Stern Chase

Basic Information

A Stern Chase is a plot where the protagonist is being pursued and must stay in motion in order to hide from those who hunt him. A stern chase is a long term plot, often leading from one Adventure Town to another.

The etymology derives from the Age of Sail where the (very few) cannons that pointed fore and aft (as opposed to being part of the broadside batteries were known as 'chasers' (since they saw most use when one ship was chasing another) - bowchasers fired over the bow and sternchasers over the stern and a stern chase was one in which you were using your sternchaser guns: that is, you were being pursued.

See Also

• Clear My Name
• Inspector Javert
• Walking The Earth

Sources

Bibliography

1. TV Tropes Wiki entry

Game and Story Use

• This makes for a nice change of pace for parties which have grown too sedentary. Of course, there must be a reason why they don't just ambush and attempt to simply defeat their pursuers…
• May also be a suitable framework for an entire campaign.