The Burglar
No-one knows where they originate from, but these versatile and often overlooked creatures are found throughout the kingdoms, from remote villages; bustling cities; to the most forgotten mountain caves.
Their keen senses and taste for good food belie a darker existence.
A neglected race, gecko often turn to more illicit practices to make a living, honing a set of survival skills others would be envious of.
by Simon Edge
Nature
If you’re a gecko, write Nature: Gecko on your character sheet. Your descriptors are Sneaking, Riddling and Merrymaking. All characters have a base Nature of 3. Answer the following three questions appropriate to your stock to determine your final starting Nature score, and possibly some traits.Gecko Nature Questions
Do you eat second breakfast every day, even if supplies are running short? Or do you tighten your belt and go a little hungry now so your supplies will last? If you always eat second breakfast, increase your Nature by one. If you do not eat second breakfast, you may replace or increase your home trait with Skinny or Stoic. When confronted, do you stand your ground and fight or do you run and hide? If you run and hide, increase your Nature by one and decrease your starting Fighter skill by one. If you stand and fight, your Nature and Fighter remain unchanged. Would you rather be safe at home in your warm bed than on this dreadful adventure? If you would rather be in your bed, increase your Nature by one. If you rather like adventures, you may replace or increase your home trait with Adventurous or Calm.Career
Career Progression
Level 1
Burglar: Gecko may wield any weapon except two-handed swords, halberds, polearms, crossbows and lances. They may wear leather and chainmail armour. They can also use shields and wear helmets.Level 2
Stone Thrower: A gecko with a stone never counts as unarmed. A good stone acts as an (improvised) weapon and once per conflict you can turn an Attack against Attack into a versus test. Abstemious: At any point you so choose, you may tighten your belt and push off your hunger or thirst. Remove the hungry and thirsty condition, but check off the angry condition.Level 3
Nocturnal: Your excellent night vision allows you clarity of vision in the darkest of places. Treat Darkness as Dim Light. Plucky: When angry, you may use your Hidden Depths trait to your benefit (despite the restriction for the condition).Level 4
Skirmisher: Improved leather armour. When you’re wearing leather armour, roll 2D to deflect a blow. If either die comes up a 4-6, you reduce the incoming thrust by -1s. Oft Overlooked: Gecko are often overlooked by the other peoples of the land. If your group is captured, this gecko will be left behind. If your companions are targeted, the gecko will always be picked last. This goes for finding work, too!Level 5
Wily: You’re always last out of a fight. If your hit points are depleted to zero, instead reduce them to 1 and deduct the remainder of the damage from another player (or players) of your choice. If there is another character with this benefit, the higher-level character goes out last. If you are the same level, the higher Fighter skill goes last. If you have the same level and skill, the highest Nature goes last. If you’re exactly the same in all respects, work it out yourselves. Helpful: In fights, riddling’s and chases, help from this character counts as +2D instead of +1D.Level 6
Pockets: This character has learned how to stow a lot in a little space. Increase inventory by three slots for small items like potions, jewellery and daggers. Items are held on the torso. What have you got in your pockets? Clever: +1 disposition to conflicts involving riddles, fleeing or sneaking.Level 7
It Could Be Worse: If all conditions except Dead are filled, you may make one test as if you have no conditions. This test does not cost a turn. You may be helped by your companion (as in L5 ability) or other geckos, but no others. Shoulder the Burden: Your gecko is a boon: You’ll go without so your friend can have a little something; you’ll stay on watch so your friend can rest; you’ll remain behind so your friend can escape. During the adventure phase, if one of your friends suffer a condition; you may take that condition on yourself—so that your friend is spared.Level 8
Supreme Confidence: Use level instead of Will or Nature rank as a base for disposition for conflicts involving riddling, journeying and sneaking. Friend of the Powerful: Gecko have a knack for charming the powerful. Upon meeting a potentate, if you put on charming or respectful airs, you may note the NPC as a friend on your character sheet. No roll or test is required. This may be done in any phase and does not cost a turn or check.Level 9
Heroic Ability: Choose Will, Scout or Cooking. The chosen ability or skill becomes “heroic.” When rolling this skill, 3-6 indicates a success (rather than the standard 4-6). Transformed: Change one Nature descriptor: suffering, escaping or refusing (to surrender).Level 10
Stalwart: When helping another character and the test is failed, the twist is that you step in and make the test yourself. No other twist or condition is given until after you have made your test. Your friend cannot help, but your success or failure counts for both of you. Gecko can do this once per session. Humble: Gain a persona point (at the end of the session) if you have acted with humility and declined the trappings and pretensions of power. In addition, take +1D to Resources (in addition to other bonuses) when providing for your friends.Starting Stats
Home
Bustling Metropolis Skills: Cook, Scavenger, Criminal Traits: Foolhardy, Quick-WittedWise
Choose one of the following: Home-wise or Needs a Little Salt-wise; take a second wise of your choice following the guidelines in this section. Either take one of our examples or invent one of your own.Traits
Hidden DepthsOn the surface, geckos may appear to be a naive and unassuming animal, but they have hidden depths of will and character. They bear up remarkably well against pain, fatigue and despair that would cause other peoples to break. Sometimes the bigger animals treat them as fragile and delicate because they don’t know any better.
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