Need some Magic Tattoo thoughts
A barbarian HAD a tattoo of a map on his back. This tattoo was given to him while he was in a drunken stupor by the Kenedhel, a people well schooled in witchcraft. The map tattoo was intended to bring the barbarian to the homeland of the Kenedhel to fight some bad guys for them. The barbarian did so, earning their respect and friendship. The Kenedhel have worked over the old map tattoo into a new tattoo, with some kind of (probably minor) magical properties.
Question: What does this new tattoo do?
Always shows the route back to Kenedhel.
It has bound him to them, such that in any time of need he is driven to return…..
Indicates population centers where Kenedhel peoples are living and are in need of help.
It causes intense paid should he refuse to aid them in the future.
Can be used as leverage for Parley with any of the traders of the Ancient North Road.
As befits a savior of the imperiled, when you gain hold from the Defend move, hold +1.
Shows the barbarian the closest place to satisfy their appetites.
Great stuff! colin roald Eric Lochstampfor your ideas are really making my mind sing at the moment.
Ooo Eric Lochstampfor gave me a good idea…
Add “Defend the Kenedhel people” to the barbarian’s list of herculean appetites.
Marshall Brengle that is really interesting…I’m not quite sure that exact wording is right, but the idea of modifying the appetite is intriguing.
Marshall Brengle the appetites are fundamental to the character – if the player isn’t totally on board it could feel a bit like mind control.
Allows the barbarian to roll +CON to resist enchantment magic.
colin roald Well the tattooers have already proven they will go to questionable lengths to recruit a champion, and the barbarian has already proven he will be that champion. This would just be letting him use his best ability to directly advance their cause. You could maybe reword it to “the Kenedhel’s interests/values/way of life” so the barbarian could adventure in the wider world and still maintain the connection.
colin roald I think changing the appetites would maybe be questionable, but adding an appetite not so much.
OK. The map tattoo was on his back. How did he read it?
Two mirrors, an oil lamp, a complicated arrangement of brass tubing and swampvine, and a spyglass…
Wynand Louw good question. In fact, there were TWO tattoos, one on the barbarians back and one on the wizards back, then when they stood together created a full map and message. (If you are wondering how this came about, the simplest answer is don’t roll a miss on the Carouse move, and then casually muse about the film “Dude, Where’s my Car?”).
So it had to actually be read by someone else, looking at the two characters standing next to each other.
The Wizard’s tattoo is unchanged.
Interestingly, the Wizard has already used the presence of the tattoos in several rituals to communicate messages to the barbarian, through causing bloody trauma to his own back.
Thanks to everyone for your ideas. If you are interested in what I decided on, see:
http://gaming.memethief.com/Bogatyr_on_the_Dimniyi_Frontier#Narbo.27s_Tattoo
Dude that sounds great. Super fun