From: FREDERIC MOLL 100350.1766@compuserve.com
System: Elric! not sure this was really complete, but there's a goodly chunk there
More Background for Elric characters part 1 Foreword A big part of this text comes from an article written in French by Eric Simon and published in issue 20 of Tatou magazine (published by Oriflam). I've taken the liberty of translating most of its content into English for the gamers who don't understand or read "la langue de Moliere" (also known as French in our modern world) or don't get issues of Tatou Magazine. I hope there are not too many errors. This translation is being printed with permission from Oriflam. Remember that this is optional material for Elric... Tables of Background These tables are used after the adventurer occupation has been determined by the player. Simply roll 1d10 and refer to the descriptions given below. Not all the occupations are treated here (others will be published in a future issue of TATOU and maybe in the Chaosium Digest). Beggar Craftperson Hunter Merchant d10 1 Temple City Knowledge Area Knowledge Bad Associate 2 Spy Enemy Merchant Animal Knowledge Claim 3 Blackmail Legacy Beasts' Curse Antiquarian 4 Tout Craft Secret Hated by Baron Slave Merchant 5 Catacombs Embrss. Witness Treasure Knowl. Angered King 6 Corpses Traffic Dexterity Murder Witness Caravaneer 7 Victim Black Sheep Resilient Ransomed 8 Kidnapper Thief Murderer Animal Companion War 9 City Knowledge Poverty Hunting site Taxes 10 Free choice Free choice Free choice Free choice Minor Noble Peasant Farmer Sailor Slave d10 1 Duelist Tax Collector Pirate Scars 2 Bracelet Peasant revolt Ports Knowl Free Man 3 Royal Court Peasant Defender Corsair Torturer Master 4 Don Juan Mercenaries Mutilated Wizard Master 5 Ancestral Weapon No money Watch Marked 6 Successful Merc. Looted Galerian Murderer 7 Domain Seized Very Healthy Treasure Island Miner 8 Rescuer Lord's Right Shipwrecked Rescuer 9 Gambling Father Away Bad Luck Storm 10 Free choice Free choice Free Choice Free choice Soldier Thief d10 1 Gates Guard Last Survivor 2 Treasure Guard Secret Passage 3 Honour Guard Dexterity 4 Training Infamy mark 5 Executioner Grd. Banned 6 Fortress Gangs War 7 Big Battle Sorcery 8 Temple Guard Good Job 9 Desertion Ring 10 Free choice Free choice Background Descriptions These short descriptions are followed by a summary of the gains or losses resulting from the background when appropriate. Beggar backgrounds * Temple : A few years ago, you "resided" in a great temple in exchange for small services. Now, each priest and acolyte of the religious center is known by you. Becoming a friend of this cult, you can expect their help (spiritual, material or of another kind) in case of small difficulties. * Spy : Being the spy for a gang of thieves, you tell them about rich travelers arriving in the town, the paths of the watchmen and such. One day, they decided that you knew too much, and they broke the association. After a night of beating, they threw you in the cold water. Luckily, you caught a piece of floating wood and reached the bank of the river. * Blackmail : One night, you saw a murder in a dark alley. The murderer was a rich merchant and the victim a prostitute. For a year, you blackmailed him and earned Bronze easily. However, recently, you've spotted a killer that was shadowing you. Maybe you've been demasked. Better to leave this city. You have 500 more bronze. * Tout : You were a tout for prostitutes in your city. You know each of them and their protectors. * Catacombs : During the winter, you lived in the catacombs. While exploring, you found very old tombs. Inside, there were jewels and other precious things. You have 400 more Bronze and an excellent knowledge of these catacombs. No one will find you inside them if you don't want to be discovered. * Corpses Traffic : You worked for a physician that was also a bit of a sorcerer. You brought him corpses found in the streets and buried in public graves. One day, he disappeared. Was he arrested or a victim of his sorcery? You don't know, but you thought that leaving this city was the best thing to do. You have developed an insensibility to the sight of corpses. * Victim : A few nights ago, you were beaten roughly by drunken young nobles. After more than one hour of punching, they left you in the street. You have broken fingers and even lost some teeth. You have also definitely lost one point of DEX. * Kidnapper : You were a kidnapper that took young children, mutilated them and sold them later to other beggars. One day, your co-workers were arrested. Better to leave this town before they speak of you. You take enough time to collect 1d6 x 10 Bronze. * City Knowledge : Since you were a child, you lived in the poor world of a city (anyone you like in the Young Kingdoms). Now, you know each of the thieves, prostitutes, beggars and others members of the night side. You also know each alley, all the taverns and the old ruins of the city. Maybe you can use this knowlege to earn money. * Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your occupation. Craftperson backgrounds * City Knowledge : Having lived for years in the same city, you know everything about this city (alleys, taverns, important peoples, customs, etc). You have also developed strong friendships. You can hide in this city for months. You know where to find what you seek and who you can trust. Even better, you can expect a discount of at least 10% on what you can buy. * Enemy Merchant : Everytime you talked to your fellows about the low prices the merchants paid for your work, they seemed tired of hearing you, and unable or unwilling to do anything about it. Recently, at the market, a merchant offered you the lowest price you'd ever heard for your work. It was too much for you and after a few minutes of harsh discussions, you punched him and knocked him down in the middle of the mob circling you. You understand that the merchant was made fun of and now wants your head (his aides have paid the watch and the judges). Your only hope was fleeing before they caught you. Sorry, no gain, just a loss of work and reputation in your home city. * Legacy : One day, a man came to you as a friend of a distant relative, and told you about his death. He gave you a small chest and left quickly without saying more. Add 1,000 Bronze to your money and use them as you want. * Craft Secret : After years of research and experiments on the works given to you by your old master just before he died, you have devised a revolutionary process for your craft: a machine that allow you to work 10 times faster than before! You can sell this secret to a Craftsmen guild or even to merchants for a big sum of money. You can also use it for yourself. However, don't forget that if this machine is built, most of the members of your profession will quickly become beggars. (Maybe this has happened before in Nadsokor.) * Embarrassing Witness : You were the witness to something that nobody should have seen (murder, rape, thieving, treason). Unfortunately, the person who committed it was one of the most powerful inhabitants of the city where you lived and you were seen. You ran away, quickly followed by armed men that broke down the door of your home. You took a small package and left the city! Now, you are out of the reach of this powerful person. Will you return to the city one day, to reveal the truth, or will you try to forget the affair? * Dexterity : You have worked with application and developed an excellent coordination and a great manual agility. You gain 1 point of DEX. * Black Sheep : Every time something bad happened in your family, they thought you were responsible for it. Tired of this, you decided one day to leave your family (can you really call it a family after all what they've done to you?). * Thief Murderer : One night, you heard suspicious noises downstairs. You discovered that a thief was taking all your goods. Quickly, you confronted him and a fight began. Avoiding his knife, you grabbed one of your tools and hit him. He was dead on your floor. Two days later, you found threatening writings on your door. The dead thief was a member of a gang. Leaving your workplace for a few months is a good idea, until everything cools down. * Poverty : In your country, there are lot of craftsmen and it is very difficult to sell your work, and even harder to get a good price for it. You earn only half of what you should have normally. Try to work in another country or do something else. * Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your occupation. Hunter backgrounds * Area Knowledge : You've hunted for years in this area and you know everything about it (each tree, cavern, hamlet and river). You also know the dangerous places and how to avoid them. You could live for years in this area easily and without being caught by other people. * Animal Knowledge : You hunt only one species (player's choice) and know everything of its behavior. While tracking/hunting this species, add 30% to your skills related to hunting (even combat skills). * Beast's Curse : The roles are reversed. You are pursued by a magical beast. Until now, every time you met it, you fled. Now, an old sorcerer has told you that it is a Beast Lord curse. Maybe you have disturbed one of their nartural sanctuaries. It's up to you to lift this curse! * Hated by Baron : After beating some of the men sent by the Baron on whose property you hunted, he sent mercenaries to kill you. The only way of keeping your life was to go away. * Treasure Knowledge : During a hunt in a deep forest, away from human settlements and roads, you found, after a long and painful fall, a Melnibonean tomb. You picked up a few golden nuggets before seeing creeping shadows that were crawling in your direction. You quickly found an exit! You still know where the tomb should be and you also have 800 Bronze from selling the gold nuggets. * Murder Witness : While hiding during a hunt, you were the witness to a murder. Your best friend killed his brother/sister. To avoid any problems you choose to go away from him. * Resilient : Life in the wildness has strengthened your body. You gain 1 point of CON. * Animal Companion : A few years ago you caught a young animal. Since then, you have trained it and it is now your hunting companion. Choose the species : Hawk, Wolf, Bear or Ape, and determine randomly its characteristics. * Hunting Site : You have found a place of reproduction for a species. During a few weeks, thousand of animals come to this place to mate. This is an extraordinary hunting site! Determine the species. The result of your previous hunts in this site is 300 Bronze. * Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your occupation. Merchant backgrounds * Bad Associate : Years of work have been destroyed by your best friend, your associate. With the help of the Goldar priests, he was able to take all your goods and had you accused of an imaginary rape (there was four witnesses, corrupted by him). You don't want to finish your life in a dark cell and decided to leave this country, swearing to come back later and get your revenge. * Claim : You have a claim of more than 20,000 Bronze. Just meet the person who signed it and you will have a small fortune. Unfortunately, he is a Pan Tangian, even worse, a high priest in the Chaos church (or someone equivalent if your game master doesn't like this one). * Antiquarian : You sold Melniboneans antiques to rich and decadent families. You also used the services of a band of tomb robbers who steal from ancient Melnibonean mausoleums. Unfortunately, the last statue you sold to a duke was a demoniac one. The duke and all his family where slaughtered! After being charged of murder, you decided to flee leaving behind you your villa, your gold, your slaves, your concubines, etc. * Slave Merchant : You lived as a slave merchant, a rather successful profession. One day, you thought it was the best deal you'd ever made, when you sold 10 young boys and girls to an unknown man. However, you didn't know he was a sorcerer. The next day, they found in the woods the 10 corpses, all with their throats slit and recent demonic marks about them. Since this slaughter, you have decided to never do again the job of slave merchant. * Angered King : When you sold this magnificient stallion to the king's son, you thought it was a good transaction. Unfortunately, the young idiot has fallen from the horse and broke his neck. Now, the royal guard is seeking to break your neck. Go and see others kingdoms, it's better for your health. * Caravaneer : With caravans, you have trekked over one of the Young Kingdoms continent. During these long travels, you've seen lot of kingdoms and cities. In the continent of your choice, you know at least one inn in each town, the major roads, the thieving barons, the great markets and the richest merchants. * Ransomed : Before being kidnapped by a group of thieves, you were a rich merchant. Now, they have left you your freedom, but you lost a large quantity of money after being obliged to sell all your possessions. After this horrible event, you decide to become rich again, but in another country. * War : Your city was besieged by the army of an enemy kingdom and later they launched an assault on it. During the looting, the warriors and the nobles commanding them took all your fortune. However you're still alive. Other merchants were covered with oil and thrown in flames. * Taxes : Your king spends too much money. Recently he decreed an exceptional tax and the seizure of the possessions of merchants who have "stolen" money from the kingdom treasury. Unfortunately, your name was on the list of these merchants. Now, you are banned from the kingdom for an unjust reason. * Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your occupation. Minor Noble backgrounds Duelist : You have a fascination for duels, and you have won a lot of them. The last opponent you killed was the elder son of a duke. Since his death, the father has sent his best guards against you. You have killed about five of them, but he seems to have a lot of guards. * Bracelet : On your right arm you're wearing a large gold bracelet. This piece of jewelry came from your ancestor who got it by killing a Melnibonean during the wars. If you want to sell it, you can get in return many thousands of bronze, but it is a family possesion. * Royal Court : For more than a year, you lived at the court of a Young Kingdoms ruler (choose which one, except Melnibone and Pan Tang). You learned there all the court intrigues. You accomplished many missions for the court. Unfortunately, there was a misunderstanding between you and the royal mistress, who hates you for an unknown reason. So, one day, you decided to leave. * Don Juan : The last victim of your talent for seduction was a young and kind countess. Her husband, an old crow who often speaks with the king, has discovered your relationship. The countess was sent away to a faraway domain of her husband and now, the count's men are tracking you. * Ancestral Weapon : Your family has a very old weapon (many centuries old at least). All your ancestors wielded this weapon. Determine the type of weapon. Due to the worksmanship of this weapon, it does 2 additional damage points. * Successful Mercenary : As a mercenary, you were in many battles and sieges. During a battle, you captured a baron. His ransom enhanced your way of life for several months. Right now, you still have 1000 Bronze from this ransom. * Seized Domain : Your family's domain was seized by your overlord when you were young. Victim of a false accusation, your family lost every possession and was banned. You knew that this was the result of a plot. Now, your parents are dead. Will you forget this episode of your life or will you seek justice? * Rescuer : You rescued a young lady from brigands. She was a duke's daughter. You received an invitation to his palace, but were thrown out when your love for his daughter was discovered. A marriage with a young noble without wealth would have ruined his reputation. Now you must find wealth if you want to marry her. * Gambling Father : Your father was a gambler and lost everything (castles and lands). You have decided to regain the status of your father and reconstruct your father's domain. * Free choice : choose one of the backgrounds described above for your occupation.Back to Eternal Index