Physical Description: 6', 5" tall, 220 lbs. Human male. Blond hair and beard. Gray eyes. Several battle scars on his arms and legs. 18 years old.
Background: Vörl is the son of a couple of traveling circus performers. More comfortable "behind the scenes," he built simple sets, repaired the wagons, and of course, guarded the troupe. In the last war, he joined the military and served as a marine, raiding the enemy's ships and coastal areas. His unit disbanded when the war ended. He is eager for more adventure.
Attributes: ST 18 [90], DX 13 [30], IQ 10, HT 10
Advantages: Fearlessness +1 [2], High Pain Threshold [10]
Disadvantages: Code of Honor (Warrior's) [-5], Curious [-5], Gluttony [-5], Impulsiveness [-10], Odious Personal Habit (Spitting) [-5], Wealth (Struggling) [-10].
Quirks: Despises jugglers (his first love ran off with a juggler and he's still bitter). Often identifies himself by a new name in every different country he goes. Lives for today. Makes a toast with every drink. Likes the organization and camraderie of the military.
Skills: Brawling-12 [0.5], Carpentry-11 [2], First Aid-10 [1], Language (Border*)-9 [0.5], Performance-8 [0.5], Seamanship-10 [1], Survival (Sea)-10 [2], Tactics-7 [0.5], Two-handed Axe-14 [4].
* This language, from whatever country borders on his home country, is assumed to be M/E from his native language.
Total Points: 100
Design Notes: This is an update of my very first GURPS character, Bjorn the Free, created in early 1988 with Second Edition rules. I wanted a Viking-like PC who was strong enough to attack and parry with a two-handed axe every turn. Unfortunately, I made his Axe skill too low for the combat-oriented campaign, so he didn't survive very long.
More experienced, I kept the concept but revised the character with a higher, more appropriate skill level. Vörl Skoalheim was born and I wrote a character story for him. (The GM gave additional points for character stories. Click Vörl's Tale to read it). When that adventure ran its course, I put Vörl aside for a different roleplaying challenge.
Meanwhile, the Third Edition came out and, to my dismay, the minimum strength for a two-handed axe was raised from 12 to 13, so I had to raise the character's strength from 17 to 18. New design work was needed -- I dubbed a third version "Düssel" and he stayed unfinished for years in one of my gaming folders. The addition of "Enhanced Strength" in Compendium I inspired me to finalize him.
All original material copyright © 1998 Michael McGarel. Feel free to use in your personal games, but this material cannot be distributed for commercial reasons in any form without the express written consent of the author.
GURPS® is the registered trademark of Steve Jackson Games. No infringement is intended.
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