Fafnir and Gray Mouser NPC for Sword of Cepheus 2nd Edition Rpg

 

Fafnir & the Grey Mouser art by Mike Mignola

To bring Fritz Leiber’s iconic duo into the Sword of Cepheus (2e) system, we need to balance their legendary prowess with the grounded, lethal nature of the 2D6 OGL engine.

Fafnir and the Gray Mouser are quintessential "high-rank" characters who nonetheless rely on wit, speed, and specific signature gear.

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Fafnir of Norland

Fafnir is a powerhouse of reach and northern brawn, characterized by his immense strength and surprising coordination.

Characteristic	Score	Modifier
STR	12	+2
DEX	9	+1
END	11	+1
INT	8	+0
WIS	7	+0
CHA	9	+1

• Significant Skills: Athletics 2, Combat (Greatsword) 3, Combat (Brawl) 2, Carouse 2, Recon 1, Survival 1.

• Signature Gear: Graywand (Bastard Sword/Greatsword). In Cepheus 2e, this deals 3D6+2 damage. He often carries a weighted throwing axe (2D6 damage).

• Traits: * Battle Rage: Once per combat, Fafnir can ignore the effects of the "Injured" condition for $1D6$ rounds.

  • Reach: Due to his height and Graywand, he gains a +1 DM to parry reactions against smaller opponents.

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The Gray Mouser

The Mouser is the ultimate multiclass archetype: a failed wizard’s apprentice turned peerless duelist and thief.

Characteristic	Score	Modifier
STR	6	-1
DEX	13	+2
END	8	+0
INT	11	+1
WIS	9	+1
CHA	10	+1

• Significant Skills: Combat (Light Blade) 3, Stealth 3, Deception 2, Thievery 2, Sorcery 1 (Lesser Magic), Streetwise 2.

• Signature Gear: Scalpel (Rapier; 2D6+2 damage) and Cat’s Claw (Main-gauche; 1D6+1 damage).

• Traits:

  • Dual Wielder: When using Scalpel and Cat's Claw together, he may add +1 to either his Attack or Parry roll each round.

  • Evasive: The Mouser can use his DEX DM (+2) for protection instead of armor when not surprised.

  • Dabbler: He possesses a few "Cantrip" style spells but must succeed on a difficult (-2) Sorcery check to cast them, reflecting his abandoned training.

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Party Synergy: The Twain

In Sword of Cepheus, combat is often a trade-off between Stamina and Lifeblood. When these two fight together, apply the following rule:

Back-to-Back: If Fafnir and the Mouser are within Close range of each other, they both receive a +1 DM to all Parry reactions. Fafnir draws the attention of heavy hitters, while the Mouser utilizes the Advantage mechanic for sneak attacks against distracted foes.

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Implementation Note

In 2nd Edition, remember that Stamina recovers quickly, but Lifeblood damage is serious.

• Fafnir is a "Stamina tank"—he can soak up a lot of hits before his physical attributes take a hit.

• The Mouser is a glass cannon—if he fails a parry, a single lucky roll from a city guardsman could end his career.