Pavis NPC’s for Runequest Glorantha: Part 3 – Backstreet Evaluator

OK this is a character which I initially wrote up for Pavis in 1621 last year, mainly using the STG rules. So I thought id update for RQG and bring up to the 1625 time period.

Tulina

Senior Apprentice & Initiate of Lhankor Mhy

Human Female, Aged 20, Senior Apprentice of Lhankor Mhy

First impressions of Tulina depend upon where she is met. If about official temple business she comes over a diligent slightly stressed apprentice with many things to do and neither the time or the organisational ability to fulfil them all.

If met in the evening at Gimpy’s she looks like one of a small number of Griselda wannabes. With no sign of her grey robes or leather beard, she sports leather amour a short sword. Holding a cocky attitude, but a softer easier manner.

Neither immediately striking or physical imposing, Tulina can fade into the crowd and become part of the background. With a small frame, slight build and mousy shoulder length hair. However engaging with her on conversation and she comes alive, is animated, quick witted, informed and quite enthralling.

Tulina grew up on the streets, one of a number of unclaimed children who roam the streets of New Pavis. Who her mother was is now just a very blurred memory, and question she sees no point in finding the answer too.

Noticed as a bright young thing by the Lhankor Mhy priests, she became an apprentice because it put a roof over her head and food on her plate. Since that point she has thrived as a mercurial student who has impressed at every step.

She is very happy to do unofficial evaluation in Gimpy’s for a fraction of the temple rates, will also inform of who the best fence is for the item and can set up a meet if her clients want, for the right price.

She isn’t as knowledgeable as the masters at the temple, but has a reputation of being honest when she doesn’t know an items history or value, and suggesting where her clients could get better information.

She has connections to the Lanbril cult, but has never joined any family and deals with all with respect and tries to stay out of any arguments between the families.

Tulisa is allowed to continue because she provides her superiors in the temple with details of what items are unofficially coming out of the Rubble, there history, what properties they may have and who owns them. Unknown to Tulina the Pavis authorities have moved twice against criminals based information passed to her superiors, when it suited the temples purposes.

When engaged in conversation her tone softens, and she comes across as having a gentle helpful manner , as she actually has the desire to help most people she meets and at times can even appear eager and idealistic.

However she is also incredibly intelligent, stubborn and ambitious. However she doesn’t know what she is ambitious for and just often wants more, whether it is money, knowledge, position, affection or power. This isn’t something she sees in herself or acknowledges but is a primal urge that drives her on and can make her a dangerous person.

She is prone to over attach to the wrong individuals, and has caused her problems in the past. She is currently free of such entanglements, and surrounded by good friends.

She has three distinct social groups which she tries to keep very separate. First the other apprentices with whom she usually take the role of an older sister and she is very protective of them.

Then there are her friends from childhood most of which are involved in some kind of petty crime within the city, she looks after these people when she can and they are her main connections into the criminal underworld.

Then there are the rogues, adventures and miscreants who frequent Gimpy’s. These are people she wants to impress and be accepted by. She is prone to ape there behaviours and styles, but at heart is not the violent risk taking adventurous type.

She has been in the rubble once, and lost her left arm in the expedition. It has mostly grown back thanks to ministrations of the Chalana Arroy temple, but she is still trying to settle her debt with them. After this experience would need a very good reason to go back into the rubble again.

She is a more than competent academic and her study of the artefacts and history of Pavis has led to a side research project ,into “Whether the disasters that befell the city of Pavis were natural consequence of the fall of the EWF, or were they rooted in a yet unknown Cosmic Dynamic reaching out against all aspects of the EWF?”

She currently has no idea how to research this in further depth, but is caught by the idea that events were not just natural consequences, and if provoked can talk at length for hours on the subject.

Characteristics

STR 10 CON 12 SIZ 9 INT 18
DEX 16 POW 14 CHA 14
Hit Points: 12 Move: 8
DEX SR:1 SIZ SR:2
Runes: Air 80%, Truth 80%,
Rune Points: 4
Rune Spells: Truespeak, Analyze Magic, Mind Read, Clever Tongue
Spirit Magic: : Detect Magic, Detect Life, Detect Gold, Detect Gems, Mobility 2, Befuddle, Healing 2, Counter Magic 2,
Magic Points: 14 + 8
Passions: Loyalty Pavis 70%, Loyalty Lhankor Myh Temple 60%, Love friends 70%
Reputation: 14%
Skills: Dodge 60%, Charm 45%, Fast talk 55%, Evaluate 85%, Read Langauge Pavic 55%, Homeland Lore 65%, Jumping 65%, Climbing 50%, Listen 65%, Scan 70%, Hide 60%, Move Quietly 55%,
Languages: Old Pavic 60%, Tradetalk 60%, Heortling 50%, New Pelorian 20
Armour: Composite helm, heavy leather hauberk, Vambraces and Greaves
Magic Items: Power Storage Crystal Pow: 8
Ransom: 600L from Lhankor Myh Temple

Weapon	%	SR	Damage	Pts
Shortsword	60	6	1d6+1	10
Staff	50	3	1d8	8
Medium Shield	50	6	1d4	12
Thrown Dagger	50	1/7	1d5	8

Storyteller Glorantha Stats

Nature:	Confidant
Demeanour:	Rogue
Physical:	Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2
Mental:	Intelligence 5, Wits 4, Perception 4
Social:	Manipulation 3, Appearance 2, Charisma 3
Talents:	Alertness 2, Artistic 1, Athletics 2, Brawl 2,Dodge 2,Empathy 3, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 2
Skills:	Commerce 4,Etiquette 1,Leadership 1, Melee 2, Stealth 3
Knowledge’s:	Academics 3 , Culture 2, Investigation 2, Languages 2, Medicine 2, Myth 2, Politics 1, Divine Lore 2
Essence	3
Quintessence:	13
Willpower:	5
Runes:	Air 3, Truth 3, Magic 1, Law 1,Communications 2
Spirit Magic:	Detect 2, Mobility 2, Befuddle, Healing 2, Counter Magic 2
Rune Magic:	Pact Lhankor Mhy 4pts
Virtues:	Wisdom 3, Prudence 3, Mercy 5
Backgrounds:	Allies 2, Contacts 4, Cult Status 2, Mentor 3, Ransom 1, Resources 3
Flaws & Merits	One of Us (2pt Merit), One Arm (3) , Faction Favorite (2pt Merit)
Equipment:	2pt leather amour, leather beard, grey sages robes

Scenario & Plot Hooks

Whilst Tulina is doing an evaluation for the players, a Burly sable rider, Interrupts to claim that Tulina undervalued an item he has sold on, he has no proof but is demanding she pay the difference with threat of violence if ashes doesn’t. How do the players react?
An ambitious apprentice offers the players money/favours/information if they can come up with hard evidence that Tulina is evaluating outside the Temple.
Tulina offers the players 300 silvers if they are able to get ‘a friend’ of hers into the rubble without any interaction from the city authorities.
The players are tipped off by a unknown source that Tulina is a Lunar spy. This is an untrue rumor started by the same ambitious apprentice as above.
The players overhear two figures making quiet preparations in the tunnels in Gimpy’s to follow and rob Tulina after a night in Gimpys.
The players bring an item they have found to Tulina for evaluation. She refuses to even touch it, and demands that the players get rid of it immediately. The next day warriors from the Orlanth temple accost the players wanting to know what they have done with the item.