10 Rival Adventuring Parties

d10 Who? Notable Fact What they're doing in the City right now

1. The Forsaken: Remnants of a betrayed mercenary The Party, through one or more of its members, have a relationship About to intercept PCs at the next crowded
company. They alternate between dour with a noble in the city (roll on the Aristocrat and Relationship tables). thoroughfare: The street is only wide enough for
humorlessness and insane bravado and carry a This individual has a vested interest in the party, for better or worse, one group to pass at a time.
reputation for surviving against impossible odds. As and will take any interference from the PCs as a personal affront.
survivors of a massacre, they trust each other more
fully than most adventuring parties. Roll again on any
result that indicates inter-party betrayal, but keep the
second result. Everyone has their limits.

2. The Dragonslayers: Loud, boistrous, and garishly
attired, with an ever- changing lineup of braggarts,
seasoned professionals, and thrill-seekers. They
adorn themselves in bits of what they claim is dragon
skin (nothing containing any useful text, if genuine)
Their clothes, hair, weapons, etc. are decorated with
dragon teeth, talons, horns, etc., or a decent
facscimile. They travel with a wagon-mounted ballista,
which they ostentatiously turn over to the Watch
whenever they enter a new town or city.
One member of the party feels slighted after the last job and is looking
for some petty revenge before skipping town. Will seek out PCs to aid
in this purpose.
Desperately short of funds, the Party is attempting
to sell off the meager loot from their last
(disastrous) expedition, along with any surplus
weapons, armor, or equipment. (1d4) members
desperately seeking employment, with the
remainder actively looking to split from the group
and join another party.

3. The Progeny of Lorbis Vul. Core members consist Party is wanted for some outrage committed outside the City – (1) Indulging in epic debauchery at the most expensive
of 4-6 vat-grown male and female humanoids, with Church or Monastic House, (2) Foreign Aristocrat, (3) merchant house tavern/brothel in the city.
skin dyed in a range of colors from sky blue to (4) Peasant village (5) Criminal Organization (6) Large extended
Vermillion, and marked on their foreheads with a family. Representatives of this concern have tracked them to the city
seemingly random number from III – XXV. They are and are waiting for their chance to strike.
physically perfect, athletic specimens except for one
glaring, disturbing flaw (1) Eyes (2) Voice (3) Arm (4)
Leg (5) Chest or torso (6) Not readily apparent.. They
are seeking the wherabouts of Lorbis Vul, a notorious
sorcerer. For now, they pay their way by adventuring.

4. Lord Farthingale's Men. Lord Farthingale is a fop,
dressed in whatever outrageous finery the GM wishes,
but he has the cunning and brutality of a Blackbeard.
His party, by contrasts, is plainly comprised of the
worst sort of scum and riff-raff from every corner of the
earth. He has a list of (often arbitrary) proscribed
behaviors for his men within city walls, and will have
any offenders killed on the spot, tossing a bag of silver
at the feet of any wronged party.
On their last adventure, one of the party members was (1-2) bitten or Recruiting for 1d4 new members in the town
scratched by a were-creature (3-4) Possessed by a minor demon (5- square, village green, etc. Will have hired 2d6 touts
6) infected with a parasite that is reproducing inside his/her body at an to announce this fact across the city.
alarming rate, only to burst forth in a glistening, wriggling horde from
the abdomen. S/he has managed to hide this fact from the rest of
his/her party, but it is about to become profoundly apparent.

5. Gorelick, Kesselmann, Voboes, Inginok and Fritch: Are imposters. The real group is: (1-2) Incapacitated or Slain, In attendance at a funeral procession for a slain
Adventurers. Sons and daughters of the merchant probably by the imposters (3-4) Alive and Well, about a week’s former comrade, accompanied by the appropriate
class., all with the finest university educations. While journey from here (5-6) Never existed—the whole thing is an clergy and 3d6 professional mourners. After a day
their clothes, weapons, and equipment are new, they elaborate hoax. or two, consult #4 of this column.
are nevertheless well-maintained and profesionally
wielded. Their occasional naivite is offset by an
almost frightening amount of efficiency and good
sense. They are very well-read in the lore of
adventuring, and are determined to learn from the
mistakes of the dead, maimed, and insane.

6. Halma-Khet. A party of horse-nomads, led by an The core members are part of a proscribed cult or sect. (1-2) A Engaged in a (1-3) heated argument (4-6) brawl
exiled nephew of the current Khan. They are both despised heresy of the most common local religion (3) A new with (1) Local Aristocrat and their retinue (roll on
curious and contemptuous of the ways of ―soft city messianic cult gaining in influence abroad (4-5) A known foreign deity Aristocrat Table) (2) Another Adventuring Party (roll
dwellers‖ and eager to prove their skill and valor. –legal to worship in more exotic parts, but whose rites are illegal again on chart) (3) City Watch (4) Criminal
While they are expert horsemen (and seldom locally) (6) Servants of an actively malign horror from beyond the Organization (5) Monster(s) (GM’s choice) (6)
dismount if they can help it) they are less sure of stars, unknown but to the most abandoned decadents, incautious Other Tavern Patrons.
themselves on foot. In public they (1-3) cannot or (4- scholars, and gibbering lunatics.
6) pretend not to speak or understand the common
language of the area, and rely on a slave who acts as
interpreter (1-2) accurately and without bias (3-4)
twisting words and meanings to please his masters (5-
6) mistranslating everything in the worst possible light,
either out of perversity or a desire to punish his
masters.
7. Order of St. Elaachris. A militant religious order
(Group contains no fewer than 3 Clerics) dedicated to
St. Elaachris, Bringer of the Final Death. Party
members are chiefly concerned with destroying the
undead in all forms, though they are also called upon
to deal with lycanthropes and witches. They are
plentifully supplied with holy water, blessed weapons
and amulets, etc., and each carries a silver dagger on
their person at all times. They are (1-2) corrupt and
venal – Matthew Hopkins would fit in perfectly, (3-4)
Devout, intelligent, and reasonable, and suspicious of
false accusations and exaggerated claims (5-6)
Dangerous fanatics who see evil and corruption
everywhere.
8. The Gallant Comrades: This consists of five
adventuring companions and their retainers. They
have been at this for longer than most of the PCs have
been alive, and time and riotous living have left their
mark. Their hair is greying or disappearing altogether,
their faces have gotten fleshier, and their armor is bit
more snug these days. For all that, they haven’t made
it for this long by being careless. They’ve made and
lost fortunes several times over, but now they’re
planning something big—something that will set them
up for the rest of their lives in comfortabe retirement.
9. Morgenstern and Sons: This is adventuring as a
family tradition. A husband and wife team and their
teenage children -- three boys and a girl. This is the
only life they’ve known, though their situation is
certainly odd- more commonly found among troupes of
circus performers or the nomads of the Cold Wastes.
They are all inured to the adventuring life, and will
generally slit a throat or pick a pocket with practiced
ease.
10. Sisters of Ynis Nagahl: An all-female group, bound
together for mutual protection and opportunity.
Several are former slaves, and the group will often
make a point of harassing or attacking slavers on
principle. Their current leader is a berserker from an
obscure northern tribe, from whose warrior-goddess
(her image takes the form of a she-bear holding aloft
an axe and a human head) the group takes its name.
In person, she is affable and somewhat flirtatious,
though many find her necklace of dried human ears to
be distracting and in poor taste.
The party travels with an exotic, dangerous, and/or previously
believed mythical beast. The creature is kept in a cage, large bottle,
on a leash, etc. as appropriate.
(1-3) The creature has been tamed by means magical or mundane,
and will obey the commands of a designated party member(s) to the
limit of its intelligence and abilities.
(4-6) While the Party belives the above to be true, such is not, in fact,
the case. Roll 2d6 every minute or so in which the Party is in the
immediate vicinity of the PCs. On a roll of two odd numbers, it
escapes its bonds.
Are in possession of (1) a (1-4) genuine (5-6) fake treasure map (2) A
document incriminating (roll any number of times on Aristocrat and/or
NPC tables) in a serious crime or scandal (3) A mundane treasure—
unremarkable on the surface, but quite valuable to those in the know
(4) An attractive but not obviously valuable objet d’art – worth a great
deal to collectors. (5) An enchanted object or talisman, not readily
apparent as such (6) A weapon (1-4) unenchanted but flashy (5-6)
enchanted but ordinary-looking. The Party (1-2) is aware (3-4)
suspects, but has not confirmed (5-6) is wholly ignorant of the item’s
true qualities or import. PCs can pick up hints by overhearing tavern
boasts/conversations, interrogation, pillow talk, talkative or easily
bribed former members or retainers on the make, close observation,
etc.
Have taken a Public Vow of (1-2) Chastity (3-4) Fasting- water and
thin gruel, and only after nighfall (4-6) (Poverty) until the completion of
their current mission. Their reputation will prosper or suffer according
their (known) success in keeping the Vow.
Have heard of PCs and are actively trying to:
(1-3) Involve them in a lucrative joint venture. (1-4) They are sincere
(5-6) They plan to betray the PCs as soon as it’s expedient.
(4-6) Hinder or sabotage the PC’s current plans. The GM should
determine their seriousness/willingness to kill or maim in this regard.
Persuing individual interests (roll for each
member/group of 1d#total in party-1) : (1) Doing
research at a Library (2) Taking in a Show (Play,
concert, bear-baiting, etc.) (3) Shopping at a Store
or Market (4) Engaged in Secret Business with 1)
Aristocrat 2) Random NPC 3) Criminal
Organization 4) Outlawed Cult 5) The
Regent/Mayor 6) Demonic/Extradimensional Entity
(5) Attending public Church or Temple service (6)
GM’s choice of results 3,6,8-10 on this column.
Breaking into (1-3) Private Residence (Roll on NPC
or Aristocrat Table) or Public Building (4-6) Building
(Roll on Building Table). If it’s daylight, they’re still
casing the joint. If nighttime, they’re in the act.
At the center of a parade in their honor which winds
its way through the streets, to end at the estate of
an Aristocrat (roll) or the Regent, where they are
wined and dined with great pomp and extavagance.
In all the excitement and confusion, It will be
relatively easy for PCs to gain admittance to the
celebrations.
Fleeing the city, with (1-2) City Watch (3-4)
Aristocrat’s retinue (5-6) Angry mob of citizens in
hot pursuit. Their path of escape will intersect with
the PCs, at which point a party member will drop a
(up to the GM whether accidentally or not) (1-2)
map (3-4) incriminating document (5-6) valuable or
magical object where a PC can unobtrusively pick it
up.