Mother Stole the Background Kits #4

Marc Scott

Previous Tables:

1. Basic Kits
2. Uncommon Kits
3. Knightly Orders

Table 4: Assorted Professions 

1. Prostitute

Honorable painted ladies of the night.

• Pigsticker (d6, 1s)
• Perfume
• Elegant Clothing
• Union Membership

2. Antiquarian

Delving dust-choked archives.

• Rare Tome of Eldritch Lore
• Relic of an Ancient Civilization
• In-Progress Dissertation
• Map of Distant Lands

3. Cook

"Mwah!"

• Set of Knives
• Pots and Pans
• Herbs and Spices
• Finely Tuned Smell and Taste

4. Astronomer

"And if you look past the shoulder of Orion..."

• Portable Telescope
• Big Book of Star Charts
• Spell: Navigate the Night Sky
• Spell: Read the Heavens

5. Apothecary

No! Don't eat that!

• Assorted Herbs and Unguents
• Mortar and Pestle
• Bottles and Vials
• Book of Herb Lore
• Book of Prescription Records

6. Fisherman

Well, it's not called catching...

• Fishing Pole
• Tacklebox
• Sun Hat with Lures
• Net
• Canoe and paddles

7. Sailor

And we’ll roll the old chariot along

• Mooring Hook (d8, 2s)
• Rope
• Tattoo
• Ticket to a Certain Brothel in Port

8. Farmer

Just like your pa, and his pa, and his pa

• Pitchfork
• Old Mule
• Sack of Produce
• Straw Hat

9. Artist

Pouring out soul into form.

• Tools of the Trade
• Work in Progress
• Completed Work (For Sale)
• Completed Work (Not For Sale)

10. Teacher

The sustainers of civilization.

• Bundle of Textbooks
• Packet of Fresh Pencils
• Area of Expertise
• Spell: Alma Mater

11. Gongfarmer

It’s a living.

• Shovel(d8, 2s)
• Wading Boots
• Bucket of Shit
• Incredible Stink

12. Houndmaster

On patrol with man's best friend.

• Blackjack (d6, 1s)
• Gambeson (12ac, 1s)
• Dog Treats
• Loyal Wolfhound

Mother Stole the Background Kits #2

Lady Arrowsmith

Previous Posts: 1

Table 2: Uncommon Kits

1. Shield Maiden

I am no man.

• Axe(d8, 2s)
• Chainmail (14ac 3s)
• Shield (+1ac, 1s)
• Runestones (Augury)

2. Flagellant

Pain purges sin, pain keeps Hell away.

• Cat o’ Nine Tails (d6, 1s)
• Heavy Scarring (+1ac, 1s)
• Penitent’s Hood

3. Plague Doctor

Bring out your dead.

• Dissection Tools (d6, 1s)
• Treated Robes (12ac, 1s)
• Sealed Mask
• Censer & Incense

4. Whaler

Twenty years on the decks and docks.

• Harpoon (d8, 2s)
• Oilskins (12ac, 1s)
• Rope
• Jug of Grog
• Scrimshaw Set

5. Frontiersman

A simple life in the woods; Clean air and solitude.

• Axe (d8, 2s)
• Heavy Furs (12ac 1s)
• Musket (d10, 2s)
• Ammo Pouch
• Spell: Hermit’s Hideaway
• Companion Hound

6. Black Amazon

Orca's laconic warriors.

• Obsidian Greatsword (d10, 3s)
• Whalehide Armor (13ac, 2s)
• Jug of Hot Milk Tea
• Ambergris Totem-Fetus

7. Shrine Keeper

Keeping the local Folk are satisfied.

• Bell and Staff
• Ceremonial Robes
• Spell: Call Upon the Folk

8. Monster Hunter

Hunting the bumps in the night.

• Monster-Bone Greatsword (d10, 3s)
• Monster-Hide Armor (14ac, 3s)
• Camouflage Shroud
• Bottle of Musk

9. Collegiate Wizard

All that debt was worth it, right?

• Robes and Hat
• Spellbook
• Framed Diploma
• Spell: Levitate
• Spell: Thaumaturgy
• Spell: Wizard's Eyes

10. Veteran

Returned from the War, irrevocably changed.

• Long Rifle (d10, 2s)
• Bayonet (d8, 2s)
• Ammo Pouch
• Trench Shovel
• Tinned Rations x2
• Post-Traumatic Stress

11. Sanctioned Cambion

Evil beginnings do not mean evil ends.

• Pistol (d8, 1s)
• Ammo Pouch
• Knife (d6, 1s)
• Clerical Garb
• Saint's Icon
• Exorcist's Emblem
• Holy Water

12. Bard

Pass the hat around.

• Instrument
• Knife (d6, 1s)
• Colorful cloak
• Spell: I Once Knew A Man...

Mother Stole the Background Kits #1

Peter Klijn

Part 1 of 12 of starter character kits for Mother Stole Fire. These were written with Knave in mind, but could be applied to just about anything.

Table 1: Basic Kits

1. Red Hat Hobo

Have sword, will travel.

• Sword (d8, 2s)
• Gambeson and cloak (12ac, 1s)
• Shield  (+1ac, 1s)
• Lantern

2. White Hat Hobo

The brains of the operation.

• Shortsword (d8, 2s)
• Gambeson and Cloak (12ac, 1s)
• Chalk
• Grappling Hook
• Iron Spike or Crowbar
• Lockpicks

3. Witch

Practical solutions to practical problems.

• Knife (d6, 1s)
• Hat, Boots, Cloak 
• Spell: Create Flame
• Spell: Mend
• Spell: Women’s Work
• Spell: Call Upon the Folk

4. Hedge Mage

A bit of grandpa’s magic.

• Staff (d6, 1s)
• Rugged Clothing
• Spell: Speak With Dead
• Spell: Identify
• Spell: Create Flame
• Spell: Locate

5. Mendicant Priest

Let no child of Mother’s go hungry.

• Walking Stick (d6, 1s)
• Spell: Bless (Prayer Book)
• Spell: Turn (Holy Symbol)
• Letter of Introduction

6. Barber-Surgeon

Bones set, blood let, teeth pulled, leeches plied, beards trimmed.

• Razor, Scissors, Pliers (d6, 1s)
• Bonesaw
• Jar of Leeches
• Bottle of Whiskey
• Needle and Thread
• Ether (1 dose)

7. Hauflin

Little men of the forests.

• Blowgun (d4, 1s)
• Knife (d6, 1s)
• Camouflage Cloak (12ac, 1s)
• Spell: Stillness

8. Néandr

Old men of the mountains.

• Atlatl (d8, 2s)
• Heavy Furs(13ac, 2s)
• Spell: Old Man’s Song
• Hand Axe (d8, 2s)
• Clan Totem

9. Idaltu

Eldest of the peoples, in the sunset of their golden age.

• Sword (d8, 2s)
• Sunsilk Robes (14ac, 1s)
• Spell: Learn Name
• Spell: Star-Dart
• Poetic Map of the Heavens (In-progress)
• Calligraphy Pen & Blank Scrolls

10. Lilu

Our cousins, the subterrene albinos.

• Stone Knife (d6, 1s)
• Sun Goggles
• Radical Literature
• Bottle of Firewater
• Tobacco and Pipe

11. Amazon

The happy horsewomen of the Thermodon.

• Spear (d8, 2s)
• Chainmail (14ac, 3s)
• Shield (+1ac, 1s)
• Greatbow and Quiver (d10, 4s)

12. Lantern Boy

Here we go again.

• Knife (d6, 1s)
• Lantern
• 10’ Pole
• Flask of Oil

Dungeon Hobo Slang

 

From the Hobo Museum of Britt, Iowa

Anderson – A paladin

Angel – A soft bed, a warm meal, or a hot bath

Beaky – A doctor

Chrit – A crippling injury

Devil gold – Bad money or a bad deal; treasure not worth the cost of getting it

Dice, the – Fate, luck, odds of success

Dinnercan – A suit of armor or a kettle made of such; a knight (derogatory)

Dungeon Pie – Pancakes consisting of acorn or corn flour, filled with meat (usually monster) and whatever spices can be gathered

Faffer and Connie – Nicknames for people from afar; barbarians, people from outside of civilization.

Freshwater – A new hobo

Funhouse – A wizard’s abode; a high-chaos, high-magic dungeon

Gary / Dave – Old, successful hobo. Wise, respected by his peers. A made man. (Alt: Gale / Dani)

Gob – A gag, a pun, a joke; an ugly or foolish person (affectionate)

Golden Rosie – The kind of prostitute you boil up for (alt: Golden Roy)

Gone to see Gary – To retire in wealth; to die, euphemistically 

Gran-Gran – A witch or headwoman

Grog – Old, experienced hobo. A grumbler, a traditionalist, often hidebound. Often used in jest.

Hack – The solution to a problem; sharing or crafting equipment

Handyman – A cleric

Hatjob – A wizard; a task involving or requiring magic

Hidenbite – A mimic

Ick – An ooze or slime

Lankh, the – A city, civilization (alt: the Ankh)

Lily-White Boys – Elves (Singular: Green-ears)

Lions and Hearts – A deck of cards or other game set (usually chess)

Meatbox – A notoriously deadly dungeon.

Meshi / Meshy – The communal mulligan pot. Monster stew. (alt: mess, mesh)

Molefool – A greedy hobo who delved too deep

Mousehole – A crawlspace

Mouser – A thief

Old Goose – A dragon

Post, the – A listing of services a hobo can offer. Usually symbol-based. Often painted on shields, printed in promotional pamphlets, or sewn into clothing. 

Razortip – A hobo gone bad; a murderer, thief, cheat, rapist, etc.

Red Hat / White Hat – The two classical dungeon hobo trades. Red Hats are more combat-oriented, while White Hats offer more specialized, non-combat skillsets. Well-off hobos will often carry their tools in a wooden box of the appropriate color, as further advertisement.

Red Stamp – A sign indicating that the hobo is permitted by local authority to certain jobs that will kill men.

Roughers – Cannibals, mutants, etc.

Scarlinik – Serpentman

Scrap Trick – An unorthodox solution to a problem; a moment of genius or madness

Skinnerbook – A lawyer, someone who follows someone else’s rules

Spook – A minor undead, of the sort often commanded by Spooky Sam

Spooky Sam – A necromancer, lich, or other powerful monster

Stickerpig – A trap.

Strong Paul – A dwarf

Tatertop – A halfling

Tenner – A ten foot pole

Won the fiddle – Made out with a fortune, usually against a crooked patron, by cunning and guile

50 Dungeon Hobo Signs

Click for full size

I threw in some real hobo signs to go along with the dungeon-specific ones, since the basic needs of an itinerant worker are pretty stable across the board.

In-game, I'd say that any previously-delved dungeon will have some of these carved or drawn on the walls. Some might be misleading, some might be no longer accurate, but they should be true enough that they can be an aid to players' navigation and help them in making choices. Compare "there are passages to the north and west" to "north passage is marked 'ooze territory / safe campsite'. west is marked 'disabled trap / monsters can be reasoned with / don't look behind you'".

They're pretty helpful on the DM side too if you need quick ideas for rooms.