Rules

RULES
LEAD DESIGNER & EDITOR

Tomas Härenstam
OTHER WRITERS
Roger Undhagen (Outskirt and Isle of Mist original texts), Andreas Marklund
(introductory text, monsters, Riddermound, The Secret of the Dragon Emperor, new versions
of Outskirt and Isle of Mist), Krister Sundelin (magic), Niklas Natt och Dag (The Village
of the Day Before), Moa Frithiofsson (Oracle Cave), Johan Sjöberg (Bothild’s Lode),
Gabrielle de Bourg (Dead Eyes Cave), Magnus Seter (Troll’s Spire), Gunilla Jonsson
& Michael Petersén (Tower of Sighs), Svante Landgraf (Temple of the Purple Flame),
Pelle Nilsson (Road’s End Inn), Mattias Johnsson Haake (Fort Malus, profession quotes),
Mattias Lilja (new version of Isle of Mist), Shawn Tomkin (solo rules), Marco Behrmann
(pre-generated characters), Nils Karlén (GM advice and tables), Kosta Kostulas (tables)
LEAD ILLUSTRATOR ADDITIONAL ART

Johan Egerkrans Anton Vitus, Niklas Brandt
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Niklas Brandt, Christian Granath, Dan Algstrand
LAYOUT TRANSLATION
Dan Algstrand Niklas Lundmark
MAPS PROOFREADING
Francesca Baerald, Niklas Brandt Brandon Bowling
RULES REVIEW DIGITAL PLATFORMS EVENT MANAGER

Jonas Ferry, Martin Takaichi Anna Westerling
Marco Behrmann,
Nils Karlén, PR MANAGER CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Kosta Kostulas Boel Bermann Daniel Lehto, Jenny Lehto
PLAYTESTERS
Marco Behrmann, Nils Karlén, Kosta Kostulas, Anna Westerling, Jonas Ferry, Fredrik Jarl, Kristoffer Sjöö,
Henric Löfqvist, Kalle Henricsson, Krister Sundelin, Andreas Ekeroot, Johan Osbjer, Niklas Fröjd,
Emma Fahlström, Olle Karlsson, Mattias Strandberg, Sara Engström, Maximilian Pukk Härenstam
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Roger Undhagen, Orvar Säfström, Fredrik Malmberg, Anders Blixt, Pelle Nilsson,
Kiku Pukk Härenstam, Stella Härenstam, Stephen Perrin, Chaosium Inc., and everyone
who contributed to this game by crowfunding it and giving feedback
Dragonbane is a registered trademark by Fria Ligan AB.

©2023 Fria Ligan AB
ISBN 978-91-89143-87-6
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 4
IN THE OLDEST TIMES COMBAT & DAMAGE

Introduction�� 5 Rounds & Initiative �� 41
Actions
& Movement �� 42
Melee Combat �� 45
CHAPTER 2 Ranged Combat�� 49
Damage�� 50
YOUR PLAYER Conditions � �� 51
Healing & Resting�� 52
CHARACTER Other Hazards�� 52
Riding Animals�� 55
Kin� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 9 Improvised
Profession� � � �� 13 Weapons�� 55
Artisan� � � � �� 14
Bard� � � � � � � � �� 15
Fighter� � � � �� 16
Hunter� � � � �� 17 CHAPTER 5
Knight� � � � � �� 18
Mage� � � � � � � �� 19 MAGIC
Mariner� � �� 20
Merchant� �� 21 Schools of Magic �� 57
Scholar � � � � �� 22 Spells �� 57
Thief� � � � � � � � �� 23 Casting Spells �� 58
Age� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 24 Learning Magic�� 61
Name� � � � � � � � � � � � �� 24 Spell List �� 61
Attributes� � � � � �� 24 General Magic �� 61
Derived Ratings�� 25 Animism�� 63
Skills � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 25 Elementalism �� 65
Heroic Abilities�� 26 Mentalism�� 69
Gear� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 27
Encumbrance�� 28
Appearance�� 28
Experience� � �� 29 CHAPTER 6
GEAR
CHAPTER 3 Armor & Helmets �� 73
Melee Weapons�� 74
SKILLS Musical Instruments�� 75
Ranged Weapons�� 75
Roll the Dice�� 31 Clothes �� 75
Boons & Banes�� 32 Trade Goods �� 76
Opposed Rolls � �� 33 Studies & Magic�� 77
The Core Skills�� 33 Light Sources �� 78
Heroic Abilities�� 35 Tools�� 78
PREFACE
Containers� � � �� 79 Sitting by a fireplace in an old house by a lake in the woods,
Medicine� � � � � � �� 79 as dusk turned to night outside, listening intently to my
Services� � � � � � � � �� 80 older brother vividly describing the fierce orcs facing me.
Means of Travel�� 81 Grabbing the strange and magical polyhedral dice, getting
Hunting & Fishing� �� 81 ready to fight – or die.
Animals� � � � � � � �� 81 That’s the earliest memory I can recollect of playing
Drakar och Demoner, a game that was synonymous with
roleplaying games for a generation of Swedish kids. It was
the summer of 1985, and little did I know what lasting
CHAPTER 7 impact that moment would have on my life.
In spite of what its name might suggest, the origins of
BESTIARY this game are found in the early Chaosium titles. Its very
first edition in 1982 was a direct translation of Magic World.
Demon� � � � � � � � � � �� 85 The game soon took a life of its own, evolving through a
Dragon� � � � � � � � � � �� 86 dozen various editions in Sweden over the decades.
Ghost� � � � � � � � � � � � �� 87 Now, returning a reimagined Drakar och Demoner to
Giant� � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 88 an international audience under the title Dragonbane, we
Giant Spider�� 89 had to ask ourselves – what is this game, really?
Goblin� � � � � � � � � � �� 90 For us, and many others in the Swedish roleplaying
Griffon� � � � � � � � � � � �� 91 community, Drakar och Demoner was a touchstone of our
Harpy � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 92 hobby and needed no definition or explanation. For the
Manticore� � � � � �� 93 rest of the roleplaying world, this game was completely
Minotaur� � � � � �� 94 unknown.
Orc � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 95 Our quest was to journey far and wide into four
Skeleton� � � � � � � � �� 96 decades of Nordic roleplaying history and find the essen-
Troll � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 97 tial elements of this game. What truly made it great. Then,
Wight � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� 98 to bring those pieces of legacy back to life and mold them
Vampiric Bats�� 99 into a new game for the 2020s, using four decades of evo-
Common Animals � �� 99 lution in game design and our own decade of creating Free
League RPGs.
The end result is a fantasy roleplaying game full of
magic, mystery, and adventure – designed from the
CHAPTER 8 ground up to facilitate fast and furious play, with very little
prep time and adventures that are a breeze to run.
ADVENTURES Though a toolbox allowing you to tell fantasy stories
of all kinds, Dragonbane is a game with room for laughs
Journeys � � � � � � � � �� 101 at the table and even a pinch of silliness at times – while at
The Gamemaster’s Role�� 104 the same time offering brutal challenges for the adventur-
Non-Player Characters�� 104 ers. We call this playstyle mirth and mayhem roleplaying
Creating Adventures � �� 107 – great for long campaigns but also perfect for a one-shot
Campaigns� � � �� 112 if you just want to have some quick fun at your table for
a night.
This is the next step in a journey that started over 40
years ago. We are thrilled to have you along for the ride.
– Tomas Härenstam, Stockholm, December 2022

IN THE OLDEST TIMES
It was in the oldest times, before the world was forests and the chasms of the mountains slum-
covered in forest and iron was tamed by dwar- ber memories from ancient eras when vicious
ven masters. Before the advent of humanity and beasts reigned.
the mastery of the bread and ale-making arts. The hostility between dragons and demons
The world was then ruled by dragons and has brought death and ruin upon their ancient
demons. Yes, draconic serpents and demonic civilizations. It seems almost like a fundamental
creatures were the princes and princesses of the law of nature – that anything created by drag-
oldest times. They were the primordial forces ons alone is corrupted by demons, and that any-
through which the world and its primeval matter thing born of demonic will is burned to ashes by
was formed: the sky, the mountains, and the fiery dragonfire.
oceans of magma and unthinking life. However, this basic and incontrovertible
They were opposing principles that made the truth also gives cause for hope, for it has created
world complete. Law and order versus chaos the conditions for other nations, where humans
and madness, the stable and fixed versus the and other races have been able to flourish and
wild and eternally fluid. go their own way.
Dragons versus demons. But the ancient guardians of order and
The most ancient records tell of a draconic destruction will never leave the world to its fate.
empire that once spanned much of the known As sure as night follows day, the time will come
world, where the emperor’s peace was upheld again when dragons and demons contend for
by cruel dragon-mounted knights. But the texts power over humanity, nature, and the eternal
also contain traces of another great power from mysteries.
a different age, governed by demon princes who
– Excerpt from Godmundag the Elder’s Impe-
shrouded the world in madness and savage rage. rial Chronicle of the Oldest Times and their
Remnants of these realms still rest in the Remnants
earth beneath our feet. In the depths of the great
elcome to the Dragonbane roleplaying game! THE GAMEMASTER

This book contains the full core rules of the The final player is the Gamemaster, or GM for short. The
game. It may seem overwhelming at first, but GM describes the world of Dragonbane to you, portrays
do not worry. The book walks you through every aspect of the people you encounter on your treasure hunts (so-
the game step by step, and you do not need to read every- called non-player characters, or NPCs) and controls the
thing before you start playing. monsters lurking in the depths.
The game is a conversation between the players and the
GM, back and forth, until a critical situation arises where
THE PLAYERS the outcome is uncertain. Then it is time to break out the
All players except one portray adventurers in the world of dice – read more about that below.
Dragonbane. These individuals are called player characters. It is the GM’s job to put obstacles in your path and
You decide what your player character thinks and feels, challenge your player characters, forcing them to show
what they do and say – but not what happens to them. It is what they are really made of. But it is not up to the GM
your job as a player to immerse yourself in your character. to decide everything that happens in the game – and
Dragonbane is best suited for three to five characters. certainly not how your story is supposed to end. That
It can be played with more or fewer players than that, but is decided in the game. It is what you are playing to
then you may have to make certain adjustments to their find out.
adventures to keep things balanced.
C H A P T E R 1 – I n the O ldest T imes
5
YOU AND OTHERS
PLAYING SOLO
Do you want to try Dragonbane on your own before
getting a group together? Or is it sometimes difficult to
Most of the rules in this game are written in the
gather your group? Then you can play Dragonbane solo, as
second person – i.e., speaking to “you.” Rules
a lone adventurer venturing into Deepfall Breach in the
that apply to you also apply to others in the
Misty Vale. You can read all about solo play in the separate
game, both player characters and NPCs (char-
booklet included in this boxed set.
acters controlled by the Gamemaster), unless
expressly stated otherwise.
PLAYING SAFELY
In Dragonbane you are largely in control of the story, and
with this comes responsibility. The player characters will
ROLLING DICE face great danger and difficult challenges, but no player
Playing Dragonbane is a conversation between the GM and should find the situations they experience unpleasant or
the players, back and forth, until a dramatic or challenging offensive. It is important that everyone around the gaming
situation arises where the outcome is uncertain. Then it is table is having fun and feeling safe.
time to roll dice. Before starting the game, talk things through and see if
Dragonbane uses different types of dice – with four, six, someone wants certain subjects to be kept out of the game.
eight, ten, twelve, and twenty sides. In the rules these dice Always respect a player who wants to pause and discuss
are referred to as D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, and D20. They are what is happening in the game, or even leave the table
all included in this boxed set. Rolling a D3 means rolling if the player so chooses. And you may also want to talk
a D6 and dividing the result by two (rounding up). If you about what happened after the game session.
need more of them, additional dice sets for Dragonbane
can be purchased in hobby stores or the Free League
webshop. WHAT IS A ROLEPLAYING GAME?
If you have made your way here without knowing what
Multiple Dice: The rules often ask you to roll multiple a roleplaying game is, congratulations! Welcome to a
dice of the same type and add the results together. For rewarding and creative hobby. Roleplaying is a unique
example, rolling 2D6 means that you roll two six-sided form of gaming that combines tabletop dice rolling with
dice and add the results. storytelling. Roleplaying games give you a set of rules and
let you create your own story with your friends in a way
Skill Rolls: To determine whether an action succeeds or that books, movies, TV, and even video games cannot.
fails, you usually roll a D20. Rolling equal to or under your If you need advice or ideas, there is a Dragonbane
skill level means that the action succeeds. If you have a forum on our website, freeleaguepublishing.com. There
boon, you roll two D20s for that action and only count the are also pages and groups dedicated to the game on
lowest result. If you have a bane, you also roll two D20s, social media.
but instead only count the highest result. Skill rolls are
explained in more detail in chapter 3.
ABBREVIATIONS
PLAYING ONLINE
STR = Strength
Dragonbane is traditionally played with the gaming group CON = Constitution
gathered around a table. But if the group finds it difficult AGL = Agility
to get together physically, it can just as easily be played INT = Intelligence
online. There are complete Dragonbane modules for WIL = Willpower
several popular virtual table platforms. You can read more CHA = Charisma
about playing online at the Free League website. HP = Hit Points
WP = Willpower Points
GM = Gamemaster
NPC = Non-Player Character
6
START PLAYING!
Adventure awaits in the world of
Dragonbane! All you need to do to get
started is the following:
1. Decide who will be the

Gamemaster.
2. Have each player create a
player character (next chapter)
or pick one of the pre-generated
player characters included in the
boxed set.
3. The GM familiarizes themselves
with this rulebook and reads the
introduction and the opening
scene in the Adventures book.
The players are welcome to read the
rules as well, but must not read the
adventure itself.
4. Let the game begin!
OPTIONAL RULES MEASURING TIME
Sidebars like this one, in green, describe Three units are used to measure time in Dragonbane.
optional rules. They give the game more depth Rounds are used in combat, while the stretch and the
and complexity, but the game works fine shift are used in other situations.
without them. You might want to start playing
UNIT
without them and add them as you become
OF TIME DURATION ENOUGH TIME TO
more familiar with the game.
Round 10 seconds Perform an action in combat,
take a round rest (page 52).
Stretch 15 minutes Explore a room, take a
stretch rest (page 52).
Shift 6 hours Hike for 15 kilometers, take a
shift rest (page 52).
7
YOUR PLAYER
CHARACTER
he adventurer you play in Dragonbane is called CREATING YOUR CHARACTER
your player character. They are your avatar, your
eyes and ears in the game world. Take your charac-
This chapter explains in detail how to create
ter seriously and portray them as if they were a real person.
your player character. The summary below
Try to truly put yourself in the character’s shoes. It will be
gives you an overview of the process. Grab
more fun that way. At the same time, you should not try
a character sheet and a pencil and follow
to protect your character from all danger. The purpose of
these steps:
the game is to create an exciting story – to achieve this you
will have to take risks.
1. Choose or roll your kin.
Over the course of the game your player character will
2. Note your innate ability.
change and grow. Their skills can be improved through
3. Choose or roll your profession.
experience, but you may also see their personality evolve
4. Choose or roll your age.
in ways that cannot be measured in numbers. That is when
5. Choose or roll your name.
your character really comes to life.
6. Roll your attributes.
7. Calculate your derived ratings.
Character Sheet: To create your player character you
8. Choose your trained skills.
need a character sheet. There are several empty sheets in
9. Note your heroic ability.
the boxed set, and they can also be downloaded from the
10. Choose or roll your weakness (optional).
Free League website.
11. Choose or roll your gear.
12. Choose or roll your memento (optional).
13. Choose or roll your appearance.
PRE-GENERATED CHARACTERS
In the boxed set you will find six pre-generated player
characters with filled-in character sheets. You can use
them to get started right away, or simply as inspiration
when creating your own player characters.
KIN
There are six playable kin in Dragonbane: human, halfling, Innate Ability: Each kin has an innate ability that no
dwarf, elf, mallard, and wolfkin. Humans are the most other kin can learn (mallards have two). In most cases,
common kin, but you are free to choose any of them. You using such abilities requires Willpower Points (WP). Write
can also roll your kin using the table below. All kin are down your innate ability in the Abilities & Spells section
briefly described below. on your character sheet.
D12 KIN
LANGUAGE
1–4 Human
All player characters in Dragonbane can speak, read, and
5–7 Halfling write a common language, which for simplicity’s sake
8–9 Dwarf is called the common tongue. Most creatures the player
characters encounter know this language, but there may
10 Elf be exceptions. Non-human kin often have their own lan-
11 Mallard guages that few humans understand. To understand other
languages, the LANGUAGES skill is used.
12 Wolfkin
C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter
9
HUMAN D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME
Humans are the last-born. The other kin have songs and 1 Joruna 4 Garmander
legends about times before the dawn of humanity. Today
the humans have spread across much of the known world. 2 Tym 5 Verolun
Many are peasants living in little villages clustered around 3 Halvelda 6 Lothar
castles and palaces. Others are warriors sworn to protect
the peasants and their vulnerable settlements, markets,
and trade caravans from the dangers of the world. Still ABILITY: ADAPTIVE
more are adventurers: fearless humans who venture into
the unknown in search of glory, gold, and knowledge.
✦ Willpower Points: 3
When rolling for a skill, you can choose to make
the roll using another skill of your choice. You
must be able to justify how you use the selected
skill instead of the normal one. The GM has the
final word, but should be lenient.
10
HALFLING DWARF
Halflings are short humanoids often found in hilly Dwarves are the oldest of the elder folk, at least according
farmlands where they live in earthen dwellings with well- to their own chroniclers. They are an immensely proud
stocked larders. They are modest and amiable by nature, and traditional people whose culture is steeped in ancient
with a natural affinity for hearth and home. Halflings customs and grandiose ballads of heroic ancestors.
are neither warlike nor ambitious, but highly drawn to Dwarves feel a strong connection with the bedrock and
epic tales and beautiful songs from days long gone. From the roots of the world. They are skilled blacksmiths and
time to time, this desire can lead them to leave the safety artisans, admired for their ability to craft wondrous items
of their homes in search of grand adventures. Because of precious metal, as well as of iron and stone. Dwarves
of their vulnerability and fear of “the tall ones,” they are are also known as fierce warriors armed with axes, war
good at staying hidden and quickly getting out of critical hammers, and other heavy melee weapons forged in their
situations. underground smithies.
D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME
1 Snappy 4 Bumble 1 Tinderrock 4 Traut

2 Brine 5 Perrywick 2 Halwyld 5 Urd
3 Cottar 6 Theoline 3 Tymolana 6 Fermer
ABILITY: HARD TO CATCH ABILITY: UNFORGIVING
✦ Willpower Points: 3 ✦ Willpower Points: 3

You can activate this ability when dodging an You can activate this ability when attacking
attack, getting a boon to the EVADE roll. someone who harmed you in the past (at least
1 point of damage) and get a boon to the roll. It
does not matter when the damage was inflicted.
It may be wise to write down the names of every-
one who harms you, so you do not forget them.
11
MALLARD
The origin of the mallards is shrouded in mystery. Some
scholars claim that they came from a mighty island realm
that was swallowed by the sea thousands of years ago;
others believe them to be the result of a failed magical
experiment. Whatever the truth may be, these feathered
humanoids are a common sight in the world. They have
a knack for trade, and their agitated quacking is often
an integral part of the soundscape around marketplaces
and trade caravans. However, some mallards seek their
fortunes as brigands, pirates, or mercenaries. Despite their
ELF diminutive size, they are fierce in battle and feared by
Elves are an ancient kin that for eons have watched over many for their murderous rage.
the forests of the world. They are guided by the stars
which they regard as divine beings capable of peering D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME
into the deepest mysteries. Elven culture is meditatively 1 Qwucksum 4 Groddy
introverted and sometimes difficult for outsiders to
understand. However, it is clear that they are driven by 2 Splats 5 Blisandina
other, more metaphysical concerns than the lust for gold 3 Moggee 6 Hackleswell
and glory often found in dwarves and humans. Nonethe-
less, their kin includes many powerful warriors, widely
respected and praised by the bards for their skill with ABILITY: ILL-TEMPERED
both sword and bow.
D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME
Mallards tend to have a choleric temper. You can
1 Arasin 4 Tyrindelia activate this ability (no action) when making
a skill roll and get a boon to the roll. You also
2 Illyriana 5 Erwilnor
become Angry, if you’re not already. This ability
3 Galvander 6 Andremone cannot be used for rolls against INT or INT-
based skills.
ABILITY: INNER PEACE
✦ Willpower Points: — ABILITY: WEBBED FEET

As an elf, you can meditate deeply during a
stretch rest. You heal an additional D6 HP and a ✦ Willpower Points: —
D6 extra WP, and can recover from an additional As a mallard you also get a boon to all SWIM-
condition. You are completely unresponsive MING rolls. You always move at full speed in or
during your meditation and cannot be awakened. under water.
WOLFKIN
Wolfkin are the untamed fury of the wilds. They may
be highly intelligent creatures, and like the elves, they
have an unfailing tendency to sink into thought,
pondering the mysteries of the universe. But
simmering under the surface are ancient hunting
instincts and an unquenchable anger over past
wrongs committed against wolfkin, wolves, and the wil-
derness in general. As hunters and pathfinders they are
second to none, but wolfkin can also be found as heavily
armed mercenaries, or mystics and healers in human
settlements.
D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME
1 Wyld 4 Obdurian
2 Wolfshadow 5 Frostbite
3 Lunariem 6 Wuldenhall
ABILITY: HUNTING INSTINCTS
You can use this ability to designate a creature
in sight, or a creature you can catch the scent of,
as your prey. This counts as an action in combat.
You can follow the scent of your prey for a full day,
and you can spend 1 further WP (not an action) to
gain a boon for an attack against your prey.
PROFESSION
The next step is to select a profession for your character. D10 PROFESSION D10 PROFESSION
All the player characters are adventurers, but you have 1 Artisan 6 Mage
learned a thing or two before the game begins. Your
choice of profession will determine much about your 2 Bard 7 Mariner
character, mainly your skills – six of your trained starting 3 Fighter 8 Merchant
skills (page 25) must be chosen from those listed for
your profession. Your profession also determines what 4 Hunter 9 Scholar
gear you start out with and which heroic ability you get. 5 Knight 10 Thief
There are ten professions to choose from, all described on
the following pages. You are free to select a profession or
roll for one randomly using the table to the right.
13
ARTISAN
“Now this may sound a bit
pretentious, but whatever
you’re making, you must
be able to imagine the
finished thing, and then
make it real. That’s the
whole of it, really. Well,
tools are important too.
Good tools.”
– Bore Tvartoff
With a decent hammer, a trowel, and mortar, a skilled D6 GEAR

artisan can astonish even the gods. They are proud 1–2 Warhammer (small), leather armor, black-
individuals, these tamers of nature and physical matter. smith’s tools, torch, flint & tinder, D8 food
Whether they be builders, bricklayers, wainwrights, rations, D8 silver
blacksmiths, tanners, or coopers, the artisans are driven
by a solemn mission to bring order and structure out of 3–4 Handaxe, leather armor, carpentry tools, torch,
chaos. They construct bridges, houses, and fortifications, rope (hemp), flint & tinder, D8 food rations,
forge weapons and tools, mold pots and jugs, make D8 silver
barrels, and craft leather armor from tanned animal hides. 5–6 Knife, leather armor, tanner’s tools, lantern,
Every village needs capable artisans, and they are often lamp oil, flint & tinder, D8 food rations, D8 silver
greatly respected for their practical and extremely useful
expertise.
D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME
✦ Key Attribute: STR 1 Stonehammer 4 Barrelmaker
✦ Skills: Axes, Brawling, Crafting, Hammers, Knives,
Sleight of Hand, Spot Hidden, Swords 2 Woodcleaver 5 Bridgebuilder
✦ Heroic Ability: Master Blacksmith, Master Carpenter 3 Strongfist 6 Ironmaster
or Master Tanner
14
BARD
“A few off-key notes, a couple of lost words,
or a troll-sneeze that sprays over the audience –
it doesn’t matter. To captivate an audience, all you
truly need is charisma, that you shine like a
mid-summer sun. Like me!”
– Malva Sneezeweed
The memory of ancient deeds and riches is kept alive by D6 GEAR

the bards. They are singers, musicians, and entertainers. 1–2 Lyre, knife, oil lamp, lamp oil, flint & tinder, D6
Many travel between inns and marketplaces where they food rations, D8 silver
earn their keep through the telling of ballads and fairy
tales; others perform at princely courts, reciting glorious 3–4 Flute, dagger, rope (hemp), torch, flint & tinder,
poems of dragons and heroic kings. Many bards see them- D6 food rations, D8 silver
selves as chroniclers responsible for preserving contempo- 5–6 Horn, knife, torch, flint & tinder, D6 food rations,
rary deeds in the memory of future generations. They are D8 silver
always on the lookout for people and achievements worthy
of being immortalized in epic verse, and any bard worth
their salt is always working on at least a few masterpieces D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME
of song, music, or poetry.
1 Odemaker 4 Gildenclef
✦ Key Attribute: CHA 2 Talespinner 5 Honeytongue

✦ Skills: Acrobatics, Bluffing, Evade, Knives, Languages, 3 Silvervoice 6 Rhymesmith
Myths & Legends, Performance, Persuasion
✦ Heroic Ability: Musician
15
FIGHTER
“Uh, well, of course a
warrior must be able to kill
things. Creatures and monsters
and such. Being able to avoid
getting killed is also good.
Then... well, there are dif-
ferent weapons, different
techniques and... Anyway,
the basis is simple: kill, and
avoid dying.”
– Norde from Boar Ridge
Fighters earn their living by following the way of the sword. D6 GEAR
It may of course also be the way of the spear or crossbow, 1–2 Broadsword/battle axe/morning star, small
but a fighter’s specialty is always weapon proficiency and shield, chainmail, torch, flint & tinder, D6 food
violence. But this is not to say that all fighters are driven rations, D6 silver
by bloodlust. For some it is a matter of professional pride
to achieve the maximum effect with minimal bloodshed; 3–4 Short sword/handaxe/short spear, light cross-
others are lazy and prefer saber-rattling to actual combat. bow, quiver, leather armor, torch, flint & tinder,
Many fighters are troubled souls, haunted by nightmares D6 food rations, D6 silver
and bad memories of a life spent in the company of death. 5–6 Long spear, studded leather armor, open helmet,
They can therefore be surprisingly sentimental, prone to torch, flint & tinder, D6 food rations, D6 silver
tears and compassionate embraces.
✦ Key Attribute: STR D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME

✦ Skills: Axes, Bows, Brawling, Crossbows, Evade, 1 Gravemaker 4 Coldsteel
Hammers, Spears, Swords
✦ Heroic Ability: Veteran 2 Grimjaw 5 The Fearless
3 Windthaw 6 The Butcher
16
HUNTER
“What is not needed to become a skilled
hunter? Agility, stealth? Accuracy
with the bow, cunning with the snares?
Knowledge of the hunting ground and
prey? Sure, you can do without nice
manners and fancy talk, but who cares
about such nonsense?”
– Ciliel Nightlake
Snaring hares, knifing boars, and silently stalking deer in D6 GEAR

the depths of the forest with arrows on their bowstrings. 1–2 Dagger, short bow, quiver, leather armor, sleep-
Hunters live for the hunt and the catch. Killing one’s prey ing pelt, torch, flint & tinder, rope (hemp), snare,
in a respectful manner and making use of all its parts – for D8 food rations, D6 silver
food, clothes, tools, and weapons – is a sacred calling for
all true hunters. Their home and destiny are in the wilds; 3–4 Knife, longbow, quiver, leather armor, sleeping
the magnificent, untamed, and cruel. That is where they pelt, torch, flint & tinder, rope (hemp), fishing
find peace of mind and gather their strength. That is where rod, D8 food rations, D6 silver
their ruthless gods dwell. Many hunters are therefore quite 5–6 Dagger, sling, traps, leather armor, sleeping
solitary and sometimes find it difficult to behave properly pelt, torch, flint & tinder, rope (hemp), snare,
among people. D8 food rations, D6 silver
✦ Key Attribute: AGL

✦ Skills: Acrobatics, Awareness, Bows, Bushcraft, D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME
Hunting & Fishing, Knives, Slings, Sneaking 1 Forest Fox 4 The Weathered
✦ Heroic Ability: Companion
2 Wolfbane 5 Bloodhunger
3 Pathfinder 6 Shadowbolt
17
KNIGHT
“First, you must believe in
something. Then you must
be prepared to fight and die
for this something. Finally,
you need to study, train, and
practice until you reach the
heights of a worthy champion.
After that, you are ready to…
obey and serve.”
– Gloriel Sunstreak
Knights are warriors who have sworn fealty to a higher D6 GEAR

power, such as an order of knights, a liege lord, or a god. 1–2 Broadsword/morning star, shield (small), plate
This oath of fealty lies at the heart of their worldview and armor, great helm, torch, flint & tinder, D6 food
existence. It always includes rules and principles the knight rations, D12 silver
must obey in thought and deed. Demands for chivalry
and a noble mind are often combined with an implacable 3–4 Flail/warhammer (small), shield (small), chain-
hatred for anything deemed contrary to the spirit of the mail, open helmet, torch, flint & tinder, D6 food
oath. Many knights are part of an order, but there are also rations, D12 silver
lone knights who have devoted their lives to defending 5–6 Short sword, lance, shield (small), chainmail,
something specific – perhaps a person or a place – that open helmet, combat trained horse, D6 food
gives their lives a higher purpose. rations, D12 silver
✦ Key Attribute: STR

✦ Skills: Beast Lore, Hammers, Myths & Legends, Per- D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME
formance, Persuasion, Riding, Spears, Swords 1 Dragonheart 4 The Noble
✦ Heroic Ability: Guardian
2 Goldlance 5 Gleamhelm
3 Griffinclaw 6 Mourningcloak
18
MAGE
“Forget it, just forget it – if you must ask what
it takes to master the secrets of magic, you
don’t have it. Or, you can possibly learn to chat
with animals or peep on faraway things, but
real magic, the magic of the elements... Never!”
– Cyril Firemane
Mages have learned to control the ancient forces that

permeate nature and the primordial structures of the
world. It is not a uniform profession, but includes
a motley crew of individualists and headstrong
eccentrics. There are several schools of magic with
different views of what magic is and how it works.
In the core game you can choose between Ani-
mism, Elementalism, and Mentalism. Animists
believe that everything in the world has a
spiritual presence and see magic as a power
lent by nature’s spirits. Elementalists describe
magic in terms of four elements that consti-
tute the essence of all things. Mentalists say that
magic comes from within, and that it can be
manifested through self-control and discipline.
✦ Key Attribute: WIL

✦ Animist Skills: Animism, Beast Lore, Bushcraft,
Evade, Healing, Hunting & Fishing, Sneaking, Staves
✦ Elementalist Skills: Elementalism, Awareness,
Evade, Healing, Languages, Myths & Legends, Spot
Hidden, Staves
✦ Mentalist Skills: Mentalism, Acrobatics, A wareness,
Brawling, Evade, Healing, Languages, Myths & Legends
✦ Heroic Ability: As a mage, you don’t get a starting
heroic ability. Instead, you get your magic. D6 GEAR
1–2 Staff, orbuculum, grimoire, torch, flint & tinder,

D6 food rations, D8 silver
MAGIC
3–4 Knife, wand, grimoire, torch, flint & tinder,
D6 food rations, D8 silver
As a mage you can use magic. You must select a
school of magic – either Animism, Elementalism, 5–6 Amulet, grimoire, sleeping pelt, torch, flint &
or Mentalism – which then becomes one of your tinder, D6 food rations, D8 silver
trained skills. As a newly created mage you may
choose three rank 1 spells and three magic tricks.
You can only choose spells from your school or
from the general magic category. You also get 1 Rootheart 4 Stormhand
a grimoire where all your spells are listed. For
2 Crookback 5 Stafflimper
more on magic, see chapter 5.
3 Graycape 6 Shadowbringer
19
MARINER
“You don’t become a sailor, you

are born one. If you feel the
bedrock sway where you walk, you
know you belong out on the waves.
Is there anything sadder than seeing
a born mariner wobble around on
solid ground?”
– Friga Seawife
Foaming waves and ships sailing fearlessly through dark D6 GEAR

waters are the domain and calling of the mariner. Some 1–2 Dagger, short bow, rope (hemp), grappling
seafarers are forever sworn to the high seas; others stick to hook, sleeping pelt, torch, flint & tinder, D8 food
rivers and lakes. But all of them have one thing in common: rations, D10 silver
a symbiotic relationship with the element of water – often a
specific lake, river, or bay. This relationship is always com- 3–4 Scimitar, leather armor, rope (hemp), grappling
plicated, based on love, respect, and mortal dread in equal hook, torch, flint & tinder, D8 food rations,
measure. Otherwise, the seafaring profession is wide and D10 silver
varied, covering everything from coastal pirates, privateers, 5–6 Trident, spyglass, rope (hemp), grappling hook,
and surly ferrymen to whalers, explorers, and authoritative torch, flint & tinder, D8 food rations, D10 silver
captains of maritime trade expeditions.
✦ Key Attribute: AGL D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME

✦ Skills: Acrobatics, Awareness, Hunting & Fishing, 1 Whitewater 4 Saltsplash
Knives, Languages, Seamanship, Swimming, Swords
✦ Heroic Ability: Sea Legs 2 Waverider 5 Seadog
3 Foamborn 6 Stormfarer
20
MERCHANT
“Yes, many believe that tradecraft is about selling this
and that, but its factual fundament is spelled ‘the
principle of growth’ – turning what you have into
more. If you have understood this, not much else
is needed to succeed as a merchant.”
– Buldil Hale
Buying cheap and selling dear is the golden rule of D6 GEAR

merchants. No commodity is too commonplace, no deal 1–2 Dagger, sleeping pelt, torch, flint & tinder, rope
too small or insignificant. Inside every piece of copper is (hemp), donkey, D6 food rations, D12 silver
a future gold coin, and inside every creature – living or
undead – is a customer with needs and dreams of luxury. 3–4 Knife, sleeping pelt, lantern, lamp oil, flint &
The only thing more important than the customer’s wishes tinder, field kitchen, donkey, cart, D6 food
is the sweet clatter of gold and silver pouring into the rations, D12 silver
coffers. Some merchants run permanent shops in towns, 5–6 Dagger, sleeping pelt, large tent, oil lamp, lamp
villages, and other settlements. Others travel with trade oil, flint & tinder, backpack, D6 food rations,
caravans and adventuring companies in constant search D12 silver
of exotic luxury goods, new customers, and marketable
artifacts.
✦ Key Attribute: CHA 1 Silvergrin 4 The Lisping and Truthful
✦ Skills: Awareness, Bartering, Bluffing, Evade, Knives,
Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, Spot Hidden 2 Goldtooth 5 Lardbelly
✦ Heroic Ability: Treasure Hunter 3 Silktongue 6 Skinflint
21
SCHOLAR
“You can talk about education, genius, and
matter-of-factness all you want, but the scholar
is never better than their sources. If you want to
become learned, it’s not enough to sit
and brood in some dusty tower
room – you have to go out,
into the world, to where the
sources nest!”
– Quasimo Dearfeather
Scholarly individuals gather knowledge about nature D6 GEAR

and the shrouded history of the world. They seek the 1–2 Staff, notebook, quill, sleeping pelt, torch, flint &
truth in order to understand the unseen forces and deep tinder, D6 food rations, D10 silver
structures that hold the universe together as a single
entity. Some are specialists with specific areas of exper- 3–4 Knife, book (any subject), sleeping pelt, oil
tise, such as monsters, plants, or dead languages. Others lamp, lamp oil, flint & tinder, D6 food rations,
pride themselves in avoiding limitations and dedicating D10 silver
themselves to an all-encompassing, non-discriminatory 5–6 Short sword, bandages, sleeping poison (one
pursuit of knowledge where the mating calls of dragons, dose), sleeping pelt, lantern, lamp oil, flint &
the foaming of beer, and the inner workings of minerals tinder, D6 food rations, D10 silver
are all covered by the same academic system. Scholars
are often well-versed in myths, legends, and folklore, and
have learned to decipher ancient languages and forgotten D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME
scripts. 1 Clearmind 4 The Lettered
✦ Key Attribute: INT 2 Dustlung 5 The All-Knowing

✦ Skills: Awareness, Beast Lore, Bushcraft, Evade, 3 Farsight 6 The Plump and Learned
Healing, Languages, Myths & Legends, Spot Hidden
✦ Heroic Ability: Intuition
22
THIEF
“I’d say that there are many kinds of thieves – b urglars,
pickpockets, charlatans, highwaymen, pirates, and
so on. The only thing we have in common is probably
a particular view of ownership. I mean, this
‘yours-and-mine’-thing…”
– Viola Raveneye
Thieves see themselves as professional experts specialized D6 GEAR

in the acquisition of other people’s property. It is a proud 1–2 Dagger, sling, rope (hemp), grappling hook,
and surprisingly principled profession. They like to torch, flint & tinder, D6 food rations, D10 silver
refer to solemn principles of honor and honesty among
thieves – something that is often hard to take seriously for 3–4 Knife, lockpicks (simple), torch, flint & tinder,
theft victims and other outsiders. Many thieves organize D6 food rations, D10 silver
themselves into guilds; others take pride in working inde- 5–6 Two daggers, marbles, rope (hemp), torch, flint
pendently and walk alone through the night and the shad- & tinder, D6 food rations, D10 silver
ows. Some are discreet specialists whose only method is
guile, but the thief profession also includes brutal brigands
who do not hesitate to use weapons to achieve their ends. D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME
1 Halffinger 4 Quickfoot
✦ Key Attribute: AGL
✦ Skills: Acrobatics, Awareness, Bluffing, Evade, Knives, 2 Blackrat 5 Doubletongue
Sleight of Hand, Sneaking, Spot Hidden 3 Redeye 6 Nightstabber
✦ Heroic Ability: Backstabbing
23
AGE NAME
The next step is choosing your age. Many adventurers leave Once you have chosen your kin and profession it is time to
their village at a young age, but sometimes older individ- name your adventurer. Each kin has a list of six names that
uals are forced out to hunt for treasure among the ruins. are typical for that kin. Choose or roll one of these names,
Age is divided into three categories: young, adult, and old. or make up your own if you prefer.
You choose your age freely or let the die decide.
Older age means that you start the game with lower Nicknames: A common custom for adventurers is to take
attributes but higher skill ratings – see the table below. a nickname, often one that says something about your
Modifications to the attributes below do not stack. Your appearance, your personality, or your personal history.
age in years depends on your kin and has no mechanical You can choose a nickname at the start of the game or add
significance. one later if you prefer. A number of typical nicknames are
listed by your profession.
EFFECTS OF AGE
D6 AGE TRAINED SKILLS* ATTRIBUTES†
1–3 Young 6+2 AGL and CON +1
4–5 Adult 6+4 —

6 Old 6+6 STR, AGL, and CON –2, INT and WIL +1
* Six trained skills must be selected from your profession, the rest may be chosen freely. † Up to a maximum of 18.
ATTRIBUTES
Your adventurer has six base attributes that indicate your five more times until you have assigned a score to each
basic physical and mental capabilities, on a scale from 3 to attribute. You must assign each score as you roll them, but
18. The higher the score, the better. once done you may swap two scores.
Then you adjust your attributes based on your age.
Starting Scores: Roll 4D6 and remove the worst die, Note that you can never have more than 18 in an attribute,
which gives you a score between 3 and 18. Assign that regardless of your age. Once assigned, your attributes
score to an attribute of your choice. Repeat this process rarely change during the game.
Strength (STR): Raw muscle power.

OTHER METHODS
Constitution (CON): Physical fitness and resilience.
There are many other ways to determine the
Agility (AGL): Body control, speed, and fine motor skills.
player characters’ attributes, such as rolling
for all of them and then distributing the results
Intelligence (INT): Mental acuity, intellect, and reason-
afterwards or adding up the rolls into a big pool
and distributing the points freely. As long as you
ing skills.
all agree in the group, you can use any method
Willpower (WIL): Self-discipline and focus.
you prefer
Charisma (CHA): Force of personality and empathy.
24
DERIVED RATINGS
Based on your attributes, you have a number of derived DAMAGE BONUS
ratings that are used in various ways. Your damage bonus increases the damage inflicted by your
attacks. You have two separate damage bonuses – one for
STR-based weapons and one for AGL-based weapons.
MOVEMENT
This rating determines how many meters you can run in a STR/AGL DAMAGE BONUS
round of combat (page 43). It is based on your kin, then
≤12 —
modified by your AGL.
13–16 +D4
KIN MOVEMENT
17+ +D6
Human 10
Halfling 8
HIT POINTS (HP)
Dwarf 8
This rating determines how much damage you can take.
Elf 10 Your maximum number of HP is equal to your CON, but
Mallard 8 can be increased by the heroic ability Robust. For more
information about damage, see chapter 4.
Wolfkin 12
AGL 1–6 –4
WILLPOWER POINTS (WP)
AGL 7–9 –2 Willpower Points are used for magic, as well as innate and
AGL 13–15 +2 heroic abilities. Your maximum number of WP is equal
to your WIL, but can be increased by the heroic ability
AGL 16–18 +4
Focused.
SKILLS
Skills represent knowledge and abilities you have acquired ATTRIBUTE BASE CHANCE
during (or prior to) your life as an adventurer. They are
1–5 3
important, as they determine how effectively you can per-
form certain actions in the game. There are thirty core skills 6–8 4
in the base game, and they are all described in detail in the
9–12 5
next chapter. Your skills are measured by skill level on a scale
from 1 to 18. The higher, the better. 13–15 6
16–18 7
Base Chance: Every skill is connected to an attribute,
which determines your base chance in that skill. This is
indicated on the character sheet and in chapter 3. The base those listed by your profession. The rest (two, four, or six
chance is a “free” skill level that you get automatically. See depending on your age) are chosen freely. You can increase
the table to the right. your skill levels during the game.
Starting Skill Levels: In addition to the base chances, Secondary Skills: Beyond the core skills there are second-
you start out with a number of trained skills – eight, ten, ary skills, such as the schools of magic. In this base game,
or twelve depending on your age. At the start of the game, you don’t get a base chance in any secondary skills, but
your level in a trained skills is equal to twice the base future expansions and supplements may modify this.
chance. Six of your trained skills must be selected from
25
MAGIC
Magic is divided into different schools, and each You may choose three rank 1 spells and three magic
school is a separate skill. As a newly created mage tricks from your school or general magic (page 57).
you must select a school of magic, which then You can learn more spells, and schools of magic,
becomes one of your trained skills (based on INT). during the game. For more on magic, see chapter 5.
HEROIC ABILITIES
Heroic abilities are special abilities that give you specific Mages: If you play a mage, you don’t get any heroic ability
advantages and benefits in the game. You will find a range at the start of the game – your magic will make up for that
of heroic abilities described in the next chapter, and more disadvantage! You can earn new heroic abilities during
can be added in future supplements. play just like other professions, however.
You start the game with one heroic ability, determined
by your profession. You can gain new heroic abilities
during play (page 29). Note that some heroic abilities ALTERNATIVE ABILITIES
require a minimum skill level. Such requirements don’t
apply to your starting heroic ability. If you feel that that the heroic ability listed by
your profession really doesn’t match the char-
acter you want to create, the GM may allow
WEAKNESS you to choose a different starting ability.
Your character is a capable individual risking

their life and limb for honor, gold, or adventure.
Yet even an adventurer has a weakness, an
Achilles heel that can get you into trouble. D20 WEAKNESS
You can roll or choose from the table below or
choose your weakness freely. 9 Gluttonous. I take every chance I get to eat
Your weakness adds depth and personality to something tasty.
your character and can also be used by the GM to 10 Kleptomaniac. I can’t stop myself from stealing
create challenges for them. Roleplaying accord- valuables.
ing to your weakness gives you an extra advance-
11 Vain. I’ll help anyone who gives me praise or
ment mark at the end of the session (page 29).
compliments.
12 Reckless. I always take big risks without
thought of the consequences.
13 Fearful of Magic. Magic is an evil force and
D20 WEAKNESS
mages cannot be trusted.
1 Gullible. I believe everything that others tell me.
14 Craving Knowledge. The hunt for knowledge is
2 Greedy. I want a bigger share of all treasure. more important than my friends.
3 Thin-skinned. I never tolerate a provocation. 15 Child of the Wild. I never sleep indoors.
4 Foolhardy. I always go first into danger. 16 Boastful. I always exaggerate my
5 Fainthearted. I always stay at the back of accomplishments.
the group. 17 Violent. I resort to violence to overcome every
6 Monster Slayer. All monsters are evil and obstacle.
must be slain. 18 Overbearing. I always tell others what to do.
7 Intolerant. Nightkin such as orcs and goblins are 19 Cynic. I always think things will turn out for
evil and need to be fought. the worst.
8 Slothful. I take every chance to rest. 20 Haughty. I look down on everyone I meet.
26
GEAR
When going on adventures you need the right gear. You Starting Gear: Your profession determines what gear
must write down all the items you are carrying on your you can choose from at the start of the game. You may roll
character sheet. Any weapons at hand, as well as the or select one of the three sets of items listed by your pro-
armor, helmet, and shield you are wearing, are listed in fession. If you want to, you may go back and adjust your
the respective boxes, while other items are recorded under trained skills to fit your gear. You can also have a memento
Inventory. (below). In addition, you have simple clothes which do not
Write down one item per row. If it is not listed on your need to be written down.
sheet, you do not have it with you. Lists of weapons and
other equipment are found on pages 73–81. MEMENTO
In addition to your other equipment, you can

COINS have a memento – an item of great sentimental
value that you always carry with you. Choose
Monetary transactions are generally made with something suitable or roll on the table below.
silver coins. Copper coins are used for smaller A memento is always a tiny item with no
transactions and gold for larger ones. Ten copper practical use, but once per gaming session you
coins equal one silver, and ten silver coins equal can use your memento to recover an additional
one gold. The coins you get when creating your condition during a stretch rest (page 52).
character can be used to purchase additional If you lose your memento, you may choose
starting gear. a new item that you have found on your adven-
tures, at the end of the gaming session.
D20 MEMENTO D20 MEMENTO
1 Your trusty old shoes 11 A fang taken as a trophy from a beast

2 A simple silver medallion 12 A couple of simple dice made of bone
3 A letter from an old friend or relative 13 A locket containing a lock of hair
4 A ragged old journal 14 An ornate key
5 A bracelet passed down in your family 15 A hand-drawn map you inherited
6 A wooden figurine you got as a child 16 A ring with an inscription
7 A strangely shaped stone 17 A bone whistle
8 A copper coin from a treasure sought by your 18 Your mother’s or father’s ragged old hat
mother or father
19 A griffin feather
9 An old pewter tankard
20 A beautifully carved pipe
10 A horn taken as a trophy from a monster
27
ENCUMBRANCE
You can carry a number of items equal to half your STR HEAVY ITEMS
(rounded up) in your Inventory without difficulty. Only Really heavy items count as two, three, or even more
the items written down in your Inventory box count normal items in terms of encumbrance. These will be
towards your encumbrance. indicated as having weight 2, 3, 4, and so on. In your
inventory, heavy items take up a number of rows equal to
Weapons at Hand: You can have up to three weapons their weight. If no weight is specified, it is always 1.
at hand, which means that they are worn on your belt or
otherwise readily available for use in combat. Weapons
kept at hand are recorded under Weapons on the character TINY ITEMS
sheet and do not count toward your encumbrance. Shields Small and light items that can be hidden in a closed fist
count as weapons and are also recorded here. are called tiny. Items of this size do not affect your encum-
brance at all. Tiny items are recorded in their own section
Helmet & Armor: Any helmet or armor worn on your on the character sheet and do not take up any space in
body is recorded in its respective section and does not your Inventory.
count toward your encumbrance.
Coins: Single coins count as tiny items and do not affect
Food: Up to four rations of food count as one item in your encumbrance as long as they are fewer than 100. 100–
terms of encumbrance. Always record the number of 199 coins count as one item, 200–299 as two, and so on.
rations you have left in your Inventory.
Torches & Lanterns: A torch, lamp, or lantern is an item. OVER-ENCUMBERED

Their fire may go out (page 52). Lamps and lanterns can You can temporarily carry more than your normal encum-
be refilled with lamp oil. brance limit. In that case you must make a STR roll when-
ever you want to move in a round of combat or walk for a
Arrows & Slingstones: You do not have to count every shift of travel. If the roll fails, you must either drop what
arrow you are carrying. Instead, each quiver of arrows you are carrying or stay where you are.
counts as a single item. As long as you have the quiver, you
can use your weapon. Slingstones do not need to be noted Carrying Others: While carrying another person, you
down at all – you are assumed to have enough of those. automatically count as over-encumbered and cannot fight
in combat.
Backpack: A backpack increases your carrying capacity
by 2. It does not count toward your encumbrance, but you
can only carry one backpack at a time. RIDING ANIMALS & VEHICLES
If you have a horse or some other riding animal, the
animal can carry your gear for you. Wagons and boats can
carry even heavier loads. You can find them in the gear
lists on page 81.
APPEARANCE
On the character sheet you can write down something
about your player character’s appearance. It does not have
to be a detailed description – one or a few distinct features
is enough. Choose for yourself or make one or more rolls
on the table on the next page.
28
D20 APPEARANCE D20 APPEARANCE D20 APPEARANCE
1 Ugly scar across your cheek 8 Abnormal amounts of body 15 Honest blue eyes
hair (depending on kin)
2 Strange headgear 16 Silver tooth
9 Balding (depending on kin)
3 Abnormally pale and pasty 17 Heavily perfumed
10 Prominent tattoo
4 A constant smile on your lips 18 Different-colored eyes
11 Foul body odor
5 Icy, penetrating gaze 19 Hissing voice
12 Glorious hairstyle
6 A bit of extra weight around 20 Weathered face
the middle 13 Limp
7 Thin and wiry 14 Filthy
EXPERIENCE
Life as an adventurer brings many challenges, and if you Magic: A school of magic that you already know can be
survive you are sure to change and maybe even learn a improved like any other skill. However, learning new spells
thing or two along the way. and new schools of magic requires special training. For
more information, see chapter 5.
Advancement Marks: When you have rolled a dragon or
demon (page 31) when using a skill, tick the check box Heroic Abilities: You can earn new heroic abilities during
next to that skill. At the end of the game session, the GM play in two ways:
asks you the following questions about the session you just
completed. For each question that you can reply “yes” to, and ✦ When you increase a skill level to 18, you immediately
justify your answer, you may place another advancement gain a new heroic ability of your choice.
mark next to an unmarked skill of your choice. The GM has ✦ After a grand heroic deed, the GM or the adventure
the final word, but should adopt a permissive attitude. can reward you with a heroic ability. This should be a
rare event, never more than once per standard-length
✦ Did you participate in the game session? adventure.
✦ Did you explore a new location?
✦ Did you defeat one or more dangerous adversaries? To earn a new heroic ability, you must meet its skill
✦ Did you overcome an obstacle without using force? requirement.
✦ Did you give in to your weakness (optional rule)?
Advancement Rolls: After placing your marks, roll a D20 OVERCOME WEAKNESS
for each of them – if the result exceeds your current skill
level, it is increased by one, up to a maximum of 18. Once
If you during the session acted in a way that
you have made your advancement rolls, erase the marks
clearly goes against your weakness, you get
and start over in the next game session.
two advancement marks (instead of one mark
for giving into it). You have now also overcome
Teacher: A shift of intense training with a teacher whose
your weakness and must remove it. You must
skill level is 15 or higher and exceeds your own gives you
then play a full session without a weakness.
an additional advancement roll to improve the skill in
After that, you may choose a new weakness,
question. Make the roll immediately, without waiting for
preferably based on something that has
the session to end. However, a teacher can only raise a skill
occured in the game.
level by one – after that you must improve the skill through
experience before you can get more help from a teacher.
Teachers, especially those with high skill levels, are usually
very expensive.
29
SKILLS
roleplaying game is a conversation. The Game conflict that conversation alone cannot resolve. Then it’s
master describes the scene, you describe how time to break out the dice and use one of your skills.
your character behaves, the GM describes how This chapter also describes heroic abilities, which
any NPCs react, you reply, and it goes back and forth. allow you to perform extraordinary actions that ordinary
That is how the story is told and progresses. But sooner or people cannot.
later a decisive situation will arise, a point of no return, a
ROLL THE DICE

There are thirty core skills in total in the game, not count- ROLLING A DEMON
ing secondary skills like the schools of magic, and they are Rolling a 20 on D20 is called rolling a demon and means
all described later in this chapter. Each skill is connected to that the roll fails regardless of your skill level and other
one of the attributes, which determines your base chance circumstances. Rolling a demon also means that the roll
in the skill when you create your player character. cannot be pushed (optional rule, page 32). Demon rolls
When using a skill, first describe what your player can have additional effects in combat (page 46 and page
character is trying to achieve. Then roll a D20. A result 49) and during spellcasting (page 59). Outside of
that is lower than or equal to your skill level means that combat the GM can let demon rolls have effects such as:
your action succeeds. In combat your skill rolls often have
specific effects. Outside of combat the GM, or the adven- ✦ You damage yourself, someone else, or an item.
ture you are playing, determines the effects of the roll. ✦ You make a fool of yourself in front of everyone
around you.
✦ You make a lot of noise.
ROLLING A DRAGON
Rolling a one (1) on D20 means that you are particularly
successful. This is called rolling a dragon. In combat, a ATTRIBUTE ROLLS
dragon roll has specific effects – increasing the damage of
an attack, for example. Outside of combat the GM decides
When no skill seems relevant to the situation,
the effect. Some suggestions:
the GM can instruct you to roll against a base
attribute instead – a Strength roll to lift some-
✦ You impress everyone around you. thing heavy, for example. But if there is a skill
✦ You achieve more than intended. that covers the action you wish to perform, your
✦ The action is performed faster than usual. roll must be based on that. In unclear cases the
GM decides what is appropriate.
FAILURE
Rolling above your skill level means that your action fails.
For some reason you do not achieve your goal – feel free to
describe what happens together with the GM. The GM can ONLY ONE CHANCE
also let failures have additional consequences to advance
the story in an exciting way.
As a rule, you only have one chance to succeed
with any action. Once you have rolled the dice,
No Standstills! Failure must not stop the story com-
you may not roll again to achieve the same goal.
pletely. Even when you fail, there must be a way forward
You need to try something different, wait until
– perhaps at the cost of time, risk, or gold, but still a way.
the circumstances have changed in a substantial
The GM has the final say on the consequences of failure in
way, or let another player character try. This
that particular situation.
rule does not apply in combat.
C H A P T E R 3 – S kills
31
BOONS & BANES
Normally, the GM does not assess how difficult an action HELP FROM OTHERS
is. You only roll dice in challenging situations – period.
But sometimes the GM might want to underscore that
One other player character or NPC can help
external factors either help or hinder an action. You might
you succeed at a die roll. This must be declared
then get a boon or bane to your roll.
before you roll any dice. It must also make sense
In both cases you roll two D20, but only one result
in the story – the individual helping you must
counts. If you have a boon, only the lowest result applies.
be physically present and have the capacity to
If you have a bane, only the highest result applies.
support your action. The GM has the final say.
There are also cases where the rules say that you get a
Whenever someone helps you with a roll,
boon or a bane, for example when attacking a prone oppo-
you get a boon (see above). In combat, helping
nent or shooting at long range.
counts as an action – by helping someone else
you lose your own action that round. NPCs
Multiple Boons/Banes: If you get multiple boons/banes
can help each other just as player c haracters
to your roll, roll an additional D20 for each boon/bane
can. Only one character can help a roll.
and count only the lowest/highest result. However, please
note that unless you have a very high skill level, rolls with
multiple banes have a very low chance of success..
Boon and Bane: Sometimes you might get both boons

and banes to your roll. Each boon negates one bane, and normal roll (one D20). If you have two boons and one
vice versa. If you have one boon and one bane, make a bane, it counts as a boon.
PUSHING YOUR ROLL
If you fail a skill or attribute roll, you can choose You decide which condition you get from pushing a
to push the roll, which means that you make roll, with two important restrictions:
another attempt. The new result applies, what-
ever it is. If you have a boon or bane, you must ✦ You cannot choose a condition you already have.
re-roll both dice. You can never push a demon roll ✦ You must be able to explain how the condition
(a natural 20). results from the action you are trying to
Whenever you push a roll, immediately after perform. The GM has the right to reject clearly
the re-roll, you suffer a condition. This means unreasonable explanations.
that you get a bane on all rolls for skills based
on a certain attribute, and rolls against the Once you have all six conditions, you may no longer
attribute in question. Each attribute is linked to push your rolls. In addition to their effects, con-
a certain condition. Thus, there are six different ditions provide inspiration for roleplaying. Mark
conditions: conditions on your character sheet.
✦ Exhausted– STR ✦ Angry– INT Healing Conditions: You can recover from a con-
✦ Sickly– CON ✦ Scared– WIL dition by resting – for more on resting and healing,
✦ Dazed– AGL ✦ Disheartened– CHA see page 52.
NPCs and Monsters: Only the player characters

can push their rolls, not NPCs or monsters.
32
OPPOSED ROLLS
Sometimes you must beat your enemy in an opposed to your opponent’s result. If the opponent’s result is
roll to succeed with an action. This means that both you lower than yours, you fail.
and your adversary roll dice. Opposed rolls are used
sparingly in the game, and only when someone is actively Pushed Rolls: Opposed rolls can be pushed (optional rule,
opposing you. In combat it only counts as an action for see previous page) as well, but only if you are the active
the active party. party. This can be done even after your opponent’s roll.
✦ If your roll fails, your action fails as well, regardless of Open Opposed Rolls: The GM can also use opposed rolls
your opponent’s roll. in situations where there is no active party – e.g. rolling
✦ If your roll succeeds while your opponent fails, your STR against STR to decide the outcome of an arm-wrestling
action succeeds. match. This is called an open opposed roll. Open opposed
✦ both of you succeed with your rolls, your action
If rolls are re-rolled if both parties fail, or if both succeed and
succeeds if the result of your roll is lower than or equal get the same result. Both parties can push their rolls.
THE CORE SKILLS

This section describes all core skills in the game. The schools you make an AWARENESS roll to notice emerging threats
of magic are secondary skills and covered in chapter 5. in time. Such a passive roll cannot be pushed.
Groups: If multiple player characters are in the same

ACROBATICS (AGL) place, each of you makes a separate AWARENESS roll. You
When jumping, climbing, balancing or performing a simi- cannot help (page 32) each other.
lar physical action, roll for this skill.
BARTERING (CHA)
AWARENESS (INT) When haggling over the price of something you are buying
As an adventurer you must always be on your guard, or or selling, roll for BARTERING. If you succeed, the price
you won’t live long. You use your AWARENESS skill goes down or up by 20%. If you roll a dragon, the price is
to watch or listen for anyone sneaking around nearby halved or doubled. If you roll a demon, you have offended
(opposed roll, see SNEAKING below). The GM can also let the other party so badly that they refuse the trade.
NPCS AND SKILLS

BEAST LORE (INT)
The world is full of common and rare animals and beasts
of all kinds. Roll for BEAST LORE when trying to identify
Non-player characters use skills in the same
an animal or monster, or to know its habits, abilities, and
way as player characters. The GM rolls dice for
weaknesses. If you succeed, the GM should give you some
them, but only for actions that affect a player
piece of useful information.
character directly – for example, if the NPC is
attacking a player character or attempting to
save them. When an NPC performs an action
that does not directly affect a player character, SCHOOLS OF MAGIC
the GM can simply decide what happens.
NPC stat blocks don’t list all skills – when There are different schools of magic, and each
rolling for an NPC against an unlisted skill, the school is a separate secondary skill. For more
GM uses a default skill level of 5. information on magic, see chapter 5.
33
BLUFFING (CHA) PERFORMANCE (CHA)
To quickly come up with a convincing lie can be an When singing a song, reading a poem, making jokes
invaluable skill as an adventurer. If the GM finds your bluff or in some other way try to amuse a crowd, roll for
unconvincing, you get a bane to your roll. If your bluff is PERFORMANCE.
completely unbelievable, it fails automatically – no matter
how well you deliver it.
PERSUASION (CHA)
Life as an adventurer is dangerous, but you can often reach
BUSHCRAFT (INT) your goals without violence, through charm, threats, or
The vast wilderness is a dangerous place where wild beasts sensible reasoning. Roll for PERSUASION to make another
roam. The ignorant can lose their lives by choosing the person see things your way. If you succeed, you achieve
wrong path through the woods or making camp in the your stated objective, and the NPC does what you want.
wrong spot. Roll for BUSHCRAFT to lead the way through However, they might demand something in return – the
the wilderness, make camp, cook food, or stay warm in GM decides what that entails.
cold weather. Read more in chapter 8. If what you are asking for requires the NPC to sacrifice
or risk something important, the roll is more difficult – it
becomes an opposed roll between your PERSUASION and
CRAFTING (STR) the other person’s WIL. But even in this case your request
As an adventurer, you must often repair your gear if it must be reasonable – no NPC will agree to just anything or
breaks. Typically, it takes one shift to repair a damaged item, act entirely against their own interests, no matter how suc-
and you need access to the appropriate tools (page 78). cessful the roll. The GM has the final say. You cannot PER-
SUADE monsters (chapter 7) unless it is explicitly allowed.
EVADE (AGL)
Roll for this skill when trying to dodge an attack or flee RIDING (AGL)
from combat. Read more in chapter 4. To get up on a horse and ride slowly doesn’t require a skill
roll, for but for more advanced maneuvers you need to roll
for RIDING. Special rules apply in combat (page 55).
HEALING (INT)
As an adventurer there is a significant risk that you and
your friends will be injured, sooner or later. That is when SEAMANSHIP (INT)
HEALING is useful – with this skill you can get fallen Anyone can row a boat or paddle a canoe slowly, but in
companions back on their feet or even save their lives. more challenging situations you need to roll for SEAMAN-
Read more on page 52. SHIP to steer a vessel over water. This skill can also be
used for navigation.
HUNTING & FISHING (AGL)

Out in the wild, you will often need to find your own SLEIGHT OF HAND (AGL)
food by hunting or fishing. This is further described When you are trying to steal something unnoticed, pick a
on page 103. lock, or perform any other action that requires fine motor
skills, you roll SLEIGHT OF HAND.
LANGUAGES (INT)
All player characters can speak the common tongue and SNEAKING (AGL)
read simple texts, and non-human kin also know their It is often wise to avoid combat and hide or sneak past
own language. To understand foreign or ancient languages, the enemy instead. If you win, you remain undetected. It
roll for this skill. is usually a straight skill roll, but if someone is actively
looking for you, you must make an opposed roll with your
SNEAKING against the enemy’s AWARENESS.
MYTHS & LEGENDS (INT) Note that you can only make a SNEAKING roll
When trying to remember stories of old times or distant when you can actually see or hear the enemy you wish to
lands, or trying to understand links to the past, roll for avoid. You never use SNEAKING “just in case” there is an
this skill. enemy nearby.
34
Group Sneaking: If multiple player characters are sneak- Axes (STR): A skill used for combat with axes of all kinds,
ing around together, each person makes a separate roll. If including when thrown.
one of you fails, the whole group is detected.
Bows (AGL): A skill for attacks with all types of bows,
except crossbows.
SPOT HIDDEN (INT)
The art of finding what’s hidden can make you rich beyond Brawling (STR): Used for unarmed combat with fists, feet,
measure – or save your life. When you are looking for teeth, or claws.
something concealed, you roll SPOT HIDDEN. If your
description of where you are searching is very precise, the Crossbows (AGL): This skill is used for attacks with
GM can give you a boon or even let you succeed with- crossbows of all kinds.
out a roll.
Each SPOT HIDDEN roll takes roughly a stretch. Hammers (STR): Used for combat with warhammers and
You only get one attempt to look for the same thing in other blunt weapons such as clubs and maces.
exactly the same place. Multiple player characters can look
simultaneously. Knives (AGL): This skill is used for combat with knives
and daggers, including when thrown.
SWIMMING (AGL) Slings (AGL): Roll for this skill when attacking with
All player characters can keep afloat for a short time, but a sling.
for more challenging situations a roll for SWIMMING
is required. Read more about swimming and drowning Spears (STR): A skill used for combat with spears and
on page 53. tridents, including when thrown. It also covers lances.
Staves (AGL): Use this skill when fighting with a staff.

WEAPON SKILLS (STR/AGL)
There are several skills for wielding different types of weap- Swords (STR): Used for combat with all types of swords.
ons. You can read more about weapons and combat in the
next chapter.
HEROIC ABILITIES
Described below are a number of heroic abilities. All player Your sneak attack (page 43) deals an extra D8 damage.
characters except mages get one heroic ability each at the This heroic ability can be combined with the heroic ability
start of the game, and you can earn new ones as described Backstabbing. You activate this ability after you roll to hit,
on page 29. Note that some heroic abilities require a but before you roll for damage.
minimum skill level to be learned.
Some cost Willpower Points to activate, others do not.
Unless stated otherwise, it is possible to combine multiple BACKSTABBING
abilities in the same action, e.g. Assassin and Dragon- ✦ Requirement: Knives 12
slayer, but you must pay the WP cost for each ability you ✦ Willpower Points: 3
wish to use. You can activate this ability when making a melee attack
Some heroic abilities require optional rules. If you are against an enemy that is also within 2 meters of another
playing without these optional rules, those heroic abilities player character. Your attack then counts as a sneak attack,
should not be used. which means it cannot be dodged or parried, you get a
boon to the roll, and the number of dice rolled for the
damage is increased by one (i.e. 2D8 instead of D8). This
ASSASSIN ability can only be used with a subtle weapon (page 74).
✦ Requirement: Knives 12 Activating this ability does not count as an action.
35
BATTLE CRY You may attempt to parry an attack (page 46) without
✦ Requirement: — consuming your action for the round.. The bonus parry
✦ Willpower Points: 3 can be used at any time during the round. You may only
You can, as an action in combat, let out a battle cry that try to parry the same attack once. This ability can be used
inspires your friends. All other player characters within multiple times per round, as long as you have enough WP.
earshot immediately heal a condition of their choice (page
51). This heroic ability can only be used in combat.
DEFLECT ARROW
✦ Requirement: Any melee weapon skill 12
BERSERKER ✦ Willpower Points: 1
✦ Requirement: Any melee weapon skill 12 You can parry a ranged attack with a melee weapon,
✦ Willpower Points: 3 instead of using a shield.
You gain the Angry condition and immediately attack the
nearest opponent in melee combat. If already Angry, you
gain another condition of your choice. Then you must DISGUISE
keep fighting until all opponents within sight have been ✦ Requirement: Bluffing 12
defeated or you reach 0 HP. You gain a boon to melee ✦ Willpower Points: 2
attacks, but can neither parry nor dodge. After the fight You are a master of disguise and can easily assume the
you become Exhausted. appearance of others. After working for a stretch of
time you can assume another person’s looks, voice, and
demeanor. The person must be of the same kin as you.
CATLIKE Anyone who knows the person and sees you from up to 10
✦ Requirement: Acrobatics 12 meters away can make an AWARENESS roll to see through
✦ Willpower Points: Varies your disguise.
The number of D6 rolled for damage from a fall (page
53) decreases by one for each WP spent. You can first
make an ACROBATICS roll and then activate this heroic
ability.
COMPANION
✦ Requirement: Hunting & Fishing 12
You can activate this ability to turn an animal (not a
monster) into your companion. This takes a stretch of time,
and you can only have one animal companion at a time.
The GM decides which animals are nearby – see the list on
page 99. The animal follows you as long as you remain
in its natural environment, and it can scout for you at no
additional WP cost. For 3 additional WP you can com-
mand the animal to attack an enemy (free action for you).
CONTORTIONIST
✦ Requirement: Evade 12
You escape from your shackles or squeeze through a
narrow space without rolling for any skill.
DEFENSIVE
✦ Requirement: Any melee weapon skill 12
36
DOUBLE SLASH can be used multiple times per round, as long as you
✦ Requirement: Axes or Swords 12 have enough WP.
When wielding a slashing weapon, you can attack two
enemies within 2 meters with a single slash. You only roll FAST HEALER
for the attack once – if it succeeds, both enemies are hit. ✦ Requirement: —
Your enemies can parry or dodge the attack individually. ✦ Willpower Points: 2
Damage is rolled separately. This ability can be combined You heal an extra D6 HP during a stretch rest. This heroic
with Dual Wield. ability does not affect WP or conditions.
DRAGONSLAYER FEARLESS
✦ Requirement: Any weapon skill 12 ✦ Requirement: —
An attack aimed at a monster (not a normal NPC) deals You automatically resist fear (page 52), without a WIL roll.
an additional D8 damage. You activate this ability after
you roll to hit, but before you roll for damage. Read more
about monsters in chapter 7. FOCUSED
✦ Requirement: —
✦ Willpower Points: —
DUAL WIELD Your maximum number of Willpower Points is perma-
✦ Requirement: Any melee weapon skill 12 nently increased by 2. You can select this heroic ability
✦ Willpower Points: 3 multiple times, without limit.
This heroic ability can only be used if you wield a one-
handed weapon in each hand. The STR requirement of
the weapon in your off hand (you decide if it is right GUARDIAN
or left) increases by 3. You activate the ability on your ✦ Requirement: Axes, Hammers, or Swords 12
turn in combat and can then perform an extra attack ✦ Willpower Points: 2
with your second weapon. The second attack is done You do not hesitate to take a hit to protect your friends. If
with a bane. You decide in which order to use your two you and another player character are both within 2 meters
weapons. Finish the first attack, including damage, before of the same enemy and the enemy tries to attack the other
rolling the second one. This ability can be combined with character, you can activate this ability to force the enemy
Double Slash. to attack you instead. Using this ability can be done out of
turn and it does not count as an action.
EAGLE EYE
✦ Requirement: Awareness 12 INSIGHT
✦ Willpower Points: 2 ✦ Requirement: Persuasion 12
You can see a person or object up to 200 meters away in ✦ Willpower Points: 2
great detail, as if standing right next to it. The effect lasts If you talk a while with another person, you can roll
for one stretch. In combat you can also shoot at a target AWARENESS to determine whether that person is tell-
beyond the weapon’s effective range (page 49) without ing the truth. You cannot tell exactly what a person is
getting a bane to your roll. This heroic ability must be lying about.
activated for each new target.
INTUITION
FAST FOOTWORK ✦ Requirement: Myths & Legends 12
✦ Requirement: Evade 12 ✦ Willpower Points: 3
✦ Willpower Points: 3 When faced with a difficult decision, you can activate this
You may attempt to dodge an attack (page 47) without ability to ask a question directly to the GM and receive a
consuming your action for the round. The bonus dodge helpful answer. The answer represents your vast general
can be performed at any time during the round. You knowledge and should only aid your decision-making, not
may only try to dodge the same attack once. This ability reveal everything there is to know
37
IRON FIST MASTER BLACKSMITH
✦ Requirement: Brawling 12 ✦ Requirement: Crafting 12
✦ Willpower Points: 1 ✦ Willpower Points: Varies
The damage of an unarmed attack increases to 2D6. You This ability requires blacksmithing tools. In one stretch, you
can activate this heroic ability as a free action after rolling can sharpen a bladed or pointed weapon, at the cost of 3 WP.
the attack. Against a sharpened weapon, the armor rating of an item
counts as one step lower. The effect wears off after one combat
encounter where the weapon was used to attack or parry.
IRON GRIP In one shift, you craft a metal weapon or metal armor
✦ Requirement: Brawling 12 of your choice from the lists on pages 73–75. It requires
✦ Willpower Points: 1 a forge, an anvil, and iron (weight 1). The cost in WP is
You get a boon to your BRAWLING roll when trying to equal to the item’s price in gold. You can spread the work
grapple another person or prevent the enemy from break- across multiple shifts if you do not have enough WP.
ing free.
MASTER CARPENTER
LIGHTNING FAST ✦ Requirement: Crafting 12
✦ Requirement: Evade 12 ✦ Willpower Points: Varies
✦ Willpower Points: 2 This ability requires carpentry tools. As an action, you can
When drawing initiative card at the start of a combat inflict D12 points of damage per WP spent on a door, wall, or
round (page 41), you may draw two cards instead of one any other inanimate object, ignoring the object’s armor rating.
and choose which one you want. You can only activate this In one shift of time you can craft a wooden item of
heroic ability once per round. your choice, such as a club, staff, or shield, from the lists
on pages 73–75. It requires wood (weight 1 or deter-
mined by the GM), and costs a number of WP equal to the
LONE WOLF item’s price in gold (rounded up). The GM decides the cost
✦ Requirement: Bushcraft 12 for unlisted items
You can take a shift rest in the wilderness without first
rolling for BUSHCRAFT to make camp (page 103). The MASTER CHEF
effect only applies to you, even if you have a tent. ✦ Requirement: —
You automatically succeed at cooking food (page 103)
MAGIC TALENT without rolling BUSHCRAFT.
✦ Requirement: —
You have an aptitude for magic and can learn a new school MASTER SPELLCASTER
of magic (whether you already know any or not). Spells ✦ Requirement: Any magic school 12
need to be learned separately. For more information on ✦ Willpower Points: 3
how it works, see page 61. This heroic ability can be If you activate this ability on your turn in combat, you can
selected multiple times – once for each new school you cast two different spells as a single action. It must be two
want to learn. different spells. You can roll for the first spell and then
activate this heroic ability.
MASSIVE BLOW
✦ Requirement: Any STR-based melee weapon skill 12 MASTER TANNER
✦ Willpower Points: 3 ✦ Requirement: Crafting 12
A strike with a two-handed melee weapon inflicts D8 addi- ✦ Willpower Points: Varies
tional points of damage, but you cannot move in the same This ability requires leatherworking tools. You can craft
round. You can activate this ability after the roll to hit, but one set of leather armor from the skin of an animal or
not if you moved. a monster. The armor gets half the beast’s armor rating
(rounded up), but always has at least 1. It takes one shift
and the cost in WP is equal to the item’s armor rating.
38
MONSTER HUNTER SHIELD BLOCK
✦ Requirement: Beast Lore 12 ✦ Requirement: Any STR-based melee weapon skill 12
At a crossroads of some kind, you can activate this ability You can activate this ability when parrying with a shield to
to learn the direction of the most dangerous enemies. roll with a boon. Using this ability, you can also parry phys-
ical monster attacks (not area effects) that normally cannot
be parried. This requires a shield and you get a boon to the
MUSICIAN roll. This ability can be combined with Defensive.
✦ Requirement: Performance 12
Your beautiful voice instills courage in your friends or THROWING ARM
fear in your foes. Activating this ability (an action in ✦ Requirement: Any melee weapon skill 12
combat) gives all allies within 10 meters a boon to all ✦ Willpower Points: 2
rolls, or a bane to all enemies within the same range – You can throw a melee weapon with tremendous force at
choose one or the other. The effect lasts until your turn in an enemy within your STR meters away. It must be a one-
the next round. handed weapon. Roll the attack as normal. The enemy can
Instruments: You can use instruments for the Music parry or dodge the attack as usual. The weapon lands at
ability. This can increase the ability’s range or reduce the the enemy’s feet.
cost in WP. See page 75.
TREASURE HUNTER
PATHFINDER ✦ Requirement: Bartering 12
✦ Requirement: Bushcraft 12 ✦ Willpower Points: 3
✦ Willpower Points: 1 At a crossroads of some kind, you can activate this ability
You get a boon to your BUSHCRAFT roll when trying to to learn the direction of the greatest treasures.
find the right direction in the wilderness.
TWIN SHOT
QUARTERMASTER ✦ Requirement: Bows 12
✦ Requirement: Bushcraft 12 ✦ Willpower Points: 3
✦ Willpower Points: 1 By activating this ability when attacking with a bow (not cross-
You are good at finding suitable campsites. You automati- bow), you shoot two arrows instead of one. Roll just once to hit,
cally succeed at making camp during journeys (page 103). with a bane. Damage is rolled separately. The arrows can be
directed at the same target or two different targets.
ROBUST
✦ Requirement: — VETERAN
✦ Willpower Points: — ✦ Requirement: Any weapon skill 12
Your max HP increases by 2. This heroic ability can be ✦ Willpower Points: 1
selected multiple times, without limit. Activating this ability at the start of a combat round allows
you to retain your initiative card from the previous round
instead of drawing a new one. Doing so does not count as
SEA LEGS an action. For more information on combat and initiative,
✦ Requirement: Swim 12 see chapter 4.
You can activate this ability (not an action) when perform-
ing an action in water, even if only waist deep. You are WEASEL
then safe from all negative effects of being in water (page ✦ Requirement: Evade 12
53) for one round, including the risk of drowning. ✦ Willpower Points: 3
If you are attacked and have another player character
within 2 meters, you can activate this ability to let the
attack hit that character instead of you. This ability has no
effect against area attacks.
39
COMBAT & DAMAGE
ife as an adventurer is hard and often violent. In rough for your player character, sometimes even lethal.
Dragonbane you can run into wild beasts, malicious Before you enter combat, you should always ask yourself:
raiders, and demonic monsters. Combat can be is it worth it?
ROUNDS & INITIATIVE

Combat is played in rounds, each representing roughly SURPRISE
ten seconds. At the start of each round, the first step is to If you perform an attack that the GM deems surprising to
decide who has the initiative – that is, in what order the your enemy, you get to choose any initiative card you want
combatants will act during the round. in the first round of combat. If several characters partici-
pate in the surprise attack, you may all choose a card. The
other combatants draw the initiative from the cards that
DRAWING THE INITIATIVE remain. At the start of the second round, everyone draws
The ten initiative cards in the box are numbered 1 to 10. the initiative as usual.
Each player taking part in the conflict, voluntarily or
otherwise, draws a random card at the beginning of each
round, and the GM draws cards for NPCs. This is called WAITING
drawing the initiative.
The number on the card determines the order in which On your turn in the round, you can choose to wait.
you act in the round. Number 1 acts first, number 2 acts This means that you swap initiative cards – and
second, and so forth until everyone has acted. Your place therefore places in the initiative order – with
in the initiative order is called your turn. another creature whose turn comes after yours.
Place your initiative card by your character sheet so You can swap cards with other player characters
everyone can see the order in which each person acts. The as well as NPCs (or group of NPCs acting on the
GM puts their card (or cards) in front of them. When all same turn), and they cannot refuse the trade.
participants have had their turn, the round is over and a However, you cannot swap initiative cards with
new round begins by drawing the initiative again. anyone who has already had their turn, or who
themselves chose to wait earlier in the round.
INITIATIVE FOR NPCS Monsters: Monsters (page 83) often have

multiple turns in a single round, and therefore
To make things simple, particularly in large draw multiple initiative cards. In that case you
battles, the GM can draw a single initiative card decide which card you want, as long as it comes
for a group of NPCs. All NPCs in that group act after your current turn in the initiative order.
on the same turn in the round. The order among Monsters themselves never choose to wait.
them is decided by the GM.
C H A P T E R 4 – C ombat & Damage
41
ACTIONS
& MOVEMENT
On your turn in the round, you can move and perform words are all free actions. See the sidebar on the next
one action. You simply explain how you want to move and page for a complete list. Free actions do not count as
what action you want to perform. If necessary, you also your action in the round but you can only perform one
roll dice to see whether you succeed. of each type per round, and only on your own turn. For
You decide whether to move before you act or vice example, you can drop down or get up on your turn,
versa. You can even use part of your movement, perform but not both.
your action, and then finish the movement.
REACTIONS
ACTIONS Some actions are not performed on your turn, but on the
An action in combat can be many different things, but opponent’s. These are called reactions and include things
the list below summarizes the most common ones. These like parrying or dodging attacks. This uses up your own
actions are described in detail later in this chapter. turn in the round, which means that you cannot perform a
reaction if you have already had your turn and performed
Free Actions: Minor actions such as drawing a weapon an action. Flip your initiative card after performing a
kept at hand, dropping to the ground, or shouting a few reaction.
ACTIONS
An action in combat can be many different things, ✦ First Aid: The HEALING skill is used to save the
but the most common ones are summarized below. life of someone who has had their HP reduced to
Rules for these actions are found later in the chapter. zero and is at risk of dying.
✦ Rally: You can PERSUADE another player charac-
✦ Dash: This action doubles your movement rate in ter at zero HP to rally and keep fighting.
the round. ✦ Break Down Door: Doors can take a certain
✦ Melee Attack: These can be performed against amount of damage before they break down.
an enemy within 2 meters (4 meters for long ✦ Pick Lock: Picking a lock requires a SLEIGHT
weapons). OF HAND roll. Doing so without lockpicks gives
✦ Ranged Attack: Attacks with a ranged weapon you a bane.
can be made against targets within the weap- ✦ Use Item: Use a potion or some other item
on’s range. within 2 meters.
✦ Parry: Both melee and ranged attacks can be ✦ Activate Ability: Use an innate or heroic a bility.
parried, but the latter requires a shield. Parrying ✦ Cast Spell: In most cases, casting a spell counts
is a reaction that takes place outside your turn as an action. This includes magic tricks. Some
and replaces your regular action in the round. spells are reactions and do not require an action,
✦ Dodge: Dodging melee or ranged attacks is also while others are more time-consuming. For more
a reaction. on magic, see chapter 5.
✦ Pick Up Item: Pick up an item from the ground ✦ Helping: Helping another character gives them a
within 2 meters, or from your Inventory. boon to a roll in the same round.
✦ Equip/Unequip Armor/Helmet: Suits of armor ✦ Round Rest: You rest and recover D6 WP. This
and helmets protect you from damage, but also can only be done once per shift.
restrict your movement.
42
FREE ACTIONS Free Attack: If you are standing within 2 meters of an
enemy and then move away from that enemy, you must
make an EVADE roll.
✦ Draw Weapon: Draw, exchange, or put away
The roll does not count as an action, but if it fails, the
a weapon kept at hand.
enemy immediately gets to perform an additional melee
✦ Change Position: Throw yourself to the
attack against you – a free attack. The free attack does not
ground or get up.
count as an action and can neither be parried nor dodged.
✦ Drop Item: Drop an item on the ground.
Note that a free attack is triggered even if you start your
✦ Shout: Say or shout a few words.
movement at a distance but pass by an enemy. Moving
around an enemy does not trigger a free attack, as long as
you stay within 2 meters.
Movement: When performing a reaction, you also lose

your movement in the round. Several reactions, such as SNEAK ATTACK
dodging or parrying, give you a certain movement as part The key to winning a conflict is often to attack when the
of the action. You can read more about this under Melee enemy least expects it.
Combat on page 45.
Sneak Attack: When you sneak up on someone unde-
tected and perform an attack, it is called a sneak attack.
MOVEMENT First you make a SNEAKING roll. Moving close enough to
Under normal circumstances, you can move as many attack in melee combat (within 2 meters) gives you a bane.
meters as your Movement rate. But there are a few special If you fail, the enemy notices you – draw initiative.
cases to consider: If you succeed your attack counts as surprising, which
means that you can choose any initiative card you want.
Dash: By choosing to dash as your action in the round, You also get a boon on the attack, and the target can nei-
you can move twice as far as normal. ther dodge nor parry. Using a Subtle weapon increases the
damage by one die (for example 2D8 instead of D8). Sneak
Stand/Crouch: You can drop to the ground and get up attacks are always performed individually, by one attacker
as part of your movement. These are free actions and do against one target.
not affect your movement per se, but can only be done on
your turn. Ambush: A special kind of sneak attack is an ambush –
lying in wait for an enemy and attacking as it passes by. In
Leaping: As part of your movement, you can make a this case, each victim makes an AWARENESS roll to spot
horizontal leap as long as half your movement rate with a the ambush, with a bane if the attackers are well prepared.
successful ACROBATICS roll. If the distance is a quarter of All those who fail get the bottom cards (counting from #10
your movement rate or less, you don’t need to roll to leap it. and up), randomly drawn.
Door: Passing through a closed but unlocked door costs

half your movement in the round. If you cannot move FLIP THE INITIATIVE CARD
any further, you remain standing by the now open door. A
locked door must either be picked open or broken down. Once you have had your turn in the round, you
can flip the initiative card face down to make
Enemies: You cannot move past a standing enemy who
it clear to you and everyone else that you have
wants to stop you. A humanoid creature of human size can acted. This means that you cannot perform any
block an area of roughly 2×2 meters. Monsters can block reaction (such as parrying an attack) later in
larger areas. To move past an enemy who is blocking the the round.
way, you must first bring it to the ground or reduce its HP
to zero. Friendly individuals can be passed without any
problem.
43
COMBAT MAPS
Combat can take place entirely in your imagination, is positioned. Diagonal movements and attacks are
with the GM describing the battlefield and specifying allowed, but not if both squares you want to pass
the distance between combatants. However, grid between are blocked or occupied by hostile opponents.
maps are a useful tool in combat, as they can be used You can use miniature figures to represent com-
to keep track of where everyone is. Each square on batants on the map. This box includes a number of
the map usually represents an area of 2×2 meters. illustrated cardboard figures with plastic bases. You
Doors, walls, and ascents are also shown on the can also use painted figures of plastic or metal. The
map. Complete adventures for Dragonbane include only limit is your imagination!
maps of important sites. On the back of the large
map in this box is an empty grid which can be used Five-Foot Squares?If you are used to combat maps
for all kinds of battlefields. with 5×5 foot squares and perhaps even own a bunch
As a rule, each square on the map can only be of such maps, you can easily use them in Dragonbane
occupied by one person at a time, but it is possible to – just use the 5×5 foot squares as if they were 2×2
pass through a square where a friendly combatant meters. It will not affect anything in the game.
TERRAIN Rough: The terrain is difficult to traverse. Whenever

The terrain where the fighting takes place can affect your you move, you must make an ACROBATICS roll (not an
movement and actions. Maps usually show what type of action). Failure means that you fall over and lose the rest
terrain is found in different areas. of your movement this round.
Cramped: There is little space or a low ceiling. All melee Dimly Lit: Imposes a bane on all ranged attacks.
weapons except piercing weapons (page 73) and Subtle
weapons get a bane on all rolls.
MELEE COMBAT
To attack someone in melee, you generally must be within time. The STR requirement of a one-handed weapon
2 meters of your target. On the grid map you need to be decreases by 3 if you hold it with both hands.
positioned in a square adjacent to the enemy (including
diagonally). When attacking in close combat, you use the Long Weapons: An attack with a weapon with the long
skill that covers the type of weapon you are wielding. feature (such as a long spear or lance) can hit enemies up
to 4 meters away (two squares). With such a weapon it is
Damage: If the attack hits, your weapon determines also possible to attack past a friendly combatant and hit an
which dice you should roll to see how much damage you enemy on the other side of that person.
inflict on the enemy. The damage can be increased by your
damage bonus and a dragon roll and decreased by armor.
PRONE TARGETS
Damage Bonus: Your damage bonus is determined by If you are standing up but your enemy is lying on the ground,
your score in the attribute on which your weapon skill is your attack gets a boon and inflicts an extra D6 damage.
based – AGL or STR.
Weapon: You can have up to three weapons at hand. CRITICAL HIT

Write them down in the Weapons section on your charac- By rolling a dragon when you attack, you score a critical
ter sheet. To attack with a weapon, it must also be drawn. hit. This means that a dragon roll is required to parry or
Drawing a weapon kept at hand, or exchanging your dodge the attack, and that you may choose one of the
drawn weapon for another weapon at hand, is a free action. following effects:
Picking up another weapon from the ground or from your
inventory costs a regular action. ✦ Roll double the amount of dice for the weapon’s
damage, before adding any damage bonus and other
STR Requirement: Some weapons have a STR require- bonuses. For example, if you get a critical hit with a
ment. If your STR is lower than the requirement, you get broadsword (damage 2D6) and have damage bonus D4,
a bane on all attacks and parries with that weapon. If your the damage is 4D6+D4.
Strength is less than half the requirement, you cannot use ✦ You can immediately perform a second attack against
the weapon at all. another enemy. This additional attack is a free action.
✦ Armor has no effect against the attack, as it finds a
Grip: Weapons require either one or two hands to use. gap or weak spot. This effect can only be chosen if the
You can only have one two-handed weapon, or two one- attack deals piercing damage (optional rule, below).
handed weapons (including a shield), drawn at the same
DAMAGE TYPES
SHOVE
There are three types of damage: slashing,
If you hit an enemy with a melee attack and piercing, and bludgeoning. The damage types
your STR damage bonus is equal to or higher of various weapons are listed in the weapon
than your opponent’s damage bonus, you can tables in chapter 6. Some weapons, such as
choose to shove the enemy up to 2 meters in swords, can inflict both slashing damage and
any direction (to an adjacent square, if you are piercing damage – you must state whether
using a grid map) in addition to doing damage. you stab or slash before rolling the die. The
This movement does not count toward the damage type influences the effectiveness of
enemy’s total movement in the round and does armor, and monsters can be resistant to cer-
not trigger free attacks from anyone. Monsters tain types of damage.
cannot shove or be shoved.
45
DEMON ROLL IN MELEE damage. You cannot parry unarmed. It is also impossible
to both parry and dodge the same attack. You can parry
while prone. When parrying, you roll against your skill
If you roll a demon when attacking in melee
level for the weapon.
combat, you miss your target and cannot push
the roll. You might also suffer an additional
Reaction: Parrying is a reaction, as it breaks the initiative
mishap. Roll on the table below. If the result is
order. It replaces your regular action, and you must imme-
unreasonable, the GM decides the effect.
diately flip your initiative card. This means that you cannot
parry if you have already performed your action in the
round (but see the heroic ability Defensive).
Durability: If your parry succeeds, the enemy’s attack hits

D6 EFFECT
your weapon or shield, and you suffer no damage. How-
1 You drop your weapon at your feet. Picking it up ever, if the damage exceeds your weapon’s durability, the
is an action. weapon is damaged and cannot be used until it is repaired
2 You expose yourself to the enemy, who gets a
with a CRAFTING roll.
free attack (page 43) that cannot be dodged or
Shield: If you have a shield drawn, you can parry with
parried.
it instead of your weapon. There is no skill for shields –
3 Your weapon cuts so deep into an object that instead you can use any STR-based melee skill (i.e. any of
it gets stuck. Pulling it free requires a STR roll them except KNIVES and STAVES) to parry with a shield.
(counts as an action)
4 You accidentally toss your weapon D3+3 meters. Piercing Damage: Piercing attacks can never damage a
To pick it up you must move and then perform an parrying weapon or shield.
action.
Monsters: As a rule, monster attacks (page 83) cannot
5 You slam your weapon into something hard and be parried, unless otherwise specified.
damage it. Any use of the weapon gets a bane
until it is repaired by an artisan.
6 You hit yourself by mistake. Roll for damage as PARRY MOVEMENT
usual, but without any damage bonus.
When successfully parrying an attack, you can
move both yourself and the enemy 2 meters
HITTING INANIMATE OBJECTS (one square) in any direction. These move-
ments follow the usual rules, but do not count
If you hit a non-living object, like a door or a lock, toward anyone’s movement in the round and
you hit automatically – only roll for damage. trigger no free attacks from anyone.
Inanimate objects often have an armor rating,
however (page 50).
Rolling a Dragon when Parrying

PARRYING If you roll a dragon when parrying, you immediately per-
When hit by an attack in close combat, you can choose to form a counterattack on your opponent – an automatic hit
parry the attack with a drawn weapon or shield. Note that with your weapon that cannot be dodged or parried. This
you cannot draw a weapon to parry, as free actions can does not apply if the attacker rolled a dragon as well – in
only be performed on your own turn. You must declare that case you need a dragon just to parry, and do not get a
that you are going to parry before the attacker rolls for counterattack.
46
DODGING Reaction: Dodging is a reaction and, like parrying,
As an alternative to parrying, you can try to dodge when requires that you have not already performed your action
hit by an attack. You cannot parry and dodge the same in the round. Once you have dodged, your action in the
attack – you must choose one or the other. You can dodge round is spent and you must flip your initiative card.
while prone. You must declare that you are dodging before
your opponent rolls for damage. Roll for EVADE – on Movement: On a successful dodge you may, if you want,
success you evade the attack and take no damage. On a move up to 2 meters in any direction. This movement does
failure, you are hit by the attack. not trigger free attacks from anyone.
Monsters: As a rule, monster attacks (page 83) can be

dodged, unless otherwise specified.
47
SPECIAL ATTACKS
In addition to simply trying to hit the enemy, there weapons you are using. The attack counts as an
are a few special attacks that you can use in melee action for you, but not for your opponent. It cannot
combat. You must always declare that you are be dodged or parried. If the enemy is holding the
using a special attack before rolling the attack. weapon with both hands, you get a bane. If you
Several special attacks are resolved by opposed succeed, the weapon lands D6 meters away in a
rolls. When rolling for an NPC without the skill direction of your choice. Picking up a weapon from
in question, the GM rolls against the default skill the ground is an action. Disarm does not work on
level 5 (page 33). shields or natural weapons.
Find Weak Spot: If your weapon is piercing, you Grapple: You try to grapple a humanoid enemy
can try to find a gap in the enemy’s armor or natu- instead of inflicting damage. This is handled with
ral armor. You get a bane on the attack, but if it hits, an opposed roll between your BRAWLING and the
the enemy counts as armorless. enemy’s BRAWLING. The attack counts as an action
for you, but not for your opponent. It cannot be
Topple: You try to topple an enemy to the ground dodged or parried.
instead of inflicting damage. This is handled with an If your attempt fails, you fall to the ground. If
opposed roll between your skill level in the weapon it succeeds, both of you fall to the ground and
you are using and the enemy’s EVADE. If your the enemy is trapped in your grip. As long as you
weapon has the toppling feature, you get a boon. maintain your grip the enemy can neither move nor
The attack counts as an action for you, but not for perform any action that requires body movement,
your opponent. It cannot be dodged or parried. except trying to break free. Doing so is an opposed
An effective way of using this special attack roll between your BRAWLING and the enemy’s
is to work together with another person – if you BRAWLING. The roll is a free action for the enemy,
topple the opponent, your friend can attack the but not for you.
prone enemy before they can get up. While maintaining your grip, you are also
unable to move or perform any action that requires
Disarm: You try to disarm your enemy instead of body movement, except break – this counts as an
inflicting damage. This is handled with an opposed unarmed attack with a boon that cannot be dodged
roll between your and the enemy’s skill level in the or parried. Releasing the enemy is a free action.
MELEE TACTICS
To be successful in melee combat it is important to increase your ability to defend yourself against mul-
realize that your most precious resource is your tiple opponents.
actions – you only get one per round, including reac- In single combat against an opponent as pow-
tions such as dodging or parrying. erful as yourself, it may be wise to wait and let the
If several player characters are fighting together, enemy strike first. If their attack misses you do not
it is often very effective to focus on the same need to parry or dodge, and can then perform your
enemy, as that person can only parry or dodge once, own attack while the enemy is unable to protect
which leaves them vulnerable to multiple attacks. themselves. The drawback is that you surrender the
But always remember that you too are exposed to initiative to your enemy, who may choose a com-
attacks after performing your action. The heroic pletely different action than you expected.
abilities Defensive and Lightning Fast significantly
48
RANGED COMBAT
To use a ranged weapon, it must first be drawn (free Damage Bonus: You get a damage bonus for ranged
action), just like in melee. You should preferably be weapons, just as in melee. But note that crossbows do not
positioned over 2 meters from your target (i.e. not in an give you a damage bonus.
adjacent square on the map). Standing 2 meters away or
less gives you a bane on your attack. Roll against the skill Range: The weapon tables on pages 74–75 specify
for the weapon you are using. For throwing weapons, use the range of various weapons – that is, the maximum
the same skill as for melee attacks (such as KNIVES or distance (in meters) at which the weapon can be used
SPEARS). If the attack hits, the weapon determines which effectively. You can fire at targets up to twice the listed
dice you should roll to see how much damage it inflicts. range, but then you get a bane.
The damage can be increased by damage bonus and a
dragon roll, and decreased by armor.
CRITICAL HIT
Rolling a dragon when performing a ranged attack results
DEMON ROLL IN RANGED COMBAT in a critical hit, which means that it can only be dodged if
the opponent also rolls a dragon. You may also choose one
of the following effects:
If you roll a demon when performing a ranged
attack, you miss your target and cannot push
the roll. You may also suffer an additional
✦ Your weapon’s damage is doubled, excluding the
damage bonus and other bonuses. Roll twice as many
mishap. Roll on the table below.
dice as normal and add them up. For example, a criti-
cal hit with a longbow inflicts 2D12 damage.
✦ Armor and natural armor have no effect against the
attack, as it hits a gap or weak spot. This effect can
only be chosen if the attack deals piercing damage
D6 EFFECT
(optional rule).
1 You drop your weapon at your feet. Picking it up
is an action.
2 You run out of arrows and must get more before PARRY & DODGE
you can use the weapon again. Re-roll for sling or Parrying a ranged attack requires a shield. It works the
throwing weapons. same way as in melee combat, except that rolling a dragon
does not give you a counterattack. You can dodge ranged
3 You hit a valuable or important item nearby. The
attacks just like melee attacks.
GM decides what it is.
4 You break your weapon. Any use of the weapon
gets a bane until it is repaired by an artisan. OBSCURED TARGETS
5 You accidentally hit a random player character or If your view of the target is partially obscured by an object
friendly NPC. Roll for damage as usual, including or person, no matter if it is a friend or foe, you get a bane
damage bonus. on your attack. On a grid map you can shoot past a person
standing between you and your target, but with a bane. If
6 You hit yourself by mistake. Roll for damage as the target is completely out of sight, perhaps hiding behind
usual, but without damage bonus. a wall, you cannot shoot it at all. If you are playing without
a map, the GM decides whether your line of sight is par-
tially or completely blocked.
49
DAMAGE
Life as an adventurer is hard and risky. The rewards may DAMAGE TYPES & ARMOR
be great, but the only thing you know for sure is that
you will suffer all sorts of damage along the way. Taking
If the optional rule for damage types (page
damage reduces your hit points (HP).
45) is used, the following rules apply:
ARMOR ✦ Leather and studded leather gain a

+2 bonus to their armor rating against blud-
Wearing leather, chainmail, or plate armor can protect
geoning damage.
your body from damage. Equipping or unequipping armor
✦ Chainmail gets a +2 bonus to its armor
counts as an action in combat. The armor you are wearing
rating against slashing damage.
should be written down in the Armor section on your
character sheet and does not count toward your encum-
If the type of damage is not stated, the armor
brance. You can only wear one suit of armor at a time.
has its normal effect.
Some armors can give you a bane on certain skill rolls or
restrict your movement.
Armor Rating: An armor’s effectiveness is determined by

its armor rating. Whenever you take damage from a phys-
ical attack, subtract the armor rating from the damage. If Rally: Another player character within 10 meters and ear-
the damage from a melee attack is completely negated, the shot can PERSUADE you to rally and keep fighting despite
attacking weapon itself suffers the damage instead, which having zero HP. This counts as an action. If you rally, you
might break the weapon (see durability on page 46). can continue acting as normal, but must keep making
death rolls as described above. You can even try to rally
Helmets: Your armor can be combined with a helmet, yourself, rolling against your WIL with a bane (instead of
which can further increase your armor rating. Equipping PERSUASION).
or unequipping a helmet counts as an action. Helmets can
also give you a bane when using certain skills. Saving Life: When you have zero HP, another person
next to you can save your life with a successful HEALING
roll. Without bandages, you get a bane to the roll. This
DEATH counts as an action. Multiple attempts are allowed. If the
If your HP reaches zero, you drop to the ground and risk roll succeeds, you stop making death rolls and recover D6
dying. You cannot move or perform any actions except HP. You cannot save your own life this way, even if you
trying to rally (below). have rallied (see above). Additional HEALING rolls have
no effect once you are no longer at zero HP, except when
Death Roll: On your turn in each subsequent round, you resting (see page 52). Magic can save lives as well.
must make a death roll – a roll against your CON. The
death roll cannot be pushed if that optional rule is used. Instant Death: You don’t record negative HP, but if a
Record the results of your death rolls on your character single attack reduces your HP to a negative score equal to
sheet. After three successful death rolls you recover D6 your full HP, your player character dies instantly. Time to
HP. After three failed death rolls, your player character honor the fallen adventurer and create a new one!
dies. Rolling a dragon counts as two successful death
rolls, and rolling a demon counts as two failures. If the
combat ends, keep counting rounds until all death rolls ZERO HP FOR NPCS
have been made.
When an NPC reaches zero HP, no death rolls are
Additional Damage: If you suffer additional damage
made – the GM decides whether the person lives
while at zero HP, it automatically counts as a failed or dies. However, an NPC dies if hit by an instantly
death roll. killing attack, just like a player character.
50
SEVERE INJURIES
If you have been reduced to zero HP but survived, The healing time is halved if you rest and get med-
you risk severe injuries that can take a long time ical care for at least a shift per day from a person
to heal and even have permanent effects. Make a who makes a HEALING roll. Skill levels that are
roll against CON. If you fail, roll on the table below. reduced by permanent injuries can be re-learned.
D20 INJURY EFFECT
1–2 Broken nose You get a bane on all AWARENESS rolls. Healing time: D6 days.
3–4 Scarred face Bane on all PERFORMANCE and PERSUASION rolls. Healing time: 2D6 days.
5–6 Teeth knocked Your PERFORMANCE and PERSUASION skills levels are permanently reduced by 2
out ( to a minimum of 3).
7–8 Broken ribs Bane on all skills based on STR or AGL. Healing time: D6 days.
9–10 Concussion Bane on all skills based on INT. Healing time: D6 days.
11–12 Deep wounds Bane on all skills based on STR or AGL, and every roll against such skill inflicts D6
points of damage. Healing time: 2D6 days.
13 Broken leg Your movement rate is halved. Healing time: 3D6 days.
14 Broken arm You cannot use two-handed weapon, nor dual wield, and get a bane on all other actions
normally using both arms, such as climbing. Healing time: 3D6 days.
15 Severed toe Movement rate permanently reduced by 2 (to a minimum of 4).
16 Severed finger Your skill levels in all weapon skills are permanently reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 3).
17 Gouged eye Your skill level in SPOT HIDDEN is permanently reduced by 2 (to a minimum of 3).
18 Nightmares Roll to resist fear (page 52) each shift you sleep. If you fail, the shift doesn’t count as
slept. Healing time: 2D6 days.
19 Changed Randomly generate a new weakness (optional rule, page 26).
personality
20 Amnesia You cannot remember who you or the other player characters are. The effect must be
roleplayed. Healing time: D6 days.
CONDITIONS
In this game you can suffer six different conditions. Each other ways as well, for example because of monster
condition gives you a bane on all rolls against a certain attacks or spells.
attribute and skill rolls based on that attribute:
Multiple Conditions: If you suffer a condition that you
✦ Exhausted– STR ✦ Angry– INT already have, you must choose another condition. If you
✦ Sickly– CON ✦ Scared– WIL have all six conditions, you instead lose D6 WP if you
✦ Dazed– AGL ✦ Disheartened– CHA suffer another condition. If you are out of WP, you instead
lose D6 HP.
Suffering a Condition: The most common way to
suffer conditions is to push your roll (optional rule, Healing Conditions: You can heal one condition of
page 32). You must then choose a condition and your choice during a stretch rest. A shift rest heals all
describe how you get it. You can suffer conditions in conditions.
51
HEALING & RESTING
Lost HP and WP are recovered by resting. There are three During a stretch rest, you also recover D6 Willpower
kinds of rest – round rest, stretch rest, and shift rest. While Points and heal a condition of your choice. If something
resting, you cannot perform any actions that require die dramatic interrupts your rest, the effects are lost. You can only
rolls or WP. have a stretch rest once per shift.
Round Rest: A quick rest that lasts just a single round. Shift Rest: A shift rest lasts one full shift of time and
During a round rest you recover only D6 WP, no HP. You can only take place in a safe location where there are no
can only have a round rest once per shift. enemies nearby. During a shift rest you recover all your
lost HP and WP and heal all conditions. If a shift rest is
Stretch Rest: A short rest that only lasts for one stretch interrupted by combat or hard work it has no effect.
of time. During a stretch rest you heal D6 HP, or 2D6
HP if someone else is tending to you and succeeds with a Magic: Spells can allow you to heal HP more quickly
HEALING roll. The caregiver cannot rest during the same than usual.
stretch and can only heal one person during the rest.
OTHER HAZARDS
DARKNESS so-called fear attacks. Fear attacks can also be triggered by
In complete darkness you cannot dash (page 43) or hit magic and other terrifying experiences.
enemies with ranged attacks. To attack an enemy in melee When struck by a fear attack you must immediately
combat, you must first make an AWARENESS roll (not an make a roll against WIL. The roll can be pushed (optional
action). rule) and does not count as an action. Particularly fright-
ening events can give you a bane on the roll. If the WIL
Torches & Lanterns: A torch or lantern lights up 10 roll fails, you must roll on the fear table on the next page.
meters (five squares) in all directions. Lighting a torch or
lantern is an action and requires flint and tinder or a fire
to light it with, or the magic trick IGNITE (page 65). If POISON
none of these are available, you can light it with a success- Poisons are measured by potency. A weak poison has
ful BUSHCRAFT roll, but that takes one stretch of work. potency 9, a moderate poison has potency 12, and a strong
A torch or lantern is carried in one hand, which poison can have potency 15 or even more. Whenever you
means that you cannot use two-handed weapons or a ingest a poison, the GM makes an open opposed roll (page
second one-handed weapon at the same time. A torch 33) between the potency and your CON. If the poison
can be used as a weapon, and counts as a small wooden wins, you suffer its full effect. If you win, you only suffer
club that deals fire damage. Whenever you hit someone the limited effect of the poison. Poison has no effect on
with it, you must immediately roll to see whether the monsters.
flame goes out (below).
A torch or lantern can burn for up to a shift of time, but NPCs: For poison effects on NPCs, roll against their max-
they are unreliable. After each stretch, or whenever the imum HP, reduced by 2 for each level of the Robust heroic
GM wants to heighten the drama, you must roll a die (the ability.
type depends on the light source, see page 78). A result
of 1 means that the flame goes out. Lethal Poison
✦ Full Effect: You take D6 damage per round, on your
turn, until you reach zero HP. If you consume an anti-
FEAR dote in time the effect is halted.
There are many horrifying beasts lurking in the ruins ✦ Limited Effect: You take D6 damage on your
and forests of Dragonbane. Such creatures can perform next turn.
52
Paralyzing Poison FEAR TABLE
✦ Full Effect: You become Exhausted and must make
a CON roll each turn (not an action). If it fails, you D8 EFFECT
can neither move nor perform actions (not even free
actions) that round. The effect wears off after one 1 Enfeebled. The fear drains your energy and
stretch or if you are given an antidote. determination. You lose 2D6 WP (to a minimum
✦ Limited Effect: You become Exhausted. of zero) and become Disheartened.
2 Shaken. You suffer the Scared condition.

Sleeping Poison
✦ Full Effect: You become Dazed and must make a 3 Panting. The intense fear leaves you out of
CON roll each turn (not an action). If it fails, you fall breath and makes you Exhausted.
asleep and remain sleeping for one shift. Being given
an antidote or taking at least one point of damage 4 Pale. Your face turns white as a sheet. You and all
wakes you up. player characters within 10 meters and in sight of
✦ Limited Effect: You become Dazed. you become Scared.
5 Scream. You scream in horror, which causes all

DISEASE player characters who hear the sound to imme-
diately suffer a fear attack as well. Each person
When you are exposed to a dangerous disease, the GM
only ever needs to make one WIL roll to resist the
makes an open opposed roll between the disease’s viru-
same fear attack.
lence rating and your CON. If you win, you resist the dis-
ease. If not, you fall ill after one day – you become Sickly 6 Rage. Your fear turns to anger, and you are
and lose D6 HP. While sick you cannot heal HP, WP, or forced to attack its source on your next turn –
conditions. Make a new roll against the disease every day, in melee combat if possible. You also become
where each failure inflicts D6 damage. If you reach zero Angry.
HP while sick, you die a day later. As soon as you win the
opposed roll, you are fully cured – you stop rolling and can 7 Paralyzed. You are petrified with terror and
heal as usual. unable to move. You cannot perform any action or
movement on your next turn. Make another WIL
Healing: If someone tends to you with the HEALING roll on each subsequent turn (not an action) to
skill while you are sick, that person can make the roll break the paralysis.
against the disease instead of you. The caregiver rolls for
8 Wild Panic. In a fit of utter panic, you flee the
HEALING against the virulence of the disease. A herbal
scene as fast as you can. On your next turn you
concoction adds a boon to the roll.
must dash away from the source of your fear.
Make another WIL roll on each subsequent turn
FALLING (not an action) to stop running and act normally
again.
Falling on a hard surface inflicts a number of D6s of
bludgeoning damage equal to half of the height of the fall
in meters, rounded down. A fall of less than two meters
inflicts no damage. A successful ACROBATICS roll SWIMMING roll. You get a bane if you are wearing chain-
reduces the number of D6 by half (rounded up). Armor mail or plate armor.
does not protect against falling damage. In water you must also make a SWIMMING roll after
every stretch of time to stay afloat. if you are wearing
chainmail or plate armor, you must roll every round.
SWIMMING & DROWNING Underwater, you need to make a successful roll against
All player characters are decent swimmers. In water your CON each round to hold your breath (not an action). If
movement rate is half your movement rate on land. No the roll fails you begin to drown, taking D6 damage per
ranged attacks can be performed in water, and melee round until someone rescues you. If you reach zero HP
attacks are performed with a bane. More difficult under- while drowning, you make death rolls as usual, but only
water maneuvers, like diving for something, require a failed rolls count.
53
HUNGER On failure you lose D6 HP and D6 WP, and can no
You must eat at least one ration of food (page 103) per longer heal these or conditions except through magic. You
day. After one day without food you become famished must then keep making rolls to withstand the cold, with
and cannot heal HP, WP, or conditions except through the same effect if you fail. If you reach zero HP while cold,
magic. You also take one point of damage per day that you you die when it is time for the next roll. Only when you get
haven’t eaten. If you reach zero HP while famished, you warm, if only by a campfire, can you stop making rolls and
die from starvation after one day. Once you have eaten a heal normally again.
ration of food you are no longer famished and can heal
normally again.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
You need at least one shift of uninterrupted sleep every day.
COLD You cannot sleep in armor. After three shifts without sleep
When the cold is bitter and you do not have enough shelter you can no longer heal WP or conditions. You heal HP as
(according to the GM), you must roll BUSHCRAFT reg- usual. You also lose D6 WP each shift you remain awake. If
ularly. You usually roll once per shift, but in extreme cold you reach zero WP while suffering from sleep deprivation,
you may have to roll every stretch or even every round. If you collapse and sleep for at least one shift, and cannot be
you don’t have a blanket, you get a bane to the roll, while a woken. Once you have slept at least one shift, you can heal
fur gives you a boon. WP and conditions normally again.
54
RIDING ANIMALS
A loyal horse or some other mount is a great asset to any Combat: In order to fight on horseback, your mount must
adventurer. Different types of pack animals and riding be combat trained. You may then move at your mount’s
animals are listed on page 81, and their stats are found movement rate instead of your own. On horseback you
on page 99. fight as usual, but all attacks and parries use the lowest of
your RIDING skill and the weapon skill. Also, RIDING
Saddlebags: The Gear lists specify how many units of replaces EVADE when horseback. If you don’t have a
weight the animal can carry. saddle, all rolls get a bane. Enemies attacking you must
choose whether they target you or your mount. Melee
Movement: While mounted you travel twice as fast as attacks from the ground get a bane against you.
on foot – roughly 30 kilometers per shift (page 7).
All player characters are assumed to be able to get up on a Damage: Mounts heal HP just like player characters. A
horse and ride slowly, but for more advanced maneuvers a mount that reaches zero HP does not make death rolls, but
roll for RIDING is required. simply dies.
IMPROVISED
WEAPONS
Battles are sometimes fought in places where things in At the start of combat, the GM can draw D3 cards to
the environment can be used in combat – as weapons, for see which improvised weapons are available – or simply
protection, or for movement. These improvised weapons decide for themselves. The GM can mark an improvised
can be lots of different things, but what they all have in weapon’s exact location on the map, or say that it is avail-
common is that they normally can only be used once, after able anywhere in the area. The playing cards are placed
which they are consumed. Using an improvised weapon is on the table where everyone can see them. Once used, an
an action and can be combined with movement. improvised weapon is consumed and the card is removed.
Examples of improvised weapons can be found on Complete adventures can feature new and unique
playing cards in this box. improvised weapons that are connected to a certain adven-
ture site.
55
MAGIC
ome call magic a gift from the dragons, others a guide the mage who wields it, but the reality is that magic
curse from the demons, and still others call it the is a basic force of nature that exists throughout the physical
blessing of the gods or spirits. And it is true that world as well as beyond it. Gods and demons, dragons and
dragons, demons, gods, and spirits influence magic and can spirits – they are all equally dependent on magic.
SCHOOLS OF MAGIC
Exploring magic is as much art as it is science. There are ELEMENTALISM
different schools of magic, each with a unique view on According to elementalists, all things in the universe
what magic is and how it works. There are said to be more consist of four elements: wind, water, earth, and fire in
magic schools in the world of Dragonbane, even necro- different combinations. The mind and spirit are associated
mancy and other dark arts, but the three below are the with wind. Adaptability and creativity are linked to water.
only ones available to player characters in the core game. Action and energy are linked to fire, and steadfastness and
determination are properties of the element earth.
Skills: Each school of magic is a separate secondary skill.
As a newly created mage you may select one school as a
trained skill (based on INT). You don’t get a base chance in MENTALISM
magic schools that you are not trained in, even as a mage. Mentalists believe that your mind and body are the center
You can learn additional schools of magic during the game of the universe. By focusing and training your mind,
(page 61). you gain control of your body and the magic that flows
through it and the world.
ANIMISM
The world is alive. It is full of spirits and gods, and all GENERAL MAGIC
things have a soul. Like nature itself, spirits and gods General magic is not a school, but a collection of general
are neither good nor evil. They may not be omnipotent, spells. You can learn general spells no matter which school
but they possess great power and should be treated with of magic you subscribe to.
respect. If you speak to them in the right way, they may
lend power to your animist magic.
SPELLS
The formulas mages use to influence and alter the world PREPARED SPELLS
are called spells. Many spells are described later in this Spells are complicated, and the maximum number of spells
chapter. You either know a spell or you do not. You do not you can hold prepared in your memory at the same time
have skill levels in individual spells, only in the school. You is equal to your base chance for INT (page 25). When
hold your spells in your memory or grimoire. you have reached your limit and want to prepare another
spell, you need to replace a spell. To prepare spells, you
need to study them in a grimoire. This takes a shift of time,
RANK regardless of the number of spells. It can be done during a
Spells are divided into ranks, which indicate how complex shift rest (page 52). You can only prepare spells that you
and powerful they are. As a mage you start the game with have learned (page 61). Mark your prepared spells with
only rank 1 spells, but you can learn higher rank spells an X on your character sheet.
during the game.
C H A P T E R 5 – M agic
57
GRIMOIRE MAGIC TRICKS
Most mages have a grimoire, and newly created mages So-called magic tricks are minor, relatively harmless spells.
automatically get one. In the grimoire, you record all the They are often the first thing a mage learns, as these simple
spells you know. Recording one spell takes a shift of time. spells train their minds to handle magical power. Each
You can record unreadied spells. school has its own magic tricks. The limit on prepared
Once you have learned more spells than can be held spells (above) does not apply to magic tricks. Your magic
prepared, your grimoire becomes crucial. In an emergency, tricks are always prepared.
you can cast spells directly from the grimoire, but it takes
twice as long as normal (see below).
Grimoires from other mages are also an effective way NEWLY CREATED MAGE
to learn new spells, should you not have a teacher. Read
more about learning new magic on page 61. As a newly created mage you may select three
rank 1 spells and three magic tricks to start the
Lost Grimoire: If you lose your grimoire, you cannot
game with. They must be chosen from your
prepare the spells you kept in it. To be able to use the school of magic or general magic. You also get a
unprepared spells again, you first need to get a new gri- grimoire where all your spells are recorded.
moire and record these spells in it.
CASTING SPELLS
To cast a spell you must spend Willpower Points (WP) immediately are lost. The damage is applied after the spell is
and roll against your skill level in the relevant school. cast. Power from the body cannot be used for healing spells.
Any school can be used to cast general spells. If the roll
succeeds, the spell has the intended effect, as per its
description. Otherwise, it has no effect. You can push the MAGIC AND METAL
roll if this optional rule is used. Magic tricks succeed auto- Metal has an anti-magical effect, which means that you
matically and always cost 1 WP. cannot use magic if you are wearing metal armor or have a
metal weapon at hand. This includes partially metal items
Zero WP: Some spells can drain WP from another person. such as axes, spears, studded leather, and arrows (but not
Hitting zero WP has no other effect than prohibiting the staves, clubs, or slings). Items in your inventory do not count.
use of abilities that require WP.
REQUIREMENTS
POWER LEVEL To cast a spell, you must fulfill one or more requirements
The power level of a spell indicates how much power you which are specified in the description of each spell.
charge it with. The power level ranges from 1 to 3. Casting
a spell costs 2 WP per power level. In other words, normal ✦ Word: The spell is activated with a chant or
spells always cost at least 2 WP, and magic tricks always power word.
cost 1 WP. Some spells do not use power level – these ✦ Gesture: The spell is activated by making specific
always cost 2 WP. hand movements.
✦ Focus: The spell is activated with an item held in your
Power from the Body: If you have zero WP left, you can hand, such as a wand, crystal ball, or amulet.
draw power from your body if need be. But this is harmful, ✦ Ingredient: The spell is activated using a certain
potentially even lethal. Roll a die of your choice (D4, D6, D8, ingredient, which is consumed in the process.
D10, D12, or D20) before casting the spell – the result indi-
cates how many WP you gain and must use straight away, Some spells have multiple requirements. You cannot cast a
but you also take the same amount of damage. WP not used spell unless all its requirements are fulfilled.
58
CASTING TIME Cone: If the range is described as cone, the spell affects
Unless otherwise stated, casting a spell always counts as an all targets within a cone-shaped area whose width at any
action in combat. However, there are reaction spells which given point equals the distance from the source of the spell.
are performed outside your own turn. Unlike other reac- The range indicates the length of the cone.
tions in combat, such as parrying and dodging, reaction
spells do not replace your regular action in the round. This
means that you can cast as many of them as you want, if DURATION
you have enough WP. There are also rituals, which take a Each spell specifies the duration of its effect.
stretch of time or even a shift to perform.
✦ Instant: The effect occurs instantly and has no last-
Grimoire: Casting an unprepared spell from your gri- ing effect.
moire takes twice as long, which means that you must ✦ Round: The effect lasts until your turn in the
spend an extra round, stretch, or shift on preparations. next round.
Make the roll when the spell is completed. Reaction spells ✦ Stretch: The effect lasts for one stretch of time.
cannot be cast from your grimoire. ✦ Shift: The effect lasts until the end of the current shift.
✦ Concentration: The effect ceases if you perform
another action, take damage, or fail a WIL roll for
RANGE resisting fear. If you are interrupted by a sudden distur-
Each spell has a maximum range. Unlike ranged weapons, bance, such as a sound, you must make a WIL roll (not
spells cannot be used on targets outside their specified an action) to maintain your concentration.
range. Personal range means that the spell only affects the
person casting it.
FAILURE, DRAGONS AND DEMONS
Area of Effect: Some spells affect an entire area. That area If the roll for casting a spell fails, the spell has no effect,
is called the area of effect. Unless stated otherwise, the area but you still spend your WP. You are free to describe how
of effect always starts at the mage casting the spell. the failure manifests itself in the story, as long as it has no
Area of effect spells can be dodged but not parried, mechanical effect.
unless stated otherwise. You can exempt one or more
targets within the area from the spell’s effects, but you then Rolling a Dragon: Rolling a Dragon when you cast a spell
get a bane on the roll. means that your target must roll a dragon to resist, parry,
or dodge the spell, and that you may choose one of the
Sphere: If the range is described as sphere, the spell affects following effects:
all targets within the chosen area except the mage themself.
✦ The damage or range of the spell is doubled.
✦ The spell does not cost any WP.
MAGIC ITEMS ✦ You can immediately cast another spell, but get a bane
on the roll.
Magic items may contain one or more spells that
Rolling a Demon: If you roll a Demon, you cannot push
can be activated even by non-mages. Unless
stated otherwise, it takes a successful roll
the roll. There is also a risk of something going terribly
against LANGUAGES or any school of magic to
wrong – see the optional rule for magical mishaps below.
identify the spells and be able to use them.
Willpower Points: Using the spells inside a MAGICAL MISHAP

magic item still costs WP. Some magic items can
store WP which you can use instead of your own. A magical mishap occurs if you roll a Demon
Read more on page 62. (20) when casting a spell. Roll on the table
on page 60.
59
MAGICAL MISHAPS
D20 MAGICAL MISHAP
1 The magical powers leave you Dazed.
2 The spellcasting suddenly makes you Exhausted.
3 The energies take a toll on your body and make you Sickly.
4 You lose control of the spell, which makes you very Angry.
5 The spell subjects you to demonic visions that leave you Scared.
6 You see the world beyond the veil and realize your own insignificance. You feel Disheartened.
7 The magic ravages your body, inflicting D6 damage per power level.
8 The spell drains your willpower and you lose D6 WP per power level.
9 The spell gives rise to a magical disease with virulence 3D6. You and everyone you come into
contact with during the next shift are exposed to the disease.
10 Another random spell of yours is activated instead of the one you cast, with the same target
and power level.
11 You vomit a frog the moment you tell a lie. Roll D4 every morning. On a 1, the effect wears off. It
can also be lifted with DISPEL.
12 Any gold or silver you touch withers into dust. Roll D4 every morning. On a 1, the effect wears
off. It can also be lifted with DISPEL.
13 The spell blinds you, and you act as if in total darkness (page 52). Roll D4 every morning. On
a 1, you recover. The effect can also be lifted with DISPEL.
14 You are struck by amnesia and forget who you and the other player characters are. The effect
must be roleplayed. Roll D4 every morning. On a 1, your memory returns.
15 The spell also affects a friend or other unintended victim. A healing or helping spell affects an
enemy.
16 The spell backfires. An offensive spell affects you instead of the intended target. A protecting
or healing spell inflicts damage instead.
17 You turn into an animal. Roll D6. 1: cat, 2: fox, 3: goat, 4: wolf, 5: deer, 6: bear. You get stats
according to the table on page 99 and cannot speak, but you retain your mental acuity. Roll a
D4 every morning. On a 1, you revert back to human form.
18 You become one category younger, for example from adult to young. Your attributes and
derived ratings change as per the table on page 24, but your skill levels do not. If you were
already young, you turn into a child with −2 STR and CON, to a minimum of 3. The effect is per-
manent and you age normally from your new age.
19 You become one category older, for example from adult to old. Your attributes and derived rat-
ings change as per the table on page 24, but your skill levels do not. If you were already old,
you become very frail and get −2 STR and CON. The effect is permanent and you age normally
from your new age.
20 Your magic attracts a demon (page 85) from another dimension. The demon shows up within
the next shift and attacks or causes some kind of trouble. The details are up to the GM.
60
LEARNING MAGIC
You can learn new spells from a teacher or grimoire. You Grimoires: If you are lucky, you can find spells in other
must have a skill level in the relevant school of magic, or mages’ grimoires. You can learn them on your own. This
any school of magic for general spells. works the same way as with a teacher, but you roll against
LANGUAGES instead of INT, without the boon.
Prerequisites: Some spells have a prerequisite that must
be met in order to learn them. It is usually a school of Magic Tricks: Magic tricks are easier to learn than real
magic or knowing another spell. spells. It takes one stretch to learn a new trick from a teacher
or grimoire. No advancement mark or roll is required.
Teachers: The easiest (but often most expensive) way to
learn a spell is from a teacher who already knows it. The Schools of Magic: You can learn additional schools of
lesson takes one shift, but you cannot activate the new magic by first acquiring the heroic ability Magic Talent
spell until the end of the game session. You must then use (page 38), and then studying under a teacher with a skill
an advancement mark (page 29) for the school to learn level in the school for at least a week. At the end of the
the new spell instead of trying to increase your skill level week you make a roll against INT. On a success you get
in the school. Make a roll against INT, with a boon. On your base chance (INT) as the skill level in the school. On
success you learn the spell, otherwise you do not. failure you may try again after another week of study. Even
non-mages can learn magic this way.
SPELL LIST
The following pages list all magic tricks and spells in the by the three schools of Animism, Elementalism, and
Dragonbane core game. First up is General Magic, followed Mentalism.
GENERAL MAGIC
MAGIC TRICKS Sense Magic: You can sense whether the place you are in,
Fetch: You make a loose object (no heavier than weight 1) or an item you are holding, is affected by magic – and if so,
within 10 meters float to you. what kind of magic.
Flick: You give an object or creature within 10 meters a

magical flick. The “attack” inflicts 1 point of damage and DISPEL
can, for example, shatter glass. ✦ Rank: 1
✦ Prerequisite: Any School of Magic
Light: You create a bright light that shines from a focus of ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
your choice. It illuminates a 10-meter radius area around ✦ Casting Time: Action
your focus and lasts for one shift of time. The light goes out ✦ Range: 10 meters
if you reach zero HP. ✦ Duration: Instant
You cancel an ongoing spell of lower or equal power level.
Open/Close: You open or close an unlocked door within DISPEL can also be used to end other magical effects, if
10 meters that you can see. the adventure or GM allows it.
Repair Clothes: Clothes belonging to you or someone

else within 10 meters are instantly repaired and cleaned.
61
PROTECTOR MAGIC SEAL
✦ Rank: 1 ✦ Rank: 4
✦ Prerequisite: Any School of Magic ✦ Prerequisite: TRANSFER
✦ Requirement: Gesture, ingredient (something to ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
draw with) ✦ Casting Time: Shift
✦ Casting Time: Action ✦ Range: Touch
✦ Range: Touch ✦ Duration: Permanent
✦ Duration: Shift You bind a spell to an inanimate object of your choice. The
You protect a person or place (no larger than a human) power level of MAGIC SEAL determines the power level of
from magic. The power level of all spells cast at the person the bound spell. Binding a magic trick requires power level
or place is reduced by the power level in PROTECTOR. 1. When casting MAGIC SEAL you also decide how the
You can also use the spell to protect against magical attacks bound spell is activated. When that happens, the spell uses
from monsters (page 83). In that case, each power level WP from the person activating it. If this person cannot or
reduces the number of dice rolled for damage by 1. will not spend their WP, the spell is not activated. MAGIC
SEAL can be combined with CHARGE to give the object
its own WP to use. The two rituals must then be per-
MAGIC SHIELD formed consecutively. Activating a bound spell dissolves
✦ Rank: 2 the MAGIC SEAL, unless the MAGIC SEAL is combined
✦ Prerequisite: PROTECTOR or DISPEL with PERMANENCE (below).
✦ Requirement: Gesture
✦ Casting Time: Reaction
✦ Range: 10 meters CHARGE
✦ Duration: Instant ✦ Rank: 4
You interfere with a spell cast by another mage. This spell ✦ Prerequisite: TRANSFER
is a reaction and breaks the initiative order of combat, but ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
does not replace your action in the round. You cast it after ✦ Casting Time: Stretch
your opponent’s roll to succeed, but before any roll for ✦ Range: Touch
damage or other effect. If it succeeds, the power level of ✦ Duration: Shift
your opponent’s spell decreases by the power level of your You transfer your WP to an inanimate object of your
MAGIC SHIELD. If the result is zero or less, your oppo- choice, which acts as a battery. Each power level lets you
nent’s spell has no effect at all. You can also use the spell to transfer up to 10 WP. Anyone in contact with the object
stop magical attacks from monsters (page 83). In that can then use its WP instead of their own. After one shift
case, each power level reduces the number of dice rolled of time, the charged WP dissipate, unless combined with
for damage by 1. PERMANENCE. CHARGE can also be combined with
MAGIC SEAL (see above).
TRANSFER
✦ Rank: 3 PERMANENCE
✦ Prerequisite: MAGIC SHIELD ✦ Rank: 5
✦ Requirement: Gesture ✦ Prerequisite: MAGIC SEAL
✦ Casting Time: Action ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
✦ Range: Touch ✦ Casting Time: Shift
✦ Duration: Instant ✦ Range: Touch
You can steal WP from other humanoid creatures or ✦ Duration: Permanent
transfer your WP to someone else. You can take or give a This ritual is combined with another spell and makes it
number of WP up to twice cost for casting the spell – i.e. permanent. This costs the mage one point of WIL perma-
four at power level 1, eight a power level 2, and twelve at mently (and reduces maximum WP by one). The power
level 3. The WP used to cast the spell are lost in the trans- level of PERMANENCE must be equal to that of the spell
fer. You can never exceed your maximum WP or go below being made permanent. PERMANENCE cannot be added
zero, and the same goes for your subject. If they refuse the to spells with instant duration. If PERMANENCE is com-
transfer, you get a bane to your roll. bined with MAGIC SEAL, the latter becomes permanent
and the bound spell can be activated any number of times.
62
ANIMISM
MAGIC TRICKS ✦ Casting Time: Stretch
Birdsong: You are surrounded by lovely birdsong for one ✦ Range: 2 meters
stretch of time. The birds give you a boon to AWARENESS. ✦ Duration: Instant
This trick only works outdoors. This spell lets you talk to a bird or mammal. You can ask
a number of questions equal to the power level. Animals
Clean: The room you are in is cleaned. All dust and dirt can tell you what they have seen, heard, or smelled – but
disappear, and the room is put in order. they do not perceive the world as humanoids do, and their
answers are hard to interpret. The main advantage is that
Cook Food: You automatically succeed at cooking food they never lie.
(page 103) without a BUSHCRAFT roll, and it happens
instantly (one action).
BANISH
Floral Trail: Beautiful flowers sprout where you walk. The ✦ Rank: 1
flowers wither after a shift. ✦ Prerequisite: Animism
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, focus (holy symbol)
Hairstyle: You change the color, length, and style of your ✦ Casting Time: Action
hair as you see fit. In some situations this can give you a ✦ Range: 10 meters (sphere)
boon to BLUFFING and PERSUASION rolls. ✦ Duration: Stretch
Demons and undead rising from their graves are a viola-
tion of the natural order and must be stopped. This spell
ANIMAL WHISPERER inflicts 2D8 damage on such a being. Each additional
✦ Rank: 1 power level increases the damage by D8. Armor and
✦ Prerequisite: Animism natural armor have no effect, and the spell cannot be
✦ Requirement: Word dodged or parried.
63
ENSNARING ROOTS You call upon the spirits of the forest who quickly make
✦ Rank: 1 thickets of thorns and roots shoot up from the ground in
✦ Prerequisite: Animism the area of effect. The area counts as rough terrain (page
✦ Requirement: Gesture, ingredient (branches or 44), and everyone except yourself (not monsters) who is
roots nearby) in the area of effect when you cast the spell is ensnared by
✦ Casting Time: Action roots and branches, unable to move. Breaking free requires
✦ Range: 10 meters an EVADE roll – with a boon at power level 1, normally at
✦ Duration: Shift power level 2, and with a bane at power level 3. Each attempt
The victim is ensnared by roots and branches and is unable counts as an action in combat. Only one attempt is allowed
to move. Breaking free requires an EVADE roll – with a per round. Other people who are not ensnared can help.
boon at power level 1, normally at power level 2, and with
a bane at power level 3. Each attempt counts as an action
in combat. Only one attempt is allowed per round, but LIGHTNING BOLT
others can help. The spell does not work on monsters. ✦ Rank: 2
✦ Prerequisite: LIGHTNING FLASH
✦ Requirement: Gesture
LIGHTNING FLASH ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Rank: 1 ✦ Range: 40 meters
✦ Prerequisite: Animism ✦ Duration: Instant
✦ Requirement: Gesture You call down a great bolt of lightning on a target, who
✦ Casting Time: Action suffers 2D8 damage. The bolt continues to another random
✦ Range: 30 meters target within 2 meters of the target, inflicting 2D6 damage,
✦ Duration: Instant and then to a third target within 2 meters, who suffers 2D4
You call down a flash of lightning from the sky. If the spell is damage. Each power level beyond the first increases the
cast successfully, the target takes 2D6 damage. The lightning number of dice rolled for damage by one. Metal armor has
flash continues to another random target within 2 meters of no effect but the spell can be dodged or parried as a ranged
the target, inflicting 2D4 damage. Each power level beyond attack, and if this is successfully done, no further target is
the first increases the number of dice rolled for damage by hit. Indoors, the WP cost to cast the spell is doubled.
one (e.g., 3D6 and 3D4 respectively at power level 2). Metal
armor has no effect but the spell can be dodged or parried
as a ranged attack, and if this is successfully done, no further HEAL WOUND
target is hit. Indoors, the WP cost to cast the spell is doubled. ✦ Rank: 2
✦ Prerequisite: TREAT WOUND
✦ Requirement: Word
TREAT WOUND ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Rank: 1 ✦ Range: Touch
✦ Prerequisite: Animism ✦ Duration: Instant
✦ Requirement: Word You heal another living creature for 2D8 HP and one
✦ Casting Time: Action non-permanent severe injury. For each power level beyond
✦ Range: Touch the first, the spell heals an additional D8 HP.
✦ Duration: Instant
You heal another living creature for 2D6 HP. For each power
level beyond the first, the spell heals an additional D6 HP. PURGE
✦ Rank: 2
✦ Prerequisite: BANISH
ENGULFING FOREST ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, focus (holy symbol)
✦ Rank: 2 ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Prerequisite: ENSNARING ROOTS ✦ Range: 10 meters
✦ Requirement: Gesture, ingredient (branches or ✦ Duration: Instant
roots nearby) You exorcise a demon or undead, inflicting 2D10 damage
✦ Casting Time: Action on the unnatural creature. Each power level increases the
✦ Range: 10 meters (sphere) damage by D10. Armor and natural armor have no effect,
✦ Duration: Shift and the spell cannot be dodged or parried.
64
SLEEP ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, ingredient (corpse)
✦ Rank: 2 ✦ Casting Time: Shift
✦ Prerequisite: HEAL WOUND ✦ Range: Touch
✦ Requirement: Word ✦ Duration: Permanent
✦ Casting Time: Action You can channel nature’s forces to resurrect a dead person
✦ Range: Touch – not as undead, but truly alive. This costs the mage one
✦ Duration: Instant point of WIL permamently (and reduces maximum WP
The target of the spell must succeed with a WIL roll or fall by one). The more time that has passed since the target
into a deep sleep for one stretch. NPCs roll against their died, the more difficult it is. Within the same shift requires
maximum WP if this is listed, reduced by 2 for each level power level 1, within a day requires power level 2, and
of the Focused heroic ability. If WP is not listed, NPCs roll within a week requires power level 3. If over a week has
against 10. If the roll succeeds, the victim still gets Dazed. passed, the body is too decomposed to be RESURRECTED.
The victim rolls with a boon at power level 1, normally at Only one attempt can be made – if it fails, the victim is
power level 2, and with a bane at power level 3. A sleeping permanently dead. A person brought back to life loses D3
person is very difficult to wake, but wakes up upon taking skill levels in all CHA-based skills (to a minimum of 3).
damage. The spell can only be used on the living and has
no effect on monsters.
THUNDERBOLT
✦ Rank: 3
RESTORATION ✦ Prerequisite: LIGHTNING BOLT
✦ Rank: 3 ✦ Requirement: Gesture
✦ Prerequisite: HEAL WOUND ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Requirement: Word ✦ Range: 50 meters
✦ Casting Time: Action ✦ Duration: Instant
✦ Range: Touch You call down a mighty thunderstroke on a target, who
✦ Duration: Instant suffers 2D10 damage. The thunderstroke continues to up
You heal another living creature for 2D10 HP and any one to three random targets within 2 meters of each other. The
severe injury. For each power level beyond the first, the damage is 2D8 for the second target, 2D6 for the third,
spell heals an additional D10 HP. and 2D4 for the fourth. Each power level beyond the first
increases the number of dice rolled for damage by one.
Metal armor has no effect but the spell can be dodged or
RESURRECTION parried as a ranged attack, and if this is successfully done,
✦ Rank: 3 no further target is hit.. Indoors, the WP cost to cast the
✦ Prerequisite: HEAL WOUND spell is doubled.
ELEMENTALISM
MAGIC TRICKS
Heat/Chill: The area within 10 meters of you becomes
pleasantly warm or cold. The effect protects against cold
(page 54) for one shift of time.
Ignite: You light or extinguish a candle, torch, or lantern

within 10 meters.
Puff of Smoke: An impressive puff of smoke erupts in

front of you. Very popular for dramatic entrances, and
can give you a boon to SNEAKING in certain situations as
determined by the GM.
65
FIREBALL PILLAR
✦ Prerequisite: Elementalism ✦ Prerequisite: Elementalism
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
✦ Casting Time: Action ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Range: 20 meters ✦ Range: 10 meters
✦ Duration: Instant ✦ Duration: Shift
The spell sends a fireball from your hand or focus at the The spell raises a pillar, three meters high and one meter
target. The fireball can be dodged or parried as a ranged wide, from the ground or a stone floor. If someone is stand-
attack. The fireball inflicts 2D6 damage on a hit and sets ing in that spot, the victim must make a ACROBATICS roll
fire to flammable objects. Each power level beyond the first (not an action) to avoid falling off the pillar. If the pillar is
increases the damage by D6 or creates another fireball that created under a low ceiling and the roll fails, the victim takes
hits another target within range. 2D6 bludgeoning damage instead. For each additional power
level, the height of the pillar increases by three meters, which
can mean falling damage to anyone who falls off (page 53).
FROST
✦ Rank: 1
✦ Prerequisite: Elementalism SHATTER
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture ✦ Rank: 1
✦ Casting Time: Action ✦ Prerequisite: Elementalism
✦ Range: 4 meters (sphere) ✦ Requirement: Word
✦ Duration: Stretch ✦ Casting Time: Action
You drastically lower the temperature around you. All ✦ Range: Touch
natural fires in the area of effect are extinguished and all ✦ Duration: Instant
living creatures lose D6 HP and D6 WP when the spell is By breaking the invisible bond that holds physical matter
cast, and become cold as per the rules on page 54 – they together, you can shatter physical objects. With this spell
cannot heal HP or WP until they get warm. you inflict 2D10 damage on an inanimate and non-magical
Humanoids (not monsters) in the area of effect when item. Any armor rating has no effect. Each power level
the spell is cast are also frozen in place and can neither beyond the first increases the damage by D10.
move nor perform actions (not even reactions). On each
turn, a frozen victim can make a STR roll (not an action)
to break free. Each additional power level increases the FIRE BLAST
range by 4 meters. ✦ Rank: 2
Any water in the area of effect immediately freezes. In ✦ Prerequisite: FIREBALL
a river this creates an ice floe that you can walk on or use ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
as a raft. ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Range: 30 meters
GUST OF WIND The spell sends a large fire blast from your hand or focus
✦ Rank: 1 at the target. The fire blast can be dodged or parried as
✦ Prerequisite: Elementalism a ranged attack. The fire blast inflicts 2D8 damage on a
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture hit and sets fire to flammable objects. Each power level
✦ Casting Time: Action beyond the first increases the damage by D8 or creates
✦ Range: 10 meters (cone) another blast that hits another target within range.
The spell summons a great gust of wind. All untethered
objects and creatures up to human size in the area of STONE SHIELD
effect are pushed 2D4 meter away from you and suffer ✦ Rank: 2
the same amount of bludgeoning damage. Against a ✦ Prerequisite: PILLAR
swarm (page 83) the spell deals 2D6 damage. Each ✦ Requirement: Gesture, ingredient (pebbles)
additional power level increases the number of dice by ✦ Casting Time: Reaction
one. The spell has no effect on monsters that are Large or ✦ Range: Personal
Huge (page 83). ✦ Duration: Instant
66
You instantly summon a shield of stone that decreases the WHIRLWIND
damage of an incoming attack by 2D6. Each additional ✦ Rank: 2
power level decreases the damage by another D6. You can ✦ Prerequisite: GUST OF WIND
cast the spell after the roll to hit, but before rolling damage. ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
The spell can be combined with armor. ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Range: 4 meters (sphere)
STONEWALL The spell creates a mighty whirlwind around the mage. All
✦ Rank: 2 untethered objects and creatures up to human size in the
✦ Prerequisite: PILLAR area of effect are hurled 2D4 meters away, suffer the same
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture amount of bludgeoning damage, and land prone. Each
✦ Casting Time: Action additional power level increases the range by 4 meters and
✦ Range: 10 meters inflicts another D4 damage.
✦ Duration: Shift If you take a bane on the roll, you can let one person in
The spell raises a wall from the ground or a stone floor – range be hurled to another spot of your choice within the
one meter thick, two meters high, and three meters wide. spell’s range. You decide whether that person takes damage
Each additional power level creates another section of the and whether they land prone.
same size. If someone is standing in that spot, the victim
must make a ACROBATICS roll (not an action) to avoid
falling off. If the wall is created under a low ceiling and the FIREBIRD
roll fails, the victim takes 2D6 bludgeoning damage instead. ✦ Rank: 3
✦ Prerequisite: FIRE BLAST
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
TIDAL WAVE ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Rank: 2 ✦ Range: 40 meters
✦ Prerequisite: FROST ✦ Duration: Instant
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, ingredient The spell sends a terrifying bird of fire from your hand or
(water source) focus at the target. The attack can be dodged or parried
✦ Casting Time: Action as a ranged attack. The firebird inflicts 2D10 damage on
✦ Range: 20 meters (cone) a hit and sets fire to flammable objects. Each power level
✦ Duration: Instant beyond the first increases the damage by D10 or creates
You summon a great wave from a water source within another firebird that hits another target in range.
range. The area of effect starts at the source, not at yourself.
All untethered objects and creatures in the area of effect
are pushed 2D6 meters away from the water source and
suffer the same amount of bludgeoning damage.
Each additional power level increases the
number of dice by one.
FIRESTORM (free action) and can act independently with its own initia-
✦ Rank: 3 tive, but must stay within sight of the mage.
✦ Prerequisite: FIRE BLAST, WHIRLWIND
✦ Casting Time: Action SALAMANDER
✦ Range: 4 meters (surface)
✦ Duration: Instant Movement: 12 HP: 5 per power level
The spell creates a whirling storm of fire around you. All Armor: —
targets in range suffer 2D6 damage. Each additional power
level increases the range by 4 meters and inflicts another Weapons: Flaming grip. Hits automatically in
D6 damage. melee combat (but can be dodged) and inflicts
D6 damage per power level. Armor has no effect.
Fire Orb: The salamander can cast FIRE

GNOME
BLAST at the same power level as its own,
✦ Rank: 3 using the mage’s WP.
✦ Prerequisite: STONEWALL
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, ingredient (stone Resistance: Piecing damage is halved.
or soil)
Immunity: The salamander is immune to fire
✦ Casting Time: Stretch
damage, including magical fire damage.
✦ Range: 4 meters
✦ Duration: Stretch
The spell summons an earth elemental. The gnome takes the
form of a humanoid of gray-brown sand or clay, and counts
as a monster in combat (page 84). It follows its creator’s SYLPH
commands (free action) and acts independently with its ✦ Rank: 3
own initiative, but must stay within sight of the mage. ✦ Prerequisite: WHIRLWIND
✦ Casting Time: Stretch
GNOME ✦ Range: 4 meters
Movement: 8 HP: 5 per power level The spell summons a wind elemental. The sylph looks like
Armor: 4
a storm cloud in the shape of a bird. It counts as a monster
in combat (page 84), follows its creator’s commands
Weapons: Fists of stone. Hits automatically (free action), and can act independently with its own ini-
in melee combat (but can be dodged or par- tiative, but must stay within sight of the mage.
ried) and inflicts D6 bludgeoning damage per
power level.
Pillar: The gnome can cast PILLAR at the same SYLPH

power level as its own, using the mage’s WP.
Movement: 24 HP: 5 per power level
Armor: —
Weapons: Howling winds. Hits automatically
SALAMANDER in melee combat (but can be dodged). The
attack hurls the victim D4 meters per power
✦ Rank: 3
level and inflicts the same amount of blud-
✦ Prerequisite: FIRE BLAST
geoning damage.
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, ingredient (open fire)
✦ Casting Time: Stretch Gust of Wind: The sylph can cast GUST OF
✦ Range: 4 meters WIND at the same power level as its own,
✦ Duration: Stretch using the mage’s WP.
The spell summons a fire elemental. The salamander takes
Resistance: Piercing damage is halved.
the form of a lizard of fire, and counts as a monster in
combat (page 84). It follows its creator’s commands
68
UNDINE
✦ Rank: 3 UNDINE
✦ Prerequisite: TIDAL WAVE
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, ingredient (water) Movement: 12 HP: 5 per power level
✦ Casting Time: Stretch Armor: —
✦ Range: 4 meters
Weapons: Wet embrace. Hits automatically
in melee combat (but can be dodged) and
The spell summons a water elemental. The undine looks
inflicts D6 damage per power level. Armor
like a tidal wave whose crest is shaped like a woman com-
has no effect.
posed entirely of water. It counts as a monster in combat
(page 84), follows its creator’s commands (free action), Tidal Wave: The undine can cast TIDAL
and can act independently with its own initiative, but must WAVE at the same power level as its own,
stay within sight of the mage. using the mage’s WP.
Resistance: Piercing damage is halved.
MENTALISM
MAGIC TRICKS LEVITATE
Lock/Unlock: Your touch locks or unlocks a non-magi- ✦ Rank: 1
cal lock. ✦ Prerequisite: Mentalism
Magic Stool: You create a round surface, roughly half a ✦ Casting Time: Action
meter in diameter and height, which you can sit on or put ✦ Range: 6 meters
things on. The effect lasts until you leave. ✦ Duration: Instant
You levitate yourself or another person or object of up to
Slow Fall: You slow your fall and land as light as a feather, human size and let it float up to 6 meters in any direction,
no matter the height. after which it lands gently or drops to the ground (you
decide). Each additional power level lets you levitate the
target another 2 meters or levitate an additional person or
FARSIGHT object. If you try to LEVITATE an unwilling creature, you
✦ Rank: 1 get a bane to the roll.
✦ Prerequisite: Mentalism
✦ Casting Time: Action LONGSTRIDER
✦ Range: 1 kilometer ✦ Rank: 1
✦ Duration: Concentration ✦ Prerequisite: Mentalism
The spell lets you see and hear what is happening in a place ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
up to one kilometer away, as if you were there in person. ✦ Casting Time: Action
You must either have the place in sight or have visited it ✦ Range: Touch
previously. Each additional power level increases the range ✦ Duration: Stretch
tenfold – 10 kilometers at power level 2 and 100 kilometers The target’s movement rating is doubled for the duration
at power level 3. The spell cannot be used to peer into of the effect. You can cast the spell on yourself. Each addi-
other dimensions. tional power level lets you cast the spell on another person.
69
POWER FIST MENTAL STRIKE
✦ Prerequisite: Mentalism ✦ Prerequisite: POWER FIST
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
✦ Casting Time: Action ✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Range: Personal ✦ Range: 10 meters
✦ Duration: Stretch ✦ Duration: Instant
The damage of your unarmed attacks increases by D6 per You can project your mental power as a powerful physical
power level. strike. The attack hurls the victim 2D6 meters away from
you and inflicts the same amount of damage. Each addi-
tional power level adds D6 to the roll. The spell can be
STONE SKIN dodged or parried as a ranged attack.
✦ Rank: 1
✦ Prerequisite: Mentalism
✦ Requirement: Word, gesture, ingredient (stone) SCRYING
✦ Casting Time: Action ✦ Rank: 2
✦ Range: Touch ✦ Prerequisite: FARSIGHT
✦ Duration: Stretch ✦ Requirement: Gesture
The target’s skin turns hard and gray, and gains armor ✦ Casting Time: Action
rating 4. Each power level beyond the first increases the ✦ Range: 10 meters
armor rating by an additional 2. If you wear armor, only ✦ Duration: Concentration
the highest armor rating counts. You gain knowledge of past events that occurred in the
place you are in, even if none alive remember what hap-
pened. You gaze up to a day back in time at power level 1, a
DIVINATION year at power level 2, and centuries at power level 3. Your
✦ Rank: 2 visions are often cryptic and fragmented – the GM decides
✦ Prerequisite: FARSIGHT exactly what you see.
✦ Casting Time: Action
✦ Range: 100 meters TELEPATHY
✦ Duration: Instant ✦ Rank: 2
Specify an item (“weapon”, “sword”), substance (“gold”, ✦ Prerequisite: FARSIGHT
“air”, “water”), creature or type of creature (“Zot the mage”, ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
“undead”, “orcs”) or phenomenon (“magic”). The spell shows ✦ Casting Time: Action
you the direction to the nearest target of the specified type ✦ Range: 10 meters
within the spell’s range. Each additional power level doubles ✦ Duration: Concentration
the range – to 200 meters and 400 meters respectively. You can read the surface thoughts of another person.
Accessing deeper memories requires power level 2 or even
more, depending on how fresh the memory is. The GM
ENCHANT WEAPON has the final say. You can also use this spell to send your
✦ Rank: 2 own thoughts to another person.
✦ Prerequisite: POWER FIST
✦ Casting Time: Action DOMINATE
✦ Range: Touch ✦ Rank: 3
✦ Duration: Stretch ✦ Prerequisite: TELEPATHY
The spell enchants a weapon so that result 1–2 counts as ✦ Requirement: Word, gesture
a Dragon roll when attacking and parrying with it. The ✦ Casting Time: Action
weapon also counts as magical. Each power level increases ✦ Range: 10 meters
the chance of rolling a Dragon by 1. In other words: 1–3 at ✦ Duration: Instant
power Level 2 and 1–4 at power level 3.
70
You can take complete control of another person’s actions.
To cast the spell, make an opposed roll against the victim’s
WIL. NPCs roll against their maximum WP if this is listed,
reduced by 2 for each level of the Focused heroic ability. If
WP is not listed, NPCs roll against 10. At power level 1 you
get a bane, at power level 2 you roll normally, and at power
level 3 you get a boon. If you win the roll, the victim must
immediately make a movement and perform an action of
your choice, except any action that requires spending WP.
The victim also loses their next turn. The spell has no effect
on monsters.
FLIGHT
✦ Rank: 3
✦ Prerequisite: LEVITATE
✦ Range: Touch
You give yourself or another creature of up to human
size the ability to fly freely with Movement rating 6.
At power level 2, the Movement rating is doubled
to 12. At power level 3, it is doubled again to 24.
The flying individual can ignore all obstacles and
is not affected by terrain.
TELEPORT
✦ Rank: 3
✦ Prerequisite: FARSIGHT
✦ Range: Touch
With this spell you can teleport yourself up
to 100 meters. You must either be able to
see the destination or have visited it pre-
viously. For each power level beyond the
first, you can bring another human-sized
creature you touch with you, or double
the range. The spell cannot be used to
travel between dimensions.
GEAR
his chapter covers various kinds of goods and Damage indicates how much damage the weapon inflicts
services available in the world of Dragonbane on a hit. The damage can be increased by Damage Bonus
and their usual cost. The tables also list the items’ and decreased by armor.
weight (page 28) and mechanical effects.
Durability determines how much damage you can parry
without damaging the weapon. Read more about parrying
SUPPLY on page 46.
Some goods and services are rare, and the player charac-
ters cannot expect to find everything they are looking for Range indicates the maximum range in meters at
in any little village. Each listed item has a supply rating, which the weapon can be used effectively. Read more
graded on the following scale. on page 49.
✦ Common: Available in any village or marketplace. Cost indicates the weapon’s typical price. The actual price
✦ Uncommon: Can usually only be purchased from the can vary depending on local supply and demand.
artisan making it, which does not necessarily mean it
will be available in every village. Features indicates which features the weapon has:
✦ Rare: Must generally be specially ordered from
artisans. ✦ Subtle: The weapon grants a boon and increased
✦ Unique: Can only be obtained in treasure troves or damage when performing sneak attacks (page 43).
from the person who found the precious item. ✦ Long: Attacks with this melee weapon can hit an
enemy up to 4 meters away (two squares).
✦ Toppling: The weapon grants a boon when trying to
WEAPONS & ARMOR trip an opponent (page 48).
As an adventurer, you always want a weapon close at hand ✦ Piercing: The weapon inflicts piercing damage, which
– you never know where danger may be lurking. The tables can affect the effectiveness of armor (page 50).
on pages 74–75 list common types of weapons. The ✦ Slashing: The weapon inflicts slashing damage. If the
values shown in the tables are explained below. weapon is both slashing and piercing, you must choose
whether to slash or pierce before rolling the attack.
Grip indicates if you need one or two hands to wield the ✦ Bludgeoning: The weapon inflicts bludgeoning damage,
weapon. Read more on page 45. which affects the effectiveness of armor (page 50).
STR indicates how much STR you need to use the weapon Armor Rating indicates the amount of damage the armor
effectively. Read more on page 45. subtracts from an attack. You can only wear one suit of
armor at a time, but armor can be combined with a helmet.
ARMOR & HELMETS

ARMOR
ARMOR RATING COST SUPPLY EFFECT
Leather 1 2 gold Common —

Studded Leather 2 10 gold Uncommon Bane on SNEAKING rolls.
Chainmail 4 50 gold Uncommon Bane on EVADE and SNEAKING rolls.
Plate Armor 6 500 gold Rare Bane on ACROBATICS, EVADE, and SNEAKING rolls.
Open Helmet +1 12 gold Uncommon Bane on AWARENESS rolls.
Great Helm +2 100 gold Rare Bane on AWARENESS and all ranged attacks.
C H A P T E R 6 – G ear
73
MELEE WEAPONS
DURA
WEAPON GRIP STR RANGE DAMAGE BILITY COST SUPPLY FEATURES
Unarmed — — 2 D6 — — — Bludgeoning
Blunt Object, Light 1H — STR D8 3 — — Bludgeoning, can be thrown
Blunt Object, Heavy 2H 16 2 2D8 3 — — Bludgeoning
Knife 1H — STR D8 6 5 silver Common Subtle, piercing,
can be thrown
Dagger 1H — STR D8 9 1 gold Common Subtle, piercing, slashing,
can be thrown
Parrying Dagger 1H — 2 D6 15 2 gold Uncommon Subtle, piercing, slashing
Short Sword 1H 7 2 D10 12 8 gold Common Piercing, slashing
Broadsword 1H 10 2 2D6 15 12 gold Common Piercing, slashing
Longsword 1H 13 2 2D8 15 25 gold Uncommon Piercing, slashing
Greatsword 2H 16 2 2D10 15 50 gold Rare Piercing, slashing
Scimitar 1H 10 2 2D6 12 10 gold Uncommon Toppling, slashing
Handaxe 1H 7 STR 2D6 9 2 gold Common Toppling, slashing,
can be thrown
Battleaxe 1H 13 2 2D8 9 10 gold Uncommon Toppling, slashing
Two-Handed Axe 2H 16 2 2D10 9 25 gold Uncommon Toppling, slashing
Mace 1H 7 2 2D4 12 8 gold Common Bludgeoning
Morningstar 1H 13 2 2D8 12 14 gold Uncommon Bludgeoning
Flail 1H 13 2 2D8 — 16 gold Uncommon Bludgeoning, toppling,
cannot be used for parrying
Warhammer, Light 1H 10 2 2D6 12 10 gold Uncommon Bludgeoning, toppling
Warhammer, Heavy 2H 16 2 2D10 12 20 gold Uncommon Bludgeoning, toppling
Wooden Club, Small 1H 7 2 D8 9 1 silver Common Bludgeoning
Wooden Club, Large 2H 16 2 2D8 12 2 silver Common Bludgeoning
Staff 2H 7 2 D8 9 2 silver Common Bludgeoning, toppling
Short Spear 1H 7 STR×2 D10 9 5 silver Common Piercing, can be thrown
Long Spear 2H 10 4 2D8 9 1 gold Common Long, piercing
Lance 1H 13 4 2D10 12 12 gold Rare Long, piercing, requires
combat trained mount
Halberd 2H 13 4 2D8 12 20 gold Rare Long, toppling, piercing,
slashing
Trident 1H 10 STR 2D6 9 5 gold Uncommon Toppling, piercing,
can be thrown
Shield, Small 1H 7 2 D8 15 4 gold Common Bludgeoning
Shield, Large 1H 13 2 D8 18 12 gold Common Bludgeoning
Mastercrafted ×10 Reduces STR requirement by
3, increases durability by 3
74
RANGED WEAPONS
DURA
WEAPON GRIP STR RANGE DAMAGE BILITY COST SUPPLY FEATURES
Sling 1H — 20 D8 — 1 silver Common Bludgeoning, tiny item

Short Bow 2H 7 30 D10 3 25 gold Common Piercing, requires quiver
Longbow 2H 13 100 D12 6 50 gold Uncommon Piercing, requires quiver
Crossbow, Light 2H 7 40 2D6 6 75 gold Uncommon Piercing, requires quiver,
no damage bonus
Crossbow, Heavy 2H 13 60 2D8 9 200 gold Rare Piercing, requires quiver,
no damage bonus
Crossbow, Hand 1H 7 30 2D6 6 90 gold Rare Piercing, requires quiver,
no damage bonus
CLOTHES
GARMENT COST SUPPLY EFFECT
Boots 2 gold Uncommon Protects against some journey mishaps (page 102).
Cloak 8 silver Uncommon Protects against some journey mishaps (page 102).
Fine Garments 10 gold Uncommon Boon on CHA-based skills when the GM finds it reasonable.
Fur 1 gold Uncommon Boon on BUSHCRAFT for resisting cold (page 54).
Rags 5 copper Common Bane on CHA-based skills when the GM finds it reasonable.
Simple Clothes 5 silver Common Required to avoid a bane on CHA-based skills.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
ITEM COST SUPPLY WEIGHT EFFECT
Bagpipe 30 gold Uncommon 1 Reduces the WP cost of the Music ability to 1 and increases
range to 50 meters.
Drum 4 gold Common 1 Increases the range of the Music ability to 20 meters.
Flute 2 gold Common 1 Reduces the WP cost of the Music ability to 2.
Harp 8 gold Uncommon 2 Reduces the WP cost of the Music ability to 1.
Horn 6 gold Common 1 Increases the range of the Music ability to 100 meters.
Lyre 20 gold Uncommon 1 Reduces the WP cost of the Music ability to 1.
75
TRADE GOODS
Abacus 2 gold Common 1 Boon on INT rolls for solving mathematical problems.
Blanket 5 silver Common 1 Required to avoid a bane on rolls to avoid the effects of cold
(page 54).
Chess Set 1 gold Common 1 Opposed roll for INT determines who wins.
Dice 1 silver Common — Chance determines who wins.
Field Kitchen 4 gold Common 2 Boon on BUSHCRAFT rolls for cooking (page 103).
Field Ration 1 silver Common 1/4 One ration must be consumed per day, otherwise you become
hungry (page 54).
Grappling Hook 3 gold Common 1 Can be used to secure a rope. Can be thrown and secured with
an ACROBATICS roll up to STR meters (STR × 2 with a bane).
Lockpicks, 20 gold Rare 1 Boon on SLEIGHT OF HAND rolls for picking locks.
Advanced
Lockpicks, Simple 1 gold Uncommon 1 Required to avoid a bane on SLEIGHT OF HAND rolls for
picking locks.
Magnifying Glass 30 gold Uncommon 1 Boon to SPOT HIDDEN rolls.
Map 5 gold Uncommon — Required to avoid a bane on BUSHCRAFT rolls for leading the
way during journeys.
Marbles 1 gold Common 1 Can be thrown at a humanoid enemy within 10 meters, as an
action. Next turn the enemy must make an EVADE roll (not an
action) in order to move.
Padlock 10 gold Common — Locks a door or chest. Can take 20 points of damage,
armor rating 5.
Perfume (10 5 gold Common 1 Boon on CHA-based skill rolls when the GM finds it reasonable.
doses)
Playing Cards 5 silver Uncommon — Opposed roll for BLUFFING determines who wins.
Quiver of Arrows, 2 gold Common 1 Required to fire bows or crossbows.
Iron Head
Quiver of Arrows, 5 silver Common 1 Required to fire bows or crossbows. The effectiveness of
Wooden Head armor is doubled.
Rope, Hemp (10 1 gold Common 1 Boon on ACROBATICS rolls for climbing, but the rope must be
meters) secured to something.
Rope, Silk (10 10 gold Uncommon — Boon on ACROBATICS rolls for climbing, but the rope must be
meters) secured to something.
Saddle 10 gold Common 1 Required to avoid a bane when fighting from horseback.
76
TRADE GOODS (cont.)
Sleeping Fur 1 gold Common 1 Required to avoid a bane on BUSHCRAFT rolls for making camp.
Spyglass 50 gold Rare 1 Boon on BUSHCRAFT rolls for leading the way during journeys.
Tent, Small 2 gold Common 2 Can accommodate up to two people. Grants a boon on BUSH-
CRAFT rolls for making camp. Only one person rolls, but others
can help.
Tent, Large 4 gold Common 4 Can accommodate up to six people. Grants a boon on BUSH-
CRAFT rolls for making camp. Only one person rolls, but others
can help.
Whistle 5 silver Common — Can be heard from up to 100 meters away.
STUDIES & MAGIC
Amulet 3 gold Uncommon — Can be used as a focus for spells.

Book 25 gold Uncommon 1 Boon on skill rolls in a specific subject.
The cost varies depending on the subject.
Brooch 5 gold Uncommon — Can be used as a focus for spells.
Chalk 1 copper Common — Can be used as a focus for spells.
Grimoire 50 gold Unique 1 The cost varies depending on the content
and may be much higher.
Hourglass 25 gold Rare 1 Can be used as a focus for spells.
Notebook 5 gold Common 1 Empty, can be used as a grimoire.
Orbuculum 18 gold Uncommon 1 Can be used as a focus for spells.
Paper (sheet) 2 silver Uncommon — Can be used to write down spells.
Parchment (sheet) 1 silver Common — Can be used to write down spells.
Quill & Ink 10 gold Uncommon 1 Can be used to write down spells.
Reliquary 5 gold Uncommon 1 Can be used as a focus for spells.
Wand 10 gold Uncommon 1 Can be used as a focus for spells.
77
LIGHT SOURCES
Flint & Tinder 5 silver Common — Required to light torches, candles, or lanters, and to make a fire.
Lamp Oil 3 silver Common 1 Holds ten doses. Each dose keeps an oil lamp or lantern burning
for up to one shift of time.
Lantern 10 gold Common 1 Illuminates a 10 meter radius. Burns for up to a shift of time, but
roll D8 after each stretch of time. On 1 the lantern goes out and
must be refilled and relit (action).
Oil Lamp 1 gold Common 1 Illuminates a 10 meter radius. Burns for up to a shift of time, but
roll D6 after each stretch of time. On 1 the lamp goes out and must
be refilled and relit (action).
Tallow Candle 1 copper Common — Illuminates a 4 meter radius. Burns for up to a shift of time, but
roll D4 after each stretch of time, or if the bearer attacks or is
attacked. On 1 the candle goes out.
Torch 5 copper Common 1 Illuminates a 10 meter radius. Burns for up to a shift of time,
but roll D6 after each stretch of time, or if the torch is used as a
weapon. On 1 the torch goes out.
TOOLS
TOOL COST SUPPLY WEIGHT EFFECT
Crowbar 2 gold Common 1 2D6 damage against a door or wall, without risk of being
damaged. Hits automatically.
Hammer 1 gold Common 1 2D4 damage against a door or wall, without risk of being
Needle & Thread 3 silver Common — Mends clothes with a CRAFTING roll.
Pickaxe 3 gold Common 1 2D8 damage against a door or wall, without risk of being
Saw 5 gold Uncommon 1 Cuts metal or wood in one stretch.
Shovel 2 gold Common 1 Reduces the time spent digging by half.
Sledgehammer 3 gold Common 2 2D10 damage against a door or wall, without risk of being
Blacksmithing Tools 20 gold Uncommon 1 Used for CRAFTING (page 34).
Carpentry Tools 8 gold Uncommon 1 Used for CRAFTING (page 34).
Tanning Tools 5 gold Uncommon 1 Used for CRAFTING (page 34).
78
CONTAINERS
Backpack 3 gold Common — Increases carrying capacity by 2. A person can only use one back-
pack at a time.
Barrel 2 gold Common 2 Holds up to 15 weight units. Can take 10 points of damage, armor
rating 3.
Basket 4 silver Common 1 Holds up to 10 weight units.
Bottle 1 gold Common 1 Contains 1 unit of liquid.
Bucket 5 copper Common 1 Contains up to 5 units of liquid.
Chest 5 gold Common 3 Holds up to 20 weight units. Can take 25 points of damage,
armor rating 5.
Clay Jug 5 silver Common 1 Contains 1 unit of liquid
Saddle Bag 6 gold Common — Increases an animal's carrying capacity by 2. An animal can carry no
more than two saddle bags.
MEDICINE
Poison, Lethal (dose) 2 gold Uncommon 1 See page 52.

× potency
Poison, Paralyzing (dose) 12 silver Uncommon 1 See page 53.
× potency
Poison, Sleeping (dose) 6 silver Uncommon 1 See page 53.
× potency
Herbal Concoction (dose) 1 gold Uncommon 1 Boon on HEALING rolls for resisting disease
(page 53).
Healing Potion (dose) 50 gold Rare 1 Instantly heals 2D6 HP. Stronger potions heal
more HP, but are more expensive.
Bandages (10) 5 silver Common 1 Required to avoid a bane on HEALING rolls for
saving lives. Each attempt consumes a bandage.
Surgical Instruments 15 gold Uncommon 1 Boon on HEALING rolls for saving a life.
79
SERVICES
SERVICE COST SUPPLY EFFECT
Bath at an Inn 6 copper Common Heals a condition of your choice in one stretch. Only one bath per
day has this effect.
Bodyguard 2 gold/ Uncommon Stats as a typical guard on page 105.
day
Bowl of Stew 5 copper Common Covers the daily need of food.
Clothes Repair 5 silver Common Eliminates the effect of torn clothes (page 102).
Courier 1 silver/ Common Delivers a message to the recipient.
kilometer
Feast 2 gold Uncommon Covers the daily need of food.
Goblet of Wine 2 silver Uncommon After drinking two goblets in a single shift, each additional goblet
causes a condition of your choice.
Haircut 2 silver Common Heals a chosen condition in one stretch.
Can only be done once per week.
Healing 5 gold Uncommon HEALING rolls succeed automatically.
Lodging at Inn, 5 silver Common A shift rest can be had without a BUSHCRAFT roll.
Separate Room
Lodging at Inn, 1 silver Common A shift rest can be had without a BUSHCRAFT roll, but roll D4 each
Dormitory shift. On a 1 someone's snoring prevents anyone else in the room
from sleeping.
Lodging at Inn, 2 gold Uncommon A shift rest can be had without a BUSHCRAFT roll.
Luxury Suite
Meal at an Inn 3 silver Common Covers the daily need of food.
Road Toll 2 copper Common Allows passage.
Stagecoach 3 copper/ Common Transportation to a specified destination.
kilometer
Tankard of Mead 4 copper Common After drinking three tankards in a single shift, each additional tankard
causes a condition of your choice.
Teacher 5 gold/ Uncommon A shift of instruction grants an extra advancement roll (page 29).
shift or more
80
HUNTING & FISHING
Bear Trap 3 gold Uncommon 1 Can be used for hunting (page 103).
Fishing Rod 8 silver Common 1 Gives D4 rations of food when fishing (page 103).
Fishing Net 2 gold Common 2 Gives D6 rations of food when fishing (page 103).
Snare 5 copper Common 1 Can be used for hunting (page 103). Can only be used once.
MEANS OF TRAVEL
VEHICLE COST SUPPLY EFFECT
Canoe 6 gold Common Can carry two people and 10 weight units
Cart 15 gold Common Pulled by one horse or donkey. Can carry two people and 50
weight units.
Rowing Boat 15 gold Common Can carry four people and 50 weight units
Sailing Boat 40 gold Uncommon Can carry six people and 100 weight units
Wagon 30 gold Common Pulled by two horses or donkeys. Can carry four people and
100 weight units.
ANIMALS
ANIMAL COST SUPPLY COMMENT
Chicken 4 silver Common Yields one ration of food when slaughtered.

The meat should be cooked (page 103).
Combat Trained Horse 400 gold Rare Can carry one rider and 10 weight units, or two riders
Cow 10 gold Uncommon Yields D4 rations of food (milk) per day, and 2D10 rations of food
when slaughtered. The meat should be cooked (page 103).
Donkey 12 gold Common Can carry 10 weight units. Cannot be ridden.
Guard Dog 15 gold Common Protects its owner. For stats, see page 99.
Homing Pigeon in Cage 2 gold Uncommon Flies home to its dovecote when released, wherever it is
Pig 2 gold Common Yields 2D6 rations of food when slaughtered.
Riding Horse 60 gold Uncommon Can carry one rider and 10 weight units, or two riders
Sheep 3 gold Common Yields 2D4 rations of food when slaughtered.
81
BESTIARY
his game features not only dragons and demons, MOVEMENT
but all kinds of deadly beasts. A monster is a crea- Just like player characters, monsters have a Movement
ture of unnatural origin, a terrible beast that strikes score and can move before or after their attack or divide
terror in all and defies the natural order. This chapter pres- their movement before and after the attack. Note that
ents a range of monsters and several humanoid creatures this score refers to movement per turn for monsters, not
the player characters can encounter on their journeys. At per round.
the end of the chapter, a number of common animals are Some monsters have different movement rates on land,
listed as well. in water, and in the air. Taking flight or landing are free
Monsters are controlled by the GM and act largely in actions.
the same way as player characters and NPCs in combat.
But there are some significant differences, which are
described below. MONSTER ATTACKS
A monster always uses a monster attack when it attacks.
Each monster has a unique set of monster attacks, which
FEROCITY are summarized in a table. The GM rolls or chooses
Some monsters are so powerful that they can act multiple an attack from this table when it is the monster’s turn
times in the same round. This is indicated by their Ferocity to attack. Monsters never roll dice to hit their target –
score. At the start of each round, the GM draws one monster attacks succeed automatically.
initiative card for each point of Ferocity. The monster gets Performing a monster attack counts as an action.
one turn per card, with one action and one movement on Unless otherwise specified, monster attacks have the same
each turn. range as melee attacks, i.e. 2 meters (an adjacent square if
you are using grid maps).
Waiting: If a player character swaps initiative cards with
a monster (optional rule, page 41), the player character Dodging & Parrying: As a rule, a monster attack can
can choose any one of the monster’s cards. Monsters them- be dodged (page 47) but not parried. This applies to
selves never wait. attacks with an area of effect as well, but not fear attacks.
Exceptions to this rule are stated in the monster attack
description.
SIZE
Monsters come in all sizes. The game divides them into the Conditions: Monster attacks can inflict conditions (page
following categories, which affect how large an area the 51) on player characters. If a character gains a condition
monster can block (page 43) and how narrow a passage they already have, the player must choose another condi-
it can move through. tion instead.
Small: A small monster is less than a meter tall and cannot Repeated Attacks: A monster never makes the same
block any area. It can easily pass through tiny passages. attack twice in a row. If the GM rolls the same monster
attack two consecutive times, the second roll changes into
Normal: A normal-sized monster is roughly the size of the next attack on the table. The 6 result becomes a 1.
a human. It can block an area of 2×2 meters (one square
on a combat map) and pass through a passage half a
meter wide. MORE DANGEROUS MONSTERS?
Large: A large monster can block an area of 4×4 meters

The monsters in this chapter are typical speci-
and pass through a 1-meter-wide passage. mens. There are legends of dreadful beasts that
are even more dangerous. The GM can make
Huge: A huge monster can block an area of 8×8 meters
monsters more – or less – dangerous to suit the
and pass through a 2-meter-wide passage. player characters’ competence. The easiest way
to do this is to increase or decrease its Ferocity,
Swarm: A swarm can range in size from Normal to Huge,
but HP can be adjusted as well.
but never blocks the area it is in, and can pass through tiny
passages.
C H A P T E R 7 – B estiary
83
SKILLS Weak Spots: A piercing attack can find a gap or weak
Monsters can have skills, but they are mainly used outside spot in the monster’s natural armor, just like on humanoid
of combat or for opposed rolls – not for attacks. They only opponents (optional rule, page 48).
attack using their monster attacks.
Toppling: A player character can try to topple a monster
(optional rule, page 48), rolling against a default EVADE
FIGHTING MONSTERS skill level of 15 for all monsters. If the monster has four
Dodging & Parrying: All monsters can dodge, and mon- legs or more, the attacker gets a bane on the roll.
sters carrying weapons can also parry. Each dodge or parry
uses up one of the monster’s actions in the round (flip an Disarm & Grapple: Monsters cannot be disarmed or
initiative card of your choice). Roll against a default skill grappled by player characters (optional rules, page 48).
level of 15 for all dodges and parries by monsters.
Darkness: Unless otherwise stated, monsters can see in
Natural Armor: Many monsters have some form of natu- darkness and don’t suffer the effects on page 52.
ral armor. This works just like ordinary armor (page 50).
RESISTANCE & IMMUNITY
Some monsters are resistant to certain damage types. This
means that all damage of this type is halved (rounded
up). Some monsters can even be immune to certain
types of damage, and therefore take no damage at
all from such attacks.
FEAR & PERSUASION

Monsters are too terrifying to get scared
themselves (page 52), but many of them
can certainly instill terror in the player
characters. Monsters are also immune
to the PERSUASION skill unless other-
wise stated.
DEMON
Demons are mysterious and terrifying creatures from the Demons come in all shapes and sizes, but their appear-
grim world beyond. Like dragons, they are sprung from ance is always frightening. The stats below are only an
ancient magic, and they are driven by the same insatia- example.
ble, arrogant hunger for power that also burns in the
hearts of dragons. They view dragons as mortal enemies
and despise all other creatures as lesser and essentially
insignificant forms of life. They have a destructive effect Ferocity: 2 Size: Large
on the structures of the world and seek to destroy all that Movement: 16 Armor: 4 HP: 64
is fixed – from social relationships, peace treaties, and
friendships, to nations, civilizations, and cosmic laws.
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Demonic Dread! The demon hisses terrifying threats in an ancient and terrible tongue. All player characters
within 10 meters suffer a fear attack.
2 Claw Attack! The demon smiles and slashes a player character with its sharp claws. The attack inflicts 2D10
slashing damage. It can be parried.
3 Curse! The demon points at an unfortunate player character within 10 meters and chants an ancient curse.
The attack cannot be dodged, but all curses except #6 can be lifted with DISPEL (power level 1). Roll D6:
1 The victim vomits a frog whenever they tell a lie. Roll D4 every morning. On a 1, the effect wears off.
2 Any gold or silver the victim touches withers into dust. Roll D4 every morning. On a 1, the effect
wears off.
3 The victim is blinded and acts as if in total darkness. Roll D4 every shift. On a 1, the effect wears off.
4 The victim is struck by amnesia and forgets their own name and who the other player characters are.
The effect must be roleplayed. Roll D4 every morning. On a 1, the victim’s memory returns.
5 The victim turns into an animal. Roll D6. 1: cat, 2: fox, 3: goat, 4: wolf, 5: deer, 6: bear. The victim gains
stats as per page 99 and cannot speak. Roll D4 every shift. On a 1, the effect wears off.
6 The victim becomes one category older, for example from Adult to Old. Their attributes and derived
ratings change as per the table on page 24, but skill levels do not. The effect is permanent, and
the victim ages normally from their new age. A person who is already old becomes very frail and gets
−2 STR and CON.
4 Unseen Ferocity! The demon points its hand at a victim within 10 meters. The victim is hurled 2D8 meters
backwards with tremendous force, suffers the same amount of bludgeoning damage, and lands prone.
5 Scorpion Sting! The beast raises its scorpion-like tail and delivers a swift sting to its victim. The attack inflicts
D12 piercing damage, and a victim who sustains at least 1 point of damage is also injected with a paralyzing
poison with potency 16. The attack can be parried.
6 Possessed! The demon glares at a player character within 10 meters and takes full control of the victim’s body.
The player character must make a WIL roll with a bane (not an action). If it fails, the victim must immediately
make a movement and perform an action of the demon’s choice, except any action that requires spending WP.
The victim also loses their next turn.
85
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Dragon Roar! The dragon opens its mouth and

lets out a chilling roar. All player characters within
20 meters suffer a fear attack, with a bane on the
WIL roll.
DRAGON 2 Claw Attack! The dragon sweeps its claws at

two player characters, who suffer 2D10 slashing
damage each.
Dragons are vicious, reptilian beasts mainly found in 3 Dragon Wind! The dragon flaps its great wings
rugged mountainous areas, where they build their dens in and creates a powerful gale that strikes all adven-
deep caves or abandoned dwarven mines. They are ancient turers within 10 meters. Any loose objects and
beings of power and magic who consider themselves creatures of up to human size in the whirlwind
the true masters of the world. Dragons are cunning and are hurled 2D6 meters, take the same amount of
often frighteningly eloquent, notorious for deceiving bludgeoning damage, and land prone.
their victims with fair words and treacherous lies. On the
other hand, they are as vain as peacocks and themselves 4 Tail Strike! The dragon sweeps its spiked tail at its
susceptible to silver-tongued flattery. Another weakness is victims. All player characters within 6 meters suffer
their attraction to gold, which often causes conflicts with 2D8 bludgeoning damage and are knocked down.
dwarves, humans, and others who share the draconic lust 5 Dragon Bite! The beast opens its great jaws and
for treasure and glittering objects. devours a victim with terrifying speed. The attack
inflicts 4D10 slashing damage.
6 Fire Breath! The dragon towers over the player
Ferocity: 3 Size: Huge characters in all its splendor before unleashing a
devastating storm of fire from its mouth. The fire
Movement: 24 Armor: 6 HP: 84
forms a cone that is 10 meters long and whose
Wings: The mighty wings of the dragon allow it width at any given point equals the distance from
to move freely through the air. the dragon’s mouth. Any player character hit by the
flames suffers 3D10 damage. Armor has no effect.
86
GHOST
Ghosts are the restless spirits of those unable to find peace
in death. They are incorporeal undead who usually man-
ifest themselves as translucent figures, often shimmering Ferocity: 2 Size: Normal
blue with twisted facial features. They are always bound to Movement: 12 Armor: — HP: 27
certain places, normally linked to their physical remains
or the event that caused their premature death. Ghosts Immunity: Ghosts are immaterial beings and
almost always have a specific problem that needs to be immune to all damage except magic and fire.
solved for them to find eternal peace and leave the living A defeated ghost is only banished for one
alone. It may be a matter of revenge or a debt that must be shift, after which it returns. The only way
paid; other times the ghost’s remains must be collected and to banish the ghost permanently is to cast
given a proper burial. PURGE (page 64) or solve whatever prob-
lem keeps it bound to the world of the living.
Persuadable: Unlike other monsters, ghosts
MONSTER ATTACKS can usually be PERSUADED, albeit with a
bane on the roll.
D6 ATTACK
1 Ghost Strike! The ghost lunges at a player

character within 10 meters and strikes with great
force. The victim is knocked back 2D6 meters,
suffers the same amount of bludgeoning damage,
and lands prone.
2 Touch of Death! The ghost sticks its translucent
hand into the chest of an unfortunate player char-
acter and grasps the victim’s heart. The victim
suffers 2D10 points of damage and becomes
Scared. Armor has no effect.
3 Ghost Scream! The undead face contorts into a
horrible grimace and lets out a scream that chills
the souls of all adventurers within 10 meters. All
of them suffer a fear attack (page 52).
4 Death Stare! The ghost towers over a player char-
acter, staring directly into their soul with its dead
eyes. The victim sees their life pass before their
eyes and is tormented by grotesque visions of all
their dead friends and foes. The victim becomes
Scared, suffers a fear attack (page 52), and gets
a bane on their WIL roll.
5 Ghostly Embrace! The ghost emits an unnatural
wheeze and suddenly appears right in front of an
adventurer within 10 meters, wrapping them in
a deadly embrace to smother their spark of life.
The attack inflicts 3D6 bludgeoning damage and
leaves the victim Dazed.
6 Cold Strike! The ghost grabs a victim and lets
the icy chill of death stream into their body. The
player character suffers 2D8 damage and cannot
heal HP or WP until they spend one shift in a
warm location. Armor has no effect.
Ferocity: 1 Size: Huge
Movement: 18 Armor: — HP: 74
Weapons: Giants often carry a large weapon. If
GIANT
the Giant loses its weapon, monster attacks
#1 and #4 are re-rolled.
Weak Spot: Attacks against the weak spot on
the top of a giant’s head inflict double damage.
Giants are colossal humanoids with a strong but myste- Hitting the top of the head requires either a
rious connection to the very bedrock of the world. Some ranged attack with a bane from an elevated
scholars believe that they are related to dwarves; others position or that the attacker first climbs onto
maintain that they are remnants of a great civilization the giant. The latter requires an ACROBATICS
that long ago rose against the dragons. Giants are mainly roll with a bane. Once up there, the player
found in mountainous areas, where they live alone or in character must make another ACROBATICS
small families. They are normally quite shy and reclusive, roll (not an action) on each turn to avoid fall-
but some are highly territorial and will attack anyone who ing off and taking 2D6 falling damage.
comes too close to their caves.
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Crushing Blow! The giant swings its weapon over its head and bashes a player character with all its might.
The attack inflicts 4D10 bludgeoning damage and the victim is knocked down.
2 Roar! The giant lets out a bellowing sound that raises the hairs on the adventurers’ arms. All player charac-
ters within 10 meters suffer a fear attack.
3 Stomp Attack! The giant takes aim and tries to stomp two player characters within 4 meters of each other.
Anyone hit by the attack suffers 4D6 bludgeoning damage and is knocked down.
4 Sweeping Blow! The giant sweeps its weapon at all adventurers within 10 meters. Anyone hit by the attack
suffers 2D10 bludgeoning damage and is knocked down.
5 Forceful Throw! The giant is fed up with a character, grabs them, and tries to throw them. The attack inflicts 4D8
bludgeoning damage and the victim is hurled the same number of meters in a random direction, landing prone.
6 Smash Attack! Crazed with rage, the giant smashes the player character with its feet, fists, and weapon in a
frenzy of rapid blows. Everyone within 10 meters suffers 3D6 bludgeoning damage and is knocked down.
88
GIANT SPIDER
Giant spiders are rapacious predators that can unfortu- parts of the world, older females can attain
nately be found all over the world. They are drawn to dark the status of oracles or demigods.
and damp spaces, but always on the hunt for living meat
in forests and caves as well as mountains and ruined cities.
Particularly sly individuals can even build their nests
under popular inns or near underground libraries and Ferocity: 2 Size: Normal
treasure chambers. Ancient females can grow as large as Movement: 24 Armor: — HP: 36
a house, but most are roughly the size of a well-fed cow.
Giant spiders are smarter than they look, and in some
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Mandibles! The spider’s serrated mandibles swish through the air like scimitars. The attack inflicts 2D8
slashing damage.
2 Tearing Attack! The famished spider lunges at the player characters, frantically attacking with its multitude
of hairy, barbed legs. All player characters within 2 meters suffer D8 piercing damage each.
3 Mesmerizing Eyes! The monstrous arachnid stares at the player characters with a terrifying multitude of
eyes. All victims within 10 meters must make a WIL roll to resist fear.
4 Poison Sting! The eight-legged horror raises its rear end and attacks a player character with a poisonous
stinger that shoots out of its repulsive body. The attack inflicts D10 piercing damage, and a victim who sustains
at least 1 point of damage is also injected with a paralyzing poison with potency 16. The attack can be parried.
5 Web Attack! The spider fixes its numerous eyes on the player character with the highest STR. The next moment it
spits sticky spider web at the victim, who must make an EVADE roll (not an action). On failure the victim is caught
in the web and unable to move. It takes a successful STR roll with a bane (action) to break free. Other can help.
6 Ramming Attack! With a great leap, the giant spider launches its massive body at a player character.
The attack inflicts 2D6 bludgeoning damage and knocks the victim down.
89
GOBLIN
Goblins are children of the night and shadows. They are
relatively small and skinny, but have disproportionately SCOUT
long arms and big, bulbous heads. They primarily make
their living hunting, growing mushrooms, and trading Movement: 12 Damage Bonus: AGL +D4
with other creatures, mainly orcs and humans, but there Typical Armor: Leather (1) HP: 9
are also warlike, aggressive clans specialized in looting and
piracy. Many thieves’ guilds also have a large goblin mem- Skills: Awareness 10, Evade 10, Sneaking 12
bership. They are cunning creatures who often resort to Typical Weapons: Short bow (skill level 12,
traps, ambushes, and poisons when attacking their victims. damage D10), short sword (skill level 10,
For this reason, there are many who despise the goblins damage D10)
and see them as devious, dishonorable cowards.
WARRIOR
Movement: 10 Damage Bonus: —
Typical Armor: Studded leather (2) HP: 10
Skills: Awareness 10, Evade 10, Sneaking 12
Typical Weapon: Long spear (skill level 12,
damage 2D8)
Non-Monster: Goblins do not count as monsters

in combat, but as ordinary NPCs.
Nocturnal: In direct sunlight, goblins get a bane
on all rolls and suffer D6 damage per stretch.
A thick layer of clouds or full-cover clothing
are enough to avoid the effect.
90
GRIFFON D6 ATTACK
MONSTER ATTACKS
The griffon is an aggressive predator specializing in 1 Snapping Beak! The beast tears at a player char-
hunting down prey in the forests of the world. Its hunting acter with its razor-sharp beak, for 2D8 piercing
grounds extend many tens of kilometers from the tall damage.
tree or inaccessible cliff where the beast has its nest.
Griffons normally live in pairs and a handful of chicks 2 Rearing Strike! The griffon rears up before a
are often found in their nests, along with a plethora of player character and tries to tear them apart with
items – rusted junk mixed with treasures and artifacts – D6 rapid strikes. Each attack inflicts D8 slashing
left by unfortunate victims. There are tales of knights who damage. The attack can be dodged or parried, but
managed to tame griffons and use them as winged mounts. only one at a time.
However, it is an irrefutable fact that griffons like to feed 3 Sweeping Claws! The griffon sweeps its clawed
on horses and donkeys, which often gets them into trouble foreleg in a wide arc, attacking all player char-
with knights, adventurers, and other riders. acters within 2 meters. Each victim suffers D8
slashing damage and is knocked down.
4 Griffon Throw! The beast grabs a player charac-
Ferocity: 2 Size: Large ter with its beak and tosses them with a flick of
the head. The attack inflicts 2D6 piercing damage.
Movement: 30 Armor: — HP: 38
The victim is thrown an equal number of meters
Wings: The powerful wings of the griffon allow and lands prone.
it to move freely through the air. 5 Whirlwind! The griffon uses its powerful wings
to create a whirlwind that blows away all player
characters within 10 meters. The victims land
D6 meters away and suffers the same amount of
bludgeoning damage.
6 High Drop! The griffon grabs a player character in
its claws and takes to the sky. Unless the victim
dodges the attack, the griffon grabs them and
flies 2D6+6 meters into the air. On its next turn
the griffon drops the victim (instead of a new
monster attack), who takes damage from the fall.
always attack in flocks, preferably with a massive numer-
ical advantage. The assaults often begin with the harpies
trying to soften up their victims with threats, cackles, and
screeching insults, while slowly circling closer and closer –
with extended claws and drooling jaws.
HARPY
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Threatening Cackle! The harpies shower the

Harpies are large, raven-like birds of prey with humanoid adventurers with terrible descriptions of what
faces and mouths full of serrated fangs. They often seek they will do to them. Everyone within 10 meters
out places like ruins and abandoned settlements where must make a WIL roll to resist fear (page 52).
they live in colonies of different sizes. Harpies are plagued
by insatiable hunger and like to supplement their daily 2 Coordinated Attack! The harpies flock together
diet with careless adventurers who stumble into their and attack the player character who wears the
nests. They are cowardly but calculating hunters who most metal. The attack inflicts 2D6 slashing
damage. If hit, the victim is also lifted into the air
and dropped from a height of D3+3 meters.
3 Death From Above! The harpies throw rocks and
Ferocity: 1/harpy Size: Swarm
other junk from afar. Everyone within 10 meters
Movement: 24 Armor: — HP: 12/harpy suffers D6 bludgeoning damage.
Flock: Harpies never fight alone, but always in 4 Eye Gouge! The creatures target an unfortunate
flocks, which is why a flock of harpies counts player character and try to tear the victim’s eyes
as a single monster. The flock’s Ferocity out with their sharp claws. The attack inflicts 2D6
equals the number of individual harpies. piercing damage and the victim is blinded and
However, each individual has separate HP, acts as if in total darkness for one stretch.
and the Ferocity decreases with the number 5 Mass Attack! The harpies split up and attack a
of harpies. number of player characters within 10 meters
Wings: Harpies attack from the air and can only equal to the number of individual harpies. Each
be engaged with ranged weapons or Long attack inflicts D8 slashing damage.
melee weapons.
Cowardly: Harpies are cowardly creatures and 6 Excrement Attack! The Harpies open their clo-
never fight to the death. Once half the flock acae and mouths and release a rain of vomit and
has been killed, the rest will flee. They return excrement on the player characters. Everyone
later if an opportune situation presents itself. within 10 meters must choose a condition. The
attack can be parried with a shield.
92
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Tail Strike! The manticore aims a dreadful ranged

attack with its tail spikes at a player character
MANTICORE
within 20 meters. The attack inflicts D12 piercing
damage and injects the victim with a paralyzing
poison with potency 12. The attack can be parried
with a shield.
The peculiar manticore is a bloodthirsty beast that spreads
death and terror wherever it goes. Their origin is unknown, 2 Razor Sharp Bite! The manticore bites a player
but some scholars believe them to be magical creatures character with its many fangs, inflicting 3D8
that escaped from their dubious master or creator. Others slashing damage.
view them as ancient hunger beasts, ruthless remnants 3 Claw Attack! The beast runs up to a player char-
from the dawn of time, roused from their slumber by the acter, knocks them down, and tears at them with
gods themselves. They have human-like faces, but seem its sharp claws. The attack inflicts 2D8 slashing
incapable of human speech – probably because their maws damage, plus D6 since the victim is prone.
are packed with sharp fangs. They have the body of a lion
and their tail ends in a swollen lump, covered in spikes and 4 Sweeping Attack! The manticore whips its tail
at two player characters. Both victims suffer 2D6
nasty growths.
slashing damage and are knocked down.
5 Crushing Charge! With full force, the beast
charges at the player character with the highest
Ferocity: 2 Size: Large STR within 10 meters. The victim suffers 3D6
Movement: 16 Armor: — HP: 44 bludgeoning damage and is knocked down.
6 Spike Rain! The manticore fires a rain of deadly
spikes from its tail. All adventurers within 10
meters suffer D10 piercing damage and are
injected with a paralyzing poison with potency 12.
93
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Bull Fist! A furry fist hits a player character with

full force. The attack inflicts 2D6 bludgeoning
MINOTAUR
damage and leaves the victim Dazed, even if their
armor prevents any damage.
2 Hoof Kick! Using its powerful legs, the minotaur
Minotaurs are semi-intelligent and powerful beasts kicks the victim with its hooves. The force of the
endowed by the gods with a bull’s head and a humanoid attack throws the victim 2D6 meters away and
body. They are fearsome in battle, and bards sing songs inflicts the same amount of bludgeoning damage.
of their incredible strength and inexhaustible fighting The victim lands prone.
spirit. But minotaurs are also notorious for their inner 3 Horn Rush! The minotaur lowers its head and
rage which constantly threatens to break through and turn rushes toward two adventurers within 2 meters
them into senseless killers. For this reason they tend to live of each other, hoping to impale them with its
in solitude and exile, restlessly roaming the world in search sharp horns. Both victims suffer 2D8 piercing
of food, gold, and glory. Sometimes they claim a small damage and are knocked down.
area as their own, often near a mountain pass, a ford, or a
similar choke point, demanding road tolls and challenging 4 Cleaving Chop! The beast swings its weapon
passing t ravelers to duels. over its head and brings it down with full force.
The attack inflicts weapon damage plus an extra
D10, and can be parried.
5 Sweeping Attack! The minotaur roars and sweeps
Ferocity: 2 Size: Large
its weapon in a wide arc, hitting everyone within
Movement: 16 Armor: — HP: 32 2 meters. The attack inflicts weapon damage.
Typical Gear: Two-handed axe 6 Stomping Attack! The minotaur jumps high in the
air and comes crashing down on an adventurer,
who suffers 2D10 bludgeoning damage and is
knocked down.
94
ORC
Orcs are strong humanoids who live in well-organized clan honor-oriented and have an unfortunate
societies. Some are settled, digging vast tunnel systems tendency to cause territorial disputes and
deep beneath the woods and mountains; others wander never-ending blood feuds with dwarves,
the vast steppes of the world as nomads. Orcs often have a giants, and other kin.
formidable appearance: glowing black eyes, fangs the size
of a wild beast’s tusks, and hard, vaguely camouflage-pat-
terned skin. They are fierce warriors, widely respected
for their undeniable bravery and weapon proficiency
both in melee and at range. But orcs are also extremely
WARRIOR
Movement: 10 Damage Bonus: STR +D4
Skills: Awareness 10, Evade 8
Typical Weapon: Scimitar (skill level 12,
damage 2D6)
SHAMAN
Typical Armor: — HP: 10 WP: 16
Skills: Animism 14, Awareness 12, Evade 8
Spells: Ensnaring Roots, Lightning Flash,
Treat Wound
Typical Weapon: Staff (skill level 10,
damage D8)
CHIEFTAIN
Typical Armor: Chainmail (4) HP: 24 WP: 15
Non-Monster: Orcs do not count as monsters in
Abilities: Veteran, Defensive, Dual Weapons,
combat, but as ordinary NPCs.
Robust × 4
Nocturnal: In direct sunlight, orcs get a bane on
Typical Weapon: Two scimitars (skill level 16, all rolls and suffer D6 damage per stretch. A
damage 2D6) thick layer of clouds or full-cover clothing are
enough to avoid the effect.
95
SKELETON
Skeletons are the remains of humanoids who have been soil and heavy rocks, and perform other tasks related to
raised from the dead through powerful magic. They are construction work. They have difficulty understanding
lesser undead and lack both will and true consciousness. complex instructions, but are cheap and labor without
They are primarily used for simple tasks, for instance complaint – as long as they are not stopped by meddle-
as guards, foot soldiers, or servants. Powerful sorcerers some adventurers.
are also known to use skeletons to dig tunnels, move
WARRIOR
Typical Weapon: Short sword (skill level 12,
damage D10)
ARCHER
Typical Armor: Leather (1) HP: 8
Typical Weapon: Dagger (skill level 10,
damage D8), crossbow (skill level 12,
damage 2D6)
CHAMPION
Typical Armor: Chainmail (4) HP: 24 WP: 15
Non-Monster: Skeletons do not count as mon-
sters in combat, but as ordinary NPCs. Abilities: Veteran, Defensive, Double Slash,
Resistance: All piercing damage is halved Robust × 4
(rounded up).
Typical Weapon: Longword (skill level 16,
Immunity: Skeletons are immune to fear and
damage 2D8), large shield
PERSUASION.
96
TROLL
Stories of cruel, black-hearted trolls are told among most moving boulders, with great tusks and staring eyes that
peoples of the world to keep their children in line. And glow a sickly yellow. But their reputation is somewhat
they really are terrifying beasts: as large and massive as unfair. It is true that they are often in a terrible mood and
exceedingly dangerous to encounter, but the reasons for
this are usually their endless hunger and the signals they
get from the hostile world around them. Drawn weapons
Ferocity: 2 Size: Large and sudden movements trigger their terrible, all-consum-
Movement: 10 Armor: — HP: 38 ing wrath, but trolls who are offered food and met with
kindness can be surprisingly agreeable.
Regeneration: A troll automatically heals D6 HP
per turn in combat.
Sensitive to Sunlight: Trolls suffer D6 damage MONSTER ATTACKS
per round in direct sunlight. A troll that
reaches zero HP because of this is turned D6 ATTACK
to stone. A thick layer of clouds or full-cover
1 Troll Vomit! The troll clears its throat with a
clothing are enough to avoid the effect.
thunderous rumble, coughs from deep in its lungs,
Persuadable: Unlike other monsters, trolls can
and vomits up a cascade of bile and stinking
usually be PERSUADED, albeit with a bane on
swamp water. All adventurers within 6 meters
the roll.
suffer a condition of their choice.
2 Rending Attack! The troll tears at a player char-
acter’s body with its filthy, green-black claws.
The attack inflicts D10 slashing damage but can
be parried. A victim who takes damage also con-
tracts a disease with virulence 10.
3 Repulsive Bite! The troll opens its foul-smelling
mouth and bites a player character with a denture
of fangs, gravel, and old bone fragments. The
attack inflicts 2D8 piercing damage. The player
character is stuck in the troll’s mouth and must
make a STR roll (counts as an action) every round
to break free. On failure the victim suffers an addi-
tional 2D8 damage.
4 Troll Throw! The troll lifts a character over its head
and tosses the victim like a rag doll 2D6 meters in
a random direction, inflicting an equal amount of
bludgeoning damage. The victim lands prone.
5 Sweeping Blow! The troll sweeps its long,
gnarled arms around, hitting all characters within
2 meters. The attack inflicts 2D6 bludgeoning
damage on each victim.
6 Mangling Smash! The troll grabs the nearest
player character and uses the victim as a weapon
by slamming them into another character. Both
suffer 2D8 bludgeoning damage and are knocked
down.
WIGHT
Wights are the undead spirits of princes, princesses, and
great warriors. They are powerful beings and have a will
of their own, unlike creatures such as skeletons. However, Ferocity: 2 Size: Normal
this will is linked to a torn consciousness where hatred Mov.: 10 Armor: Same as armor HP: 38
of the living is the dominant feature. Wights differ from
ghosts in that they are corporeal, often wearing ancient Resistance: Takes half damage from non-
armor and wielding mighty weapons and artifacts they magical weapons, except fire which inflicts
took with them to their graves. Luckily, they are often normal damage.
bound to certain places, such as the burial mound where Typical Gear: Morningstar, chainmail
they were entombed.
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1 Unholy Roar! The wight’s decomposed skull con-

torts and lets out a ghastly scream that cuts like a
rusty blade through the characters’ souls. Everyone
within 10 meters suffers a fear attack (page 52).
2 Dreadful Gaze! An unlucky player character
stares directly into the wight’s horrible eyes as
a wheezing sound is heard from the creature’s
throat. The victim becomes Scared, suffers a fear
attack, and gets a bane on their WIL roll.
3 Hand of the Dead! The wight raises its hand and
gestures at a player character within 10 meters,
who is thrown 2D4 meters away and lands prone.
The attack inflicts the same amount of damage
and cannot be dodged.
4 Sweeping Attack! With surprising speed, the
wight sweeps its weapon in a deadly attack. All
player characters within 2 meters suffer weapon
damage. The attack can be parried.
5 Crippling Cold! The wight grabs an unfortunate
player character who feels the chill of death
spread through their body. The victim takes D6
damage (armor has no effect) and must make an
EVADE roll (not an action) on their next turn in
order to act at all. If the roll fails, a new attempt
can be made on the next turn. The victim also
becomes cold (page 54) and cannot heal HP or
WP until they get warm.
6 Power Attack! With creaking joints, the wight

swings its weapon in a powerful attack against
a character. The damage is rolled with twice the
weapon’s normal number of dice, and the victim is
knocked to the ground. The attack can be parried.
98
VAMPIRIC BATS
There are countless species of bats in the world of Dragon
bane. Some are small and virtually harmless, others are as big as
winged goblins and can bite the head off a grown human with a single
snap of the jaw. The feared vampire bat falls somewhere in between.
They have a wingspan of one meter and a strong appetite for human
blood. Vampire bats always hunt in flocks and are often found in
underground burial chambers, where they feed on grave robbers
and other adventurers.
MONSTER ATTACKS
D6 ATTACK
1–2 Swirling Horror! The bats swarm around their

victims at a frantic pace. Everyone within 10
meters suffers a fear attack.
3–4 Collective Attack! The bats launch a joint
assault on the player character with the highest
CON. The attack inflicts 2D6 slashing damage
and the victim suffers a fear attack, and the bat Ferocity: 2 Size: Swarm
swarm heals the same amount of HP from drink- Movement: 24 Armor: — HP: 18
ing their victim’s blood.
Resistance: The bats attack as a swarm and
5–6 Mass Attack! The bats split up to attack all char-
therefore count as a single creature. All
acters within 10 meters. Each victim suffers D8
damage from physical weapons, even mag-
slashing damage and the bat swarm heals the
ical ones, are reduced by half (rounded up).
same amount of HP from drinking their victims’
Fire has normal effect.
blood.
COMMON ANIMALS
ANIMAL MOVEMENT HP ATTACK SKILLS
Cat 12 4 Bite (skill level 8, damage D3) Awareness 12, Evade 14, Sneaking 16
Dog 14 8 Bite (skill level 12, damage D8) Awareness 14, Evade 10, Sneaking 12
Goat 10 6 Horns (skill level 10, damage D6) Awareness 10, Evade 12
Donkey 14 12 Kick (skill level 10, damage D10) Awareness 10, Evade 6
Horse 20 16 Kick (skill level 10, damage 2D4) Awareness 12, Evade 8
Wild Boar 12 14 Tusks (skill level 12, damage 2D6) Awareness 10, Evade 8
Deer 18 12 Horns (skill level 10, damage D8) Awareness 12, Evade 12
Moose 16 18 Horns (skill level 10, damage 2D6) Awareness 10, Evade 8
Fox 10 6 Bite (skill level 12, damage D6) Awareness 12, Evade 10, Sneaking 14
Wolf 16 10 Bite (skill level 14, damage 2D6) Awareness 14, Evade 12, Sneaking 14
Bear 12 20 Bite (skill level 12, damage 2D8) Awareness 10, Evade 8
99
ADVENTURES
he previous chapters of this book have covered This chapter contains rules and tools for handling
player characters and their abilities, combat and journeys, managing non-player characters, and creating
magic, gear and monsters. Now it is time to com- your own adventures. The chapter is mainly written for the
bine all these components and explain how they together GM, which is who we mean by “you” in this case, but there
form an exciting adventure! is nothing the players must not know.
JOURNEYS
As adventurers in the world of Dragonbane, the player LONG JOURNEYS
characters must often journey through dark forests,
rugged moors, and high mountains. A journey can be The travel rules are designed for short treks
much more than just a way of getting somewhere – it can within a limited area, such as the Misty Vale. If
be a little adventure in itself. Who knows what lies in wait the player characters go on a long journey to
around the corner? another part of the world, there is no need to
play it out in detail – the GM can just make a cut
Travel: Journeys proceed in shifts. As mentioned in chap-
in the story and pick up again when they arrive
ter 1, there are four shifts in a day: morning, day, evening, at their destination.
and night. As a rule, the player characters can hike roughly
15 kilometers per shift on foot or roughly 30 kilometers on
horseback. Difficult terrain might slow them down.
The player characters can normally walk or ride for
a maximum of two shifts per day, including a few short PATHFINDERS
breaks. If they make a long stop on the road, the distance Player characters who follow a road or clear path are not
they cover is reduced. They cannot march with weap- at risk of getting lost, but such luxuries are rarely available.
ons drawn. When they are out in the wilderness, navigation is more
difficult, and all sorts of mishaps can occur.
Forced March: A player character can walk or ride for a When traveling through pathless terrain, the player
third shift during the same day, but becomes Exhausted in characters must appoint a pathfinder who leads the way
the process. An already Exhausted character cannot travel for the group. This person must make a BUSHCRAFT roll
a third shift, and no one can ever travel more than three every shift to find their way. If the pathfinder has no map,
shifts in a single day. the roll gets a bane. A spyglass gives a boon.
On a failure, the group suffers a mishap – roll on the
table on page 102. You can adjust the mishap to better fit
TRAVEL MAPS the area.
Rolling a Dragon: A pathfinder who rolls a Dragon finds

Most official adventures for Dragonbane include
a map of the area where the adventure takes
a shortcut – the distance covered this shift is doubled.
place. In this boxed set, you’ll find a large map
Difficult Terrain: If the terrain is particularly difficult,
of the Misty Vale setting, used in the Adven-
tures book. You can use the adventure map to
you can add a bane to the BUSHCRAFT roll.
determine how far the player characters need
to travel and keep track of their progress. The
maps are not exact, so you will sometimes have
to make a judgment call.
C H A P T E R 8 – A dventures
101
MISHAPS
D12 MISHAP
1 Fog. The player characters are caught unawares by a thick fog. The distance covered this shift
is reduced by half.
2 Blocking Terrain. The way ahead is blocked by rocks, fallen trees, thick shrubs, or flooding.
Each player character must make an ACROBATICS roll to keep moving forward. Anyone who
succeeds can help the others. A player character who fails makes no progress this shift.
3 Torn Clothes. The pathfinder leads the group into a thorny thicket, rocky ravine, or swampy
marsh. The clothes of a random player character are damaged and now count as rags.
4 Lost. The player characters realize that they are walking in circles and do not make any prog-
ress on the map this shift. The pathfinder must also make a BUSHCRAFT roll to find the right
way again. Others cannot help.
5 Dropped Item. A random player character drops or breaks an item of your choice.
6 Mosquito Swarm. A large swarm of mosquitoes or gnats attacks the group, driving everyone
crazy with their biting and buzzing. All player characters without a cloak become Angry.
7 Sprained Ankle. A random player character falls or missteps and suffers D6 damage. Armor
has no effect but boots reduce the damage by two.
8 Downpour. A massive rainfall or blizzard (depending on the season) catches the group
unawares. All player characters without a cloak must roll to withstand the cold (page 54).
They must also seek shelter until the storm passes and cannot make any progress on the map
this shift.
9 Wasps. The pathfinder steps right into a nest of wasps. A swarm of angry wasps attacks the
entire group. All player characters must make an EVADE roll, and those who fail suffer D6
damage and a condition of their choice.
10 Landslide. The player characters are walking in rough terrain when the ground suddenly
gives way under their feet. Everyone must make an EVADE roll – anyone who fails suffers D10
damage.
11 Savage Animal. A wolf, bear, or other savage animal feels threatened and attacks the adven-
turers. Choose an animal from the table on page 99.
12 Quicksand. The ground collapses! Each player character must make a BUSHCRAFT roll. Anyone
who fails suffers a condition and must roll again. A character who already has all conditions
and fails the roll is swallowed by the quicksand and disappears for good. Whoever is free can
help those who are stuck.
RANDOM ENCOUNTERS
During a journey, the player characters can encoun- in, which is why they are typically included in the
ter the strangest creatures from far and near. Once adventure. You can also choose a suitable encounter
per shift, or whenever you deem appropriate, you instead of rolling randomly or make one up yourself.
can roll on a table for random encounters. Random Some random encounters can even occur at night
encounters can vary depending on the area you are and when the player characters have made camp.
102
COLD Hunting: Hunting requires a ranged weapon or a hunting
trap. First, the hunter makes a HUNTING & FISHING roll
to track down an animal. If it succeeds, roll on the table
In cold weather, particularly at night, the player
below to see what kind of animal it is. Killing it requires a
characters must make a BUSHCRAFT roll to
second roll, this time for the hunter’s weapon or HUNT-
withstand the cold (page 54). It takes a blan-
ING & FISHING again if a trap is used. Note that some
ket to avoid a bane, while a fur grants a boon
animals cannot be caught with a trap. The table shows how
on the roll.
many rations of food the animal yields.
Fishing: Fishing requires fishing gear and is handled with

a HUNTING & FISHING roll. If it succeeds, the fisher
MAKING CAMP catches D4 rations of food with a fishing rod or D6 rations
The player characters need to sleep at least one shift per with a fishing net.
day to avoid sleep deprivation (page 54). Out in the
wilderness, each player character must make a BUSH- Foraging: The player character makes a BUSHCRAFT
CRAFT roll to find a suitable resting place. Anyone roll – with a bane in winter and a boon in the fall. On a
without a sleeping fur gets a bane on the roll. If it fails, the success, the forager finds D3 food rations worth of edible
shift does not count as sleep, nor can it be used as a shift mushrooms, roots, and other plants.
rest (page 52).
Cooking: Anyone eating raw fish or meat is at risk of fall-
Tent: A tent grants a boon when making camp, and a ing ill – roll against virulence 10. Plants can be eaten raw
successful roll allows multiple people to sleep in the tent without risk, but it takes two rations of raw plants to cover
without making their own BUSHCRAFT rolls. A small tent the daily need of food. Cooking up to ten rations of food
can accommodate two people and a large one has room takes one shift and requires a successful BUSHCRAFT roll.
for six. If the person setting up the tent fails, other player On a failure, the food counts as uncooked. A field kitchen
characters can roll separately for the same shift. gives a boon to the rool. The same goes for a proper
kitchen, and there you can also cook as much food as you
Keeping Watch: Since random encounters can occur at want. See the Master Chef heroic ability.
any time, it may be wise for the player characters to sleep
during different shifts so there is always someone awake to
keep watch. HUNTING
Dangerous Locations: In certain locations, such as a

D6 ANIMAL REQUIREMENT RATIONS
dungeon with enemies all around, the player characters
cannot make camp or take a shift rest. They must first 1 Squirrel Weapon or trap 1
leave the area and find a safer spot. 2 Crow Weapon 1
3 Rabbit Weapon or trap D3
FOOD IN THE WILDERNESS 4 Fox Weapon or trap D4
Out in the wilds a player character can spend a shift
hunting, fishing, or foraging for edible plants. The char- 5 Boar* Weapon 2D6
acter cannot make any progress on the map during such 6 Deer Weapon 2D8
a shift.
* Boars attack if the hunting roll fails.
103
THE GAMEMASTER’S ROLE
As GM, you have an important role at the table. You to control the story, but we recommend that you always
describe what the player characters see, who they meet, and roll dice openly. The benefit of open rolls is that it gets all
the challenges they face. Like the director of a film, you set players involved and increases the excitement around the
the scene and are largely responsible for creating a good table. After all, you are playing the game together.
story. Being the GM is both challenging and rewarding. Feel
free to let the role of GM rotate between all members of
your group. Below are some simple tips on how you as GM PLAY WITH THE PLAYERS
can make your gaming experience even more entertaining. As GM it can be tempting to think you are playing against
the players, as you control all the adversaries and dangers.
But it is important to remember that you are all playing
ENGAGE THE PLAYERS to have fun together. If the players come up with a clever
As GM, make sure that all players feel included. If one plan and execute it successfully, let them feel good about
player character has been getting lots of attention, give themselves, and be content that you are creating stories
the others some spotlight as well. Also be mindful of the and lasting memories together.
pacing. It is often a good idea to intersperse intense events
with calmer scenes. But if you notice that the game is slow-
ing down and the players are getting bored, let something BRING THE WORLD TO LIFE
exciting happen that forces the players to react. As GM, you describe what the player characters experience.
Try to paint a picture of a real world by describing details,
sounds, and smells. Tell them about the owls hooting
ROLL DICE OPENLY around the camp at night, the frogs croaking in the swamp,
The GM often handles the dice rolls for NPCs and mon- and the leaves rustling in the wind. A detail or two is often
sters. You may be tempted to roll them secretly in order enough to make a scene or place come alive.
NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS
You control everything in the world around the player
characters, from dragons to demons, but your most
important tool for creating drama is often your non-player
characters. Stats for typical types of NPCs can be found
on the next page and many NPCs are described in the
Adventures book.
Random NPCs: You can use the random tables on page

106 to create unique NPCs. Grab a die of each type from
the box and roll them together.
MANAGING NPCS
Mechanically, NPCs function like player characters. They
move, perform actions, sustain damage, and use WP in the
same way. But in practice, you should disregard all rules
mechanics for NPCs if they do not directly affect
a player character. Don’t roll dice for
actions performed by NPCs unless
they are attacking or healing a player
character. You can roll for NPCs in
104
other situations if it enhances the drama, but usually there is Bosses are different. They are often described with names
no need for it. Remember, an NPC rolls against the default and backgrounds, and usually play an important part in
skill level of 5 if no other level is listed (page 33). the adventure. A boss draws their own initiative card in
combat. Bosses have WP and use innate and heroic abili-
ties just like player characters. Particularly powerful bosses
MINIONS & BOSSES often have multiple heroic abilities – not least Robust and
NPCs can be divided into two categories: minions and bosses. Focused several times over, which can give them far more
HP and WP than the player characters.
Minions are groups of less significant NPCs with identical If possible, try not to have your bosses die too early
stats. They are rarely described by name or personality. A in the game. A boss who lives to fight another day is
minion who reaches zero HP is dead unless you want it to more fun than a dead one. Also make sure that the player
survive – perhaps to tell the player characters something characters cannot get to the boss too easily – put some
important with its dying words. Minions almost never use minions in their way that need to be dealt with first. A
WP and often act on the same turn in combat. boss encounter should be challenging!
TYPICAL NPCS
DAMAGE
TYPE SKILLS HEROIC ABILITIES BONUS HP WP GEAR
Guard Awareness 10 — STR +D4 12 — Broadsword, studded leather

Swords 12 armor
Cultist Evade 14 — AGL +D4 12 — Dagger

Knives 14
Thief Evade 12 — AGL +D4 10 — Knife

Knives 12
Villager Brawling 8 — — 8 — Wooden club
Hunter Awareness 12 — AGL +D4 13 — Longbow, leather armor

Bows 13
Bandit Bows 12 — — 12 — Short sword, short bow

Evade 10
Swords 12
Adventurer Awareness 10 — STR +D4 13 — Broadsword, studded leather

Swords 12 armor
Scholar Languages 13 — — 7 — A good book

Myths & Legends 13
Staves 8
Bandit Chief Awareness 12 Berserker STR +D6 30 16 Heavy warhammer, chainmail,

(Boss) Brawling 15 Robust × 6 open helmet
Hammers 15 Veteran
Knight Brawling 14 Defensive STR +D6 28 26 Longsword, large shield, plate

Champion Swords 16 Double Slash armor, great helm, combat-
(Boss) Focused × 6 trained horse
Robust × 6
Archmage Magic School 15 Focused × 6 — 22 30 Staff, grimoire

(Boss) Staves 13 Master Spellcaster
Robust × 4
105
CREATING NPCS
D4 D6 D8 D10 D12 D20
ATTITUDE KIN MOTIVATION PROFESSION TRAIT NAME (CHOOSE ONE)
1 Hostile Human Sweet, glittering Bard Talks too Agnar, Jorid, Dareios
gold much
2 Evasive Dwarf Knowledge of the Artisan Strange Ragnfast, Ask, Euanthe

world clothes
3 Indifferent Elf Deep and eternal Hunter Wild-eyed Arnulf, Tyra, Xanthos
love
4 Friendly Halfling A lifelong oath Fighter Smells bad Atle, Liv, Athalia
5 — Wolfkin An injustice that Scholar Joker Guthorm, Embla, Kleitos

demands retribution
6 — Mallard A life of joy and song Mage Cultist Botvid, Ragna, Astara
7 — — Blood ties that can Merchant A bit childish Kale, Turid, Priamus
never be severed
8 — — Escaping a dark past Knight Quiet and Egil, Jorunn, Galyna

difficult
9 — — — Mariner Demon Ingemund, Borghild,

worshiper Taras
10 — — — Thief Obstinate Gudmund, Gylla, Zenais
11 — — — — Very touchy Grim, Tora, Hesiod
12 — — — — Highly Brand, Edda, Liene

romantic
13 — — — — — Folkvid, Sigrun, Eupraxia
14 — — — — — Germund, Dagrun, Taras
15 — — — — — Algot, Bolla, Lysandra
16 — — — — — Tolir, Yrsa, Kallias
17 — — — — — Hjorvald, Estrid, Isidora
18 — — — — — Ambjorn, Signe, Athos
19 — — — — — Grunn, Tilde, Larysa
20 — — — — — Olgrid, Idun, Nikias
ATTRIBUTES FOR NPCS
In adventures for Dragonbane, attribute scores for CON: Roll against maximum HP, reduced by 2 for
NPCs are not listed as they are very rarely used. If each level of the Robust heroic ability.
you at some point would need to roll against an exact WIL: Roll against maximum WP if this is listed,
attribute score for an NPC, use the guidelines below: reduced by 2 for each level of the Focused heroic
STR & AGL: Use the damage bonus. At +D6, roll ability. If WP is not listed, roll against 10.
against an attribute score of 17. At +D4, roll against INT & CHA: Roll against 10.
14. At no bonus, roll against 10.
106
CREATING ADVENTURES
Creating adventures for Dragonbane is easy. By looking 3. THE ADVENTURE SITE
at how adventures are structured in the Adventures book, The core of an adventure is an adventure site. It is the place
you can easily put together your own. Preparing an adven- where the adventure reaches its climax and where the
ture is often a fun and creative process. Here are some tips player characters spend most of their time. You can easily
to get you started. create your own adventure sites by looking at how they are
described in the Adventures book and using the random
Random Generation: With the tables on the following table on page 111. Longer adventures can have multiple
pages and a few dice rolls you can quickly and easily come adventure sites.
up with the framework for a short adventure. Grab a die
of each type from the box and roll each of them three Map: An adventure site is best illustrated using a map
times – this gives you a quest, a journey, and a site where with a 2-meter grid. The map is a useful tool for you to
the adventure reaches its climax. Keep in mind that the describe the site to your players in a consistent manner.
tables are meant as inspiration and that it is okay to make It can also be used for combat encounters (page 44).
changes. A simple sketch on squared paper may suffice, but you can
also create beautiful and detailed maps using computer
software.
1. THE QUEST
To pull the player characters into an adventure, you need a Challenges: It would not be much of an adventure
“hook.” It might be a quest given by an NPC, but it can also without dangers and challenges to face. Challenges often
be a letter, a legend, or a map they find. The hook is what involve combat with enemies and monsters, but there
sets the adventure in motion and gives the players a goal. It are other variants that can come in the form of practical
is important to be clear when creating a hook. If you want obstacles that must be overcome (a fallen tree blocking the
your adventure to take place in an abandoned crypt, give road), social challenges (guards that need persuading), or
the player characters a quest to find a lost treasure at the traps (a treasure chest with a poison needle).
end of the crypt. Knowing what they are supposed to do
makes it easier for the players to navigate the game.
LEAVING THE ADVENTURE SITE
2. THE JOURNEY
Leaving a cave or other dangerous place full of enemies,
Traveling through the world of Dragonbane is an adven-
perhaps to make camp and take a shift rest (page 52),
ture in itself. Rules for journeys are found earlier in this
can be risky. Roll on the table below if the player
chapter and official adventures have tables for random
characters leave an adventures site for at least a shift.
encounters. Playing the journey gives the player characters
Disregard the result if it clearly makes no sense.
opportunities to use their skills to find the right path,
gather food, and avoid dangers. D6 CONSEQUENCES
It can also be worthwhile to roleplay small talk around
1 Enemies at the site follow the player characters
the campfire. Small details like these make the game world
and attack at an opportune moment.
feel more alive. The journey is not mandatory however –
sometimes you may want to skip it and let an adventure 2 Enemies at the site get reinforcements. Fallen
begin at the adventure site. enemies are replaced twofold.
3 Someone else arrives at the site and clears it of
treasure before the player characters return.
4–6 Nothing happens.
107
TYPICAL TRAPS Treasures: Treasures and finds are often what tempts the
player characters into perilous adventures, and they are
Spike Trap: snaps shut on an unwary adven-
key components in creating an adventure site. An easy way
turer who tries to open a chest or door. Inflicts
is to use the treasure cards in the game box. A typical short
2D6 piercing damage.
adventure should contain 3–5 treasure cards. You can
choose treasure cards and place them in your adventure,
Trapdoor: a hatch in the floor opens beneath
let the players draw cards randomly, or just use the cards
a player character. The victim must make an
as inspiration for creating your own treasures.
EVADE roll with a bane and sustains 3D6 falling
damage on a failure.
TYPES OF TREASURE
Poison Dart Trap: darts dipped in poison shoot
out from the wall, hitting all nearby player There are two types of treasures in Dragonbane
characters who fail an AWARENESS roll. The GM – monetary treasures and gear.
decides the potency and whether it is a lethal,
paralyzing, or sleeping poison (page 52). ✦ Monetary treasures consist of coins (copper,
silver, or gold) or valuables without practical
use, such as jewels and jewelry. As a rule,
valuables are simply treated as coins – let
the players automatically know their worth
Traps: Traps are a good way to make the adventure site
(in gold, silver, or copper depending on the
feel unpredictable and dangerous to your players. Use
material) and note it on their character
them sparingly in carefully selected locations. Traps can
sheets. The item itself does not need to
be detected with the SPOT HIDDEN skill or by the players
be written down, unless it is of particular
describing that they are looking in the right place. For
importance.
truly lethal traps, it is important to give the players a hint,
✦ Gear has some practical use. It can be a
so they get a chance to spot the trap. There could be a
weapon or some other item from chapter 6. It
strange indentation in the stone floor, a mark on the wall,
can also be a magical item (page 62).
or something similar.
Final Boss: Most adventures end with the player charac-

ters facing a powerful adversary – a “boss.” Make sure that
you have prepared a final opponent and noted down its TREASURE CARDS
appearance, motivation, and tactics.
The treasure cards in the box can be used to
quickly generate treasures in the game. Some
adventures in the Adventures book indicate
when you should let the players draw a treasure
card, but you can also use the cards to generate
your own treasures. Once a player has drawn a
treasure card, its contents are written down and
the card shuffled back into the deck.
108
THE QUEST
D6
D4 the characters D8 D10 D12 D20
One day, come across from/about/with who wants to a called
1 in the gloom of a a messenger Karvago, a examine magical the Blue Zurak

tavern mysterious mage artifact
2 at the first light of a letter Bode, a one-eyed seek family the Eye of
dawn fighter revenge for heirloom Kalmander
3 around the warmth a rumor Smolla, a sad hide sword Sylrod’s Treachery
of the campfire halfling bard
4 in the bustle of the gossip Malkar, a curious destroy treasure the Heart of Ardana
marketplace wolfkin mariner
5 — an encounter Rudbul, a greedy return piece of Gildengrip

but humorous jewelry
mallard merchant
6 — an omen Davanor, a secretive claim ring Nighteye

elven hunter
7 — — Veruna, an replace stone Brother Gray

obsessive female
dwarf scholar
8 — — Roena of the Vale, protect case Sira’s Enigma

a haughty knight
9 — — — steal helmet The Crown of Hjalti
10 — — — find book The Deceiver
11 — — — — grimoire Gringul’s Secret
12 — — — — pet Windtamer
13 — — — — — The Whetstone
of Helox
14 — — — — — Stoltzenkranz
15 — — — — — Wintermoon
16 — — — — — Hallowbane
17 — — — — — Jommelkud
18 — — — — — The Silver Star
19 — — — — — Malkor’s Wrath
20 — — — — — Ironside
109
THE JOURNEY
D4 D6 D8 D10 D12 D20
The journey is and ends There is a/an surrounded by The place is called
1 easy with plenty of time for in the shadow ancient tower a swamp Bark’s Blood
song and camaraderie of a mountain ruin
2 eventful with unexpected in the darkness abandoned catacomb thick fog Barrenstone
encounters and challenges of the forest
3 arduous with unpredictable in a soggy bog forgotten tomb dark gnarled Nightpit
weather and inaccessible trees
roads
4 hard and miserable at a black lake overgrown village heavy rain Melka’s Gift
clouds
5 — at the foot of dilapidated cave icy gales Gurge’s Den

a hill
6 — on the bank of hidden castle a lingering Stonehand’s

a river ruin stench Watch
7 — — strangely farm the remains of Vidergard

shaped dead animals
8 — — destroyed hill a scorched Frost’s Sphere

wasteland
9 — — — pond standing Oakenhand

stones
10 — — — chasm strange Herod’s Water

symbols
11 — — — — a field of ruins Kil’s Shore
12 — — — — swaying reeds Feris’ Demise
13 — — — — — the Bridge of
Saar
14 — — — — — Birchholm
15 — — — — — Witherland
16 — — — — — Beaver’s Howl
17 — — — — — Coppergate
18 — — — — — Barra’s Grove
19 — — — — — Ashencleft
20 — — — — — Stormhaven
110
THE ADVENTURE SITE
D8 D10 D12 D20

D4 D6 but also unexpected guests There is a deadly chal- Finally, the player
The way in is There is in the form of lenge in the form of characters must defeat
1 easy – no one a flooded chamber 2D8 goblins a ravenous a trapdoor Kazan Murg –
locked the door and giant spider a mad wizard
2 hidden and hard a blockage of D6 adventurers a curious a strong poison The Devastator –
to find rubble and manticore a powerful minotaur
3 challenging – a winding stair- D6 wolfkin an ill- a cave-in Princess Nadilara –
something is way leading down and tempered a terrible wraith
lurking here into the darkness giant
4 dangerous – a a somber tomb D8 bandits D6 jeering a dart trap Zurgush the Red –
trap has been set and harpies a tall orc chieftain
5 — a remarkable 2D6 orcs 2D6 patrolling a tricky riddle Nightclaw –
statue and skeletons an evil elf warrior
6 — a strange mural D8 cultists an enigmatic a curse that must Frosch – an undead
and demon be lifted mallard knight
7 — — D6 dwarves a flock of vam- a jar of toxic gas Vinjia –
and pire bats an ancient ghost
8 — — D4 elves a restless rising water Burgos Bloodtooth –

and ghost a deranged thief king
9 — — — an angry troll a giant boulder Lanja Blackgrip –
a cunning goblin chief
10 — — — a large crushing walls Greenleg –
minotaur a foul-smelling troll
11 — — — — a raging fire Laval Bluestaff – a
mysterious sorcerer
12 — — — — a magic mirror Crag Broadbeard –
an aggressive dwarf
warrior
13 — — — — — Belsor Bonebreaker –
a wicked knight
14 — — — — — Orgog the Defiler –
a touchy giant
15 — — — — — Lord Aleyn –
a brutal noble
16 — — — — — Hugo of the Vale –
a renegade knight
17 — — — — — Bloodwing –
a murderous griffin
18 — — — — — The Spike Beast –
a bloodt hirsty
manticore
19 — — — — — Haxenflaugrsten –
a corrupting demon
20 — — — — — Orlaugr the Red –
a greedy dragon
111
CAMPAIGNS
Dragonbane is all about adventures. But playing individual DEAD PLAYER CHARACTERS
adventures is just the beginning. By playing a series of
adventures with the same player characters, your gaming Dragonbane is set in a dangerous world where
group can experience a larger story that becomes more player characters will sometimes die. Having to
exciting and memorable. This is called playing a campaign. part with a player character can be sad, but it is
The Secret of the Dragon Emperor in the Adventures part of the game and something that opens up
book is one example of a campaign, but they can take new possibilities.
many different forms. As GM you can have lots of fun When a player character dies, let the player
planning and playing a campaign over time, but it is create a new character and join the adventure
often good to start simple. You do not need a grand plan at the earliest opportunity. Grant the new player
to begin a campaign. Just let the player characters go off character an extra advancement roll for each
on adventures and find some way to link the adventures session you have played so far and the same
together as you go. number of heroic abilities as the other player
characters. The exact details are left to the GM.
THE GAME WORLD
The world of Dragonbane is full of misty forests, deep
ravines, steep cliffs, and forgotten caves. It is a world of
adventure and danger, of ancient beasts, hidden treasures,
and dark cults working in the shadows.
The Misty Vale, which is described in the Adventures
book, is a good starting point for your adventures.
The world of Dragonbane is meant to be discovered
and experienced in-game. Who knows what lies
beyond the mountains in the north? Perhaps
you have an idea about a strange spider
realm that would be perfect for the player
characters to visit next. If so, run with
that idea, or anything else you think
might be appropriate.
In future modules we will explore the
game world bit by bit, but in a way that
gives you the freedom to create your own
adventures.
112
INDEX
A Dodging 47, 49, 83, 84 Hunter 17 O Skills 25, 30–39, 84
Actions 42 Dragon 86 Hunting 81, 103 Obscured Targets 49 Sleep Deprivation 54
Advancement Marks 29 Drowning 53 Opposed Rolls 33 Sneak Attack 43
Advancement Rolls 29 Durability 46, 73 I Optional Rules 7 Special Attacks 48
Adventures 107 Duration 59 Immunity 84 Orc 95 Spell List 61–71
Adventure Site 107, 111 Dwarf 11 Improvised Weapons 55 Overcome Weakness 29 Spells 57–61
Age 24 Initiative 41 Over-Encumbered 28 Sphere 59
Agility 24 E Innate Ability 9 Strength 24
Ambush 43 Elementalism 57, 65–69 Instant 59 P Stretch 7, 59
Animals 81, 99 Elf 12 Instant Death 50 Parrying 46, 49, 83, 84 Stretch Rest 52
Animism 57, 63–65 Encumbrance 28 Intelligence 24 Parry Movement 46 STR Requirement 45, 73
Appearance 28 Experience 29 Pathfinders 101–102 Studies 77
Area of Effect 59 J Persuasion 84 Supply 73
Armor 28, 50, 73 F Journey 107, 110 Players 5 Swimming 53
Armor Rating 50, 73, 84 Failure 31, 59 Journeys 101–103 Poison 52
Artisan 14 Falling 53 Power from the Body 58 T
Attribute Rolls 31 Fear 52, 84 K Power Level 58 Teacher 29, 61
Attributes 24 Fear Attacks 52 Kin 9 Prepared Spells 57 Terrain 44
Features 73 Knight 18 Prerequisites 61 Thief 23
B Ferocity 83 Profession 13 Tiny Items 28
Backpack 28 Fighter 16 L Prone Targets 45 Tools 78
Banes 32 Fighting Monsters 84 Language 9 Pushing Your Roll 32 Topple 48, 84
Bard 15 Final Boss 108 Leaping 43 Trade Goods 76–77
Base Chance 25 Find Weak Spot 48, 84 Learning Magic 61 Q Traps 108
Boons 32 Fishing 81, 103 Light Sources 78 Quest 107, 109 Travel 101
Bosses 105 Food 28 Long Journeys 101 Treasure 108
Foraging 103 R Treasure Cards 108
C Forced March 101 M Rally 50 Troll 97
Campaigns 112 Free Actions 42, 43 Mage 19 Random Encounters 102 Turn 41
Casting Time 59 Free Attack 43 Magic 19, 26, 29, 52, Range 49, 59, 73
Character Sheet 9 56–71, 77 Ranged Combat 49 U
Charisma 24 G Magical Mishap 59–60 Ranged Weapons 75 Units of Time 7
Clothes 75 Gamemaster 5, 104 Magic Items 59 Rank 57
Coins 27, 28 Game World 112 Magic Tricks 58, 61, 63, Reactions 42 V
Cold 54, 103 Gear 27, 72–81 65, 69 Requirements 58 Vampiric Bats 99
Combat 45–49 General Magic 57, 61–62 Making Camp 103 Resistance 84 Vehicles 28, 81
Combat Maps 44 Ghost 87 Mallard 12 Resting 52 Waiting 41
Concentration 59 Giant 88 Manticore 93 Riding Animals 28, 55 Weakness 26
Conditions 32, 51, 83 Giant Spider 89 Mariner 20 Rolling a Demon 31, 46, Weapon 45
Cone 59 Goblin 90 Means of Travel 81 49, 59 Weapons 73, 74–75
Constitution 24 Grapple 48, 84 Medicine 79 Rolling a Dragon 31, 45, Weapons at Hand 28
Containers 79 Griffon 91 Melee Combat 45–48 46, 49, 59, 101 Weapon Skills 35
Cooking 103 Grimoire 58, 59, 61 Melee Weapons 74 Rolling Dice 6, 31, 104 Wight 98
Core Skills 25, 33–35 Grip 45, 73 Memento 27 Round 7, 41, 59 Willpower 24
Critical Hit 45, 49 Mentalism 57, 69–71 Round Rest 52 Willpower Points 25
H Merchant 21 Wolfkin 13
D Halfling 11 Minions 105 S
Damage 45, 50–51, 73 Harpy 92 Minotaur 94 Saving Life 50
Damage Bonus 25, 45, 49 Healing 52 Monster Attacks 83 Scholar 22
Damage Types 45, 50 Healing Conditions 51 Monsters 46, 47, 83–84 Schools of Magic 33, 57, 61
Darkness 52, 84 Heavy Items 28 Movement 25, 43, 83 Secondary Skills 25, 57
Dash 43 Helmet 28, 50, 73 Musical Instruments 75 Services 80
Death 50, 112 Heroic Abilities 26, 29, Severe Injuries 51
Death Roll 50 35–39 N Shield 46
Demon 85 Hit Points 25 Name 24 Shift 7, 59
Derived Ratings 25 Hitting Inanimate Objects Non-Player Characters 33, Shift Rest 52
Difficult Terrain 101 46 41, 50, 104–106 Shove 45
Disarm 48, 84 Human 10 Size 83
Disease 53 Hunger 54 Skeleton 96

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RULES

LEAD DESIGNER & EDITOR

LEAD ILLUSTRATOR ADDITIONAL ART

RULES REVIEW DIGITAL PLATFORMS EVENT MANAGER

Dragonbane is a registered trademark by Fria Ligan AB.

IN THE OLDEST TIMES COMBAT & DAMAGE

– Tomas Härenstam, Stockholm, December 2022

elcome to the Dragonbane roleplaying game! THE GAMEMASTER

C H A P T E R 1 – I n the O ldest T imes

C H A P T E R 1 – I n the O ldest T imes

1. Decide who will be the

OPTIONAL RULES MEASURING TIME

C H A P T E R 1 – I n the O ldest T imes

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME

1 Snappy 4 Bumble 1 Tinderrock 4 Traut

ABILITY: HARD TO CATCH ABILITY: UNFORGIVING

✦ Willpower Points: 3 ✦ Willpower Points: 3

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

ABILITY: INNER PEACE

✦ Willpower Points: — ABILITY: WEBBED FEET

D6 FIRST NAME D6 FIRST NAME

ABILITY: HUNTING INSTINCTS

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

With a decent hammer, a trowel, and mortar, a skilled D6 GEAR

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

The memory of ancient deeds and riches is kept alive by D6 GEAR

✦ Key Attribute: CHA 2 Talespinner 5 Honeytongue

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

✦ Key Attribute: STR D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

Snaring hares, knifing boars, and silently stalking deer in D6 GEAR

✦ Key Attribute: AGL

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

Knights are warriors who have sworn fealty to a higher D6 GEAR

✦ Key Attribute: STR

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

Mages have learned to control the ancient forces that

✦ Key Attribute: WIL

1–2 Staff, orbuculum, grimoire, torch, flint & tinder,

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

“You don’t become a sailor, you

Foaming waves and ships sailing fearlessly through dark D6 GEAR

✦ Key Attribute: AGL D6 NICKNAME D6 NICKNAME

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

Buying cheap and selling dear is the golden rule of D6 GEAR

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

Scholarly individuals gather knowledge about nature D6 GEAR

✦ Key Attribute: INT 2 Dustlung 5 The All-Knowing

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

Thieves see themselves as professional experts specialized D6 GEAR

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter

D6 AGE TRAINED SKILLS* ATTRIBUTES†

1–3 Young 6+2 AGL and CON +1

4–5 Adult 6+4 —

Strength (STR): Raw muscle power.

Charisma (CHA): Force of personality and empathy.

C H A P T E R 2 – Y our P layer C haracter