Slytherin: Clan Rookwood

 Rookwood

"even death may die"

Sigil: three triangular eyes, gold on black

Skills: Devices (expert) | Stealth (advanced) | Curses (basic) | Divination (basic)

+1 Shadow

Though the ruins of Azkaban have long been abandoned to the dementors, the head of Clan Rookwood still holds the title of Warden of the Isle. From their coastal fortress the clan keeps watch against the horrors of that blasted island prison - a dangerous and thankless task, for no Lord Warden has yet died a natural death.

The sullen, salt-stained folk who owe fealty to the Rookwoods claim that Rookwood blood runs to madness, born of gazing too long upon things not meant to be seen, and strange tales tell of madmen and worse things kept chained for long generations in the family dungeons.

Inspired Action – Hallowed Inspiration

You can spend Inspiration to experience a sudden cackling insight. When you do, you may either make a roll related to the Dark Arts Safe, or you may ask the Referee for a true answer related to a single question pertaining to the Dark Arts. After using this ability, roll for the Presence of the Dark Lord. If the question directly concerns the Dark Lord, a Revelation occurs automatically.

Flaw – Wild Notions

Madness runs in the Rookwood line, and you have it worse than most. You are often struck by sudden wild ideas and compulsions. When you act on these wild notions, gain Inspiration. Roll a d6 for the form your compulsion takes this time.

D6 Notions 

1. That thing has insulted you! You must have your revenge.
2. That thing is haunted by your dear dead relative. You must protect it and ask its advice!
3. That thing is full of hideous and indescribable menace! You must avoid it at all costs.
4. It is vitally important that you behave like an animal.
5. They’re listening! You must not let them hear you.
6. Everywhere you look, you see them! Watching, spying, flapping, croaking! What do they want? What could it mean?

Starting Equipment –pick two–

1. The Sign of the Hallows tattooed on both palms – gain Ward 2 while your hands are empty and your palms are held outward.
2. Festooned with keys – 1-in-6 chance of opening any lock after a turn of searching (Heavy)
3. Forbidden Book – grants +1 to either Curses or Potions when consulted. Consultation requires 1d3 turns and the book screams loudly the entire time.
4. Pack of handmade tarot cards
5. Bottle of lightning (3 dmg, Blast 6, one use)
6. Minor boggart, trapped in a matchbox

Names

1. Octavius

2. Gracchus

3. Tiberius

4. Carmilla

5. Proserpina

6. Ravena

Design Notes: Rookwood's just some guy. I wanted a Lovecraftian scholar archetype for Slytherin though, and his name sounds evocative, so most of this is invented out of whole cloth. When working with a madness mechanic in RPGs you need to be very careful to draw a line between real-world mental illness and the stuff of melodramatic gothic fiction and pulp horror. Unless you're doing something extremely specific and experimental (I'm not) place your "madness" firmly in the second category. Hopefully I've managed to do that successfully here.

Names: the one Rookwood we have a name for is "Augustus" so I guess they use Roman names. There's a break in the pattern for an extra pun with "Ravena".