The Would-be Hero

Most people hope for a quiet life. They spend their days a-worrying: about a leaky roof, a sick child, their crops. But you aren't like most people—you're on a different path. A path to adventure! There's greatness in you. Let's hope you live long enough for everyone else to see it.

Background (Choose 1)

• IMPETUOUS YOUTH Stonetop has always been home, but you chafe at the demands of mundane life and have always longed for more. Excitement! Danger!

When you make a move and come up short, you can give it your all and turn a 6- into a 7-9, a 7-9 into a 10+, and (if it matters), a 10-11 into a 12+. But if you do, pick 1 (the GM will fill in the details):

• You get hurt (2d4 damage and an actual injury)
• You cause collateral damage, endanger others, or otherwise escalate the situation
• Something on your person is lost or breaks

• DRIVEN You once led a simple life, but something happened. Something changed you, burdened you with terrible purpose. What was it? Choose 1:
• A loved one was killed or abducted
• Someone gave their life to save you
• Your idol sacrificed themselves to save many
• You stumbled upon a dark mystery
• You must make amends for a terrible mistake You always have the option of Burning Brightly; you can spend 2 XP after you roll to add +1, even if you don't have enough XP to level.
• DESTINED ◇◇◇ Fate has laid her hand upon you. Choose 3-4 of the items below to describe your destiny:
• anointed marked at birth your coming foretold
• destroy discover free protect restore
• unify blood civilization darkness
• earth & stone fire ice light life storms
• war water the Fae the gods the Makers
• the Stone the Things Below At the start of a session, roll +Omens: on a 7+, lose all Omens and the GM will describe a vision or portent that points toward your fate and/or clarifies your current situation; also, on a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question and get a clear, helpful answer;

on a 6-, don't mark XP, hold +1 Omen, and tell us of your recent nightmares or a troubling vision, and how your fears play into them.

Until your destiny is fulfilled, treat a 6- on Death's Door as a 7-9, and a 7-9 as a 10+.

Instinct (Choose 1)

• DEFIANCE To refuse to back down, give up, give in.

• DOUBT To question yourself, your actions, your worth.

• EARNESTNESS To prove yourself, to yourself and others.

• OPTIMISM To assume the best, and that things are simple.

• SACRIFICE To put the needs/wants of others above your own.

Appearance

Choose 1 on each line, or make something up:

• still a child young & beautiful all grown up
• confident voice earnest voice quiet voice
• big scrawny sinewy slender thick
• back unbowed jaw firmly set soulful eyes

Place of origin and name

Stonetop is your home, or close enough, but where are you (or your family) from originally? Pick 1 and a name to match (or make up something similar).

• Stonetop: Anwen, Caradoc, Dafyd, Glenys, Madoc, Morwenna, Siwan, or Wynfor
• Barrier Pass: Bala, Cotota, Ganzorig, Gerelma, Ibahka, Jungshoi, Mukhali, or Taichu
• Steplands (Hillfolk): Annic, Cosette, Denl, Hugenne, Jag, Marc, Oanz, or Sandre
• Gordin's Delve: Pick a name from any list
• Marshedge: Bridin, Clian, Engis, Fearghul, Lan, Neasa, Nill, or Una
• Lygos or some other point south: Chara, Davud, Korina, Omid, Parvaneh, Tamir, Takish, or Yannis

Special possessions (Pick 2)

• A heap of expectations: of little use
• A good dog, follower ( retriever or herder, keen-nosed, clever); HP 6; Damage d6 (hand, grabby); Instinct to play; Cost: affection.
• Husbandry tools: brushes, muzzles, collars, feed, ◇ whips, ◇ bridles, etc. Gain advantage to Persuade domestic beasts (livestock, dogs, etc.).
• Smithy (or access to it): iron goods, ingots, thick gloves, ◇ tongs, ◇ bellows, an anvil, etc.
• Stoneworker's tools: chisels, drills, ◇ prybars, ◇ spikes, ◇ block & tackles, wheelbarrow, etc.
• Personal token, fraught with meaning: (pick 1)
• ◇◇ A shield, bearing ___'s crest
• ◇ A wool cloak, woven just for you by ___
• A letter, spattered with tears & blood
• A flute, a gift from someone you loved
• A fine locket, holding a strand of hair
• A tinderbox, lovingly engraved
• Tannery (or access to it): lime, acid, salts, thick gloves, ◇ a boiled leather cuirass (1 armor), etc.

(discuss with GM)

Moves

You start with Anger is a Gift, Potential for Greatness, and 2 other moves of your choice.

• ANGER IS A GIFT ◇◇

When you burn with righteous anger (see Fear & Anger on back of playbook), hold 2 Resolve. You can spend your Resolve 1-for-1 to:

• Set aside fear and doubt to do what must be done
• Act suddenly, catching them off-guard
• Inspire allies or bystanders to follow your lead
• Strike hard (+1d4 damage, forceful)
• Keep your footing, position, and/or your course despite what befalls you

• SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER

  (Requires Anger is a Gift)

  When you demand that someone does what is clearly good and right, you have advantage to Persuade. If they refuse, gain +1 Resolve.

• BETTER PART OF VALOR When you are outnumbered or facing a foe bigger than you, you have advantage to hide from, escape from, or sneak past them.
• I GET KNOCKED DOWN When you take damage despite your best efforts to avoid it, you can choose to halve the damage but pick 1 of the following:

• You lose something (footing, grip, etc.)
• Something on your person breaks
• You're out of it for a moment Whatever you choose, the GM will describe the details.

• BUT I GET UP AGAIN

  (Requires I Get Knocked Down)

  When you use I Get Knocked Down, you have advantage on your next roll against whatever dealt the damage and your next blow against them does +1d4 damage.

• IMPROVED STAT Each time you take this move, increase one of your stats by 1 (to a max of +2).
• IN OVER YOUR HEAD When another PC rescues you from danger, mark XP.
• IRON WILL When you are subject to mind control or magic that affects your feelings, you can take 1d4 damage (ignoring armor) to disregard its influence.
• INQUIRING MINDS When you seek out and receive honest advice, gain advantage on your next roll to follow that advice.
• NEVER GONNA KEEP ME DOWN ◇ When you have 5 or fewer current HP, you impose disadvantage on any damage you take.

Once per session, when you are at Death's Door, don't roll. You get a 10+.

• POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS

(Requires the Would-be Hero)

Once per level, when you roll a stat and get a 10+, mark one of the following (note the level during which you marked it). You don't have to mark them in order.

• Increase the stat you rolled by 1, to a max of +2 (at level ___)
• Increase the stat you rolled by 1, to a max of +2 (at level ___)
• Increase the stat you rolled by 1, to a max of +2 (at level ___)
• Increase the stat you rolled by 1, to a max of +2 (at level ___)
• Increase your max HP by 4 (at level ___)
• Increase your damage die to a d8 (at level ___)
• RESOURCEFUL When you Defy Danger and roll a 6-, ask the GM a question from Seek Insight after they describe what happens. Gain advantage on your next roll to act on the answer.
• SOMETHING TO REMEMBER ME BY When you spend Readiness (from Defend) to strike back at an attacker, you deal +1d4 damage and scar, mark, or diminish them in some way (the GM will say how, or ask you to).
• TOUGH LOVE When you honestly think another PC is in the wrong and call them on it, they have disadvantage on any rolls against you until you two work it out.
• UNDERESTIMATED As long as you avoid overt hostility, no enemy will consider you a threat.

When you first make your move against an enemy who underestimates you, you have advantage.

• UP WITH PEOPLE ◇◇ | ◇ When you converse with someone (PC or NPC) you can hold 2 Rapport with them. If you do, they hold 1 Rapport with you. During the conversation, either of you can spend 1 Rapport to ask the other player one of the following and get an honest answer.

• What weighs you down or holds you back?
• What drives you forward?
• What lesson would you have me learn?
• What do you think of me, truly?

• VERSATILE

  (Requires level 2+, the Would-be Hero)

  Choose a move from any other playbook, as long as you meet its requirements. You can pick from a different playbook each time. You can't take Improved

  Stat or Superior Stat.

  * The first time you use any move marked with an asterisk (*), cross off "Would-be" on the front page.

• A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH* (Requires level 6+; replaces Underestimated) Any intelligent creature who looks you in the eye or hears the steel in your voice instinctively knows that you are a force to be reckoned with, and treats you appropriately.

When you Defy Danger against something trying to harm or constrain you, on a 12+ you turn the tables on them (the GM will say how, or ask you to).

• BIG DAMN HERO* (Requires level 6+; replaces In Over Your Head) When you first leap into danger to protect someone, don't roll to Defend. Instead, treat it as though you rolled a 10+.

When you Defend, you can spend 1 Readiness to lock eyes with an attacker; they have disadvantage on damage rolls against you and your ward for the rest of the fight.

• SUPERIOR STAT (Requires all 6 marks in Potential for Greatness) Increase one of your stats by +1 (to a max of +3).
• UNDAUNTED* (Requires level 6+; replaces Better Part of Valor) When you are outnumbered or facing a foe bigger than you, you get +1 armor and deal +1d6 damage.
• VOICE OF EXPERIENCE* (Requires level 6+; replaces Inquiring Minds) When another PC comes to you for advice and you tell them what you think is best, they have advantage on their first roll to follow your advice.

When you Seek Insight, you can always ask, "What is about to happen?" for free, even on a 6-.

Fear & anger

What do you fear most? (choose 1, maybe 2)

• Fire, burning, the smell of charred flesh
• That they won't take you seriously
• That you really aren't cut out for this
• The death of your family or loved ones
• Being alone and helpless
• Violence, bloodshed, and pain
• Monsters
• What you're capable of
• What you must do What makes you burn with righteous anger?

(choose 2, maybe 3)

• Bullying, slavery, and oppression
• Wanton cruelty and unnecessary suffering
• Injustice and inequality
• Cowardice, treachery, and selfishness
• The despoiling of beauty and innocence
• Threats to your loved ones
• Violence to children, animals, the innocent
• Perversions of nature

When did your fear or anger last cause you trouble?

What did you do?

How did it turn out?

Introductions

Wait here for everyone else. When everyone's ready, take turns introducing your characters. When someone reveals something and you want to know more, ask them about it. When someone asks you a question, answer it truthfully.

1. 1
   On your first turn, introduce yourself by name, pronouns, background, origin, and appearance.
2. 2
   On your second turn, describe your special possessions and how you contribute to the village (beyond working the fields).
3. 3
   On your third turn, tell us of your fear & anger, and of the last time they caused you trouble.
4. 4
   On your next turn, answer one of the following, naming one or more NPCs who live in Stonetop.

• Whose heart do you hope to win?
• Who is counting on you?
• Who quietly understands the path you are on?
• Who do you intend to prove wrong?

1. 5
   Go around again. Answer another question from 4, or pass. When everyone has passed, go on.
2. 6
   On your next turn, ask your fellow PCs one of these. When others ask you, answer as you like.

• Which one of you is my closest, truest friend?
• Which one of you believes in me, despite it all?
• Which one of you has promised to teach me?
• Which one of you have I hurt, through what I have done or what I've failed to do?

1. 7
   Go around again. Ask another question from 6, or pass. When everyone has passed, go on.
2. 8
   Add your home to the steading playbook. When everyone is done, let spring break forth!