"A thane of Hygelac, a good man among the Geats, heard in his homeland of Grendel's deeds: of mankind he was strongest of might in the time of this life, noble and great."
Beowulf -translated by E. Talbot Donaldson.
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 35 STR 25 16- Lift 3200 kg; 7d6 HTH Damage [7] 18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 21 CON 22 13- 15 BODY 10 12- 18 INT 8 13- PER Roll 13- 20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7 23 PRE 13 14- PRE Attack: 4 1/2d6 16 COM 3 12- 8 PD 1 Total: 8 PD (0 rPD) 7 ED 3 Total: 7 ED (0 rED) 4 SPD 12 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 11 REC 0 42 END 0 44 STUN 0 Total Characteristic Cost: 141 Movement: Running: 7"/14" Leaping: 7"/14" Swimming: 5"/10" Cost Powers & Skills Martial Art: Wrestling Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 4 Crush +0 +0 11d6 Crush, Must Follow Grab 4 Escape +0 +0 50 STR vs. Grabs 3 Hold -1 -1 Grab Two Limbs, 45 STR for holding on 3 Slam +0 +1 7d6 +v/5, Target Falls 30 Bone-Breaking Grip: HKA 1d6 (1 1/2d6 w/STR), Penetrating (+1/2), Continuous (+1); Must Follow Grab (-1/4), END 4 2 Swift Of Foot: Running +1" (7" total), END 1 3 Powerful Swimmer: Swimming +3" (5" total), END 1 5 Powerful Swimmer: LS (Expanded Breathing (can [virtually] breathe underwater)) 15 The Luck Of Heroes: Luck 3d6 Perks 5 Fringe Benefit: Chief of the Geats 9 Reputation: a great hero and warrior (A large group) 14-, +3/+3d6 Talents 14 Fearless Skills 20 +4 with HTH Combat 3 AK: Geatish and Danish Lands 13- 2 AK: Scandinavian Oceans 11- 3 Climbing 13- 0 Concealment 8- 2 KS: Warriors Of Note 11- 1 Language: Danish (idiomatic; literate) 2 Navigation (Marine) 13- 3 Oratory 14- 2 PS: Sailor 11- 2 PS: Warrior 11- 3 Riding 13- 5 Survival (Arctic/Subarctic, Temperate/Subtropical, Marine Surface) 13- 3 Tactics 13- 3 Tracking 13- 4 TF: Large Rowed Boats, Large Wind-Powered Boats, Small Rowed Boats, Small Wind-Powered Boats 4 WF: Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons 159 Total Powers & Skills Cost 300 Total Character Cost 150+ Disadvantages 10 Distinctive Features: Noble Bearing (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 10 Psychological Limitation: Code Of Vengence (Common, Moderate) 20 Psychological Limitation: Courageous And Fearless (Very Common, Strong) 20 Psychological Limitation: Overconfidence (Very Common, Strong) 10 Unluck: 2d6 80 Hero of the Geats bonus 300 Total Disadvantage Points
Background/History: Beowulf is the central figure of the epic poem Beowulf. Written over 1200 years ago, it is the oldest poem written in English (actually Old English) that exists today. The poem concerns itself with a series of events that occur (presumably) in the mid to late 500s.
Beowulf is a Geat, a Germanic race native to southern Sweden. A great warrior and noted hero, he journeys south to aid the Danish king Hrothgar in his battle vs the foul monster Grendel. He slays the monster in a fierce wrestling match; later killing Grendel's mother when she tries to get revenge for the death of her son. Beowulf goes on to become king of the Geats, finally dying in battle vs a fire-breathing dragon (although he does slay the dragon as well).
Personality/Motivation: Beowulf is a hero, which greatly defines his actions. He must act in a courageous manner, boasting of his great deeds and of the things he is going to accomplish. He cannot shirk from actions that are dangerous, or allow a challenge to go unanswered. He known to be a great hero, a powerful warrior and he must live up to these expectations. Naturally, this mind set does cause him to perform acts that people might call foolish. He removes his mail shirt before fighting Grendel, vowing to fight him barehanded since Grendel does not carry a weapon. He plunges into the pool that holds Grendel's mother alone, pausing only to detail to his men what to do if he should be killed. He fights a dragon single handedly.
Beowulf also lives by the Germanic code that one cannot allow the death of a close companion or liege to go unanswered. Unlike most heroes of these sorts of tales, he doesn't get embroiled in the circular bloodfeuds that are a staple of most sagas, instead confronting larger supernatural threats.
Powers/Tactics: Beowulf's main ability is his strength. He is said to have the strength of 30 men in his hand grip (which is how I got a 35 STR. If one man can lift 100 kg, then 30 x 100 = 3,000 kg). His great strength allows to slay and subdue giants, fight with great sea-going beasts and successfully wrestle with Grendel.
In the course of fighting with Grendel, Beowulf eventually wrenches Grendel's arm out of it's socket and tears the entire limb from Grendel's body. I bought this is a Penetrating HKA, representing Beowulf's ability to slowly tear apart anything he can get his hands upon.
At one point in the story, Beowulf describes at great length his ability to swim (he once spent 5 days out in the oceans), as well as his prowess vs water monsters. He also seems to be quite capable of spending enormous lengths of time underwater (it takes him the better part of a day to get to the bottom of Grendel's mother's pool, he spends an entire night under the ocean fighting with sea serpents).
Although Beowulf wrestles Grendel barehanded and without armor, he normally carries weapons. Usually, he is described as wearing a simple open-faced helm, a shirt of mail and carrying a sword and a roundshield.
Appearance: Beowulf is never actually described physically. He is noted to be strong, a mighty warrior, and his heroic appearance and bearing definitely make him stand out when amid others.
Designer's Notes: For my adaption of Beowulf, I used two translations of the poem. One was by David Wright, the other by E. Talbot Donaldson. The former is written in a much more modern prose style, while the latter does a much nicer job of capturing the poems alliterative style.
A note on Beowulf's unluck. Several times in the poem, Beowulf's weapons fail him in his time of need. His sword will not cut Grendel's mother, he breaks his sword on the dragon's hide, etc.
(Beowulf created by an unknown English poet, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
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