Sir Rodinal Gravely III, Marquis of Vladinaria and Lord High Protector of the Lowlands of Llum. Sir Rodinal ('Roddi') was a galactic playboy 28 year's old, bright, well educated, and bored with a life where you have tasted 'all the galaxy has to offer'. Always at the right parties or doing the latest cool extreme sport, he decided to seek thrills in new directions and convinced some of the 'it crowd' to join him about his new Free Trader for a few months of 'slumming it like the ordinary people'. After a few weeks his 'friends' drifted back home as the harsh realities of the life of a trader become apparent. To his amazement, Rodinal found himself relishing the freedom of his new 'hobby' and the sense of independence he got from it. He realised that there was so much more to 'ordinary people' that the 2-dimensional servants that had fawned over him in his youth - he began to grow up and mature. After searching out replacement crew, he has chosen the current bunch of individuals, all of whom he has come to respect for their abilities. Whilst he is still nobility at heart, he has begun to see the universe at it really is and has made the decision to try to make it on his own without help from his family or their money. He has two main hopes; that he will be able to build a successful freight shipping line and that he will someday rescue a beautiful damsel in distress from her evil stepfather/uncle and she will eventually become his wife (he imagines her as beautiful, single and very poor and normal), he is a hopeless romantic at heart. Whilst he leaves the day-to-day running and operating of his ship ('The Merry Troubadour') to his more capable crew, he undertakes the actual cargo trading and brokerage and the associated administrative requirements of starship ownership and operation. Str 10 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 14 Wis 15 Cha 12 Edu 14 SS 17 Feats: Armour Proficiency (Light) Armour Proficiency (Vac Suit) Barter Carousing Connections (Merchants) Credit Line Dumb Luck Market Analyst Trustworthy Vehicle (Grav) Weapons Proficiency (Marksman) Skills: Appraise +4 Bluff +2 Bribery +9 Broker +10 Driving +4 Gambling +10 Gather Information +7 Innuendo +4 K/Trade+Com' Law +4 Liaison +5 P/Administration +10 T/Computer +4 T/Communications +4 Trader +10 AC (normal) 15 AC (flatfooted) 13 AR 3 Stamina: 32 Lifeblood: 12 Melee +3 Ranged +3 Fort Save +4 Ref Save +3 Will Save +7 He is of average height and slim built. He has tanned skin, long blue/black hair, and brown eyes. He wears the finest clothes and is always looking for new fashions with which to update his wardrobe. He rarely carries a firearm (it is beneath a noble, he thinks), but if required, he will wear an expensive looking heavy Magnum (only the best) Autopistol in a garish (but very fashionable and expensive) holster. Languages spoken: Galanglic and (halting) Irilitok Short-range com unit Handcomp Mesh Armour Reflec Armour TL12 Vac Suit Wristwatch Category 2 Weapon Permit (Civilian Smallarms) Portcullis Sector Duke Magnum Autopistol (+1 to hit, d12 damage, 65m range) and three 10rd magazines 'Expensive clothes for all occasions The Merry Troubadour 10 000 Credits. Gverz Aeng Gverz was a fairly average Vargr who worked hard at school, eventually getting the offer of an assisted place at university to study Starship Power System Engineering (the course was undersubscribed). Being a female Vargr, she had to work 10 times harder than everyone else did, and for much less recognition. Notwithstanding this, she graduated and then encountered the usual Vargr problem, no humans would hire Vargr and the only other option was the life of a corsair, which she refused to do. After slumming around for a few months, she tried her luck at the local office of the IISS and was surprised when she was offered employment. Her posting was to an asteroid base as junior engineer. She excelled at this position and was rapidly elevated to more responsible posts, eventually becoming chief engineer. It was during this job that she met Korigzuefeng (Koh-ri-ju-feng) a physically imposing Vargr gunner at the base. After 2 years, they got married and, as the scout service was looking to post them to different places, they left and became merchants. Gverz is the 'Alpha' of the relationship and wants them to raise enough money to settle down and raise a litter in relative comfort and somewhere free from human bigotry. Notwithstanding this, the crew she is with are all fairly tolerant (for humans). Str 10 Dex 12 Con 15 Int 12 Wis 11 Cha 12 Edu 16 SS 10 Pre 8 Feats: Armour Proficiency (Light) Armour Proficiency (Vac Suit) Barter Improved Initiative Gearhead Jury Rig Vessel (Grav) Vessel (Starship) Weapons Proficiency (Marksman) Zero-G Adaptation Skills: Bribery +3 Driving +3 Gather Information +4 K/Starship Drive Design +5 Liaison +2 Navigation +4 Pilot +4 P/Survey +2 P/Admin +2 Ride +2 Spot +4 Survival +3 T/Communications +5 T/Computer +5 T/Electronics +6 T/Engineering +11 T/Gravitics +6 T/Mechanical +5 AC (normal) 15 AC (flatfooted) 14 AR 4 Stamina: 36 Lifeblood: 15 Melee +4 Ranged +4 Fort Save +4 Ref Save +3 Will Save +3 She is of average height and somewhat slim build for a Vargr. She has a White/Red colouring and long fur. She wears IISS overalls when working in the drive room and fatigues most other times. She disapproves of the human propensity for carrying firearms and will only carry one in times of direst emergency, trusting her teeth, claws and diplomacy instead. Languages spoken: Galanglic and Irilitok Short-range com unit Handcomp Flak Jacket TL10 Vac Suit Wristwatch Electronic toolkit Category 3 Weapon Permit (Paramilitary Smallarms) 4 000 Credits Ehlorra Makkan Scoring highest in her year for entry into the IISS, Ehlorra was quickly drafted into pilot training, where she proved to be a natural. Although most at home in the cockpit of a starship, she served a ground tour within Planetary Survey piloting an LAV/panzer around the swamps of a hostile, primitive planet. Seeking different challenges for a few years, she became a merchant and took the position of Pilot on board 'The Merry Troubadour'. She also manufactures passes and permits (for a fee) should the need arise. Her aptitude and her ability to pilot, navigate, or operate the weapons of any starship ensures that she will be continually activated by the IISS for missions. Str 14 Dex 12 Con 10 Int 18 Wis 18 Cha 10 Edu 10 SS 11 Feats: Armour Proficiency (Light) Armour Proficiency (Vac Suit) Brawling Ship Tactics Vessel (Ship's Boat) Vessel (Starship) Vessel (Grav) Vessel (Ground - Hovercraft) Weapon Proficiency (Marksman) Weapon Proficiency (Starship Weapons) Skills: Bribery 2 Driving 9 Forgery 8 Forward Observer 5 Gambling 6 Gunnery 10 Listen 6 Navigation 2 Pilot 12 P/Administration 6 P/Survey 8 Search 5 Spot 12 Survival 6 T/Communications 4 T/Computer 4 T/Astrogation 8 AC (normal) 14 AC (flatfooted) 13 AR 3 Stamina: 26 Lifeblood: 9 Melee +4 Ranged +4 Fort Save +1 Ref Save +4 Will Save +7 She has pale yellow skin, orange hair and is slightly shorter and stockier than average (hi-g birth world). She spend every waking minute either on the bridge or moving round the ship helping the other crew members so she can pick up some of the skills that they have. Languages spoken: Galanglic and Irilitok, Ursine (plus 2 others) Short-range com unit Handcomp Mesh Armour TL9 Vac Suit Wristwatch Electric Torch Forgery Kit Category 3 Weapon Permit (Paramilitary Smallarms) Assault shotgun (3d6/2d6/d6 damage, 3m range) with 21 Stun Rds (Stamina damage only) 500 Credits Ko-raal Ventar Ko-raal always wanted to work on board a starship. As soon as he was able, he took working passage on board and drifted from post to post, never finding his vocation. Eventually he became a steward's assistant and has never looked back. His amiable personality and charismatic mannerisms endear him to almost everyone who meets him. Unfortunately, his gambling is not as good as his inter-personal skills and he amassed debts that he could not afford to pay. To save his kneecaps, he jumped ship and has finally settled on board the small freighter 'The Merry Troubadour', and has fitted in well with the rest of the crew. Str 12 Dex 13 Con 12 Int 14 Wis 16 Cha 15 Edu 16 SS 9 Feats: Armour Proficiency (Light) Armour Proficiency (Vac Suit) Barter Chief Steward Fast Talk Steward Trustworthy Vessel (Grav) Weapon Proficiency (Marksman) Zero-G Adaptation Skills: Appraise 8 Bluff 12 Broker 5 Driving 4 Entertain (Sl't of Hand) 6 Gambling 6 Gather Information 12 Knowledge (T+C Law) 5 Liaison 10 Listen 5 P/Chef 7 Search 4 Spot 5 T/Communications 4 T/Computer 3 T/Electronic 4 T/Medical 7 Trader 5 AC (normal) 14 AC (flatfooted) 13 AR 3 Stamina: 29 Lifeblood: 12 Melee +2 Ranged +2 Fort Save +3 Ref Save +2 Will Save +6 Ko-raal has pale blue skin, blue/white hair (hi IR planet) and is slightly shorter and thinner than average. He has a gregarious personality and passengers always have a good time when he is looking after them. Word of this has got round and passengers will travel on the Troubadour just because Ko-raal is the steward. An accomplished chef, he has been increasing his extensive repertoire with Vargr dishes with help from Koerrigzuefeng. Languages spoken: Galanglic and Irilitok (plus 1 other) Short-range com unit Handcomp (full of recipes) Mesh Armour TL10 Vac Suit Wristwatch Electric Torch Selection of tricks TL11 Field Medical Kit TL11 First Aid Kit Category 2 Weapon Permit (Civilian Smallarms) Boarding axe (d10 damage, 3m reach) kept in display cabinet in Passenger Lounge Snub Revolver (1 speed loader of Tranq (Reflex DC15 or drowsy and incoherent for 2d10 minutes, 21m range) loaded plus 2 of ball (d10) in Ship's Locker). 1 125 Credits Korigzuefeng Kharrvae Korigzuefeng spent his formative years being bullied by humans. He soon grew strong enough to ensure that this did not happen too often. Leaving school with few qualifications, he eventually drifted into the IISS, after all the humans always had dirty jobs for a 'dog' to do. Korigzuefeng was trained up in heavy weapons, scouting, and surveying and survival skills and proved to be incredibly adept in these fields. He was, however, continually in trouble with the humans and was sent to work on a remote asteroid base where he would be kept out of trouble. It was here that he met and fell in love with Gverz, the brightest, most beautiful Vargr he had ever met. They got married within 2 years of meeting and he has never looked back since. It was Gverz that taught him to be tolerant to humans and, when she decided to depart the IISS to raise money to settle down, he gladly left with her. After drifting for a few months, they eventually got positions on board 'The Merry Troubadour'. Whilst the rest of the crew were human, they all seemed to be nice enough and they soon settled in. Str 14 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 12 Wis 14 Cha 8 Edu 10 SS 10 Pre 7 Feats: Armour Proficiency (Light) Armour Proficiency (Vac Suit) Barter Brawling Jack of All Trades -2 Vessel (Grav) Weapons Proficiency (Marksman) Weapons Proficiency (Ship's Weapons) Skills: Climb 3 Demolitions 4 Driving 3 Gambling 3 Gunnery 9 K/Vargr Rock Music 1 Listen 4 Navigation 1 P/Chef 5 P/Survey 3 P/Admin 3 Search 3 Sense Motive 6 Spot 6 Survival 6 T/Communications 1 T/Computer 1 T/Mechanical 3 AC (normal) 16 AC (flatfooted) 14 AR 4 Stamina: 40 Lifeblood: 12 Melee +5 Ranged +5 Fort Save +3 Ref Save +4 Will Save +5 Korigzuefeng is of above average height and fairly heavy build for a Vargr. He has a White/Grey colouring and short fur. He wears garishly coloured fatigues most of the time and drinks far too much 'hot chocolate' for Gverz' s liking. Whilst Korigzuefeng, like Gverz, has an innate disapproval of the human propensity for carrying firearms, he knows, firsthand, their effects and will be armed wherever possible but will use his teeth and claws in preference to guns or blades. Languages spoken: Galanglic and Irilitok Short range com unit Handcomp Flak Jacket TL10 Vac Suit Wristwatch Mechanical toolkit Category 3 Weapon Permit (Paramilitary Smallarms) Survival Rifle (d6 damage, 25m range) - 20 rounds 0 Credits (Gverz handles all the cash) Niix Polgret Niix always wanted to join his planetary defence forces but failed the aptitude tests on numerous times. He then became a merchant working on board starships, in either the comms/sensors areas or ships defences, preferring the latter. Although outside his core job areas, he has tried to dedicate himself to bettering 'military' abilities to prove to himself that the Defence Forces were wrong and he was a suitable candidate for enlistment. Whilst his military haircut, fatigues and mannerisms have often resulted in him being mocked by his shipmates over the years, they have, nonetheless been grateful of his combat prowess on the occasions it has been required. He has been working aboard 'The Merry Troubadour' for the last 8 months and feels a part of the family here. Str 12 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 10 Wis 16 Cha 12 Edu 13 SS 8 Feats: Armour Proficiency (Light) Armour Proficiency (Medium) Armour Proficiency (Vac Suit) Barter EW Specialist Vessel (Grav) Vessel (Ship's Boat) Weapon Focus (Snub Pistol) Weapon Proficiency (Marksman) Weapon Proficiency (Ship's Weapons) Zero-G Adaptation Zero-G Combat Skills: Demolitions 6 Driving 1 Forward Observer 2 Gunnery 11 Intimidate 3 Liaison 3 Listen 5 Move Silently 6 Survival 41/2 T/Communications 4 T/Computer 2 T/Sensors 7 T/Mechanical 7 AC (normal) 15 AC (flatfooted) 13 AR 3 Stamina: 32 Lifeblood: 12 Melee +3 Ranged +3 Fort Save +4 Ref Save +4 Will Save +6 Niix has pale skin, golden hair (high and tight) and is of average height and build. He is somewhat withdrawn with strangers but opens up to those few he calls 'friend'. Languages spoken: Galanglic. Short-range com unit Cloth Armour TL10 Vac Suit Wristwatch Electric Torch Mechanical (Weapon Repair) Toolkit Category 3 Weapon Permit (Paramilitary Smallarms) Snub Revolver (loaded with 6rds of Tranq (Reflex DC15 or drowsy and incoherent for 2d10 minutes, 21m range) plus 12 rds of HEAP (d10 and ignore 5 levels of AR) carried . M889CAW (Assault Shotgun) (3d6/2d6/d6 damage, 3m range, 20 rd drum magazine) 2 Tranq Grenades (6m radius Fort Sv DC15 or fall unconscious for 2-20 minutes, gas persists for d3+6 rds 500 Credits