WFRP II - Lost Files - War Dancers.pdf - podreczniki EN - Berni1977

E LVEN

W ARDANCERS

ARDANCERS

RIGINALLY BY

ATT

ONNELL

, G

RAEME

AVIS AND

AND

D. M

ATALOU

U PDATED

PDATED BY

A LEXANDER

J B ATEMAN

ATEMAN

This article introduces two new careers into your

campaign. It includes a scenario in which the players

meet the mysterious Wardancers for the first time, and

gives Elvish characters an opportunity to pursue these

new careers. Full details of the Wardancers' advance

schemes, their new talents and the god they worship are

given at the end of the chapter.

This encounter can take place in any large forested

areas, a good way away from habitation. An ideal start is

for the Characters to be lost in the woods, running out of

food and starting to wonder where they are going to end

up.

Some way from the forest settlement of her Wardancer

troupe, Yavathol was enjoying the hunt. She slipped

through the forest with the lithe grace of a big cat, her

eyes flicking to each shadowy movement. Occasionally

she paused to listen, crouching silently, ready to spring.

Dappled sunlight glinted from the great sword that hung

from her waist, and the light breeze ruffled her mane of

dawn-red hair.

forest bad their natural place, their own raw beauty, but

these were abominations to be destroyed without mercy.

Yavathol's amber eyes shone as she casually stepped

out of her cover into full view of the creatures, her blade

held loosely in her hand. A startled grunt came from the

Beastmen as they dropped their meal and spun around

to face the Wardancer. A dry chuckle oozed from the lips

of Toad-head and a tentacle pushed

from the mouth of one of its

companions, at the tip of the tentacle

was a single blinking eye, watching the

Wardancer as Toad-head spoke.

“Ssssss only, ksssst, only one Elfss?”

But this was no normal hunt, for the

prey she sought was inedible and

more dangerous than any deer or

forest cat. Today she hunted

Beastmen. Several of the Chaos-

twisted creatures were nearby and

the harsh sounds of their Dark

Tongue drifted on the breeze

towards her.

A fleeting thought slipped through

her mind as she crept nearer:

“Perhaps I should have brought

young Brightbranch along. He has

been accepted into the troupe, and

is keen to be tested. This would

have been a fair chance to prove

him-self a true Wardancer.”

The Beastman's lips pulled from its

teeth, like raw liver sliding across a

butcher's marble slab. Its gaze

flickered with concern as Yavathol

stared fearlessly, her eyes holding only

death. Shrieking dark gibberish, the

Beastmen rushed forward, certain that

victory would be theirs.

As they neared her, Yavathol tensed

and sprang, timing the moment with

exquisite judgement. Her body left the

ground effortlessly as she flipped over

the Beastmen in a graceful arc,

landing behind them even as her

sword whirled in a blur of silver. The

toad-like beast fell and mouthed a final

gurgling curse into the dust as the Beastman's headless

body stumbled forward, pumping crimson as it collapsed.

The remaining Beastmen whirled to face her. Yavathol

lashed out with her feet, a series of whirling high-kicks

that left another Beastman twitching on the forest floor, its

face a bloody ruin.

Yavathol began to keen, her voice rising and falling with

strange harmonies as her body wove a hypnotic pattern

through the web of sound. The Beastmen shook their

She let the thought drift away-now

was the time for concentrated

action and the beauty of combat,

not the worries of leadership. She

valued these solo hunts for their feeling of solitary

challenge - Brightbranch's time would come.

Just ahead of the Wardancer a group of five Beastmen

were squabbling over the mangled remains of some hap-

less forest creature. They were hideous, covered in rank

fur and flaking scales, their limbs marked with oozing

sores, their fanged jaws dripping with blood. One had the

bloated head of a huge toad, another steel-sharp talons

and a long barbed tail. Yavathol found them abhorrent

beyond words - even the most savage creatures of the

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LVEN

, G

RIGINALLY

ATT

ONNELL

RAEME

AVIS

ATALOU

J B

LEXANDER

heads, confused by the strange song and the shifting

shape. Another fell, cleanly sliced by Yavathol's ever-

moving ever-whirling blade, an expression of pained

surprise briefly crossing its face.

could have them defeat one group of Orcs after a hard

fight, and just as they start to congratulate themselves,

hit 'em with two loads more of the nasty green things.

Enjoy yourself!

The last two broke and ran, terrified by the speed and

ferocity of their foe. As they fled, Yavathol's arm moved in

a blur and her band-axe tumbled through the air, sunlight

glinting from the blade over the trees in a thousand

broken patterns. A fourth Beastman crashed to the

ground, its skull shattered into a mess of bone and torn

flesh.

AIDER

Orc communities typically base there settlements in the

most inhospitable areas, favouring mountainous terrain.

A culture ill suited to agriculture or other farming, these

settlements most often send out raiders to surrounding

areas to pillage and gather resources such as wood, food

and slaves.

AIDER

Yavathol let the last Beastman run - he would have some

grim tales to tell his kin about this area of the forest.

Cleaning and polishing her sword on a soft bright cloth,

she returned to the troupe, well pleased with the hunt.

As she entered the clearing a young Elf rushed towards

her. It was Brightbranch, his eyes alight with excitement.

-- Orrc Raiiderr Prrofiille --

WS BS S T Ag IIntt WP Fell

“Yavathol, leader, the scouts report trespassers in the

forest. Orcs have been sighted near the Brook of Many

Colours, trailing another group from beyond the trees.”

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A W SB TB M Mag IIP FP

The young aspirant looked up at his leader, hope on his

face. Yavathol smiled as she spoke.

“Come then. Fetch Morfoin. Now will be the time of your

testing.”

1 1 12

12 3 4 4 0 0 0

Skills: Intimidate, Outdoor Survival, Perception, Ride or

Swim, Scale Sheer Surface, Speak Language (Goblin

Tongue), Torture

OREST

You should start the ball rolling by filling the Characters

with a sense of foreboding as they move through the

thick woods. Having set the scene for your players, with

faint daylight filtering down from above, damp mosses,

scurrying noises from the undergrowth, and no signs of

habitation for miles, read or paraphrase the following

piece of text to them:

N THE

OREST

Talents: Menacing, Street Fighting, Strike Might Blow

Traits: Animosity, Choppas, Night Vision

C OMBAT

: :

Armour (Light): Leather Jack

Armour Points: Head 0, Arms 1, Body 1, Legs 0

As you move on in the hope of finding a dry

place to sleep you bear the chatter of harsh

Weapons: Choppa (1d10+4, Special), Dagger (1d10+1),

50% chance of a Shield

place to sleep you bear the chatter of harsh

voices, coming from just up ahead. They are

moving in your direction! Your steel is bright in

Trappings: Various things best not thought about.

(Indeed anyone looting an Orc catches the Kruts)

moving in your direction! Your steel is bright in

your bands as more creatures than you can count

sweep though the scrub toward you - big green

and screaming - ORCS!

This encounter should be shamelessly staged to give the

player characters the feeling that they are in deep

trouble. Put them up against as many Orcs as are

needed to give a fight that starts matched, but rapidly

gets worse as more of the Orcs pile into the fray. Profiles

for Ores of various power levels are given below, and you

should use as many of each type as you think are

needed, but remember that the bulk of the Orc force

should be made up of normal Orc Raiders. Make it

obvious that the Orcs are offering no quarter, and that the

only option for the Characters is to fight on, selling their

lives dearly. If you are feeling particularly sadistic, you

NIIMOSIITY

Orcs hate everything, even other Orcs and

Goblins. Given half a chance, given even the

merest shadow of an excuse, Orcs will fight

amongst themselves – battling a rival Orc tribe if

they are present, or battering other members of

their own tribe in unseemly squabbles if that is all

that is available. An Orc offered any kind of

excuse must make a Willpower Test or

immediately attack the other greenskins, be they

Goblins, Hobgoblins or other Orcs.

RAIIT

-- A

NIIMOSIITY

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THE

OMBAT

As you move on in the hope of finding a dry

RAIIT

AIDER

NEAK

HOPPA

Whatever an Orc’s other equipment he will always

have a Choppa. An Orc Choppa is a huge heavy

blade, which in the hands of an Orc can cut through

armour with ease. When wielded by an Orc a

Choppa inflicts SB+1 damage on the first round of

melee and SB damage thereafter. If wielded by a

creature other than an Orc, a Choppa is treated as

a Hand Weapon but with the Slow quality.

RAIIT

-- C

HOPPA

Although Orcs have respect for savage

warriors, they also hold the using of cunning in

almost equal estimation. Some Orc Raiders go

to great lengths to learn how to operate fully in

the forests and make dangerous and

unpredictable foes.

-- Orrc Raiiderr Sneak Prrofiille --

WS BS S T Ag IIntt WP Fell

O RC

R AIDER

AIDER

B RUTE

RUTE

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Orc raiding parties are led by the biggest,

toughest and meanest of their number, battle

scarred veterans who have bullied there way to

the top. These individuals have forces there

mates to hand them the best weapons and

armour the raiding party has acquired, and

constitute its most formidable members.

A W SB TB M Mag IIP FP

1 1 12

12 3 4 4 0 0 0

Skills: Command, Follow Trail, Intimidate, Outdoor

Survival, Perception, Ride or Swim, Scale Sheer Surface,

Speak Language (Goblin Tongue), Torture

Talents: Menacing, Street Fighting, Strike Might Blow

Traits: Animosity, Choppas, Night Vision

-- Orrc Raiiderr Prrofiille --

OMBAT

: :

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OMBAT

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Armour (Light): Leather Jack and Leather Skull Cap

Armour Points: Head 1, Arms 1, Body 1, Legs 0

Weapons: Choppa (1d10+4, Special), Dagger (1d10+1),

Shield

Trappings: Various things best not thought about.

(Indeed anyone looting an Orc catches the Kruts)

A W SB TB M Mag IIP FP

2 16

16 4 5 4 0 0 0

Skills: Consume Alcohol, Command, Intimidate, Outdoor

Survival, Perception, Ride or Swim, Scale Sheer Surface,

Speak Language (Goblin Tongue), Torture

Talents: Menacing, Specialist Weapon Group (Two-

Handed), Street Fighting, Strike Might Blow

Traits: Animosity, Choppas, Night Vision

C OMBAT

OMBAT

: :

Armour (Medium): Mail Shirt over Leather Jack and

Leather Skull Cap

Armour Points: Head 1, Arms 1, Body 3, Legs 0

Weapons: Great Weapon (1d10+5, Impact, Slow), Choppa

(1d10+5, Special), Dagger (1d10+2)

Trappings: Various things best not thought about. (Indeed

anyone looting an Orc catches the Kruts)

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-- C

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ELP

RRIVES

after a rousing combat it ends with the Characters and

Wardancers victorious. It would be easy to overdo the

Wardancers, letting them destroy the Ores while the

Characters stand and watch. Try to avoid this, making it

clear that in order to be victorious, the Characters are

going to have to fight.

Just as things are getting really desperate, help arrives in

the form of the Wardancers Yavathol and Morfoin,

accompanied by Brightbranch (profiles below), and things

look up for the Characters. As this whole encounter is

staged, it is a little unfair to let your players spend fate

points here - a good time to bring on the Wardancers is

as a player is about to spend a fate point. Instead of

expending a fate point, the Character should be rescued

by one of the Wardancers cart-wheeling into the attack.

You should make their entrance as dramatic as possible;

let out a loud battle-yell and read the following...

Feel perfectly free to roll a handful of dice for the

Wardancers and their opponents, and then ignore the

numbers, simply describing the course of their side of the

battle as you want it to go, keeping it exciting and a

close-run contest-you don't want the players to sit around

getting bored watching you roll for every Wardancer

attack and Orc counter-attack. The Characters' own

attacks should be rolled as usual.

A cry that splits the air freezes the Orcs for a

moment, as two lithe Elven figures with splendid

A FTER

F IGHT

IGHT

When the fight is over, Yavathol will embrace

Brightbranch, welcoming him to the brethren of her

troupe. The young Elf will be proud and a touch

embarrassed.

Even though the fight has ended, the Character’s

troubles are by no means over - the Wood Elves also

regard the Characters as trespassers in their forest, and

the Characters will have to do some fast talking to

escape conflict with the Wardancers. Before attempting

to run this pivotal role-playing encounter, you should

carefully read all the information at the end of this chapter

which details the Wardancers and their god, their

positions in Elven society and their attitudes to the

various races that may be present in the party. This will

give you all the background you need.

FTER THE

THE

moment, as two lithe Elven figures with splendid

manes of red hair rush into the fray, surrounded

by a blur of whirling steel. Closely following them

is a younger Elf who sports a more traditional

haircut and also attacks the Orcs, all the while

screaming an ululating battle-cry. The Orcs'

confusion lasts for but a moment and they

quickly move to defend themselves. Heartened by

this changing of the tide, you also begin to fight

with renewed vigour-the odds are still bad, but at

least you have a chance.

The Wardancers commence their attack using the Storm

of Blades special action (see below). Thereafter, they will

fight with great ferocity, using whatever abilities you think

appropriate. You should try and balance the fight so that

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A cry that splits the air freezes the Orcs for a

AVATHOL

Bladesinger (Ex Entertainer – Ex Wardancer)

Yavathol is the leader of the Wardancer troupe that lives

with the Wood Elves in this forest. She is a mighty

warrior, used to the respect that her abilities and position

command. Her manner is abrasive, and the Wardancer

trait of condescending arrogance reaches a peak with

this individual!

situation for the player of a Dwarf and you must strike a

balance between giving the player a hard time and being

unfair. Whatever you do, don't compromise Yavathol -

she is not intimidated by the party and won't stand for

threats or insults.

If the party manage to converse with Yavathol without

annoying her to the point of attack (which would be rather

bad news for the party!), she offers to escort them to the

Elven settlement before night finally falls. Before she

does this, however, any Dwarfs will have to be at least

disarmed, and at worst bound and gagged!

Appearance: Yavathol's appearance is striking-lithe and

graceful, clad in well-cut leather, jewels sparkling at her

throat with a cascading mane of dawn-red hair that sets

off the strange amber of her piercing eyes. The mighty

sword that she swings with such ease has the marks of

many battles upon it, and shows the sheen that comes

with great age and good care.

Reactions: Arrogant and self-assured, she demands to

know what the Characters are doing in the forest. She is

not impressed if the characters are over-apologetic, but

nor does she react well to brash impoliteness. If the party

contains any Elves, she mainly addresses them, all but

ignoring the other Characters.

Yavathol is merely disdainful of Humans and Halflings,

but she tolerates them. The main thing that impresses the

Wardancer is prowess in combat, and if the party has

killed many Orcs, and demonstrated courage and

fortitude, Yavathol is more inclined to take the Characters

seriously.

-- Yavattholl --

WS BS S T Ag IIntt WP Fell

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A W SB TB M Mag IIP FP

3 16

16 5 5 (7)

5 (7) 6 0 0 0

Skills: Academic Knowledge (Religion+10%), Charm,

Command, Common Knowledge (Elves+10%, the

Empire), Dodge Blow+10%, Evaluate, Perception+10%,

Performer (Acrobatics+20%, Dancer+20%, Singer), Ride,

Speak Language (Eltharin, Reikspiel), Swim

Talents: Aethyric Attunement, Ambidextrous, Excellent

Vision, Fleet Footed, Lightning Parry, Lightning Reflexes,

Night Vision, Quick Draw, Savvy, Shadow Dance (Storm

of Blades, The Shadows Coil, Whirling Death, Woven

Mist)*, Specialist Weapon (Throwing, Two-Handed),

Stout-Hearted, Strike Mighty Blow, Strike to Injure,

Swashbuckler

If there are any Dwarfs in the party, Yavathol's reactions

vary according to the Dwarf's performance in the combat

with the Orcs. She has an active dislike of Dwarfs, and

even if a Dwarf character showed prowess in combat, the

best reaction from Yavathol is along the lines of a pat on

the head and a condescending remark (“doughty little

fighter, isn't he?”).

* The Shadow Dance talent is described further on

in this chapter.

C OMBAT

If the Dwarf seemed to do little in the fight, Yavathol may

well insult him, casting aspersions about “timid burrow

dwellers” and the like. If the Dwarf Character (or his

companions) cannot keep his responses under control,

Yavathol offers to destroy the troublesome vermin, and if

further provoked does not hesitate to attack the offending

character. If it becomes clear that the Dwarf is treated as

an equal member of the party, she becomes very

suspicious of the Characters' motives for being in the

forest. If the players are not careful, they will have

another fight on their hands-one which they are unlikely

to win.

The only thing that causes the Wardancer to grudgingly

accept a Dwarf is if the Dwarf rescues or helps one of the

Wardancers during the fight. You could arrange for a

Dwarf Character to be in a position to assist an

outnumbered Brightbranch during the fight - but

remember that if the Character doesn't go to the Elf's aid,

Yavathol's reaction will be one of anger. This is a sticky

OMBAT

: :

Armour (Light): Tight Fitting Leather Jerkin

Armour Points: Head 0, Arms 0, Body 1, Legs 0

Weapons: Best Quality Double Handed Sword (Great

Weapon, 1d10+5, Impact, Slow), Best Quality Sword and

Axe (Hand Weapons, 1d10+5), Dagger (1d10+2)

Trappings: Talismanic Tattoos, Silver Tiger’s Eye

Gemstone Choker (Worth 100 gc)

ATTOOS

As with many Bladesingers, Yavathol has been inscribed

with Wood Elf runic tattoos that trap and contain the

winds of magic. While Yavathol wears no metal armour,

she not only gains a +2 bonus to her TB but also gains a

+10% bonus to any willpower tests to resist magic.

ALIISMANIIC

ATTOOS

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Y AVATHOL

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