Just in the middle of ending a game involving a battle bewtween two characters.

Can the winning character take an object or gold, or must the losing character lose a life?

I know the Battle Royale ending forces losing characters to lose lives, but the core rulebook does not specify this.

You just follow the rules printed on the card. So no, you would not be able to take an object or gold unless it was stated on the alternate ending card.

From the frostmarch rules: "When

In the standard ending, yes you can take objects or gold. Taking objects can turn future battles in your favour.

In alternative endings, you have to do what it says on the card. If it simply says "encounter character," then standard encounter rules apply. If it says something like, "must lose a life," then you have to do that.

In the standard ending, yes you can take objects or gold. Taking objects can turn future battles in your favour.

In alternative endings, you have to do what it says on the card. If it simply says "encounter character," then standard encounter rules apply. If it says something like, "must lose a life," then you have to do that.

Thanks.

We had a game where there was me and one player who had the Mercenary and he won the game.

At the time, we just settled on loss of life, but had I known I could take gold, I could have done this and increased my chances of winning, as I would have had higher strength when the other had no more gold to pay the Merc.

It's what makes duels on the crown more exciting than just a dicefest!