Tabletop Adventures

There are only a few hours left in our Valentine sale, which features all our NPC products at 20% off their usual prices. Of course, Shards of the Heart features more than 20 NPCs that were written with romance in mind. However, the characters in Shards of the City can be useful for that purpose as well! (See below.) On top of that, three of the Deck O’ Names name generators are included in the sale. You can get this discount at the Open Gaming Store, RPGNow, and DriveThruRPG.

One character from Shards of the City who could be a romantic interest for a player character is Terrance Olmerson. Although a notorious bandit by reputation, he is not necessarily recognizable to the average person. This allows him to occasionally go to a tavern in town incognito (or actually in disguise), gathering information or just getting out for a drink. Under those circumstances, someone could catch his eye (or vice versa) and a relationship begin to develop. No doubt he would have an excuse for seldom being in town: being a traveling messenger or a buyer for a distant merchant, for example.

Terrance Olmerson                           CR 10

Human Rogue 11
N Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +6; Senses Perception +16

DEFENSE

AC 19, Touch 14, Flat-Footed 15 (+5 Armor, +4 Dex)
hp 39
Fort +4, Ref +11, Will +5
Defensive Abilities Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense +3, Improved Uncanny Dodge

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 Short Sword +13/+8 (1d6+1/17-20)
Ranged Masterwork Composite Shortbow +12 (1d6/x3)
Special Attacks Sneak attack +6d6

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 19 (+4), Con 12 (+1), Int 12 (+1), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 14 (+2)
Base Atk +8; CMB +8; CMD 22
Feats Weapon Finesse, Improved Initiative, Deft Hands, Deceitful, Stealthy, Combat Reflexes, Improved Critical (Short Sword)
Skills Bluff +18, Climb +14, Disable Device +20, Disguise +18, Escape Artist +20, Knowledge: Local +10, Perception +16, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +20, Use Magic Device +15
Languages Common, Orc
Special Qualities Trapfinding +5, Rogue Talents (Fast Stealth, Finesse Rogue, Trap Spotter, Resiliency), Advanced Talents (Opportunist)
Combat Gear Potion of Cure Serious Wounds (2), Potion of Invisibility, Antitoxin (2)
Other Gear +2 Short Sword, Masterwork Composite Shortbow, 30 Arrows, +2 Studded Leather, Noble’s Outfit, Disguise Kit, Belt of Incredible Dexterity +2, Cloak of Resistance +1, Masterwork Thieves Tools, 300 gp

Open Game License

The NPC book Shards of the City provides several characters who could end up as love interests for player-character adventurers. One is Nia, a young druid. Her mother is also a druid with a hobby of baking. Niara (the older woman) has for years used her hobby to have a booth in the market of a nearby city, meeting people there and finding out what is going on in the town and elsewhere. In the book, Nia has taken over the market chores as her mother concentrates her time on other things.

While she is also a druid, the cityfolk think of her as just a baker’s apprentice from a little way out of town. For now Nia usually keeps a low profile in the city but eventually she is going to surprise them. Danger to or abuse of animals would certainly get a strong reaction from her, and a protector of animals would earn her admiration and interest.

Nia the Baker                        CR 1

Human Druid 2

N Medium Humanoid (Human)

Init +2; Senses Perception +6

DEFENSE

AC 15, Touch 13, Flat-Footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 Dodge, +2 Armor)

hp 11

Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +6

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee Club +1 (1d6)

Ranged Dart +2 (1d4)

Special Attacks Wooden Fist (as per the Plant Domain power)

Class Spells Prepared (CL 2; concentration +5)

1st— Speak With Animals, Faerie Fire, Entangle (Domain)

0th (at will)— Create Water, Detect Poison, Purify Food and Drink, Mending

STATISTICS

Str 11, Dex 14 (+2), Con 12 (+1), Int 13 (+1), Wis 16 (+3), Cha 17 (+3)

Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 13

Feats Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Dodge

Skills Diplomacy +8, Handle Animal +8, Knowledge (Nature) +8, Perception +6, Profession (Baker) +6, Survival +8

Languages Common, Druidic

Special Qualities Nature Bond (Plant Domain), Nature Sense, Wild Empathy, Woodland Stride

Combat Gear Scroll of Cure Light Wounds (2), Thunderstone (2)

Other Gear Masterwork Leather Armor, Masterwork Club, 10 Darts

Open Game License

Shards of the City will be on sale at 20% off its usual price through February 19th at the Open Gaming Store, RPGNow, and DriveThruRPG. Pick up a copy today!

The book Shards of the City is full of NPCs and street scenes with which the player characters can interact. Each character write-up has plot hooks, suggesting ways to involve the NPC with the adventurers. Most are focused on a city environment, though a couple even include possible… personal entanglements.

In keeping with our usual February theme of RPG romance, this month we’ll offer some suggestions for ways player characters might become romantically involved with some of the NPCs from Shards of the City. In addition, although the book itself is system neutral and has no stats to contend with, we’ll offer game statistics for a couple of the NPCs, specifically for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

The book opens with “The Third Hanging of Terrance Olmerson,” a scene where Terrance—an experienced rogue who has managed to thwart the authorities before—is being carried to the gallows again. A group could interact with the events here, but probably wouldn’t have much chance to interact with Terrance himself.

A better opportunity to develop a relationship might come if adventurers encounter a younger Terrance. Perhaps the meeting comes shortly after his first hanging, when he’s beginning to gain notoriety. He would have some experience, a small but loyal company, and his sharp wit, but still be making his name.

At that point, Terrance might be struck by the looks of a victim and strike up a flirtation or try to persuade the traveler to come back with him to the bandit camp for a while. He might even be moved to seek out the object of his attraction in town, probably in disguise.

In these stats for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Terrance Olmerson is a human rogue level 6.

Terrance Olmerson                           CR 5

Human Rogue 6

N Medium Humanoid (Human)

Init +6; Senses Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-Footed 14 (+4 Armor, +4 Dex)

hp 39

Fort +3, Ref +9, Will +4

Defensive Abilities Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense +2

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee +1 Short Sword +9 (1d6+1/19-20)

Ranged Masterwork Composite Shortbow +9 (1d6/x3)

Special Attacks Sneak attack +3d6

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 18 (+4), Con 12 (+1), Int 12 (+1), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 14 (+2)

Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 18

Feats Weapon Finesse, Improved Inititave, Deft Hands, Deceitful, Stealthy

Skills Bluff +13, Climb +9, Disable Device +15, Disguise +13, Escape Artist +15, Knowledge: Local +10, Perception +11, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +15

Languages Common, Orc

Special Qualities Trapfinding +3, Rogue Talents (Fast Stealth, Finesse Rogue, Trap Spotter)

Combat Gear Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds (2)

Other Gear +1 Short Sword, Masterwork Composite Shortbow, 30 Arrows, +1 Studded Leather, Noble’s Outfit, Disguise Kit, Thieves Tools, 50 gp

Terrance Olmerson is a dark-haired rogue who leads a group of bandits that robs travelers on the road to a near-by town. He is often genial, even gallant, as long as his victims do not resist. Those who cooperate will be inconvenienced but rarely harmed, while those who put up a fight can expect to lose their lives.

Open Game License

Shards of the City will be on sale at 20% off its usual price through February 19th at the Open Gaming Store, RPGNow, and DriveThruRPG. Pick up a copy today!