>>5017055
>The code of the common man. You know little about codes of chivalry and wartime ethics. All you know is that you haven’t turned heartless … yet. (Common Man background, +1 free trade)

>>5017055
>>The Iron Way. A man should not possess anything he did not seize in conquest (Reaver background)
Are you the same Noir from Cyberpunk Princess?

>>5017055
>The Iron Way. A man should not possess anything he did not seize in conquest (Reaver background)

>>5017065
Yyyep

>>5017055
>Futuwwa. Even when forced to fight for heathens, you adhere to the teachings of the Prophet. (Ghazi Background)

>>5017055
>>The code of the common man. You know little about codes of chivalry and wartime ethics. All you know is that you haven’t turned heartless … yet. (Common Man background, +1 free trade

>>5017055
>>The Code of Chivalry. You doubt that people will sing songs about your exploits, but that does not stop you from following the code you were raised to believe in. (Dispossessed Knight Background

>>5017055
>The Contract. You’re a professional to the bones. What your employer commands you to do, you do without question. And you’d sooner die than break a contract. (Career Mercenary Background)

>>5017055
>>The Code of Chivalry. You doubt that people will sing songs about your exploits, but that does not stop you from following the code you were raised to believe in. (Dispossessed Knight Background

>>5017055
>The Iron Way. A man should not possess anything he did not seize in conquest (Reaver background)

>>5017055
>The code of the common man. You know little about codes of chivalry and wartime ethics. All you know is that you haven’t turned heartless … yet. (Common Man background, +1 free trade)

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I'm paranoid about this remaining vote-locked before I update so please revote between the two most popular options.

>The Iron Way

>The Common Man

>>5017278
Again, code of the common man.

>>5017278
>>The Iron Way

>>5017278
>The Common Man

>>5017278
The Iron Way

>>5017055
>The code of the common man. You know little about codes of chivalry and wartime ethics. All you know is that you haven’t turned heartless … yet. (Common Man background, +1 free trade)

>>5017278
>The Common Man

>>5017278
>The Common Man

>>5017278
>The Common Man

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The Common Man’s Code:
Pious, yet not as pious as a knight. Honorable, yet not as oathbound as their Lords. Although they would have heard of chivalry in stories, the average folk of Gothyka could barely name four of the seven holy virtues of Knighthood, or define the tenets of the codes of honor that the High Lords that rule over them. Yet, the unnamed and unspoken code shared by tenant farmers and freeholders, by the artisans and craftsmen of the towns and cities, is by far the most adhered-to code of right and wrong there is in the Realm. This so-called code arises from the norms and values shared by those who must toil to eat. It is enforced only in the bad reputation one gains from being considered ‘A proper bastard’. Honesty, humility, charity. The value of a day’s work. The character of a good man, enforced from a young age, is simple. Yet properly taught, such values can last anyone with their head screwed on straight a lifetime.

Yet in hard times, one’s trade can’t always be enough to earn a living. In such time, village orphans, bastards, second sons. Such individuals might need to leave their tight-knit communities to seek their fortunes abroad. Sometimes, that place is found as a farmhand in someone else’s wheat field. And sometimes, that place is the field of battle.

But all honest men have a trade they know. What were you before your trade became the sword?

>A Farmer. You exchanged your plowshare for a sword.

>A Shepherd. You grazed your herd on the edge of the wild.

>A Blacksmith. Barely competent at hammering out horseshoes, but it was a living.

>Another? (An option always encouraged unless stated otherwise)

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Chapter 0: We Don’t Tolerate Your Kind Here.

“Sellsword, huh? We don’t tolerate your kind on Lord Grenzheim’s land. You lot are barely better than bandits”

That had been what your Gaoler had told you before locking you in the Smallkeep’s cell. You had been looking for a place to stay in the neighbouring village, but all you had gotten was the local militia. They had promptly led you at spearpoint to where you were sitting now. Apparently, this little fiefdom didn’t appreciate outsiders. Or at least armed ones.

The Gaoler had assured you that the smallkeep’s resident knight would attend you the next morning. Since then, it had been a week. In that time, you had been fed and watered three times.

So much for the next morning. You grimly thought to yourself as you watched the sun set yet again from the narrow arrow slit that was your only window outside the Smallkeep’s walls. You know what they were trying to do. They were trying to break you, to strip you of all resistance before they interrogated you. But no matter what, you’d still have …

Pick One

>Your Strength. Even in the midst of famine. you’ve always been stronger than others.

>Your Agility. You’ve been fleet-footed since childhood, able to outrun most problems.

>Your Dexterity. Your trade has given you clever hands.

>Your Endurance. No matter what happens, you’re sure you’ll be fine

>>5017406
>A Blacksmith. Barely competent at hammering out horseshoes, but it was a living.
>>5017408
>Your Endurance. No matter what happens, you’re sure you’ll be fine

>>5017406
>>5017425
>A Shepherd. You grazed your herd on the edge of the wild.
>Your Strength. Even in the midst of famine. you’ve always been stronger than others.

>>5017406
>A Farmer. You exchanged your plowshare for a sword.
>>5017408
>Your Strength. Even in the midst of famine. you’ve always been stronger than others.

I wanted to try out Bushido, but the Iron Way would have been preferable to being a common nobody.

Also, welcome back Noir! How’s life been treating you?

>>5017406
Actually, I’m gonna add another two options, see if anyone likes them.

>A Merchant. Could barely eke put a living before being accosted by scoundrels.

>A Priest. You used to be a man of the faith before your church burned down.

>>5017406
>A Blacksmith. Barely competent at hammering out horseshoes, but it was a living.

>>5017408
>Your Endurance. No matter what happens, you’re sure you’ll be fine

>>5017432
Life's been alright, I've been doing my best.
>>5017438
Both merchant and priest would not be considered Common Men in Gothyka, but I'll make them into backgrounds if enough people support it before tomorrow. Would fit into 'Other'.

>>5017408
>Your Endurance. No matter what happens, you’re sure you’ll be fine

Imagine picking the blandest of origins, fucking hell

>>5017408
>A Priest. You used to be a man of the faith before your church burned down.
>Your Strength. Even in the midst of famine. you’ve always been stronger than others.
BUFF PRIEST
BUFF PRIEST

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>>5017406
>A Butcher
>Your Endurance

>>5017563
+1

>>5017563
Changing my vote to this. A butcher sounds a lot cooler.

>>5017425
>Support

At risk of still being tied, please vote between the two highest options. If it helps you choose, I'm willing to disclose that one would give you a slight resistance to fire and the other to some edged weapons.

>Blacksmith

>Butcher

>>5017925
>>Blacksmith

>>5017813
>Butcher

>>5017925
>Butcher

>>5017925
>Blacksmith

Since we can't help but be tie-locked and I'd like to update for you guys today, I'll go from the post that tied the two most popular options, disregard the last votes for them, and select the option that was originally winning before being tied again. In the event of another long tie even after the options are narrowed down to the two most popular, this is the procedure I'll go with.

In this case, the option that was initially winning until we were tied is butcher so that is the option we will go with.

However, if this system proves unpopular, I won't implement it. So please speak up if you don't.

>>5017925
>>Butcher
I'll be your tiebreaker

>>5018162
I mean you could just roll dice in the future. That seems far less arbitrary tie breaker than "this vote made it to X votes faster".

Not that I care, I woukl have voted for shepherd.

>>5017925
>Blacksmith

You would still have your endurance. You were a tough one, and this cell was far from the worst conditions you had had to put up with. You had a roof over your head. And while three meals in seven days had made you ravenous, it was far from as bad as it had been the winter before you had left your home village.

You massaged the jagged scar that ran from the knuckle of your left thumb across your palm to your wrist. When you had been first learning your trade as a butcher, you had made many mistakes. The scar on your thumb was merely the most permanent of them. Your other souvenirs of that kind had a knack for fading. As had the ones you accumulated as a sellsword.

You grimaced as you gently rubbed the split flesh. Miraculously, your thumb had remained functional after the wound had healed. Still, it had a habit of aching when you were left in the dark with your thoughts. A dull, hot pain that you had long grown used to.

The past two days, there had been more of a commotion outside your cell than usual. From what you could gather, the number of people staying in the Smallkeep had increased substantially. And from the words that you overheard, their accent wasn’t local either. And then on the night of the eighth day, your Gaoler reappeared.

“Figured even the scum collecting in our dungeon should share in the festivities.” He had drunkenly sneered upon stepping into the torchlight outside of your cell. “Lord Grenzheim’s secured the services of a ‘famous’ company of mercenaries. The illustrious Black Hounds. And we’re to host them tonight.”

You stared up at the Gaoler. He sounded to be in a bad temper. He was a truly repulsive-looking man, with a figure like that of an onion and a pudgy, pimpled face. Somehow, sweat stains had appeared under his armpits where it had soaked through his gambeson. An arming sword hung at his belt. Still, that had been the most someone had spoken to you since you were imprisoned.

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“When will I stand trial?” You croak from your parched lips.

The Gaoler laughed. “Stand trial, eh? Let’s see now, I said that you were to be judged tomorrow … six days ago? Well it slipped my mind to tell you that the master of this tower left on a hunt the morning after you arrived … and won’t be back for another week more! Har har! And ah yes, your festivities ...”

The Gaoler roughly jammed a loaf of bread and a heavy jug of black beer through the cell’s bars, where they spilled onto the dank floor, before walking away. You made sure that he had closed the door to the guard room before you collected your meal off the ground.

As you greedily tore the loaf of bread apart and washed it down with the porridge-like black beer, you weighed your options. Until now, you had been content to wait for a judgement, not willing to risk an escape attempt. But two weeks was too long to spend in this damp hole. It was time you thought about escaping.

All these options are auto-successes. This is further character building.

>Perhaps there is something you haven’t thought of yet (Intelligence)

>Look around your environment to see if there’s something useful (Perception)

>Maybe you can convince a guard to help you (Charisma)

>The bars are actually quite far apart. You might be able to force yourself through. (Willpower)

It is just now that I realize that I've been writing in past tense. Whoops.

>>5018350
>>Look around your environment to see if there’s something useful (Perception)
we a butcher?

>>5018359
Unless the Blacksmith Anons find this decision unfair, yes.

>>5018350
>Maybe you can convince a guard to help you (Charisma)
or
>The bars are actually quite far apart. You might be able to force yourself through. (Willpower)

I ain’t so picky on which. A charismatic butcher would be interesting to play as, but I’m betting that Willpower will be what anons go for, considering the Endurance focus.

>>5018350
>>Look around your environment to see if there’s something useful (Perception)

>>5018350
>The bars are actually quite far apart. You might be able to force yourself through. (Willpower)

>>5018350
>The bars are actually quite far apart. You might be able to force yourself through. (Willpower)
Enduring and willing, I like this.

>>5018350
>Perhaps there is something you haven’t thought of yet (Intelligence)

>>5018350
>>Perhaps there is something you haven’t thought of yet (Intelligence)

>>5018350
>Maybe you can convince a guard to help you (Charisma)

>>5018350
>>Look around your environment to see if there’s something useful (Perception)

Please choose between

>Perception
>Willpower

>>5018677
>>Willpower

>>5018677
>Willpower

>>5018677
>Perception

>>5018677
Willpower.

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Two weeks was too long to spend in a dungeon cell like this. And seeing how they had treated you so far, you weren’t sure you could bet on the fairness of any trial that awaited you. You’d be better off escaping at this point.

Ever since you had gotten here, you had been staring at the bars of your cell and wondering if it would be possible to push yourself through. Smallkeeps were usually built by the peasantry living on the land, and their construction could be shoddy. In your cell’s case, the bars were unevenly spaced, and a bit too far apart from each other. It would be unpleasant, but you decided to try it. First, you strip out of your aketon. They hadn’t bothered searching you upon arresting you, only confiscating your sword and rucksack before tossing you into your cell. Had you been keeping a hidden dagger or lockpick under it, no one would have been the wiser. But you hadn’t, only a cached purse of silver. Perhaps a thought for the future …

You start by passing a hand through the bars of your cell, then fitting your shoulder in between them. Now your skin is in contact with the metal. The iron bars felt cool and slick. It is a damp time of year and condensation was thick on every surface.

Bracing one foot against the floor, you begin to push yourself through. First, your head, then your shoulder. You feel a crushing, squeezing pressure in your chest as you force yourself further and further. In response, you grab two iron bars and pull in tandem with your pushing. Gritting your teeth, you force the widest part of your chest through the gap, leaving a considerable flap of skin behind. But you were out.

You were breathless and your entire chest felt like a piece of freshly scraped rawhide. But the urgency of moving before you were discovered gave you enough energy to keep moving. Trying to keep as quiet as possible, you slipped your aketon through the bars of your cell and donned it again.

At the far end of the line of cells was a guardroom. Trying to keep as quiet as possible, you slowly crept up to the door to it and peered through the keyhole. It was occupied by a lone guard. A drunk and asleep one.

You wouldn’t call yourself terribly professional, but this was sloppy even by your standards.

>Take his gear (Dexterity Check)

>Slit his throat in his sleep and take his gear

>Wake him up and ask him where your own gear is (Charisma Check)

>Leave him be, you don’t want to attract attention (Agility Check, [Follow your Code])

>>5018971
>Leave him be, you don’t want to attract attention (Agility Check, [Follow your Code])

>>5018971
>Leave him be, you don’t want to attract attention (Agility Check, [Follow your Code])

>>5018971
>Leave him be, you don’t want to attract attention

>>5018971
>>Leave him be, you don’t want to attract attention (Agility Check, [Follow your Code])

>>5018971
>>Leave him be, you don’t want to attract attention (Agility Check, [Follow your Code])

Rolls
Rolls correspond to one of your character’s stats or skills and are decided by 3 rolls of 1d100. In a high-difficulty roll, the highest roll is taken. In a low-difficulty roll, the lowest roll is taken. Vice versa for a medium roll.
If a roll is lower than your character’s stat, it is successful. If a roll is higher than your character’s stat, it fails. Items are important for situationally increasing the values of these stats. This is not a game for playing naked.

Currently our character’s stats are:

Strength - 10
Agility - 10
Dexterity - 10
Toughness - 20
Intelligence - 10
Perception - 10
Charisma - 10
Willpower - 20

Criticals
A critical is either a 1 or a 100, respectively a critical success and failure. Criticals take precedence over other rolls. They are treated as an auto success/failure.

Fate Points
Fate points are points that can be used to either re-roll or auto-succeed a roll. Spend a fate point to reroll and burn one to auto-succeed. Your character has a number of fate points that regenerate once every chapter. However, burning a fate point gets rid of it permanently.

Critical successes can be saved to regenerate one fate point. However, to earn new fate points, accomplish acts that adhere to your code even in times where that code is tested. But the more fate points you earn, the harder it will be to earn them.

Be warned that fate points cannot be used to accomplish the impossible. So far, your character has 3 Fate Points.

================================================================================

>You followed your code and left the guard be. In doing so, you progressed 1/1 towards a fate point. Be warned that the life of a sellsword can be unforgiving to the soft.

+1 Fate Point

================================================================================

>Roll 3 1d100s for agility. Medium roll.

>>5019364
So if a task is [High Dificulty] we still try to roll under but do a "worst of 3"? And in a [Low Dificulty] rol we do a "best of 3"? Then wtf is the medium?

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>5019364
Also how do stats influence DC?

>>5019368
The middle of the three anon.

Rolled 66 (1d100)

e

>>5019369
As they increase, so does your likelihood of rolling within them.

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>5019364
Yo

I guess we should prepare to fail for the foreseeable future and plan accordingly. Should have gotten the knife.

>>5019364
So is this an auto-fail? I don't see how we would be able to beat our skill stat when it's 10.

I will say, playing as a reaver in this system would've been rad. Shame anons decided to be a fucking butcher instead.

>>5019376
Frankly, I expect us to die within this thread, because I'm gonna autistic vote for the Code option ever chance I get.

Nah I can dig playing a literal peon but I would have liked to know the system before we played our hand. Joseph the Butcher LARPing as Solid Snake.

>>5019369
>>5019371
>>5019375

>Failure

Would you like to spend a Fate Point to reroll 3 1d100 or burn a Fate Point to auto-succeed?

>>5019376
Outside of combat, I will almost always provide an option where a roll isn't required.

>>5019382
No to both, because we are unlikely the succeed with a reroll, and I don't want burn the Fate point we just got (even if it's the smart play).

>>5019382
nah, these rolls are kinda impossible to make, so well deal with the consequences right away

>>5019382
Fuck it - Burn ,Baby, Burn. Getting caught rn is a terrible idea. We can try to get in with the merc band or we can get our head chopped off.

You think about quietly sneaking over to the guard, quietly drawing their sheathed dagger, and slitting their throat. But you shake your head. You were already awaiting trial, the worst thing you could do was commit a crime you couldn’t deny. But maybe that was just an excuse and you simply didn’t want to kill the man.

You do your best to open the door without making the sound. You’re more or less successful. You quietly begin to creep to the door on the other side of the guardsroom. Your first step into the room sounds almost deafening to your ears and you are astonished that you do not wake the guard. Two more cautious steps. You’re more than halfway now. You struggle to muffle every footfall. The Guard still doesn’t stir from his drunken stupor. Six steps, seven steps. You’re an arm’s length away from the door to the guardsroom. And then, the Guard mumbles and starts to wake ...

>Rush him before he wakes up (Combat: Grappling Range + Start with Initiative)

>Jam furniture under the door so that reinforcements can’t enter the room. (Combat: Short Range + Start without Initiative)

>Desperately search the room for a makeshift weapon (Combat: Short range + Roll for initiative)

>Run away (Agility check)

>>5019684
>Run away (Agility check)
Fuck it, leg it harder

>>5019684
>Run away (Agility check)
No point sparing him earlier only to kill him now

>>5019707
Do note that you don't necessarily have to kill someone in combat.

>>5019684
>>Rush him before he wakes up

>>5019684
>>Run away (Agility check)

>>5019684
>Run away (Agility check)

The Guard slowly lifts his head. Bleary eyes stared into yours, an expression of shock at seeing how you had somehow escaped your cell. You could smell his drunkenness in his breath as the two of you stared at each other for a good few seconds.

“GUARDS” He loudly yelled, clumsily reaching for his sword …

>Roll 3 1d100’s for agility. Easy roll.

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>5020152

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>5020152
Watch as we still fail.

IN fairness, we are right now literally an ambitious peasant with atrocious stats, and so logically would struggle with a lot of normal ‘adventurer’ things- a drunk guard would be little match for an experienced raider, but in turn would have little to fear from an unarmed peasant.

Once we actually acquire training and equipment and experience, we’ll get peasant joe somewhat competent.

>>5020232
Honestly? I doubt our ability to make it that far as just an upjumped peasant with delusions of common decency. I'm stuck between the desire to autisticly role play our character on hardcore mode, and just restarting as something more interesting and suited to this type of gameplay.

Lets continue for now, but I fully expect us to get killed in the first real engagement we experience.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>5020152
Fingers crossed

>>5020288
You know, you're the closest we've come to an actual success this quest. It's only a shame that we chose Endurance instead of Agility.

>>5020152
In regards to the fate point, no to both again, for the same reasons. We ain't getting a success on a reroll, and I want us lay in the bed that we made.

>>5020206
>>5020225
>>5020288

Failure - Initiate combat encounter: Village Deputy, Short Range

>Spend or Burn Fate Point?

>>5020288

>Items are important for situationally increasing the values of these stats. This is not a game for playing naked.

this is a drunk half-sleep guard can we chuck something in the room behind us to trip him up QM? please don't let my dubs go to waste

>>5020312
You could have, it was under
>Desperately search the room for a makeshift weapon (Combat: Short range + Roll for initiative)

And once combat starts, if you manage to make an opening with your fists, you can search for a weapon to improve your odds for the remainder of the fight, including such options as 'chucking something to trip him up'.

>>5020310
No, to both Noir.

>>5020322
I don't mean trying to fight by throwing things I mean like just tossing a chair or something in front of him so he trips or gets slowed down avoiding the thing. I was trying to make the 12 roll work by adding a quick little action that seemed plausible to gain a small bonus but hey I didn't vote to run so I'm fine if we have to fight

No fate burn

>>5020332
It's just the way of the dice mate, they do as they please regardless of the consequences.

>>5020310
I assume we get a detriment for fighting the guard wielding a sword with our bare fists, right?

Also, sorry for ruining the prologue, as I'm sure this wasn't the intention.

>>5020346
yeah I know it's just so close man so close

>>5020346
You don't actually. He just gets a bonus from using a sword that's negated by the fact that he's drunk.

No worries, I'd actually consider this fight winnable for you.

>>5020310
Nay to both.

Real odds we get horribly mangled, drunk the guard may be, but that’s the fun. :)

>>5020332
A chair would count as something you would have been able to throw at him. And if you had one, you could throw it at him to potentially distract him and then leave the fight.

>>5020375
I don't think we're on the the same page but it's fine I don't wanna be the guys that holds up the quest so we can just move on to the fight

>>5020349
Our best case scenario is barely better than a coin flip and our worst case scenario is a 1-in-a-1000 hail mary. As it stands, we are basically hoping for crits. I don't see this as particularily winnable but what the hell. Let's start.

Also, do degrees of success play a role here?

>>5020438
Considering how low our skills are? I suspect we'd be lucky to get a success, let alone degrees here.

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Combat

-- Rolls --
In combat, instead of successes being determined by rolling under your stats, it is determined by if your roll is closer to being under your stat than your opponent’s roll to theirs. If your roll is under your stat, you land a successful wound on your opponent. If both of you roll under, the one who rolls under by more’s action succeeds.

--Initiative--
The central mechanic of fighting is initiative, which controls whether you are attacking or defending. At the beginning of the combat, you and your opponent(s) roll dexterity and the victor gains initiative for the beginning of the fight. However, initiative can be lost.

If initiative is not gained or lost in the round, it will be reassigned with an agility check.

-- Turns and Wounds --
If the attacker succeeds in their roll, they damage part of their opponent’s toughness. Once toughness reaches below 10, the defender must succeed on an independent willpower check to continue fighting. If toughness falls below 0, the defender receives a critical wound where a potentially disfiguring or lethal injury is selected from a wound chart. Alternatively, a dice roll of 1 results in giving a critical wound while a 100 results in receiving one.

If an attack is landed while defenseless, you receive a wound that reduces your toughness by 10 until the wound is healed. Strength Actions reduce your toughness by 20. Landing a blow on a defenseless opponent cedes the initiative to the opponent next round.

1/3

-- Actions --
In combat, every turn you have four possible actions to take tied to your four physical stats. Every action plays itself out differently depending on whether or not you have the initiative.

Strength Action - A heavy blow that does twice the toughness damage. All strength actions are full actions.
- With initiative, it gives the initiative to the opponent the next turn
- Without initiative, it is a desperate attack that leaves you defenseless next turn
Agility Action
- With initiative, it is a half-action outmaneuvering of the opponent that either lets you control your range or opens their defenses for the rest of the turn.
- Without initiative, it is a full-action desperate dodge
Dexterity Action
- With initiative, it is a half-action skillful blow that opens up combos
- Without initiative, it is a half-action parry that negates an enemy attack
Toughness Action
- With initiative, it’s a regenerative full-action that recovers toughness
- Without initiative, it is a full-action that tanks an opponent’s blow in return for seizing initiative the next round.

Defenselessness is a state where you cannot take actions. This also serves as a window for the other person to complete an objective outside of the fight, such as grabbing or throwing an object or running away.

If you have a half-action left, you can move in and out of range of an opponent, use any abilities you have or roll intelligence, perception, charisma, or willpower.
Intelligence - Gain a small buff to actions until parried or rendered defenseless
Perception - If on the defensive, gain a large buff on the current and next turn
Charisma - If on the offensive or your opponent is below 10 Toughness, taunt your opponent, reducing their willpower. If willpower drops below 0, they can no longer fight.
Willpower - Regain a small amount of willpower.

-- Gear --
Weapons buff different stats, have different weight classes, and different grades of quality.They can also have attributes and abilities.

A weapon can only be defended against by a weapon of the same weight class or higher, or parried by a weapon of the same weight class, or one weight class lower with an underroll, or two weight classes lower with a critical. Otherwise, debuffs for the turn are inflicted ranging all the way to an automatic critical wound.

Weapons also have optimal ranges and suffer debuffs when outside of those optimal ranges.

The other major piece of gear is Armor which provides a flat damage reduction.

To take our Main Character’s gear for example.

Weapon: Unarmed
Damage: 1d5
Weight: Light
Quality: Shoddy (-3 debuff)
Range: Grappling/Knife
- Unable to kill opponent
- Defending against a weapon above light class or sharp, take 1d3 damage for every weight class.

Armor: Aketon
Armor Points: 10
Weight: Light
Quality: Common
Attributes
Textile Armor - Piercing and Heavy weapons will ignore it’s AP
Warm - +3 buff against cold damage, -3 debuff against heat damage

================================================================================

You ball up your fists, ready to fight regardless of if you can win or not. Unarmed, you stand little chance against a man armed with a sword. But you inwardly breathe out a sigh of relief when you see the man was not reaching for his sword, but rather a cudgel tucked into his belt. Of course. You were a prisoner awaiting trial and he had backup on the way. Butchering you easily would have been overkill on the guard’s part.

If you could close in on him, too close for him to use his cudgel, that would put the two of you on even footing.

>Roll 3 1d100s for agility. Easy roll.

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>5020514
Well, we see if we can endurance our way out of this mess.

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5020514

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>5020514

Rolled 19 (1d100)

Rolling for Village Deputy

>>5020562
Nice to know the Dice Gods came along from Cyberpunk Princess Quest as well Noir.

>>5020564
At least in this setting you can pray to them for mercy. You even have your pick of dice god-centric religions later on, I promise.

Initiative
Your Character score - 44
Village Deputy Agility Score - 9

Village Deputy has Initiative

>Enemy Statistic revealed - Agi: 10

Combat
Village Deputy: Agi Action

Drawing his cudgel from his belt, the Guard circles around to your blind spot …

>Strength Action (-10 debuff, you are not in range)

>Agility Action

>Dexterity Action (-10 debuff, you are not in range)

>Toughness Action

>>5020571
>Toughness Action

Really the only advantage we have.

>>5020571
>Toughness Action

Get hit, rush in, grapple.

>>5020571
>Toughness Action
Yeah we're kinda shit elsewhere so, eh.

>>5020571
>Toughness Action

>>5020571
>Toughness Action

You see the cudgel whipping towards you and you … don’t do anything. Let it hit you. You’ll absorb the blow and in exchange, you’ll rush in and grapple the guard where he can’t use his cudgel or sword. You’d rely on your endurance to overcome your disadvantage.

>Roll 3 1d100s for toughness. Medium roll.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>5020946

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>5020946

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>5020946

Rolled 52 (1d100)

Rolling for Village Deputy

Combat
Your Character Roll (Tou) - 53
Village Deputy Roll (Agi) - 42
...

The Guard’s cudgel cracks sharply over your head. You involuntarily clench your teeth from the impact, biting your tongue. You can taste blood in your month. …

-- Result --
You are WOUNDED
-10 Toughness

Effect: STUNNED (3 Turns)
- 5 Agility
- 5 Dexterity
-5 WIllpower

You are now at 10/20 Toughness and 15/20 Willpower
You have gained the Initiative

>Strength Action (-10 debuff, you are not in range)

>Agility Action

>Dexterity Action (-10 debuff, you are not in range)

>Toughness Action

>>5021348
>>Toughness Action

>>5021348
I vote we combine a Toughness and Intelligence action- the first to regenerate, the second as so to build an advantage to overcome the guard’s advantages.

We do need to finish this fight, but we also need to not get simply flattened by another hit.

>>5021348
>Toughness Action

>>5021637
It's good to hear that some people are thinking about strategy and sharing their thoughts! But toughness is a full-action and you need a half-action to do an intelligence check.

>>5021643
Ah.
This is what I get for reading things so early in the morning.
Nevermind then. I’m changing my vote to
>Agility Action (Hug Aggressively)
+
>Intelligence Action
If we just regenerate, we’d actually be at a loss- what with the debuffs that only further push things in the guard’s advantage. This was is riskier, but unlike regenerating, it does actually change the situation in a ways that the guard can’t easily counter just by walloping us again.
Once the club isn’t so much a factor, we can be safe to heal again.

>>5021651
supporting

>>5021651
Sure, but I honestly expect to to fail in this combat.

You reel back for a second, before catching your footing and staring the Guard at the eye. He seems astonished that you're still standing even after his blow ...

>Roll 3 1d100's for agility. Medium roll.

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>5021757

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5021772

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>5021757

>>5022109
So this is our roll, correct? I'm guessing the guard beats us this round anyway.

Rolled 1 (1d100)

Rolling agility for Village Warden

I'm so sorry anons ...

>>5022249
>>5022253
It happens, Noir. I can't say I wasn't expecting it though, given our luck and our choices. Do we have to go back to character creation now?

>>5022268
Fortunately, no.

>>5022282
>Sorry, Mother told you to never accept proposals from strangers outside your dungeon cell. [Follow your Code]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. I told you that I'd be autistically voting to follow the code, and I ain't budging from that promise.

Combat
Your Character Roll (Agi) - 48
Village Deputy Roll (Agi) - Critical
…

You lunge forwards clumsily in an attempt to grapple the Guard so that he cannot use his cudgel, putting the two of you on even footing. But all your hands find is empty air. The Guard sidesteps your lunge with the grace of a master fencer, a grace absent from the beginning of the fight. In the corner of your eye, you can see the blur of a cudgel being swung. You manage to catch a panoramic view of the stone floor before your vision goes dark.

Perhaps it was just luck on his part. It was bad luck on your part ...

-- CONCLUSIONt --
You are KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS
- 5 to all stats for the rest of the day

CRITICAL WOUND
- Cudgels are nonlethal and can’t cause Critical Wounds

You are now at 15/20 Toughness and 15/20 Willpower

================================================================================

================================================================================
…
……
………

When you come to, you’re back in the same cell as you were before, lying in the exact same bed of straw. But this time, one leg is manacled to the wall. And you’ve got a ringing headache. A guard has been posted permanently outside your cell. You see it’s the same one that had knocked you unconscious and foiled your escape attempt. He gazes at you warily, as if expecting you to burst your manacles and attempt to escape like before. Your Gaoler visits you again later that day. He gloats and mocks you for being stupid enough to attempt to escape. Then he kicks over your shit bucket. You’re left to stew for the rest of the day.

But late at night, you get a visitor.

You’re awoken by a scabbard prodding persistently at your ribs. A tall man in dark, padded leather armor is standing outside of your cell. Meanwhile, the guard outside your cell is slumped against the wall, asleep.

“Well my friend, it seems you’ve caused quite the trouble.” He says, before passing you a skin of some liquid. “Here. For the headache, no doubt.”

He seems to notice you staring at the ‘asleep’ guard. “Ah, don’t worry about him. Sleeping dart, so we could have some privacy. But that one has a habit of napping on duty anyways.”

You take a cautious sip, before finding inside the aromatic taste of spiced wine. As you sate your greedy thirst, you can feel your headache receding. You hand the skin of wine back to the stranger outside your cell half-empty.

“What do you want?” You growl. In return for his generosity, you’d at least talk to him.

The Man smirks. “I heard how you escaped your cell from a friend of mine. A mutual friend, no doubt? But he neglected how you did so. Well, tell me how you slipped out and I might tell you about an offer to get out of your current situation.”

“And that offer being?”

“Well, we can always use slippery bastards like you in the ranks of the Black Dogs. Besides, can’t be worse than your current accommodations.” He glances at the low ceiling of your dungeon cell, barely high enough to stand in. “So, what say you, friend? I don’t have all night ...”

>It’s an offer you can’t refuse. You might lose your head if you do.

>Sorry, Mother told you to never accept proposals from strangers outside your dungeon cell. [Follow your Code]

>What are the benefits and pay like?

>Something else?

>>5022294
>Sorry, Mother told you to never accept proposals from strangers outside your dungeon cell. [Follow your Code]

Same difference, Noir. I ain't budging.

>>5022294
>What are the benefits and pay like?
Let's follow the plot hook

>>5022294
>What are the benefits and pay like?

Fate points are good, but it might be best for our long term health to check out other options rather than heedlessly marching to its beat.

>>5022294
>What are the benefits and pay like?
>Something else?
Any hot babes in the group?
Dental? Got a good dental plan? I'll join right on the spot if you do.
You provide any "necessities" for work because I'm sort of broke at the moment.
Awe shit, ahhhh, lemmie finish the rest of the wine and I'll leave with you, no funny biz.

>>5022294
>It’s an offer you can’t refuse. You might lose your head if you do.
tbf QM, I don't think this system will result in anything but misery. Unless our equipment starts giving us +50 bonuses the MC is doomed to fail at everything.

>>5022517
I'm open to tweaking the system after a few fights.

>>5022294
>It’s an offer you can’t refuse. You might lose your head if you do.

“Depends.” You reply, “What do I stand to earn from this?”

“Other than your head?” The Man laughs, “Whatever you can earn on the battlefield. Whether it be loot, silver, or women! And that includes both the battle and the sacking. There’s nothing like being the gods and masters of a small city. But besides that, you’re paid seasonally out of your Commander’s share of the commission. Take me for instance. I never pay my men in anything but silver. Other than that, duties can be accepted by a unit with a price attached to them. First to scale the wall? Take the castle gatehouse? Crawl through the sewers? That’s three month’s pay in silver straight from the Company Treasury, maybe even gold.”

You nod. It sounded much more organized than the ad hoc bands of sellswords you had fought with until now. Much more like an independent army than a band of brigands hired by a local lord. “Are we responsible for our own supplies?”

“We provide a bedroll and rations to everyone, as well as other supplies like arrows and whetstones for a cut of your monthly pay. And once you become a blooded member, the Company takes responsibility itself for keeping you in fighting shape. You might have to go with some hardship if you accept some dicier Duties, but no one starves or goes without shelter in camp.”

“Sounds awfully generous.” You say, “How do the Black Hounds keep afloat if they give out so much for free?”

“Because we’re the best of the best.” The Man proudly boasts, “We’re a long-established company, hailing back to the founding of Gothyka. The Kings and High Lords know what they pay for. You might be soft now, but spend a season with us and we’ll tan you like a piece of rawhide. But enough copper counting, let’s leave that to the quartermasters. Gold and silver is nothing compared to adventure, and the Black Hounds may all be rogues, but we’re a closer band of brothers than you’ll ever find. So, what say you?”

>Accept his offer

>Decline his offer

>>5022617

I vote yes. Our solo escape attempt was completely bungled. We clearly need professional training.

File: IMG_2996.png (137 KB, 872x771)

137 KB PNG

>>5022617
>Decline his offer

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vZa0Yh6e7dw

>>5022517
Actually, it's quite intuitive. I expect mid-late quest to be decent, even if I expect us to fail all the hard rolls even if we're an uber-veteran. The short game's gonna be nothing but misery though, since retards chose an up-jumped peasant to start with instead of somebody with actual combat experience. I don't think we'll make it past the first battle at this rate, and trying to be a decent person will just fuck with our sellsword career.

>>5022617
>Accept his offer
Think you can help us get our gear back on the way out if its not to much hassle?

Are we going to recruit anyone else in here while we're at it?

>>5022617
>>Accept his offer

>>5022528
I like it, as long as the difficulty scales reasonably for different checks (ie. no. Basically coin flips for basic things like climbing a hill or something).
Regarding combat, it seems fair enough, since we’re a peasant, and so, we then logically suck. The main things I’d want is for the system to be recorded for reference, and maybe for NPCs to use the same three-roll system we do, so they don’t have strangely varying results compared to us.

>>5022617
>Accept his offer
On one hand, probably death. On the other hand, even more probable death.
It’s a hard knock life.

>>5022808
Actually, I'd rather not complicate this dice system further desu.

>>5022617
>>Accept his offer

File: bnd (2).png (285 KB, 439x581)

285 KB PNG

You sigh. “Looks like the Gods have it that I can’t say anything but yes.”

“You’ve gained a new brother today.” The Man reassures you, clasping your arm and pulling you to your feet. “Name’s Hadhan.”

“One more thing before I accept for sure though.” You say, “Think you can get my gear back? Because I’m naked otherwise.”

“Done!” Hadhan roars, “Come tomorrow morn you’ll be fed and watered in the main hall, alongside your Brothers of the Black Hounds …”
…

You were awoken in the morning by the Gaoler’s angry yelling. But it wasn’t at you.

“Where in damnation were you last night?” He roars at the guard. “Damn fucking Sellswords having a conversation in the night, and you didn’t think to tell me?”

“I-I’m sorry Gunth! I don’t know what to say, I fell asleep …”

“Don’t know what to say?”

You listen to the Gaoler swear at the hapless Guard for a good long while. You feel almost guilty, knowing that the Guard was not at fault. But eventually, the Gaoler turns his attention to you.

“You slimy, slippery bastard. I don’t know what trickery you caused, but the Black Hounds have taken it into their heads to recruit you and I’m to set you free and arm you. But mark my words, if it were up to me, you would be left to rot here. The world’s better off without your kind, much less with your kind wandering around, armed.” The Gaoler does not speak another word to you, unlocking your cell and unchaining you from the wall.

You smile. It seems Hadhan kept his promise.

“Please follow me. I’m to show you about.” Your former Guard tells you. He stares at you sullenly, but you don’t see a grudge in his eyes …

A Smallkeep was almost always a small affair, built by villagers for protection when the land of Gothyka had been less tame. A round wall surrounding a small courtyard with several lean-to buildings leaning against the wall as well as two or three proper stone ones. All made from stacked, unmortared stone, save for the larger hall on an earthen mound built into the wall. You assumed that was there the knight that was probably the lord of the Smallfort lived.

The Main Hall is barely more than an adjoining building to the Smallfort’s kitchen with a battered table in the center surrounded by stools. At the head of the room was the outline of a high, carved armchair under a dust-covered cloth. There weren’t any locals seated at the table. Everyone there was clad in leather and had weapons at their side. You assume they were your new Brothers, although you spotted what looked like a Sister among them as well. There were no local guards among them, but that’s how smallkeep garrisons worked. The Militia was probably eating with their families in the village right outside the walls.

You feel a had clap you on the shoulder. “Arrived for a hearty meal, eh?” Hadhan asks, shaking your shoulder. “And what is this, your first proper meal in .. how many days?”

“A week now. But it’ll be my first proper drink in less than a night.”

Hadhan langued. “It was Iber red. Expensive stuff. But I barely have any left so you’ll have to content yourself with the swill the rest of these poor bastards are drinking.”

“Wine is a woman’s drink anyways!” A fur-clad giant with a head of blond hair roars from the table.

Hadhan is drawn into a spirited banter with his companions while you seat yourself at the table. A plump, young girl emerges from the kitchen with a trencher of porridge and a mug of the same black beer you had been drinking. The porridge was hearty, but quite bland. There was nothing in it but the same black bread crumbled into it, as well as two or three long-stewed vegetables. Not a scrap of meat. Examining the trencher, you see that it had been carved from the same loaves of bread they had been feeding you.

As the girl leaves, Hadhan pats her on her behind, causing her to squeak in embarrassment and retreat embarrassedly to the kitchen.

“The Gaoler’s daughter.” He explains to you, “A sweet girl, and quite enthusiastic too. A bit on the well-fed side, but she’s quite comely … UNLIKE HER FATHER!” he roars, to the guffawing of the table, save for the sole girl at the table who only snorts in disgust …

It was in that way that you came to break fast with a small unit of the Black Hounds. And over the meal, you come to know a little of your new companions.

>Speak with the blond, fur-clad giant

>Speak with the sharp-looking, hooded figure

>The girl doesn’t seem to be speaking with anyone. What’s her deal?

>You have more questions for Hadhan

>Best to mind your meal and not impose yourself for now.

>>5023009
>The girl doesn’t seem to be speaking with anyone. What’s her deal?

I wanna try a charisma roll with the Gaoler's daughter, just to get back at the bastard.

>>5023055
The girl here is the one from the Black Hounds, just so you know.

>>5023081
I know, but thank you for clarifying anyway Noir.

>>5022808
If you run the numbers you will understand that, currently, the MC has a best case scenario of 60% success rate (Easy check and 20 skill) while the worst case scenario is a literal 1-in-a-1000 shot (Hard check and 10 skill). Our best case is already a coin flip. The numbers are stacked way high.

>>5022528
Just make it a flat bo3 with crit overwrites. Unless you plan on equipment giving us +50 bonuses most skill checks will still be close to a coin flip.

>>5023234
Also instead of being solely dictated by static skill levels this way you can adjust difficulty with various modifiers without it becoming impossible (instead of Hard check you get +20 to DC etc.). Gives you more options and gives us a chance.

>>5023234
Noted, but your skills will increase and your gear will give you bonuses and at times even negate the possibility of some wounds fairly soon. If that isn't enough, then I'll bump your stats or implement a bo3 system.

>>5023240
What I'm afraid of is that that will give the bonuses too much variability to the point they seem arbitrary. With the Easy/Medium/Hard method, at least difficulty always changes by a set amount and if players disagree that something shouldn't be medium or hard given the situation or our character's skill level, then they can dispute it and I can readjust it easily.

But if the majority of players would prefer modifiers instead of difficulty level changes, I will make that change.

That being said, a vote would be super-appreciated if you have a preference in the options one way or another.

>>5023234
>>5023240
A peasant, shit at combat? Who would've thunk?

Maybe make better choices in character creation instead of whinging on about how we suck at tasks because we were a professional butcher instead of a trained combatant. I'm not about to let you lads worm your way out of the consequences of your decisions. The dice system stays, and you got to deal with it.

>>5023234
I did run the number and I am aware that even an Easy Strength/ Dexterity etc check would be about a third chance, but I’m also assuming that that this abysmal state of rubbish modifiers won’t last.

I’d rather we don’t revert to always Bo3 just to make our lives easier though. The problem then is that when we do actually gain experience and equipment and decent stats, it becomes much harder to fail unless one implements degrees of success/ failure, and a disproportionate amount of failures are crits if they do override. First thread’s too early to chance that, I think, especially since this is the prologue in which we purposefully suck.

>>5023250
>>5023257
Don't listen to him Noir, he's just bitching that this isn't a traditional quest with an overpowered MC right off the bat. Sometimes anons have to realize that it ain't gonna be a cakewalk all the goddamn time.

>>5023255
Please don't be mean anon. All the choices in CC I was fine with writing. Peasant was a choice in CC because while it makes for a more difficult early game, I think it provides more opportunity for growth in the character's case.

That being said, our character is not a trained combatant so please don't expect them to become a master swordsman relatively quickly. It will take work and training. But in the meantime, unless anons go out of their way to fight one, the MC will not end up fighting a master swordsman one-on-one.

>>5022882
Well, this would just amount to the QM rolling two extra dice and picking the middle one, like we do. It doesn’t seem too hard, though it would admittedly be unnecessary considering its just NPC rolls.
>>5023009
>Best to mind your meal and not impose yourself for now.
If I’ve had three meals in the past week, I would be extremely interested in my food too.

>>5023009
>Best to mind your meal and not impose yourself for now.
The internet apparently ate my vote.
As I meant to say, if I had three meals in seven days, I’d be very interested in my food.

>>5023263
I get that, it's the bitching and trying to change the quest's dice system to his preference I don't like. If he wanted to be a QM he should've created his own quest.

I'll restrain myself in the future, but complaining about the dice system when it was the decisions that fucked us up really irks me. Take personal responsibility for your decisions anons, don't whine about how 'the system is broken, it's not my fault'.

>>5023269
I believe you're vote is here (>>5023264) lad.

>>5023264
I think it would be more about setting difficult levels for the NPC, at which point we'd be rolling for two MCs instead of just the MC and the NPC. You add more people to the equation, and rolling three rolls for each (and determining each NPC's difficulty rating), will just turn this into a numbers shitshow, and won't improve the player's or the QM's quality of life when we get into battles with more than a single guard with a stick.

That's my thoughts on that, at least.

>>5023264
>>5023269
…………
I have been betrayed, bewildered, bamboozled… the servers are fickle indeed.
Ah well. Shouldn’t matter ultimately.
>>5023282
Fair point, though I’m unsure how brawls larger than duels would play out with this system.

>More discussion than ever
>Less voting than ever

How is this possible? Do you guys care about this choice or should I just progress to the next one?

Not to push anyone to vote, just wondering.

>>5023257
I'd like both for the variety and eviromental or situation factors with qm/player creativity affecting it.

>Best to mind your meal and not impose yourself for now.
Sit next to the girl, give nothing more than eye contact nod if she looks and eat our meal in silence without bothering her.

She probably gets hit on by every other guy in the company. She might not even be a she at all....

>>5023258
I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are just emotional instead of retarded. You will notice that we have more checks than just combat. Furthermore, you will notice that even easy tasks are more likely to fail than not on all but 2 stats. On medium it becomes very unlikely and on hard we are more likely to roll 9 crits than a success on one of our 10 skills (illustratively).

And yes, making the NPCs roll more wont make the experience better.
>>5023259
I mean I get where you are coming from but I doubt putting on a hat will up our Intellect by 25 points. We will see but I have my doubts. Also if equpment starts giving more bonuses than we have stats (with exceptions ala full plate and endurance) it will be very gay.

>>5023009
>You have more questions for Hadhan
What is expected of us, organization, ToS etc. Also what their current job is.

>>5023009
>Speak with the sharp-looking, hooded figure

>>5023009
>>The girl doesn’t seem to be speaking with anyone. What’s her deal?

>>5023009
>Speak with the sharp-looking, hooded figure

Having eaten three meals the past week, you’re too busy gorging yourself to talk much with your companions, but you still manage to learn something of them by listening to their conversations.

Hadhan was actually a sort of rising star in the Black Hounds. He had until recently been in the private retinue of the Company’s leader until he had broken off to form his own. He specialized in raids and small-unit actions, especially on high-sensitivity missions far from the pitched battles. But he had been involved in every Company action and campaign season for close to two decades. He was a black-souled bastard with an eye for wealth and women.

The Blond Giant was Ingmyr, a reaver from the Nordfjords, farther north than the furthest reaches of Gothyka. You had heard tales of explorers and raiders from that distant land, but Ingmyr had actually been picked up by the Company there, when it had been signed on for a war in the north.

The Mysterious, hooded figure was Farthorn. He had been a ranger in the King of Rosland’s employ that had kept the royal woods clear of occasional monsters and constant poachers, before being caught poaching himself. He had barely managed to escape to Gothyka with all his fingers.

And as for the girl, you didn’t learn much about her. You learned that her name was Schni and that she didn’t speak much to anyone except Hadhan.

That was all you learned before the meal ended.
“Now, Gentlemen …” Hadhan began at the end of the meal, “As much as you all have enjoyed living off the teat of these villagefolk, it has come time for us to leave on our Duty. Besides, let us admit that if we stay any longer then this village might become a hotter pan than we bargained for.”

“Hot for who I ask? The Gaoler would have your member nailed to the smallkeep wall if he had the courage to do it.” Farthorn jested to his leader.

“Never-the-less.” Hadhan continued, “I’ve received word of a caravan of our Employer’s enemies passing through the neighbouring fiefdom. It’ll be business as usual, lads. We hit it hard, loot whatever we can carry, and burn whatever we cannot!”

The small party roared in response to the promise of blood and looting, before bustling off to handle their own preparations. But before he left, Hadhan clapped you on the shoulder.

“I trust you know how to make your preparations. Grab your weapons and gear and keep them ready to fight at any time. I expect no less from men under my command. Understand?”

You nod. “Understood … sir?”

“Call me Hadhan, or call me Brother.” Hadhan says, “And a word of advice? We leave tonight, and we’ll be traveling over country so best enjoy what a friendly village can offer while you can.”

After that bit of fraternal advice, you’re left to prepare by yourself. You turn to the Guard that had been showing you about, who had been waiting at the door.

“I’ll have my things back now then …”

The Guard leads you to the Smallfort’s armory. It was right across the small, grassy courtyard next to the stables. Inside was a rack of hastily carved spears and cudgels. What few swords there were were propped up haphazardly on the wall. Among them, you see yours ...

>A shortsword, suitable for both short and knife-ranged combat

>A longsword, suitable for both short and medium-ranged combat

>A falchion, a single-edged cleaving weapon

>A saber, a quick and agile blade

>A rapier, cheap, but still precise

Alongside your weapon, you see your secondary weapon ...

>A shortbow

>A hand-spanning crossbow

>A butcher’s cleaver from home

>A mail-breaking poignard

>A heater shield

You also retrieve your rucksack, containing some basic supplies as well as a valued belonging.

>A pair of dice, carved from bone

>A wooden idol of your village’s nameless god

>A lock of hair from your childhood sweetheart, to remember them by

>A bronze arm ring, a last gift from your parents before they saw you off

>A tin flask of strong alcohol

Hi anons. Unfortunately I'll be too busy for a day or two to update, so sorry about that. In the meantime, our character doesn't have a name yet other than Joseph so why don't you talk about what to name him while I'm gone. I'll probably pick the one I like the best, but I'll of course take what my players like into great account as well.

>>5023444

>shortsword
>heater shield
>tin flask of booze

Seems to me that we should fight defensively and lean into our toughness here until we gain some stat boosts.

In terms of our name, we're a peasant named Joseph who's a butcher. We might not even have a last name, depending on the size of our town. We could keep our last name open until we do something of note?

>>5023454
Peasants usually don't take last names in this setting.

>>5023447
Sword
Shield
Lock of hair

Might be a blaggard but should still hold things dear.

>>5023447
>A saber, a quick and agile blade
>A heater shield
>A lock of hair from your childhood sweetheart, to remember them by

>>5023447
>A falchion, a single-edged cleaving weapon
>A shortbow
>A tin flask of strong alcohol

File: IMG_3070.jpg (112 KB, 977x977)

112 KB JPG

>>5023447
>A longsword, suitable for both short and medium-ranged combat
>A butcher’s cleaver from home
>A wooden idol of your village’s nameless god

If it wasn't for us being a butcher before, I would've chosen the short bow.

>>5023447
>>A longsword, suitable for both short and medium-ranged combat
>>A butcher’s cleaver from home
>>A wooden idol of your village’s nameless god

>>5023447
Personally, I think I’d prefer one of those hastily carved spears the most. For starters, you can’t easily throw a sword. For another, we can keep the enemy far away like the craven peasant we are.

Barring that, I’d prefer

>A falchion, a single-edged cleaving weapon
>A heater shield
>A lock of hair from your childhood sweetheart, to remember them by

The falchion is because our character has no martial training whatsoever, but simultaneously, I don’t want to try and rush spearman with a shortsword. A falchion isn’t ideal, but it’s a good enough compromise until we can steal something like an axe or spear.

The shield is because our armour and skills are laughable, and so a shield is extremely useful. Our character doesn’t seem to have marksmanship training, and a shield will keep us alive far better than trying to dual wield or a nice dagger.

Finally, the hair is because I’m a sap. :)

>>5023447
>A longsword, suitable for both short and medium-ranged combat
>A butcher’s cleaver from home
>A wooden idol of your village’s nameless god

Ah yes, the god that definitely the whole village and not just we prayed to in secret.

Fug, there actually is internet in a Gothyk prison cell.

>>5023447
>A falchion, a single-edged cleaving weapon
Easy to use.
>A butcher’s cleaver from home
That's what we're used to!
>A bronze arm ring, a last gift from your parents before they saw you off
We'll look cool with it.

>>5023447
>A falchion, a single-edged cleaving weapon
>A heater shield
>A wooden idol of your village’s nameless god

Here's hoping that our nameless god is some eldritch abomination. Also I'm fine with Joseph as our name, it's basic and simple enough

>>5023447
>A longsword, suitable for both short and medium-ranged combat
>A butcher’s cleaver from home
>A wooden idol of your village’s nameless god

Votes for Wooden Idol are locked in, between Butcher's cleaver and Heater Shield I'm willing to give you both just this once since they're a minor item.

To help voting along, I'll give the stats for the Longsword or Falchion you'd be getting.

Weapon: Iron Longsword
Damage: 1d10 edged
Weight: Medium
Quality: Common
Range: Short/Medium
Bonuses: +5 str +5 dex
Attributes
Two-handed weapon
- Debuff when using single-handed (-5)
- +5 AP when using two-handed
Dull Blade
- A longsword cuts with it's weight, but it's edge is typically not razor sharp (-5 damage against armored opponents unless using strong action)
Stuck Blade
- In group combat, blade becomes stuck in enemy upon killing them with a strong action, costing you the initiative the next round
Iron Blade - Cannot be sharpened further


Weapon: Iron Falchion
Damage: 1d10
Quality: Common
Range: Short
Bonuses: +10 str
Attributes
Cleaving Weapon
- Increased chance for decapitations on crits
+5 damage against lightly armored targets, - 5 dex
Commoner's Weapon
+10 buff for novice swordsmen Like Joseph
Iron Blade - Cannot be sharpened further

Please vote between

>Longsword

>Falchion

>>5023929
>>Falchion

>>5023929
>Longsword

>>5023929
>Falchion

Because we’re using a shield.

>>5023952

Agree. Falchion and heater combo.

>>5023929
>Falchion

File: IMG_3073.png (629 KB, 682x960)

629 KB PNG

>>5023929
>Longsword

I'm voting my meme preference, as it's pretty clear the large cleaver is the better pick. Also, our nickname should be Guts, since we were a former butcher and all.

Slightly saddened from missing the lock of our childhood sweetheart, it would've added a sentimental human element that would've contrasted with the aesthetic of the idol god quite nicely.

>>5023731
You know, I thought it was just a bronze ring originally, not an arm band. Probably wouldn't have made a difference with my choice, but I do agree, we would've looked wicked with it.

>>5023929
>Falchion
Seems easier to use for us, and we'll be able to use the shield on top of that.

>Falchion

I want a longsword but its not ideal to use one with a shield.

>>5023929
Falchion

>>5023929
>Longsword
>Debuff when using single-handed (-5)
So you are saying that we can use it one handed right?
>>5024024
>Mysterious idol of a god that almost no one besides a small group of people know.
>A super buff man with a longsword with a past he tells no one(He didn't even tell us yet!)
...Guys are both Griffith and Guts at the same time?!?

Also keep in mind we can sill have a sweetheart/have our sweetheart be our god.

>>5024175
>Stuck Blade
>- In group combat, blade becomes stuck in enemy upon killing them with a strong action, costing you the initiative the next round

This can cost us our life.

>>5024175
It's official now. Our MC looks like a less buff version of Guts.

>Falchion

File: Falchion-Sword1.jpg (22 KB, 450x238)

22 KB JPG

First, you unsheathe your falchion and inspect the blade for any rust. But the falchion was a rugged, durable weapon and it would take more than a week’s neglect to damage it. Although the blade was hardly heavier than a shortsword, it had a deceptive amount of chopping power. It felt familiar in your hand, although you still weren’t sure what it meant for your sword to be an extension of your arm, like the stories put it. You resheathe your falchion and tighten your sword belt around your waist.

Then, you sling your battered heater shield over your back. You slip your cleaver into your belt next to your falchion. A butcher should always have a variety of knives after all.

Finally, you withdraw the Idol from your rucksack. The Idol was a strange one. It was carved in the likeness of a faceless saintess, a statue of which stood in the woods close to your village. No one knew her name, but it had been the holiest object close to the village by far and so the saint depicted had become an object of the village’s reverence. You kiss it. It had been too long since you had paid it any reverence.

At long last, you’re fully armed again. Now, Hadhan had said something about making use of the village before you departed, right?

>After the way this village treated you, you won’t feel guilty helping yourself to the smallfort’s provisions.

>You’ll do more than take a few provisions. They owe you a spear or a helmet. You’re fighting their war!

>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You’ll try your luck with his daughter, if only to get back at him.

>This village is home to honest folk, just like you. You won’t take a single copper’s worth from them. [Follow your Code]

>>5024285
>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You’ll try your luck with his daughter, if only to get back at him.

>>5024285
>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You’ll try your luck with his daughter, if only to get back at him.

Payback's a bitch. Literally.

>>5024285
>>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You’ll try your luck with his daughter, if only to get back at him.

>>5024285
>>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You’ll try your luck with his daughter, if only to get back at him.
Vengeance by force if we must

>>5024285
>This village is home to honest folk, just like you. You won’t take a single copper’s worth from them. [Follow your Code]

Firstly, no need to push our luck with the law and such. Secondly, chasing grudges mostly seems pointless, especially since we’ll soon be taking leave.

>>5024285
>This village is home to honest folk, just like you. You won’t take a single copper’s worth from them. [Follow your Code]

Let's make one non-questionable choice that won't land us in jail again. Or worst, getting our dick cut off because we tried forcing ourselves on the gaoler's daughter.

>>5024320
I won't abide by force. She either comes willingly or we never come at all.

>>5024285
>This village is home to honest folk, just like you. You won’t take a single copper’s worth from them. [Follow your Code]

No point in fucking over a girl that did nothing too us

Not an update, but I compiled all our character information.

Joseph of Saintswood

-- Basic Information --
Code: Code of the Common Man (Intuitive Morality)
Culture: Gothyk
Rank: Novice
Build: Average, for a peasant
Background: Commoner
Skin Color: Pale
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Other Features
- Spiky hair
- ‘Brutal’ features
- Scar on thumb

-- Stats --
Strength (str) - 10
Agility (agi) - 10
Dexterity (dex) - 10
Toughness (tou) - 20
Intelligence (int) - 10
Perception (per) - 10
Charisma (cha) - 10
Willpower (wil) - 20

-- Unique Attributes --
Butcher’s Hide
+5 AP against light, edged weapons
- Fast healing from wounds from edged and sharp weapons

-- Skills --

Weapon Proficiencies
Swordplay (Novice)
Knifeplay (Novice)

Languages
Spoken Gothyk - native proficiency (+5 cha when speaking Gothyk outside of Central Westerndom)
Written Illian Figures
Spoken Common (Central Westerndom) - fluent proficiency (accented)

Trades
Butcher

Lores
Common Lore (Gothyk)
Sellsword Lore (Gothyk)
Common Lore (Central Westerndom) (+20 int)
Common Lore (Westerndom) (int)
Common Lore (Gothyk Folk Religion) (int)
Common Lore (Holy Church) (-10 int)
Story Lore (-10 Cha)

Page 1/3

-- Weapons --
[u]Iron Falchion[/u]
Damage: 1d10 Cleaving
Weight: Medium
Quality: Common
Range: Short
Bonuses: +10 str
Attributes
Cleaving Weapon
- Increased chance for decapitations on crits
+5 damage against lightly armored targets, - 5 dex
Commoner's Weapon
+10 buff for novice swordsmen
Iron Blade - Cannot be sharpened further

[u]Iron Cleaver[/u]
Damage: 1d5 Cleaving
Weight: Light
Quality: Common
Range: Knife
Bonuses: +10 str
Attributes
Cleaving Weapon (see Falchion)
Unwieldy - Initiative cannot be retained on a round this weapon is used
Highly Modular - This weapon can support an unlimited number of modifications

[u]Iron Hunting Dagger[/u]
Damage: 1d5 Sharp
Weight: Pocket
Quality: Common
Range: Grappling/Knife
Bonuses: None
Attributes
Working Tool - +10 to out-of-combat rolls where it is used
Iron Blade - Cannot be sharpened further

[u]Wooden Heater Shield[/u]
Defense: 10 AC with successful use
Damage: 1d5 Blunt
Weight: Medium
Quality: Common
Range: Short
Bonuses: +10 without initiative
Attributes
Parrying Weapon - Parrying with this weapon cedes you the initiative the next turn
Nonlethal Weapon - Cannot critical wound with this weapon

Page 2/3

-- Armor --
[u]Aketon[/u]
Armor Points: 10
Weight: Light
Quality: Common
Attributes
Textile Armor - Piercing and Heavy weapons will ignore it’s AP
Warm - +3 buff against cold damage, -3 debuff against heat damage

-- Gear --
Extra Garments x1
Firestarting Kit x1
Meal Kit x1
Sleeping Roll x1
Traveling Cloak x1

-- Personal Effects --
Wooden Idol (No Effect) yet

-- Currency (Gothyk Mark) --
0 Gold
50 Silver
50 Copper

1 Gold = 50 Silver = 500 Copper

-- Fate Points --
4/4 Fate Points
0/2 next Fate Point

Page 3/3

>>5024285
>This village is home to honest folk, just like you. You won’t take a single copper’s worth from them. [Follow your Code]
Anon stop being a petty little bitch.

>>5024415
>Lores
What are these? No doubt we'll get an explanation when I comes up, I just figured I'll ask now.

>>5024423
Information you know. Ones that don't have a stat thing attached to them you know well enough that you could probably give some information on any question on the topic that you're likely to encounter.

>>5024293
Weren't you supposed to go for the code at every opportunity?

>>5024285
>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You’ll try your luck with his daughter, if only to get back at him.

>all these simps trying to white knight a butcher

You really can’t make this shit.

>>5024427
Oho? I’m glad someone noticed. I’ll tell you what, if she isn’t into it, or you can come up with a better point than it pissing off the Goaler, and I’ll switch to the Code. Way I see it though, as long as she’s into it, it shouldn’t violate the Code.

Of course, if the QM explicitly said that this wouldn’t be consensual, the Code applies. I’m just looking to piss of daddy twice, not engage in forceful plunder.

>>5024443
>piss off daddy

Damn autocorrect.

>>5024429
>white knight
Nigga if you think not trying to jump every hole is white knighting I have some bad news for you.

>>5019380
>>5024443

>>5024451
Ah, but I decide the level of autism, not you. Might want to try another reason.

>>5024285
>After the way this village treated you, you won’t feel guilty helping yourself to the smallfort’s provisions.

>>5024451
Damn, that it? Not even gonna explain your own reasons beyond us being petty for being thrown in the dungeon for no reason and the Goaler figuratively throwing away the key? Hell, I’d settle for a IC haiku at this point.

Damn I actually have to count votes now and shit.

>>5024293
>>5024300
>>5024317
>>5024320
>>5024429
>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You’ll try your luck with his daughter, if only to get back at him.

>>5024320
>The Gaoler treated you the worst by far. You'll have your vengeance on him through his Daughter. By force if you must.

>>5024373
>>5024386
>>5024412
>>5024422
>This village is home to honest folk, just like you. You won’t take a single copper’s worth from them. [Follow your Code]

>>5024464
>After the way this village treated you, you won’t feel guilty helping yourself to the smallfort’s provisions.

>>5024429
Butchers can be chivalrous too anon! Nothing inherently dishonest with the profession.

>>5024521
you counted this guy twice? >5024320

I'm not down with rape, if we can seduce her then by all means. But only if she wants it.

>>5024529
I fully agree. I don’t really see how it conflicts with our stated tenants of honesty, humility, and charity, but maybe that’s the autism acting up. Don’t see chastity on there, and so long as we aren’t dishonest in our intentions, we should be fine even if she isn’t into us and and it stops there.

>>5024529
It's because he has a different suggestion than the rest of the 'seduce her' anons but would also probably be fine with just trying to seduce her over any of the other options. Do people find that unfair?

>>5024536
The Code of the Common Man doesn't really have any unbreakable tenants, or a set number of them. It's just the morality of a rando peasant in the setting. Chastity's a value, but also one that's broken quite a bit. Not raping your neighbour is a stronger value in comparison.

>>5024511
That is literally it though. Do you plan on playing a man trying to act as well as he can (the code) or are you going to be a petty bitch willing to use others to air petty grievances (fuck the daughter just to piss off the fattie). A question of morals - decent man or cunt.

>>5024539
I think he was just confused as to why you counted him twice.

>>5024546
Being locked up and starved for weeks on end isn’t a petty grievance, it’s sadism. I wonder how many innocents were jailed and starved to death just because the Goaler was in a bad mood? It maybe a poor substitute for justice, but I didn’t just decide to ignore the Code on a lark anon.

>>5024415
We are, astoundingly, not a complete novice. Things are already looking good for Joseph the shield fodder. :)

>>5024557
Difference between justice and petty revenge. Important distinction.

After the way the Gaoler had treated you, there hadn’t been a way to get back at him save for denying him the chance to hew at your neck. But hearing what Hadhan had to say about his daughter, an idea soon came to you. It would be sweet revenge indeed to gain the affection of his dear daughter even when he loathed you so. After all, a battlefield wasn’t the only place a man could find spoils to conquer.

You find the girl in the Smallfort kitchen, kneading dough between mixing a large pot of porridge. There was no one else in the kitchen, but that was what you had been counting on. Smallforts were usually empty outside times of imminent battle. There was no point to a small or even medium-sized village maintaining a fully mobilized militia at all times. What few guards there were on duty were busy dicing in the Smallfort’s guardroom or else shirking their duties to help their families in the field. There wasn’t even a regular patrol of the walls.

Hence, the two of you would have a bit of privacy.

You knock on the doorframe of the kitchen to attract her attention.

“Oh? M-may I help you um …”

“Joseph.” You tell her your name, “And you are?”

“M-Marlette.” She blushes. Shy as a maiden, this one was. But if Hadhan’s story was true, then she was no maiden. You wonder if her Father knew.

You take a second to admire her. Her blush had turned her cheeks apple-red, giving a vigorous appearance to her young, heart-shaped face. Although there was nothing outwardly indecent about her dress, it still showed more than enough skin. Her sleeves were rolled up, exposing pale arms whitened further from the elbows down with flour. The low neckline of her dress exposed a window of milk-white flesh. Although thick and fleshy, none of her plumpness sagged, instead giving the promise of softness. Her breathing comes in titillating gasps, still out of breath from the work in the kitchen. A sheen of sweat from her hard labor and the heat of the cooking fire cover her forehead, although she wipes it away with a towel. Hopefully, you’d get the opportunity to make her sweat from another kind of labor.

>You notice these things, but the only spoils you desire are a chaste kiss (Easy charisma roll)

>Whether there is a conquest doesn’t matter to you as long as you gain a favor from her to parade in front of her father before you leave. (Medium charisma roll)

>You’ve already accepted the duty to storm her gatehouse, figuratively speaking (Hard charisma roll)

>Faced with your quarry, your courage leaves you. Nay, it is not cowardice, but shame … [Follow your Code]

Dammit, where are the busty tavern maid pics when I need them for illustrative purposes