Character Creation#
Acronyms#
Character creation in this Cairn + Dolmenwood game requires frequent recourse to two books: the Cairn 2e Players Guide and the Dolmenwood Players Book. From here on out:
- the Cairn 2e Players Guide is referred to as the CPG.
- the Dolmenwood Players Book is referred to as the DPB
Character Sheets#
Character sheets are kept in a shared character keeper, using google sheets—this is linked in the discord server. The character keeper includes a template sheet that you should duplicate (right click sheet tab -> click Duplicate from the menu) and fill as you create your character. There is also an example character sheet for reference. Finally, there is a sheet for inventory not directly carried by players, called Transport, Carts and Shared Inventory, which you can use to note items stored in external containers (in handcarts, on pack animals, carried by hirelings, etc.).
Background and Starting Items#
Roll or Choose a background as outlined on pg. 8 of the CPG; do not select a character name from your background—unless you see one you really like. Your background will include your starting gear and two background-unique tables, which will fill out your character’s history and add additional starting items.
- All PCs start with a backpack, which does not take up a slot
Attributes and Hit Protection#
In the character sheet, HP and Attributes will each have a Total and Current value; when creating your character these values will be the same. For more info on Attributes see CPG pg. 9 & 62.
- Roll 3d6 for each of your attributes, in order: Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), and Willpower (WIL).
- You may swap any two results.
- Roll 1d6 to determine your PC’s starting Hit Protection (HP), which reflects their ability to avoid damage in combat.
Kindred#
Choosing a Kindred#
Kindred are the different folk inhabbiting Dolmenwood. For more information on Kindred see DPB pg. 30-31 (detailed info for each on pg. 32-53). Kindred will be treated as mechanically identical but each belong to a unique cultural context within Dolmenwood; PCs will have very different former careers, starting desires, trinkets, and more according to their kindred.
Roll or choose a kindred.
| d6 | Kindred | Detail Pages (in DPB) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breggle | 32-35 |
| 2 | Elf | 36-39 |
| 3 | Grimalkin | 40-43 |
| 4 | Human | 44-47 |
| 5 | Mossling | 48-51 |
| 6 | Woodgrue | 52-55 |
Kindred Specific Details#
Age#
The first page of each Kindred detail section in the DPB includes a formula for determining level 1 PC Age. Use this formula to determine your PCs starting age.
Starting Languages#
Each PC begins with a working knowledge of two languages: Woldish—the common tongue in Dolmenwood—and a language particular to that PC’s kindred. Most Humans in Dolmenwood only know Woldish; Human PCs will begin with Woldish and one additional random language.
| Kindred | Starting Languages |
|---|---|
| Breggle | Woldish, Gaffe |
| Elf | Woldish, High Elfish |
| Grimalkin | Woldish, Mewl |
| Human | Woldish, random—see table below |
| Mossling | Woldish, Mulch |
| Woodgrue | Woldish, Sylvan |
Random Language (for Human PCs)#
| d6 | Languages | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dwelve | Language of Dolmenwood’s underworld |
| 2-3 | Gaffe | Breggle common tongue |
| 4 | Liturgic | Pluritine Church scriptural tongue |
| 5 | Old Woldish | Ancient language |
| 6 | Sylvan | Demi-fey common tongue |
Name#
The first page of each Kindred detail section in the DPB includes a d20 list of names, as well as a paragraph describing how members of that kindred are named or use names; for some kindred, Male, Female and Unisex first names are listed, while for others, names are grouped by different conventions.
Roll, choose or make up a name.
If you’re having trouble deciding your character’s name based on kindred, each Background in the CPG contains a list of names which you may use if you prefer.
Failed Career, Trinket, Personality, and Appearance#
The last two pages of each Kindred detail section in the DPB feature several tables which can be used to flesh out your PC’s history, appearance, and personality. These are largely optional and inspirational, however three of these are more important and shouldn’t be skipped*: be sure to roll the following:
- Kindred Background: the cell for this in the character sheet has the header Failed Career; it’s the job you had before your adventuring career began
- Kindred Trinket: a kindred-unique starting item; add this to your inventory
- Desires: the goal your PC has been focused on or working toward prior to the beginning of the campaign
*The hope is that these three starting details—Failed Career, Trinket and Desires—serve to take the place of the Bonds from Cairn 2e but with a Dolmenwood flavor.
Fey Kindred and Cold Iron#
Fey kindred characters—Elves and Grimalkins—are weak to cold iron weapons; the damage dice of these weapons is Enhanced when targeting fey kindred characters. This applies to PCs and NPCs alike.