a blades in the dark playbook, by briar sovereign

B A RG H E S T
BARGHEST

P L AY B O O K :
A terrible and foreboding omen
The streets, alleys and waterways (especially the waterways) of Doskvol are no
stranger to ill omens. Even the most iron-willed of scoundrels are hard pressed
to stay stoic in the face of one, however. The Barghest, dark as the night that
bears it, is an omen of death. They say even a glimpse of its huge, monstrous
form is enough to forfeit your life, but a lucky few know the Barghest is an
omen in the same way a sheathed sword is. There are many bad dogs in Doskvol.
You are the worst.
When you play a Barghest, you earn XP when you address a
challenge with terror or violence. You are a nightmare. Act like one.
What kind of dog are you? How many of the tales are true? How did the crew
come across you? What’s your favourite treat? How many have you slain? Are
you really a good dog, deep down?

STARTING ACTIONS FAUNA FRIENDS, RIVALS

���� WRECK � Keene, a crow. A watchful eye: but

���� COMMAND
STARTING BUILDS
If you want some guidance when you
assign your four starting action dots and
special ability, use one of these
templates.
Bloodhound. Hunt +2, Prowl +2.
On the Trail.
Battler. Survey +1, Hunt +1,
Skirmish +2. The Tiger Is Out.
Judge. Command +1, Attune +2,
Survey +1. Guilty Gaze.
Saint of Scoundrels. Consort +1,
Finesse +2, Sway +1. Two-Faced.
is he watching for you or over you?
� The Pooles, a family of rats. Do
they nip at your heels, or clean up
your messes?
� Glory, a caged bear. Who has
caged her, and why? What would
she do when freed?
� Selkie, a stray cat. She comes
across all kinds of wayward things.
But does she have what you need?
� Bernhart, a dog-catcher.
Uncatchable fiend, or their patron
saint? What would Bernhart do to
run his fingers through your matted
fur, just once?

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 barghest SPECial aBilitiES
OMEN
You are immune to the terror that some supernatural entities inflict. In
fact, you can cause it: you have potency when trying to scare or intimidate
non-supernatural entities.
You do not freeze up or flee when confronted by supernatural entities: you’re
just as frightening as they are.

BAD DOG
You can push yourself to do one of the following: break everything fragile
nearby—steal, unquestionably, the attention of everyone nearby.
When you push yourself to activate this ability, you still get one of the normal
benefits of pushing yourself (+1d, +1 effect, etc.) in addition to the special ability.
You are a large, dangerous animal. It is not typically difficult for you to break
things, and pushing yourself in this way allows you to break a lot of things at
once, either through speed and effort, terrible rube-goldberg-esque coincidence,
sheer spiritual force or otherwise. When you steal everyone’s attention, you
become their sole focus for the moment: allowing other scoundrels to go unseen.

BRIMSTONE
When you WRECK, you may set things aflame and melt them with wicked
heat. Your work is frightening, irreversible and difficult to contain.
This is extremely noticeable and likely to get out of hand unless done in an
intentionally limited or contained way. Fire spreads in close quarters, and space
is a luxury in Doskvol.

GUILTY GAZE
When someone you deem guilty looks at you, they remember with clarity
the worst thing they’ve ever done.
This ability doesn’t prescribe ill deeds to people, of course: nobody will remember
things they haven’t done. That said, one person might feel deep guilt for actions
another would do without a thought.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

You can shift into a human form for a short time, no more than a few
minutes. When you surprise or ambush someone by becoming a terrifying
dog-shaped harbinger of the end again, take +1d.
Yes, Two-Faced applies here. Everyone loves to meet new dogs.

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 B A RG H E S T
ON THE TRAIL
When you HUNT something you have drawn blood from, take +1d. You can
never lose the trail of someone you have drawn blood from.
Drawing blood usually requires a fight of some kind, but it isn’t necessarily
required. If in doubt, any level of harm should suffice as ‘drawing blood’, provided

P L AY B O O K :
your mark has blood to draw.

THE TIGER IS OUT

You may expend your special armor to break free of any bond, snare or
cage, or to push yourself during a chase.
When you use this ability, tick the special armor box on your playbook sheet.
Metaphorical bindings count. If you use this ability to push yourself, you get one
of the benefits (+1d, +1 effect, act despite severe harm) but you don’t take 2 stress.
Your special armor is restored at the beginning of downtime.

TWO-FACED
You may spend 2 stress to apply any bonuses or abilities to terrify to your
attempts to appear docile and endearing instead.
Is this just a change in behaviour, or do you take on a certain gleam when twisting
your abilities in this way? If you use Guilty Gaze on someone in this way, do they
remember something they are proud of instead? When you Wreck with
Brimstone, do the flames become... enticing?

barghest itEmS
� Fine Claws & Teeth: As keen as any blade or bullet, and just as
supernaturally potent as a spiritbane charm. Everyone knows you have
them, though. They’re scary. What kind of condition are your natural assets in?
Are you well groomed and taken care of? [ 0 load ]
� Binding Collar: A Binding Collar holds your spectral self in physical shape.
When you remove a Binding Collar, you gain the Ghost Form trait until you put it
back on: though you take stress and Trauma as usual. If you’re not wearing one, it’s
assumed you don’t need it: or at least haven’t made the need known, yet. [ 1 load ]
� Fine Brandy or Whisky: A strong and volatile little sampler of potent
alcohol. Perfect for warming hearts, cleaning wounds and starting fires. [ 1 load ]
� Scoundrel’s Rigging: Pockets, pouches and everything else you can strap to
a beast of burden. Other players may declare up to an additional 2 Load of items
total, having drawn them from your rigging. [ 2 load ]
� Glamoured Leash: A piece of arcane trickery that makes you look as meek
and tame as a puppy, provided someone is willing to hold it. [ 0 load ]
� That Thing Someone Just Threw Or Dropped: Catch! There’s a good boy.
Load depends on what the object in question is. When you mark load in this way, you
just get the Thing, no questions asked. [ ? load ]

Created using the Affinity playbook templates produced by Dissonance, available at

https://moth-lands.itch.io/blades-playbook-template
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Cover art by Eliza Courtney (https://twitter.com/phrobitey)