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Contents

Grogs

Introduction 6What is a GroG? ............................. 6

The Term “Grog” ....................6Turb .........................................6Grex ........................................7Custos ......................................7Covenfolk .................................7Consors ....................................7Autocrat ..................................7

Grogs in the Covenant 8types of GroGs ............................... 8

Servants ..................................8Personal Servants .....................8The Chamberlain ....................10

Specialists .............................11Agents ....................................11The Steward ...........................11

Soldiers .................................13The Turb Captain ..................13Unit Sergeants ........................13The Drill Sergeant ..................14Other Military Ranks ............14

orGanization of Covenant GroGs .. 14Hierarchy ..............................15

A Noble Household ................15Military Hierarchy ................16

Nations .................................16Family Groups .......................16Ethnic Groups ........................16Divided by Location ...............17

Guilds ...................................17Professional Guilds .................17Monastery .............................18

No Formal Structure .............19the Life of a GroG ....................... 19

Duties ...................................20The Watches ..........................21

Sentry Duty ..........................21Double Duty ..........................22Duties for Specialists and Servants ..........................22

Off Duty ...............................22Free Time ..............................23

Rewards.................................23Improved Rations ...................23Pay and a Half ......................23Improved Equipment ................24Promotion in Rank .................24

Punishments ..........................24Castigation ............................24Relegation to Inferior Duties....24Reduction of Rations ..............24Flogging .................................25Reduction in Rank .................25Whipping ..............................25Dismissal ...............................25Fustuarium .............................25

Accommodation ...................25Families .................................25

Retirement ..............................26Pensions .................................26

Grogs Alone 27themes for GroG stories .............. 27

Showcasing ...........................27Routine Duties ......................28Plot Staging, Development, and Exposition ......................28Light Relief ...........................29History Intervenes ................29Epic Battles ...........................30Personal Stories ....................31

pLanninG GroG stories ................. 31Story Genres .........................32

Action/Adventure ...................32Comedy..................................32Creature Feature .....................32Drama ...................................33Exploration ............................33Horror ...................................33Mystery .................................34

The Beginning ......................34Where Are the Magi? .............34

The Middle ...........................35Antagonists ............................35Clues ......................................36Obstacles ...............................36

The End ................................36The Showdown ......................36Magus Ex Machina ...............36Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies ......36Rewards .................................37

aLL-GroG saGas ............................ 37A Town Saga .........................37An Academic Saga ................38A Monastic Saga ...................39A Mercenary Saga.................40A Noble Saga ........................41A Redcap Saga ......................42

Grogs in Stories 44puttinG toGether your team ....... 44

Dux, the Leader ....................44Optio, the 2nd in Command ...45Antesignanus, the Vanguard... 45Immune, the Specialist..........45Signifer, the Legate ...............46

equippinG the GroGs ..................... 46Equipment Bonuses ...............47Encumbrance and Load ........47

roLes in stories ............................ 48Sentries .................................48Guards ..................................49Camp Duties .........................50Guides and Messengers ........51

Travel Speeds ..........................51Representatives .....................53

Gaining Information ...............53Negotiation ............................53Purchasing Supplies for Travel ...54Arranging Accommodation .....54Translation.............................54

personaLity traits ........................ 55Making Personality Trait Rolls ..56Growing Used to The Gifted ...56

advanCed Group Combat .............. 56The Leader’s Actions .............56Morale and Discipline ..........57

Discipline ...............................57Morale ...................................57Disordered Groups ..................57Routed Groups .......................57

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GrogsRallying a Group ..................57Groups With No Leader .........58

injury and death ........................... 58Battlefield Injuries .................58

First Aid ................................58Magical First Aid ..................59

The Death of a Grog ............59Remembrance..........................60

Creating & Maintaining Grogs 61virtues and fLaWs ......................... 61

Gaining New Flaws ...............61Gaining Flaws Through Mishaps ..................62Gaining Flaws Through Actions ....................62Gaining Flaws Through Magic .....................62

Gaining New Virtues ............62Gaining Virtues Through Magic .....................63Gaining Virtues Through Initiation..................63Gaining Virtues Through Actions ....................63

Losing Flaws .........................63Character Transformation .....63

Inauguration ..........................64Metamorphosis .......................64Initiation ................................64Pilgrimage ..............................64

CharaCteristiCs ............................. 65Aging, the Easy Way ............65

Applying Crises......................66Effects of Aging on Characteristics ...................66

abiLities ......................................... 67Updating Grogs ....................67Training Packages .................67

Grog Backgrounds..................68Career Training Packages .....68

Advocate (Academic or None) ..68Animal Trainer .......................68Apothecary ............................68Archer (Martial) ....................68Churchman (Academic) ..........69Conman .................................69Courtier..................................69Craftsman ..............................69Cultist (Arcane) .....................69Cunning Man (Arcane) .........69Cutter.....................................69Failed Apprentice ....................69Farmer ...................................69Fisherman ..............................69Footpad..................................69

Harlot ....................................69Herbwife ................................70Javeliner (Martial).................70Laborer ..................................70Lay Brother ............................70Magician (Arcane) ................70Minstrel .................................70Mystic (Arcane) ....................70Natural Philosopher (Academic) .70Pikeman (Martial) .................70Physician (Academic) ............70Public Official .......................70Sailor .....................................71Scout .....................................71Scribe (Academic) ..................71Sentry (Martial) ....................71Servant ..................................71Soldier (Martial)....................71Storyteller ..............................71Student (Academic) ................71Teacher (Academic) ................71Tinker ....................................71Theologian (Academic) ..........71Trader ....................................72Tumbler ..................................72Woodsman .............................72

Non-Career Training Packages ..72Athlete....................................72Brawler ..................................72Charmer .................................72Covenfolk ...............................72Forager ..................................72Leader ....................................73Local ......................................73Rider ......................................73Trainer ...................................73Wastrel ..................................73

New Virtues & Flaws 74neW virtues.................................. 74

Almogavar .............................74Almogaten ..............................74Craft Guild Training ..............74Domestic Animal ....................74Ferocity .................................74Forgettable Face .....................74Hermetic Experience ................75Jack-of-All-Trades .................75Master of (Form) Creatures ....75Master of Kennels ...................76Mild Aging ............................76Minor Enchantments ..............76Mythic Farrier .......................76Pack Leader / Natural Leader ...76Turb Trained ..........................76

neW fLaWs .................................... 76Bound to (Role) Role ..............76

Broken Vessel ..........................77Careless with (Ability) ...........77Companion Animal ................78Compulsive Lying ...................78Craving for Travel ..................78Curse of Slander .....................78Cursed Guile ..........................78A Deal with the Devil .............78Devoted Parent/Child .............79The Falling Evil .....................79Flashbacks .............................79Fish Out of Water (Terrain) ...80Foreign Upbringing ................80Gullible ..................................80Hallucinations........................80Imagined Folk Tradition Vulnerability ...........80Independent Craftsman ............81Jinxed ....................................81Lingering Injury .....................81Magical Fascination ..............81Manifest Sin ..........................81Master of None ......................81Necessary (Realm) Aura for (Ability) ...........................82Night Terrors .........................82Pack Mentality ......................82Pagan ....................................82Poor Living Conditions ...........83Primitive Equipment ................83Raised in the Gutter ................83(Realm) Stigmatic ..................83Restricted Learning .................83Rolling Stone .........................83Savantism ..............................84Sleep Disorder ........................84Stuck in His Ways .................84Susceptible to Warping ...........84Uncertain Faith ......................84Uncontrollable Strength ..........85Uninspirational ......................85Unlucky ................................85Unspecialized .........................85Viaticarus ..............................85Warped by Magic ..................85Weak Personality ...................85Worthless Abilities ..................86

Grog Templates 87the advisor .................................. 87

General Background .............87Character Creation ...............88Advisor as Companion .........90

the aLmoGavars ............................ 90General Background .............90Character Creation ...............92Almogavar as Companion ....92

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GrogsanimaL trainer .............................. 93

General Background .............93Character Creation ...............94Animal Trainer as Companion ..95

the bodyGuard maidservant ......... 96General Background .............96Character Creation ...............96Concept Variations ...............97Bodyguard Maidservant as Companion .......................97

the buLL ....................................... 98General Background .............98Character Creation ...............98Concept Variations ...............99The Bull as Companion ......100

the Confessor ............................ 100General Background ...........100Character Creation .............101

the Corpse-thief ........................ 103General Background ...........104Character Creation .............105Corpse-Thief as Companion ..106

the Craftsman ............................ 106General Background ...........106Character Creation .............106Craftsman as Companion ...109

ex-prostitutes ............................ 110General Background ...........110Character Creation .............111Ex-Prostitute as Companion ..112

the faiLed apprentiCe ................. 113General Background ...........113Character Creation .............113Failed Apprentice as Companion .....................114

the farrier ................................. 115General Background ...........115Character Creation .............115Farrier as Companion .........117

the jaCk-of-aLL-trades .............. 117General Background ...........117Character Creation .............118Jack-of-All-Trades as Companion .....................119

misGuided mystiC ........................ 119Character Creation .............120Misguided Mystic as Companion .....................121

the murderer ............................. 121General Background ...........122Character Creation .............122Murderer as Companion .....123

the parent of a Gifted ChiLd ..... 124Character Creation ............125

the refuGee Librarian ................. 125General Background ...........126Character Creation .............126Refugee Librarian as Companion .....................128

the roLe-bound ferryman .......... 128General Background ...........128Character Creation .............129

the street thuG ........................ 130General Background ...........130Character Creation .............131Street Thug as Companion ..133

time-Lost Witnesses ................... 133General Background ...........133Character Creation .............134Time-lost Witness as Companion .....................136

horses & hounds ....................... 136Disadvantages Inherent in Playing an Animal ...........137General Background ...........138Character Creation .............138Animals as Companions .....139

brief GroG ConCepts .................. 139The Accursed ......................140The Barbarian .....................140The Coastal Raider .............140The Coward ........................140The Disenfranchised Knight ..140The Field Chirurgeon .........140The Fool .............................141The Ghost ..........................141The Hero ............................141The Laboratory Assistant ....142The Loyal Watchman .........142The Officer .........................142The Poisoner ......................142The Robber .........................143The Sailor ...........................143The Survivor .......................143

List of InsertsList of Inserts .......................................... 5The Liber Gregis ..............................................6Story Seed: Understairs Rivalry ............. 8The Covenant Rolls ............................. 10The Autocrat ........................................ 11Troop Types ......................................... 12Accelerated Group Training ................. 14Story Seed: Tough at the Top .............. 15Story Seed: Family Business ................. 16Story Seed: Lack of Guild Funds .......... 17Story Seed: The Guild Contest ............ 18Rivalries and Tension............................ 19Watch Patterns ..................................... 20Switching Storyguides ......................... 27Story Seeds: Showcasing ...................... 28Story Seeds: Routine Duties ................. 28Story Seeds: Light Relief ...................... 29Story Seeds: Staging............................. 29Story Seeds: History ............................ 30Story Seeds: Epic Battles ...................... 30Story Seeds: Personal Stories ............... 31Sources of Inspiration ........................... 34A Town-based Saga: Toulouse .............. 37An Academic Saga:

The Hidden Coven ......................... 39A Monastic Saga:

The Priory of St. Nerius .................. 39Military Units in the 13th Century ...... 40A Noble Saga:

A Quiet Place in the Country.......... 41A Mercenary-Based Saga:

The Monjoie Company ................... 41A Redcap Saga: The Hermetic Agency .... 42Commanding Larger Groups ............... 44Sounds Familiar? ................................... 45The Grog Pack ..................................... 46Encumbrance and Ability Use .............. 47Equipment Bonuses .............................. 47Expanded Encumbrance Table ............. 48Weight of Common Materials ............. 48Story Elements: Sentry Duty ................ 49Story Elements: Guards ........................ 50Trail Food ............................................. 50Story Elements: Camping .................... 51

Travel Fatigue ....................................... 52Story Elements: Guides and Messengers .. 52Story Elements: Representing Magi ..... 55Changes in Social Status ...................... 61Starting Characteristics ........................ 65Aging Chart.......................................... 65Childhood Training Packages .............. 66Wealthy and Poor Characters .............. 68Combat Statistics ................................. 72The System in Action ........................... 73Summary of New Virtues ..................... 75Summary of New Flaws ........................ 77The Role of the Advisor as Grog ......... 87Advisor Story Seeds ............................. 89The Vibria Company ........................... 90Almogavar Story Seeds ........................ 91Animal Trainer Story Seeds .................. 95Bodyguard Maidservant Story Seeds ......96Bull Story Seeds .................................... 99The Practice of Confession ................ 101Confessor Story Seeds ....................... 102New Arcane Ability: Craft Poppets ... 103Preserving Arcane Connections ......... 103Corpse-Thief Story Seeds .................. 105Craftswomen ...................................... 108Craftsman Story Seeds ....................... 109Ex-Prostitute Story Seeds ................... 111Saint Mary Magdalene:

A Note For Players ........................ 112Failed Apprentice Story Seeds ........... 114New Ability: Craft: Farrier (General) ...115Farrier Story Seeds ............................. 116Jack-of-All-Trades Story Seeds ........... 118Misguided Mystic Story Seeds ........... 121Murderer Story Seeds ......................... 122Story Seeds for Parents

of a Gifted Child ........................... 124New Spell: The Librarian’s Buckle ...... 126Refugee Librarian Story Seeds ........... 127Role-Bound Ferryman Story Seeds ..... 130Street Thug Story Seeds ..................... 132Time-Lost Witnesses Story Seeds .. 134&135Horses & Hounds Story Seeds ........... 137Animal Aging ..................................... 138