PIRATES OF THE BONE BLADE

AUTHOR
Richard Woolcock

SYSTEM
Several years ago, a band of outlaws stole a fast merchant vessel and converted it into a pirate ship. Tricube Tales <
When they searched its hold for plunder, they discovered a wicked-looking cutlass carved from the BACKGROUND
bone of a massive sea monster. Their captain, Jake Starling, immediately claimed it as his own. Figu Design
Within days of capturing the ship, a terrible curse befell the entire crew. Blaming the captain for their
STORY SYMBOLS
predicament, the pirates marooned him, hoping to break the curse—but their efforts achieved nothing. Delapouite, Lorc, Skoll
Only much later did they discover Jake’s cutlass was the source of their misery, but by then, their former Game-icons.net <
captain had escaped. So the pirates named their ship after his dreaded weapon and set out in pursuit!
ILLUSTRATIONS
You are infamous crewmembers of the Bone Blade, pillaging and plundering your way up the coast in Zsuzsa Fige
search of the elusive Jake Starling, desperately seeking a way to end the terrible curse that afflicts you. Figu Design

CHARACTER CREATION RESOLVING CHALLENGES LIFE ON THE OPEN SEAS

Each player creates a character as follows:
1. Choose a trait: Agile (used for reflexes, dexterity,
stealth, and ranged combat), brawny (covers strength,
vitality, athletics, and melee combat), or crafty (covers
smarts, charm, alertness, courage, and social combat).
2. Select a concept: Captain*, first mate*, gunner,
surgeon, navigator, cook, or cabin boy.
3. Pick a perk: Exotic pet (describe it), eloquent,
tough as nails, terrifying reputation, dirty fighter,
sea dog, or rigging monkey.
4. Choose a quirk: Eyepatch, flamboyant, greedy,
peg leg, hook hand, honorable, or mischievous.
5. Grab 3 karma tokens and 3 resolve tokens.
6. Make up a name, and introduce yourself (e.g.,
“I am Sam Creek, a crafty captain with a terrifying
If a player attempts something risky, they roll 1-3 Roll on the following tables to generate the latest
six-sided dice and must equal or beat a difficulty adventure scenario (see next page for examples):
of 4-6 on at least one die. Succeed on multiple dice The pirates decide to...
for an exceptional success (narrate an additional A Pillage and plunder D Kidnap and ransom
benefit). Rolling “1” on all dice is a critical failure B Rescue an ally E Destroy an enemy
(introduce a complication to the scene). C Recover lost treasure F Follow Jake’s trail
The GM chooses a trait and difficulty for each Near, on, or within...
challenge. Most are difficulty 5, but a particularly A A coastal fortress D A sheltered bay
easy or hard task might be difficulty 4 or 6. Some B Some old ruins E Another ship
challenges (e.g., combat) require multiple rolls. C A tropical island F A seaside village
Players usually roll 2 dice, but roll 3 dice if the While dealing with...
challenge matches their trait. If a challenge falls A A huge sea monster D A supernatural threat
completely outside the scope of their concept (e.g., B Unfriendly locals E Rival raiders
a cabin boy performing surgery), they lose 1 die. C A disorderly crew F Dangerous weather

KARMA AND RESOLVE RUNNING THE GAME

reputation who has a hook hand”).
* There can only be one captain and one first mate.
Each player has 3 karma and 3 resolve. Spend 1 The GM should describe the opening scene, react

THE PIRATES’ CURSE

Roll on the following table to determine the type
of curse afflicting the pirates of the Bone Blade:
What is the nature of the curse?
A Undeath—you became a literal skeleton crew!
B A kraken now lives within the Bone Blade’s hull
C The crew became anthropomorphic animals
D You’re now the phantom crew of a ghost ship
E The pirates gained hideous fish-like mutations
F The ship and crew are shrouded in roiling fog
karma after rolling to reduce the difficulty by 1, if
you can justify how your perk helps you. Recover
1 karma if you increase the difficulty by 1 before
rolling, narrating how your quirk hinders you.
If you use a quirk and succeed at the challenge,
you may recover 1 resolve instead of 1 karma.
For dangerous actions (such as combat), failure
costs 1 resolve (or 2 on a critical failure). If a PC
runs out of resolve, they are eliminated from the
scene—but death is primarily a narrative conceit,
and the PC usually returns later at full resolve.
to the players’ decisions, and assign the traits and
difficulties for challenges. Offer players karma in
return for complications based on their quirks!
The players should make all the rolls, narrate
the outcome of their actions, and drive the story
forward whenever possible. They can also spend
1 karma to influence the story or discover a clue
through their perk, at the GM’s discretion.
One player should be the new captain, but they
only take control during a battle. Most decisions
on board the pirate ship are put to the vote!
 OBJECTIVES LOCATIONS COMPLICATIONS
Described here are examples of objectives for the Described here are examples of locations for the Described here are example complications for the
adventure generator (first table): adventure generator (second table): adventure generator (third table):

1. BOATLOAD OF BOOTY 1. FORT SANDBURN 1. RAVENOUS KRAKEN

The crew has heard reliable rumors about a ship
secretly transporting stolen treasure.
2. A STAY OF EXECUTION
A crewmember vanished several weeks ago while
out drinking. The pirates later learned she’d been
captured—and she’ll soon be executed!
3. DEAD KING’S CHEST
The pirates have discovered a map to some long-
lost treasure, but they suspect someone has made
a copy, so they’ll need to move fast.
4. GOVERNOR’S DAUGHTER
A governor’s feisty daughter recently set forth on
an exciting expedition. Her father would pay very
handsomely for her safe return.
5. CAPTAIN BLACKBRAID
Jake Starling’s former lover has been relentlessly
hunting the Bone Blade—and now the crew finally
has the opportunity to set an ambush!
6. SOULBOUND COMPASS
The pirates have discovered the whereabouts of a
magical compass: Place a strand of hair within its
case, and it’ll point in the hair owner’s direction.
Jake Starling left his comb on the ship, and there
are still several strands of hair caught in it!
This small military fort is perched on the edge of
a cliff, where it overlooks the sandy beach below,
its canons facing out toward the ocean.
2. SUNKEN CITY
Most of this ancient city is submerged below the
waves, but several of the taller buildings are still
accessible to those brave—or foolish—enough to
enter. Ghosts are said to haunt the ruins.
3. CANNIBAL ISLAND
This beautiful island is fraught with danger, and
more than one intrepid adventurer has met their
end in a cooking pot, boiled alive over a fire!
4. SMUGGLER’S COVE
A popular spot for pirates and other outlaws, this
small coastal inlet has a narrow entrance, keeping
it well hidden from prying eyes.
5. CARAVEL FROM HELL
This light sailing ship is on a voyage of discovery
and exploration. But it seems to have found more
than it had bargained for...
6. ABERCOMBE VILLAGE
This tranquil fishing village is nestled in a small
valley near an estuary. However, the locals harbor
a terrible secret that could endanger the pirates.
A young kraken has been attracted to the region,
and it has an insatiable appetite for human flesh,
as well as a predisposition for smashing ships.
2. HEADHUNTERS
A tribe of headhunters stumbles upon the pirates
while tracking a treasure hunter, who stole a gold
idol from their ancestor’s tomb.
3. TREACHERY AND MUTINY
Several (NPC) crewmembers are plotting to take
over the Bone Blade—they are just waiting for the
right moment to make their move.
4. SONG OF THE SIRENS
A pair of beautiful sirens have taken up residence
on the nearby rocks, where they sing enchanting
songs to lure in the unwary, then use sharp claws
to rend the flesh from their victims’ bones.
5. FINLEY’S FREEBOOTERS
Captain Finley Cook is searching for booty, and
he’s brought his bloodthirsty crew with him. The
freebooters have no beef with the Bone Blade, but
neither are they willing to share any plunder.
6. TROPICAL STORM
The powerful winds and large waves of a tropical
storm threaten to capsize the Bone Blade.

ADDING A TWIST TO THE TALE

For further inspiration, roll two dice on the table below and use the symbol as an improvisational prompt (you don’t need to interpret it literally). For example,
B A might represent survival, escape, transportation, improvisation, or an actual raft, while rolling B D could indicate a rescue, good fortune, or the presence
of a literal dolphin, and F D might symbolize a fortification, a signal, or a national or military association.
AA AB AC AD AE AF BA BB BC BD BE BF CA CB CC CD CE CF DA DB DC DD DE DF EA EB EC ED EE EF FA FB FC FD FE FF