Loyal Chum

Loyal Chum

Starting Courage: 13+Vim · Starting Dread: 1d6

the loyal chum

Reliable and true, the Loyal Chum is the quintessential ally and travel companion. Their contributions may sometimes go unnoticed, but they're the backbone of any adventuring party, always there to lend a hand or helpful advice. Play a Loyal Chum if you want to be the party's “glue,” boosting allies and always useful in a pinch.

loyal chum perks

CHOOSE A BEST CHUM

Choose someone in the party (PC or NPC) to be a Best Chum and select one special Best Chum Perk usable once every session. If for whatever reason the Best Chum leaves the adventuring party permanently, select a new Best Chum.

• Lighten the Mood: Say something funny or kind to heal the Best Chum for 1d12.
• Take the Hit: Suffer Dread meant for the Best Chum.
• Share the Load: Suffer the consequences of the Best Chum's failed Check.

CHOOSE A HANDICRAFT

Loyal Chums are adept at a particular handicraft honed throughout their lives. Cooking: When the Loyal Chum cooks a meal, all

• eaters heal 1d10 instead of 1d6 after a night of rest. Building: Reroll a Check when Crafting something
• (except for Alchemy and Cooking). Alchemy: Everything the Loyal Chum crafts with
• Alchemy has its Usage Die increased a step.

loyal chum abilities

Level 1

OLD CHUMS

The Loyal Chum has friends all over the place. Charm Check: Once every session, invent an old friend the Loyal Chum has run into who can help or give advice.

Example Scenario

The PCs come upon a small town, at a loss for how to find the sunken ruins of Glip.

PC's Solution

“You know, my old friend Gragnak lives around here. She was a Dungeoneer! Maybe she'd know where we could find a map!”

LEND A HAND

The Loyal Chum is always there to catch someone's fall. Once every session, if an ally fails a Check, the Loyal Chum can make the Check instead, replacing the ally's result. Additionally, gain Advantage when catching someone's fall, pulling them from danger, or similar.

Level 2

EYE FOR CLUES

Sometimes the answers are right under the Loyal Chum's nose. Search Check: Once every session, create a found clue to help solve a problem or discover something. Instant Action

Example Scenario

The PCs explore a collapsed mine, searching for a lost miner.

PC's Solution

“Look, this is the miner's hardhat. They must have been down this way!”

FOLKLORE

All the old legends and spooky stories have some truth to them. Lore Check: Once every session, make up an old superstition or legend about a creature, critter, custom or concept. Instant Action

Example Scenario

The dastardly prince is set to marry the princess tomorrow, but the PCs need more time to set their plan to save her into motion.

PC's Solution

The Loyal Chum speaks with the king and says, “You can't hold the wedding tomorrow! Every boggart knows it's bad luck to get married on the day before a full moon.”

Level 3

WELL-ROUNDED

Hard-earned experience has led to broadened horizons. Choose another Class's Level 3 Class Ability.

IMPROVISE

Count on the Loyal Chum to jury rig something useful in the clutch. Tinker Check: Once every session, quickly craft, engineer or repair something, making use of whatever resources are at hand. At least one item must be sacrificed to make it work—sometimes more (GM's judgment) depending on complexity. The crafted item only lasts for the remainder of the encounter.

Example Scenario

Traversing the mountain pass will take much too long and the PCs will never catch up to the rival dungeoneer absconding with the precious jewel.

PC's Solution

“Using our cloaks, tree branches, rope, and harness, I'm going to fashion a makeshift hang glider to get down the mountain faster. I'll try to cut them off.”

Level 4

JACK OF ALL TRADES

Master of none, but well-versed in many disciplines. Twice every session, name a specific activity or Proficiency. For the remainder of the session gain Advantage when performing a relevant Check.

Example Scenario

There are deadly scorpions crawling all over the dungeon floor.

PC's Solution

“Luckily I'm an expert scorpion tamer!”

LOCAL HISTORY

History isn't always learned in books and old tombs. Realms Check: Once every session, make up a rumor about the recent history or events of a place within the current Hex Cluster. Instant Action

Example Scenario

An ally needs the services of a witch to remove a curse before it takes effect forever!

PC's Solution

“I seem to recall there used to be an old witch that lived around these parts and the local townsfolk chased her off into the swamp.”

Level 5

UNSUNG HERO

The Loyal Chum's contributions often go unnoticed— but they make a difference. Each session, for one encounter, all allies' Check results of 5 instead count as 6.

PEP TALK

The words of a Loyal Chum can light a spark of hope. Inspire Check: Twice every session, on a 6+, choose one of the following:

• Grant an ally a free Quest Point for immediate use.
• Grant an ally Advantage before a Check.
• Heal an ally for 1d6.

Level 6

MOBILE FORGE

The Loyal Chum has a rootersnoop that pulls a cart with a forge built into it. The rootersnoop has 10 Inventory Slots exclusively for Materials. The forge can be used while adventuring, but the Loyal Chum can't move and travel while crafting.

PICK UP THE SLACK

The Loyal Chum keeps things running smoothly when things go sideways. Once every session, when multiple allies must make the same Skill Check, instead make a single Skill Check for everyone.

Level 7

PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE

What the Loyal Chum may lack in martial prowess, they make up for with bravery. Once every Combat, taunt an Adversary to attack the Loyal Chum instead of any allies for 2 rounds (and gain -2 Defense for the duration).

LOYAL PET

The Loyal Chum has a loyal pet of their choice accompanying them wherever they go. Doggart: Rideable by Small PCs and has 5 Inventory

• Slots. Can fetch and swim. Wilderness Check: Once every Combat, the doggart can disarm a Goon or Bruiser. Owligator: Can take to the skies, and answers yes or
• no questions. Once every Combat, the owligator may attack a target, inflicting 1d10 Dread; the Loyal Chum can also attack that round. Cattypillar: Grants +1 Treasure Hunting and is adept
• at spying, sneaking, and squeezing through small cracks.

Level 8

HOME AND HEARTH

The Loyal Chum can make any camp feel like a warm and cozy hearth, no matter where they are. Charm Check: Once every session, on a 6–8, choose 1 option below. On a 9–11, choose two. On a 12+, get all three. In addition, the Loyal Chum gains access to a home in a chosen settlement where a friendly NPC lives (perhaps a family member or significant other).

• When the party eats and rests here, recover 2d6 Courage (or 2d10 if the Loyal Chum uses the Cooking Perk).
• The location is hidden from Wandering Intruders and unfriendly NPCs.
• Tinker Checks gain Advantage here.

TO ARMS!

Bolster allies with a fiery call to action. Once every Combat, all allies inflict +1d6 Dread for 2 rounds.

Level 9

FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

All other PCs are considered the Loyal Chum's Best Chums. Choose an additional Best Chum Perk. When building on a Relationship with a PC or allied NPC, PCs gain 2 XP instead of 1.

ACCORDING TO PLAN

Loyal Chums lay the groundwork for plans well in advance. Tinker Check: Once every session, flashback to a past action the Loyal Chum recently performed “offscreen” to help their current situation. The flashback can only happen if the Loyal Chum could have recently been present at the location of the past action.

Example Scenario

The PCs have to sneak into the town museum and steal back a finfolk relic, but the building is crawling with guards.

PC's Solution

“I visited the museum earlier today and unlocked the window from inside. All we have to do is wait until the guards pass and hop right in.”

Level 10

HEROIC SURGE

The Loyal Chum digs deep and finds the strength within. Each session, automatically succeed on any Check.

MUSTER COURAGE

Bolster allies with words of encouragement. Each session, heal all allies for 3d6 Courage.