More Jade Regent Romances

Thursday, September 29, 2011

The relationship and romance rules presented in the Jade Regent Player’s Guide have proven to be a popular addition to the Jade Regent Adventure Path—so much so that people have been clamoring for relationship rules for other characters in the Adventure Path beyond the four main NPCs presented in Pathfinder #49.

Although you can always come up with your own romance and relationship statistics for any NPC in any adventure, we’ve taken two characters from Pathfinder Adventure Path #49: The Brinewall Legacy and Pathfinder Adventure Path #50: Night of Frozen Shadows—Kelda Oxgutter and Ulf Gormundr—and are presenting their official relationship info here. As usual, relationships with these characters can be either friendly or competitive, and can lead to gaining an NPC’s devotion, or their enmity. See pages 13–15 of the Jade Regent Player’s Guide for a full explanation of these rules and their use in the Jade Regent Adventure Path.

Kelda Oxgutter

Although Kelda is scheduled to take her leave of the PCs once they reach Kalsgard, if they work hard at building relationships with her, she may stay on indefinitely.

Preferred Gifts: armor, shields, or weapons, fine furs, epic sagas of heroism and battle
Hated Insults: questioning her prowess in battle, joking about her capture, sexist comments
Devotion Boon: Kelda’s fast footwork and speed in battle has inspired you to quickness in combat as well. Once per game session, you may gain a 5-foot enhancement bonus to your speed as a swift action, regardless of the distance between you and Kelda. Once activated, this bonus persists for a number of rounds equal to your Relationship Score with Kelda divided by 10 (rounded down).
Enmity Boon: Kelda can be close-lipped and somewhat stiff, but you have to admit that she is strong-willed, and held up surprisingly well in captivity. You’re determined to prove that you’re just as stubborn as she is, and gain a +4 bonus on saving throws against fear and enchantment effects.
Romance Score: 36

Illustration by Wayne Reynolds

Ulf Gormundr

Ulf is strictly professional, and usually avoids relationships with his employers, but it is possible that Ulf might warm to someone who truly puts time and effort into building a friendship with the surly and notoriously difficult Ulfen guide.

Preferred Gifts: scrimshaw artworks, strong liquor, survival gear
Hated Insults: abuse of authority, questioning his guidance or his survival skills, racist comments about the Varki or about half-breeds in general
Devotion Boon: Ulf’s devotion to his friends, even in the face of overwhelming adversity, is truly an inspiration. You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls and weapon damage rolls against an opponent that has just successfully attacked one of your allies in combat. This bonus lasts for 1 round after the opponent’s attack.
Enmity Boon: It’s easy to push Ulf’s buttons and make him mad, and there’s nothing that angers him more than someone who doesn’t follow his advice on surviving in harsh environments. Of course, to know what not to do, you’ve had to listen attentively to his lectures, and have picked up more than a few pointers as a result. Choose one terrain type from the list of ranger favored terrains. You gain a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Perception, Stealth, and Survival checks when you are in that terrain, regardless of the distance between you and Ulf.
Romance Score: 42

Rob McCreary
Developer