Henchmen Henchmen Henchmen!

Le Denier Combat

Below is a table for generating henchmen aboard the Apollyon.  So far a former gallery slave has become a decent spearman and a dinosaur hunter has been hired. The table includes the option of rolling again to determine a foible for the henchperson. 

 I personally try to avoid henchmen because of the XP penalty, but they are undeniably useful.  My personal GM philosophy about henchmen is that they are NPCs who distrust the characters, talk to each other and would really rather be doing anything else than climbing about in lost places fighting monsters.

Now I'm not sure if these guys work anywhere but the Apollyon, where flotsam come aboard from various times and places.  Still it's a wide variety of strange henchpeople and things that can make for memorable NPC's beyond the simple meatshield.

Some of these "foibles" can be quite bad as well, and I wouldn't give one to every henchperson.

1D10	Who's my Hireling – HMS Apollyon	Profession/LVL	Hireling Fobiles
1	Stone Age dinosaur hunter/whaler. Loincloth, bolos and stone spear	Hunter 0/SPC1 (50%)	Scares Easy (Moral -1 after 1st combat)
2	Circumpolar whaler. Thick furs (AC8), bone harpoon, dagger	Hunter 0/SPC1 (25%)	Sadistic (Will do creepy things )
3	Industrial era harpooner. Work clothes, harpoon, dagger	Hunter 0/F1 (10%)	Laughs Inappropriately (Just Nervous)
4	Industrial era seal hunter. Work clothes, club, dagger	Hunter 0	Spendthrift (Will pawn any equipment given to him)
5	Modern whaler. Work clothes, knife	Hunter 0	Petty Thief (Will steal small objects of treasure)
6	Fantastical Hunter (20% elf or sea elf). Shell studded armor, trident	Hunter 0/F1 (50%)	Addicted to Mad Kelp (25% drugged)
7	Futuristic submarine hunter. Wetsuit, speargun(light crossbow)	Hunter 0	Berserker – (Save vs. Int to avoid rage in battle)
8	Fisherman from mud village. Dirty clothes	Sailor 0	Whistles loudly when nervious (No surprise)
9	Savage. Loincloth, stone knife (30% lizardman or something odd)	Sailor 0/F1 50%	Fumbler (Injurious fumble1 or 2)
10	Steampunk Aquanaut (25% dwarf). Diving armor (AC6) flintlock, hatchet	Sailor 0	Dullard (make save vs. spell to take order)
11	Galley Slave/Rower. (10% Beastial Race [Half-Orc]), Loincloth	Sailor 0	Diseased (possibly contagious, -2 CON)
12	Merchant Seaman. Work clothes, knife or club.	Sailor 0	Terrible Breath (-1 CHR)
13	Top Man. Work clothes, knife	Sailor SPC 1 (50%)	Hates Dogs (will not work around canines)
14	Sky Gondolier. Ten foot aluminum pole	Sailor 0	Booze Hound (Will drink until unconcious)
15	Blimp Crew (25% Dwarf). Studded leather, big wrench	Sailor 0/F1 25%	Aquaphobic (Won't swim or wade above waist)
16	Cabin boy.  Dagger	Sailor 0	Unready (Doesn't act in 1st round of combat)
17	Deck Ape (50% Actual Ape). Club, Dungarees	Sailor 0	Moronic (Intelligence -2)
18	Ship's Cook.  Apron, work clothes, cleaver	Sailor 0	Obese (-2 Dex, +1 Con, MV 30')
19	Surly Old Tar. Embellished work clothes, Dagger, club, sewing kit.	Sailor 0	Elderly (-1 STR, -1 CON, -1 DEX, +2 WIS)
20	Ancient Tillerman. Linen Kilt	Sailor 0	Superstitious (Much re-roll morale when faced with magic)
21	Atlantean Seafarer. Fine bronze chainmail (AC 6), bronze saber	Sailor 0/F1 (20%)	Has crazy eyes
22	Submariner. Grease stained overalls	Sailor 0	Drunken (Must drink constantly, effects abilities)
23	Wrymrider (50% inhuman race).  Eelskin bodysuit (AC 7), Wyrm prod (polearm)	Sailor 0/SPC 1 (25%)	Narcoleptic (sleeps if stressed and fails save v. wands)
24	Seafaring Post Apocolyptic Mutant (25% gills).  Leather armor, harpoon	Sailor 0/SPC 1 (50%)	Claims secret knowledge (won't share)
25	Recently Fired Footman (25% Flying Monkey). Livery, Staff	Local 0	Compulsive Liar (Nothing he says can be trusted)
26	Hedge Wizard.  Staff, tarot cards	Local MU 1	Fame hungry (Well denigrate PC's after adventure)
27	Destitute Kelp Farmer (40% Frogling). Loincloth or dungarees, fish spear.	Local 0	Rolling Stone (Will only adventure once with party)
28	Fisherfolk (30% Frogling)	Local 0	Misanthropic and curmudgeonly
29	Cannery Worker.  Work Clothes, depression	Local 0	Near sighted (-4 to ranged attacks)
30	Scarred former Courtesan/Gigolo. Fancy Clothes, poisoned dagger	Local 0/SPC 1 (10%)	Hatred of passenger class (seeks violent revenge)
31	Bodyguard (30% Flying Monkey). Studded leather, Mace	Local Monkey 1 or 0/F1 65%	Enemy of Frogtown
32	Maimed Flying Monkey Scout (can't fly). Studded Leather, spear, light crossbow	Local Monkey 1/2(30%)	Dream tea user (save vs. Poison per session or suffer -2 to attack)
33	Karcist apprentice.  Curved dagger, robes	Local 0/MU 1 (65%)	Possessed by evil spirit (WIS save to avoid evil acts)
34	Disbarred Lawyer.  Business Suit	Local 0	Hunted by Uptown Assassin
35	Engine Wiper. Grease stained work clothes, large wrench.	Local 0	Stupid but Methodical (-2 INT, +1 WIS)
36	Destitute Shopkeeper (10% Frogling). Ragged clothes, air of desperation	Local 0	Talks really fast
37	Gangly urchin (10% Passenger caste). Knife, loincloth	Local 0	Linked to crime syndicate
38	Stooped Jade.  Sword cane, dagger, concealed chest plate (AC 7)	Local SPC 1	Diseased (possibly contagious, -2 CON)
39	Ship Spirit Flagellant.  Flail, dirty robe, leather armor.	Local 0/F1 (10%)	Insane (Will snap eventually)
40	Dismissed house trooper.  Breastplate, long sword, helmet	Local 0/F1 (30%)	Suicidal (Will do risky things until killed).
41	Bar Bouncer.  Helmet, club, work clothes	Local 0	One eyed (-1 to hit ranged)
42	Nurse. Work clothes	Local 0	Has Screaming Nightmares
43	Injured Factory Worker	Local 0	Missing Hand
44	Flying Monkey Butler.  Monkey Suit, top hat, short sword.	Local Monkey 1	Snob (insufferable)
45	Frogling Shaman. Spiked mace, cord armor	Local Frog 1	Proselytizes for Cult of Leviathan
46	Merrow Man. Flesh Armor (AC 6), tooth ax.	Local SPC 1	Betrayer (Will betray party to outside group)
47	Porter.  Club, overalls	Local 0	Big Lunk (-1 INT, -1 WIS + STR)
48	Weaver.  Dagger, work clothes	Local 0	Arthritic (-1 DEX)
49	Frogling Whaler.  Short Sword, polearm	Local Frog 1	Card Cheat
50	Retired Scavanger. Leather armor, helmet crowbar, 10' pole	Local 0/SPC 1(60%)	Elderly (-1 STR, -1 CON, -1 DEX, +2 WIS)
51	Street Performer (20% clown).  Dagger, Odd clothes, insturment	Local 0	Enemy of Steward Sargeant
52	Gambler.  Fancy suit, silk topper, pepperbox pistol	Local 0/SPC 1(40%)	Spendthrift (Will pawn any equipment given to him)
53	Assassin.  Work clothes, garrote, hand crossbow, poison quarrels (x20), poison dagger.	Local SPC1/SPC2(20%)	Double Agent (Spying on party)
54	Passenger Exile. Rapier, tattered finery	Local E1	Snob (Insufferable disdain for everyone else).
55	Hobo.  Stained work clothes, club.	Local 0	Gangrenous foot (MV 20', -2 Con)
56	Disgraced Steward. Splint mail, shield spear, mace	Local F1/F2(25%)	Attracts Undead (Roll Random Enc x2.)
57	Frogling Youth. Ten foot pole, dungarees	Local 0/SPC1(10%)	Coughing Sickness (No Surprise)
58	Prize Fighter. Cestus,	Local F1	Gambling Debts
59	Tattooed Thief. Leather armor, short sword, light crossbow	Local SPC 1	Wanted Man
60	Divinity Student.  Somber clothes, holy symbol	Local 0/C1(20%)	Serial Killer (There will be questions on return to town)
61	Medical Student. Fancy clothes, scapels	Local 0/SPC 1(20%)	Opiate Addict (-1 to all rolls when not drugged)
62	Musketeer (25% Dwarf).  Feathered hat, musket, leather armor, short sword	Marine 0/F1(50%)	Afraid of Fire (Roll morale at -2 if attacked with flame)
63	Stormtrooper (20% Monstrous species).  Bolt action rifle, entrenching tool, 1D4 Grenades	Marine 0/F1 (75%)	Shell shocked (Will take no action without prompting
64	Pikeman. Breastplate, pike, shortsword, helmet	Marine 0/F1 (30%)	Zombie (-1 all stats, no morale checks, no healing)
65	Samurai. Katana, splintmail, helmet.	Marine F1	Honorable to a fault (must pay debts and always accept a challenge)
66	Red Martian Skyship Fighter. Studded leather harness, sabers (x2)	Marine F1	Extremely gullible (can be tricked by just about anyone).
67	Cyborg Brute. Augmentations (+1HD/AC 6/STR 2D6+6), warhammer, loincloth.	Marine 0/F1 (50%)	Conditioned for Battle (Never retreats, always kills - command word causes collapse)
68	Legionnaire of the I Adiutrix. Banded mail, sword, dagger, heavy shield	Marine F1	Religious fanatic (doesn't take kindly to heathens)
69	Shauguin Netter.  Trident, weighted net, Scale armor.	Marine 0/F1 (40%)	Evil and viscous (will sell out party and murder for kicks)
70	Commando. Bulletproof vest (AC 6), submachine gun, 4 clips, dagger	Marine F1	Loose Cannon (shoots first, parleys later)
71	Buccaneer. Frock coat, tricorn hat, cutlass or rapier and brace of flintlock pistols	Pirate SPC 1/F1(25%)	Drunken (Must drink constantly, effects abilities)
72	Corsair. Scimitar, scale mail	Pirate 0/F1(50%)	Missing Hand – no offhand weapon
73	Space Pirate (20% Weird Race). Silver Saber, vacuum suit	Pirate 0/F1(25%)	Missing Leg - Dex -2, MV 20'
74	Viking. Chainmail, shield, helm, bearded ax	Pirate F1	Doomed (Fails all saves)
75	Smuggler. Blackened leather armor, flintlock pistol, dagger, bandana	Pirate 0/SPC1(25%)	Epicurean (Will demand better than standard rations)
76	Modern Pirate.  Jeans, novelty t-shirt, machete or revolver pistol	Pirate 0/SPC1	Stimulant addict (when under the effect, no moral rolls - lose 1 CON per session)
77	Dandy. Sword cane, fancy dress, scented ascot	Passenger 0/SPC1 (20%)	Vampire (Likely to turn on party)
78	Gentlewoman Adventurer. Armored corset, pepperbox pistol, rapier	Passenger 0/SPC 1 50% /F1 50%	Daring (Will wander off in search of loot/adventure)
79	Silent Mourner. Shroud, silver morningstar	Passenger C1 (75%)	Death obsessed (Will collect grisly souvenirs)
80	Sea Witch. Ragged shawl	Passenger MU 1/MU 2 (10%)	Bad Omen (Party secretly at -1 on all saves)
81	Six String Samurai. Katana, black suit, guitar	Passenger F2	Fatalistic (Injuries do +1 Point Damage
82	Business Traveler. Suit, casual clothes, valise	Passenger 0	Self Absorbed (Only looks out for self)
83	Exotic Princess (30% Elven or similar). Wedding finery, poison dagger.	Passenger 0/ SPC 1 (25%)	Hunted by Demons
84	Traveling Scholar. Books, Work Clothes	Passenger0 /SPC1(30%)/MU1 (20%)	Meek (Morale Maximum of 8)
85	Teenage Sorceress.  Dress, umbrella, valise	Passenger MU1	Anti-Authoritarian (Will ignore orders and must test moral x2).
86	Minor Devil. Pitchfork, bronze scalemail	Outsider E1/25% F2	Lecher (75% will make unwholesome advances)
87	Snake Man. Twisty dagger, Whip.	Outsider 0/MU 1 (30%)	Dishonest Face (All reactions to party are at -1)
88	Moktar (Lion Man). Natural AC 7, mace, headress	Outsider F1/10% F2	Clumsy (-3 Dexterity)
89	Intelligent Bear.Top hat, natural AC7, natural attack 1D8.	Outside F1 (4HD)	Bestial (-2 Wisdom, crude manners)
90	Goat Man. Hide armor, javelins x4, bone ax.	Outsider SPC 1	Insane (Will snap eventually)
91	Myrmidon made of black glass. Bronze breastplate, pike, heavy shield, helmet	Outsider F1	Soulless (No bonuses from magic)
92	Octopus Faced Assassin. Leather Robes, facemask, poison darts x10, scimitar	Outsider SPC 1	Cult Member of the Elder Gods
93	Robot. As plate, warhammer	Outsider F2	Stagnant (Never Levels)
94	Undead Grave Guard. Chain shroud, flail	Outsider F1/25% C1	Cursed (Magic healing has no effect)
95	Crusading knight. heavy chain, heavy shield, helmet, large weapon (axe, sword, morningstar, mace)	Soldier C1(25%)/F1(75%)	Xenophobic (will not work with non-humans or parley with them)
96	Late industrial airman. Utility uniform, revolver or auto pistol	Soldier 0/F1 (75%)	Scarred (-1 CHR)
97	Hussar. Breastplate, saber, flintlock pistol	Soldier 0/F1 (25%)	Kill Crazy (Will charge into enemies)
98	WWI or WWII solider. Bolt Action rifle, bayonet, uniform, helmet	Soldier 0/F1 (25%)	Cannibal (Eww, just eww)
99	Desert Rider. Tulwar, Flintlock Rifle	Soldier F1/SPC 1 (25%)	Hemophiliac (Bleeds out twice as fast)
100	Warrior Eunuch. Bronze sickle sword, linen armor.	Soldier 0/F1 (50%)	Werewolf (Becomes evil night beast)