Previously.
The Explorers Concluded
-------------------------------
Sven Hedin: Swedish explorer of Central Asia. He tomb robbed a Zoroastrian temple in Iran. Entered and was later expelled from xenophobic Tibet. Discovered a 2,000 year old city in the Lop Nar Desert in China with many ancient Chinese manuscripts.
Marc Aurel Stein: Hungarian discoverer of the ancient Silk Road between China and Europe, and the “Cave of a Thousand Buddhas.” The temple was filled with artifacts, most of which got packed up and sent to European museums. Most importantly, he recovered the Diamond Sutra, the world’s oldest surviving printed book.
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt: Swiss explorer and first European to see the canyon city of Petra in Palestine. Studied ancient Egyptian temples in Nubia.
Charles Montagu Doughty: First European to see the Natotean sandstone city Mada’in Salih. His work was admired by TE Lawrence of WWI British Intelligence, who helped start an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Turks. Gertrude Bell was also a contemporary explorer of the area and also an intelligence officer.
Bertram Thomas: Rival of fellow Brit explorer Harry St John Philby in an effort to explore the “Empty Quarter” of Saudi Arabia first. Wilfred Thesiger was another prominent explorer of the area.
Freya Stark: Mapper of the Valleys of the Assassins in Iran. Searched for a lost city of ancient temples mentioned by Roman texts in Yemen. She also worked for British Intelligence in WWII.
Charles Darwin, Alexander Von Humboldt, Alfred Russel Wallace: All well-traveled scientific explorers, collecting plant, animal, and mineral specimens from around the world. Darwin’s five-year journey in the HMS Beagle circumnavigated the globe.
Hiram Bingham: American explorer who found the Lost City of the Incas’, Machu Picchu.
Neil Armstrong: First man to step on the moon. Every other explorer’s accomplishments look a puny by comparison. Just imagine though, Neil finds Richard Hoagland’s lost moon civilization, or Ming’s advance base for his planned invasion of earth from Mongo, or Iron Sky space Nazi’s!
I hope this list provides a few adventuring and NPC ideas.
Showing posts with label Historical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historical. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Fantasy & Pulp Fantasy Core--Title Level and Pulp Adventurer Ideas 5
Previously.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Henry Hudson: Discovered the eponymous Hudson Bay in Canada. Battled ice floes and mutinous crews. He was forced to over-winter in the bay as encroaching ice closed them in. He, his son, and loyal members of the crew were set adrift in a boat by mutineers. Willem Barentsz, another Arctic explorer, also became trapped in ice and was attacked by polar bears.
Adolf Erik Nordenskiold: Made a failed attempt to walk to the North Pole. Later took a ship, Vega, across Russia’s northern border only to be trapped in ice for 10 months between Russia and Alaska.
John Franklin: British sailor that fought at Trafalgar. Survived a horrific overland attempt at finding the Northwest Passage in Canada, which included a bout of cannibalism. Became Lt. Governor in Tasmania until he was run out. Lead another expedition to find the Northwest Passage by sea. The HMS Terror and HMS Erebus became the “Lost Expedition,” after not being heard from for over two years. A large bounty was offered and 25 rescue missions would be launched to find them (at an extensive loss of life). The fate of the ships’ crews was discovered eight years later. Both ships became trapped in ice. Survivors attempted to retreat overland, but fell victim to scurvy, lead poisoning, cannibalism, and starvation.
American Charles Hall’s Polaris expedition to the North Pole met a similar, fatal ending. Ironically, one of his previous trips had found the graves of the Franklin party.
Fridtjof Nansen: Crossed Greenland overland. Attempted to get to the North Pole by allowing his ship to become trapped in an ice floe for three years. Unfortunately, it didn’t drift over the pole. From there, he attempted to go on on foot. The attempt failed, but he managed to build a catamaran from his boats to make it back to civilization.
Roald Amundsen: First to make it across the Northwest Passage. First to the South Pole, beating out explorer rival Scott. First across the North Pole in an airship. Died while doing a search and rescue for an airship downed near the Arctic. Robert Scott makes it to the pole second, finding Amundsen’s Norwegian flag there. His expedition perishes in the return attempt, leaving behind a rather grim diary.
To be concluded.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Henry Hudson: Discovered the eponymous Hudson Bay in Canada. Battled ice floes and mutinous crews. He was forced to over-winter in the bay as encroaching ice closed them in. He, his son, and loyal members of the crew were set adrift in a boat by mutineers. Willem Barentsz, another Arctic explorer, also became trapped in ice and was attacked by polar bears.
Adolf Erik Nordenskiold: Made a failed attempt to walk to the North Pole. Later took a ship, Vega, across Russia’s northern border only to be trapped in ice for 10 months between Russia and Alaska.
John Franklin: British sailor that fought at Trafalgar. Survived a horrific overland attempt at finding the Northwest Passage in Canada, which included a bout of cannibalism. Became Lt. Governor in Tasmania until he was run out. Lead another expedition to find the Northwest Passage by sea. The HMS Terror and HMS Erebus became the “Lost Expedition,” after not being heard from for over two years. A large bounty was offered and 25 rescue missions would be launched to find them (at an extensive loss of life). The fate of the ships’ crews was discovered eight years later. Both ships became trapped in ice. Survivors attempted to retreat overland, but fell victim to scurvy, lead poisoning, cannibalism, and starvation.
American Charles Hall’s Polaris expedition to the North Pole met a similar, fatal ending. Ironically, one of his previous trips had found the graves of the Franklin party.
Fridtjof Nansen: Crossed Greenland overland. Attempted to get to the North Pole by allowing his ship to become trapped in an ice floe for three years. Unfortunately, it didn’t drift over the pole. From there, he attempted to go on on foot. The attempt failed, but he managed to build a catamaran from his boats to make it back to civilization.
Roald Amundsen: First to make it across the Northwest Passage. First to the South Pole, beating out explorer rival Scott. First across the North Pole in an airship. Died while doing a search and rescue for an airship downed near the Arctic. Robert Scott makes it to the pole second, finding Amundsen’s Norwegian flag there. His expedition perishes in the return attempt, leaving behind a rather grim diary.
Ernest Shackleton: His ship, Endurance, was trapped in Antarctic ice during an expedition. It took three years and treacherous trips overland and in a small open boat to effect rescue. Everyone in the expedition survived. They returned home to England as heroes. Depressingly, they also found found WWI raging across Europe at the time .
To be concluded.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Fantasy & Pulp Fantasy Core--Title Level and Pulp Adventurer Ideas 4
Previously.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Mungo Park: Scottish explorer of the Niger River and Africa. Became ill on his second expedition and was killed by natives when his boat became stuck at Bussa Falls. His published diaries became an inspiration to later explorers and writers.
Richard Lander: English explorer of Africa who became the first European to visit the forbidden city of Timbuktu and leave it alive. During one expedition his party was attacked and captured by river pirates.
Heinrich Barth: This German explorer made it to Timbuktu going overland through the desert from Tripoli and entered in disguise as an Arab.
Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke: As part of an expedition set up by the Royal Geographic Society, these two went to Africa to search for the source of the Nile. They ended up quarrelling bitterly over their findings. Burton also translated the Kama Sutra and the Tales of the Arabian Nights. He entered Mecca, forbidden to non-Muslims, disguised as an Arab.
Mary Kingsley: Commissioned by the British Museum to visit Africa to collect wildlife samples and native artifacts.
Henry Morton Stanley: Left England for the US as a teen. Enlisted in the Confederate army, though he later fought for the Union. He then worked as a correspondent for newspapers, first to an Indian conference, and then abroad. He was given a commission to find a missing missionary in Africa. Upon finding him, Stanley would utter the words that would make him famous, “Dr. Livingston, I presume?” Lead a couple more brutal expeditions into the interior and would become a member of parliament.
David Livingston: Missionary, explorer, and merchant trader in Africa. Was the first European to see Victoria Falls. His extended search for the source of the White Nile River prompted Stanlely’s investigation. Upon his death, two natives undertook a very long overland and sea journey to deliver his body back to England (though his heart was buried in a box in Africa).
To be continued.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Mungo Park: Scottish explorer of the Niger River and Africa. Became ill on his second expedition and was killed by natives when his boat became stuck at Bussa Falls. His published diaries became an inspiration to later explorers and writers.
Richard Lander: English explorer of Africa who became the first European to visit the forbidden city of Timbuktu and leave it alive. During one expedition his party was attacked and captured by river pirates.
Heinrich Barth: This German explorer made it to Timbuktu going overland through the desert from Tripoli and entered in disguise as an Arab.
Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke: As part of an expedition set up by the Royal Geographic Society, these two went to Africa to search for the source of the Nile. They ended up quarrelling bitterly over their findings. Burton also translated the Kama Sutra and the Tales of the Arabian Nights. He entered Mecca, forbidden to non-Muslims, disguised as an Arab.
Mary Kingsley: Commissioned by the British Museum to visit Africa to collect wildlife samples and native artifacts.
Henry Morton Stanley: Left England for the US as a teen. Enlisted in the Confederate army, though he later fought for the Union. He then worked as a correspondent for newspapers, first to an Indian conference, and then abroad. He was given a commission to find a missing missionary in Africa. Upon finding him, Stanley would utter the words that would make him famous, “Dr. Livingston, I presume?” Lead a couple more brutal expeditions into the interior and would become a member of parliament.
David Livingston: Missionary, explorer, and merchant trader in Africa. Was the first European to see Victoria Falls. His extended search for the source of the White Nile River prompted Stanlely’s investigation. Upon his death, two natives undertook a very long overland and sea journey to deliver his body back to England (though his heart was buried in a box in Africa).
To be continued.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Fantasy & Pulp Fantasy Core--Title Level and Pulp Adventurer Ideas 3
Previously.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Ferdinand Magellan: His fleet was the first to circumnavigate the globe. Mutiny and desertion followed their arduous journey. Magellan himself was actually killed in the Philippines in a dispute with the natives. A single ship with a skeleton crew made it back to Spain to many accolades.
Francis Drake: Also made an epic circumnavigation of the globe. Sponsored by the English crown, Drake was a privateer, attacking Spanish treasure ships and colonies along the way. He was also one of the commanders who successfully repelled the Spanish armada’s attempted invasion of England. William Dampier is another pirate circumnavigator.
James Cook: Discovered Hawaii (and is later killed there in a native dispute). Mapped the coast of New Zealand and made landfall in Australia. Circumnavigated the Antarctic Circle. Visited Easter Island (an interesting spot for possible adventures).
Abel Tasman: Dutch discoverer of Tasmania. Explored New Zealand and was attacked by Maori warriors.
La Perouse: French naval officer involved in several conflicts with the British. Visited Easter Island. Ran afoul of natives in Samoa. Was lost at sea. His ship’s wreckage was found decades later.
Vitus Bering: Commissioned by Czar Peter the Great to find a land bridge between Russia and Alaska in the Arctic. Died horribly as his ship wrecked on the now eponymous Bering Island.
Jacques Cartier and other French explorers of Canada started several colonies. They had generally courted friendlier relations with the Indians, though there were still plenty of conflicts. La Salle made a particularly impressive journey down the length of the Mississippi.
Lewis and Clark: American explorers looking for the source of the Missouri River in the Louisiana Purchase. Not much conflict with the natives thanks to their guide, Sacagewea. A similar exploration much earlier around the Gulf Coast by Spaniard Cabeza de Vaca was completely disastrous without native support. There were only five survivors out of an expedition of 300.
John Fremont: Explorer of California. Attempted to start a rebellion against Mexico there. Later became the military governor after the US annexation.
John McDouall Stuart: Crossed Australia from the south coast to the north. Attacked by Aboriginals along the way. Burke and Wills made a similar journey later, but a completely disastrous one.
To be continued.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Ferdinand Magellan: His fleet was the first to circumnavigate the globe. Mutiny and desertion followed their arduous journey. Magellan himself was actually killed in the Philippines in a dispute with the natives. A single ship with a skeleton crew made it back to Spain to many accolades.
Francis Drake: Also made an epic circumnavigation of the globe. Sponsored by the English crown, Drake was a privateer, attacking Spanish treasure ships and colonies along the way. He was also one of the commanders who successfully repelled the Spanish armada’s attempted invasion of England. William Dampier is another pirate circumnavigator.
James Cook: Discovered Hawaii (and is later killed there in a native dispute). Mapped the coast of New Zealand and made landfall in Australia. Circumnavigated the Antarctic Circle. Visited Easter Island (an interesting spot for possible adventures).
Abel Tasman: Dutch discoverer of Tasmania. Explored New Zealand and was attacked by Maori warriors.
La Perouse: French naval officer involved in several conflicts with the British. Visited Easter Island. Ran afoul of natives in Samoa. Was lost at sea. His ship’s wreckage was found decades later.
Vitus Bering: Commissioned by Czar Peter the Great to find a land bridge between Russia and Alaska in the Arctic. Died horribly as his ship wrecked on the now eponymous Bering Island.
Jacques Cartier and other French explorers of Canada started several colonies. They had generally courted friendlier relations with the Indians, though there were still plenty of conflicts. La Salle made a particularly impressive journey down the length of the Mississippi.
Lewis and Clark: American explorers looking for the source of the Missouri River in the Louisiana Purchase. Not much conflict with the natives thanks to their guide, Sacagewea. A similar exploration much earlier around the Gulf Coast by Spaniard Cabeza de Vaca was completely disastrous without native support. There were only five survivors out of an expedition of 300.
John Fremont: Explorer of California. Attempted to start a rebellion against Mexico there. Later became the military governor after the US annexation.
John McDouall Stuart: Crossed Australia from the south coast to the north. Attacked by Aboriginals along the way. Burke and Wills made a similar journey later, but a completely disastrous one.
To be continued.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Fantasy & Pulp Fantasy Core--Title Level and Pulp Adventurer Ideas 2
Previously.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Friar William of Rubruck: Went on a mission across Asia to the Mongols to make them allies against the Muslims. (Actually the requests went both ways.) There was a constant search at the time for the Asian Christian empire of Prester John.
Marco Polo: Venetian merchant who went on a trade mission to the Mongols. Polo was recruited by the Khan as an envoy and traveled all around the empire. He returned home and ended up in a gentlemen’s prison during a war, where he dictated his memoirs to a fellow prisoner.
Zheng He: Trusted Chinese Imperial court eunuch, who lead several fleets to establish sea routes to India and beyond. His first fleet was comprised of over 300 ships. He was perhaps the inspiration for the Sinbad the Sailor tales from the Arabian Nights. There is a dubious claim that he actually circumnavigated the globe with a fleet. Political changes in China wiped out many of his accomplishments from the history books.
Ibn Battuta: Islamic scholar and judge who left Morocco to make the hajj in Mecca and ended up travelling over much of the Islamic world. His credentials allowed him access to rulers and the respect of everyone he met. Returned home after 24 years of sightseeing as a rich man. His local sultan eventually compelled him to write his memoirs.
Vasco Da Gama: Conquered the Cape of Good Hope travelling around Africa to set up a trade route to India. Arab lands blocked direct access to these markets, precipitating many of these kind of voyages.
Christopher Columbus: After courting royal support, Columbus took a fleet of ships to establish a direct trading route to Asia. He ended up running into the Americas. He may or may not have been aware of the Viking journeys to Vinland, but thought he was near the eastern coast of Asia. Columbus returned three more times, establishing colonies, searching for gold, and still looking for a route to India. Shipwrecked at one point, he pulled the Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court trick (predicting an eclipse), to get native help.
Hernan Cortes: With a small group of well-armed compatriots, these conquistadors made allies of the oppressed tribes in Mexico to rebel against their Aztec masters. Cortes’ small band toppled an empire, acquiring large amounts of gold. These type of expeditions were chartered by supporting country, in this case Spain, and their cut of the treasure was negotiated beforehand.
Francisco Pizarro: His band of adventurers attacked the Incan empire in South America. Conditions in the Andes were bad, Pizarro had to contend with revolts in his own ranks. Fortunately for them however, they had arrived in the middle of an Incan civil war. They captured the emperor while he was outside of his capital on a campaign. They ended up killing him and set up a puppet emperor. More gold flowed. The search for El Dorado, the City of Gold, continued all over the Americas.
Francisco de Orellana: Relative of Pizarro and discoverer of the Amazon River. He made two trips down river, neither were pleasant cruises (the second one cost him his life). At one point, the expedition was attacked by a tribe of warrior woman, for whom the river later named. (Minor trivia: Amazon is a Greek derived word meaning "without breast," from supposed tradition of mastecomy of the right breast to make the drawing of a bow easier.)
To be continued.
The Explorers Continued
-------------------------------
Friar William of Rubruck: Went on a mission across Asia to the Mongols to make them allies against the Muslims. (Actually the requests went both ways.) There was a constant search at the time for the Asian Christian empire of Prester John.
Marco Polo: Venetian merchant who went on a trade mission to the Mongols. Polo was recruited by the Khan as an envoy and traveled all around the empire. He returned home and ended up in a gentlemen’s prison during a war, where he dictated his memoirs to a fellow prisoner.
Zheng He: Trusted Chinese Imperial court eunuch, who lead several fleets to establish sea routes to India and beyond. His first fleet was comprised of over 300 ships. He was perhaps the inspiration for the Sinbad the Sailor tales from the Arabian Nights. There is a dubious claim that he actually circumnavigated the globe with a fleet. Political changes in China wiped out many of his accomplishments from the history books.
Ibn Battuta: Islamic scholar and judge who left Morocco to make the hajj in Mecca and ended up travelling over much of the Islamic world. His credentials allowed him access to rulers and the respect of everyone he met. Returned home after 24 years of sightseeing as a rich man. His local sultan eventually compelled him to write his memoirs.
Vasco Da Gama: Conquered the Cape of Good Hope travelling around Africa to set up a trade route to India. Arab lands blocked direct access to these markets, precipitating many of these kind of voyages.
Christopher Columbus: After courting royal support, Columbus took a fleet of ships to establish a direct trading route to Asia. He ended up running into the Americas. He may or may not have been aware of the Viking journeys to Vinland, but thought he was near the eastern coast of Asia. Columbus returned three more times, establishing colonies, searching for gold, and still looking for a route to India. Shipwrecked at one point, he pulled the Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court trick (predicting an eclipse), to get native help.
Hernan Cortes: With a small group of well-armed compatriots, these conquistadors made allies of the oppressed tribes in Mexico to rebel against their Aztec masters. Cortes’ small band toppled an empire, acquiring large amounts of gold. These type of expeditions were chartered by supporting country, in this case Spain, and their cut of the treasure was negotiated beforehand.
Francisco Pizarro: His band of adventurers attacked the Incan empire in South America. Conditions in the Andes were bad, Pizarro had to contend with revolts in his own ranks. Fortunately for them however, they had arrived in the middle of an Incan civil war. They captured the emperor while he was outside of his capital on a campaign. They ended up killing him and set up a puppet emperor. More gold flowed. The search for El Dorado, the City of Gold, continued all over the Americas.
Francisco de Orellana: Relative of Pizarro and discoverer of the Amazon River. He made two trips down river, neither were pleasant cruises (the second one cost him his life). At one point, the expedition was attacked by a tribe of warrior woman, for whom the river later named. (Minor trivia: Amazon is a Greek derived word meaning "without breast," from supposed tradition of mastecomy of the right breast to make the drawing of a bow easier.)
To be continued.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Fantasy & Pulp Fantasy Core--Title Level and Pulp Adventurer Ideas 1
Intro
-------
For levels one to ten, Fantasy Core characters are building up their wealth, gaining some local fame, and making some noble/higher society connections. At that point, the characters have maxed out martially and skill-wise. (Wizards still have some ability to expand their personal power.) But with wealth and a reputation, the characters can now attempt to enter the power structure of their society. From there, they can find patrons to fund exploits or even larger mandates on a grander scale to achieve lasting, far-reaching fame.
I bought a book for my dad for Christmas called “Explorers” by the Smithsonian Institution, about world famous explorers. After perusing it, I had revelation about Title Level characters. The explorers listed within were generally from a noble class, had some personal wealth, and were highly experienced in their fields. They had to work with the ruling powers for funding, or perhaps there was a large bounty offered, or even a national imperative was in place. They had professional rivals for noble favor and for achieving goals, whom they could not simply kill or duel to get out of the way.
(Whatever personal animosity rival explorers may have had for each other, they generally professionally respected one another. We read about Amunden beating out his arch-rival Scott to reach the South Pole. When honored for his accomplishment, he said he would gladly forgo fame and reward that the Scott party had returned alive. The Apollo 11 astronauts planted an American flag on the moon and a Soviet medal, to honor the recently deceased Yuri Gagarian. Of course, nobody expects players or NPC’s to be so gracious.)
Sounds like a Title Level character to me. These are some ideas for new challenges for these characters. Feel free to do your own research to fill out these summaries (because even typing out these little capsules was like doing a book report). Steal bits and pieces from here and there. Of course all of these ideas need is orcs added to them, as well as some side quests and other tangible goals. Some of these would also work great as scenarios for Pulp Fantasy Core. Following lost expeditions are great fodder for adventures.
The Title Level characters would be leading an expedition of many people. They’d be responsible for them, as well making them accountable. Mistreatment or constant exposure to overwhelming circumstances may require a Respect roll or better motivation to avoid mutiny. Protégé characters would be excellent for adventures involving minor or side objectives and reconnaissance. Managing people and resources and making strategic decisions would be the primary responsibility for Title Level characters, rather than body count and booty.
The Explorers
-----------------
(These aren't in much of an order.)
Hanno the Navigator: Carthaginian explorer who took a fleet around the west coast of Africa. He encountered a savage tribe of ape-men.
Zhang Qian: Imperial Chinese envoy. He visited other far neighboring countries on trade missions, as well as courting allies against enemy nations.
Leif Eriksson: First European explorer of North America (rumors of an Egyptian colony notwithstanding). Born in Iceland and a settler in Greenland (which his father, Erik the Red, discovered). The Vikings made three recorded attempts at settling “Vinland,” but distance and hostile natives repulsed them. Encroaching ice and distance would also eventually cause the Greenland colony to be abandoned.
Fa Xian: Buddhist missionary. Visiting temples in Asia and India. Pilgrims from China went into these areas to search out the origin of their faith, to find and translate ancient texts (sutras). It was a risky adventure with other hostile faiths, wars, and bandits often blocking the ways there and back.
Xuanzang: Went searching for Buddhist sutras in India. There was a fantasy novel about his trip, “Journey to the West,” or “Monkey,” wherein he and his animal companions fought monsters along the way.
To be continued.
-------
For levels one to ten, Fantasy Core characters are building up their wealth, gaining some local fame, and making some noble/higher society connections. At that point, the characters have maxed out martially and skill-wise. (Wizards still have some ability to expand their personal power.) But with wealth and a reputation, the characters can now attempt to enter the power structure of their society. From there, they can find patrons to fund exploits or even larger mandates on a grander scale to achieve lasting, far-reaching fame.
I bought a book for my dad for Christmas called “Explorers” by the Smithsonian Institution, about world famous explorers. After perusing it, I had revelation about Title Level characters. The explorers listed within were generally from a noble class, had some personal wealth, and were highly experienced in their fields. They had to work with the ruling powers for funding, or perhaps there was a large bounty offered, or even a national imperative was in place. They had professional rivals for noble favor and for achieving goals, whom they could not simply kill or duel to get out of the way.
(Whatever personal animosity rival explorers may have had for each other, they generally professionally respected one another. We read about Amunden beating out his arch-rival Scott to reach the South Pole. When honored for his accomplishment, he said he would gladly forgo fame and reward that the Scott party had returned alive. The Apollo 11 astronauts planted an American flag on the moon and a Soviet medal, to honor the recently deceased Yuri Gagarian. Of course, nobody expects players or NPC’s to be so gracious.)
Sounds like a Title Level character to me. These are some ideas for new challenges for these characters. Feel free to do your own research to fill out these summaries (because even typing out these little capsules was like doing a book report). Steal bits and pieces from here and there. Of course all of these ideas need is orcs added to them, as well as some side quests and other tangible goals. Some of these would also work great as scenarios for Pulp Fantasy Core. Following lost expeditions are great fodder for adventures.
The Title Level characters would be leading an expedition of many people. They’d be responsible for them, as well making them accountable. Mistreatment or constant exposure to overwhelming circumstances may require a Respect roll or better motivation to avoid mutiny. Protégé characters would be excellent for adventures involving minor or side objectives and reconnaissance. Managing people and resources and making strategic decisions would be the primary responsibility for Title Level characters, rather than body count and booty.
The Explorers
-----------------
(These aren't in much of an order.)
Hanno the Navigator: Carthaginian explorer who took a fleet around the west coast of Africa. He encountered a savage tribe of ape-men.
Zhang Qian: Imperial Chinese envoy. He visited other far neighboring countries on trade missions, as well as courting allies against enemy nations.
Leif Eriksson: First European explorer of North America (rumors of an Egyptian colony notwithstanding). Born in Iceland and a settler in Greenland (which his father, Erik the Red, discovered). The Vikings made three recorded attempts at settling “Vinland,” but distance and hostile natives repulsed them. Encroaching ice and distance would also eventually cause the Greenland colony to be abandoned.
Fa Xian: Buddhist missionary. Visiting temples in Asia and India. Pilgrims from China went into these areas to search out the origin of their faith, to find and translate ancient texts (sutras). It was a risky adventure with other hostile faiths, wars, and bandits often blocking the ways there and back.
Xuanzang: Went searching for Buddhist sutras in India. There was a fantasy novel about his trip, “Journey to the West,” or “Monkey,” wherein he and his animal companions fought monsters along the way.
To be continued.
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