The character below is an example Genoese merchant created as a grog using the guidelines and training packages presented in the Grogs supplement. A moderately successful trader still beholden to his trading company, this merchant nevertheless lacks the independence and flexibility of a Companion character. Neither a commoner nor a noble, he was forced to make his way in the world under the direction of his patrons and has not achieved the success of many of his more talented peers or the younger nobles of the family his serves. While younger he spent a few years aboard a war galley but did not have the mettle suited to a life as a crossbowman or marine. He then turned to training as a notary, which landed him his current position assisting with the local routes to Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and the Balearic islands.
Guglielmo Pevere, a Merchant of Genoa
This Genoese merchant can also be used as a template for a company factor by advancing him to a Companion level character and adding appropriate Virtues and Flaws. This merchant has yet to earn the confidence of his company to trade independently and contract his own ships. The constantly traveling as an agent for his factor suits his wandering nature and his skills lie in arranging carefully framed shipping contracts and negotiating favourable terms at foreign ports.
Characteristics: Int +1, Per +1, Pre +2, Com +2, Str 0, Sta -1, Dex 0, Qik -1
Size: 0
Age: 48 (*)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues and Flaws: Merchant; Social Contacts, Vernacular Education*, Well-Traveled; Ambitious (Minor), Craving for Travel**, Employed by Company*.
* see City & Guild for details of these Virtues and Flaws
** as detailed in Grogs, the character cannot stay in one place for more than a season without penalty
Personality Traits: Persistent +3, Pragmatic +3, Crafty +1
Combat:
Dodge: Init -1, Attack n/a, Defense -1, Damage n/a
Fist: Init -1, Attack +2, Defense +1, Damage +0
Dagger: Init -1, Attack +5, Defense +2, Damage +3
Arbalest: Init +4, Attack +9, Defense +3, Damage +10*
Soak: -1
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, –1, –3, –5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)
Abilities: Tyrrhenian Sea Lore 2 (trade routes), Arabic 3 (bargaining), Artes Liberales 2 (accounting), Bargain 5 (luxury goods), Brawl 2 (dagger), Carouse 2 (gambling), Charm 5 (first impressions), Company Lore 3 (politics), Crossbows 3 (arbalest), Guile 4 (lying to authority), Etiquette 3 (nobility), Folk Ken 4 (nobles), Intrigue 4 (alliances), Italian (Ligurian) 5, Latin 2 (contracts), Leadership 2 (intimidation), Lingua Franca 3 (western), Catalan 2 (bargaining), Profession: Merchant 6 (accounting), Profession: Scribe 3 (contracts).
Equipment:Â luxurious clothes.
Encumbrance: 0 (0)
Appearance: Guglielmo travels in muted finery but appears remarkably well-groomed at all times. his temples are grey, but his beard has only just begun to sport highlights of silver. Although usually unarmed, he keeps a loaded arbalest in his cabin or room in case of surprises.
My Life as a Grog 