2

There are things that dwell beneath the earth and some are Best Left Buried
Within old and dusty ruins, the last memories of broken civilisations remain.
These fallen empires have been left in dust by the eons that have passed since
their zenith. Their servants endure as twisted echoes of their ancient selves,
gangling and half-dead. With their society decayed, the sanity of these
heathen folk has been lost along with the things that made them human. Left
alone in tenebrous places, they have been cracked by isolation and lust for the
light they forgot they needed. They have long descended into feral barbarism.
All that survived the fall are raving priests, slobbering minions and gibbering
monstrosities.
Even as their worshippers moulder and shrivel, the hungry gods sleep,
slumbering in their long forgotten temples. These are chthonic deities:
uncaring, impossible and beyond all forms of human comprehension. To even
perceive these terrible entities drives the sane to madness.
This place is the Crypt.
There is a breed of strange folk that take to these ruins, known as
Cryptdiggers. They might be Wizards, Knights, Godsmen, Freeblades or
Man-Killers, but they are rough folk all. They are grim, determined and
seemingly indefatigable. Seeking gold, fortune and perhaps even adventure,
they come with swords, sorcery and righteous fury to reap the Crypt for all it
is worth.
The Crypt takes these brave and foolish folk and spits them out dead or
broken.
The wounds that do not kill them fester and leave them maimed. The eldritch
touch of magic takes their flesh and corrupts it. The abominations they fight
take the aberrant corners of their minds and turn their spirits against them.
Their minds and souls DECAY until they themselves are left RUINED.
You are these folk. The Crypt will take you in, make you rich and powerful
and then destroy you.
I hope you have fun.

1
Chapter 1: Introduction
There's a joke going around that everyone has their own fantasy
heartbreaker. This is ours.
I fell out of love with modern versions of some games a while back.
They were too easy, too complicated and too weighty in literature. The
decisions in each game had no consequence, or at least none that
couldn't be averted with a rest or a resurrection spell. The monsters
were too iconic. You can't put fear into the hearts of your players
when they know the exact subspecies of ooze they are facing or how
many hit points the troll has.
This game tries to alleviate those problems. Characters are simple to
make and classless, so no two heroes are the same. Monsters are
bizarre. Afflicition, injury and death are certain fate for the characters.
The Crypt will take them in and spit them out broken.
This is a supplement for the main game, adding some additional
content to create more varied and powerful characters for Best Left
Buried. It contains content found in the Deluxe Edition print version
of the game.
Follow us on social media to keep an eye on the next wave of
SoulMuppet content.
Enjoy,
Zach and Ben

2
 Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction 2
Chapter 2: Making a Character 5
Chapter 3: Advancements 19
Chapter 4: Demi-Human Archetypes 40
Chapter 5: Random Character Creation 54

Acknowledgements
Published by SoulMuppet Publishing
www.facebook.com/SoulMuppet
Writing and Layout by Zachary Cox (@JellyMuppet)
Art by Ben Brown (@IllustratorBB)
Art Direction by Sash Steele (@HeyySash)
Edited by Ben Warren, Alex Hill, Neil Benson, James Lader, Harrison
Swift, Sam Sleney, Abigail LaLonde and Josh Davenport
Contributions from Ben Milton, Perrtu Vedenoja, Luka Rejec, Michael
Lombardi, Connagh Doohan, Huw Williams and Michael Bacon

3
"The four of them had travelled halfway across the Duchy to reach this cave.
The tunnels below had a name. The folk in the inn at Quelyn had called it the
Warrens. They ran deep in the earth. Unspeakable creatures and wondrous
treasures were said to dwell in its roots. The villagers said that monsters were
known to shamble forth from the hills and take feast on goats that dwelled
there. They said there were strange deep caves that loomed like great portals
in the side of the mountains.
The party was of four capable folk, met in the Guildhall of the Blue Moon in
the Grand City of Falfe. Albert Du Lac, bastard of Dentwine, peerless warrior
of hammer and helm. Lillian the White, conjurer of tricks and knower of great
secrets. Osford of the Nine Fingers, acolyte of the Blue Order and mutant of
the priesthood. Carris 'Fingers' Delton, a gutterscum thief who knew the
subtle art of knifework and treachery.
They did not tremble, for each thought themselves made of sterner stuff than
steel. They did not stop to pause or delay, and they entered the Crypt."

4
Chapter 2: Making a
Character
When making a character in Best
Left Buried, you should always start
with a name. Aramis de Beauregarde
is probably a very different character
to Kyra Daggert, Cordin Pyre or
Helga Brightbelly.
Take the name and use it as a
springboard to generate how your
character looks, talks and behaves.
Think about how they dress, their
mannerisms or accent. Think about
what they might have done prior to
the events of your game and how
this might affect how they make
decisions. Think about what your
character wants and how they go
about getting it, to make sure they
are Motivated and Capable.
Do this quickly. Characters emerge
better through play than through
thinking of reems of backstory
during character creation. Think of a
few short facts then move on.
If you’re having trouble thinking of
any of this stuff, think of your
favourite character in fiction or
history. Take them and combine
them with another completely
different character you like, taking
your favourite elements of both and
mixing and matching their
personalities. They don’t have to be
the same archetype, gender or even
5
genre. Some of the strangest
combinations can make an
interesting character.
If you really can't think of
anything, or just fancy letting the
dice do their thing, head on over to
DriveThruRPG and check out
Maze Rats, which has a bunch of
fantastic random tables which will
help you come up with an idea for
an interesting character.
Stats
Best Left Buried has three Stats:
Brawn, Wit and Will.
Brawn represents attributes of the
character revolving around
physical strength. It encompasses
things such as bodily power,
athletic ability, endurance and vital
force. The Brawn stat is used when
pushing open a door, wrestling
with a monster, hitting something
with a sword, resisting the effects
of poison or completing an
arduous task without rest. A
character with high Brawn might
be well-built and likely a capable
warrior, whereas one with low
Brawn could be sickly or frail.
Wit represents attributes of a
character based around agility, both
physical, mental and social. It
encompasses acrobatic elegance,
conversational eloquence and quick
thinking. The Wit stat is used when
trying to dodge a fireball, convincing
an NPC you are a friend, sneaking
and picking pockets as well as
quickly figuring out a puzzle or
riddle. A character with high Wit
might be nimble, charismatic and
subtle, whereas one with low Wit
could be awkward, clumsy or a bit
slow.
Will represents attributes of a
character centred around the power
of the mind and its intellect. It
encompasses things such as ability to
retain large quantities of knowledge,
cast powerful magics and resist
psychological horrors. The Will stat
is used when remembering an
obscure fact, resisting a debilitating
spell, reading body language,
tending to a person’s injuries or
using intuition to solve a problem.
Will is also used by most spellcasters
to channel their magics. A character
with high Will might be wise,
scholarly or strong minded, whereas
one with low Will could be
fainthearted, simple or possibly not
the brightest tool in the shed.
In Best Left Buried characters start
with +2 in one stat, +1 in another
and then +0 in their final one. These
statistics are beyond normal folk, but
normal people don’t tend to become
Cryptdiggers. Characters are very
good at one thing, pretty good at one
thing and average at another.
6
Sometimes during the course of
play a character’s stat is lowered
below 0, like -1. This could be due
to an ability of a monster, or maybe
an Affliction or Injury. Don’t
worry, sometimes your character
might be a bit weak, clumsy or
foolish, but use that as an
opportunity for character
development. If a stat is negative,
simply take away the score from
any situation where you might
normally be required to add that
stat.
Vigour and Grip
Your character has two measures of
how well they are surviving:
Vigour and Grip.
Vigour is similar to hit points that
appear in other games. New
characters have Vigour equal to 6
plus their Brawn.
Grip is a coagulated mix of
stamina, mana and sanity, used as a
resource for re-rolls or character
Advancements, or depleted when a
character faces a psychologically
damaging monster or environment.
New Characters have Grip equal to
4 plus their Will.
Throughout play, characters
become more powerful and gain
additional Advancements. Each
time a character gains a new
Advancement in this way, they
gain an additional point of Grip
and Vigour. Vigour can never
increase in play above 5 + Brawn +
number of Advancements.
Archetypes
Character in Best Left Buried start
off with an Archetype of abilities
that define some of the things they
are good and bad at, as well as
offering a few special powers. Some
of the Archetypes resemble classes
from other famous games, some look
more like backgrounds. The
Archetypes are designed to make a
simple, pick up and play character,
that can then be customised as they
become more experienced.
The core rule book Archetypes from
Best Left Buried are: Believer,
Cabalist, Cutthroat, Dastard,
Everyman, Freeblade, Outcast,
Scholar, Protagonist and Veteran.
Each is detailed below.
If your character resembles one of
these Archetypes, simply write
down all the abilities and start
playing. If they don’t, use the
Everyman Archetype, designed to
represent characters that aren’t
covered by one of the other
Archetypes.
As well as an Archetype, the player
starts with one (or more)
Advancements, which can be found
in Chapter 3. There’s quite a lot of
advancements available, so a few
suggestions for starting
Advancements are included below.
If you are unsure, you can always
take Extra Will, Extra Wit or Extra
Brawn to increase one of your
character’s stats.
7 Believer is a healer.
Believer
Believers are holy folk, guided by
the voices of the Gods. They might
be devout preachers, honourable
knights, sacred healers or holy
monks. The only thing that defines
a Believer is their faith in
something else – some higher being
that is greater than mortal folk.
Holy Mission: A God will assign
their Believer a specific Holy
Mission. Once per adventuring
day, if they are enacting their Holy
Mission, Believers can spend a free
point of Grip to re-roll an Attack or
other Stat Check. This quest could
be to destroy heathen worshipers,
to spread their faith or build
temples.
I Am No Preacher, I Am A
Prophet: Believers have the Upper
Hand when they make Wit or Will
check to spread the word of their
God.
Hand of the Holy: Believers are
certain of their actions, for the
Divines guide their way. Believers
begin play with an Affliction:
Guided by the Gods. However, not
all Believers are actually deluded or
answer to other, darker powers. If
so, change the specifics of the
Affliction from Hand of the Holy
to a more fitting one.
Suggested Advancements: Take My
Shining Armour Gleams if your
Believer is a holy knight. Take I See
Truth In The Stars if your Believer
receives visions from their God.
Take Lay On Hands if your
Cabalist
Cabalists are often cultists or
wizard’s apprentices. They’ve had
some manner of unpleasant
experiences with the terrifying or
otherworldly. Cabalists do a slightly
better job at handling the strange
world of the underworld than most
other adventurers.
Been There Done That: Cabalist's
strange experiences allow them to
shrug off what would terrify others.
The first time each adventuring day
a Cabalist would spend or lose a
point of Grip, they ignore it and
don’t lose a point.
I’ve Seen Things: In their time as
cult members, most Cabalists have
seen a fair quantity of awful things.
Cabalists have the Upper Hand
when making Grip Checks due to a
monster or environment.
Already Slightly Gone: Cabalists are
a little unhinged. During character
creation, roll a random Affliction or
agree on one with the Doomsayer.
Cabalists have already suffered this
Consequence before play begins. For
a list of Afflictions, see Chapter 5.
Suggested Advancements: Take Fire
and Lightning Strange if your
Cabalist enjoys blasting things with
magic. Take Spirits of the Beyond if
your Cabalist is interested in
necromancy. Take Tough As Nails if
your Cabalist is a grizzled
henchman.
8
Cut­throat
Cut-throats are criminals and other
unsavoury folk. They might be
thugs, ruffians, thieves, assassins or
other general lowlives. The
common denominator is that they
will lie, cheat and murder to get
whatever they want, and do worse
to get the things they need.
Silver Tongue: Cut-throats have
the Upper Hand when they make a
Wit check to willingly deceive an
NPC.
Tricks of the Trade: Cut-throats are
experts in actions from outside the
sphere of traditional legality. Once
per adventuring day, while
engaging in unlawful, illegal or
similar activities (such scaling a
sheer surface, breaking a lock or
performing a trick of sleight of
hand), Cut-throats can spend a free
point of Grip to re-roll a Wit based
Stat Check.
Honour Amongst Thieves: Despite
what the tales tell, Cut-throats are
in it for themselves. Cut-Throats
cannot make a Heroic Rescue
unless the character they are
attempting to save is another Cut-
throat.
Suggested Advancements: Take Knife
from the Shadows if your
Cutthroat is a man-killer or
assassin. Take Tough as Nails if
your Cutthroat is more of a brute
than a thief. Take Master of Deceit
if your Cutthroat really does like
never having to tell the truth.
Dastards
Dastards are charlatans, tricksters
and fast-talkers. They might be
mountebanks, bastards of the second
estate, swashbucklers or pirates. All
are charismatic and flamboyant, and
most are better at talking their way
into of trouble than getting out of it.
You Magnificent Dastard: Dastards
are extravagant people. Up to three
times per adventuring day, while
employing an obnoxiously
convoluted and daring solution to a
potentially simple problem
(examples: swinging from
chandeliers, elaborate blackmail
schemes, anything involving using a
disguise), Dastards can spend a free
point of Grip to re-roll a Wit based
Attack or other Stat Check.
Lovable Rogue: Dastards possess a
certain ineffable charm. Dastards
have the Upper Hand when making
Wit checks to interact with a non-
hostile NPC.
At Home In The City: Most
Dastards have lived comfortable
lives, and are not ready for the
Crypt. Dastards are Against The
Odds when making Grip Checks
due to a monster or environment.
Suggested Advancements: Take Knife
from the Shadows if your Dastard is
a criminal or charlatan. Take
Weapon Master if your Dastard is a
duelist or pirate. Take Nimble
Dodge if your Dastards runs from
their problems instead of fighting
them.
9
Everyman
Not everyone makes it where they
do through military training or
sorcery. Some just get there by not
dying. Everymen are experts at
this.
Probably Good at Something:
Take a relatively niche thing that
your character did as part of their
backstory. Everymen have the
Upper Hand when attempting to
do this thing.
Probably Bad at Something Else:
Take a skill, vice, drawback or
negative personality trait from your
backstory. Everymen are Against
The Odds when attempting to do
this thing, or do something that
involves it.
Suggested Advancements: Literally
anything.
Note: Quite obviously, the
Doomsayer is fully expected to
veto anything too powerful within
this archetype. The Everyman
archetype should be less powerful
than the other archetypes. This is
the price paid for flexibility.
Freeblade
Freeblades are heroes of a more
financial orientation. They aren’t
looking to save the world or to
watch it burn, they just want to get
paid. They might be mercenaries,
professional soldiers, assassins for
hire or spell-swords.
Soldier of Fortune: Freeblades are
used to sticking their necks out to
make sure they get paid. Once per
adventuring day, if it results in the
party’s immediate financial gain
(example: completion of a quest,
acquisition of a treasure horde or
capture of an NPC with a bounty),
Freeblades can spend a free point of
Grip to re-roll an Attack or other
Stat Check.
I’m A Professional: Freeblades
know their way around the job
market. Freeblades have the Upper
Hand when making Wit checks
related to looking for work or
negotiating with a potential
employer.
Heart of Gold: Sometimes
Freeblades cannot resist the glint of
coin. Freeblades are Against The
Odds when they take Will checks to
resist bribery.
Suggested Advancements: Take
Weapons Master if your Freeblade is
of the martial persuasion. Take
Knife from the Shadows if your
Freeblade is an assassin or man-
killer. Take a magic advancement,
such as Fire and Lightning Strange
or Arcane Wards if your Freeblade is
a spell-sword.
10
Outcast
Outcasts adventure because they
don’t fit in anywhere else. They are
often homeless vagrants, often
because their family kicked them
out, sometimes because of their
own choice. They might be hedge
knights, lone wizards, brooding
rangers or asocial hermits. They are
always grim, fiercely capable
survivors.
True Grit: Outcasts are grizzled
folk, used to the worst the world
can offer. The first time each
adventuring day an Outcasts
would lose Grip due to a Grip
check from a monster or
environment, they ignore it and
don’t lose a point.
Home In The Wild: Outcasts are
skilled at surviving the outdoors.
Outcasts gain the Upper Hand
when they make a Will check to
find food or navigate in a
wilderness environment.
Not A People Person: Most
Outcasts live outside the
boundaries of society. Outcasts are
Against The Odds when they
make a Wit check to interact with
an NPC.
Suggested Advancements: Take
Tough as Nails if your Outcast is a
classic anti-hero. Take a magic
advancement, such as Fire and
Lightning Strange or
Concoctionist if your Outcast is a
hermit or spellcaster.
Protagonist Suggested Advancements: Take the
My Shining Armour Gleams or
“ You are not rewarded for heroism in Lay on Hands if your Protagonist is
RPGs. That is, unfortunately, what of the knightly persuasion. Take
makes the act heroic.” Child of Prophecy if your
Hackslashmaster Protagonist is the chosen one. Take
Rallying Shout if your Protagonist
In a world of repugnant moral greys, is a leader of men.
the Protagonist is a shining beacon of
hope. Cynics might look on them
disparagingly, but none doubt their
nobility and honour. Protagonists
are an eclectic mix of chosen ones,
righteous knights and general do-
gooders.
Saving the Day: What is a hero but
the sum of their deeds? Once per
adventuring day, while engaging in
feats of heroism, Protagonists may
spend a free point of Grip to re-roll
an Attack or other Stat Check.
Saviour of the People: The common
folk know and adore you.
Protagonists have the Upper Hand
on Wit checks when convincing
friendly NPCs to aid them in their
heroic quest.
No Stain on My Honour: Heroes
never lie, even when the situation
demands it. Protagonists are Against
The Odds when they make a Wit
check to willingly deceive an NPC.
I Shall Protect Thee: Protagonists
never let their friends die while they
watch. When an enemy uses a Finish
Him! move on a downed ally, they
must always attempt a Heroic
Rescue.

11
Scholar
Scholars are characters invested in
the accumulation of arcane and
esoteric knowledge. They might be
reclusive wizards, disturbed
researchers or priests who find
solace and enlightenment in
communion with occult gods.
Forbidden Knowledge: The Scholar
asks many questions, but some
should just be left unanswered. Once
per adventuring day, Scholars can
ask the Doomsayer a question that
the Scholar might previously have
uncovered in unusual research in
forgotten tomes and obscure
libraries. The Doomsayer then
names a price in Grip, which the
Scholar must pay if they wish to
receive the answer. The price should
be steeper for questions that are
chthonic, archaic or unanswerable.
Pendulum Sanity: Scholars have
seen much and develop coping
mechanisms. When Scholars develop
an Affliction, they reset their Grip to
11, not 10.
Mindcracked: The thirst for secrets
leaves many Scholars susceptible.
The first time each adventuring day
Scholars spend or lose a point of
Grip, they lose an additional point.
Suggested Advancements: Take a
magic advancement, such as Fire
and Lightning Strange or I See
Truth In The Stars if your character
uses their knowledge to find arcane
power. Take Eldritch Pact if your
Scholar has made an unholy bargain
with a demon or eldritch being.
12
Veteran
Veterans are masters of the Crypt.
They have spent some time below
the earth, digging for exotic
treasures. Generally, it doesn’t treat
them well. Most folk who spend
time beneath the earth come out a
little bit mad, and Veterans reflect
this.
Years of Experience: Veterans have
seen a fair share of shit in their
time. When fighting monsters they
have fought before, Veterans have
the Upper Hand on attack rolls.
Before play, talk with your
Doomsayer about the kind of
creatures your Veteran might have
experience fighting.
Danger Sense: Veterans have
learned to spot the many dangers
of the Crypt. Veterans have the
Upper Hand on Observation
Checks to detect potential dangers,
such as traps or ambushes, while in
the Crypt or similar environments.
Battle-Scarred: Veterans have
usually suffered some kind of
injury during their career in the
Crypt. During character creation,
roll a random Injury. Veterans
have already suffered this
Consequence before play begins.
For a list of Injuries, see Chapter 5.
Note: Don’t re-roll or drop the
character if you don’t like the
Injury your Veteran gets from
Battle-Scarred. If they do die in
character creation, feel free to roll
up a new character.
Suggested Advancement: Take While adventuring, your character
Weapon Master or Tough As Nails can carry an item in each hand, two
if your Veteran is a combat specialist. items easily accessible on a belt or
Take Trap Breaker if your Veteran is in a scabbard, and then whatever
a martial engineer. Take Battle equipment they can fit within their
Frenzy if your Veteran is a ferocious backpack.
killer.
Using Equipment
Equipment At the Doomsayer’s discretion,
All characters in Best Left Buried equipment might grant The Upper
start play with a toolkit of useful Hand on certain Stat Checks, make
items and weapons. They can take Impossible checks possible and
two weapons and five pieces of some possible checks Trivial. If
equipment from the following lists. your character carries something
Weapons: Hand weapons, Light that isn’t on the list, negotiate its
weapons, Heavy weapons, Long cost and usage with your
weapons, Throwing weapons, Doomsayer. If a piece of equipment
Ranged weapons. is listed in bold above, you can find
its effect in one of the lists below.
Equipment: 10 Pieces of Medicine: Each character can use a
Ammunition, Book, Crowbar, 50ft of dose of Medicine once per day to
Rope, 10ft of Chain, Pickaxe, restore 1 Vigour. This cannot be
Manacles, 3 Doses of Medicine, done in a combat, and takes about a
Bottle of Alcohol, Lantern, minute to apply. Medicine might
Lockpicking Kit, Shield, Plate be a bandage, tonics, salves or
Armour, Shovel, Chisel and doses of primitive painkillers.
Hammer, Bear Trap, Caltrops,
Mirror, Lucky Charm, Religious
Symbol, Small Bag of Iron Dust,
Long Pole, Tinderbox, Musical
Instrument, One Dose of Poison, Set
of Fancy Clothes, Small Vial of Acid,
a Tent.
All characters are equipped: a week's
worth of Rations, a Full Waterskin, a
Backpack, a Bedroll, three Torches
and a set of Basic Armour.
During character creation, characters
may swap one weapon for two extra
pieces of equipment and two pieces
of equipment for an extra weapon.
13

Weapons
Hand: Hand weapons can be
wielded in one or two hands. They
include weapons such as
broadswords, hand axes and maces.
They are the most common weapons
used by Cryptdiggers and they are
prized for their flexibility. If a hand
weapon is used in one hand, it deals
normal damage and can be used
with a shield or another item in your
off hand. If a hand weapon is used in
two hands it deals normal damage
plus 1. If you are using it in one
hand, you can use a shield or
another item in your off hand.
Heavy: Heavy weapons are large
and powerful weapons. They are
always wielded with two hands.
They include weapons such as
greatswords, battleaxes and
warhammers. Heavy weapons deals
normal damage plus 1, but are
cumbersome, decreasing Initiative
by 1. Heavy weapons also do serious
damage to monsters, and will deal a
Critical Hit and inflict an Injury to
the enemy if the dice used for
damage is 5 or 6, not just when a 6
is rolled.
Light: Light weapons are weapons
that rely on finesse and flourish
rather than brute strength. Light
weapons tend to be smaller and
less lethal than other weapons, so
they deal 1 less damage in combat.
If you are using it in one hand, you
can use a shield or another item in
your off hand. They include
weapons such as daggers, rapiers
and scimitars. Since Light weapons
use Wit as an attack stat, not
Brawn, they are best suited for
more nimble and dexterous
Cryptdiggers.
Long: Long weapons can be
wielded in one or two hands. Long
weapons are large, hafted weapons
designed to keep their users away
from the enemy. They include
weapons such as spears, halberds
or other pole-arms. They are often
used by weaker Cryptdiggers to
help maintain distance from
dangerous foes. They can attack

Weapon Types
Type Range Attack Stat Damage Modifier Initiative
Hand Melee Brawn 0 (+1 if two handed) 0
Heavy Melee Brawn +1 -1
Light Melee Wit -1 0
Long Short Brawn 0 (+1 if two handed) -1
Throwing Short Wit or Brawn 0 (-1 if used in melee) 0
Ranged Long Wit 0 0
14
enemies at short range and melee
range, but are cumbersome,
decreasing the character’s initiative
by 1. If a long weapon is used in one
hand, it deals normal damage and
can be used with a shield or another
item in your off hand. If a long
weapon is used in two hands it deals
normal damage plus 1.
Throwing: Throwing weapons are
smaller weapons designed to be
used as projectiles. They include
weapons such as daggers, throwing
axes and javelins. They can be used
to attack enemies at short range to
deal normal damage, or used in
melee range to deal normal damage
minus 1. Throwing weapons such as
axes or javelins will use Brawn, but
weapons such as darts or daggers
will use Wit. Determine with the
Doomsayer which stat the throwing
weapon uses when you initially
choose it. The ranged weapon
always comes with 3 pieces of
ammunition.
Ranged: Ranged weapons are used
to attack enemies from afar. They are
always wielded with two hands.
They include weapons such as
crossbows, shortbows and
longbows. They can be used to
attack enemies at long range, doing
normal damage. If a ranged weapon
is used to attack an enemy in melee
range, the attack is Against The
Odds. The ranged weapon always
comes with 10 pieces of ammunition.
15
Strange Weapons Types
If your character uses some form of
exotic weapon, skin it as one of the
other weapons. A whip might be
approximated as a Wit based
throwing weapon. A main-gauche
might be approximated as a shield.
A quarterstaff might be
approximated as a hand weapon or
a long weapon. A poleaxe might be
approximated as a heavy weapon
or a long weapon. If a weapon has
multiple grips or different ways it
can be used, treat each grip as a
separate weapon that requires an
action to switch.
Gunpowder Weapons
Some Best Left Buried games
include gunpowder weapons. If
your Doomsayer allows them then
they function as a subcategory of
regular weapons and are chosen
with a type. A Ranged Gunpowder
weapon may be a musket or
arquebus. A Throwing Gunpowder
weapon may be a pistol. A Heavy
Gunpowder weapon may be a
blunderbuss.
Gunpowder weapons always attack
with Wit. They have the range,
damage and initiative modifier of
the normal weapon type. They
ALWAYS attack with the Upper
Hand, whatever the target or
situation. They require a full
minute to reload, which means
they can only usually be fired once
per combat.
Ammunition for gunpowder
weapons is shot and powder. 10
attacks worth of the ammunition are
provided when the weapon is
selected in character creation. If the
powder or weapon is spoiled by
water, it is ruined and will not fire. If
the powder is subjected to flame or
high levels of magic, it may explode.
Gunpowder weapons are expensive
and, if purchased, will likely cost 5-
10 times as much as a normal
weapon of their type.
Shields and Armour
Shield: Shields are boards made of
wood or metal worn on the off hand
designed to defend the user against
enemy attacks. Shields increase the
target score for weapon attacks by 1.
A shield can be used with either a
Hand weapon, Finesse Weapon,
Throwing weapon or a Long weapon
when the weapon is used one
handed.
Basic Armour: This set of basic
armour is standard distribution for
all Cryptdiggers and is worn by
many types of adventurers. It is
made of a mixture of heavy boiled
leather with hard studs set into it. A
chain shirt is usually worn over the
torso and it often comes with a
protective helmet. It does not
prevent characters from casting
spells. It increases the target score for
attack rolls by 1.
Plate Armour: Plate armour is made
up of solid, interlocking plates or
scales of metal, traditionally worn
16
over the same materials as Basic
Armour. It increases the target
score for attack rolls by 2. However,
the armour is heavy and
cumbersome so requires at least 2
points in the Brawn stat to wear.
The character's Initiative also
decreases by 1 when wearing plate
armour in combat. Like Basic
Armour, Plate Armour does not
impede spellcasting.
Characters may only wear one kind
of armour at a time.
Advancements
The final step before starting play is
to choose an Advancement from
Chapter 3: Advancements.
Remember, you can always choose
Extra Brawn, Extra Wit or Extra
Will, or go with one of the
suggested advancements for your
Archetype if you're short of ideas.
Starting Play
Now you’ve finished your first
character, go back and make one or
two more. Your characters are
probably going to die at some
point, so you’ll need a few back
ups. Try to make your characters as
different as possible, so the game is
varied and exciting. Never make
duplicates of the same adventurer
and throw them into the meat
grinder until one levels up.
Most Cryptdiggers operate as part
of large companies. The attrition
rate is fairly high, so they tend to
make a large camp somewhere on
the surface near the Crypt’s entrance
and then send down small,
disposable parties into the Crypt to
gather information and supplies.
At the start of the campaign, your
PCs will likely be inexperienced
Cryptdiggers. After a few sessions
those characters who survive will
become leaders of the company. This
means they are entitled to greater
shares of the treasure, but also
brings additional responsibilities,
such as the planning of expeditions,
the tactics of organising forays into
the crypt, as well as recruiting new
Cryptdiggers (who may even
become future characters).

17
"We entered the chamber guided by the light of Lillian's staff. Within the
cave was a murky pool of turgid water that smelled of rot and liquorice. Soon
after our arrival there was a great shudder of the earth, and we drew our
weapons ready for combat. Before we could act further, a Crypt-thing burst
out from beneath the surface. It was a great, gormless beast with pink flesh
that dripped with ichor.
As we retreated back to the entrance, a tentacle whipped towards Delton and
wrapped around her waist, dragging her into the shallows of the water. She
screamed maniacally as her sword clanged to the floor. The thief struggled
hopelessly, trying to somehow pry herself free from its merciless grip.
Lillian held forth her staff, beginning to summon some great spell of warding,
hoping to turn the beast away.
We looked on helplessly as the spearlike point of the tentacle pierced her chest.
With a final cry of pain, she slumped forward, dead."

18
Chapter 3: Advancements
Characters gather Experience
through play, through gaining
treasure, passing Grip Checks and
through particularly cunning plans.
Every time they get 8 Experience,
they can reset this to zero and level
up.
Every time they level up, a character
can choose an Advancement to add
to their character sheet. They also
gain 1 extra Vigour and Grip. This
also increases the max Vigour they
can recover to through resting or
healing.
Starting characters get one
Journeyman Advancement for free.
These Advancements are available
to all different kinds of characters
across various archetypes.
Each Advancement comes with
suggested flavour, contained in a
short descriptive text. These are
guidelines, not rules.
For example, Battle Frenzy is a
martial ability, and this is reflected in
its flavour text. However, the rage
might be holy or spiritual in origin,
making sense for a character from a
religious background, such as a
Crusader or Godsman.
The Holy Song Of War is
traditionally a Holy Advancement.
However, this could also be the
rousing song of a devious bard or
the battle tactics of a martial
commander.
19
Think outside of the box. There are
many unorthodox choices that can
be made.
It is also not infeasible that a
character from a traditional
archetype might bolster their
abilities with something from
another “class”. A rogue who can see
the future with I See Truth in the
Stars. A cleric who can call searing
holy light with Fire and Lightning
Strange. A fighter who grabs some
additional damage with Radiant
Blade. A tinkerer wizard who
invests in Trap Breaker for some
extra utility.
Some Advancements have a type
after them, such as Arcane, Devious,
Holy or Martial. Once a character
has taken at least 4 advancements in
total, including 2 Journeyman
Advancements from one certain
type, they gain access to a special list
of Advancements for that type. It is
recommended that the first of these
Advancements you choose is Blood
of the Magi, Blood of the Godsman,
Blood of the Shadowjack or Blood
of the Conqueror, but this is not
compulsory.
Arcane, Devious, Holy and Martial
advancements can be found in the
Deluxe version of Best Left Buried.
Journeyman
Advancements
Arcane Wards (Arcane)
‘ Each time the Crypt-thing seemed to
strike him, Palavar would raise his hand
and a spectral wall would form,
shielding him from its unholy grasp.’
When the character is hit by an
enemy attack, they may spend a
point of Grip to reduce the damage
taken by an amount equal to the
character's Will stat.
Using Arcane Wards multiple times
is straining. Each time the character
uses this ability in a single combat,
its Grip cost increases by 1. (1 the
first time, 2 the second time, 3 the
third time, etc).
Battle Frenzy (Martial)
‘ Lairys was ferocious, without a hint of
grace. She gave a wordless bellow that
screeched the ear, then charged in and
cut the Beasts apart. She did not bleed,
for she was fury incarnate.’
The character can spend 3 points of
Grip to enter a Battle Frenzy. Until
the end of the combat, they must
move into melee against the nearest
enemy and attack it. During this
state melee attacks they make have
the Upper Hand and melee attacks
made against them are Against The
Odds. The character can end the
Battle Frenzy early by spending
another point of Grip.
20
Child of Prophecy
‘ They spoke great tales of Leo. He told
us a star fell in the village green the
day he was born. A hag-seer told him
he would grow to be a legend, known
across the Nine Duchies. ‘Twas a
shame he died in that ditch, rent by the
claws of the Shamblers. Such an ironic
destiny for so great a hero.’
Something great is forthcoming in
the character’s destiny and luck
guides them to that point. The
character rolls a D6 at the start of
the adventuring day. They may
choose to use this die to replace a
single die rolled, regardless of who
rolls it. The die is replaced after it
has been rolled, but before the
outcome is applied.
This advancement can only be
chosen during character creation
or, if the Doomsayer allows it,
following some weird or wonderful
act of destiny that must have been
the Wheel of Fate in action.
Concoctionist (Arcane)
‘ Erock was a tanner by trade, but was
also skilled in the brewing of chemics.
Each night he would take the flesh and
glands of the Beasts we had slain and
brew them into hideous potions.’
At the end of each adventuring
day, the character can brew a
number of Potions up to half their
Will score, at the cost of one point
of Grip each.
When taking this advancement,
choose two types of Potion that the
character can make: Amorphous,
Aquatic, Blinking, Flamewreathed,
Firebreathing, Hex-Proof, Nimble,
Shadowclad or Woundknitting.
Concoctionist can be taken multiple
times to gain the ability to make
different types of potion. Your
character can add 2 more types of
potion to their list each time they
take Concoctionist.
Drinking a Potion takes an action
and 3 points of Grip and will give
the benefits of an Adaptation for a
single combat (or five minutes if
used out of combat).
Once you have drank the potion, it is
gone and cannot be used again.
The Grip loss represents the
negative effect of the potion's
chemistry ravaging your mind and
body.
Ears of the Owl
‘ The campfire whispers tell that Frannan
was a thief and a fence before his time in
the company, where they kept him as a
lookout. He could hear the penny as it
fell, ne’ermind when it dropped.’
The character has the Upper Hand
on hearing based Observation
Checks.
Eldritch Pact
‘ Quentyn was an odd fellow. Always
mumbling to himself. Always observing
strange little rituals. We mostly thought
him just mad, as we all were in our
own ways. When we first saw the
Fiend he had made his deal with, we
knew him in a moment as little better
than the Crypt-things themselves.’
The character makes a pact with a
powerful Blackbeast, Herald or
Dreaming Ancient, granting them
world-bending power in exchange
for their service. The character may
immediately choose two additional
Advancements from the normal list
as gifts from their patron.
However, touching the mind of
such powerful beyonders has an
adverse effect on a character’s
sanity. They immediately gain a
random Affliction.
These two new Advancements do
not count towards the sum of
advancements needed to unlock
other Advancement tiers, such as
Arcane, Devious, Holy or Martial
Advancements .

21
Eldritch Pacts always return to bite
characters who take them. Their
patrons may demand additional
favours from their servants, which
may be confusing and difficult, but
must always be met. If the character
refuses the demands of their patron,
the consequences are dire. These
consequences include, but are not
limited to, additional Consequences,
loss of Vigour or Grip, reduction in
stats, removal of the Advancements
granted by the Pact or even death.
Extra Brawn
Increase the character’s Brawn stat
by 1. Remember to recalculate the
character’s Vigour after this
advancement is taken.
Extra Grip
Increase the character’s Grip by 3.
Extra Will
Increase the character’s Will stat by
1. Remember to recalculate the
character’s Grip after this
advancement is taken.
Extra Wit
Increase the character’s Wit stat by 1.
Extra Vigour
The character immediately returns to
their full Vigour. This pool is
measured by 5 + Brawn + Number
of Advancements.
22
Eyes of the Hawk
‘ Rora was an archer and a huntsman
without compare. Just as she had once
stalked deer through the arboreal
lowlands, she turned her sharp gaze to
the dark tunnel and spotted the group
of Crypt-things lurking amongst the
drooping vines.’
The character has the Upper Hand
on sight based Observation
Checks.
Fire And Lightning Strange
(Arcane)
‘ Helwys stared into demon’s eyes and
spoke a cryptic incantation. Her hands
shook and her pupils glowed in an
otherwordly light. She smote the beast
with a discharge of arcane force and it
fell to the ground, its flesh crisp and
smouldering.’
When taking this advancement, the
character chooses one type of
element or magical substance, such
as fire, ice, water, lightning, thorns,
gravity etc. The character can use
magic as a weapon to strike down
their enemies with their chosen
element.
The character can spend an action
and up to 3 points of Grip to make
a Will based attack against an
enemy within short range. The
attack ALWAYS has the Upper
Hand and deals damage equal to
the damage die result multiplied by
the cost in Grip the character spent.
The damage counts as magical for
any relevant Advancements and
Adaptations.
Fire and Lightning Strange can be
taken multiple times to gain the
ability to attack with multiple types
of magical element. The character
may then choose which element to
use each time they take an action to
use it.
The Holy Song of War (Holy)
‘ As we fought, the Preacher Fedele sang
the song of the Warrior-Saint Lean the
Martyr, hero of the Fallowed Fields. To
hear of such tales, to know of her
heroism! It bolstered us. We felt as a
single point of light in a great expanse of
black. We heard the preacher’s words
and, for once in our days, all was not
lost.’
The character can spend an action
and a point of Grip to grant a
number of allies up to their Will the
Song of War. Each ally can use the
Song of War once before the end of
the combat to apply the Upper Hand
to an Attack Roll or Stat Check.
Horde Killer (Martial)
‘ Angest stood proud and triumphant,
even as the beasts tried to drag him
down to the dirt by weight of number
alone. Their teeth and claws dashed
harmlessly against his shield and his
sword slew two of them with each and
every blow.’
When enemies Gang Up on the
character, negate the first two
instances of the Upper Hand.
23
I See Truth In The Stars
(Arcane/Holy)
‘ Each night, Doulan sat beneath the
moon in communion. He gazed up,
seeing the shimmering stars amidst the
hungry void. The stars sang to him,
and he listened.’
At the end of an adventuring day,
choose a number of Grip points to
spend on receiving cryptic visions
from dreams, stargazing or bone
throwing. Depending on the
number of points you spend, the
Doomsayer should give a cryptic,
but increasingly detailed gift of
foresight concerning the events of
the next adventuring day.
Knife From The Shadows
(Devious)
‘ The sorcerer looked at us head on, his
hands crackling with magical energies.
Before he could utter a single
incantation, a dagger slipped in
between his ribs and he slumped to the
floor. Little did he know, Jaxar had
skulked behind him and ended him.’
When the character makes an
attack on an enemy who is
unaware of them, the attack has the
Upper Hand and deals double the
normal amount of damage.

Lay On Hands (Holy)
‘ Caramon placed a hand over the gaping
hole in Mercer’s chest wound, blood
staining the sleeves of the Godsman’s
robe. He said a line of prayer, and the
flow of blood began to slow then ceased
entirely.’
The character can spend an action
and a point of Grip to restore an
ally's Vigour by an amount equal to
D3 + the character's Will.
My Shining Armour Gleams
(Martial)
‘ Sir Durandel entered the Crypt with his
plate lustrous and polished like a mirror.
He returned covered in mud and
excrement, and caked with blood that
was not his own.’
24
Non-magical weapon attacks made
against the character are Against
The Odds.
Master of Deceit (Devious)
‘ He had a silver tongue, that boy
Betram. He could talk anyone out of
anything, such was his blather and
guile. He wasn’t much use in a fight
though, divines bless him.’
The character has the Upper Hand
on Wit based Stat Checks when
lying to NPCs.
Nimble Dodge (Devious)
‘ Kyra was lithe as anything. She
ducked and dived through the melee
and nothing touched her as she went.’
The character has the Upper Hand
when trying to Escape while in
combat.
Nose of the Dog
‘ After years in her chemic filled lab,
Deliah had a keen nose. She could tell a
half-gram of sulphur from ammonia at
twenty paces and always smelt a
Crypt-thing before she saw it.’
The character has the Upper Hand
on smell based Observation
Checks.
Radiant Blade (Holy)
‘ Thaddeus spoke the name of his God
and his sword lit with cold licks of holy
flame. It swung with righteous force
and took the head of the Crypt-thing
clean from its shoulders.’
The character can spend an action
and a point of Grip to make a special
attack. The attack is made with the
Upper Hand and deals D3 extra
damage if it hits. The additional D3
damage counts as magical for any
relevant Advancements and
Adaptations.
Rallying Shout (Martial/Holy)
‘ The beasts were upon us, but Hallion
cried out in full voice the name of our
city, our homeland; sweet Lendal to
which we would one day return. Our
spirits strengthened, we pushed them
back and claimed the day.’
The character can spend an action
and a point of Grip to grant each ally
who can hear them a point of
Vigour.
Shadow Glamours (Devious/
Arcane)
‘ With a sly grin, the assassin gave a
wink, spoke a cursed word and melted
into a cloud of shadow.’
The character can spend an action
and a point of Grip to either:
- Gain the Upper Hand on a Wit
check to hide.
- Make all enemies Against The
Odds on Observation Checks
to spot them for one round.
- Alter visual aspects of the
character’s cosmetic
appearance, such as clothing,
facial detail or hair. These
changes are visual only and will
25
thus react inconsistently with
the other senses. These
changes will last for the next
minute.
Spirits of the Beyond (Arcane/
Holy)
‘ Krauss, who was a gravedigger by
trade, knelt over the corpse and put his
hand down into the depths of its throat,
reaching for some blackened thing. The
cadaver convulsed, opened its pale eyes
and pulled itself to its feet. That wasn’t
the last time we saw him raise the
dead.’
The character can spend an action
and a point of Grip to reanimate a
corpse to serve them until the end
of the combat with the below stats.
Corpse
Wit
Brawn Will
1 1 0
Vigour Initiative Adaptations
6 -3 Undead
Tough As Nails
‘ Dellius was always a stubborn man,
defined by his grim refusal to die.’
The character gains an additional
point of Vigour for each
Advancement they have. When
Injured, spend a Grip point to roll
two dice on the Injury table and
choose the result you prefer.
Toxic Blade (Devious)
‘ Jacke was known to lace his blades in all
sorts of venoms. He made them with
ingredients he harvested from the Crypt
and its inhabitants. Briarwine, Cyst-
Taint, Liar’s Bane, Widowkiss,
Milkweed, Cadaver, Gankleblood. That
man had a poison for everything.’
At the end of each adventuring day,
the character can spend a point of
Grip to prepare a dose of a type of
Poison. Poison is applied to a
weapon or kept as a dose to be put in
food or drink.
The first time a Poisoned weapon
deals damage to a monster, or when
a monster consumes the poison, they
are affected by a negative
Adaptation or status condition for 5
minutes or until the end of the
combat. Once the Poison is used, it is
gone.
When taking this advancement,
choose two types of Poison that the
character can make: from the
following , Brittleskinned, Dulling
(-1 Will), Hex-Addled, Maiming (-1
Brawn) , Paralysing (-1 Wit).
Toxic Blades can be taken multiple
times to gain the ability to make
different types of Poison and make
an additional Poison each
adventuring day. The character can
make an additional poison per
adventuring day and add 2 more
types of Poison to their list each time
they take Toxic Blades.
26
Trap Breaker (Devious)
‘ Knowing something was wrong, Lorel
rapped her knuckles against the floor,
noting the vacant, hollow sound. She
raised her fist, a signal for the party to
wait, and then pointed towards the
spot from where she reckoned the pit
trap would trigger.’
The character has the Upper Hand
on Stat Checks made to make,
modify or disable traps or secret
doors and Observation Checks to
detect them.
Weapons Master (Martial)
‘ Crellace was a dancer and fine
swordsman. In all my years, I never
knew a man his match for his
darting silvered blade.’
When taking this advancement, the
character chooses one type of
weapon. Once per combat, the
character can spend a point of
Grip. For the rest of the combat,
attacks they make with that type of
weapon have the Upper Hand.
Weapons Master can be taken
multiple times to gain it for
different types of weapon.
Arcane Advancements
Once the character has taken 3
Arcane Advancements and 4 total
Journeyman Advancements, they
become a Titled Wizard and gain
access to the following additional
advancements.
Blood of the Magi
‘There are certain rules of nature that
govern the universe, and to be a true
wizard is to eschew these laws and
replace them with one's own will. Magic
is the greatest force of all, and it can
sunder nations, break the spirits of the
earth itself and render man supplicant
before its power. To earn a wizarding
title, one must be a true master of magic.
Whether a warlock, witch, sorcerer or
alchemist, they should be respected and
feared by all.’
In addition to their normal pool of
Grip, the character has an additional
pool of 3 Arcane Grip. These
function like normal Grip, except
they can only be used on Arcane
Advancements. Strange, and counts as magical for
This pool of Arcane Grip refreshes any relevant Advancements and
every time you roll Initiative. Adaptations.
Arcane Volley Elemental Affinity
‘The battle went on for hours through ‘There was a reason they called her the
the tunnels and catacombs of the Crypt. Cinderer: she liked fire. A lot.’
The Occultist slung bolt after surging
bolt of witch-flame at our enemies, When taking this advancement,
choose one of the elemental damage
dropping a hundred foes as the combat
types from Fire and Lightning
wore on.’
Strange, Manawrath or Spellcraft.
The character can spend 2 Grip to When attacking enemies while using
gain use of a repeatable magical spells with this damage type, your
attack. For the rest of the combat, attack rolls have the Upper Hand.
you may make Ranged attacks that When forcing enemies to make Stat
use Will instead of Wit as the attack Checks to resist the effects of the
stat. damage type, they are Against The
The damage from Arcane Volley is Odds. The character also has the
flavoured as the same type of Upper Hand on resisting the effects
damage used in Fire And Lightning of spells or environmental effects
relating to that element.
27
You also gain an insanity related to
the element you choose, possibly
The Glorious Blaze or some
variation of Debilitating Dread.
Unlike some other spell related
Advancements, this can only be
taken once.
Mageshape
'The Ravenclaimed took viscous,
bleeding shape. The dark silhouette of a
bird imposed itself onto our eyes,
seeming to suck in the light of our
torches. We couldn't tell if it was
glamour or transfiguration, but the
shape nonetheless took flight and left us
behind.'
When taking this advancement,
choose three Adaptations from the
list in Chapter 8.
The character can spend 2 Grip and
an action to take monstrous form for
1 minute or the rest of a combat.
While in this monstrous form, they
gain the effect of one Adaptation
from their list. For a cost of 5 Grip
and an action, they gain the effects of
2 of the Adaptations from your list
for 1 minute or the rest of a combat.
Mageshape can be taken multiple
times to choose additional
Adaptations. The character can add
two additional Adaptations to their
list each time they take Mageshape.
Manawrath
‘ The Arcanist threw her hands together
and bathed the corridor in a barrage of
azurite lightning. The arcing bolts
scorched the Crypt-things' flesh, and
28
their corpses bubbled with the power of
the arcane.’
The character can spend 3 Grip
and an action to make a Will based
attack against every creature in an
adjacent zone.
The damage from Manawrath is
flavoured as the same type of
damage used in Fire And
Lightning Strange, and counts as
magical for any relevant
Advancements and Adaptations.
Spellcraft
'I am told there is a certain art of
scientific method to magic. I
wouldn't be able to tell. As far as I
can see wizards tend to just blow
things up.'
True wizards live on the art of
experimentation. Building new and
powerful spells is vital part of
attaining mastery of the craft.
When taking this advancement,
build a spell by choosing one
option from each of the following
lines:
- A Stat: Brawn, Wit or Will..
- A Cost in Grip: 1, 2 or 3.
- One spell effect to happen to the
target:
- Lose D6 + Cost in Grip
points in Vigour.
- Be Blinded, Disorientated,
Grappled or Deafened for half
as many rounds/turns as the
Cost in Grip, rounding up.
 - Lose D3 + Cost in Grip in
Grip.
- Reduce the Stat tested by the
Cost in Grip.
- Choose a damage type for the spell.
This can be one used in Fire and
Lightning Strange, or a different
type entirely.
When casting the spell, the character
spends an action and the Cost in
Grip to force an enemy to make a
Stat Check again the Stat they
choose when they created the spell.
If the Cost in Grip is 1, the enemy
makes the check with the Upper
Hand. If the Cost in Grip is 2, the
enemy makes the check normally. If
the Cost in Grip is 3, the enemy
makes the check Against the Odds.
If the enemy fails the Stat Check, the
effect occurs to them.
Spellcraft can be taken multiple
times. Each time they take the
advancement, construct a new spell
as if they were taking this
advancement for the first time.
It is practical to name your different
versions of Spellcraft, so you can
distinguish between them at the
table.
29
Devious Advancements
Once the character has taken 3
Devious Advancements and 4 total
Journeyman Advancements, they
become a Titled Rogue and gain
access to the following additional
advancements.
Blood of the Shadowjack
‘While magic or bone-shattering
violence will solve many problems
in the crypt, the trickery of a
shadowjack can be worth its
weight in gold. Overwhelming
force simply isn't necessary when a
cunning word, veiled threat or a
subtle knife put in the right place at
the perfect time can see the deed
done. Leverage is the name of the
game, and the shadowjack sees the
fulcrum and applies pressure
where it is most effective.'
In addition to their normal pool of
Grip, the character has an
additional pool of 3 Devious Grip.
These function like normal Grip,
except they can only be used on
Devious Advancements.
This pool of Devious Grit refreshes
every time you roll Initiative.
Assassinate
'However terrifying the creature was,
the Kinkiller always found that subtle
place where his knives would bite the
deepest.'
The character can spend a point of
Grip and an action to make a
powerful attack against a creature
with a Ranged, Thrown or Light
weapon. The attack has to be made
either from behind the creature,
while the creature is unaware of the
character’s presence or while the
creature is otherwise distracted.
Do not roll the dice normally for the
attack. Instead, the enemy
automatically rolls a result on the
Injury table, and this is applied to
them.
Gambler's Joy
‘The Thornman always was a quizzical
soul and his life had a certain ‘variance’
to it. Every morning, it was as if he
would flip a coin and then either be a
savant or a moron.’
Every time the character makes a
Stat Check, Observation Check or
attack of any kind, you may flip a
coin. If heads, the character has the
Upper Hand. If tails, the character is
Against The Odds.
30
I Am The Night
‘You learn one thing very quickly
while Cryptdigging: you will only ever
see a proper man-killer when they want
you to.’
In a situation where they can
reasonably hide and the character is
actively trying to be quiet and
remain unnoticed, any Observation
Check made against a character
with I Am The Night is
Impossible.
Impossible
‘The Lady had a knack for doing things
that couldn't be done, or at least
shouldn't have been possible. As much
as she was skilled, smart, quick and
stubborn, the gist of it was that she was
just very, very fucking lucky.’
Shadowjacks have a knack for
conquering the odds and doing
things that by all logic are
inconceivable.
Once per day, the character can
name a seemingly impossible action.
This might be breaking out of a set of
adamantine manacles without a key,
vanishing in plain sight in a room of
guards, falling unharmed from a
hundred foot height or having once
saved the life of the headsman who
is about to execute them.
The only rule is that it has to be
nearly impossible and very cool.
The Doomsayer then names a Cost
In Grip, which the character can
choose to pay if they wish the
impossible task to be done. No dice
are required; if the price is paid, it
comes to pass. Accordingly, the price
should be steeper for actions that are
daring, improbable or game
breaking.
You don't have to tell the rest of the
table exactly how they managed it,
but you probably will.
Umbral Dash
‘The first time I ever saw the Grey One
blink I nearly died of shock. There wasn’t
a comical pop, or a whipcrack, or a cloud
of smoke. She simply vanished where she
was and reappeared where she wanted to
be.’
The character can spend 2 points of
Grip and an action to move up to
two Zones. This movement does
require a Wit Check to Escape from
enemies. It can also pass through
Impassable Zones, although it
cannot end in them.
31
If the character spends 3 points of
Grip instead, they can also make
an attack as part of the action.
Viscous Black
'I'll never forget the first time he did it.
Somehow the Stranger threw down a
great swathe of shadow and suddenly
vanished. I don't know if it was
sorcery or alchemy, but the Crypt-
things were buried and unseen at the
far end of the corridor. He pulled out
his knives, let out a mad and feral
laugh, and went to work.'
The character can spend between 1
and 3 Grip and an action to fill a
number of zones with impenetrable
darkness or mist that blocks all
sight. The numbers of zones
affected by this ability is 2 x the
Cost in Grip.
All characters in these zones are
Blinded and Deafened. Any
attacks made against creatures in
these zones are Against the Odds.
Torches or other forms of natural
light will not pass this obstruction,
as the darkness is magical and can
only be pierced by sorcery.
A character can take this
Advancement a second time to be
able to see and hear in the shadow
unimpeded. Their allies will not be
so lucky.

Holy Advancements
Once the character has taken 3 Holy
Advancements and 4 total
Journeyman Advancements, they
become a Titled Godsman and gain
access to the following additional
advancements.
Blood of the Godsman
'It always gave me great security to
know there was a Godsman in our
ranks. Most common Cryptdiggers
are a mercurial lot without gripe or
principal beyond riches, but holy
men always serve a cause, whether it
be fell or righteous. To have the ear
of the gods or the saints gave weight
to a Godsman's word and a fervour
to their actions. Nothing makes a
battle easier than a literal act of God
in your favour.'
In addition to their normal pool of
Grip, the character has an additional
pool of 3 Holy Grip. These function
like normal Grip, except they can
only be used on Holy
Advancements.
This pool of Holy Grip refreshes
every time you roll Initiative.
Blessing of the Ancients
'The Scarlet Apostle placed her hand on
Trevett's shoulder, and the man fell to
his knees. She leant over and whispered a
blessing in his ear. He stood, rising with
fury and a righteous fire lit in his eyes. I
wish I knew what she had said. I think
we could all use some words like that.'
32
The character can spend 2 points of
Grip and an action to grant a
character a Blessing. The Blessing
provides a 1+ bonus to their
Brawn, Wit or Will until the end of
the combat or for the next minute.
It also grants the Upper Hand on
all Stat Checks (but not attack rolls)
with this same Stat.
If the characters uses Blessing on
themselves, they gain +2 to the
relevant stat, instead of +1.
It is only possible to have one
Blessing active at a time.
There is something shattering
about being blessed. The character
who receives the Blessing takes a
Grip Check when effect wears off.
If they fail, they lose a point of
Grip.
Call of the Faithful
'The Martyr raised his holy sceptre
to the sky and spoke the name of
the Boneless, a winged Herald of
the Justicar. Divinity streamed from
his eyes, and with a shaking of the
earth that was like thunder and a
roaring of ethereal trumpets, the
Herald came forth. It was shining
and faceless, seeming leagues tall
with robes of shining crimson. It
brought light and steel and smote
the Crypt-things from the tunnel,
before departing as swiftly as it had
appeared.'
When taking this advancement,
choose a Cost In Grip and
determine the nature and stats of a
specific named servant of the
character's god.
The Cost In Grip determines the
stats of the monster. The monster has
5 Vigour and the initial stat array of
+1 , 0, -1, arranged in an order of the
character's choosing. For each Grip
spent, the monster gains one of the
following additional features:
- 5 Vigour
- 2 Grip
- One additional point of Brawn, Wit or
Will.
- An Advancement or Adaptation.
Each of these options may be
purchased multiple times. The
minimum Cost In Grip that can be
expended if a question is asked is 4.
The character can spend the Cost In
Grip in Grip and an action to
summon this monster to the
battlefield.
Upon summoning, the character
must make a Will Check. If they
pass, the creature will obey a single
command or answer a single
question to the best of their divine
knowledge. If they fail, the creature
will act in its own interest or the
interest of its god.
The first time the creature is
summoned, the Will Check is made
with the Upper Hand. Each time the
check is failed, an instance of
Against The Odds is added to the
Will Check. Eventually, this check
will become Impossible. The only
way to get the creature to comply
with the character's requests will be
through bargaining, and the creature
may demand gifts, sacrifices or
33
pacts. The character may also
attempt to gain leverage over it,
perhaps with the discovery of the
creature's True Name.
The creature will persist on the
material plane for one minute or
until the end of a combat, before
disappearing and departing to
their home realm.
The default flavour for this is the
summoning of a Herald, or angel,
but this may alternatively summon
a higher-order elemental, a
Blackbeast (demon), undead, fae,
Dreaming Ancient (abomination)
or other monster. If particularly
powerful creatures are summoned,
or small creatures are summoned
repeatedly, the character's god
may make additional demands.
Flesh Made Anew
'The Arrogate looked upon the
screaming Crypt-digger, holding
the stump of his leg and barely
stemming the flow of blood with
his cupped hands. With a sigh, the
Arrogate leant down and cast holy
water over the wound. The smell
of incense filled the cavern whole.
The Godsman spoke a prayer in
booming syllables of the Old
Tongue, beseeching his God for
aid. The wound was healed and
the stump had regrown, but there
was a price. There is always was a
price for such acts of God.'
The character can spend D6 Grip
and an action to heal an Injury
from an allied character. This
advancement cannot be used to
restore characters who are Dead or
Unconscious. The character is no
longer subject to the effects of the
Injury. If the Injury resulted in a
loss of Vigour, this Vigour is
restored, as long as this does not
exceed their max Vigour.
Being healed magically in this way is
deeply unsettling, so the healed
character also loses D6 Grip.
Roll a separate D6 when this ability
is used. If a 6 is rolled, the user of
Flesh Made Anew suffers the healed
injury themselves, as their God
passes the Injury onto them.
This advancement can be taken a
second time. It can now be used to
restore life to recently dead
characters as if they had awoken
from Unconsciousness.
34
Rousing Sermon
'Before we went into battle, the
Moontouched sang the song of Sir
Kelton the Yellowlance and his battles
with the lycans of the Cradle Range. It
put steel in our hearts and fire in our
bellies. I loved that man. I would have
followed him anywhere.'
Before a combat the character can
spend a point of Grip and one
minute to deliver an inspirational
speech or righteous sermon,
granting 1 point of Grip to their
allies. This affects a number of
allies up to the character's Will.
This point of Grip must be spent in
the next 5 minutes, and is lost if not
used. Any creatures nearby will
likely hear the sermon, and prepare
for the character accordingly.
Sacred Gift
'The gifts of the Gods are many. I
have seen Holy Men who are
soldiers, knights, witch-hunters,
man-killers or wizards, but they all
still act with highest faith.'
Upon choosing this advancement,
the character can take a single
Arcane, Devious or Martial
Advancement and use it as if it was
a Holy Advancement.
This might seem pretty bonkers and it is
meant to be. Your Godsman might be a
Witch-Hunter with Assassinate, use
Spellwrath to purge heretics, or a
knight or monk with Oath of Courage.
A classic here is taking Impossible and
using it to perform miracles. This will
also allow you to take advancements
from any “classes” created for Best Left
Buried in future publications, but the
Doomsayer can reserve the right to veto
these choices.
Searing Radiance
'The Sunblind raised his symbol to
the sky and spoke the name of his
God. Blistering light poured forth
and the Crypt-things screamed in
pain. We turned our eyes, but
somehow we were still blinded. The
Sunblind's eyes had been burnt out
from their sockets many years ago,
and only scars remained.'
The character can spend 2 Grip and
an action to fill a single Zone with
holy light.
35
All creatures in the Zone must
make a Grip check. If they fail,
they lose D3 Grip and are Blinded
for one turn. Creatures with no
Grip are either immediately
Blinded or lose D6 Vigour at the
Doomsayer's discretion.
Martial Advancements
Once the character has taken 3
Martial Advancements and 4 total
Journeyman Advancements, they
become a Titled Warrior and gain
access to the following additional
advancements.
Blood of the Conqueror
‘Since the dawn of humanity, all
wars and conflicts have been ended
by fierce men of action willing to
spill blood when the time comes.
Steel bites, arrows fly and the
dying scream. Here the fates of
families and nations are decided.
All folk might pretend to know
this, but it is a rare man who truly
understands it. When words are
done and swords are drawn, these
warriors walk the battlefield
willing to kill, and even die; ready
to face their foes with brutal,
unadulterated violence.'
In addition to their normal pool of
Grip, the character has an
additional pool of 3 Martial Grip.
These function like normal Grip,
except they can only be used on
Martial Advancements.
The pool of Martial Grip refreshes
every time you roll Initiative.
Ferocious Charge
'The Warsinger drew her blade, sang
the cry of her people, and charged
the ranks of the enemy with reckless
abandon. They did not survive her.'
The character can spend 2 points of
Grip and an action to move a Zone
and make an attack with the Upper
Hand. This movement is in addition
to the zone of movement they can
make automatically as part of their
turn.
Until the start of the character’s next
turn, all attacks made against them
are Against the Odds.
This ability may only be used once
per combat.
Maiming Strike
‘The Foereaver raised his wicked
battleaxe high into the air and brought it
down upon the Crypt-thing's knee with
crushing force. It screeched in pain,
holding its severed joint in its claws, and
toppled to the ground.’
The character can spend a point of
Grip and an action to make a special
attack against an enemy. Do not roll
the dice normally for the attack.
Instead, the enemy automatically
rolls a result on the Injury table, and
this is applied to them.
They can instead spend 3 points of
Grip and an action to make the same
attack and strike fear into their
enemy. The first enemy suffers the
Injury as normal. Additionally, the
ability intimidates a number of
enemies up to the character's Brawn
stat who are within short range.
36
These enemies must pass a Will
check or be unable to take an action
on their next turn.
Oath of Courage
‘The Lionheart had sworn an oath:
never to back down, never to flee, never
to bend the knee to godless men! It
steeled him. It took his resolve and
made him iron. His will could not be
stayed.’
The character has the Upper Hand
on all Will checks they are made to
take by enemy Advancements or
Adaptations. They also have Upper
Hand on all Grip checks, including
those related to Insanities.
However, the terms of the oath are
strict. They must never back down
from a fight; if they wish to retreat
from a combat, they must spend 2
points of Grip to do so.
After this happens, they lose the
benefits of Oath of Courage until
they spend a full day in solitude,
engaging in an appropriate act of
supplication, such prayer or self-
flagellation.
Alternatively, they can regain use
of the Oath of Courage by dying
valiantly.
If you have some other kind of
Oath your character might swear,
discuss its potential benefits and
drawbacks with your Doomsayer.
Roar of Challenge After the character dies or is
knocked Unconscious following
‘Across the melee, the Baroness saw the being reduced to zero Vigour in a
Beast. She cried out to it, roared its combat, they gain one extra turn
name with a holy challenge. It turned, as when they are due in the next
if understanding the terms of the duel, round before the effect takes place.
and then came at her with all its might.’ They can move and take one last
The character can spend a point of action as normal, before
Grip to challenge an enemy monster succumbing to Death or
within short range. It is Against The Unconsciousness. If an attack
Odds when attacking any target against the character results in
apart from the character. When it damage being dealt, they must
attacks the character, the monster pass a Brawn Check or receive an
has the Upper Hand. Injury. This has no effect if the
character is taken out of action for
Swarm of Steel another reason (such as a
voluntary roll on the Injury table)
‘The Wanderer took her knives of cold or out of combat. No healing,
iron and waded into the combat. She magical or otherwise, can prevent
spun and darted amongst her foes, their final death.
cutting them apart with visceral energy
and terrifying efficiency.’
The character can spend 3 points of
Grip and an action to make an attack
against every creature in a Zone.
These attacks use whatever weapon
the character is holding.
Unfellable
‘He bled from a dozen wounds, his flesh
rent and torn with cuts and bruises. The
Northborn stood tall, his chest heaving
like the bellows of some great forge. He
would not die, not here, not today.‘
The first time each combat an
enemy's attack forces the character to
roll on the Injury table due to a
Critical Hit, ignore the
Consequence.

37

Titles
When they reach a certain level of
power, Cryptdiggers and other
adventurers eschew their given
names and choose titles. These titles
protect the characters from wizards
or demons who would seek to learn
their true name to gain power over
them. They then only continue to
use their real names amongst trusted
friends and allies. Some heroes
choose their own titles, others are
gifted these names by seers and
prophets. To have received a title by
a prophet marks the character's
death as a fixed event in the future,
known only to the Doomsayer and
particularly potent prophets.

Wizard Titles
Dice 1 2
1 The Fleshshaper The Occultist
2 The Ringsmith The Skyclaimer
3 The Namegiver The Three-Eyed
4 The Fellhanded The Mistweaver
5 The Alienist The Warlock
6 The Blackbent The Visionist

Shadowjack Titles
Dice 1 2
1 The Troubadour The Guide
2 The Pauper The Waghalter
3 The Jubilant The Deceiver
4 The Shadowbreath The Raconteur
5 The Outcast The Trickster
6 The Faenamed The Saint of Knives

38
 Godsman Titles
Dice 1 2
1 The Aspirant The Rightmaker
2 The Friar The Defender
3 The Oracle The Flagellant
4 The Watcher The Heathen
5 The Faithful The Guardian
6 The Faithbringer The Chevalier

Conqueror Titles
Dice 1 2
1 The Bonebreaker The Shieldrender
2 The Hammermight The Taker
3 The Sunderer The Griefmaker
4 The Noblehearted The Butcher
5 The Talesung The Farlander
6 The Oathsworn The Chained
More powerful spells that target
A Note On Destructive entire Zones will also hit allies for
full damage.
Magicks In narrative terms, spells that miss
(or hit) will scar the landscape of
The use of magic as an offensive the battle field. Blasting magic
weapon always bears unleashes excessive force and
consequences. energy, such as heat, radiation or
Using Advancements like Fire cold. The equipment or spoils
And Lightning Strange is the carried by a target may be
equivalent of unleashing a hand rendered useless by these kinds of
grenade in a modern knife fight. magic, as may loose items in the
Zone targeted if the attack misses.
Remember, intelligent enemies
who see themselves at a While Doomsayers can use this to
disadvantage will flee. punish players who are careless,
clever players may use this to their
39 advantage.
Chapter 4: Demi­Human
Archetypes
Many of the worlds in Best Left
Buried include just humans and
monsters. Others include other near
human races, known as Demi-
Humans.
This chapter includes some
additional Archetypes the
Doomsayer may or may not allow
during character creation, depending
on the setting and their own
personal preference. It would be fair
40
to say that these interpretations of
the classical races, particularly the
Afflictions, rely on the quirks of my
own dark-horror-comedy-ish setting.
If this doesn't line up with the game
you want to run, cut out the
weirdness and replace it with your
own flavour. Best Left Buried is your
game now, as much as mine, so do
what you will.
Demi-Humans are not just re- the decision paralysis of jumping
flavoured humans. They are not just from 9 to 12 options during
short humans or bearded Scottish character creation can slow down
humans or pretty immortal humans, the process, as new players often
they are species of an entirely immediately want to know how
different origin and genetic makeup. Elves work.
Mankind is no closer to these races That said, if you want to ignore this
than they are to dogs, cats or advice, do so.
chimpanzees. Whatever you
specifically make different about If you need to create new demi-
demi-humans, it has to be human races, use the Everyman
substantial. Their thought processes Archetype. If you want them to
should be distinct from stock fantasy have additional abilities, give them
humans, which are in turn different one Adaptation as a benefit and
to modern humans. Their culture, one Affliction as a consequence.
language, psychology and behaviour You can use the human Affliction
should be divorced entirely from table initially, but can make your
human cultural norms. The Elves are own table by adding 4 Afflictions
characterised by inescapable from the human table and making
arrogance, the Dwarves by their 2 bespoke ones of your own
utter stoicism and fixed place in design.
society, and the Small Folk by their
love of hearth and home.
Whatever makes these species
different in your game should be
profound. I always recommend
starting with an all human party and
introducing non-human NPCs so
your players can understand how
they exist in your world. Once this
knowledge is imparted, then the
player can choose a demi-human
character. This can be a great way to
lessen the blow of someone's
favourite character dying, by letting
them make an exciting new non-
human character.
This is also helpful from a rules
perspective. The demi-human
Archetypes are more complicated
from a rules perspective than the
ones included in the main rules, and
41

Dwarves
'They were short, of course – bearded
too. Not too many women either. If they
were there, we had no clue which ones
they were. They lived underground, in
huge cave cities beneath the earth. Every
Dwarf is a born worker. An entire
society honed towards a single task,
digging ever deeper towards the centre of
the earth on some mindless holy crusade
as they flee the moon. Every Dwarf you
meet away from their cities is an
outcastsfrom Dwarven society, called the
“Clanless” by their people. Most are
exiles, radicals or criminals. They say
it's hard to spot the insane of another
race. That's probably why so many of
them end up with us, and so many of us
end up with them.
As weird as they were, beneath all the
grubs and the beard hair and the
constant lectures about the beautiful
shades of 'bonegrey' and the 'rivergrey',
there's no one I would rather have beside
me in a cave than one of those grudge-
born idiots. They're furious bastards in a
fight.'
Stronghearted: Most Dwarves have
lived below the earth all of their
lives, and are used to the horrors
found in places like the Crypt. While
underground, Dwarves have the
Upper Hand on Grip Checks.
Tunnel-Vision: Dwarves are
colourblind and see all colours in
shades of grey, and can only see
gems and gold in colour. They are
Against the Odds on all
Observation Checks relating to
identifying colour or picking out
42
details relating to colour, but have
the Upper Hand on Observation
Checks relating to seeing details
obscured by non-magical darkness.
Dwarves will debate whole-
heartedly amongst each other
about their favourite shades of
grey.
Leadbelly: Dwarves' immune
systems are the stuff of legend,
developed through eating only
strange subterranean foods such as
brack beer, oil liquor and cave
mushrooms stew. They have the
Upper Hand when resisting the
effects of poison, spoiled food or
disease.
Pack Mule: Despite their slightly
shorter stature, Dwarves have
spent generations carrying
everything they need for their life
below ground on their backs.
Dwarves can carry roughly double
the equipment a human adventurer
can carry.
Dwarven Psychology: When
taking an Affliction, Dwarves roll
on the following table:
Dwarven Affliction
1 Bitter Grudge
2 Cog In The Machine
3 Fear of the Moon
4 Frothing Rage
5 Hoardlust
6 Solace In The Bottle
Dwarf Names Eighteen Shades of Grey in
There are dwarf men and women, the Common Tongue
but it would be a challenge to find
which are which without seeing D6 1 2 3
them naked. Their society appears to 1 Bloodgrey Halfgrey Sharpgrey
be made up entirely of men, but
these are only male looking by 2 Coldgrey Lightgrey Shimmergrey
human standards. Pronouns are
mostly viewed as a translation error 3 Dapplegrey Nogrey Skygrey
by the dwarves, and correcting 4 Dimgrey Partgrey Skullgrey
humans on them constantly would
be a waste of time. 5 Dullgrey Plaingrey Stipplegrey
However, Dwarves do lack the 6 Fullgrey Sandgrey Warmgrey
concept of masculinity in their
culture. They are just as likely to find
joy in gender roles assigned to either First Name
human men or women, as long as D6 1-3 4-6
their beards are long, groomed and
luscious. 1 Bendun Hrum
Like Elves, some dwarven women 2 Demrun Isondar
adopt gender when living amongst 3 Dwim Jutras
humans. They may even go as far as
voluntarily cutting their own beards. 4 Etun Khatrak
Most adventuring dwarves are 5 Gutrek Sarduk
Clanless, often due to exile, and bear
this dishonour in place of a surname, 6 Helrigg Torhjeim
concealing their former clan from
others. Clanned dwarves proudly Clan Name
display their clan name for all to
hear. Dice 1-3 4-6
1 Ashbirth Gemspark
2 Axebite Greenhall
3 Battlesung Ironhue
4 Brittlebeard Riverhome
5 Emberjaw Stoneheart
6 Foehammer Whitebrew
43

Elves
'There was an elf who joined us once,
Their-Prose-Be-The-Darting-Of-Blade.
They always protested their
incompetence, claimed they were a
scholar and a poet, not a warrior, but
they were an artist with a blade
nonetheless. They could hold the wizards
in a debate, the fighters in a duel and
sing better than most of the bloody
bards. They said they were little more
than a child in the Elvish lands, but then
they said they remembered hearing the
news of the Battle of Hamlet Hill, which
couldn't have made them a day less than
150 years old. That's the thing with
Elves; you live for long enough and you
have enough time to learn to be good at
everything. Shame the bloody bastard
never did any work or did a thing to get
their hands dirty.
'I've heard stories, though, of Elves that
went in to the pits and snapped. They're
Exertion. These points of Grip
refresh at the end of each
adventuring day.
Shun the Decrepit: Elves adore
beauty and worship its presence,
and they despise the sights of evil
in the Crypt. They are Against the
Odds on all Grip Checks, and do
not gain experience for passing
them.
No Sweat On Their Brow – When
resting, Elves recover Vigour and
Grip at half the rate of other
characters. They are assumed to
spend the time in typical Elven
activity: sitting around meditating,
writing poetry, singing or looking
at things while commenting on
their astounding beauty.
Elven Psychology: When taking an
Affliction, Elves roll on the
following table:

Elven Affliction Table

aesthetes, the lot of them. They don't
just appreciate beauty; they crave it and
worship it. When they find something
down there that doesn't match with their 1 I Shall Be Clean
ideas of how the world should be, they
sometimes just break and don't come
2 Guided By The Gods
back.' 3 I Am The Fire
Eyes of Blessed Starlight: Elves are 4 Debilitating Dread
famously keen of sight. They have
the Upper Hand on sight-based 5 The Passing Of Time
Observation Checks. In case you're
wondering, this stacks with Eyes of 6 Partaker Of The Blessed Flesh
the Hawk.
Graceful Form: Elves are perfect.
They make everything they do look
easy. Elves gain 3 points of Elven
Grip that can only be used on
44
Elven Names
The names of Elves can be as long as
their lives. At their one hundredth
birthday, Elves become adults and
choose a name befitting of their
actions and personality. This is
usually a long poem in Elvish,
sections of which are translated into
human languages and used as names
in the below form. For ease of use for
humans, Elves often pick short, even
snappy excerpts for their everyday
names, like Cold, Leaves or Song.
Elves are not of human gender, and
most prefer they/them pronouns in
the common tongue. However, some
Elves who acclimatize to human
society assume genders or gender
roles, and might prefer she/her or
he/him pronouns.
Due to their lack of ageing and
resistance to human diseases, Elves
only tend to die violent deaths. Elves
become senile long before they
atrophy and after a few thousand
years most become mentally
vegetative.
Elven Names
D6 1 2
1 In-Solace-Is-Their-Knowing Soft-Falling-Leaves-By-Autumm
2 Knowing-Musk-Of-Olding-Vellum Solace-Waiting-At-Journey's-End
3 Last-Raindrop-Softly-Spun Their-Song-Is-The-Passing-Of-Joy
4 Last-Waning-Moon-Of-Spring Their-Will-Is-The-Crisp-Sheen-Of-
Morning
5 Lustre-Of-Shimmering-Stars-And- Their-Wit-Is-Sharp-And-Nimble
Bright-Moon
6 Soft-Blue-Of-Shadows-Black They-Who-Know-The-Cold

Small Folk
'Our camp cook was one of the Small
Folk. I served with her for three years.
Her name was Mattoc, and she was a
fierce fool. She was a dab hand with a
knife too, and had a keen nose that was
always welcome by our side in the
Crypt.
'We had to put her in charge of the food.
She was always eating, they always are.
I don't know how they put it away.
Most small folk are less than three and a
bit feet tall, the size of children, but they
eat more than most grown men. Always
carrying around sweetmeats and
croissants and little chunks of cheese.’
'They ain't too far away from Goblins
either. Common ancestry, the scholars
say. Personally, I think they're of the
same stock. The differences are likely
little more than nature against nurture.
Goblins being what happened when the
small folk get hungry and start eating
each other. That's pretty much what
Mattoc looked like after she went feral'.
Helpful for Some, Hindrance for
Others: Most Small Folk are around
3 feet tall. This has its benefits and its
disadvantages. They have the Upper
Hand on Stat Checks where being
their size is an advantage, such as for
hiding, crawling into tight spaces
and avoiding notice. They are also
Against the Odds on Stat Checks
that might require them to be more
than 3 feet tall, such as lifting things,
reaching things and other feats of
height and strength. Clever
46
interaction with the environment
or narration may circumvent this
rule.
Happy Go Lucky: Small Folk are
legendary for being jammy gits.
Small Folk roll one die at the start
of the adventuring day. This die
may be used to replace a single die
at any point in the day, whoever
rolls it and whenever it is rolled.
The die is replaced after it has been
rolled, but before the outcome is
applied.
In A Hole In The Ground – An
army marches on its feet, but Small
Folk march on their stomachs.
When resting, Small Folk only
consider the quantity and quality
of food available when
determining the recovery of Grip
and Vigour. This means resting
does not take any other factors into
account, like warmth, comfort or
security. As a result, Small Folk
tend to constantly carry absurd
quantities of food around with
them at all times.
Tiny Hands: Small Folk don't have
the build for using certain types of
weapons. They cannot use Heavy
Weapons. They also must wield
Hand Weapons and Long
Weapons two handed. Weapons
wielded by other characters or
monsters may be of a different
weight class for one of the Small
Folk.
Small Folk Psychology: When Small Folk Affliction
taking an Affliction, Small Folk roll
on the following table:
1 Silver Finger
2 Love Of The Dirt
3 Brittle Minded
4 Man-Eater
5 Second Breakfast
6 Long for the Road

First Names
D6 Male Female
1 Albert Aim
2 Henron Filber
3 Jermyn Horna
4 Ricard Oska
5 Tedwise Syri
6 Yohn Wilna

Small Folk Names

Small Folk are usually given first Family Names
names in the style of the local human D6 1-3 4-6
culture, which for the below list is
that of Gelde. 1 Allbroth Redspice
Small Folk surnames relate to their 2 Bitterbrew Ricewine
family's signature dish, a secret
recipe passed along family lines from 3 Butterbread Sandwich
mother to daughter, and never 4 Carrotstew Shortcake
innovated upon. Their families are
matrilineal, and surnames are passed 5 Hotsoup Sourmilk
down the female line alongside the
near sacred recipes. 6 Longleaf Sweettea
47

Demi­Human Afflictions
Cog in the Machine (Character
Flaw)
Dwarves with Cog in the Machine
slowly succumb to the cultural
norms of the Dwarven work ethic.
They will spend more and more time
consumed in their work. They will
frequently forget about routine self-
care, and refuse to rest or relax when
the opportunity takes itself,
considering this to be a waste of
valuable time. This inevitably results
in the character working themselves
to death. They may be characterised
by unhelpful selflessness, emotional
indifference or a lack of empathy
towards slackers or the infirm.
Fear the Moon (Growing
Affliction)
There is a reason Dwarves live
underground. They fear the moon.
Dwarves with Fear the Moon begin
to be subdued by their cultural fear
of the moon. Whenever Fear the
Moon is Triggered by the character
standing beneath the moon, they
must pass a Growing Will check or
be transfixed by the moon's song and
lose a point of Grip.
If this Growing Madness is taken a
third time, the character fully
succumbs to Lycanthropy. When
they fail the Growing Will check
they gain the following Adaptations:
Bloodscent, Devour, Fearsome and
48
Weakness (to silver). The
Doomsayer may take control of
their character when the
transformation occurs. This is
obviously not a good thing.
Long for the Road (Character
Flaw)
Small Folk with Long for the Road
develop a deep love for travel and
adventure. They spend so long
adventuring that they lose their
care for the home life many Small
Folk adore so much, and care
instead for short, exciting lives of
cheap thrills and quick fame.
Mundane things no longer hold
any interest to them, and they often
waste time thinking about the next
adventure while on the current
one. They are characterised by
short attention spans, skittishness
and daydreaming.
The Passing of Time
(Character Flaw)
Elves with The Passing of Time
develop a deep disinterest with the
affairs of “mortals”, likening their
brief existences to the wick of a
candle. Initially, the actions of non-
Elves tend to bore them, and with
time even the death and injury of
non-Elven characters will not affect
them emotionally. They are
characterised by apathy,
melancholy and dismissiveness.
 the character consumes an
Partaker of the Blessed Flesh additional portion of rations per
(Growing Affliciton) day. If they do not eat the extra
food, their impatience and
Elves with Partaker of the Blessed skittishness causes them to be
Flesh develop deep cravings for Against the Odds on all Stat
warm humanoid blood. They must Checks and Observation Checks
consume blood at least once a week. until they sate their hunger. This
If they try to rest while not having does not affect the quality of their
drunk mammalian blood in the last rests, only increase the amount of
week, including non-Elven demi- food they require as a baseline.
humans, they must take a Growing
Will check. If they fail, they do not
regenerate Vigour or Grip after that
rest. They are also Against the Odds
on all Observation Checks until they
can next drink. If the character
drinks warm, fresh blood directly
from a human they can exchange
any number of Grip for the
equivalent amount of Vigour, as
long as this does not exceed their
max Vigour. This may be done as
part of an unarmed attack.
Vampirism is deeply frowned upon
by other Elves, who do all that they
can to suppress non-Elven
knowledge of the condition. They go
as far as to spread rumours about
undead creatures with similar
symptoms. Sadly, garlic, running
water and sunlight are ineffective
against Blood-Elves.
Second Breakfast (Special
Affliction)
Small Folk with Second Breakfast
develop a deep and bottomless
hunger for more and more food. For
each instance of Second Breakfast,
49
Chapter 5: Random
Character Creation
1. Roll or choose a name. 6. Roll 2 Weapons from any of the
2. Roll Stats. following tables. Remember ranged
3. Roll an Archetype. weapons come with 10 pieces of
4. Roll an Advancement. You can do ammunition and throwing
this based on your Archetype or weapons come with 3 instances.
using the full table. 7. Roll 3 pieces of equipment from
5. Everyone gets the following base any of the following tables.
equipment: 8. Roll a Failed Career
50 Ft Rope
3 Torches
Backpack
Bedroll
A week of Rations
Basic armour

Name
D6 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Amaris Heinrich Petyr Claribel Idony Osanna
2 Albrecht Imrich Sarduk Constance Isolde Pleasant
3 Connagh Iain Slane Ethel Johnchild Tesslyn
4 Devoss Jeremiah Viktor Emmeline Lillian Winona
5 Dolan Luka Walt Gesine Matilda Wymarc
6 Hartin Otto Yarold Helewise Nathalie Zayna
50
 Stats Archetype
D6 Brawn Wit Will D6 1-3 4-6
1 +2 +1 +0 1 Believer Freeblade
2 +2 +0 +1 2 Cabalist Outcast
3 +1 +2 +0 3 Cut-Throat Protagonist
4 +0 +2 +1 4 Dastard Scholar
5 +1 +0 +2 5 Dwarf Small Folk
6 +0 +1 +2 6 Elf Veteran

Advancements Full List

D6 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Arcane Extra Grip Fire And My Shining Shadow Re-Roll
Wards Lightning Armour Glamours
Strange Gleams
2 Battle Extra Will The Holy Master of Spirits of Re-Roll
Frenzy Song of Deceit the
War Beyond
3 Child of Extra Wit Horde Nimble Tough As Re-Roll
Prophecy Killer Dodge Nails
4 Concoctionist Extra I See Nose of Toxic Re-Roll
Vigour Truth In the Dog Blade
The Stars
5 Ears of the Eldritch Knife From Radiant Trap Re-Roll
Owl Pact the Blade Breaker
Extra Shadows
6 Brawn Eyes of the Lay On Rallying Weapons Re-Roll
Hawk Hands Shout Master

51
 Believer Advancements Dastard Advencements

1 Eldritch Pact 1 Ears of the Owl

2 The Holy Song of War
3 Lay On Hands
4 My Shining Armour Gleams
5 Radiant Blade
6 Spirits of the Beyond
2 The Holy Song of War
3 Knife From the Shadows
4 Master of Deceit
5 Nimble Dodge
6 Weapon Master

Cabalist Advancements Dwarf Advancements

1 Concoctionist 1 Battle Frenzy

2 Eldritch Pact 2 Concotionist
3 Fire and Lightning Strange 3 Horde Killer
4 Nose of the Dog 4 Tough As Nails
5 Toxic Blade 5 Trap Breaker
6 Tough as Nails 6 Weapon Master

Cut­Throat Advencements Elves Advancements

1 Eyes of the Hawk
2 Knife In The Shadow
3 Nimble Dodge
4 Shadow Glamours
5 Toxic Blade
6 Tough as Nails
52
1 Arcane Wards
2 Eyes of the Hawk
3 I See Truth In The Stars
4 Nimble Dodge
5 Shadow Glamours
6 Weapon Master
Freeblade Advancements
1 Arcane Wards
2 Fire And Lightning Strange
3 Horde Killer
4 Nimble Dodge
5 Trap Breaker
6 Weapons Master
Outcast Advancements
1 Battle Frenzy
2 Concoctionist
3 Eyes of the Hawk
4 I See Truth In The Stars
5 Spirits of the Beyond
6 Tough As Nails
Protagonist Advancements
1 Child of Prophecy
2 The Holy Song of War
3 Horde Killer
4 Lay On Hands
5 My Shining Armour Gleams
6 Radiant Blade
53
Scholar Advancements
1 Arcane Wards
2 Eldritch Pact
3 Fire And Lightning Strange
4 Knife From the Shadows
5 Shadow Glamours
6 Spirits of the Beyond
Small Folk Advancements
1 Child of Prophecy
2 Knife From the Shadows
3 Nose of the Dog
4 Rallying Shout
5 Toxic Blade
6 Trap Breaker
Veteran Advancements
1 Eyes of the Hawk
2 Horde Killer
3 Nimble Dodge
4 Tough As Nails
5 Trap Breaker
6 Weapon Master
 Brawn Weapons
D6 1 2 3
1 Greatsword (Great) Battleaxe (Great) Warhammer (Great)
2 Longsword (Hand) Handaxe (Hand) Maul (Hand)
3 Spear (Long) Halbard (Long) Pike (Long)
4 Kite Shield Heater Shield Scrutum (Shield)
5 Handaxe (Throwing) Shortsword (Hand) Morning Star (Hand)
6 Scimitar (Light) Boomerang (Throwing) Quarterstaff (Long)
Wit Weapons
D6 1 2
1 Rapier (Light) Scimitar (Light)
2 Dagger (Light) Hachet (Light)
3 Shortbow (Ranged) Longbow (Ranged)
4 Sling (Ranged) Crossbow (Ranged)
5 Throwing Knife (Throwing) Whip (Throwing)
6 Parrying Dagger (Shield) War Fan (Light)

Will Weapons
D6 1 2
1 Quarterstaff (Long) Sounding Staff (Long)
2 Spear (Long) Pike (Long)
3 Dagger (Light) Dueling Sword (Light)
4 Throwing Knife (Throwing) Darts (Throwing)
5 Sling (Ranged) Crossbow (Ranged)
6 Kite Shield Heater Shield
54
 Brawn Equipment
D6 1 2
1 Crowbar Whetstone
2 Pickaxe Bear Trap
3 Shovel Bullseye Lantern
4 Hammer and Chisel Grappling Hook
5 Chain Grease
6 10 Foot Pole Manacles
Wit Equipment
D6 1 2
1 Lockpicks Dose of Poison
2 Bag of Marbles Flask of Acid
3 Set of Files Hooded Lantern
4 Mirror on a Handle Alchemist's Fire
5 Silk Rope Musical Instrument
6 Caltrops Lock and Key

Will Equipment
D6 1 2
1 Book of Alchemy Dose of Medicine
2 Book of Mythology Chalk
3 Book of Religion Writing Kit
4 Book of Magic Antitoxin
5 Book of History Holy Water
6 Book of Languages Compass
55
 Failed Career (Part 1)

D6 D6 1 2 3

1-3 1 Alchemist Broom-squire Escaped Prisoner

1-3 2 Apothecary Burlak Farmer

1-3 3 Artist Carpenter Fence

1-3 4 Baliff Chandler Fisherman

1-3 5 Bandit Clipper Forger

1-3 6 Barber Surgeon Coach-man Foreinger

4-6 1 Bard Cook Furrier

4-6 2 Beggar Cooper Gambler

4-6 3 Black Sheep Corpse-Picker Gaolkeeper

4-6 4 Black-smith Cut-purse Guttersnipe

4-6 5 Bounty Hunter Debt Collector Hedge Wizard

4-6 6 Brewer Deserter Herbalist

56
 Failed Career (Part 2)

4 5 6

Herder Pilgrim Soldier

Knight Poet Spice Trader

Librarian Preacher Storyteller

Mason Prostitute Street Performer
Mercenary Racketeer Student
Messenger Rake Tallyman
Miner Rat Catcher Tanner
Monk/Nun Roofer Town Guard

Mountebank Sage Trapper

Mudlark Scavenger Urchin
Murderer Scribe Vagrant

Peddler Smuggler Woodsman

57
60