D&D General GM's Closet for the CONAN RPG

[Water Bob]

-- THE FROAT --



Just inside the caravan gate is the most popular tavern in the entire city of Raeze. Now that the city's depression has set in, it is, indeed, the only place still in business where a local can purchase a meal or an outsider can find a drink. The place does not serve as an inn, though. No, for a bed, travelers must look elsewhere. Many newcomers just stay in the tent city outside the gate, but some venture into the city to find lodging, as expensive as it is, to keep from sleeping on the ground another night.

So long ago that no one can remember, this tavern was built with the name, The Trail Goat. That references the many goats that travel over the trade routes, serving the caravans so well. The tavern specialized in a fermented goat milk and delicious seasoned goat steaks. In time, tavern was sold, and the new owners expanded the menu as well as the interior (but, to this day, the place isn't that big), and the name of the place was changed to The Dusty Goat. A new sign was created featuring a carving of a goat's head with a leathern drinking jack tipped to its lips.

Locals began to refer to the place as, simply, "the Goat". But, in the slang of the street, it was pronounced "Froat".

"Citizen, where can a parched traveler find something wet?"

"Eh, wassat, you say? Oh...yeah. Try the Froat. It's just inside the caravan gate."

"I will. My thanks. And, may Mitra guide your path."

Today, if someone describes the place as "The Goat", then you can bet that the person speaking is at least of the Merchant Class. If he calls The Dusty Goat "The Froat", then you can bet that you are speaking to a local.

And, if that person calls it "The Dusty Goat", then you know that he is not around from these parts.

 

[Water Bob]

-- FIRST LEVEL HIT POINTS --



I generally follow these simple rules for starting hit points in my Conan games.



Player Characters

PCs start with maximum hit points, just as the rules read. But, for adventurous players who feel like testing their luck, I will allow a player to roll 2 Hit Dice then apply any CON modifier.

Thus, a 1st Level PC Thief, with CON 13, would start with 9 HP, just as the rules say.

Or, the player may roll 2d8 + 1 to find his starting hit points.

Going the maximum route, a player gets a good, solid number of hit point with which to start the game. Going with the roll, which will average the maximum amount, a player an get lucky and roll higher HP at the risk of rolling less than normal starting HP.





Non-Player Characters

For the vast majority of NPCs, I roll 1st level hit points. Note how Whisper Reno, above, only has 3 HP. That's because I rolled 1d8, got a 3, and the character has no CON bonus.

For special, named, important NPCs, I will sometimes use the rules above that I outlined for PC hit points, but this is in rare cases.

 

[Water Bob]

-- RUSTLE TOE --

Rustle Toe
1st level Argossean Thief

Sex: Male
Age: 33
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 131 lbs.
Handedness: Left

STR: 10
DEX: 15 (+2)
CON: 11
INT: 13 (+1)
WIS: 7 (-2)
CHA: 15 (+2)

HP: 7
Fate: 1
XP: 0
Speed: 30

Parry: AC 10
Dodge: AC 12

Initiative: +4
Fort: +0
Ref: +4
Will: -2

BAB: +0
Melee: +0
Finesse: +2
Ranged: +2

Code of Honor: None

LANGUAGES: Argossean (native), Shemitish, Zingaran, Stygian, Aquilonian, Black Coast.

PROFECIENCY FEATS: Simple Weapon Proficiency (All), Martial Weapon Proficiency (Light and One-Handed only), Armor Proficiency (Light).

1st LEVEL FEAT: Combat Expertise.

ABILITIES: Sneak Attack (dagger), Trap Disarming.

36 skill points (4 High INT points): 4 - Open Lock, 4 - Move Silently, 4 - Hide, 2 - Knowledge (Local), 4 - Knowledge (Rumors), 2 - Gather Information, 4 - Tumble, 4 - Search, 4 - Bluff, 4 - Intimidate

Hyborian Adaptability: Knowledge (Geography), Swim

Hyborian Background Skills: Bluff, Open Lock, Escape Artist, Move Silently

CLASS SKILLS

Strength Skills
+0 Climb
+0 Jump
+2 Swim Hyborian Adaptability

Dexterity Skills
+6 Balance
+2 Escape Artist
+6 Hide

+6 Move Silently
+6 Open Lock
+2 Slight of Hand

+6 Tumble
+6 Use Rope

Intelligence Skills
+1 Appraise
+1 Craft (Herbal)
+1 Craft (Mundane)

+1 Decipher Script
+1 Disable Device
+1 Forgery

+1 Knowledge (Arcane)
+6 Knowledge (Local/West Coast, Zingara-to-Black Kingdoms)
+1 Knowledge (Nobility)

+5 Knowledge (Rumors)
+3 Knowledge (Geography) Hyborian Adaptability


Wisdom Skills
-2 Listen
+2 Profession (Sailor)
-2 Sense Motive

-2 Spot

Charisma Skills
+6 Bluff
+2 Diplomacy
+2 Disguise

+8 Gather Information
+6 Intimidate
+2 Perform



CROSS-CLASS SKILLS

Dexterity Skills
+2 Ride

Constitution Skills
+0 Concentration

Intelligence Skills
+1 Craft (Alchemy)
+1 Knowledge (History)
+1 Knowledge (Religion)

Wisdom Skills
-2 Heal
-2 Survival

Charisma Skills
+2 Handle Animal





CLOTHING: Torn and well worn silk tunic and breeches. Leather belt. 2 small belt sacks. Earring, bracelet, and amulet made of tin. He also wears some beads on strings on his chest. He thinks of all this bling as proof of his station (when, in fact, it has the opposite effect on those of the upper classes, -1 to CHA based checks when dealing with those above his station). Still, Rustle Toe can muster a lot of charm (thus his high Charisma). 1 cloth glove (that he made himself). Rope and leather cords as seen in the pic.

NOTE: Rustle Toe does not like to wear shoes. He picked up the habit all those years aboard ship, and it has stuck with him.



EQUIPMENT: Rustle Toe usually cannot be found without his short, leaf bladed dagger, which he anchors to his left leg with rope (curious, as he is also left handed). He owns a short sword in a scabbard with a strap that fits across his chest, but he only wears that when he knows bloodwork must be done. The majority of the time, he is only armed with the single dagger.



DESCRIPTION & BACKGROUND: Rustle Toe spent years as a seaman, sailing up and down the West Coast. He never rose higher in rank than deckhand (probably due to his gullible nature--see his WIS score). Of late, he's become a land lubber in the employ of Whisper Reno, in the Argossean city of Raeze. Reno claims that Rustle Toe is his right hand man, and the information broker regularly speaks of Rustle as his Master of Secrets in front of those in Whisper's organization. Whether Reno means what he says, or uses flattery to keep his gullible henchman happy, Rustle Toe has found a home in Raeze running the street for his master. Rustle Toe is a messenger, a gofer, a strong back, and an enforcer for Reno. Most of what hits Reno's ears hits those of Rustle Toe first.

Rustle Toe was an orphan who grew up on the docks of Messantia. It was natural for him to take to the sea, and that he did, at the tender age of six. He's been a seaman for the best part of his life, until this last few years working with Whisper Reno. He does not know if he has a real name. He can barely remember what he was called before he left Messantia as a young boy. But, it was those on the deck of his first ship that gave him the name "Rustle Toe," and the moniker has stuck with him ever since. He figures one name is as good as another. And, there's no mistaking him. When people talk of Rustle Toe, there is no confusion.

In combat, Rustle Toe fights to win, and that usually means that he fights dirty. He is perfecting the Feint combat maneuver and will use it when appropriate. Rustle Toe, although a bit gullible, is no idiot, either. He's quite smart. He'll use Withdraw, Total Defense, and Fighting Defensively as much as he attempts a Feint. His first level Feat is Combat Expertise, which is useless for a 1st level character (it requires a Base Attack Bonus). But, he's thinking ahead, training himself. When he is eligible for a new Feat, he'll get Improved Feint.

Rustle Toe has put in his time as a pirate. One Stygian vessel that was taken included a sorcerer on deck. Rustle Toe is not sure what he did, but the pirate lost all control over his bodily functions. He went, flat and hard, to the deck, amongst his own feces, and stayed that way for the better part of a day. Had his Captain not broken off the attack, Rustle is sure that he would have been thrown overboard as one of the good as dead. As it was, Rustle's ship limped away from the encounter, too busy to mess with Rustle or any of the dead. And he recovered. But, since that day, the irises of his eyes have lost their color. They remain totally white, like the backs of his eyes, with just the pupils as dark spots. This gives him a +2 to Intimidate checks.

From time to time, Rustle Toe has dreams--horrible dreams--where he feels the hand of the Abyss calling him. Sometimes, he dreams of all those he has killed, come to take him home.

Rustle Toe has a number of tattoos: On his right bicep, on his left shoulder, and a kraken inked on the back of his shaved head. These are much more than just standard seaman's tattoos. He has been assured, by the inker, that the tattoos will ward off evil spirits. The kracken, on the back of his head, is mean to keep him safe from all horrible monstrosities, from land, sea, and air. All three tattoos were inked by the same man in Messantia.

In Raeze, Rustle Toe directs and manages the four brothers that serve Whisper Reno out on the streets, referred to as the "Secrets".

Rustle Toe, along with the four Secrets, make up Whisper Reno's muscle, at this time.

Whisper Reno has Rustle Toe convinced that the two of them will become rich as they build Reno's new organization.

 

[Water Bob]

 

[Water Bob]

--  ARGOS AND ENVIRONS  --
 
 
 
This is a map from the novel, Conan The Liberator, by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.  The tale chronicles Conan's push into Aquilonia to take the crown!

The city of Raeze (not on the map, of course, since I made up the place) is located at the lower left corner of the map, near the coast and border with Shem.

The mines featured in the 2011 film are most likely in the Didymian Hills outside of Messantia.
 

 

[Water Bob]

 

[Water Bob]

-- Detailed Hyborian Age Map --

 

[Water Bob]

-- KORDAVA --



This map is from the Conan novel by Karl Edward Wagner, Conan The Road Of Kings. It shows the great city of Kordava in Zingara.

 

[Water Bob]

 

[Water Bob]

-- CONAN: TOWER OF THE APE --



Gamerstable played a Conan adventure and recorded it! They use Savage Worlds rules. I'm not sure, but maybe this version of the Savage Worlds rules: THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN - A SAVAGE WORLDS SETTING

The podcast comes complete with music and sound effects.

CONAN: TOWER OF THE APE