Courtiers with Hidden Faces

COURTIER (#24/30, #175/365) [POT]

SKILL: 5

STAMINA : 7

ATTACKS: 1

WEAPON: Dagger and see below

ARMOUR: None

DAMAGE MODIFIER: None

HABITAT: Towns, Ruins, Plains

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-6

TYPE: Humanoid

REACTION: Friendly-Neutral

INTELLIGENCE: High

Call them flunkies, call them sycophants, call them what you will, but the COURTIER is an ever-constant presence wherever there are halls of power to lurk in, whenever the big decisions are being made. Courtiers will be there, advising, ego-stroking, distracting, observing, reporting, in an endless cycle of self-perpetuating internal and external politics. They typically wear fine rich clothes in the latest fashion at court, and at the very least will have a dagger hidden up a sleeve somewhere. In addition, roll once on the following table for an additional weapon:

Roll Additional Weapon

1 Rapier (as Scimitar)

2 Flintlock Pistol

3 Matchlock Pistol

4 Throwing Dagger

5 Needleknife

6 Club

In addition, any Courtier may have 1-3 extra items which can be determined by rolling on the following chart:

Roll Extra Item

1 a very nice Hat

2 Pipe and Smoking Weed

3 Flask of Special Brew

4 A musical instrument (roll: 1-2 Lyre, 3-4 Lute, 5-6 Mandolin)

5 A book of myths and legends, such as Life on Titan or the Ur-Mythalia.

6 a vial of Poison

Courtiers are obviously encountered at court, or on their way to or from it. At best they may seek out adventurers with quests for the good of the realm, but most courtiers are mindless dandies, pretending to be advisors of one sort or another. At worst, the courtier is a backstabbing traitor, a treasonous snake in league with nefarious powers, whether enemy nations or the insidious forces of Evil and Chaos, that must be rooted out and destroyed by the wise ruler. The role of the Courtier has perhaps been perfected by the Dark Elves, in their decadent underground cities, where simply staying alive for a day can be considered a success for a courtier!