Ghastly Affair Antagonists III: Pickpocket through Secret Agent

https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/ghastly-affair-the-gothic-game-of-romantic-horror/

In the early years of Wine and Savages, one of my obsessions was adapting Savage Worlds to Gothic Romance in the style of The Castle of Otranto, The Mysteries of Udolpho, The Monk, and other such early classics. I made some progress, but Daniel James Hanley beat me to the punch with Ghastly Affair. a charmingly horrific D20 RPG of Gothic horror in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It is, frankly, brilliant and I encourage the curious to check out Hanley’s site – The Engine of Oracles – and download the free version of the game (or buy the nifty illustrated version).

Presented below are a selection of NPC archetypes inspired by the Antagonists section of Ghastly Affair – but equally suitable for The King is Dead and other Gothic settings.


Pickpocket

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d6, Gambling d6, Intimidation d4, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Stealth d8, Taunt d6
Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5
Hindrances: Greedy [Major; risks imprisonment to steal]
Edges: Quick
Gear: club or dagger (for self-defense only), normal or ragged clothing
Special Abilities

• Sticky Fingers: Pickpockets gain a +2 bonus on Stealth rolls to blend into crowds, move unseen, and pick pockets.

Pirate
Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Boating d6, Fighting d8, Gambling d6, Intimidation d8, Notice d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d6, Taunt d6
Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 6
Hindrances: Greedy [Major; risks execution to steal on the high seas], Wanted [Major]
Edges: Ace, Liquid Courage
Gear: club or dagger, cutlass (as short sword), flintlock pistol, ragged (yet flamboyant) clothing


Police

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d8
Skills: Fighting d6, Knowledge (Law) d4, Intimidation d8, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Stealth d4, Streetwise d6, Taunt d6
Charisma: +0; Pace: 6; Parry: 5 (6 w/staff); Sanity: 5; Toughness: 6
Hindrances: Greedy [Major; if corrupt] or Vow [Major; if honest]
Edges: Connections (police force)
Gear: club, staff, manacles, uniform or normal clothing (depending on how organized the local constabulary may be)


Procurer

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Fighting d6, Gambling d6, Intimidation d8, Notice d6, Persuasion d8, Stealth d4
Charisma: +2; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 6; Toughness: 5
Hindrances: Greedy [Major; lures the innocent into prostitution]
Edges: Charismatic, Connections (accomplices and stable), Strong Willed; some are Rich.
Gear: dagger, intoxicants to lure the unwary, perfume, formal clothing


Raging Lunatic

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d8, Strength d10, Vigor d10
Skills: Fighting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d4, Throwing d6
Charisma: +2; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 4; Toughness: 7
Hindrances: Delusional [Major], Touched*
Edges: Berserk, Visions
Gear: ragged clothing (possibly including broken restraints or undone straitjacket)
Special

• Easily Enraged: a Raging Lunatic may go berserk from Shaken results from Tests of Will or from seeing harm done to an object of affection

Ruffian

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d6

Skills: Fighting d6, Gambling d6, Intimidation d8, Notice d6, Stealth d4, Throwing d4

Charisma: -2; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 5; Toughness: 5

Hindrances: Greedy [Major; risks imprisonment for monetary gain], Mean

Edges: Connections (criminal gang)

Gear: club or dagger, brickbat


Secret Agent

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Climbing d6, Fighting d6, Gambling d8, Intimidation d6, Lockpicking d6, Notice d8, Persuasion d8, Shooting d6, Stealth d8, Taunt d6

Charisma: +2; Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Sanity: 6; Toughness: 6

Hindrances: Vow [Major; to employing government], Wanted [Major; spying is a hanging offense]

Edges: Assassin, Attractive or Charismatic, Thief

Gear: hidden dagger, hidden flintlock pistol, formal clothing