Although released in 1985, that cover looks like something from the 1970s Heavy Metal Magazine. Nude woman. Evil looking dude on an evil looking horse. Hazy background like something from a Ralph Bakshi film. You would have, at most, three statblocks of material here, and the woman looks more like victim than active entity.
Luckily, when I stat out these album covers, I also like to take the lyrics into account if I can.
Herein, we have the tale of a sorceress queen, who seeks to kill the king and take his place. She sees a soldier of fortune, the black knight, as the tool she needs to accomplish this end, and sets him against the king.
In return, the queen becomes his consort. The knight, believing that she will be loyal to him, allows her to cloak him in illusion, freeing him to become the tyrant through which she acts. In the end, though, the soldier of fortune escapes, leaving the queen desolate in the ruins of her kingdom.
Or, at least, that is how I read it. And, given that reading, this album cover will not be a snapshot of just the image, but a progression from one state to another. Yes, that means that the characters will level up and change over the course of the album, and it means that judges looking to get the most use from this material will have to use it over the course of campaign years.
Or, at least, that is how I read it. And, given that reading, this album cover will not be a snapshot of just the image, but a progression from one state to another. Yes, that means that the characters will level up and change over the course of the album, and it means that judges looking to get the most use from this material will have to use it over the course of campaign years.
I am not sure how you feel about that, but it pleases me!
The Beginning
The Queen: Init +1; Atk dagger +0 melee (1d4) or spell; AC 11; HD 1d4+6; hp 9; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP spells; SV Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +3; AL N. Str 11, Agl 13, Sta 14, Int 16, Prs 17, Luck 9.
Spells (+3 Spell Check): Charm person, detect magic, invoke patron (Baal Zymymar), read magic, and sleep.
You know, it would be so easy to paint the Queen as the villain. She is a sorcerer, and she "lives for the head of the king", seeing his fall within her dreams. But, given the reality of pseudo-medieval royal marriages, it is equally likely that she is the victim of the king, and just wants to escape herself. In effect, taken by the king, she has sold herself to the Soldier of Fortune in order to escape the king. The Soldier of Fortune is someone she believes she can control. Although she is still not completely free, she will be closer to her heart's desire.
This reading makes the Queen a tragic figure. And the reading is not altogether spurious, as defeating the king is said to "even the score". That there is not a series of battles with a populace angry at the murder of the king also supports the idea that this man might not have been the best of rulers.
In our version of the story, it is the demon Baal Zymymar that begins the Queen on the path of freedom - but also the path of revenge, tyranny, and ultimately heartbreak.
The Soldier of Fortune: Init +4; Atk longsword +1d5+2 melee (1d8+1d5+2); AC 16; HD 3d12+5; hp 30; MV 25’; Act 1d20; SP d5 Deed Die, crit range 19-20; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +1; AL N. Str 17; Agl 14, Sta 14, Int 12, Prs 14, Luck 14. Chainmail, longsword.
Minding his own business, the soldier of fortune enters the kingdom. He takes service with the king, and is ensnared by the Queen. The fact that he can see she is unhappy with her lot - perhaps worse - certainly helps him take her side. That charm person spell she keeps up her sleeve probably helps more.
At this point, we should probably give them names. Let's call the kingdom Poitaine. Let's call the king His Royal Majesty Onfroi IX. Let's call the queen Isabeau. Let's call the soldier of fortune Vauquelin.
The Middle
Queen Isabeau: Init +1; Atk dagger +1 melee (1d4) or spell; AC 11; HD 3d4+8; hp 16; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP spells; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +4; AL C. Str 11, Agl 13, Sta 14, Int 16, Prs 17, Luck 8.
Spells (+5 Spell Check): (1) Charm person, detect magic, invoke patron (Baal Zymymar), read magic, and sleep. (2) ESP and forget.
The Queen has now grown, free from King Onfroi. She has a tower where she works her spells, and, through her consort, works her power upon the kingdom of Poitaine. Note the change in alignment; that is the influence of her demonic patron.
Despite having gained everything she sought, Queen Isobeau is not happy. Her lover is ensorcelled, rather than one who loves her for who she truly is. She is terrified of what may happen when he breaks the bonds on ensorcellment. She is not sure whether she fears his leaving or his staying more.
Vauquelin, The Tyrant Consort: Init +5; Atk longsword +1d6+2 melee (1d8+1d6+2); AC 19; HD 4d12+6; hp 36 (56 mounted with Helm); MV 20’; Act 1d20; SP d6 Deed Die, crit range 19-20; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1; AL N. Str 17; Agl 14, Sta 14, Int 12, Prs 14, Luck 14. Half plate, shield, longsword, Helm of Darkness.
As The Tyrant Consort, Vauquelin wears the Helm of Darkness, loaned to Queen Isabeau by Baal Zymymar, her demonic patron. This evil relic makes the eyes of its wearer glow as with hellfire, and the eyes of any creature that bears its wearer glow like hot coals. Both wearer and steed gain 20 bonus hit points while the Helm is worn and the rider mounted. However, if the wearer of the Helm of Darkness is reduced to 0 hit points, he is immediately dragged bodily into the Abyss, and no recovery of the body is possible. A creature who faces the Helm's wearer for the first time must succeed in a DC 15 Will save or suffer a -1d penalty on the dice chain to all rolls for the entire encounter due to supernatural terror.
The End
Queen Isabeau: Init +1; Atk dagger +1 melee (1d4) or spell; AC 11; HD 4d4+9; hp 18; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP spells; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4; AL C. Str 11, Agl 13, Sta 14, Int 16, Prs 17, Luck 5.
Spells (+5 Spell Check): (1) Charm person, detect magic, invoke patron (Baal Zymymar), read magic, and sleep. (2) ESP, forget, and phantasm.
Lost and alone in her tower, Queen Isabeau faces an uncertain future and an angry populace. Betrayed by her marriage, her spells, and her patron, she remains in her keep on the cold black mountain of Ysvergne. The populace is restless. What happens next?
Vauquelin, Soldier of Fortune: Init +5; Atk longsword +1d6+2 melee (1d8+1d6+2); AC 19; HD 4d12+6; hp 36; MV 20’; Act 1d20; SP d6 Deed Die, crit range 19-20; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1; AL N. Str 17; Agl 14, Sta 14, Int 12, Prs 14, Luck 14. Half plate, shield, longsword.
In the end, Vauquelin leaves mind freed, no longer enslaved by magic, riding with the winds of change.
Notes: The lower-level character, Queen Isabeau, levels faster than Vauquelin. In DCC, you can have characters with mixed levels interact, and the lower-level characters are likely to eventually catch up with the higher-level characters.
Queen Isabeau's Luck keeps going down because she is avoiding corruption. Even without having written specific patron taint (etc.) for her patron, the fact is that either a wizard's Luck is going to run out sooner or later, or the character is going to take corruption. The speed at which a wizard experiences mind- and body-wrenching change is going to vary, based on the dice and how often you give them a chance to replenish their Luck.
Final note: There is a reason why I picked this tale of tragic loss and malformed relationships:
Happy Valentines Day!
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