Riverwod

Savage Worlds Along the River Wod

IC and OOC thread

Swashbuckling adventures in the steppes and birch forests of a mythical not-Russia. Characters are Cossacks, (possibly mad) monks, noblemen, halberd -armed Streltsy, serfs, merchants and vagabonds. Gunpowder exists and the world functions something like a fantasy 15-16C Russia. Be warned though, I am no Russianist either in terms of language or history, though I will draw on bits of lingo, folklore and history for flavorful pastiche. Think Russia in place of Germany in the Warhammer world.

Tentative background: In defiance of the authority of the Emperor, Vlad the Cruel, the Boyar of Omskovia has settled his soldiers along the great river Wod, seizing land that was once the Emperor’s. Fearing both the revenge of the Emperor’s successors and of the Great Khan’s horde, the Boyar has enticed the wyrm Nogrog to dwell on Night Peak at the centre of his lands. From this perch, the mighty and territorial creature will fly out to vomit all-consuming flame onto any advancing army. But the price for Nogrog’s protection is high. Not only is a levy of gold placed on the land to feed his greed but human slaves must also be seized. A lottery is held to ensure that, if too few criminals are available, the dragon will have human prey.

Small numbers of folk flee the dubious safety of the Vovoid to seek freedom further north and east along the great river, settling forest and steppe along its banks. Here though they must contend with new dangers. Villages of tartars and steppe folk, wolves, bears and the haunted ruins of towns ruined by horde invasions of old. The goal of the adventure will be to secure their safety and perhaps even to slay the dragon itself.

SAVAGE WORLDS will be used to give a pulpy feel, but will stay in the Novice band to keep things challenging. The adventure would be short (300-400 posts) as the action will move pretty quickly. I tend to get on well with regular (daily-ish) posters but annoy slower players who lose orientation with the (relatively) face pace of posting. Better obviously, to make that clearer now.

Currency: basic unit is the Silver Imperial, sometimes called 'silvers'

Map of the River Wod

Scale. 1 hex=50 miles or so.

Mikhail Volkov, Lucky Bastard

A fatherless soldier of fortune and gentleman of the road who claims his mother was a famous witch of the nomadic Koltja - turning into a reindeer, summoning winds and tying them into knots and all that sort of stuff. He doesn't look at all like his alleged people, which he says is because his father was... well, it varies, but usually a passing noble or knight of some grand foreign realm or other. Mikhail doesn't seem to have taken after either of his parents, although, whether due to his sorcerous heritage or arrangements he's made on his own, he does seem to have the Devil's own luck and no one who knows him will bet against him on the flip of a coin.

Mikhail is a pale, sinewy man with a toothy grin and wolfish eyes of brown bordering on amber (not for nothing is he named "Wolfsson" - and not only because he can be a real son of a bitch, either). He dresses in a mixture of well-worn plain garb and outrageous foreign finery, in the manner of mercenaries everywhere, and keeps his thick black hair long and braided, in the manner of no civilized people in these parts.

Lately some vile, baseless accusations concerning an unfortunate tour in Imperial service have made it hard for him to find honest employment and, despite his protestations that it's not desertion when your whole unit has been cut down around you so there's nothing left to desert, the Emperor's forces still offer a small bounty for his capture - alive, to be tried and hanged - that has gradually gone up after the several times he's narrowly eluded their grasp...

• Bennies: 4
• Wounds: 0
• Fatigue: 0

Attributes

• Agility d10
• Smarts d6 (+2 for Test of Wills)
• Spirit d6 (+2 for Test of Wills)
• Strength d6
• Vigor d6

Derived Statistics

• Charisma 0
• Pace 6"
• Parry 7 (+2 with sword and shield)
• Toughness 5 (+1 in armor)

Hindrances

• Curious
• Vengeful (minor)
• Wanted (minor)

Edges

• Elan
• Luck
• Strong Willed

Skills

• Fighting d10
• Intimidation d6+2
• Notice d4
• Persuasion d4
• Riding d4
• Shooting d6
• Streetwise d6
• Taunt d6+2

Gear

• Saber (str+d6, +1 Parry, 1-handed), $200
• Buckler (str+d4, +1 Parry, no action to draw), $25
• Pistol (2d6, 5/10/20, AP 1, 2 actions to reload), 150$
• Arming coat and tough boots (+1 armor on torso, arms and legs), $50
• Fine Kurdish kaftan, $30
• Cool hat, $10
• Blanket, $10
• Candles x 2, $2
• Canteen, $5
• Flint and steel, $3
• Knife, 10$
• $5

Erzebet, Bojárynja of Gdari

Erzebet 6'0" 171 lbs. Blonde hair, Grey eyes.

Attributes Agl d6 Smrts d4 Spirit d6 Str d8 Vigor d8

Derived Pace 6 Parry 8 Toughness 7(1 added from armor) Charisma 4

Skills Fighting d10 Knowledge/Nobility d4 Notice d6 Persuasion d8 (+4) Riding d4 Survival d4 Tracking d4

Edges Attractive Trademark Weapon/Longsword Ангела Меч Noble (Rich Included)

Hindrances Code of Honor (Major) Enemy/Morena (Minor) Vow/Never fight with a hunters' weapons (Minor)

(Two advances.)

Gear Longsword d10+1 Damage Str+d8 Leather Armor Buckler Backpack Bedroll Blanket 5x Candles Canteen Flint & Steel Whetstone Horse Saddle Clothing Formal Clothing Cash $492

Baba Klava , Witch

Baba Klava

Agility: d4

Smarts: d10

Spirit: d8

Strength: d4

Vigor: d4

Spellcasting (Sm) d10

Driving (A)

Fighting (A) d4

Gambling (Sm)

Guts (Sp) d4

Healing (Sm) d6

Intimidation (Sp) d4

Investigation (Sm) d4

Knowledge (Sm)

Magic d4

Geography d4

Wildlife d4

Lockpicking (A)

Notice (Sm) d4

Persuasion (Sp)

Piloting (A)

Repair (Sm)

Riding (A) d4

Shooting (A)

Stealth (A) d4

Streetwise (Sm)

Survival (Sm) d4

Swimming (A)

Taunt (Sm) d4

Throwing (A)

Tracking (Sm) d4

Elderly Ugly Outsider

Beast Bond Beast Master (pet is an Owl, her familiar Sirin) Arcane Background (Magic) Power Points New Power

Magic: Power Points: 15 Beast Friend Shape Change Healing Boost/Lower Trait

Gear (using prices from the book... though the price for Winter Clothing can't be right in setting) Horse (300): Zoya Saddle (10) Normal Clothing (20) Winterized Bedroll (25) Flint and Steel (3) Lantern (25) Canteen (5) Mortar and Pestle (5?) Shovel (5) Rake (5?) Dagger (25): Str+d4 72 whatevers.

Grigor the Mad , Monk

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

Skills: Faith d8, Fighting d10, Intimidation d4, Investigation d4, Lockpicking d4,

Notice d6, Stealth d4, Survival d4, Swimming d4, Throwing d6, Tracking d4

Charisma: 0; Pace: 6; Parry: 8; Toughness: 7 (1)

Hindrances: Big Mouth, Delusional (Minor), Habit (Major)

Edges: Adept, Arcane Background (Miracles), Martial Artist

Powers: Boost/Lower Trait, Smite Gear: Leather (+1, Covers torso, arms, legs), Staff (Str+d4, Parry +1, Reach 1, 2 hands), $440

Gear: Thick Hessian robes and furs(+1, Covers torso, arms, legs), Staff (Str+d4, Parry +1, Reach 1, 2 hands),

Punka, Tsygan

Age: 23
Physical: Short, slim, dark hair and eyes, mixed complexion

Attributes:

Agility d10 (+2 for nimbleness tests)
Smarts d6
Spirit d4
Strength d6
Vigor d4

Traits:

Charisma -2
Pace 8 (d10 while running)
Parry 5 (+1 when unencumbered) (+1 with staff)
Toughness 4 (+1 for torso)

Skills:

Fighting d6
Climbing d6 +2
Lockpick d6 +2
Stealth d8 (+2 urban only)
Notice d6
Driving d6
Survival d4
Repair d4 (excluding guns)

Hindrances:

Phobia – Claustrophobia (Major) (-4 to all tests in tight/underground spaces)
Quirk - Loyalty to whomever he has an "attachment" to
Outsider
Wanted (minor)

Edges:

Acrobat
Thief
Fleet-footed

Gear:

Staff d6 (10)
Dagger d4 (25)
Leather +1 (torso only) (50)
Normal clothing (20)
Backpack (50)
Bedroll (25)
Canteen (5)
Soap (1)
Lockpicks (200)
Rope x 2 (20)
Tsygane panflute (30)
Tsygane silk scarf (50)
Charcoal eyeliner (10)
3 silver

Background: more to come

Arms and Armour, courtesy of Maximillian Finnmann

Ranged Weapons

Victims Shaken by firearms roll to recover at -1.

Any firearm can be loaded with small shot instead of a ball: this gives +2 to hit, decreases the damage die type one step and deals 3 dice of damage at short range, 2 dice at medium and 1 die at long range.

(Hard of Hearing is a common hindrance among career gunners...)

Type	Damage	Range	Notes	Weight	Cost
Pistol	2d6	5/10/20	AP 1, 2 actions to reload, 1-handed	4 lbs.	$150
Arquebus	2d8	8/16/32	AP 1, 2 actions to reload, -2 attack if used 1-handed	10 lbs.	$300
Musket	2d10	10/20/40	AP 2, snapfire penalty, 2 actions to reload, 2-handed	20 lbs.	$300
Sling	Str+1d4	8/16/32	takes two hands to load	1 lbs.	$10
Staff sling	Str+1d8	12/24/48	2-handed	2lbs.	$20
Short bow	Str+1d6	12/24/48	2-handed	2 lbs.	$200
Long bow	Str+1d8	15/30/60	snapfire penalty, 2-handed	3 lbs.	$250
Light crossbow	2d6	10/20/40	AP 1, 2 actions to reload, -2 attack if used 1-handed	8 lbs.	$300
Heavy crossbow	2d8	12/24/48	AP 2, 3 actions to reload, 2-handed	12 lbs.	$400

Ammunition	Notes	Weight	Cost
Shot/balls & powder		1/10	$2
Arrows		1/5	$3
Light arrows	all ranges extended by half, damage lowered by one die type	1/6	$3
Heavy arrows	AP 1	1/4	$4
Crossbow bolts		1/4	$4
Light bolts	all ranges extended by half, damage lowered by one die type	1/4	$4
Heavy bolts	+1 damage	1/3	$5

Melee Weapons

Using a melee weapon in two hands increases your Strength by one die type for purposes of damage and strength requirements; any weapons not specifically noted as 1- or 2-handed can be used as either.

Any melee weapon can be thrown with a range of 2/4/8.

Weapons with reach get the benefit of the First Strike edge against attackers with shorter weapons.

Type	Damage	Notes	Weight	Cost
Club	Str+1d4	lethal or nonlethal damage at will, 1-handed	1 lbs.	$2
Cudgel	Str+1d6	lethal or nonlethal damage at will	2 lbs.	$5
Staff	Str+1d6	reach 1", lethal or nonlethal damage at will, 2-handed	4 lbs.	$10
Dagger	Str+1d4	AP 2, thrown 3/6/12 and AP 0, 1-handed	1 lbs.	$25
Short sword	Str+1d6	+1 Parry, 1-handed	3 lbs.	$200
Long sword	Str+1d8	+1 Parry	4 lbs.	$300
Great sword	Str+1d10	+1 Parry, 2-handed	6 lbs.	$400
Hatchet	Str+1d6	+1 damage when you hit with a raise, thrown 3/6/12, 1-handed	2 lbs.	$100
Axe	Str+1d8	+1 damage when you hit with a raise	3 lbs.	$200
Great axe	Str+1d10	+1 damage when you hit with a raise, 2-handed	4 lbs.	$300
Mace	Str+1d8	AP 2, 1-handed	3 lbs.	$250
Great mace	Str+1d10	AP 2, 2-handed	5 lbs.	$350
Flail	Str+1d8	victim's Parry lowered by 1	3 lbs.	$250
Great flail	Str+1d10	victim's Parry lowered by 1, 2-handed	5 lbs.	$350
Javelin	Str+1d6	thrown 4/8/12, 1-handed	2 lbs.	$75
Spear	Str+1d8	reach 1", thrown 3/6/12	4 lbs.	$150
Pike	Str+1d8	reach 2", 2-handed	6 lbs.	$300
Polearm	Str+1d10	reach 1", 2-handed	6 lbs.	$300

Shields

Hunkering down behind a medium or large shield counts as an action and increases its cover by one step (from light to medium or from medium to heavy).

A shield can be sacrificed instead of spending a benny to soak damage; the shield is effectively destroyed and useless until repaired or replaced (both cost the same).

!!! Greyed out entries are discouraged for purposes of drama and gameplay !!!

Type	Damage	Notes	Weight	Cost
Small shield	Str+1d4	+1 Parry, no action to draw	2 lbs.	$25
Medium shield	Str+1d4	+1 Parry, light cover	4 lbs.	$100
Large shield	Str+1d4	+2 Parry, medium cover, -2 to perform and resist Agility tricks	6 lbs.	$200

Armor

Wearing any metal armor gives a -2 penalty on all Stealth rolls (on top of any encumbrance penalties).

Any armor can be produced in a reinforced form, using heavier or layered materials to strengthen the most crucial parts of it, which increases its cost by 100% and its weight by 50% and gives it +1 Armor against attacks that hit with a raise.

!!! Greyed out entries are discouraged for purposes of drama and gameplay !!!

Type	Armor	Covers	Notes	Weight	Cost
Arming cap	+1	head		2 lbs.	$10
Arming coat	+1	torso and arms		6 lbs.	$40
Military boots	+1	legs		4 lbs.	$10
Mail hood	+2	head	-1 Notice	5 lbs.	$200
Mail shirt	+2	torso	TBA	20 lbs.	$300
Mail coat	+2	torso and arms	TBA	30 lbs.	$400
Mail leggings	+2	legs	TBA	15 lbs.	$200
Open helmet	+3	head	ignore when hit with a 1 or 6 on the Wild Die	5 lbs.	$200
Closed helmet	+3	head	-2 Notice	7 lbs.	$300
Breastplate	+3	torso	ignore when hit from behind	15 lbs.	$600
Cuirass	+3	torso	TBA	25 lbs.	$800
Plate arms	+3	arms	TBA	15 lbs.	$400
Plate legs	+3	legs	TBA	18 lbs.	$500