HorRible hENchmen

Author
Richard Woolcock
System
Tricube Tales <
Background
Figu Design
Several months ago, a mysterious stranger moved to the outskirts of the quiet and peaceful town of
Story Symbols
Summerford, and terrible misfortune has plagued the townsfolk ever since that fateful day. Delapouite, Lorc, Skoll
Unbeknownst to the hapless citizens, the enigmatic interloper is actually an evil villain with dastardly Game-icons.net <
plans for the town and its people. Robbery, kidnapping, and cold-blooded murder are all in a day’s work Illustrations
for this newcomer, with each crime playing a vital role in their master plan—their magnum opus. Publisher’s Choice
Quality Stock Art
You are the villain’s horrible henchmen, skulking in the shadows as you serve your master’s will and © Rick Hershey /
help bring their nefarious plans to fruition. The master gives your life meaning, and you live to obey! Fat Goblin Games <

ChAracter CREation
Each player creates a character as follows:
1. Choose a trait: Agile (used for reflexes, dexterity,
stealth, and ranged combat), brawny (covers strength,
vitality, athletics, and melee combat), or crafty (covers
smarts, charm, alertness, courage, and social combat).
2. Select a concept: Deformed manservant, rotten
zombie, fierce goblin, sentient slime, flesh golem,
animated skeleton, or familiar (specify animal).
3. Pick a perk: Mutation (specify), brutally strong,
scary, alert, fast, sneaky, or magic gift (specify).
4. Select a quirk: Foul smell, groveling, eats bugs,
mean, boisterous, evil laughter, or violent rage.
5. Grab 3 karma tokens and 3 resolve tokens.
6. Make up a name, and introduce yourself (e.g.,
“I am Igor, a brawny deformed manservant who is
brutally strong but is always groveling”).
Who’s your Master?
Roll on the following tables (as a group activity),
then make up a suitable name and description.
Your master is a...
A Mad scientist D Tentacled horror
B Vampire aristocrat E Demonic entity
C Nefarious sorcerer F Wicked witch
Who resides within a...
A Ruined old castle D Dark, dusty tomb
B Haunted townhouse E Spooky mansion
C Mysterious tower F Subterranean lair
Resolving ChalLEnges
If a player attempts something risky, they roll 1-3
Serving the Master
Roll on the following tables to generate the latest
six-sided dice and must equal or beat a difficulty adventure scenario (see next page for examples):
of 4-6 on at least one die. Succeed on multiple dice The master orders the henchmen to...
for an exceptional success (narrate an additional A Abduct someone D Eliminate a threat
benefit). Rolling “1” on all dice is a critical failure B Recover a corpse E Destroy evidence
(introduce a complication to the scene). C Steal a trinket F Protect the master
The GM chooses a trait and difficulty for each Near, at, or inside...
challenge. Most are difficulty 5, but a particularly A The local church D A prominent tavern
easy or hard task might be difficulty 4 or 6. Some B An opulent manor E The town hall
challenges (e.g., combat) require multiple rolls. C The town theater F The marketplace
Players usually roll 2 dice, but roll 3 dice if the While dealing with...
challenge matches their trait. If a challenge falls A Raiders or bandits D A rival for affection
completely outside the scope of their concept (e.g., B An escaped prisoner E An attack on the town
sentient slime picking a lock), they lose 1 die. C Another “Big Bad” F Master’s bad temper
KarmA and REsolve RunNing thE Game
Each player has 3 karma and 3 resolve. Spend 1
karma after rolling to reduce the difficulty by 1, if
you can justify how your perk helps you. Recover
The GM should describe the opening scene, react
to the players’ decisions, and assign the traits and
difficulties for challenges. Offer players karma in
1 karma if you increase the difficulty by 1 before return for complications based on their quirks!
rolling, narrating how your quirk hinders you. The players should make all the rolls, narrate
If you use a quirk and succeed at the challenge, the outcome of their actions, and drive the story
you may recover 1 resolve instead of 1 karma. forward whenever possible. They can also spend
For dangerous actions (such as combat), failure 1 karma to influence the story or discover a clue
costs 1 resolve (or 2 on a critical failure). If a PC through their perk, at the GM’s discretion.
runs out of resolve, they are eliminated from the The GM should roleplay the master, but never
scene—but death is primarily a narrative conceit, in a way that’s helpful—it’s not the master’s job to
and the PC usually returns later at full resolve. make life easier for the henchmen!
 Objectives
Described here are examples of objectives for the
adventure generator (first table):
Locations
Described here are examples of locations for the
adventure generator (second table):
Complications
Described here are example complications for the
adventure generator (third table):

1. BLIND DATE 1. HOLY HANGOUT 1. ZOMBIE PIRATES

The master has taken a fancy to someone in town The church is a popular hangout for many of the A pirate ship sails into the harbor and unloads its
and wants to “invite” them to dinner. If they don’t townsfolk, and the priest is always happy to grant zombie crew. The rotting rascals search the town
accept, the henchmen will need to insist. blessings and other services—for a nominal fee. for meat and booty. Arrr, brains!

2. GRAVE ROBBERS 2. GREENFIELD MANOR 2. DWELLER IN THE CELLAR

A local ruffian was murdered several months ago,
then secretly buried in an unmarked grave. What
dark plan could the master have for the corpse?
3. THE SWORD OF OPENING
A fae king was slain centuries ago, and his magic
sword stolen. But as the king was only 12 inches
tall, his sword is now used as a letter opener.
4. THE OLD NEMESIS
A weary old monster hunter rides into town. He’s
been following the master’s trail for many years,
seeking revenge for the loss of a loved one.
5. BAGGING THE BODY
Someone met a grizzly end after they crossed the
master, and their body has since been discovered
by a nosy citizen. Retrieve the corpse and dispose
of it—and ensure it’s gone for good this time!
This beautiful manor is the home of the infamous
Lord Wickford, a rich nobleman who would have
been hanged for a dozen different crimes by now,
if not for his wealth and family connections.
3. KING’S THEATER
Near the center of town stands the lauded King’s
Theater, an elegant building with a magnificently
furnished auditorium.
4. THE PHOENIX TAVERN
This popular tavern is renowned for its fine ales,
hearty meals, and rowdy patrons. It’s named “The
Phoenix Tavern” because it’s been burned down
(and rebuilt) three times in the past decade.
5. PARTY TIME
A lavish party is taking place at the town hall, and
the guests are dressed in expensive finary.
The master keeps a dangerous prisoner locked up
beneath the lair—but they’ve managed to escape,
and now they’re causing trouble in town!
3. BONE QUEEN
A lich has recently moved into town and decided
to claim it as her territory. The master is not at all
happy about the competition!
4. BANDWAGON CULTISTS
An annoying cabal of cultists started worshipping
the master a few weeks ago, and now they plan to
steal the henchmens’ jobs!
5. TOWN UNDER SIEGE
The town finds itself under a military blockade,
with enemy soldiers camped outside the fortified
walls. But perhaps the master can find some way
to take advantage of all the chaos...

6. TOUR OF THE TOWN 6. HUSTLE AND BUSTLE 6. TOOTHACHE AND TANTRUMS

The master needs to visit someone in town on an The hustle and bustle of Summerford’s sprawling The master is suffering from toothache (or some
urgent matter, and the henchmen are tasked with marketplace attracts visitors and vendors alike— comparable discomfort) and is venting their rage
looking out for (and dealing with) any threats. but you’d better watch out for pickpockets! on the henchmen. Perhaps it’s time for a dentist?

Adding a Twist to the Story

For further inspiration, roll two dice on the table below and use the symbol as an improvisational prompt (you don’t need to interpret it literally). For example,
B F might represent an execution or death threat, while rolling D F could indicate a disease, or a rat, or other vermin. This table can also be used to help flesh
out the master—for example, A A might symbolize an unquenchable thirst, while D C could mean they are magically bound and unable to leave the lair.
AA AB AC AD AE AF BA BB BC BD BE BF CA CB CC CD CE CF DA DB DC DD DE DF EA EB EC ED EE EF FA FB FC FD FE FF