“I was there you know; Kith took a bad one,
straight across the chest. Ogre cut through his armour like it was nuthin’. Blood
was pouring something fierce. So, the Cleric in me wants to run up and help
‘im, you know? But nah, he fixes me with that death’s head stare of his, and
says, ‘Back off, mate... let it bleed.’”
-
Wee-Tam, the
Half-Inching Priest
Let’s get one thing straight. If you hire the Midnight Ramblers, they work with
you, not for you. In fact, they’re best left to do their own thing
actually, and to just bring you what it is you’re looking for.
And what is that exactly? What exactly are
you looking for?
These ‘aint no Torch Bearers, my son... nah, these are
the gents who get things got, if you catch my drift. Kill a King? Look no
further. Family heirloom got itself disappeared? Got a drop on a tomb or a
temple that needs a bit of lightening? A Dungeon that needs crawling? An
artifact that needs acquiring? Not a problem, just brook discussion with the
Boroughs most notorious mercenary group and hand over the dosh.
They might look like untrustworthy miscreants of the
highest order, but a deal’s a deal and they’ll bring you the goods, or die
trying. But who are they exactly?
 |
| The Midnight Ramblers, at rest. Art by Rodney Matthews |
Maik Jaeger
Please allow me to introduce this adventurer; he’s a man
of wealth, and taste. Urbane, refined, knowledgeable on any number of
interesting subjects, he’s the leader, the number one, glib of lip and tongue
this one, a ladies’ man through and through; voice like an angel, so it’s told.
His skills lie in oration, he’s charming, spellbinding,
in fact, that’s his thing, ‘Charm Person’. He has a ring that allows him to do
it almost at will, plus, his Charisma is through the roof. He wears no armour
as he prefers to keep it casual. He is a high level Bard to trade, of at least
Cli status, if not higher. He carries a magical harp made from the skull of a
Demon that allows him to haste four times per day. While in haste mode, he is
nearly impossible to hit, count him as AC Plate as he moves and shifts
gracefully around his enemies. He wields a Dagger of D’eth that strikes, and wounds at a +4. He carries the usual
adventuring equipment when on the road, but is dressed almost, foppishly, when
back in town.
His weakness is for women, clothing, and expensive art,
but other than that he is a solid and dependable adventurer that will ensure
that his band of merry pranksters get the job done.
Kith Reichardts
What can be said about this man that hasn’t been said
before? He too is a Bard -a Mandolin-Slinger- that adventures where angels fear
to tread. A notorious drug taker who has consumed every drug in the known
universe (and more than a few that aren’t)
and because of this, he is impossible to poison. Consider him to always pass a Save Vs Poison. He is
always drunk, but never in a state that might affect the rest of the group, nor
his fighting or playing style. His
mandolin is a Canaith Fender Mandolin (pg 148 1st Edition AD&D DMG)
that has the following extra abilities: it has control winds, as well as being able to cast fairie fire on all creatures that attack the group. He wields a
long sword +3 vs. Undead and has leather armour +2. He seldom carries more in
his backpack than his drug paraphernalia and his wine skins, but on occasion is
known to possess a rope, blanket, and a few bags for carrying treasure. Don’t
let this laconic, inebriated, lifestyle fool you, Kith is an excellent fighter with
a high strength, and dexterity, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with the best.
Kh’Arlie WuAtz a.k.a ‘Bird’
No one knows where this brooding warrior hails from, but
his silence speaks volumes. Giving a curt nod of the head now and again lets
people know what he wants done, and how he wants it done. Just because he
rarely speaks, you would be a fool to think that he has nothing to say. He is
the backbone of this group. Stalwart in its defence when in a fight, his blade
flashes and sings faster than the eye can even see. He wields a Luck Blade of
+2 with six wishes attached, as well as getting a +2 to all Saving Throws. Clad
in +2 Chainmail, Kh’Arlie is able to go four/two attacks in combat. He carries
regular adventuring equipment, but in the group he is known as the map-man,
with cartography covering most of the known world. Quiet, and studious, he
spends his evenings poring over his maps, and playing kettledrums he fashioned
himself, from the hollowed out skulls of the Monroe brothers, a pair of
nee’r-do-well Hill Giants who burnt one farm too many to the ground. Now they
act like drums of deafness under Kh’Arlie’s loving caress.
Billy VanWyman
The oldest of the group, he just like to put his feet up,
swig some ale, and smoke his pipe after a hard day down in the dungeons. A
ranger by trade, Billy has travelled the realms from north to south, and all
points in-between. There aren’t many places he hasn’t been, and those he’s
skipped, well, they’re just not worth seeing, anyway. Billy considers himself a
top-notch lore-master and giant killer. When above the ground, Billy is front,
while the rest of the Ramblers follow his lead. No slouch in a fight either,
Billy wields a long sword of +1/+3 vs. Giants. He’s also a dab hand at foraging
and laying snares, making sure the Ramblers never go hungry. At night, around
the campfire, Billy plays the whoremonica and a beautiful, hand-crafted, four
stringed lute, that was a birthday gift from the rest of the Ramblers. When
Billy is in the group, the Ramblers cannot ever be surprised.
R’ron Woed a.k.a ‘Woody’
The newest edition to the Ramblers, Woody replaced a
fallen comrade who had tripped just one trap too many. He has the fastest hands
in the realm does Woody. He’ll have your pockets picked before you could say
‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash.’ A master thief, Woody is responsible for some of the
biggest capers the Boroughs have ever known (and
a few that aren’t *wink*wink) and this has garnered him the reputation of
one of the greatest thieves of his time. He is closest to Kith in the group,
likes a drink or ten as well, but he is solid and dependable. He also possesses
Daern’s Instant Fortress that he
deploys when the going gets a little tougher than expected. Woody tuned down
life as Guild Master for a life on the road, but has serious swag with most, if
not all of the Guilds in the Boroughs. He is an expert climber, lock-picker,
back-stabber, and an all-round felonious thief! He carries the standard
adventuring kit, portable hole, bag of holding, rope of climbing, and wields
Dancing Daggers of +2, one in each hand.
Group Special Abilities/Rates
Sympathies from the Devil
Due to some, shall we say, sensitive work for an Arch Duke of Hell, the Midnight Ramblers are
incredibly hard to kill. When a Rambler is taken to below 0 hit points he
collapses for 1d3 turns then arises again at full HP’s. This happens until the
Arch Duke has paid his debt in full, after that? Who knows...?
Beasts of Burden
They can carry double
the normal weight before becoming encumbered.
Rates
They work quick, clean, fast and quiet. What more could
you ask for? But they ‘aint cheap... 50 gold per person per day, and you have
to hire all the Ramblers. They also
take a split of the treasure but those terms you can discuss with Jaeger. Rest assured,
if you have hired the Ramblers, I can guarantee
satisfaction.
Next Target...
The Time Spire of the fell Mage, Tempus-Fugitus Rex.
After this gig they’ll be back at the Voodoo lounge and available for hire. look for the sign on the wall outside to tell you their available. Gaping mouth, huge lips, extended tongue.
 |
| Midnight Ramblers. Open for Business. Working with them is a gas!Gas!Gas! |
Testimonials and Scuttlebutt
“They ‘aint
cheap that’s for sure; and if their on your tail, ‘aint nobody gonna give you shelter...”
-
Kirk the
Nameless
“Tomb
rooting, ripping, or raiding, this is the crew you need, hands down. No one out
there has sticky fingers like this lot. Worth every gold coin I spent.
Satisfaction, guaranteed! ”
-
Mefrou Trien
“Anarchy, chaos,
they have it in spades this gang... and if you want violent, palace type
revolution? To kill the King and rail at all his servants? Well, look no
further, mate; there’s a place for these street fighting men called the Midnight Ramblers.”
-Bark, the
Usurper
“I was there
you know; Kith took a bad one, straight across the chest. Ogre cut through his
armour like it was nuthin’. Blood was pouring something fierce. So, the Cleric
in me wants to run up and help ‘im, you know? But nah, he fixes me with that
death’s head stare of his, and says, ‘Back off, mate... let it bleed.’”
Wee-Tam, the
Half-Inching Priest
“It’s not
all raiding, killing, bounty hunting and lawlessness with them, you know. Why,
just last week they were down here with us, throwing the biggest party you’ve
ever seen! Called the Beggars Banquet it is. Happens once every fortnight,
hearts of gold that crew...bless ‘em!”
Lurk, the
Beggar/Leper/Down on his Lucker
“I once
asked Jaeger what colour I should paint the tavern door. Well, he just sort of
sneered at me, and said, ‘Paint it black, man. What else?’ I felt like a bit of
fool for considering anything else actually...”
-
Neap, owner
of the Public House, ‘The Voodoo Lounge’. Home from home of the Midnight Ramblers.
No comments:
Post a Comment