The Quintessential Barbarian
The Quintessential Barbarian cover
| Author | Robert Schwalb |
| Series | Quintessential Series |
| Publisher | Mongoose Publishing |
| Publish date | 2003 |
| Pages | 128 |
| ISBN | 1-903980-92-5 |
| OGL Section 15 | qbbn |
The material below is open game content
Grasp the Water Boiling
Most consider this competition one of the heights of stupidity. Contestants plunge one of their hands into a cauldron of boiling water for as long as they can, resisting the shock of the pain and the sight of their flesh swelling and peeling away to float atop the churning water. A druid, witch or cleric can repair most of these injuries. One can spot true champions easily by their lack of fingernails, and hideous scar tissue that extends up the forearm.
Contestants: This contest requires at least two fools, but no more than seven for that is the most that can easily fit around a cauldron of burbling water. There is one empty space, and that is for the judge. Characters participating in this contest should be of at least 3rd level. In this example, the average level is 4th.
Locale: This popular sport is always in the centre of a village or of the clan's dwellings. It confers no special situational or environmental aspects to the contest. In case of inclement weather, there is usually installed a tarp of canvas overhead.
Objective: The purpose of the contest is to hold one's hand in the boiling water for as long as they can stand.
Severity: This is a nasty and stupid game inflicting a significant amount of damage to any who participate. This is a serious threat for characters of the minimum recommended level falling within the 21 to 26 points of damage range.
Intervals: Each round, the competitors suffer damage and must attempt a Fortitude Save.
Prize: 240gp to the victor.
Special Rules: All participants roll initiative after all plunge their hands into the pot of boiling water. All who do so suffer 3d8 points of damage each round. Furthermore, each character must make a Fortitude Save against a DC equal to 10 + the damage dealt to resist the urge to withdraw the hand. For every round the character holds his hand in the boiling water, he suffers a permanent -1 penalty to all Dexterity based checks that require the use of hands. Characters may heal this penalty through a restoration spell.
Example: Two characters face each other over a cauldron of frothing water. With steely determination behind drunken and dulled eyes, they each grit their teeth and plunge their fists into the bubbling liquid, resulting in a moan from one and a sharp inhalation from the other. Each character has 16 hit points and a +6 Fortitude. On the first round, the first contestant takes 12 points of damage and must pass a Fortitude save against a DC 22. He rolls a 13, adds his +6 and results in a 19. He jerks his hand free from the water, almost immediately sober and very shamefaced. His opponent only suffers 8 points of damage and must then roll a Fortitude save against a DC 18. He easily passes with a roll of 22. With a drunken grin, he wins the contest.
Editing ©2008 Alex Schröder
