The Rumblefish: NPC

Free Characters and NPCs from numerous World of Pulp™ Pocket Worlds are located at the end (bottom) of this article under subheading (Mercenaries in The Iron Belly). Check back often for updates.

A Stronghold of Mercenaries

Behold The Rumblefish, a legendary cruiser that prowls the fierce tides and lonely ports—a haven for warriors, outcasts, and all those who live by guile, particle blaster and blade. Its massive engines and scarred hull speak of battles survived, plunder claimed, and lords defied. For those seeking the thrill of blood and gold, The Rumblefish is no mere ship. It is a floating fortress, a lawless sanctuary where honor and chaos mingle, and fortune favors the bold.

This great vessel drifts between the most dangerous ports. The Rumblefish promises answers to any warrior’s most desperate needs. Whether you lust for hirelings with steel in their veins or supplies to sustain your next conquest, this cruiser provides both opportunity and peril in equal measure.

When docked, its lower ward transforms into a crude tavern, where mercenaries and fugitives alike knock back tankards of brutal libation, hammer out blood-soaked deals, and prepare for their next gamble with destiny. But make no mistake—this is no place for cravens. Those without the guts for a tough crowd will find themselves fed to space sharks before the breakfast goes off.

Cargo Manifest

The Rumblefish picks up various unusual and unique items of cargo as travels through the Worlds of Pulp™

Cargo Manifest #112: The Cartographer’s Coin

Current Status: Secured in Lockbox 4-C
Port of Origin: The Unmapped Marches
Declared Value: 50 Credits
Estimated Actual Value: Potentially Kingdom-Shattering

At first glance, the Cartographer’s Coin appears to be a peculiar silver coin worn smooth by centuries of handling. One side bears no markings at all. The opposite side depicts a compass rose whose points subtly shift whenever no one is watching.

The coin’s value lies in a singular property.

When placed upon a map and spun, the coin will always come to rest pointing toward something the owner does not yet know exists.

The target may be a lost treasure, a hidden doorway, an undiscovered scientific marvel, an assassin’s lair, a forgotten tomb, a new continent, or even another world entirely. The coin never identifies what it has found. It merely points.

This creates as many problems as opportunities.

More than one expedition has followed the Coin’s guidance only to discover the destination was hidden for very good reasons.

The Coin seems particularly fond of secrets that have remained undisturbed for long periods of time.

Game Uses

• Reveals the existence of a hidden adventure location.
• Serves as the key clue that launches an entire campaign.
• Points toward a treasure that others are also seeking.
• Creates tension when multiple factions learn of its existence.
• Continues pointing beyond the edge of every available map.

Complication

Each time the Coin successfully reveals a secret, it becomes slightly darker.

According to the few scholars familiar with the artifact, the Coin possesses thirteen uses. After the thirteenth secret is uncovered, the owner becomes the secret it seeks.

No reliable account exists of what happens next.

Rumor

A notation found in a damaged Rumblefish shipping log reads:

“Do not allow the Coin near star charts. Captain Ross ignored this warning. Three days later the Coin pointed straight upward. No one has seen the captain since he followed it.”

Whether this is a joke, a warning, or an invitation remains unknown.

Looking to link up with Black Dogs: Character Bio: Lewis Drake

• Species: Human
• Core Abilities:
  
  • Combat: 7
  • Agility: 6
  • Might: 5
  • Willpower: 8
  • X-Factor (Adaptability): 7
  • Magnitude (Endurance): 6
  • Toughness: 7
  • Intelligence: 8
  • Perception: 7
    
• Hits Score: 13
• Conditions:

1.                   Distrustful of authority (6)

2.                   Burdened by past collateral damage (7)

3.                   Impulsive under stress (6)

4.                   Quick to anger (5)

5.                   Haunted by memories of failed missions (6)

6.                   Reluctant to ask for help (5)

• Abilities:

1.                   Reconnaissance and Scouting (8)

2.                   Survival Skills in Hostile Environments (7)

3.                   Teaching Guerrilla Warfare (7)

4.                   Basic Mechanics for Equipment Repair (6)

5.                   Agriculture and Logistics Planning (7)

6.                   Improvised Explosives Handling (6)

7.                   Multilingual Negotiation (7)

8.                   Close-Quarters Combat (8)

Appearance:

Lewis Drake is a lean 41-year-old with piercing gray eyes and short, sun-bleached hair. His rugged attire includes a faded, utility vest, worn combat boots, and sturdy cargo pants. A compact survival rifle rests across his chest, and a pistol is secured at his hip, with a machete dangling from his belt.

Backstory:

Lewis Drake didn’t plan on war. A restless Michigan native with a knack for making things grow, he left the States for warmer climates and less complicated living. He settled in the Verdant Glade, a remote farming region nestled along the border of a troubled nation. But the tranquility of his citrus farm was shattered when the Sons of Liddan—the ruling regime hunting down rebellion—swept close to his land.

Recruited by the enigmatic Shadow Bureau, a covert agency operating in the Americas, Drake began training fighters, teaching survival tactics, and smuggling plans across hostile divisions. The agency denies his existence; the rebels trust him, but only barely.

After losing a shipment of medical supplies—costing lives—he now wrestles with doubt, guarded optimism, and the knowledge that he’s playing a dangerous game. Aiding the resistance isn’t just about conviction for him; it’s about keeping his conscience intact in a world that offers little solace.

En route to Old Bailiwick: Max the “Stevedore”

Max is is solid anti-hero that can be dropped into any modern, urban game.

Character: Max “The Stevedore” from “Streets of Old Bailiwick”

Race: Human

Core Abilities:

• Combat: 10 (Greatest human ability)
• Agility: 7 (Above average ability with training)
• Might: 10 (Greatest human ability)
• Willpower: 9 (Renown tantamount ability)
• X-Factor: 6 (Trained or educated ability)
• Magnitude: 8 (Expert ability)
• Toughness: 10 (Greatest human ability)
• Intelligence: 7 (Above average ability with training)
• Perception: 8 (Expert ability)

Hits Score: 19

Conditions:

• Heavy Drinker: 10
• Passionate: 9
• Vengeful: 10
• Protective: 8
• Stubborn: 7
• Antihero: 9

Abilities:

• Hand-to-Hand Combat: 10 (Greatest human ability)
• Street Fighting: 10 (Greatest human ability)
• Stevedoring: 9 (Renown tantamount ability)
• Strategy: 7 (Above average ability with training)
• Motorcycle Riding: 9 (Renown tantamount ability)
• Intimidation: 8 (Expert ability)

Description: Max, a burly stevedore with penetrating blue eyes and shaggy black hair, is a notorious street fighter in the city of Old Bailiwick. Known for his imposing physique and intense gaze, he’s often seen with his trusty brass knuckles, or his crowbar his weapons of choice, and astride a thunderous motorcycle that echoes through the city’s grimy streets.

Backstory: Max, the stevedore of Old Bailiwick, is a man haunted by his past. His parents were murdered by the henchmen of Freddy Black’s father, a crime that Max has sworn to avenge. By day, Max works on the docks, but by night, he becomes a feared street fighter, earning extra money to support his neighborhood. He’s known for his heavy drinking and passionate nature. Despite his tough exterior, Max is an antihero, protecting his people from the mob’s exploitations. His vengeful spirit, combined with his protective instincts, make him a beacon of hope in the grimy streets of Old Bailiwick, as he relentlessly seeks revenge against the reigning kingpin, Freddy Black.