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Animal Companions Adventure
by Ann Dupuis

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Credits
Adventure Design: Ann Dupuis, with help and inspiration from Paul Dupuis

Character Creation: Ann & Paul Dupuis, Scott Gray, Steffan O’Sullivan, and Sharon Tripp

Illustrations: Jane Irwin, and various artists (clip-art supplied by arttoday.com)

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Page Layout, Cartography, and Image Editing: Ann Dupuis

Proofreading: J. Hunter Johnson, Maurizio Paoluzi, Greg Yon

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Playtesting: Jennifer Brinn, Andrew Byers, Paul Drapeau, Ann Dupuis, Paul Dupuis, James Goodrich, Scott Gray,
Steven Hammond, Carrie Handverger, Mark Klein, Rob Knop, Valerie Lubben, Andrew Martin, Gordon
McCormick, Charlotte Newell, Maurizio Paoluzi, John Parker, Ann Marie Riley, Tony Spallino, Phil Tow, Sharon
Tripp, and Greg Yon
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Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions. Many thanks also to Barney, Reek Havoc, and Shadow for their inspiration and
the use of their names. Any errors in fact or presentation are the sole responsibility of the author.

About Fudge
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Fudge is a roleplaying game written by Steffan O’Sullivan, with extensive input from the Usenet community of
rec.games.design and other online forums. The core rules of Fudge are available free on the Internet at
http://www.fudgerpg.com and other sites. Fudge was designed to be customized, and may be used with any gaming
genre. Fudge gamemasters and game designers are encouraged to modify Fudge to suit their needs, and to share
their modifications and additions with the Fudge community. The Fudge game system is Copyright ©2000 by Grey
Ghost Press, Inc., and is available for use under the Open Game License. See the fudgerpg.com website for more
information.

Another Fine Mess Copyright ©2000 by Grey Ghost Press, Inc.

Abominations artwork Copyright ©2000 by Jane Irwin.
 Table of Contents
Introduction (Player Information)
Adventure Background..........................................................................3
Player Characters ....................................................................................3
Anaxagoras (Great Horned Owl) ...................................................3
Bandit (Raccoon).................................................................................3
Barney (Mutt).......................................................................................4
Isabelle (Bloodhound)........................................................................4
Midnight (Horse) ................................................................................4
Penny (Peregrine Falcon)..................................................................4
Reek Havoc (Ferret) ...........................................................................5
Shadow (Cat)........................................................................................5
Roleplaying Animals ..............................................................................5
Pullout: Player Character Sheets
Anaxagoras/Bandit .................................................................................6
Barney/Isabelle ........................................................................................7
Midnight/Penny.......................................................................................8
Reek Havoc/Shadow ..............................................................................9
The Adventure (GM’s Eyes Only)
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Setting Up the Adventure ...................................................................10
Background ........................................................................................10
About the Map: Camp, Cave, and Environs.............................10
Map: Camp, Cave, and Environs......................................................11
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Map: Cave Plan and Cave Profile.....................................................11
Combat Summary Sheet .....................................................................12
At the Camp ...........................................................................................13
The Master’s Trail ................................................................................13
The Dog Things................................................................................14
Bleeding Thing .............................................................................14
Crying Thing.................................................................................14
Two-Faced Thing.........................................................................14
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The Cave .................................................................................................15
Cave Formations...............................................................................15
About the Map: Cave Plan and Cave Profile............................16
Cave Entrance ...................................................................................16
Bat Den................................................................................................16
Sky Eye................................................................................................17
Male Flying Thing .......................................................................17
Female Flying Thing...................................................................17
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Beyond the Sky Eye .........................................................................18
Crawling Thing ............................................................................18
Light!....................................................................................................18
Big Cave ..............................................................................................19
The Walk-About ...............................................................................19
The Pit.................................................................................................19
The Rock Forest ...............................................................................19
The Sump ...........................................................................................19
Tight Squeeze ....................................................................................19
Big Step ...............................................................................................19
2 Table of Contents
The Adventure (Continued)
Yet Another Split..............................................................................20
Big Jump .............................................................................................20
Falling Into the Cold River............................................................20
The Crossing......................................................................................21
The Bridge..........................................................................................21
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Drooling Thing .................................................................................22
Lumpy Cave ...........................................................................................22
Bumpy Tunnel.......................................................................................22
Slippery Hill ...........................................................................................22
The Sorcerer’s Lair...............................................................................22
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The Doors...........................................................................................22
Snarling Thing ..................................................................................23
The Side Chambers .........................................................................23
Main Temple Chamber ..................................................................23
Black Bear...........................................................................................24
Balancing the Encounter with the Sorcerer ..............................24
Magic ...................................................................................................24
The Sorcerer ......................................................................................25
The Master .........................................................................................25
Big Tunnel.................................................................................................26
Cold River .................................................................................................26
Cold Lake ..................................................................................................26
Concluding the Adventure ...................................................................26
What Next?................................................................................................27
All the Rules You Need to Know
Character Traits ....................................................................................28
Skill Descriptions ..................................................................................29
Action Resolution .................................................................................30
Rolling the Dice ................................................................................30
Unopposed Actions..........................................................................30
Opposed Actions ..............................................................................31
Combat................................................................................................31
Scale and Minimum Target Levels.........................................31
Multiple Opponents ....................................................................31
Wounds...........................................................................................31
Stun, Knockout, and Pulling Punches ...................................32
Scale, Damage, and Knockback...............................................32
Situational Rolls ....................................................................................32
Fudge Points...........................................................................................32
Magic........................................................................................................32
The Only Rule You Really Need to Know.....................................32
Adapting “Another Fine Mess”
Running a More Traditional Adventure ........................................33
Using Other Game Systems ...............................................................33
Grey Ghost Games
Grey Ghost Games ...............................................................................34
 Introduction
Another Fine Mess is a fantasy adventure for Fudge, a skill-
based roleplaying game. This booklet includes ready-made
player characters (pp. 6-9) and “All the Rules You Need to
Know” (pp. 28-32).
The Game Master should read through the entire adven-
ture before running Another Fine Mess for her players.
The following information is for players as well as Game
Masters. Before beginning the adventure, please make sure
all players understand the information contained in
“Adventure Background” and “Player Characters” sec-
tions. (Reading these sections out loud after handing out
copies of the character sheets can help set the mood of the
adventure, and serves to introduce the animal characters to
the players.)
Players may also want to read the “Roleplaying Animals”
section before beginning play.
Note: The Game Master may replace the “Adventure
Background” with a suitable backstory tailored to her pre-
ferred game world, if desired.
Adventure Background
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The player characters presented with Another Fine Mess
aren’t your typical party of fantasy adventurers. They’re
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animals. Fairly ordinary animals, at that, or at least they
were before they began their travels with the Master.
The Master is a mage in the service of the Free Rangers
of Amberland. His duties mostly involve travelling the
remote reaches of Amberland and sending reports back to
headquarters. As a Free Ranger, he is charged with ensur-
ing that the Queen’s Peace is kept, even in the wilderness.
As a practitioner of magic, the Master also keeps a sharp
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eye out for magical disturbances.
The Master’s specialty is in Animal Magics, and over the
years he’s collected quite a menagerie to aid in his patrols.
His animals are his best friends and companions. He is the
type of master who would earn the love and loyalty of his
animal companions even without the aid of magic, but his
ability to speak with animals helps. Some of the Master’s
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magic has rubbed off on his companions. They exhibit
more than ordinary animal intelligence, and share a com-
mon language that allows them to speak with one another.
This adventure begins with the animals in camp, waiting
for the Master to return from scouting. The Master hasn’t
explained everything that’s happened recently (he rarely
does), but the animals know it has something to do with a
bad man who’s been doing bad things with magic. The
Master is sure to fix that, though. Any moment now he
will return to announce victory over the evil-doer….
Adventure Background/Player Characters: Anaxagoras, Bandit
The Player Characters
Anaxagoras (Great Horned Owl)
As the Master’s apprentice (or so he thinks), Anaxagoras
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bears himself with much dignity and reserve. He takes
quiet delight in sharing his vast knowledge with his less for-
tunate companions. Anaxagoras struggles daily with his
inborn nature as a Great Horned Owl – especially when
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presented with the distraction of a squeaking rodent.
Anaxagoras is a large owl with round yellow eyes; mot-
tled brown, black, and white feathers; a white throat patch,
and large ear tufts. His taloned feet are the size of a human
hand and have feathered toes. His normal prey consists of
reptiles, birds, small mammals, and sometimes fish. Owls
swallow small prey whole.
Anaxagoras is civilized enough to consider Reek Havoc
a friend rather than prey. Wild birds don’t recognize
Anaxagoras as “civilized,” though, so he’s just as subject to
being mobbed by crows as any wild owl.
Great Horned Owls are patient, and can remain immo-
bile for hours. Their hearing is superb, able to distinguish a
beetle crawling through grass 100 yards away.
Anaxagoras can emit a number of sounds, including
deep hoots, shrill shrieks, cooing, growling or screaming
(when attacking), barking, and even meowing like a cat.
He’s a bit of a ventriloquist, able to make some sounds
appear to come from somewhere else.
Bandit (Raccoon)
To Bandit, the world is full of wonder. Every nook and
cranny is worth exploring; one never knows what treasures
one may find. All treasures are equally valuable, whether
they’re tasty grubs, crunchy beetles, or shiny baubles. A
generous soul, Bandit will often share a newly discovered
treasure with friends.
Raccoons are insatiably curious. Aided by a keen sense
of touch and slender, agile “fingers,” they can manipulate
man-made objects better than most animals. Bandit can
turn door handles and jar lids, pull or push levers, and
poke and twist things until his curiosity is satisfied. Hollow
trees are his favorite resting and nesting spots.
Although capable of hunting and killing frogs, fish, and
other small prey, raccoons more commonly eat eggs,
insects, fruits, acorns, vegetables, and seeds. They’re also
not averse to eating carrion they happen upon.
A raccoon’s vocabulary includes low twitterings, growls,
snarls, and sharp barks. Bandit uses all of these sounds to
express himself, sometimes vociferously.
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 Introduction
Barney (Mutt)
Barney likes nothing better than a good romp in the
woods. Fortunately, the Master’s travels take them through
a lot of woods, and sometimes into the mountains! A gentle
soul, Barney approaches everyone he meets as a potential
friend. While he rarely starts a fight, he’s in no way reluc-
tant to finish one if someone else starts it.
Barney is a deep-chested, solidly built dog with a thick
double coat that sheds water and dirt easily. The skin
around his neck is loose and well furred, giving him an
advantage in a fight. Animals attempting to go for the jugu-
lar are likely to grab nothing but fur and a bit of skin.
Young and agile, Barney can leap up to 4' easily. He can
jump on and clamber up and over rocks and other obsta-
cles substantially larger than that. He’s strong, too, and
seemingly suffers no ill effects after slamming head- or
shoulder-first into obstacles such as trees and boulders, as
he sometimes does when chasing squirrels or sticks. He
loves the chase, but has little actual drive to kill.
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Barney rarely barks, but when he does it’s a deep, throaty
“Ruff!” He whines when he’s afraid he’ll be left alone, or
when he’s excited. He pants a lot, especially after a good
run or when he’s anticipating some rough-and-tumble play.
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Isabelle (Bloodhound)
Although she moves more slowly and stiffly than she did
in her prime, Isabelle is still a powerful dog. She can track
a spoor for hours – or days. She has a soft spot for Barney,
and worries that his unbounded enthusiasm may lead him
into trouble. Isabelle often guides the other companions
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with soft-spoken suggestions.
Through no fault of her own, Isabelle slobbers even
more than Barney. (That’s just the way her heavy, droopy
lips work.) Sometimes she forgets, and sends slobber flying
in all directions with a shake of her head.
Isabelle is a persistent dog, especially when following a
trail. At times she’ll concentrate so hard that she ignores
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everything else. She can easily follow a trail that’s no more
than 8 hours old. Trails up to 72 hours old require more
deliberate tracking, but are still within her capabilities.
Upon catching sight of her quarry, Isabelle may break into
a deep, bell-toned baying.
Isabelle can be stubborn if someone tries to tell her to do
something she disagrees with. She will patiently explain,
over and over, why she doesn’t think such-and-such is a
good idea.
Rainy days bother Isabelle now, as do cold nights. She
gamely plugs along, though, despite pain or discomfort
from her arthritic joints.
4 Player Characters: Barney, Isabelle, Midnight, Penny
Midnight (Horse)
Midnight has been with the Master since he was just a
colt, and even remembers Isabelle as a puppy. As the old-
est, most experienced, and by far the strongest of the
Master’s companions, Midnight considers himself the
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group’s protector. When given a choice, he prefers to avoid
danger rather than confront it directly, but is a capable,
trained warrior.
Horses excel at running, and only Penny the falcon can
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move faster than Midnight. Midnight is well muscled and
strong for his size (he’s a large but fine-boned horse, not as
massive as a draft horse). As herbivores, horses are wary of
situations that may indicate potential predators; sudden
sounds or movement can spook them. Midnight has
enough experience and training to limit his “spooks” to
quick flinches while he assesses the situation – then he
decides whether to run or stand his ground.
Equine vocalizations include snorts, nickers, and a loud
whinnying call. Midnight, a stallion, has been known to
scream his defiance in battle, a sound normally reserved
for fights between stallions over breeding rights. Horses
tend to vocalize much less than TV and movies would have
people believe.
Penny (Peregrine Falcon)
Peregrine falcons are streamlined birds. Penny has slate-
blue feathers on her back and wings and cream-colored
feathers on her breast and the underside of her wings. Her
legs and talons are yellow.
Penny watches everything sharply, and sometimes makes
sharp comments. A fierce fighter, Penny has no fear of her
companions, even the owl or the raccoon, who would be
her enemies in nature. She tolerates Reek as helpmate
rather than prey because he flushes so many partridges for
her.
Peregrines prey mostly on small to medium sized birds.
Penny is particularly fond of ducks.
Penny is by far the fastest of the Master’s animal com-
panions. She can fly at 60 miles per hour in level flight;
three times that in a steep dive or “stoop.” Peregrines kill
their prey by impacting at high speed with their talons.
Like most falcons, Penny is easily agitated. She may
become enraged if deprived of prey, and doesn’t accept
failure in her hunts gracefully.
Vocalizations include a staccato “ee-chup, ee-chup, ee-
chup” as a greeting; a very loud “kak, kak, kak” when agi-
tated, and a quick chittering of disapproval. When hunting,
she may make a sharp “kee, kee, kee” call to warn other fal-
cons in the area to stay away.
 Introduction
Reek Havoc (Ferret)
Reek Havoc’s inability to comprehend the concept of
personal property is balanced by his genuine concern for
the well-being and happiness of the Master and his animal
companions. Unfortunately, Reek is prone to acting with-
out thinking. His apologies are sincere – and frequent!
Reek is a contortionist, and can squeeze through a space
as small as 2" × 2". He delights in flushing rabbits from
their burrows, and can be a fierce warrior or hunter when
necessary. He’ll also snatch up small rodents or insects with
glee, and especially relishes crunchy grasshoppers. The dis-
covery of some bauble or trinket is an occasion of great joy
and may merit the “ferret dance” in which Reek flings him-
self about with stiff legs and an arched back.
The ferret’s curiosity is matched only by Bandit’s. Reek
often teases the coon, bragging about how many more
nooks and crannies he can fit into than can his plump
friend. But even Reek has to admit that Bandit’s paws are
the cleverest of all.
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Usually quiet, Reek will sometimes chuckle or cluck to
himself when particularly happy or excited — especially
when exploring a new area. He hisses when frustrated or
angry, and sometimes while fighting. When frightened or
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in pain, he will screech or chitter loudly.
Shadow (Cat)
Like most cats, Shadow’s main concern is the protection
of his dignity. He’s a great hunter, and quite proudly brings
his prey back to the group to show off his prowess. He
prefers not to eat wild-caught game, though, until the Master
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(or sometimes Bandit) has skinned or plucked it for him.
Shadow has been with the Master since he was a kitten.
Of all the companions, Shadow has the closest bond with
the Master. He can usually tell what the Master is thinking
and feeling, and can often “hear” the Master’s voice inside
his head. Shadow can tell when the Master is looking
through his eyes. Sometimes, Shadow can see through the
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Master’s eyes, feel what he’s feeling, or hear what the he’s
hearing even when the Master is well out of sight.
Cats are agile creatures, able to leap several times their
own height. While many cats “specialize,” perfecting a
pouncing technique for hunting small mammals or a leap-
ing technique for catching birds, Shadow is equally adept
at both hunting practices.
Shadow is a fairly vocal cat. He meows loudly when he
wants attention, especially at dinnertime. Hisses and growls
are common when he’s annoyed. Purring is loudest when
the Master is petting him, but Shadow also purrs whenever
he’s feeling contented.
Player Characters: Reek, Shadow/Roleplaying Animals
Roleplaying Animals
Here are some tips to help players “get into” their animal
characters.
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Physical Capabilities
Animals are physically limited by their lack of opposable
thumbs. If you’re not sure if your character can perform a
particular task, try doing something similar, either wearing
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mittens or using your mouth.
Each animal has strengths and weaknesses based on its
body form. The birds are graceful in flight but shuffle
when on the ground. The dogs are strong, but hampered
on slippery ground or in tight places. Shadow and Bandit
can climb anything they can sink their claws into, but
Shadow is more agile and Bandit more dexterous. Reek is
quick, but his short legs make jumping difficult. Midnight
is by far the strongest, but his size limits where he can go.
Motivations and Mental Capabilities
Animals are motivated by the same things humans are –
fear, hunger, pain, joy, and even love. But they’re oblivious
to the nuances of society; politics, traditions, and other
ideas humans take for granted. They know only what they
themselves have experienced.
Animals can reason, but not to the depth humans can.
Many animals can grasp the idea of cause-and-effect (when
I do this, that happens…), but most animal behavior is reac-
tive rather than proactive. Try imagining everything non-
verbally, as images or feelings or smells or tastes….
Language
Animals communicate with one another primarily
through body language, although each species has certain
sounds that carry basic meanings (much as the tone of a
human voice can carry meaning). In this adventure, you’re
encouraged to stretch reality and assume that the player
characters can “talk” to and understand one another.
Blame this on the Master’s magic, if you like; or assume a
common language among all animals.
Just “Fudge” It!
Don’t worry about getting everything “right” when role-
playing an animal. As long as everyone’s having fun, factual accu-
racy in animal behavior isn’t very important. Remember this is a
fantasy adventure. Feel free to base your character’s actions
on things you’ve seen animals do in the movies.
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