatigue Points in total.
Dwarves, luckily, can withstand 2 additional Fatigue Points so 2 of those points give him no penalty.
That's 6 more than his \glspl{hp}.
He gains a -4 penalty to all actions.
The danger now passed, the warriors lie in their hiding nooks, watching the cold clouds whirl around them, hoping to never see any kind of goblin again.
- They breathe in and out gently, waiting for the heaviness in the chest to subside. Despite the winds, Thenton can hear a gentle drip, drip, drip from the slowly bleeding wound on Hugi's shoulder where an arrow still lies.
+ They breathe in and out gently, waiting for the heaviness in the chest to subside.
+ Despite the winds, Sean can hear a gentle drip, drip, drip from the slowly bleeding wound on Hugi's shoulder where an arrow still lies.
+
\end{exampletext}
}{}
diff --git a/gods.tex b/gods.tex
index bcf288ac4242fea48339d1a61f6db817404d7517..a3bade2a1b56ef264090900f7559e7666e6a15c8 100644
--- a/gods.tex
+++ b/gods.tex
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ The world is here to be lived, to be known, to be connected with. You want all t
\iftoggle{verbose}{
\begin{exampletext}
- ``Do you think the village on the other side of the mountain is safe to visit?'', asked Thenton with raised eyebrows.
+ ``Do you think the village on the other side of the mountain is safe to visit?'', asked Sean with raised eyebrows.
His companions did not really want to hear that question, but they had.
It was impossible to tell from this distance if the hobgoblins had settled there already.
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ The world is here to be lived, to be known, to be connected with. You want all t
They're little windows.''
Entering the building, Hugi found his cousin, Magda.
- Thenton expected them to hug after the ordeal, but Hugi just bowed low.
+ Sean expected them to hug after the ordeal, but Hugi just bowed low.
Apparently he was proud of the honour of gathering news from her on account of their shared blood.
As luck would have it, she was a proficient medic, and helped patch Hugi back up, safely removing the arrow.
diff --git a/intro.tex b/intro.tex
index 5182066f926470eb064739b0e13a4800a5279cf6..4132b9b4013ebc68e57bfad0e262497e1106f0e6 100644
--- a/intro.tex
+++ b/intro.tex
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ This particular version was last revised on \today.
Neil McDonnell for the basic photograph which became the Polymorph image,
-\paragraph{Boris Pecikozi\'c} for Thenton's Story images, (pages
+\paragraph{Boris Pecikozi\'c} for the example-story images, (pages
\pageref{boris:jump},
\pageref{boris:brawl},
\pageref{boris:meet}),
diff --git a/rules.tex b/rules.tex
index 08c5743293abcdc3ac7e4cc8fb0f936563ea6b17..2b539747fd7c1f84b89668320739fbffe9894f03 100644
--- a/rules.tex
+++ b/rules.tex
@@ -51,11 +51,12 @@ Don't ask -- just roll!
When they arrived at the town of Arano they could already see the mountain their bard was supposedly wandering over in the distance. It was peaceful, but Arano was in complete disarray. People were nipping back and forth with cartloads of breads and smoked meats while others were rushing past with no discernible purpose.
-Thenton needed information on whether or not that bard had travelled through here, how long ago and whether anyone noticed anything strange about his book, or singing. He had no desire to wait until things calmed down of their own accord - he would need to leave today.
+Sean needed information on whether or not that bard had travelled through here, how long ago and whether anyone noticed anything strange about his book, or singing.
+He had no desire to wait until things calmed down of their own accord -- he would need to leave today.
-Thenton's player uses his Intelligence Bonus (0) and Empathy Skill (+1).
+Sean's player uses his Intelligence Bonus (0) and Empathy Skill (+1).
The \gls{gm} stated no \gls{tn} so the \gls{tn} is 7.
-Thenton's player rolls $2D6+1$ and the dice show a 4 and a 1, for a grand total of 6.
+Sean's player rolls $2D6+1$ and the dice show a 4 and a 1, for a grand total of 6.
The roll is a failure.
No information about the bard is forthcoming, but the \gls{gm} still has some response to describe from the villagers.
@@ -63,18 +64,19 @@ After stopping several people they frantically explained that hobgoblins had att
The strange man-devouring monsters had been pushed back but the village would still be in need of military aid.
Apparently the mountains were full of hobgoblins, waiting to come down and eat everything.
-Thenton suddenly regretted his views on that two hundred gold coin reward. He was almost certain his companions would turn back, but his dwarvish companion, Hugi, surprised him.
+Sean suddenly regretted his views on that two hundred gold coin reward. He was almost certain his companions would turn back, but his dwarvish companion, Hugi, surprised him.
\emph{Laddie, listen. Them dwarves in that there mountain hae a pact wi' a village o' yonder side o' the mountains. They telt them that if ever there was worry, they'd protect them. As a result the village hae always gi'en em aw're best meats fer cheap. An wan o' them just happens tae be ma cousin. A'm afraid Ah'm honour bound tae gang over the mountain and warn the village on the other side o' the coming storm, e`en if every last guid dwarf dwellin' thar be deed.}
-Thenton thought for a moment. If Hugi was at all upset by all the other dwarves in the mountain being killed by hobgoblins, his cousin presumably included, he didn't show it.
+Sean thought for a moment.
+If Hugi was at all upset by all the other dwarves in the mountain being killed by hobgoblins, his cousin presumably included, he didn't show it.
Still, it was important to warn anyone who didn't know.
An unexpected hobgoblin attack could spread like wildfire before being put down, at least if people are not prepared.
Arneson nodded too.
The three were in agreement.
They would go across the mountains, capture their bard in the South Kingdom and then warn those people about the hobgoblins in the mountains.
-But first Thenton would still have to get the villagers to tell him about the bard, and where he went.
+But first Sean would still have to get the villagers to tell him about the bard, and where he went.
\end{exampletext}
}{}
@@ -117,13 +119,13 @@ When taking a \gls{restingaction}, one die is presumed to have rolled a 6 and th
\begin{exampletext}
- Thenton's player decides to retry his questions as a \gls{restingaction}.
+ Sean's player decides to retry his questions as a \gls{restingaction}.
He already rolled the dice, so he cannot change the result by rerolling; the dice have decided that the village is far too frantic to help with random questions about long-forgotten strangers.
- Thenton's player instead takes the die that landed on a 1 and changes it to a 6.
+ Sean's player instead takes the die that landed on a 1 and changes it to a 6.
His total is now 8 and he has passed the test.
This means the trio will have to spend longer than anticipated in the village and will not reach the other village until nightfall.
- After speaking with several villagers he found a single boy who remembered. \emph{These men came for him. They came and surrounded him and said they wanted his book, but then he just started singing, and they all went to sleep. After that he headed over to Caserenna. He must be trying to go over the mountain where the dwarves live. He had a funny accent and I think he came from the South, over those mountains}. Thenton suspected that the spell in the bard's book was some kind of sleeping spell. If he wasn't simply a very boring singer then the trio would have to strike fast if they found him, before he could send them all to sleep.
+ After speaking with several villagers he found a single boy who remembered. \emph{These men came for him. They came and surrounded him and said they wanted his book, but then he just started singing, and they all went to sleep. After that he headed over to Caserenna. He must be trying to go over the mountain where the dwarves live. He had a funny accent and I think he came from the South, over those mountains}. Sean suspected that the spell in the bard's book was some kind of sleeping spell. If he wasn't simply a very boring singer then the trio would have to strike fast if they found him, before he could send them all to sleep.
\end{exampletext}
}{}
@@ -141,9 +143,11 @@ Two companions with a +3 bonus would add a total of a +2 bonus.
\begin{exampletext}
- Thenton wants to know what exactly that spell-song the boy was talking about means. He has the Academics Skill and never wrote down any specialisations so he asks the \gls{gm} if he can take a specialisation in whatever it is he needs in order to know about that bard and what he was up to. The \gls{gm} tells him to write down `Music' -- it's a fitting specialisation since he already plays the flute.
+ Sean wants to know what exactly that spell-song the boy was talking about means.
+ He has the Academics Skill and never wrote down any specialisations so he asks the \gls{gm} if he can take a specialisation in whatever it is he needs in order to know about that bard and what he was up to.
+ The \gls{gm} tells him to write down `Music' -- it's a fitting specialisation since he already plays the flute.
- Thenton then needs to roll using his Intelligence Bonus and Academics Skill -- the first is at 0 but his Academics Skill grants him +1.
+ Sean then needs to roll using his Intelligence Bonus and Academics Skill -- the first is at 0 but his Academics Skill grants him +1.
The more academics you have, the better the chances that one of them knows something, so Hugi's player wants to help using his +2 Bonus.
He has Intelligence +1 and the Academics Skill at first level.
He wants to use his specialisation in History, and the \gls{gm} allows it.
@@ -153,7 +157,7 @@ Two companions with a +3 bonus would add a total of a +2 bonus.
The \gls{gm} stipulates the \gls{tn} of 14 -- a tall order without a library to aid matters.
The roll fails and the troop will have to go into the situation blind.
- Thenton recalled what the old alchemist had said about the book -- surely the bard had sung the song from the stolen book and put the guards to sleep with this magic.
+ Sean recalled what the old alchemist had said about the book -- surely the bard had sung the song from the stolen book and put the guards to sleep with this magic.
He searched his mind for where such a song might come from and what else it might be capable of.
He wondered if the bard had really come from the South and what he might want with that book.
The entire thing was an impenetrable enigma.
@@ -182,7 +186,8 @@ The results are exactly the same, but having Players roll for everything helps e
\begin{exampletext}
- Arneson, Thenton and Hugi left that day, and as the sun was setting they saw Casarenna's smoking chimneys ahead, reaching up to the imposing, grey mountains behind. The smell of roasted meat was coming from every house.
+ Arneson, Sean and Hugi left that day, and as the sun was setting they saw Casarenna's smoking chimneys ahead, reaching up to the imposing, grey mountains behind.
+ The smell of roasted meat was coming from every house.
Unknown to the characters, the hobgoblins returned to attack the village again some hours ago, slaughtered everyone and began to roast them.
Hobgoblins tend to act quickly.
@@ -198,11 +203,11 @@ The smell of roasted meat is coming from human flesh roasting over each fire in
She decides that the various factors cancel each other out and keeps the base \gls{tn} of 7.
She adds the hobgoblins' score to this - the highest score counts since any of of the hobgoblins might spot the characters, but all the hobgoblins have the same score.
They have Wits -1 and no Vigilance Skill; the hobgoblins' score is added to the \gls{tn} for a final \gls{tn} of 6.
- Meanwhile, Thenton still has a Wits + Vigilance total of -1.
+ Meanwhile, Sean still has a Wits + Vigilance total of -1.
- Thenton's player rolls a total of 4.
+ Sean's player rolls a total of 4.
- Thenton shouted out, `Hey there! We are here from \dots' but Hugi quickly jumps up to cover his mouth, saying
+ Sean shouted out, `Hey there! We are here from \dots' but Hugi quickly jumps up to cover his mouth, saying
``Nay, laddie! Can ye no smell wha's cookin'? Can ye no see the blood on the grass? This place is deed. Them buggers musta returned, and they're cooking the humans. We best be quiet''.
@@ -226,12 +231,16 @@ Someone attempting to impress a noble court might roll Charisma with the Tactics
While previously the players rolled to hide against their opponent's ability to spot them, this time they roll to see if they spot a hidden opponent. The character with the highest score is Arneson, with Wits 0 and Vigilance +1. The \gls{gm} decides that the hobgoblin should use his Speed Bonus of +1, and his Stealth Skill adds +1 again. The hobgoblins' score of +2 adds to the basic \gls{tn} of 7, producing a final \gls{tn} of 9. Arneson's player rolls $2D6$ to produce a final score of `12' - the roll is a success and the margin is 3. Since the margin is quite good, the \gls{gm} decides that the troop leave the area before they are engaged and gain a +3 bonus to running away.
- The thatched roof on the nearby cottage rustled and Arneson instinctively drew his companions back. They turned and ran before their adversary could make his leap down to meet them with his axe. They ran as swiftly as they could into the safety of the darkness surrounding Casarenna but the hobgoblins stampeded fast behind them, running as swiftly as they could with guttural cries and war songs which Thenton could only guess translated to something about dinner.
+ The thatched roof on the nearby cottage rustled and Arneson instinctively drew his companions back.
+ They turned and ran before their adversary could make his leap down to meet them with his axe.
+ They ran as swiftly as they could into the safety of the darkness surrounding Casarenna but the hobgoblins stampeded fast behind them, running as swiftly as they could with guttural cries and war songs which Sean could only guess translated to something about dinner.
\sidepic{Boris_Pecikozic/nura_jump}{\label{boris:jump}}
A scurrying of agile, hungry feet filled the little muddy rows between houses. The trio looked about for an escape route. Unknown to them, one of the hobgoblins was meant to be keeping a lookout from the roof of the cottage on the edge of town. He observed them for a brief moment and then jumped off, axe in hand, ready to make up for all the meals he had missed while pretending to keep guard.
- It was twenty long minutes of running before they were confident they were safe. Hugi and Thenton tenderly tried to regain their own breath while Arneson went to gather wood for a temporary shelter. Despite their distance from the village, they were kept awake by the wind bringing faint yet deep and reverberating songs from the village over to them all through the night.
+ It was twenty long minutes of running before they were confident they were safe.
+ Hugi and Sean tenderly tried to regain their own breath while Arneson went to gather wood for a temporary shelter.
+ Despite their distance from the village, they were kept awake by the wind bringing faint yet deep and reverberating songs from the village over to them all through the night.
\end{exampletext}
}{}
@@ -441,10 +450,10 @@ You could also wander off the traditional RPG model, playing a `lost outlander',
\begin{exampletext}
-My own character, Thenton, has a good Charisma score and some basic ability to fight with his enhanced human Strength Attribute.
+My own character, Sean, has a good Charisma score and some basic ability to fight with his enhanced human Strength Attribute.
I think I'm going to make him a `knightly poet'.
-With that in mind, it's time for me to spend some of that 50 \gls{xp} on Thenton, the knightly poet.
+With that in mind, it's time for me to spend some of that 50 \gls{xp} on Sean, the knightly poet.
For a start, he'll need the Performance Skill, and he gets two specialisations with it because it's a specialised Skill.
`Poetry' is a good start, and perhaps the flute after that, because why not? That costs 5 \gls{xp} so I have 45 left.
@@ -615,8 +624,9 @@ Characters cannot carry any item which gives them a -5 Encumbrance rating or hig
\begin{exampletext}
- For example, Thenton, with a Strength Bonus of +1, picks up a weighty battle axe. The \gls{weightrating} is 3, so this inflicts an Encumbrance Penalty of 2.
-Thenton's effective Speed Bonus drops to -2, reducing his Initiative (covered below) and ability to run.
+ For example, Sean, with a Strength Bonus of +1, picks up a weighty battle axe.
+ The \gls{weightrating} is 3, so this inflicts an Encumbrance Penalty of 2.
+Sean's effective Speed Bonus drops to -2, reducing his Initiative (covered below) and ability to run.
He will also gain 2 Fatigue points at the end of each scene\footnote{See page \pageref{time} for notes on scenes.} where he carries it.
\end{exampletext}
@@ -739,7 +749,7 @@ If a player has an \gls{adventuringequipment} item, they can decided to describe
\iftoggle{verbose}{
\begin{figure*}[t]
- \npc{\M}{Thenton}
+ \npc{\M}{Sean}
\settoggle{examplecharacter}{true}
\person{1}{0}{0}{{0}{-1}{1}}{0}{2}{Academics 1, Empathy 1, Performance 1}{\longsword, \partialchain, \gls{adventuringequipment} x 1, 32\glspl{sp}}{}
@@ -760,7 +770,7 @@ $7\times2\times2 = 28$, so the character starts out with 28 \glspl{sp}.
\iftoggle{verbose}{
\begin{exampletext}
- Thenton now only needs his starting equipment.
+ Sean now only needs his starting equipment.
We covered already that he starts with any two items worth 10 \gls{sp} or less plus one more item per Skill.
The Combat Skill, Empathy and Performance let him start with 3 items in total.
We'll start with some shiny Partial chainmail and a longsword so he can fight.