The return of MUNGO!

SAILOR (#13/31, #287/365) [POT]

SKILL: 6

STAMINA : 5

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: Dagger or see below

ARMOUR: None or Leather Jack

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Towns, Seas/Sea-shore, Rivers, Lakes, Ice

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-6 or as per boat

TYPE: Humanoid

REACTION: Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

Across the twelve seas of Titan sails the SAILOR, as well over lakes and up and down rivers too! Sailors are capable deckhands at using watercraft from a rowboat up to a galleon in size, depending on their location. Their choice of apparel also reflects their domain; sailors on warm, tropical waters typically wear a head-covering and light baggy clothing, while those in colder seas may wear so much padded waterproof hide it counts as a Leather Jack for armour purposes. All Sailors have a dagger stashed upon their person, as well as one other weapon of choice and the appropriate Special Skill(s). Roll on the table below to determine what that weapon is (or assume all Sailors are armed with Cutlasses or Belaying Pins):

Roll Weapon Type

1 Net (and roll again, ignoring any further rolls of 1)

2 Harpoon (as per Trident)

3 Cutlass (as per Scimitar)

4 Belaying Pin (as per Club)

5 Throwing Dagger

6 Pistol (Roll: 1-3 Flintlock, 4-6 Matchlock)

Sailors may be found in towns and cities on shore leave, along the waterfront and in dockside taverns, drinking in small groups, or, when encountered elsewhere, aboard their chosen vessel. To determine what boat is being sailed and how many Sailors are aboard, roll on the table below (reroll any result that does not feel appropriate for the Habitat type):

Roll Boat Type

1 Knarr/Rowboat (Crew: 2-7 Sailors)

2 Longship (Crew: 10 Sailors)

3 Cog (Crew: 10 Sailors)

4 Caravel (Crew: 10 Sailors)

5 Barge (Crew: 20 Sailors)

6 Roll: 1-3 Galley (Crew: 40 Sailors), 4-6 Galleon (Crew: 55 Sailors)

Each boat will also have a CAPTAIN (SKILL 10 STAMINA 10, weapons and armour as per Sailor), and, if there are at least 20 Sailors, a FIRST MATE (SKILL 8 STAMINA 9, weapons and armour as per Sailor). Both the Captain and the First Mate may have a Magical Tattoo on a roll of 6; roll on the table below to determine the type of Magical Tattoo:

Roll Magical Tattoo Type

1-2 Rising Sun

3-4 Dive of the Dolphin

5-6 Eye of the Raptor

The scores above can generate an average profile for the Sailors' Ship Characteristics as follows: CREW SKILL 6 CREW STAMINA 5, Crew Morale 7, Light Weapons, Numbers as per Boat type. To determine different profiles and/or Special Skills for the Sailors' Ship Characteristics, roll on one or both of the following tables:

Roll Sailor Crew Type

1 Novice Crew

2 Normal Crew

3 Veteran Crew

4 Navy Crew (see also the MARINES entry)

5 Pirate Crew (see also the PIRATE entry)

6 Elite Crew

Roll Sailor Crew Special Skill

1 Perception

2 Sea Lore

3 Close Combat

4 Ship Weapons

5 Crafts

6 Carousing

Given the dangers of sailing across any body of water on Titan, including dreadful storms, horrible monsters and bloodthirsty cutthroats, it is perhaps not surprising that some sailors switch professions. More than a few are tempted by illicit gains and become pirates, smugglers or wreckers, while others may go the other way, to become marines and gunners on warships. Still other Sailors become adventurers, merchants and explorers, perhaps dreaming of the day they can captain their own ship, or, better yet, retire to a nice cityport somewhere to run their own tavern! A reverse example was the adventurer Mungo of Oyster Bay, who retired to become a Sailor on the daunting coastline of north-western Allansia, on his small boat, the Blue Marlin. 

Orb versus Titan

Amulet of Strength versus Evil (#12/31, #286/365) [EA:V2] (Enchanted Item) 

This amulet is made from the tip of a Unicorn's Horn, and engraved with strange magical runes. It increases the SKILL of its wearer by 2 when in combat with Priests of Evil gods.

Unavailable to buy

Dungeons & Dragon Fruit

DRAGON FRUIT TREE (#10/31, #284/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is a strange type of large climbing cactus, with 3-18 succulent wave-lobed branches radiating out from a short central stalk. One third of the branches end in large white bulb-like flowers, one third end in red spiky ovoid fruit, and one third end in dragon-like carnivorous jaw-pods, that spit small blasts of flame.

Distribution: Jungles, deserts, wilderness, plains, and volcanic areas across southern Khul.

 

Effects: This weird carnivorous plant (see below for combat scores) is noted for its succulent red and green-scaled fruits, the black seed-studded succulent white flesh of each fruit is equivalent to one full Provision and sells for four Gold Pieces.

 

However, enterprising Nomads from the Twin Sun Desert have discovered that the dragon-like jaw-pod head, because it contains both a fuel bladder and a flame gland, can be primed like an impromptu Grenade (see Blacksand, p. 7). In addition, alchemists are also investigating its use in enchanting Potions of Fire Resistance.

 

Cost: City 10gp, Town 12gp, Village 20gp (per head)

 

Availability: Rare

 

Further Notes: The Dragon Fruit Tree is one of many plants cultivated on the Pangarian island of Cirrus. As it is a cactus, it is related to other cacti examples including the Barbthorn (see The Titan Herbal, p. 21), the Green Spikeball (see The Titan Herbal, p. 38), Hurscht (see The Titan Herbal, p. 40), Spiked Flesh-Eating Kakti (see The Titan Herbal, p. 63), and Xhoss (see p. XX).

DRAGON FRUIT TREE (#11/31, #285/365) [OOTP IV]

SKILL: 8

STAMINA: 9

ATTACKS: 4

WEAPON: Small Bite, Fire Breath

ARMOUR: Light

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Jungles, Desert, Plains, Wilderness, Volcanic Areas

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1

TYPE: Plant/Monster

REACTION: Hostile

INTELLIGENCE: None

Spreading out from the Wastes of Chaos, into the hotter and even more arid areas of southern Khul, the DRAGON FRUIT TREE is a strange type of carnivorous creeping cactus. In appearance, it has 3-18 succulent wave-lobed branches radiating out from a short central stalk, of which one third of the branches end in large white bulb-like flowers, one third end in red spiky ovoid fruit, and one third end in dragon-like carnivorous jaw-pods, that spit small blasts of flame (hence the plant's name)!

When disturbed or angry, the Dragon Fruit Tree will attack by biting with its long-toothed jaw pods and also its fiery breath. Roll a die every Attack Round, on a roll of 1 or 2 everyone fighting the Dragon Fruit Tree suffers 1 STAMINA damage in burn wounds. Needless to say, this plant is immune to fire and fire damage itself! In fact, as well as its hardy nature, the Dragon Fruit Tree is easily cultivatable, being largely quiescent during the day, allowing smart farmers to harvest its succulent red and green-scaled fruits (the black seed-studded succulent white flesh of each fruit is equivalent to one full Provision and sells for four Gold Pieces).

There's a Wocket in my Pickpocket...

PICKPOCKET (#9/31, #283/365) [POT]

SKILL: 6

STAMINA : 7

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: Dagger

ARMOUR: None

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Towns, Towns (sewers), Ruins, Dungeons

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-3

TYPE: Humanoid

REACTION: Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

Similar to the Cutpurse, the PICKPOCKET is a street-thief specializing in absconding with the valuables of townsfolk as they amble about a settlement. Unlike Cutpurses, however, who use a dagger to swiftly cut a purse free from its strap, the Pickpocket favours their dextrous agility to remove individual gold pieces and other trinkets directly from the pockets and pouches of the unwary, hence their name. They then make a fast getaway, but it is advised to be cautious in following the Pickpocket as they are usually equipped with a dagger with which to defend themselves more than adequately! They have little else in the way of possessions, other than the clothes they wear; any treasure they may have, has been likely taken from their last victim.

Pickpockets operate in cities and larger towns either individually or in a small team, with one as the picker, one as the lookout, and any others as backup. These roles may be varied to keep a team sharp, or chosen, or designated, based on skills and experience. The activities of a Pickpocket are almost always sanctioned under the auspices of the local Thieves' Guild; freelancers are given short and often violent shrift. In particular, the Pickpocket will target wealthy merchants and rich strangers, especially those without bodyguards or other protective measures. Yazmon of Tak (see Heroes of Titan, p. 43), one of the greatest Pickpockets of the city-states of the Inland Sea, notoriously favoured robbing drunken pirates on shore leave!  Note that all of these categories may include wandering adventurers, returning into town from a profitable expedition down the local dungeon, now heavily-laden with treasure and sundry sparkling objects - easy prey for a skilled team of Pickpockets!

May you live in Fortuitous Circumstances

Talisman of Fortuitous Circumstance (#8/31, #282/365) [EA:V2] (Enchanted Item) 

This talisman is made from the highest quality jade and carved into the shape of a Tatsu dragon. Indeed, it is gifted by the Tatsu to only the greatest and most deserving of heroes, those who have won through against all odds or bested the Tatsu somehow, such as in a riddling contest or other battle of wits. Anyone wearing the Talisman of Fortuitous Circumstance gains a +2 bonus to their LUCK score. They lose this bonus as soon as they are no longer wearing the talisman. In addition, as long as the talisman has been acquired honestly, those who wear it will be regarded as dragon-friend by any Tatsu encountered, with a Reaction type of Friendly. One such example of this enchanted item was gifted to the current Shogun's champion, Kensei the Sword Saint, who slew Ikiru, Master of Shadows, with the fabled sword Dai-Katana (or 'Singing Death'); by the Tatsu who dwelt within the heart of the Forest of Shadows and fought alongside Kensei at the Tourney of the Planes, against the demonic forces of Ikiru's pet Dai-Oni.

Unavailable to buy

GLUGG. Glugg, glugg, glugg...

GLUGG (#7/31, #281/365) [OOTP IV]

SKILL: 6

STAMINA: 10

ATTACKS: 2

WEAPON: Large Bite

ARMOUR: Medium Armour

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Dungeons, Ruins, Caves

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1

TYPE: Mollusc

REACTION: Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: Low

The GLUGG is a strange type of Giant Slug that uses its body's inherent tactile and colour-based flexibility to appear as typical dungeon objects or debris, including large chests, furniture, piles of rock and so on. In Lord Carnuss's dungeon on Blood Island one survivor swore there was a Glugg there, disguised as a Healing Chair! When an unfortunate adventurer approaches the disguised Glugg, it attacks, swallowing them whole within the amber jelly-like body that forms the gigantic gelatinous slug-creature! Anyone swallowed by the Glugg takes 2 STAMINA points damage the first Attack Round, and 1 SKILL and 4 STAMINA damage for every Attack Round after that.

Acidic Weezle Juice is inimical to the Glugg; anyone who pours a bottle of it out inside a Glugg will be ejected immediately and cause the creature 2-12 STAMINA damage, while any exposed bronze item the size of arrowhead or larger will also cause immediate expulsion, as bronze is a metal that is an unbearable irritant to a Glugg. Otherwise, anyone trapped inside the creature will be subject to a horrific fate, their skin blistering as it is dissolved by the Glugg's gastric fluids, burning as it slowly digests them and they pass out due to lack of oxygen, never to regain consciousness...

Regardless if a victim was swallowed or not, once exposed a Glugg will continue to attack with its large tooth-studded maw, and also spit acid once every hour, that requires a Test for Skill to avoid and causes 3 STAMINA damage if it hits. Some sages and specialists in underground lore consider the Glugg yet another example at the adaptability of subterranean creatures to mimic surface environs, while others think they are a specially-bred Brain Slayer vat-creature that escaped and became well-established throughout the Down Below.

Be aware of the Anklewort

ANKLEWORT (#6/31, #280/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is a a short, ground-hugging herb with large circular light green leaves and small yellow flowers.

Distribution: Plains, grasslands and steppes across the Old World.

 

Effects: The leaves of an Anklewort plant can be made into a poultice and applied to various aches and sprains, alleviating both pain and swelling. Anyone with a sprained ankle or wrist for example, may apply an Anklewort poultice to the injured area and regain 1 SKILL point if any have been lost. This herb has no effect on fractured or broken bones however.

 

Cost: City 3gp, Town 4gp, Village 5gp (per poultice)

 

Availability: Common