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FEVER SWAMP

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10 Islands

*Go Away Sunday Players*

Part of a larger sea-based encounter table.

d10	Island
1	A pathetic spit of land, where the survivors of a shipwreck squat, miserable. They have enough rations to last another d12 days. 3d8 of them remain. They were : 1.       Nilfenbergian Navy 2.       Angmarrian Privateers 3.       Merchants 4.       Whalers 5.       Unaffiliated pirates. 6.       Colonists set for the new world.
2	The Tower
3	A witch-prison colony, run by the Nilfenbergians before the war. They are running out of supplies. Some of the soldiers think they should wake the wizards up, see if they can summon supplies. The priest threatens to throw them to the sharks. 3d12 wizards, drugged brainless. 3d20 guards, with 1d10 cannons. 1 priest.
4	A larger island, dotted with huge stone heads. Each contains an aborted embryonic god, killed by their jealous parents. The culture who built them destroyed themselves in the process, and so their gods died with them.
5	Kidknap crab spawning ground (See Broken System #0)
6	The final degenerate remnants of an island forced to cannibalism. 5d20 remain, squatting in rotten huts or else hunting one another. Each has 2HD, and fights with bone weapons.
7	The Cage (See Broken System #0)
8	A pirate king and her fortress. All are welcome, if they pay her extortionate docking fees (100sp a night). It is still filled with pirates and slavers. Her captive sea-priests destroy any ship causing ruckus in the waters surrounding.
9	A thin lip surrounding a huge yawning bit, many ship-lengths across. The pit is lined with: 1.       Fresh/Aged stone brick. 2.       Perfect/cracked glass. 3.       Living/dead flesh. 4.       Bones. 5.       Shimmering metal. 6.       Light - blinding white.
0	The Funeral Isle, a grave for a civilization long dead. Six black granite pillars ring a central point, each encrusted with the achievements of this dead people. The central point contains grave goods. Disturbing the goods awakens the Guardian. The island is pockmarked with craters from the weapons of the Guardian. Achievements : 1.       Creation of the Humans. 2.       Puncturing the womb of sky. 3.       Creation of concept-driven war machines. 4.       Taming the soul itself. 5.       Capturing the senses with their art. 6.       Their own destruction. There are three items of value to loot : 1.       Painting of Blinding Beauty. Alien suns and stars above a landscape barren. Utterly beautiful and haunting. Studying it for over a minute causes a choice : either destroy your eyes, and never behold a pretender to the beauty of the painting, or else dedicate yourself to the destruction of all beauty bar the painting. Worth 50000sp. 2.       The control panel for their flying vessels, all long departed or destroyed. It could be used like a shield, intricate, complex yet sturdy. Worth 8000sp. 3.       A miniature version of the concept-bombs, containing the concept of the perception of time. It has two settings - compress, causing the target to experience a thousand years in a single second, or elongate, making a second seem like a thousand years. It is good for one use, and does not give immortality. Worth 50000sp. The Guardian. A colossal titan of brass, emerging some miles off the coast of the Funeral Isle, kicking up huge waves (potentially destroying any ship too close to the isle). Three large spheres make up the body, from which sprout seven legs, shimmering in the sun. The largest of the spheres is the brain, and is filled with conceptual killing. Given enough time, the killing would evolve into violent, chaotic art. The other two spheres are Spelltrap Arrays, which absorb up to 50 spell levels worth of spells each. If overloaded, they explode, killing the Guardian. It can use the arrays to fire beams, which deal 1d8 per spell level expended, and requiring a save vs paralysis to dodge. A kick or stomp from its legs could easily destroy any ship. If one were able to clamber up the leg, the conceptual killing could be tamed with a truthful oath of pacifism, leaving the entire machine inert. It has 50 Ship HP. Replacing the grave goods satisfies it, but it will watch until the intruders leave.

Angmairre, City of Sailors and Whores

**Mild Spoilers Sunday Game**

The kingdom has no knights, only sea captains. All nobles must serve as a captain on at least one sea-voyage to keep their hereditary titles.

Within the Palace of Splinters, a looming structure built of captured enemy ships, sits the weak King Telwar Liq, a puppet to his warmongering wife, Celine Liq. The agitates for war against the Nilfenbergians. The court, thus far, have kept her in check. All assassination attempts have failed, miserably. She takes each attempt as proof of Nilfenbergian aggression.

During the day, the city is thronged with porters and traders, hawking exotic wares of all types, the ale houses filled with sailors on shore leave. At night, the sailors have had their fill of drink, and partake in brawling or prostitutes. They are famed for their skills, and a sea-captain is wise to give extended shore-leave here. The slave markets of Angmairre are huge, and it is the only place on the continent where slavery is legal.

1d8 Encounters in Angmairre

1 - 1d4 Runaway Slaves, 50% chance perused hotly. Keeping them would be theft, but grant you loyal companions. (60% level 1 fighter, else level 1 specialist with randomly distributed skills)

2 - A huge brawl between sailors, d20 a side. They're all laughing and complimenting one another on good technique. Drawing weapons is a sure way to get killed.

3 - 1d6 Sailors acting as a press gang. They'll ignore people they don't think they could bludgeon into submission.

4 - A Nilfenbergian witch-refugee, unable to join the College without a reference, but unable to ply her trade without membership papers. She seeks a group to travel with. 1d4th Level MU.

5 - 1d6 Nobles dressed up gaudily as nautical beasts, en route to a party, surrounded with 2d4 guards.

6 - 1d4 Druids, infiltrating the city to destroy it from the inside. They are usually rooted out and destroyed by the College within a week. They keep trying anyway.

7 -  Nilfenbergian spies, posing as merchants. No war is planned, as they are engaged against the Demon Sultanate, but it pays to keep an eye on the last remaining free kingdom on the continent.

8 - Adventurers! Here for 1) a job 2) looking for work 3) R&R 4) you.

If an adventurer stays in one of the more lavish establishments whilst still bearing their arms and the general demeanor of a ruffian, they are inevitably approached with work. 

1d8 Jobs From Nobility & Pay

1 - Slander an opposing house. Use your imagination. 500sp+

2 - Sink a ship. This could be a rival house or someone else in the family. 1000sp+

3 - Ruin a political marriage by causing one of the betrothed to fall in love and marry someone else. 1000sp+

4 - Apply pressure to a house wizard of the College to turn traitor to the family they currently serve. 750sp+

5 - Collect monster eggs to build a menagerie to rival any other. Price is per-egg, going up for more dangerous/rare creatures.

6 - Murder the current heir. 1500sp+

7 - Burn down the holdings of a rival. 300sp+

8 - Find something to greatly embarrass a rival in court without destroying their reputation. 750sp+

Treasures Locked Beneath Ash and Snow

**GO AWAY SUNDAY PLAYERS**

BAUBLES OF THE SLAVES

x Precious Metal Molars - what wealth was left was hidden in the back of mouth. 2d20 sp each.

x Hands of the Matriarchs - a mothers blessing kept secret and safe for bleak times. By the time they were opened, it was far too late. Snapping off a finger casts a spell at 3rd level. Worth 5000sp, -1000 per used digit.
  Thumb - Cure Light Wounds
  Index Finger - Magic Missile
  Middle Finger - Bless
  Ring Finger - Dispel Magic
  Little Finger - Sleep

x Fingerbone Lockpicks - single use but incredibly easy to hide. +1 bonus to checks with these picks. 20sp each.

x Curried Meats - frozen fresh, still good to eat if defrosted. 1sp each, 1000sp to a trained chef due to lost techniques which could be learned.

x Dead Idols - The many gods of the enslaved peoples, all dead and forgotten. The ire of these dead gods lingers still, and each has a curse associated with it. Worth 400sp in precious materials, 1000sp to a historian.

d8	Ire of a Dead, Forgotten God
1	Weakened spirits of vengeance, still bound to empty duty, will attack the holder each night until the statue is given away. HD 2 / AC AS CHAIN / ATTACK +1 1D8 CLAWING / MOV as DOG / M12 / 3D4 APPEARING
2	The idol draws away all sustenance from food, starving the bearer until the statue is given away.
3	The idol compels the bearer to sacrifice either 200sp or 1HD of life every three days until given away.
4	The idol assaults the bearer with hideous nightmares every night, denying them healing from sleep, and stopping magic users preparing spells, until given away. -2 penalty to all rolls after a week of this.
5	All animals will hate the bearer until the statue is given away, with a 2-in-6 chance of attacking, or else simply running away.
6	The bearer is inflicted with leprosy until the statue is given away. The leprosy will be healed overnight.
7	The user must respond to all violence with pacifism, and all offers of peace with violence until the statue is given away.
8	There is no curse. This god has faded more than the others.

WEALTH OF THE CITY

x Overseers Eyes - Eyes of ancient overseers, given to slave-holding families. The eyes are a reminder of authority, and can be used to command slave-derived creatures if they fail a save vs magic. Worth nothing outside of the city.

x Desperation Furs - As the terrible fury of the Riven Wolf fell upon the city, the clothiers and tailors desperately tried to create winter clothes for the people as they burned all books and papers to stay warm. This desperation sunk into the furs themselves, and they reek of fear. Avoid any natural cold-based damage, halve damage from cold-based magical sources, but roll random encounters twice as often. Predators can smell the weakness. 200sp each.

x Forgotten Saints - The people of the city would not burn their Saints to keep warm, but they were forgotten, bedecked in gold and bone-dry in their sealed chambers. Each will defend itself, although it has long forgotten it's name and it's martyrdom. Worth 3000sp -200sp per point of damage over HP dealt, HD 6 / AC AS PLATE / ATTACK +3 AS WEAPON +3 / MOV AS MAN / M12 / 1 APPEARING

x Crown of the Senator - Each week, this crown passed from one senator to a chosen rival, bestowing authority and benevolence upon the wearer. (Save to take malicious action, others must save to not agree with you. Must be worn for a week.) Worth 4500sp.

Beyond the Mountains

*Sunday Players Go Away*

Across the Northern border of the Nilfenbergian Empire lies the Petty Kingdoms - each run by a self-styled autocrat, all too aware of their insignificance. It is said the witches have saved them from being absorbed. The truth is the Empire is under threat from the Demon Sultanate. But this is of little interest. The Petty Kingdoms end abruptly with the Mountains. Some call them the Brokejaws. Others the Spinal Peaks. Yet others the Marginal Range. But to most, they are simply the Mountains.

Some small villages lurk in the shadows of these imposing peaks - folk scraping by in the crags and fearful of the creatures that crawl from chasms in the deeper ranges. They have little to trade but furs and warnings.

Beyond the Mountains is ash and ice. A desolate terrible plain, marred only by the broken teeth of buildings long-hidden by the ice and snow, appearing more like dunes after the many years of frostbitten burial.

People once lived in these buildings, but now they live above them, grim scavengers atop their dog-driven sledges, tearing across the dead country, either starving or committing to cannibalism. They know not of the secrets buried beneath them, but whisper to their rare children that things forgotten should stay that way. None will enter the ice-bound city beneath them, and they are right to.

A name forgotten a thousand times, no expedition ever returning to restore the torch of knowledge, the city evoked it's own end, as such things always go. A people enslaved by another, joint in a collective plea for revenge - and so it was when the Riven Wolf heard their plight. The plain was blasted for six hundred days with storms and snow, the wind tearing skin free and stealing children into the sky, their screams lost in the howling, their tears freezing in their eyes, tumbling blind through snow thicker than castles.

Seeking a weapon here is madness - all that could be learned is an end to both the Empire and the Sultanate. Yet the expedition left, and is now sealed in the glacier-riddled city with the creeping horrors.

*TREASURE HERE*

SURVIVOR PACK - 4d4 Humans w/ Spears, Dog-Leather Armour. They fight from the back of Dog Driven Sleds (treat as mounted). Each sled has a team of 6 dogs, and can have 3 men fighting and a fourth driving.

FROST MAD DEAD
The people of the city gathered together to conserve warthm - from each cluster emerged one frozen by the cursed flesh of their peers, forever seeking warmth.
HD 4
AC as CHAIN - HARD FROZEN FLESH
MOV as OLD MAN
ATTACK +4 - 2D8 ICY GRIP (8+ damage freezes random limb - cannot be used until thawed out).
M 7 / 12 IN PRESENCE OF FIRE. OH TO BE WARM AGAIN.
2d6 APPEARING

CHAINED OVERSEER
Before the slaves realised what they had invited, they rose up and bound the overseers in chain. The numbing effect of the chains protected them from the blasting to come.
HD 6
AC as PLATE - MANY CHAINS - MAGIC IS ROUTED INTO CHAINS, HAS NO EFFECT IN 30FT RADIUS
MOV as MAN BEARING GREAT WEIGHT
ATTACK +6 - 2D4 WHIP + SAVE VS ENTANGLE - TAKE NO ACTION UNTIL CHAIN BROKEN. EACH ENTANGLED PERSON REDUCES AC OF OVERSEER BY 1.
M 10 / 3 IN PRESENCE OF SLAVES (That is, anyone dressed in rags)
1D4 APPEARING

SLAVE SPIRIT CONGLOMERATION
So too did the slaves gather for warmth in their rags and chains. They pressed closer and closer until their very souls touched, fusing them together in anguish and fear and regret. The only thing that could drive the result away is the whip of their tormentors.
HD 1
AC as INSUBSTANTIAL - CANNOT BE HARMED WITH PHYSICAL WEAPONS. (Except Whip)
MOV as CRIPPLED HORSE
ATTACK +0 (IGNORES ARMOUR) - SAVE OR 1D8 CON DAMAGE FROM UNEARTHLY COLD.
M 2
1d4 APPEARING

Hexcrawling in Southern Otica

Players decided to planeshop AGAIN, so goodbye Otica. They spent a decent amount of time hexcrawling about, trying to fight elves and instead fucking about with dangerous dangerous things.

The way I ran it is with a THING in every hex, plus random encounters to make things messy and complicated and fun. In future I'd probably not have something in every hex? But maybe. I don't know.

d8	Weather
1-4	Scorching Heat
5-6	Rain
7-8	Heavy Storms

d6	River Encounters
1	1d4 Crocodile
2	1d2 Couatl
3	Natives on rafts
4	Drowned Jealous Dead (see below)
5	Frog Swarm
6	Roll on Jungle Encounter

d12	Jungle Encounters
1	Arboreal Vampire, displaced.
2	Native patrol
3	1d2 werejaguars
4	Dismounted elf patrol
5	Stranglevines
6	Podsnakes (see below)
7	World Tortoise (see below)
8	Stirge Flock
9	Vicious Monkey group
10	Hunting Wyvern
11	Su Monster
12	Basilisk

d12	Open Ground Encounters
1	Elf Patrol, mounted, 50% chance of these guys
2	Elf Patrol, mounted, 50% chance of these guys
3	Basking Lizards (see below)
4	Hunting Wyvern
5	Podsnakes (see below)
6	Word Tortoise (see below)
7	Native patrol
8	Running Lizards (see below) – 50% chance ridden by natives with lances.
9	Sprinting Spider – as a giant spider but REALLY fast
10	Pteranodon
11	Harpies
12	Dead Knights (see below)

Monsters new to Otica

Note on fast creatures - creatures which are notably quick make a run-by attack. They don't engage normally - to reflect them sprinting past and making an attack, players are at -2 to hit them for the brief period they are adjacent. This applies to mounted combatants too.

Drowned Jealous Dead

HD 2 - AC as Leather - 2d10 Appear - Morale 8 - Attack is to grapple and drown, +5 to grapple checks.

Podsnakes

They bundle into d8 groups of 5, which attempt to drop onto people and crush them to death.

per snake: HD 1 AC AS LEATHER MORALE 10

World Tortoise

HD 10 AC AS PLATE +2 BITE +5 2D8 MORALE 5

They have knowledge as old as the trees. Natives revere them. Elves kill them on sight, and Isp has a 2000sp bounty on them. He turns them into knowledge soup.

Basking Lizard

3d10 appearing. HD 3 - AC AS CHAIN - BITE +3 1D10+3/CLAW +2 1D8 +3 - MORALE 8

They only have the energy to attack when it's sunny.

Running Lizards

2d10 appearing. Faster than a galloping horse. HD 2 AC AS CHAIN (from speed) - CLAW +2 1D8 +2. Once a single person is killed, they will attempt to drag the corpse away rather than fight on.

Hexes

I'm using the numbers here but they're not massively important and are in the order I wrote them, so it's mostly for reference between them.

2613 Jungle

A blood crazed elf is rampaging, killing everything in the area. She touched the bloodstone in 2413. HD3/BITE 1D4/AC AS CHAIN/M12

2413 Open Ground

The stubby ruin of a wizard tower in blue bricks. It's hard to see without almost walking into it. The ground floor is empty. The first basement is trashed, filled with animal corpses. 30% chance of a pack of wild dogs brutally fighting to the death. The second basement level contained a large, red stone, set into an altar. It stinks of cooked meat. Touching the stone causes a save vs magic. If failed, the character enters into a blood frenzy for 3d4 days. The stone is worth up to 8000sp.

2213 Open Ground

A dead giant, now a hill. Spilling blood atop the hill awakens the giant. When standing, it is the size of a cathedral. HD 30. The tortoises know. Surrounding the central hill are 8 smaller hills, which are the brood of the eldest. HD 10, smash for 2d12 if not avoided.

2314 Open Ground

Six dead elves, trampled to death by their missing horses (hiding in 2215). The horses were driven mad by the Treefisher Spirit. 2HD, AC AS LEATHER, Invisible, and hides in a tree. Attacks through poison darts. Today he carries (1d6) 1. Strength Sapping 2. Madness 3. Anti-coagulant 4. Lust 5.Sleep 6. Death. All effects can be saved against.

2215 Open Ground, Riverside

Six confused, scared horses w/ 3 weeks rations between them. 50% glad to see people, otherwise they bolt.

Ruined riverhouse, containing the Eternal Witch. She reanimates if disturbed - the spirit is bound to her shawl. She demands a new body, which she possess when someone dons the shawl. She will cast summon until she gets her way. Destroying the shawl will banish her, or attacking the spirit with magic. (int 18 wis 14 cha 12). Inside the shawl are the spells summon, phantasmal psychedelia. Outside the riverhouse is her hateful tortoise familiar, who wants the witch destroyed so he can leave and seek a new master. He will help any who can kill her, and he will give the location of the spellbook he has hidden from the witch.

2015 Open Ground, Riverside

Skulljar village (see BROKEN SYSTEM 000). Contains a Pyromancy Crown - once a week, this crown can cause (2xlevel)d6 damage worth of flames to explode out from the wearer. They are dealt the lowest 3 damage dice rolled. Worth 6000sp.

1914 Open Ground

A giant reptilian creature which wanders around on it's stilt-legs, served by a nomadic native group. HD 10 - AC 12 - KICK -4 FOR 2D10+5

1815 Jungle, Riverside

A ruined, flooded riverside keep. The armoury is somewhat decayed, but still had a suit of plate, 3 suits of chain and 5 heavy crossbows with 10 bolts each. It is currently inhabited by 80 eel-men, who are a jovial, happy folk. They swam up from the underground sea, but the tunnel collapsed, stranding them above ground. They are guarded by 20 Coral Knights, who are also the leaders of the group. 3HD/AC AS PLATE/HARPOON +3 1D8+3. The armour of a coral knight is weightless in water.

2316 Open Ground

Desmodesmus, Chained Demon of Plague. The chains are enchanted, and any demon clasped by them is utterly bound to the will of the holder, and must protect them beyond death. The problem is the holder is dead, and has been for a hundred years, and Desmodesmus is terrible bored. He wants most of all to be free, but a new master is preferable to this. He will inform the characters he is still bound to protect the holder of the chain to the best of his ability. There is a useless spellbook which Desmodesmus will use to bargain with. HD 8 / AC AS CHAIN (IMMUNE TO 3 MISSILES PER ROUND) / SLAM 1D10+4+ DISEASE (1 week to fester, then -2 to con each day. Save every day, 3 saves in a row means cured). The chains are worth 5000sp.

1811 Jungle

Barrowmounds of Endilack, a foreign king. 

He bears the Eye of Beckonings, an oversized blackly jeweled eye. If used to replace a living creatures eye, that creature takes -2 to all ranged attacks, as the eye does not see this world. Instead, it sees a pocket realm containing the revenants of what was killed by the previous inhabitants of the pocket realm. The host of the eye can beckon them forth, and bid them kill an enemy, or group of enemies.. They must be released every 3 days, or they come for the host. Revenants have 1 more HD than the normal creature. If they are all destroyed, the eye becomes useless. Worth 8000sp.

Endilack also bears a Sword of Wounding, the injuries of which do not heal. The wielder develops the corresponding scar for every wound inflicted by the blade 1d8+1 damage. 3000sp.

Endilack: As wight but wielding the Sword of Wounding. Guarded by 3 elite skeleton guards. 3HD-AC AS CHAIN - OBSIDIAN SWORD 1D6+2. The swords break on a to-hit of 1-5.

Flesh Hive Servitor Swarm

I mean, I can't remember how most games use swarms, this is just my default Swarm Rules plus some body horror stuff.

The gnawing sounds intensifies as you kick the door down, raising tomb-dust. Flickering torchlight reveals a glistening surface. You approach, the noise fills you. You feel a horrible recognition in the pulse of the sound. The Flesh-Hive is visible now, a tumour clinging to the wall, seemingly trying to tear itself apart. The noise stops. The Hive stops. One step closer. The noise crashes back and the Hive disgorges its brood. You are torn apart in seconds, recycled to grow the Hive. Some echo of your memory is forever enshrined in the mass.

FLESH HIVE
The larger the Hive, the higher the HD. The Hive itself is immobile and has no defences, bar it's brood. It has HD of Brood equal to twice it's HD, and can choose to seperate these into many smaller swarms if needed. They are controlled by the Hive through pheromone instructions - outside a radius (HD X 100 ft) the Swarm loses cohesion. The Hive has brood scattered throughout an area equal to HD x 50 ft, and is aware of everything that happens in this area.

SWARM
HD - Variable
AC - As Leather +1 - it is hard to hit a swarm.
Attack - If you are engulfed in the swarm (swarm can engulf HD/4 rounded up, min of 1) you take (HD)d4 damage as they tear and rip - this damage pool is distributed between all people engulfed as the Hive wishes. The Hive will grow by the number of HD lost this way.

Crested Mercenaries, Dogs of War

They wear their taint with pride, hiding not their fur nor horns nor feathers. They are known best for their mercenary wanderings, serving well among any company - given a monetary incentive. They enjoy all the vices of men, especially on campaign, and are generally found to be hospitable to those willing stay in their midst. Though obviously abominations, Inquisitors cannot help but note how much like good folk they are.

Crested Soldiers fight as first level fighters, equipped appropriate to their role in battle. They have morale 11 unless noted otherwise.

d8	The warband is led by...
1	Red Alexander - A Feathered One not taking after a bird of prey, Red Alexander was forced to earn his moniker and the respect of his men in several bloody campaigns against rival warbands. This done, he has flourished and is noted for his well-planned and executed strategies. His last employment was for the House of Ulster, driving out the Witch-men from the forests. The head of the Witch-men chieftain still screams from the warbands standard. Red Alexander - 4th Level Fighter, 30HP, Chain, Longsword. Chieftain’s Head - Once per day, this head can scream a curse, causing an effect similar to Fear as cast by a fifth level MU. Worth 4000sp. Fifty Swordsmen-in-Chain, Thirty Crossbowmen, Ten Mounted Skirmisher-Scouts. 7000sp per month.
2	Dmitri of the Seven - Dmitri bears the horns common to the Hounds, although eight horns is far above the normal two, marking one out for great success. One of these horns was destroyed fighting Western barbarians. Dmitri is accompanied at all times by his Shaman-Chronicler, Blesitus, who is learned in the traditional religion of the Crested Soldiers. He also knows when to lie, whispering to Dmitri of the Seven Horned Hound Prophecy. Dmitri’s band has not had employment for some time, emerging from the Brokejaw mountains after a significant absence. Dmitri is donned in archaic armour, previously unseen, and the warband is diminished. Dmitri of the Seven - 7th Level Fighter, 50HP, Regal Gambit, Greatsword. Blesitus, Shaman-Chronicler, 4th Level MU, 16HP, Leather, Knife. Has access to all level appropriate spells. Regal Gambit - This armour appears as intricate plate, but is infact entirely glamour, offering no protection. To be able to strike the wearer, the attacker must save vs magic or else throw down arms. Worth 7000sp Twenty-Seven Swordsmen-in-Chain, Ten Archers, Seven Spearmen-in-Chain. 4000sp per month until they recoup losses.
3	Gallows Darren - Darren is a small, quiet Hound, bearing no horns nor a muscular stature. The loyalty and precision of his forces betrays what must be a truly horrific training regimen, the men utterly broken to his commands. They are often used on special tasks requiring small numbers and discretion, something the unit is perfectly capable of. Darren is never seen fighting, nor commanding his troops directly - they simply step to on their own initiative. They were last spotted touring battlefields where their brothers had fallen. Gallows Darren - 5th Level Magic User, 22HP, Leather, Blankrod. Has access to all appropriate spells. Blankrod - This polished ivory rod is about half-covered in tiny carvings, which seem to shift. Close examination reveals them to be entire levels, recorded in miniscule script. Each life recorded here corresponds to one of the fleshy automatons in Darren’s band. Breaking the rod releases them, killing Darren does not. Worth 10000sp. One hundred Swordsmen-in-Chain, Thirty Archers, Twenty Spearmen-in-Chain, Twenty Armoured Horsemen. 10000sp per month.
4	Julian - Julian is a haughty Feathered One, clearly hawk-headed. He is justifiably proud of the achievements the warband has accrued under his leadership, although some mutter his officers are more than a little unacknowledged for their parts. The top three officers are planning to have Julian tragically, accidentally killed during their next assignment as revenge for this glory-hounding. They most recently pulled off a fantastic ambush against a unit of knights errant. Julian - 2nd Level Fighter, 16HP, Chain, Halberd. Seventy Swordsmen-in-Chain, Twenty Archers, Twenty Spearmen-in-Leather, Twelve Skirmishing Cavalry, Ten Armoured Horsemen. 9000sp per month
5	Snarl - Although her name elicits sniggers, it cannot be denied that she is an elite within an elite. No ordinary Hound, she bears the head of a wolf proudly. Perhaps one of the most expensive bands, she has yet to fail her assigned task. Her troops are nearly fanatically dedicated, and she only accepts Horned Hounds in her number, something which has soured relations with other Crested Warbands. Her warband is currently engaged in assisting the free city of Larbuck against the Empire. Snarl, 8th Level Fighter, 62HP, Plate, Variety of Weapons, Slaughter Ring. Slaughter Ring - Snarl bears the Slaughter Ring, although none know of it, including her - she believes it to be merely a marriage band from her runaway spouse. The ring grants immunity to mind-altering effects during combat, and grants the wielder 18 strength when a weapon is in their hands. However, they are unable to find meaning or joy in anything but the slaughter of combat, and will take their own lives in they cannot find it. Worth 6000sp. Forty Knights, variety of weapons. Often fight on foot. 8000sp per month.
6	Harold the Bastard - Once an adventurer, a merchant and prince, Harold has returned to what he does best - paid killing. Utterly unscrupulous and incredibly knowledgable. His mongrel head is at odds with his gentlemanly speech and taste.Thanks to his many adventures, he knows an expert in almost any given matter he cannot claim experience in himself, leading to strings of very specialist jobs. His small group have all been through the crucible together, and fight as second level fighters. Harold the Bastard - 9th Level Specialist, Leather, Rapier and Sling. Thirty Mixed Infantry, Variety of Arms and Armour, Twenty Crossbowmen, Two Mounted Skirmishers, 5000sp per month.
7	Yellow Edgar - A crow that makes his own corpses, Edgar’s forces are known for leaving no prisoners, ruthlessly slaying those who fall. He frequently chafes with his employers over scavenger’s rights.The yellow moniker stems from the hideous livery he and his troops began their careers in, though many now bear the arms and armour associated with Imperial Knights. Most recently, they have been seen transporting a huge amount of scavenged material towards a mercantile capital, spoils from the latest employment. Yellow Edgar - 6th Level Specialist, Leather, Longsword, Longbow. One Hundred Mixed Soldiers, can be configured to fight in any manner as needed. 8000sp + scavengers rights per month.
8	Anthony the Learned - A known dabbler in magical arts, many do not trust him nor his men, whispering of dark pacts made with darker spirits. It is widely known his feathers are burnt, and appears old beyond his years. He jumps at the chance to fight sorcerous foes, if given access to arcane loot recovered. His soldiers are often replaced, and their morale is low. Heavy drinking is common. They whisper of the terrible things Anthony has done, and has bargained with. They were spotted most recently emerging from an ancient barrow-complex, laden with grave-goods better left buried, no doubt. Anthony the Learned - 8th Level Magic User, Leather, Four Bound 6HD Demons (as Summon), all spells appropriate to his level. Forty Swordsmen-in-Chain, Twenty Priests-of-the-Steppe, Twenty Light Horsemen, 6000sp per month. Morale 8.