"Eyes of the Hawk, Ears of the Wolf, Strength of the Bear, Speed of the Puma!" Marshal Bravestarr, Tex Hex, & New Texas Campaign Setting For The Cepheus Engine Rpg

 Here are complete Cepheus Engine stat blocks and character profiles for the three central figures of New Texas, formatted using standard Cepheus Engine / OGL 2D6 conventions.

Marshal BraveStarr

"Eyes of the Hawk, Ears of the Wolf, Strength of the Bear, Speed of the Puma!"

A native of the planet Starr-Arra, BraveStarr was saved as a child by the mystic Shaman. Appointed Galactic Marshal to New Texas, he serves as the primary lawman protecting Fort Kerium and the surrounding frontier.

Marshal BraveStarr   Human Male   Age 30   6 terms   Cr 12,000
STR 11 (+1)  DEX 10 (+1)  END 11 (+1)  INT 9 (+0)  EDU 8 (+0)  

SOC 8 (+0)

UPP: BBBA88
Skills: Gun Combat (Slug/Energy) 3, Leadership 2, Melee (Unarmed) 2, 

Recon 2, 
        Riding (Equine/Cyber) 2, Survival 2, Mysticism 2, Athletics 1, Admin 1, Drive 1

Combat Statistics

• Armor: Reinforced Lawman Duster (Armor 4)

• Primary Weapon: Neura-Stunner Pistol (Gun Combat +1, Range: Pistol, Damage: 2D6 Non-Lethal / Stun, Magazine: 20)

• Special Gear: Star-Badge Communicator (TL12 orbital link), Kerium Lasso, Cyber-Saddle Link.

Special Abilities (Shamanic Totems)

BraveStarr can channel Spirit Totems by spending 1 Power Point (Psionic/Mystic Pool: 6 PP) and passing an END or Mysticism check (8+). Effects last for 1D6 rounds:

• Eyes of the Hawk: Telescopic, thermal, and EM vision. Ignores concealment/darkness; grants +3 DM to Recon and Gun Combat at Medium+ range.

• Ears of the Wolf: Superhuman auditory sensing. +2 DM to Initiative; detects hidden or ambushing targets within 100 meters automatically.

• Strength of the Bear: STR temporarily rises to 15 (+3 DM). Melee damage becomes 3D6+3; allows lifting or moving vehicle-scale objects up to 1 ton.

• Speed of the Puma: Triples tactical movement rate. Grants +2 DM to Athletics/Dodge checks and +1 extra Minor Action per combat turn.

Thirty/Thirty

"I'm Thirty/Thirty! And I like to fight!"

BraveStarr’s partner is a Cybernetic Equestroid—a sapient, heavy-built cyborg equine who can alternate between galloping on all fours and standing on his hind legs to wield heavy artillery.

Thirty/Thirty   Cybernetic Equestroid   Age 34   7 terms   Cr 2,500
STR 14 (+2)  DEX 8 (+0)  END 13 (+2)  INT 7 (+0)  EDU 6 (+0)  

SOC 5 (-1)

UPP: EDD765
Skills: Heavy Weapons (Vehicle/Gunnery) 3, Melee (Unarmed/Hooves) 3, 

Gun Combat 2, 
        Survival 2, Athletics 2, Drive 1, Mechanic 1, Tactics (Ground) 1

Combat Statistics

• Armor: Integrated Cyber-Plating & Heavy Frame (Armor 6)

• Primary Weapon: "Sara Jane" Heavy Energy Cannon (Vehicle-Scale Weapon)

  • Stats: Range: Very Long (500m), Damage: 6D6 (AP 10), Magazine: 12 Kerium Cells, Traits: Two-Handed (Bipedal Stance Only), Heavy Blast.

• Secondary Weapon: Cybernetic Hoof-Strike / Trample (Melee, Damage: 2D6+2).

Special Traits

• Mode Shift: Can shift between Quadruped (Gait) and Bipedal (Combat) as a Minor Action.

  • Quadruped Mode: Base movement speed tripled (150m/round); can carry 2 human passengers comfortably; cannot wield Sara Jane.

  • Bipedal Mode: Standard movement (10m/round); full access to two-handed heavy weaponry and unarmed combat moves.

• Stubborn Grit: May ignore the effects of being Wounded or Fatigued once per day for up to 10 combat rounds.

Tex-Hex

"You haven't seen the last of Tex-Hex, Marshal!"

 

Leader of the Carrion Bunch, Tex-Hex is a undead sorcerer-outlaw empowered directly by Stampede. He fuses dark mystical magic with cybernetic enhancements and high-tech weaponry to terrorize New Texas.

Tex-Hex   Undead Cyber-Sorcerer   Age Unknown   Cr 85,000
STR 9 (+0)  DEX 11 (+1)  END 12 (+2)  INT 10 (+1)  EDU 9 (+0) 

 SOC 3 (-1)

UPP: 9BCA93
Skills: Mysticism (Dark) 4, Gun Combat (Pistol/Rifle) 3, Deception 3, 

Persuasion 2, 
        Tactics (Raids) 2, Recon 2, Stealth 2, Driving (Skimmer) 2

Combat Statistics

• Armor: Cyber-Undead Mesh (Armor 5, Immune to non-lethal/stun damage and poison/vacuum)

• Primary Weapon: Dark-Magic Kerium Blaster (Gun Combat +1, Range: Medium, Damage: 3D6 Energy + 1D6 Dark Magic corruption)

• Secondary Weapon: Mystical Bolts (Range: Short, Damage: 3D6 Life Drain—heals Tex-Hex for half damage dealt).

Special Abilities (Stampede's Blessings)

Tex-Hex channels dark magic (Mystic Pool: 10 PP):

• Phantom Transformation (2 PP): Transforms himself into a flying red mist for up to 1 hour. In mist form, he is immune to all non-energy attacks and flies at 60m/round.

• Summon Shadow Creatures (3 PP): Summons 1D4 shadowy serpent-like entities or phantom beasts to attack foes (Use standard Cepheus Engine Predator stats with Armor 2 and 2D6 bite attacks).

• Corruption Pulse (2 PP): Creates an aura forcing all targets within 10 meters to make an END check (9+) or suffer a -2 DM to all skill rolls due to intense dark terror for 1D6 rounds.

Adapting BraveStarr—Filmation’s 1987 space-western sci-fi animated series—to the Cepheus Engine (a classic 2D6 20D100/Traveller-compatible OGL system) creates a unique setting: Gothic Western Space Fantasy.

Below is a complete setting sourcebook framework, including world mechanics, character creation, alien species, shamanic magic, and signature gear.

1. Setting Overview: New Texas

Located in a remote sector on the galactic frontier, New Texas is a harsh planet rich in Kerium, a highly unstable, immensely powerful glowing energy crystal. Kerium fuels interstellar starships and hyper-advanced weaponry, making New Texas a target for interstellar syndicates, outlaw bands, and corporate cartels.

Key Themes & Tone

• High-Tech Western: Hover-crafts, laser-revolvers, cybernetic horses, and dusty saloon towns.

• Frontier Lawlessness: The Galactic Council’s law reaches New Texas through lone Marshal offices. Law enforcement is outnumbered and reliant on grit and superior firepower.

• Ancient Mystic Powers: Mystic shamans tap into primal spirits (represented as animal totems) to grant superhuman physical feats.

2. Character Creation & Species

In Cepheus Engine terms, characters follow standard character generation with specific sector-appropriate species choices.

Distinct Species

1. Humans: The dominant settlers, prospectors, and lawmen on New Texas.

   • Trait: +1 to any one attribute during creation.

2. Prairie People (Equestroids / Native Folk): Small, industrious burrowers native to New Texas who mine Kerium.

   • Trait: Small stature (STR -1), inherent +2 DM to Recon, Survival, and Mining-related checks.

3. Cybernetic Equestroids (Thirty/Thirty's Species): Uplifted or cybernetically enhanced equines capable of switching between quadrupedal galloping and bipedal combat stances.

   • Trait: High Strength (STR +2, END +1). Can wield heavy vehicle-scale weaponry when standing on two legs.

4. Saratoga / Alien Species: Amphibious, reptilian, or avian humanoids from neighboring star systems serving as traders, mercenaries, or bandits.

3. The Mystic Path: Shamanic Powers

Instead of standard Cepheus Engine Psionics, New Texas features Shamanic Magic / Spirit Animal Totems, famously channeled by figures like Marshal BraveStarr through Thirty-Thirty's mentor, Thirty-Thirty and Shaman.

Mechanics for Animal Powers

To tap into a spirit power, a character must possess the Psionics / Mysticism skill and pass an END or INT check (Difficulty 8+) using 1 Power Point (PP) per activation. Powers last for 1D6 combat rounds.

Power	Spirit Call	Cepheus Engine Effect
Eyes of the Hawk	"Eyes of the Hawk!"	Grants long-range telescopic and thermal vision. +3 DM to Recon, Gun Combat (Ranged), and Observation. Ignores concealment/darkness penalties.
Ears of the Wolf	"Ears of the Wolf!"	Super-hearing. Multiplies perception range by 10. Automatically detects stealthy movement; grants +2 DM to Initiative.
Strength of the Bear	"Strength of the Bear!"	Temporarily increases STR attribute to 15 (+3 DM). Unarmed damage becomes 3D6. Allows lifting heavy vehicles/boulders.
Speed of the Puma	"Speed of the Puma!"	Triples base movement speed. +2 DM to Athletics/Dodge. Grants an extra minor action each combat turn.

4. Iconic Weapons & Technology

Technology on New Texas blends standard Cepheus Engine TL11–13 tech with frontier aesthetics.

       [ Kerium Energy Cell ]
                 │
  ┌──────────────┴──────────────┐
  ▼                             ▼
[ Neura-Stunner Sidearm ]     [ Sarah Jane Cannons ]
(Personal Defense / Non-Lethal)  (Vehicle-Scale Anti-Armor)

Signature Equipment Table

Item	Range	Damage	Tech Level	Cost (Cr)	Notes
Neura-Stunner Pistol	Ranged (Pistol)	2D6 (Non-Lethal)	TL 11	500	Standard lawman sidearm; targets must pass END check or fall unconscious.
Kerium Laser Carbine	Long Range	4D6	TL 12	2,500	Standard weapon of Tex-Hex's outlaws. Explosive burst on natural 12.
"Sarah Jane" (Big Gun)	Very Long	6D6 (AP 10)	TL 12	12,000	Heavy cybernetic-mounted cannon (Thirty/Thirty's signature rifle). Vehicle-scale weapon.
Techno-Horse / Cyber-Mount	Movement: 150m/round	Armor: 8	TL 12	45,000	Cybernetic steed; integrated communications, life support interface, and jump-thrusters.
Trans-Stellar Kerium Ore	N/A	N/A	N/A	50,000/ton	Highly unstable; requires Volatile Goods handling checks during transport.

5. Main Antagonists & Threats

Stampede & Tex-Hex's Outlaw Gang

• Stampede: An ancient, monstrous cosmic demon-bronco possessing high-level mystical/psionic powers. Operates as an overarching patron/villain driving corruption across the sector.

• Tex-Hex: A cyber-undead sorcerer-outlaw.

  • Special Ability (Phantom Transformation): Tex-Hex can turn into a cloud of red mist to dodge attacks or terrorize settlements.

Random Encounters in the Badlands (1D6)

1. Sand-Squid Attack: Ambush while traveling through dry Kerium canyons.

2. Dingo-Dan's Hijackers: Outlaws using hover-bikes targeting Kerium transports.

3. Kerium Mine Collapse: Unstable energy crystals threatening to detonate a settlement.

4. Stampede Cultists: Cybernetic mystics summoning dark magic storms.

5. Prairie People Distress Call: A local burrow under siege by corporate mercenaries.

6. Marshal Inspection: Galactic Council Marshals searching for contraband or unregistered Kerium.

A Comprehensive d100 Hex-Crawl Lost City & Lost Peoples Generator formatted for Troll Lord Games’ Amazing Adventures RPG (Siege Engine system)

 Here is a comprehensive d100 Hex-Crawl Lost City & Lost Peoples Generator formatted for Troll Lord Games’ Amazing Adventures RPG (Siege Engine system), set in Edgar Rice Burroughs' prehistoric inner world of Pellucidar. This blog post picks right up from A Deeper Troll Lord Games Amazing Adventures Rpg Random D100 Pellucidar & Pres-historic Inner Earth Encounters Tables

Because the central, eternal noon-day sun leaves the inner shell devoid of shadow-based directional cues, lost civilizations in Pellucidar often develop unique cultural quirks, architectures, and defense mechanisms to survive Mahar oppression and megafauna invasions.

Generator Overview

When generating a lost settlement or city in a hex, roll d100 on each of the four tables below to establish:

1. City Origin & Architecture

2. Current Rulers / Primary Inhabitants

3. Cultural Quirk / Social Condition

4. Immediate Crisis / Adventure Hook

Table 1: City Origin & Architecture (d100)

d100	Origin & Architecture	SIEGE Engine Terrain / Tactical Notes
01–05	Basalt Mahar Spire City	Monolithic black towers with open-air roosts. Wings required or long winding stairs.
06–10	Cliffside Hive Dwellings	Carved into sheer canyon walls. Reachable only by rope ladders, counterweight elevators, or trained flyers.
11–15	Petrified Tree Citadel	Built inside and around a miles-wide fossilized mega-sequoia. High defensibility against stampedes.
16–20	Floating Magnetic Mesa	Suspended 500 feet in the air by geothermal-magnetic forces. Tethered by giant vine cables.
21–25	Sunk-Cavern Amphitheater	Built within a massive sinkhole crater. Shielded from the endless glare of the central sun.
26–30	Korsar Ironclad Stockade	Overgrown timber-and-iron fort built from the salvaged hulls of 18th-century pirate vessels.
31–35	Obsidian Ziggurat Complex	Stepped pyramids surrounding vast sacrifice plazas, built from jet-black volcanic glass.
36–40	Bioluminescent Fungal Hold	Hollowed giant puffballs and glowing mushroom forests converted into damp, walled hamlets.
41–45	Steampunk Prospector Outpost	Rusted iron domes and brass steam-pipes surrounding a ruined 19th-century Surface Iron Mole rig.
46–50	Sun-Drenched Coral Megastructure	Exposed prehistoric reef formations turned into multi-tiered, bone-white limestone towers.
51–55	Pteranodon Roost Towers	Woven wicker-and-bone spires built atop mountain peaks, designed for aerial mount landings.
56–60	Subterranean Lake Pile-Dwellings	Stilt-city built entirely over black, tideless waters to deter land-based predators.
61–65	Cyclopean Megalith Rings	Standing stone circles large enough to hold whole villages, humming with residual magnetic energy.
66–70	Tar-Pit Fortress	Naturally Moated city surrounded by bubbling asphalt lakes; accessible only via narrow stone drawbridges.
71–75	Sithic Flora Hive	Hollowed-out carnivorous plant pods and giant gourds hardened into organic defensive walls.
76–80	Sub-Glacial Thermal Grotto	Hidden inside a polar ice-cap fissure, warmed by volcanic geothermal vents.
81–85	Pre-Human Serpent-Fold	Sinuous, curving jade-stone corridors built for limbless or sliding reptilian bodies.
86–90	Ruined Victorian Replica Town	Constructed by "Noon-Mad" surface defectors trying to recreate 1890s London out of mud and bone.
91–95	Abyssal Chasm Span-Bridge	A city built directly onto a colossal natural arch bridging a bottomless planetary fissure.
96–00	Martian-Tech Outpost	Glass-and-bronze spires built around a crashed Barsoomian ether-vessel or ancient portal device.

Table 2: Primary Inhabitants / Lost Peoples (d100)

d100	Inhabitants	Default Disposition & Siege Engine Hooks
01–05	Pure-Blood Mahar Colony	Hostile. Psychic pterosaur overlords using hypnotized human thralls.
06–10	Sagoth Garrison & Slave Enclave	Hostile. Gorilla-like shock troops ruling over human Gilak working parties.
11–15	Red Gilak (Saber-Tooth Clan)	Cautious. Cave-dwellers who wear saber-tooth pelts and wield obsidian weapons.
16–20	Bronze-Skinned Suvians	Friendly. Advanced stone-age civilization with woven textiles and bronze tools.
21–25	Korsar Pirate Descendants	Hostile. Renegade buccaneers armed with black-powder weapons, cutlasses, and muskets.
26–30	Albino Cave Thralls	Skittish. Blind, subterranean humanoids who shun the light of the central sun.
31–35	The Serpent-Men of Lul-Khar	Secretive. Ancient scaleskins holding the secrets of pre-human alchemy and mind control.
36–40	Golden-Haired Mezopeans	Neutral. Seafaring islanders proficient in outrigger canoes and harpoon warfare.
41–45	Stranded Surface Expedition	Cautious. 1920s/30s explorers, scientists, and mercenaries clinging to remaining surface gear.
46–50	Gorzob-Riders (Gorgonopsid Nomads)	Hostile. Martial tribe that breeds and rides heavy mammal-like predatory reptiles.
51–55	Aznath-Worshippers	Fanatical. Cultists who sacrifice captives to a giant marine basilisk/sea serpent.
56–60	Iron Mole Mining Syndicate	Neutral. Descendants of 19th-century miners who operate crude steam-powered machinery.
61–65	Feathered Pteranodon Knights	Proud. Human warriors who have mastered aerial combat riding tame pterosaurs.
66–70	Silent Ones (Mutated Gilaks)	Hostile. Mutated humans who communicate solely through telepathy due to Mahar experiments.
71–75	Amazonian Beast-Mistresses	Cautious. Matriarchal society that uses trained Jalok (Hyaenodons) as war-hounds.
76–80	Troglodyte Shadow-Walkers	Hostile. Primitive subterranean stalkers proficient in blowguns and nerve toxins.
81–85	Clockwork-Automaton Cult	Secretive. Primitive humans who worship a still-functioning 19th-century surface brass engine.
86–90	Rebel Sagoth Renegades	Neutral. Free Sagoths who broke mental conditioning and now fight both Mahar and Humans.
91–95	Lost Legionnaires	Cautious. Descendants of an ancient Roman or Greek legion pulled into Inner Earth via anomaly.
96–00	High-Tech Barsoomian Exiles	Secretive. Green/Red Martians stranded in Pellucidar who guard radium-ray technology.

Table 3: Cultural Quirk / Social Condition (d100)

d100	Cultural Quirk / Social Condition	SIEGE Engine Mechanical Impact
01–05	Absolute "Noon-Madness"	Inhabitants have lost all sense of time; hyper-erratic behavior (CHA SIEGE Check to negotiate).
06–10	Strict Anti-Surface Taboo	All manufactured metal/clothing from the surface is considered cursed and must be burned.
11–15	Sacred Megafauna Bond	Harming a mammoth or dinosaur within city limits results in immediate death penalty.
16–20	Psychic Conditioning	Citizens are subject to latent Mahar mental control (disadvantage on Mental SIEGE Saves).
21–25	Ritual Blood-Steeping	Armor and skin are dyed red with dinosaur blood to intimidate rival tribes (+1 Intimidation).
26–30	Strict Caste System	Population is divided strictly by hair color, tattoo pattern, or physical stature.
31–35	Linguistic Shift	Speak an obscure dialect of Primitive Human mixed with Mahar click-consonants.
36–40	Venerate the Central Sun	Staring directly into the central sun for hours is a sacred rite; high blindness rate.
41–45	Obsessive Trade Culture	Will trade anything—including relatives—for steel knives, glass beads, or surface matches.
46–50	Total Anarchy / Clan War	No central authority; city is divided into quarter-block warzones between rival warlords.
51–55	Ritual Silence	Noise above a whisper is forbidden to prevent drawing the attention of predatory flyers.
56–60	Substance-Induced Trance	Entire population is permanently under the influence of narcotic fungal spores.
61–65	Acrobat / Aerial Society	Inhabitants live off the ground and receive a +2 bonus to DEX (Athletics/Balance) checks.
66–70	Geothermal Steam Worship	Sacred order of priests maintains geothermal boilers believed to power the world.
71–75	Cannibalistic Funeral Rites	Ancestors are eaten to preserve their strength within the tribe.
76–80	Chivalric Code of Combat	All disputes are settled via single combat in a sandy pit using obsidian daggers.
81–85	Blindness Cult	Citizens intentionally blind themselves to "see" using acoustic echoing in pitch-black ruins.
86–90	Eugenics / Selective Breeding	Tribe breeds specifically for brute strength; weak newborns are left for the Jaloks.
91–95	Matriarchal Telepaths	Queen rules via mind-speech; surface males are treated as property or consorts.
96–00	Time-Keeper Obsession	Anyone carrying a ticking surface watch is treated as a divine deity capable of measuring time.

Table 4: Immediate Crisis / Adventure Hook (d100)

d100	Immediate Crisis	Adventure Hook / Quest
01–05	Imminent Mahar Slave Raid	A Mahar flight with Sagoth guards is arriving within hours to harvest 50 human sacrifices.
06–10	Rampaging Tyrannosaur / Apex	A massive Gorgosaurus broke through the perimeter wall and is nesting in the main market.
11–15	Geothermal Eruption	Geysers and lava fissures are opening beneath the settlement; city must evacuate immediately.
16–20	Water Supply Contamination	Toxic fungal spores poisoned the main well; party must find an antidote in a deep swamp.
21–25	Korsar Siege	Pirate gunboats are bombarding the harbor/walls with swivel guns, demanding tribute.
26–30	Lost Surface Relic stolen	A vital piece of surface tech (e.g., machine gun, radio, engine) was stolen by a rival tribe.
31–35	Civil War / Succession Crisis	The Chief was assassinated by a Mahar agent; two rival heirs are rallying their warriors.
36–40	Megafauna Migration Stampede	A herd of 100+ Thag (Aurochs) or Tandor (Mammoths) is heading straight for the city gates.
41–45	Mysterious Sleeping Sickness	Half the populace won't wake up due to a psychic Mahar broadcast from a nearby spire.
46–50	Stolen Chief's Daughter/Son	Pteranodon knights kidnapped a noble for sacrifice at the Monolith of the Outer Gods.
51–55	Tar-Pit Level Rising	The asphalt lake is overflowing, threatening to swallow the lower districts within 24 hours.
56–60	Infiltration by Serpent-Men	Shape-shifting Serpent-Men have replaced key council members to spark a war.
61–65	Famine / Crop Blight	The local edible cycad crops have rotted; hunters need brave escorts into apex predator territory.
66–70	Escaped Mahar Subject	A rogue human scientist/slave escaped a Mahar laboratory with a powerful psychic artifact.
71–75	Dimensional Fissure Instability	A portal to the Surface is opening and closing, throwing dangerous surface anomalies into town.
76–80	Rebellion in the Mines	Slave workers took over the obsidian/iron mines and are threatening to blow up the mountain.
81–85	Pestilence of Sithic Insects	Swarms of 3-foot giant hornets (Sith) are attacking anyone who steps outside.
86–90	Religious Schism	A new prophet claims the Central Sun demands the execution of all foreigners (including PCs).
91–95	Sinking Mesa / Structural Failure	The floating mesa's tether-vines are snapping under the weight of an overgrown fungal bloom.
96–00	Awakened Pre-Human Behemoth	An ancient kaiju-sized aquatic leviathan has emerged off the coast, demanding live tribute.