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According to the annals of (spurious) history, the name of Blackadder first rose to prominence at the end of the War of the Roses in 1485. But what if the rise of Blackadder had occurred in the thirteenth century? How might Edmund Blackadder and Baldrick appear to the players of an Ars Magica saga? In this article, as a strange (but very cunning) form of homage to a television show of which we are inordinately fond, we seek to present answers to these questions. If you wish to discover more about Blackadder and Baldrick in Ars Magica, read on!
And if you have no idea what we're blithering about, please click here.
(Created as a Companion)
Characteristics: Int +1, Per 0, Str -1, Sta 0, Pre +1, Com +4, Dex 0, Qik 0
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 2 (5)
Virtues and Flaws: Gentleman; Clear Thinker, Educated, Great Communication, Intuition, Luck, Protection (Monarch), Puissant Guile, Self-Confident, Social Contacts (Nobility); Ambitious, Difficult Underlings; Infamous, Oversensitive to Stupidity, Social Handicap (Constant Sneering), Unlucky (see below)
Personality Traits: Brave -2, Pleasant -2, Arrogant +3
Reputations: Egotistical Ponce 4 (Nobles), Royal Toady 3 (Nobles)
| Weapon/Attack | Init | Atk | Dfn | Dam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fist | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Kick | -2 | 0 | -1 | +2 |
| Slim Sword | 0 | +3 | +1 | +4 |
| Dagger | -1 | 0 | 0 | +2 |
Soak: 0 (Stamina)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Artes Liberales 3 (Logic), Awareness 2 (Snooping), Carouse 3 (Gloating), Charm 2 (Royalty), Civil & Canon Law 1 (Slander Statutes), English 5 (Wide Vocabulary), Etiquette 4 (Royal Court), Folk Ken 3 (Nobility), French 2 (Language of Love), Guile 5 (Saving Neck), Intrigue 4 (Conspiracies), Latin 3 (Legal Terminology), Leadership 1 (Servants), Spanish 2 (Restaurant), Stealth 3 (How Not To Be Seen)
Equipment: Elegant Clothing a la Mode, a Slim Sword and Dagger that He is Little Practiced With
Encumbrance: 1 (1)
Description and Background:
Dark of hair, dark of eye, and spiteful of mouth, Sir Edmund is well known in most noble circles and often just as easily dismissed as an office-seeking, lick-spittle, sneering little toady who would gladly sell his own mother if only he could get a good price for her. Sir Edmund is a slightly cunning man who thinks of himself as a truly deep and clever thinker. He is also a rather good-looking fellow, and if only it wasn't for his constant sneering and spiteful attitude he might actually be somewhat admired. Overall his ambitions far exceed his abilities and thus he is constantly thwarted.
Of course, the fact that his servant is Baldrick and his closest ally is Percy does not help matters, either.
For odd reasons the monarch has taken something of a shine to Sir Edmund, a fact that has saved his head from the block on more than one occasion. Sir Edmund realizes that the favour of monarchs is fickle and is always willing to suck up to the boss, whoever he or she might be at the moment. When all else fails he tells the most amazing bare-faced lies imaginable, the kind that, from anyone else, would seem wildly implausible to say the least, but when wrapped in the patented clever Blackadder vocabulary take on a veracity all their own. It is said that the demons themselves could take lessons on this topic, if only they could stand his jibes against them.
Sir Edmund is a man of absolutely no convictions, moral or otherwise. He is always willing to side with the strong over the weak, assuming that the strong has even a modicum of sense between his lobes. He is also quite willing to drop anyone on the spin of a coin, often sensing that someone is out of favour in the court even before the monarch does. This knack for self-preservation has been noted with deep detestation by many other nobles.
Blackadder as Lucky and Unlucky:
The Unlucky Flaw works in exactly the same manner as the Lucky Virtue, only in reverse. At times when Dame Fortune matters more than knowledge and direct skill, the fates turn against the doomed recipient. Unlucky is a Minor General Flaw.
Sir Edmund is a man of many turns on the Wheel of Fortune. As such, in any situation involving luck, roll a simple die. On an even number, apply his Luck Virtue; on an odd number apply his Unlucky Flaw instead.
(Created as a Grog)
Characteristics: Int -5, Per +3, Str -1, Sta +3, Pre -2, Com +2, Dex +1, Qik +1
Size: 0
Age: 25 (25)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Peasant; Luck, Rapid Convalescence, Sharp Ears; Delusion (Cunning Planner), Poor Intelligence x2
Personality Traits: Brave +0, Loyal +0, Loves Turnips +3
Reputations: None currently...
| Weapon/Attack | Init | Atk | Dfn | Dam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fist | +1 | +1 | +1 | -1 |
| Kick | 0 | +1 | 0 | +2 |
Soak: +3 (Innate Toughness after Many Bootings)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Athletics 4 (Running Away from Danger), Bargain 3 (More Turnips), Carouse 3 (Quaffing), English 5 (Confusing Terminology), Etiquette 1 (Basic Manners), Folk Ken 2 (Social Superiors), Guile 5 (Tales of Woe), Intrigue 1 (Sucking Up), Legerdemain 3 (Purse Cutting), London Lore 2 (Seedy Districts), Profession: Servant 3 (Appearing Competent), Stealth 3 (Avoiding Notice), Survival 3 (Forests)
Equipment: Odiferous Clothing, Eating Implements, Beer Mug, Turnips
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Description and Background:
Loathsome, foul-smelling, idiotic, yet somehow not entirely repugnant, Baldrick is Sir Edmund's personal valet and maid-of-all-jobs. The Baldricks have always served the Blackadders and probably always shall, in one form or another, though some suggest that this form may indeed be that of a compost heap or a dung pile. Baldrick is of somewhat slight and stooped stature and always, no matter how hard anyone tries, appears unkempt. His reasoning capabilities endearingly resemble the turnips that he loves so intently. On the other hand, he always has a cunning plan to extricate his master from last minute gloom, despair, and imminent civil litigation.
Text copyright © Angus Macdonald 2005. Blackadder, Baldrick and all associated trademarks are
property of the British Broadcasting Company, while the above is merely an affectionate
parody of a television show so cunning, you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.
Please don't sue us; we have no money!