Talon and Company Adapted From The Sword & Sorcerer 1982 for Sword of Cepheus 2nd Edition

 

Bringing the 1982 cult classic The Sword and the Sorcerer to the tabletop requires capturing that specific "heavy metal" fantasy aesthetic. In the Sword of Cepheus (2nd Edition) system, Talon is a high-powered protagonist, likely built with more than the standard three terms of experience.

Here is the breakdown for Talon and his Mercenary Warband.

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Talon

Career: Mercenary (4 Terms)

Rank: Commander / Sellsword

STR	DEX	END	INT	EDU	SOC
11 (+1)	10 (+1)	12 (+2)	08 (0)	07 (0)	06 (0)

• Stamina: 24

• Lifeblood: 12

• Significant Skills: Combat Maneuvers-2, Leadership-1, Melee (Sword)-3, Recon-1, Athletics-1, Tactics-1, Carouse-1.

• Traits:

  • Battle-Hardened: +1 to all Morale checks and ignores the first point of Fatigue.

  • Dual-Wielding: Talon is adept at fighting with multiple blades or his unique projectile sword.

The Triple-Bladed Projectile Sword

This is a Unique Artifact. In Sword of Cepheus, treat it as a Broadsword with the following special properties:

• Melee Damage: 3d6+1

• Projectile Feature: As a Ranged (Thrown) attack, Talon can fire the two outer blades.

  • Range: 10 meters.

  • Damage: 2d6 per blade.

  • Note: Firing the blades reduces the melee damage to 2d6 (standard sword) until they are recovered and reattached.

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The Mercenary Company

Talon’s crew is a diverse group of specialists, rather than a disciplined army. They function as a Small Warband.

Standard Mercenary (Typical Soldier)

• STR 9, DEX 8, END 9

• Skills: Melee (Blade)-1, Athletics-1, Recon-1.

• Armor: Leather Jack or Ring Mail (Armor 2 or 3).

• Weapon: Sword (2d6) or Crossbow (2d6).

Key Specialists

To reflect the film's flavor, include these archetypes in the company:

• The Brawler: High STR/END, specialized in Combat Maneuvers (Grapple/Bull Rush).

• The Scout: High DEX, specialized in Recon-2 and Stealth-1. Often uses a short bow or throwing knives.

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Mercenary Company Traits (Warband Rules)

If using the mass combat or mercenary management rules in Sword of Cepheus, Talon’s company has the following profile:

Attribute	Rating	Notes
Morale	+1	Deep loyalty to Talon.
Equipment	Average	Well-worn but functional steel and leather.
Training	Veteran	Survival-focused; experts in guerrilla tactics.
Supply Cost	High	They require gold and good ale to stay motivated.

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Reflector Note: Talon is a classic "Sword & Sorcery" hero. He isn't interested in saving the world for the sake of it; he's motivated by revenge and a hefty paycheck. In your campaign, ensure the players find him in a tavern, not a cathedral.