The Sorrows of Young Efric (Lyonesse RPG)

As I mentioned recently, I’ve started playing in a Lyonesse campaign. I’m quite excited about this, as Jack Vance’s Lyonesse trilogy is among my all-time favourites. Also, I'm a bit burnt out from running two campaigns. While I enjoy being a GM, I prefer to focus on one campaign at a time (my "Against the Court of Urdor" campaign is still going strong), and it’s a pleasant change of pace to alternate between playing and gamemastering. 

In case anyone is interested in what a Lyonesse player character looks like – perhaps to get a sense of the rules and setting – allow me to introduce my character: Efric ‘the Rational’.

I’ll begin with his brief backstory, generated in part by using the wonderful Lyonesse “Background Events” table. I tried to construct something suitably “Vancian” in flavour…

The Tale of Efric (so far):

Efric was born during an eclipse – along with his younger sister and brother – some eighteen years ago within the walled town of Sardilla in the realm of Caduz. It was an ominous sign. All the rats within his father’s tavern turned white that night.

The first twelve years of the triplets’ lives were uneventful. Efric and his brother learned how to play the lute and performed on occasion in the tavern. His sister loved to sing to their music. During those days the three “children of the eclipse” loved each other’s company.

But one day the legendary mage Tamurello chanced upon the trio whilst visiting the town. He sensed great magical potential within them and offered to take them on as his apprentices. Efric’s parents refused, and with a gracious smile the great mage departed.

A few months later, Efric’s parents died in a freak accident involve a runaway flaming cart filled with screaming cats. Whispers spoke of the involvement of the “Black Adder,” the mysterious spymaster of Caduz. Others suggested that magic was involved. In any case, Efric’s grandfather was overwhelmed by his new childcare duties. When Tamurello suspiciously reappeared in the town a month later, Efric’s grandfather was guiltily relieved to agree to let the mage take his three grandchildren as apprentices.

For six years Efric and his siblings studied at Tamurello’s manor Faroli in the Kingdom of Pomperol, at the edge of the Forest of Tantrevelles. The most talented of the triplets, Efric’s sister and brother eventually allied against him. Encouraged by Tamurello for his amusement (or so Efric suspected), his siblings became increasingly antagonistic towards him. Finally, unable to tolerate the miserable situation any further, Efric fled Faroli for Lyonesse Town.

Efric took his brother’s lute, a gift from Tamurello, when he fled. The lute was crafted by the famous Fairy Luthier, Fendair, and is greatly prized by all who know and understand the artistry of the lute and its music. Given his brother’s paltry skill at playing the instrument, Efric deemed it just that he should “liberate” it. 

The pale young mage now tries to earn a living playing melancholy tunes on his faerie lute at the Sad Cathay. His favourite song is “How Soon is Now?”, which should be unsurprising given his bleak demeanor and chonomantic skills. 

EFRIC “the Rational”

Homeland: Caduz.

Career: Magician

Age: 18

Social Class: Freeman (Affluence: 64).

Culture: Hybras.

Fashion Statement: “I wear black on the outside, because black is how I feel on the inside.”

Background Event: Magically gifted (trained by a mage).

Strength: 9.

Constitution: 7.

Size: 12.

Dexterity: 12.

Intelligence: 17.

Power: 15

Charisma: 15.

Action Points: 3

Damage Modifier: 0.

Experience Modifier: +1.

Healing Rate: 2

Initiative Modifier: 15.

Movement Rate: 6.

Luck Points: 3.

Magic Points: 15.

Passions:

Hate Brother and sister: 70.

Find one true love: 60.

Defend the honour of Caduz against Lyonesse condescension: 50.

Compulsion: Bathing (60).

After using Sandestin magic, Efric must take a proper bath that same day – failure to do so results in him being weary (unless he rolls over 60). This is because his Sandestin insists on cleanliness.

Standard Skills

Athletics: 21.

Boating: 16.

Common Tongue (Hybraic): 100.

Conceal: 32.

Customs: 74.

Dance: 27.

Eloquence: 35.

Endurance: 29.

First Aid: 29.

Folk Lore: 40.

Influence: 65.

Insight: 65.

Perception: 62.

Ride: 27.

Singe: 30.

Stealth: 30.

Swim: 16.

Unarmed: 21

Willpower: 70.

Professional Skills

Courtesy: 37

Lore (History of the Elder Isles): 40.

Music (strings – lute): 40 (55 when using Fairy lute).

Literacy: 99.

Fairy Magic: 50 (65 when using Fairy lute).

Sandestin Coercion: 62.

Sandestin Invocation: 64.

Research: 40.

Combat Style:

Citizen Militia (mace and shield): 51.

Trait: Cautious Fighter.

Fairy Magic: 50 (65 when using Fairy lute).

“Far-flung Whisper-song” (projects the voice of the target).

“Irudo’s Immortal Bulldog” (creates an alarm in the form of an illusory dog).

“Willowisp werelight” (creates magical light).

“Shiel’s Anonalous Key” (fastens/unfastens locks and bars).

“The Four-Fold Spell” (increases movement rate).

Sandestin Coercion: 62.

Known Axiom: Chronomancy.

6 Sandestin Coercion Points.

Sandestin Invocation: 64.

“Cunctation” (stops time around caster).

“Interpellation” (grants target  +1 action point for non-attack actions during combat).

“Prorogation” (suspends aging for a number of years equal to Invocation skill).

“Restoration” (healing spell).

“Sustenation” (permits survival without food, water, air, or warmth).   

Noteworthy Equipment

Lute made by famous Fairy luthier Fendair (+15 to Music & Fairy Magic when used).

Soaps and oils for proper bathing.

Two sets of decent clothing (all black).

Mace and shield.

Scraps of armour (2 armour points – covers 4 locations).