RPG Review Cooperative, Inc.

by Karl Brown

Lemuel Gulliver describes a selection of flora and fauna to Natural Philosophers of The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge.
New material for use with Gulliver’s Trading Company Grub Street Edition (GTC) a roleplaying game of exploration of strange lands in the 18th century. GTC is set in the world of the classic satirical novel Gulliver’s Travels.. It uses game system derived from FUDGE and FATE second edition. FATE 2e is a story-oriented roleplaying game system by Robert Donoghue and Fred Hicks.

The latest version of Gulliver’s Trading Company (currently version 0.61) is free on www.Scribd.com

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This grey shade and italics indicates a quote from the Swift’s original Gulliver’s Travels.
On Brobdingrag
From Captain Lemuel Gulliver’s Letter:
Indeed I must confess, that as to the people of Lilliput, Brobdingrag (for so the word should have been spelt, and not erroneously Brobdingnag ), and Laputa , I have never yet heard of any Yahoo so presumptuous as to dispute their being, or the facts I have related concerning them; because the truth immediately strikes every reader with conviction.
From a transcript of the dissertation of Lemuel Gulliver to The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge:

“The native flora and fauna of Brobdingrag is magnified twelve times in all linear dimensions. The mass of these creatures is therefore 1728 times more than equivalent animals dwelling in other continents. Despite this, they behave exactly as their more diminutive cousins indicating the strength and appetites of these creatures is likewise amplified by 1728. Travellers are therefore advised against visiting this continent.”
All of the creatures that follow have had AR and WR adjusted for scale.

Brobdingragian Child Child NPC
A young child less than 40’ tall. Europeans are small creatures of little importance in Brobdingrag and as such are often placed in the care of children. This example's aspect and conscience could be altered to represent the full spectrum of children naughty to nice.
Nationality: Brobdingragian (Collosal Scale) ?
Aspects: Towardly child ?
Conscience: Quality 2, Corruption 1
Extras: Mother, Father. (An orphan would have a rank 2 skill instead, begging, brawling, or stealth are good choices).
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Alertness 1 0 Average
Athletics 1 0 Average
Climbing 1 0 Average
Deception 1 0 Average

On Conscience in Animals

No animal, not even yahoos, has pride. Pride is a uniquely human trait. Only social animals can have quality and corruption. A dog may pretend to know nothing of a missing sausage, yet later pull a child from a burning house. Solitary creatures display no kindness, cruelty, or falsity and so are without both quality and corruption. This leaves enlightenment, for while beasts do not possess reason, they do perceive the world undiluted by superstition. Most often creatures use enlightenment to aid them in alertness and survival rolls.

Cat Huge Animal NPC
In the midst of dinner, my mistress’s favourite cat leaped into her lap. I heard a noise behind me like that of a dozen stocking-weavers at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from the purring of that animal, who seemed to be three times larger than an ox, as I computed by the view of her head, and one of her paws, while her mistress was feeding and stroking her. The fierceness of this creature’s countenance altogether discomposed me; though I stood at the farther end of the table, above fifty feet off; and although my mistress held her fast, for fear she might give a spring, and seize me in her talons.
An ordinary house cat, much like those common in Europe, a mere twenty-six feet or so in length.
Nationality: Brobdingragian house cat ?
Aspects: Agile ?, Stealthy ?
Conscience: Corruption 1, Enlightenment 1, Quality 1.
Extras: Claws WR1, Bite WR2, Fur AR3
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Stealth 2 1 Fair
Alertness 2 1 Fair
Acrobatics 1 0 Average
Athletics 1 0 Average
Brawling 1 0 Average
Intimidation 1 0 Average
Strut 1 0 Average

Eagle Huge Animal NPC
I heard a noise just over my head, like the clapping of wings, and then began to perceive the woeful condition I was in; that some eagle had got the ring of my box in his beak, with an intent to let it fall on a rock, like a tortoise in a shell, and then pick out my body, and devour it: for the sagacity and smell of this bird enables him to discover his quarry at a great distance, though better concealed than I could be within a two-inch board.
Nationality: Ruhk ?
Aspects: Sagacious ?, Keen sense of smell ?, Soar like an eagle ?
Conscience: Enlightenment 3.
Extras: Claws WR2, Bite WR3, Feathers AR4, Smell prey, Fly 3
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Survival 2 1 Fair
Alertness 2 1 Fair
Athletics 2 1 Fair
Strength Feats 1 0 Average
Brawling 1 0 Average
Intimidation 1 0 Average
Acrobatics 1 0 Average
Resist 1 0 Average

Frog Average Animal NPC
When the frog was got in, it hopped at once half the length of the boat, and then over my head, backwardand forward, daubing my face and clothes with its odious slime.  The largeness of its features made it appear the most deformed animal that can be conceived. 
This is a larger than average frog, like the one in the illustration. However unpleasant, even a frog this large is not a serious threat to travellers. Most Brobdingragian frogs would be cat sized (small scale) with bite WR0 and AR-2.
Nationality: Brobdingragian Frog ?
Aspects: Odious slime ?
Conscience: Enlightenment 3.
Extras: Frog tongue, Bite WR1, Leap, Cold Blooded, Soft Skin AR-1*
*At no cost since it is worse than a naked man of the same scale.
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Athletics 1 0 Average
Survival 1 0 Average
Swim 1 0 Average

Horse, Riding Colossal Animal NPC
…I was terribly shaken and discomposed in this journey, though it was but of half an hour: for the horse went about forty feet at every step and trotted so high, that the agitation was equal to the rising and falling of a ship in a great storm, but much more frequent. 
Taller than a giraffe heavier than a whale a Brobdingragian horse is an awesome sight for European visitors.
Nationality: Brobdingragian Steed ?
Aspects: Riding Horse ?
Conscience: Enlightenment 1, Quality 2
Extras: Hooves WR8, Gallop. Note: due to scale the horse has AR6 at a no cost.
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Athletics 1 0 Average
Alertness 1 0 Average
Being ridden 1 0 Average
Strength Feats 1 0 Average

Horse, War Colossal Animal NPC
AR6, Hooves WR8
His majesty seldom keeps above six hundred horses in his stables: they are generally from fifty-four to sixty feet high.  …
… A cavalier, mounted on a large steed, might be about ninety feet high.  I have seen this whole body of horse, upon a word of command, draw their swords at once, and brandish them in the air.  Imagination can figure nothing so grand, so surprising, and so astonishing!
It is fortunate that the Brobdingragians are isolated geographically and isolationist in outlook, no army in Europe would be able to resist a charge by the giant colossal cavalry.
Nationality: Brobdingragian War Horse ?
Aspects: Cavalry Horse ?, Faithful Steed ?, Powerful hooves ?
Conscience: Enlightenment 1, Quality 2
Extras: Hooves WR8, Gallop. Note: due to scale the horse has AR6 at a no cost.
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Being Ridden 3 2 Good
Brawling 3 2 Good
Alertness 2 1 Fair
Athletics 2 1 Fair
Intimidation 2 1 Fair
Strength Feats 2 1 Fair
Resist 2 1 Fair
Begging 1 0 Average
Insult 1 0 Average
Stealth 1 0 Average
Strut 1 0 Average
Tactics 1 0 Average
Swim 1 0 Average

Monkey Huge Animal NPC
But the greatest danger I ever underwent in that kingdom, was from a monkey, who belonged to one of the clerks of the kitchen. 
Nationaliy: Brobdingragian Monkey
Aspects: Frolicsome ?, Banned from the palace ?.
Conscience: Enlightenment 1, Corruption 1, Quality 1
Extras: Brachiator, Bite WR3, AR2 from scale.
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Acrobatics 2 1 Fair
Climbing 2 1 Fair
Alertness 1 0 Average
Athletics 1 0 Average
Begging 1 0 Average
Deception 1 0 Average
Insult 1 0 Average
Stealth 1 0 Average

Pike Collosal Animal NPC
This 37’ freshwater fish is an aggressive territorial predator. While its usual prey is small fish, frogs, mammals and birds, Europeans are the right size to be easy pickings should they venture into the pike’s waters. Pikes are able to like in brackish waters so that they are present in the coastal streams Europeans are likely to explore in their longboats. The size and shape of a European longboat makes it likely that the pike will see the vessel as a rival in its territory and ram (WR6) at least once before realising its mistake.
Nationality: Brobdingragian Pike (38’ long) ?
Aspects: Aggressive predator ?, Terratorial ?
Conscience: Enlightenment 3.
Extras: Bite WR7, Cold blooded, Scales AR7, Burst of speed (treat like Gallop).
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Swim 2 1 Fair
Alertness 1 0 Average
Brawling 1 0 Average
Intimidation 1 0 Average
Resist 1 0 Average
Stealth 1 0 Average
Survival 1 0 Average

Splacnuck Average Animal NPC
…an animal in that country very finely shaped and about six feet long….
Lemuel reveals very little about the splacnuck in his narrative. We know that it is about the size of a European and that the Brobdingragians were inclined to compare Lemuel to one. It is not any animals found in the Old World or Lemuel would have used the English noun for it. One gets the impression that the splacnuck is not a vermin and is perhaps somewhat endearing.
Here we assume the splacnuck is a slender bodied creature shaped something like a meerkat but only as big as a Brobdingragian rat and with silky golden fur. It is well liked for its appearance and habit of eating insect pests in the fields. If imported to Europe one could imagine the fine fur of the splacnuck becoming fashionable. If raised from pups they might make good pets or an exotic alternative to a hunting hound.
Nationaliy: Splacnuck ?
Aspects: Agile ?.
Conscience: Enlightenment 2, Quality 1
Extras: Bite WR1, Claws WR1, Fur AR1.
Skills Rnks Rnk-X Adjectives
Acrobatics 2 1 Fair
Alertness 2 1 Fair
Survival 1 0 Average
Athletics 1 0 Average
Brawling 1 0 Average
Stealth 1 0 Average

Other Brobdingragian animals
In his narrative Lemuel also mentions fresh water fish, stinging flies, lambs, larks, lice, mice, rats, snails, and wasps as being present in Brobdingrag. There are also dogs resembling greyhounds, mastiffs and spaniels. From these lists we can infer that gigantic versions of Olde World fauna inhabit Brobdingrag and not creatures of the Americas to which it is adjacent.
New Skills
Being Ridden
Rnk-1
You have been trained to tolerate a rider and understand signals from the bridle, spur, and crop. More often its is the riders skill roll that is called upon but should a mount wish to resist an unfamiliar rider or bare a unconscious away from battle or the tavern this skill might be used. Particularly difficult tests such as complicated dressage or galloping across badlands might call for both rider and mount to test skills.
New Extras
Brachiator
You can swing through the trees like a gibbon. Brachiators can hang from one arm comfortably for hours and travel through jungle canopies as easily as a man strolls down a street.
The brachiator automatically passes most tests and challenges to climb trees. Additionally they gain +1 to other climbing rolls. Finally bractiators have high power to weight ratios granting them +1 to rolls for jumping and lifting heavy weights.
Frog Tongue
You have a long tongue able to reach out and snare small object and animals. The tongue has a reach of about a third of the length of your torso. The tongue is WR0 (adjust for scale) but gets a +1 to grapple types attacks.
Fur
This extra provides AR1 and +1 to resist cold.
Gallop
You can run fast. You can easily outrun a human without expending a ‘nationality’ aspect box and receive a +1 when trying to outrun other galloping creatures. Gallop is only useful over short distances, for long distance races and travelling a fit human can outpace even a horse.
Smell Prey
Like a shark or a Brobdingragian eagle you can sniff out prey miles away. Use this aspect to gain +1 to detect prey and to use survival to find food. Unlike a bloodhound you cannot distinguish between individuals by smell nor track a particular person or animal.
New Aspects
Banned from the palace
Palaces don’t just let in anyone, most people are barred entry but you have given someone powerful a specific reason to widely proclaim that you are categorically barred in order to prevent you from returning. You should individualise this aspect by naming a specific palace and including the reason for the ban in the part’s précis.
Spend an aspect card to: Scale a wall, pick a lock, charm a servant, bribe a guard, or otherwise gain entry to any secure building or its grounds. You might also use this aspect to befriend enemies of that specific ruler or to have a contact within that palace. The reason for the ban may suggest other uses. Someone evicted as a bawd will have different talents to one banned for being a jewel thief.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: have the character recognised as someone out of favour with the court, penalise attempts to befriend loyal subjects of the ruler or fashionable people of the court, leave the character at home when friends are invited to the palace.
Cavalry Horse
A large horse trained from a foal for battle. Most horses are easily startled by loud noises and will flee from battle, not this hardy steed. The cavalry horse is trained to charge massed infantry and to attack with its hooves.
Spend an aspect card to: have the horse behave bravely, to pound infantry to mummery with the horses hooves, or to rear up and intimidate a foe.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: have the horses training take hold causing it to attack when it feels threatened in a crowded noisy market, or to have it threaten unfamiliar grooms at an inn.
Faithful Steed
This horse is devoted to its master.
Spend an aspect card to: have the horse defend a fallen master on the battlefield, bolster the horse’s courage when defending its master, or to help the horse attack those who menace its owner.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: have the horse refuse another rider, have the horse return to the master after being sold to a powerful lord, have the horse fret if left behind for a few days so much so it is in poor condition when its master finally returns.
Frolicsome
You are lively, active, and playful. Even in serious or sombre occasions you have trouble restraining your joyeux de vie.
Spend an aspect card to: dance a jig, leap, scramble up a tree, lighten a mood, or play with children.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: tempt the character into giggling at a funeral, squirming impatiently while a king gives a long speech, or wander off to chase butterflies.
Odious slime
This animal is covered by noisome mucus. Slugs, amphibians and especially hagfish are typical holders of this aspect. A usually sweaty person with very poor personal hygiene might qualify for this aspect.
Players can use this aspect to: slip out of a grapple, use disgust to their advantage when intimidating a predator, or slide over the side of a vessel to safety.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: have and NPC react with disgust, have something slip from your grasp, or make your trail easy to follow.
Powerful Hooves
You are adept at using your hooves to crush, maim or break. Horses, Houyhnhnm, large goats, bulls, giraffe, and the bison of North America might have this aspect.
Players can use this aspect to: smash in a barn door, crush infantry underfoot, rear up or stamp to intimidate an opponent.
Referees can use this aspect to: have the character’s hooves accidently crush an expensive watch, have small children be too frightened to approach, or whenever grasping fingers would be more useful than hard hooves.
Sagacious
You are quick to understand what you perceive and constantly analyse your surroundings enabling you to make wise decisions and sound plans. Natural philosophers, expert thief catchers, cunning predators, and benevolent rulers hold this aspect.
Spend an aspect card to: React quickly to sudden danger, detect an ambush be it military or in conversation, plan and execute an ambush of your own, or find hidden prey.
The referee can invoke this aspect to: have the character approached to act as a judge when she would rather stay clear of a dispute, be blackmailed into advising an enemy ruler, or to be targeted by opponents who realise you are coordinating the group’s efforts.
Riding Horse
This beast is more than accustomed to being ridden; it actively aids riders. A riding horse is not trained for combat as so is likely to flee if attacked or startled by gunshot. Dragoons can ride these horses provided the soldiers dismount some distance from the fight.
Spend an aspect card to: aid riding tests and challenges.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: have the horse flee from battle or loud noises.
Soar like an Eagle
This creature’s wings are shaped for riding thermals, flying high above the ground, and gliding. Unfortunately, this also means it has a wide turning circle..
Spend an aspect card to: fly for long period of time or to great heights.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: hinder attempts to hover or perform tight turns or other aerobatics
Stealthy
You move as soundlessly as a cat or owl. You are also adept at using the shadows to remain unseen and spotting good hiding places. You are so practiced at stealth that you are quiet and fade into the background out of habit.
Spend an aspect card to: move quietly down a hall, shadow someone down a street at night, creep up on a deer, spot a hidden person, or aid intimidation by a sudden appearance.
Get paid an aspect card or conscience to: have a potential love interest overlook the character at a ball, to penalise attempts to befriend rowdy drunks, arouse suspicion by seeming ‘shifty’, and penalise any attempt at performing for an
audience.