Deadlands |
(Note - I've compiled my Deadlands submissions using French books, so I cannot guarantee an easy read of my Deadlands entries - Ed.)
Clayton Forkes
Undead Man o' Law
Perception: 3d6
Knowledge : 4d6
Charisma : 3d6
Wit : 3d8
Soul : 3d8
Dexterity : 3d6
Agility : 2d6
Strength : 1d8
Quickness : 4d12
Body : 4d6
Evil Spirit Soul: 2d6
Dominion : 3 / 8 (to Clayton)
Wind : 14
Size : 7
Flaws
Ambitious : to kill the gang responsible for his family's death (3 point flaw)
Deathwish : to die just after his ambition fulfilled, or die trying (5 point flaw)
Intolerant : can't really condone criminals, or their activities (1 point flaw)
Oath : on his wife & son's grave - to kill the murderous gang (2 point flaw)
Stubborn : won't give up until they're all dead (3 point flaw)
Undead flaws
Mark of the Demon: can't you tell WHAT I am? (3 point flaw)
Revolting Diet : Survives on raw meat and graveyard earth (2 point flaw)
Decomposition : freshly died - only a very very faint smell of rot (0 point flaw)
Advantages
Man o' Law : carries a mandate for the arrest of the criminal gang (1 point merit)
Gaze o' Steel : can stare down a grizzli bear (1 point merit)
Nerves o' Steel: doesn't wet himself whilst staring at a grizzli bear (1 point merit)
Massive Build : built like a brick outhouse (3 point merit)
Undead Powers
Tunnel 3 : the earth parts its way at this man's whim
Evil Eye 2 : the curse of bad luck at hand
Stitch 2 : faster rate of healing (recovery roll every 6 hours)
Insect Swarm : summoning forth a swarm of insects upon his enemies
Perception Skills
Detect : 3
Scrutinize : 2
Knowledge Skills
Career: Lawman : 2
(Native County) : 3
(Mothertongue) : 3
Job: Marshal : 2
Trivia: Crime : 1
Charisma Skills
Intimidate : 2
Eloquence : 2
Wit Skills
Shamin' : 2
Bluffin' : 2
Dexterity Skills
Shootin': Pistol : 2
Shootin': Shotgun: 2
Agility Skills
Combat: Brawl : 1
Soul Skills
Gut : 1
Equipment
Winchester Shotgun 35$
Smith & Wesson Frontier 15$
Box (50) .44 Russian 3$
Box (50) 12-Gauge 2$
Classic Holster 3$
Shotgun Holster 0.25$
Long Johns 2$
Smart Shirt 3$
Suit 15$
Boots 8$
Dust-Coat 10$
Stetson 5$
Belt 2$
Hatchet 1$
Sleeping Bag 4$
Handcuffs (two pairs) 7$
Lantern 2.50$
Lantern Oil (1 Gallon) 0.10$
Matches (x100) 0.50$
Deck o' Cards 2$
Backpack 2$
Rope (5 meters) 5$
Standard Watch 2.50$
120 dollars (Northern Notes) and 15 cents
Gang "Wanted" Posters
Role-play
The idea behind this guy was the "not even death can halt my vengeance" kind of idea, that his dismay at dying was such that an evil spirit possessed his body. Lucky for Clayton, the spirit was not a strong one, and it was easily controlled, so he carries on his mandate to track down the gang that ruthlessly murdered his family before burning his property to the ground. A classic "nothing to lose character" with a taste for the bittersweet aroma of retribution: A kind of cross between "Braveheart" and "Liberty Stands Still", in the fact that once he has exacted his revenge, then he has no will to live, and will destroy himself.
Apart from the rules, which obviously have to be studied when it comes to the undead and, to a lesser extent to men of law, this character can be an extremely versatile one, in the fact that depending on the story he can be awfully hard to role-play, or he can be dead (haha) easy to play. Because he is undead, is his death a public fact or did he die and resurrect without anyone knowing? Also, I left certain areas blank for adaptations into various campaigns / stories, a sort of "fill in the blanks" character, such as the gang and its activities, how it killed the family, what county the character originates from, what language is his mother tongue, etc.
Eventually, you could role-play him all the way in a campaign, which would lead to his death, OR, in an amazing feat of role-playing, you could find a reason to return the will to live in him (another woman? new career? reformed way of thinking?), which would be an entire new character, because I haven't expanded him that far. Like I said, he's putty in your hands.
Enjoy!
(Contributed by Gavin Calder)