Thieves’ World – Savage Worlds – Part I

In 1981, Chaosium put out Thieves’ World, a boxed set based on the series of fantasy anthologies by the same name.

All of the books included stories by some of the most prominent fantasy authors of the 1980s. All of the stories were set in a shared universe, a fantasy city called Sanctuary.

The Chaosium boxed set described the city of Sanctuary in detail, with gorgeous maps. It included game stats for all of the characters that appeared in the novels. Stats were included for all of the major role-playing game systems of 1981 – AD&D, Basic D&D, Tunnels & Trolls, Dragonquest, Adventures in Fantasy, The Fantasy Trip, Runequest, Chivalry & Sorcery, and inexplicably – Traveller.

Unfortunately, the Savage Worlds system was ignored, with only the feeble excuse that Savage Worlds didn’t exist until 20 years after Thieves’ World was published.

I’ve decided to start making my own versions of the denizens of Sanctuary using Savage Worlds Adventure Edition rules.

I’m starting out with the Prince & his retinue, along with the Hell Hounds. I’ll add other posts as I finish them. Note: I didn’t keep strict track of points when creating these, the goal was to try to replicate what was in the book. Any character with an asterisk is a Wild Card.

More details for each character can be found in the Personalities of Sanctuary book in the original boxed set.

Arman

Arrogant younger son of a poor noble. Brutal and insolent Hell Hound. Loyal to Prince Kadakithis.

Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d10, Vigor d10

Skills: Athletics d6, Battle d8, Fighting d8, Healing d4, Intimidation d4, Notice d4, Riding d4, Shooting d4, Stealth d4, Survival d4

Pace: 6, Parry: 6, Toughness: 7, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d8 (Str), Crossbow, Heavy d4 (2d8, 15/30/60), Dagger d8 (Str+d4), Sword, Long d8 (Str+d8), Leggings (+3), Shirt (+3)

Special Abilities:
•Arrogant(*): Flaunt superiority; Seek greatest threat in battle
•Loyal: Will never leave a friend behind
•Mean: Ill-tempered and disagreeable; -1 Persuasion
•Adaptable: Free Novice Edge

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Aye-Gophlan

Captain of the City Guard. Badly paid and corrupt. Was a cutpurse and a thief as a boy.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d10

Skills: Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d8, Fighting d8, Notice d6, Persuasion d6, Riding d4, Shooting d8, Stealth d6, Survival d6, Thievery d8

Pace: 6, Parry: 6, Toughness: 7, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d8 (Str), Crossbow, Heavy d8 (2d8, 15/30/60), Dagger d8 (Str+d4), Spear d8 (Str+d6), Sword, Long d8 (Str+d8)

Special Abilities:
•Illiterate: Cannot read, write, or do math
•Poverty: Start with half money; Lose half of money regularly

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Bourne

Ambitious Hell Hound. Conspires against Prince Kadakithis.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d10, Vigor d10

Skills: Athletics d6, Battle d6, Common Knowledge d6, Fighting d8, Notice d4, Persuasion d6, Riding d8, Shooting d8, Stealth d6, Survival d8, Taunt d6

Pace: 6, Parry: 6, Toughness: 9, Size: 1

Gear: Brawler d8 (Str+d4), Dagger d8 (Str+d4), Sword, Long d8 (Str+d8), Chain Hood or Helm (+3), Leggings (+3), Shirt (+3)

Special Abilities:
•Greedy: Argues over all treasure
•Brawler: Unarmed +d4+ damage die
•Brawny: +1 Tough; Str Die +1 for Enc
•Brute: Use Str for Athletics, thrown range +1/+2/+4

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Danlis

Lay member of Sabellia. Rankan Lady in Waiting to Lady Rosanda, Molin Torchholder’s wife. Master manipulator. Has infleunce over Molin Torchholder.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d12, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d8

Skills: Academics d8, Athletics d4, Common Knowledge d10+2, Fighting d4, Knowledge: Politics d8, Notice d10, Performance d8+1, Persuasion d10+3, Riding d6, Stealth d6, Taunt d8

Pace: 6, Parry: 4, Toughness: 6, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d4 (Str), Dagger d4 (Str+d4)

Special Abilities:
•Attractive: +1 Performance, Persuasion
•Charismatic: Retest Persuasion rolls
•Streetwise: +2 Intimidation/Persuasion/Common Knowledge

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Molin Torchholder*

High priest and temple architect of Savankala. Powerful, rich, and dedicated to the Rankan gods.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d10, Spirit d12, Strength d8, Vigor d10

Skills: Academics d10, Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d8+2, Faith d8, Fighting d4, Healing d6, Intimidation d10, Knowledge: Theology d10, Notice d4, Persuasion d8+2, Riding d6, Stealth d6

Pace: 6, Parry: 4, Toughness: 7, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d4 (Str), Dagger d4 (Str+d4)

Special Abilities:
•Vow (Serve Rankan gods): Vow causes problems
•Arcane Miracles: Gain the Miracles arcane background
•Aristocrat: +2 Persuasion, Common Knowledge
•Connections (Rankan Church): Call for a favor
•Holy Warrior: Up to 4pp, +1’s to Soak Total
•Rich: Three times starting funds; High annual salary

Arcane Powers:
•Arcane Protection: Enemies -2(-4 w/Raise) when targeting/damaging target
•Bless/Curse: Increase a Trait 1 die type in medium burst template, 2 die types on a Raise – Can also lower a Trait
•Divination: Caster asks questions of entities

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 Prince Kadakithis*

Imperial Governor of Sanctuary; step-brother of the Rankan Emperor. Intelligent, idealistic, and enthusiatic. The people have given him the nickname “Prince Kittycat”

Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d12, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d8

Skills: Academics d6, Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d8+2, Fighting d8, Knowledge: Politics d8, Notice d8, Performance d6+1, Persuasion d10+3, Shooting d6, Stealth d6

Pace: 6, Parry: 6, Toughness: 6, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d8 (Str), Dagger d8 (Str+d4), Sword, Short d8 (Str+d6)

Special Abilities:
•Aristocrat: +2 Persuasion, Common Knowledge
•Attractive: +1 Performance, Persuasion
•Filthy Rich: Five times starting funds; Huge annual salary
•Rich: Three times starting funds; High annual salary
•Work The Room: add Skill die Support w/Persuasion/Performance

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 Quag

Dull, unimaginative Hell Hound.

Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d10, Vigor d10

Skills: Athletics d6, Battle d6, Common Knowledge d6-1, Fighting d10, Intimidation d6, Notice d6-1, Persuasion d6, Riding d8, Shooting d8, Stealth d6, Survival d8

Pace: 6, Parry: 7, Toughness: 7, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d10 (Str), Dagger d10 (Str+d4), Spear d10 (Str+d6), Sword, Long d10 (Str+d8), Chain Hood or Helm (+3), Leggings (+3), Shirt (+3)

Special Abilities:
•Clueless(*): -2 on Common Knowledge, Notice rolls

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Razkuli

Youngest Hell Hound and loyal follower of Zalbar.

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d10, Vigor d8

Skills: Athletics d8, Battle d6, Common Knowledge d6, Fighting d8, Notice d6, Persuasion d8, Riding d6, Shooting d10+2, Stealth d6, Survival d8

Pace: 6, Parry: 6, Toughness: 6, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d8 (Str), Crossbow, Heavy d10+2 (2d8, 15/30/60), Dagger d8 (Str+d4), Spear d8 (Str+d6), Sword, Long d8 (Str+d8), Chain Hood or Helm (+3), Leggings (+3), Shirt (+3)

Special Abilities:
•Impulsive(*): Acts before thinking
•Marksman: If no move, +1 or ignore 2 pts penalties

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 Tempus Thales*

Hell Hound and initiate of the god Vashanka.
Tempus is over 350 years old, granted long life and the ability to regenerate any wound by his god.

Attributes: Agility d12, Smarts d12, Spirit d10, Strength d12, Vigor d12

Skills: Academics d8, Athletics d8, Battle d8, Common Knowledge d8, Fighting d12, Intimidation d8, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Riding d8, Shooting d10, Spellcasting d6, Stealth d6, Survival d10

Pace: 6, Parry: 8, Toughness: 8, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d12 (Str), Bow d10 (2d6, 12/24/48), Dagger d12 (Str+d4), Spear d12 (Str+d6), Leggings (+3), Shirt (+3), Medium (+2, Parry+2)

Magic Items:
Magic Sword d12+4 (Str+d10+4) Attack Bonus: +4, Damage Bonus: +4

Special Abilities:
•Enemy (Jubal)(*):
•Heroic(*): Never says no to a person in need
•Quirk (Hates Magicians):
•Arcane Gifted: Gain the Gifted arcane background
•Super Powers: Gain the Super Powers arcane background

Arcane Powers:
•Disguise: Tempus can appear to be someone else
Super Powers:
•Ageless•: Hero isn’t affected by the aging process.
•Regeneration(Lvl5)•Regrowth: Make a Vigor roll every round. If the roll is successful, your character heals one wound.

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Walegrin*

Ilsigi mercenary captain. Half-brother to Illyra the Seeress. Cursed with ill luck.

Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d10, Vigor d10

Skills: Athletics d6, Battle d6, Common Knowledge d6, Fighting d10, Gambling d6, Healing d6, Intimidation d8, Notice d4, Occult d4, Persuasion d4, Riding d6, Shooting d8, Stealth d8, Survival d8, Thievery d6

Pace: 6, Parry: 7, Toughness: 7, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d10 (Str), Dagger d10 (Str+d4), Spear d10 (Str+d6), Sword, Long d10 (Str+d8), Jacket (+2), Leggings (+2)

Special Abilities:
•Bad Luck(*): -1 Bennies at start of each game session
•Combat Reflexes: +2 to recover from Shaken/Stunned
•Soldier: +1 die type Str for Enc
 

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Zalbar

Captain of the Hell Hounds. Dislikes Sanctuary. Known for his honesty. In love with Myrtis (via magic)

Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d10, Strength d12, Vigor d8

Skills: Athletics d10, Battle d10, Common Knowledge d4, Fighting d10, Healing d6, Intimidation d10, Notice d6, Persuasion d6, Riding d8, Shooting d8, Stealth d6, Survival d10

Pace: 6, Parry: 7, Toughness: 6, Size: 0

Gear: Unarmed Strike d10 (Str), Dagger d10 (Str+d4), Spear d10 (Str+d6), Sword, Long d10 (Str+d8), Chain Hood or Helm (+3), Leggings (+3), Shirt (+3)

Special Abilities:
•Code of Honor(*): Honor is key; Keeps word, won’t abuse/kill prisoners, etc.
•Vow (Rankan Empire)(*): Vow causes problems
•Brave: +2 to Fear tests
•Command: Allied Extras +1 recover from Shaken
•Command Presence: Increase command radius to 10”
•Natural Leader: Leadership affects Wild Cards
•Soldier: +1 die type Str for Enc