HERALDS CAMPAIGN
Companions, Training and Missions
The party may be occasionally joined by NPCs, individuals with their own goals and ambitions; a quest of vengeance, a shared common goal, or sponsorship by the party. These NPCs are either known as Support NPCS, Companions or Allies.
While not as powerful as the party, Companions provide assistance both in and out of combat. Over time as the allegiance and trust is earned, most Companions will receive upgrades to their skills and traits. Some will even have possible 'paths' the party can take them down, enhancing one aspect over another.
If they are neglected, ignored, or abused however, they may abandon the party, become wounded, die, or even become a powerful enemy.
Some may even become something much more…
Companions can be enhanced in the following ways:
All players and companions may engage in training during down time and long rests to enhance their existing skill set or add new ones.
Trainees can gain or enhance the following things through training:
A potential Trainee must first find a Trainer. A Trainer’s time can be gained by purchase, coercion, completion of some task or friendly favour, or have a debt to owe to the Trainee. Allies may even be able to offer their services as a Trainer. They must also have access to the equipment and workstation required to train.
The Trainee engages in a number of training Sessions with the Trainer. The number of sessions is 10, minus the skill modifier relevant to the training (i.e. INT for language, STR for smithing, CHA for painting). The trainee then performs an attribute skill check, and completes the session on a success. On a critical success, they complete one additional session, and on a critical fail, they disappoint, offend or injure their Trainer, and can no longer use their services. Once all sessions have been completed, their training is complete and they gain the proficiency or feature.
It is not expected for all Companions the party meets to accompany them on a quest. Their unique skills and inclinations can provide unique benefits to the party through other means called Missions. Missions come in five types: Collection, Delivery, Elimination, Investigation and Protection.
Collection missions have the Companions salvage materials, quest for or craft specific items for the players, be it reaching out to contacts within the Pendish Cartel, making potions, or seeking a reliquary for a specific object. Companions can salvage materials only once every week. They may craft items up to Rare Quality if they meet the prerequisites and succeed the crafting skill check.
Delivery missions involve the sending of messages or packages to factions or the party.
Elimination missions have the Companions attempt to remove a notable enemy to the party. This includes raids on bandit hideouts, hunting down and destroying a dangerous Scion or having a political opponent arrested.
Investigation missions include researching, surveillance and chasing any loose lead the party may be too busy to explore themselves.
Protection missions may be required when the party needs to defend multiple locations from enemy forces or escort a vulnerable NPC.
Missions are conducted as a skill check challenge. NPC’s must use as many unique skills as possible to complete the mission depending on the roadblocks they encounter. If they succeed 3/5 times, they pass the mission successfully. A roll of a 1 adds an additional failure, and a roll of a 20 adds an additional success. On a critical success (5/5) the Companions come away with an additional reward. A critical failure (0/5) may lead to injury, loss of contacts or materials, and rarely, death.