IHMN: Some thoughts for the Beginner in Designing an Adventuring Company, Part 8a (My Characters for you to use!)

Dorothy Gale of Kansas, Princess of Oz and her stalwart companion Toto.

First the Heroes! When I saw Reaper Minatures Steampunk version of Oz I thought to myself: "Self, shiny new toy syndrom!". So I did an Adventuring Company based on Dorothy and one on the Wicked Witch of the West. But for the purposes of this post, I'm going to concentrate on some of the leaders of the Adventuring Companies or unique character and then the support casts for their companies in another post. I'm not going to repeat characters that I have already posted in this series.

From the private journal of Dr. John Watson, MD: It was disturbing to see that great mind in such melancholy as he recovered during that fateful year of 1895.  As I had finished my practice for the day, and my wife was with her family, I decided to drop in on my old apartment and to make sure that Mr. Sherlock Holmes had not further sunk into depression and was once again experimenting with exotic drugs and concoctions of his own devising.  When I arrived, much to my surprise there was a young girl sitting in his room with the most amazing poodle I had ever seen. She was sweet tempered, a round rosy face and big earnest eyes filled with awe.
"Oh Watson, there you are.  May I introduce to you Miss Dorothy Gale of Kansas?"
I bowed politely, and Holmes must have seen the quizzical look on my face as I glanced at him.
"That's right Watson - it's time to get the Americans in the fight."

Dorothy Gale:
Pluck: 2+
Fighting Value: +1
Shooting Value: +3
Speed: 0
Talents: Leadership +3, Inspirational, Unearthly Beauty (Okay, which of us never fell for Judy Garland?)
Basic Equipment:  Ruby Slippers (may move instantaneously anywhere on the board), Canteen (you never know when you need to melt a witch), Magic Emerald City Arc pistol.
Armor: 9 (Magneto-static waist coat)
Cost: 67 points

In the late 19th century China, Kwai Chang Caine (虔官昌) was the orphaned son of an American man and a Chinese woman. Although taking a student of mixed parentage into the order was unprecedented, the head monk Master Kan sagely noted, "There is a first for everything," and welcomed Caine. He was raised in a Shaolin Monastery in Hunan Province, and was trained by the monks to be a Shaolin master.

Name: Kwai Chang Caine

Pluck: 2+

Leadership: +2

Speed: +2

Fighting Value: +4

Shooting Value: +3

Talents: Martial Arts, Intervention, Fearless, Fortitude, Leadership +2 Mystical Powers: Clouding Men's Minds, Path of Shadows, Resonant Touch (Note: Caine gets 30 points of Mystical Powers and the previous I have chose for a specific game.)

Basic Equipment: None

Armor: 7

Cost: 92

 The meeting of Coira Armstrong (L) and Gertrude Bell (R) in the British Museum.

 The eldest daughter of a British steel magnate, Gertrude Bell was born in 1869 at the height of stodgy, Victorian England. Possessing a keen mind and a determined disposition, she rejected the narrow life of a stayed and dignified British lady to excel at Oxford University at the age of 17. History was one of the few subjects women were allowed to study so she specialized in modern history receiving a first class honors degree in two years. Though famous as an English writer and traveler, Her Majesty's government realized her importance and she has served as political officer, administrator, spy and archaeologist exploring and mapping the unknown regions of the earth. She has become highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her knowledge and contacts, built up through extensive travels in North Africa, Greater Syria, Mesopotamia and Arabia. In addition, she is the first female Intelligence officer employed by the British Army.

Name: Gertrude Bell 

Pluck: 2+
Fighting Value: +1
Shooting Value: +1
Speed: +0
Cost: 69 points
Talents: Leadership +2, Erudite Wit, Fearless, Inspirational, Stealthy, Impervious, Meticulous Planning, Master of Disguise
Basic Equipment: Brigandine and pistol

Coira Armstrong is the daughter of Colonel Dugald Armstrong, VC, DSO she accompanied her father to a remote military outpost on the northern frontier of India where she was instrumental in putting down the rebellion of the notorious Khoda Khan.  Reports are conflicting but it is known that the Chinese Army incursion into India was recently thwarted and Coira was present with forces of the British Raj.  Coincidentally, shortly thereafter, Coira Armstrong was granted an Honorary Commission by in the Royal Highland Regiment by the Regimental Colonel HRH The Duke of Rothesay.

Name: Coira Armstrong

Pluck: 3+

Fighting Value: +1

Shooting Value: +1

Speed: +1

Talents: Leadership +1, Inspirational, Erudite Wit, Fearless, Just darn lucky (re-rolls 1 pluck roll per game)
Basic Equipment: Pistol and Magento-static waistcoat

Cost: 33 points

 Miss Nightengale and Professor Nightengale

Name: Miss Nightengale:

Pluck: 4+

Fighting Value: +1

Shooting Value: +3

Speed: +1

Talents: Erudite Wit, Fearless, Impervious

Basic Equipment: Arc Rifle, The Key that can unlock anything, All-Electric Hand Prothesis (+1 FV and +1 to Armor), Arc Generator, Magneto-Static waistcoat
Points: 68

  Colonel Sir Robert Warburton, KCIE, CSI chats amiably with Coira Armstrong.

 
In the British Empire, a Political Officer or Political Agent was an officer of the imperial civil administration, as opposed to the military administration, usually operating outside imperial territory. The title was particularly attached to a government official acting as a political adviser to the ruler of one of the princely states in pre-independence South Asia, though it could also designate a kind of special envoy or ambassador (e.g. "Political Officer to Afghanistan").

Name: Colonel Sir Robert Warburton, KCIE, CSI

Pluck: 3+
Fighting Value: +2
Shooting Value: +2
Speed: 0
Talents: Leadership +3 (With Native Troops or Tribesman), Leadership +1 Inspirational, Fearless, Intuitive, Stealthy, Tough
Basic Equipment: Lined Coat (8), pistol (+1 SV), military rifle (-1 Pluck, +3 SV) and sword (-1 Pluck, +2 FV)
Cost: 59 points 

 Captain (Doctor) John H Watson, Medical Corps discussing current operations with the officers of the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers.

Name: Captain John H. Watson, Army Medical Corps: 

Pluck: 3+

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +3

Speed: 0

Talents: Leadership +1, Medic, May choose 2 additional talents at additional costs

Basic Equipment: Pistol, Military Sword, SRC Breastplate
Points: 27 (does not includes points for additional talents)

Inspector Stanley Hopkins, protege of Sherlock Holmes.

He is the youngest inspector in the Yard and often is assigned what appear to be mundane and investigations that may be the figment of other's imagination. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Though inexperienced as an inspector, his mentoring by Sherlock Holmes and his unmatched bravery for Queen and Country have made him a rising star; however, others would like to see him fail.  He has recently be reassigned on "extended" service in the small parish of North Piddle in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England.

Name: Inspector Stanley Hopkins Pluck: 3+

Leadership: +2 (except for other inspectors and Mr. Sherlock Holmes)

Speed: +0

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +3

Talents: Fearless, Impervious, Meticulous Planning

Basic Equipment: Pistol

Armor: Brigandine

Cost: 61

Captain John Good for Quartermain's Company. I just use the stats for Great White Hunter. 

Herr Doktor Professor Kernel von Sanders and German Imperial Marines protecting an ancient temple and artifacts from the troglodytes of the Witch King of Sokar.

 A strong nationalist and humanitarian, von Sanders is vehemently opposed to the Society of Thule and uses his influence with the Imperial family, the court, his former military comrades (yes . . . he is that Oberst (Colonel) von Sanders) and the academic world.

Name: Herr Doktor Professor Kernal von Sanders. 

Pluck: 2+

Leadership: +1

Speed: +0

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +2

Talents: Inspirational, Erudite Wit, Lighting Draw (pistol), Meticulous Planning

Basic Equipment: Cane Sword, pistol,

Armor: Magneto-Static Waistcoat

Cost: 63 points

Next: More Heroes!