Danse Macabre Roleplaying in a World of Medieval Horror b Dean Suter Chris Johnstone 1 The Content Introduction 3 Systems 5 Character Creation 9 Character Traits 20 Drama 34 Magic 48 Setting 80 Roleplaying 104 Beasts and Devils 112 Two Horrors 136 Copyright: Danse Macarbe is copyright 2004 Dean Suter and Christopher Johnstone. Written, designed and illustrated by Dean Sutter and Christopher Johnstone, unless otherwise stated. Permission is given for this version, “Danse Marcarbe (core rules) (PDF),” to be copied, printed and distributed freely on the condition that no version of this PDF (whether electronic, print or other) is sold. Cover art ‘Cloister in Snow’ by Caspar David Friedrich (September 5, 1774 – May 7, 1840). A 19th century German Romantic painter. ‘Leaf and Garland Border’ (on cover) and ‘Ivy Border’ on contents page sourced from www.webclipart.com 2 Introduction b Chapter One at the gathering of folk. They were smiling now, but their A Dance with the Dead teeth were not small, dull yellow things. They were sharp Renaud was lost. The night had crept quietly into the teeth. Cutting teeth. Gnawing teeth. Hungry teeth. forest, smoothing trees, ivy and leaves into smudges of They were the teeth of wolves. darkness. Had the path dwindled and vanished? Or did he miss a turn in the rutted track. Had he wandered off down some wild deer path? What is Danse Macabre? Each breath made cold, dead shapes on the air. Danse Macabre is a pencil and paper Roleplaying Game His brother’s hamlet should be close now, there should (RPG) set in an alternative medieval Europe where the be light’s twinkling between the trees. But the night was magic of folktales is real. But these tales are not airy and endless. Grey trees marched into the murk, and became harmless sort. For this is not a land of harmless fairytale, thinner shadows. no bright knights walk the realms, no airy fanciful things When the first howl of the first wolf rolled through the dance in the woods, this Europe is a dark place. In Danse forest, Renaud froze. He pressed his back up against a Macabre the fabric of European folklore and fairytale is great, twisted oak, as close as he could to the knuckled woven anew with the solemn threads that were a part of its bark. Another howl, and then another. first making. Renaud crept around the oak and began to trot very In the vales and forests of age-old Europe folk knew fast. He was a portly man, there was no real speed in his what it was to be afraid. The wilds seemed endless and, in waddle. the medieval view of things, full of cunning wolves, hellish When the light shone suddenly through the boles witches, child-stealing faeries and old half-forgotten Renaud nearly cried out for joy – he would have, except heathen gods. Danse Macabre takes a second glance at that in his imagination the wolves were ready to pounce these forgotten monstrosities that are seldom taken with snapping jaws, all they needed was the slightest seriously. It is these tales, the stories of nameless fears sound to guide them. The light stabbed the darkness with and haunted paths, that are hereafter retold. a dozen spears of radience, which shifted between the trunks as the torch bobbed off into the darkness. Renaud hitched his flapping jerkin, and ran, his gut protruding, his The Nature of the Game flat feet flapping wildly. Danse Macabre is played by a group of people who He ran until the light grew into a large orb of fiery gold. collaborate on the game and story. All but one of the Until he was nearly upon the torch-bearer. It was a woman, Players of the game will take on the role of a Character in dressed in a long grey gown, walking lazily among the the story. A Character has special skills, talents and shadows. Though her paces were slow and languid, personal quirks that are recorded on a Character Sheet. Renaud could not catch her. His eyes were streaming now, The Player who does not take on the role of a single his throat swollen, his legs burning. She must have heard character, instead takes on the role of many. This is the him, but never once looked back; her path was straight Gamesmaster, and he or she manages the storyline, the and calm and resolute. backdrops, scenery, props, and both allies and enemies of When Renaud stumbled into the deep glade he was all the Player Characters. Characters run by the Gamesmaster almost blind from sweat and the pound of blood in his are termed Non-Player Characters (NPCs). skull. He could just make out shapes, not just the lady in Danse Macabre uses a Dice Pool of six-sided dice (d6) the long grey gown, but others. Leaning heavily against a to resolve tests of skill. Each player should need no more tree, Renaud rubbed the sheet of sweat from his face. They than six dice. were looking at him. The faces were cold, the eyes colder. Being a game of fantasy, Danse Macabre has sorcery, And there were shapes behind them, large black things, monsters and swords like any other number of fantasy lopping through the night, gathering together. settings. But what sets any game apart is theme. What is There were sounds behind him now, heavy things moving the mood of the game? What sort of tales can you tell through the leafy hazel, holly and thorn. He looked again using the game? What sort of characters can you play? 3 What will the characters do? setting should appear to be authentic even if they are Danse Macabre is a game in which you play a fragile invented. Effort has gone into creating a superstitious, mortal character in a world where hell’s shadows and fae fearful setting. creatures are very real perils. All supernatural things in b Rules that encourage character-driven games, Danse Macabre are dangerous, sorcery corrupts the grounded on believable, complex characters. sorcerer, even the weakest of werewolves will easily b Rules that encourage a sense of danger and fear slaughter the most skilful of mortal knights. about supernatural elements in the game. The rules of Danse Macabre are built around this central b Strong emphasis on the social aspects of playing a theme: powerful, dark things lurk just out of human sight and they all want to eat you, or buy you soul, or make you game in medieval Europe. Social status plays an into an eternal slave. important part in a feudal society that Danse Macabre in Because of the dark theme of the game the rules in Danse set in. Tax collectors and corrupt barons are just as Macabre are not balanced. Some new characters will have dangerous as demons. done well in life, others will not. Character advancement is b A number of distinct branches of magic that possess limited – what power there is to be had comes at a price. definite places in the society that uses them. A sliding So what sort of a game does this make? Danse Macabre scale of power and danger has also been linked to magic. will vary depending on how you deal with the supernatural More powerful sorcery carries greater risks. elements that lie behind the fabric of everyday medieval b Psychology of horror rules that support various life. Games that have very few supernatural elements may styles of play and help govern sins and virtues, insanity, delve into intrigue, mystery or gothic romance. If you want trauma, and the selling of souls. to bring the supernatural elements into the bloody light of b Grittiness and horror above game balance: the torch, then the game becomes one of suspense and unbalanced rules favour the supernatural over physical horror. If you introduce a lot of supernatural elements into strength or skill, and unfair social rules favour of the the open then the game will become bloody and short- wealthy, powerful and noble. lived – as will the characters. Disclaimer Summary of Chapters Danse Macabre is a work of fiction. It does not describe Danse Macabre is divided into ten chapters. The real events or people. The authors do not believe in Introduction details a little of the setting, the mood and witchcraft or faeries and they suggest that you not believe theme of the game and serves as a general overview. in these either. They don’t exist. Also, Danse Macabre Chapter Two details Characters, character creation and deals with adult themes. The game is intended for a mature various character options. Chapter Three deals with Rules audience capable of distinguishing between reality and of the game – Skill Resolution, Trauma, Fear and the likes. fantasy. Magic is an important part of occult fabric of Benighted Europe. Esotery, a laborious and alchemic sort of magical Copyright discipline is given its own chapter. More sorcerous magic, Danse Macarbe is copyright 2004 Dean Sutter and Hedge Magic and scholarly Goetia are then discussed Christopher Johnstone. Written, designed and illustrated under a single Magic chapter. A short section on by Dean Sutter and Christopher Johnstone. Permission is Roleplaying is followed by a discussion of the Setting – given for this version, “Danse Macarbe (PDF),” to be both will hopefully help you get to know the theme and copied, printed and distributed freely on the condition that mood of the game in more detail and think of a few ideas no version of this PDF (whether electronic, print or other) and hooks for your game.