Spoils of Art: Hawk the Slayer (1980)
Hawk the Slayer1,2 is a 1980 movie by Terry Marcel and Harry Robertson, starring Jack Palance, John Terry, and Bernard Bresslaw.
What follows is not a review of the movie, but an attempt to replicate it's aesthetics using "Into the Dungeon: Revived" framework. If you haven't yet seen the movie, but are considering doing so, be aware of possible spoilers you might encounter here. I'll try to avoid the big ones however.
Contents
Overview ↩
Mindsword
The last elfin mind stone.
Think of the great sword in your hand and it will be so. The mind sword is now yours, my son...
The main magical artifact of the movie, the mind sword possesses a multitude of wondrous abilities presented during the course of the story. The first of them, is the power to return to its owner's hand by a mind command. This also allows for the sword to be used as a throwing weapon quite effectively.
Leave that circle of light and I may be powerless to help you.
The mind stone can also emit a protective light, similar to a Magic Circle Spell.
Ranulf the Old Warrior
Ranulf's main weapon is a repeating crossbow that can release a volley of bolts in quick succession. Despite lacking one hand, Ranulf operates this device with an impressive skill.
Old Woman
The Old Woman, saved by Hawk, is blind but has a knowledge of healing and mystical arts.
Gort the Giant
First of the Hawk's old comrades contacted with the help of Old Woman's magic, is Gort the Giant, a warrior of great power wielding an immense maul.
Crow the Elfin
My arrow hit first!
A mysterious Elfin bowman is an indisputable master of archery.
Baldin the Dwarf
If your party doesn't end with a group of lake druids trying to sacrifice you next morning, you need to step up your game.
— Your diet has improved little since we last met.
— Ah! But the eye is just as quick.
A whip is an unusual weapon choice for a dwarf, but Baldin is certainly comfortable with it.
Voltan the Dark One
Great warrior you may be, but against so many swords at your throat, I fear the fight would be short.
Hawk's arch-villain, Voltan is a merciless warlord, often employing throwing daggers to strike his opponents by surprise, but as well skilled with his two-handed sword.
Characters ↩
Presented in alphabetical order.
Baldin the Dwarf
STR 12, DEX 15, WIL 13, 17 hp, whip (2d4), Skilled (quickness, stealth), Swashbuckler, Warrior, Dwarf.
Dwarf: You are immune to poison and can see in the dark as if it were dim light. You are experienced and comfortable in an underground setting.
Crow, the Elfin
DEX 18, WIL 12, 15 hp, elfin bow (2d6), Sharpshooter, Proven Warrior, Elfin Bowman.
Elfin Bowman: Instead of moving, you can perform an extra ranged attack on your turn. You have an Advantage on Saves against mind control magic (charm, fear, illusions, etc.).
Gort the Giant
STR 18, WIL 6, 19 hp, Armour 1 (breastplate), maul (2d8, 2h), Skilled (athletics, drinking), Proven Warrior, Giant.
Giant: Your unarmed Damage die and all bonus melee weapon Damage dice are Raised by one.
Hawk the Slayer
STR 14, DEX 14, WIL 12, 16 hp, Armour 1 (chainmail vest), mindsword (d8/d10, 2h), dagger (d6), crucifix with a hidden knife (d6), Swashbuckler, Tactician, Proven Warrior.
Mindsword
d8/d10 Damage, two-handed broadsword.
A massive two-handed broadsword with its brass pommel shaped like a fist clenching a smooth jade-colored stone.
- Circle of Light: Once per Rest, hold the Mindsword with its pommel up, producing pale-green light from its stone to create a small protective area around you. Unnatural creatures cannot pass into this area, and everyone inside it have an Advantage on WIL Saves against mind control magic. The light continues to glow until you perform another action.
- Deflection: Immediately pass a DEX Save to Impair the incoming attack. This counts as your next turn action.
- Hurl: You can throw the Mindsword for d6 Damage.
- Return: If the Mindsword is in your vicinity, instead of moving this turn, you can concentrate on it, and it will leap to your hand immediately.
Old Woman
WIL 17, 19 hp, staff (d6, 2h), blind, Healer, Veteran Mystic.
C: Magic Hand, Prestidigitation
1: Obscuring Mist, Pyrotechnics
2: Fog Cloud, Levitate
3: Hold Person, Magic Circle
4: Rainbow Pattern, Summon Person
Summon Person
Calls any chosen willing person to your location.
Ranulf the Old Warrior
STR 12, DEX 12, 15 hp, Armour 1 (ring mail vest), dagger (2d6), repeating crossbow (2d6), one-handed, Sharpshooter, Proven Warrior.
Being one-handed, Ranulf needs an extra turn to reload his repeating crossbow.
Repeating crossbow
d6 Damage. When standing still, can fire a couple of quick shots in one turn, gaining a bonus weapon Damage die.
Voltan the Dark One
STR 16, DEX 13, 17 hp, Armour 2 (full), dagger (2d6), sword (2d6/d8+d6), throwing daggers (d4), disfigured, Assassin, Swashbuckler, Proven Warrior.
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