1 of 142

©Tom Parkinson-Morgan 2021

Art, layout, and writing by Tom Parkinson-Morgan
Please feel free to print or share this book if you include this credits page.

Forewor
Hello!

Many of you may know me from the other Massif Press RPG, Lancer, or from my webcomic Kill Six
Billion Demons. This is a free play test of the next game I intend to publish after completing our Lancer
kickstarter content. My ethos is to give people content, then ask them to pay for it later if they like it, so
this test is entirely free to play and distribute. Much like Lancer, the final product will have a free version
with all player facing content.

This game was born from my love of fantasy. I love that old-school mysterious, enormous-world fantasy
vibe that is reproduced so well in animation, comics, and games. This game is inspired by the feeling I
think you might get when you look at the main cover. I took inspiration from anime, the works of French
comic artist Möebius, studio Ghibli, and video games like Shadow of the Colossus, Dragon’s Dogma, and
the legend of Zelda.

I love tactical combat and strategy games, but also more freeform narrative games. Here I have mashed
the two together. You can use either or both. The narrative portion is a more stripped down version of the
action system of Blades in the Dark, by John Harper, which I think is an excellent lightweight system and
probably my favorite game currently.

Feedback

This is a play test and hasn’t been hammered out quite yet. It was written, illustrated, and formatted by
one person. There might be spelling or formatting errors. stuff that doesn’t work, feel good, or certain
combinations of abilities that are too strong, weak, etc. You can send feedback to
ksbdabbadon@gmail.com

Work on this game will be slow while I finish Lancer content and it probably won’t receive publishing for
a little while so there is plenty of time to test it. There’ll be regular but slow content for it, including 8
more jobs and at least 3-4 more bonds. Thanks for your patience.

Character sheets

I include character sheets as more of a proof of concept/for visual learners than anything. They might be a
little rough so I apologize in advance. There’s a separate .zip file you can download.

Links and support

You can find my other work at http://lancerrpg.com and http://www.killsixbilliondemons.com

If you like this playtest and want to support my work, please consider supporting me over at my patreon:
http://patreon.com/killsixbilliondemons.

Thanks for playing! I hope your games are enjoyable.

- Tom “Abbadon” Parkinson-Morgan

2 of 142

 Foreword 2

ICO 6
Legacy of The Arkenlords 6

Playing the game 8

Rolling Dice 8

Setting and Tone 9

Narrative Pla 11
The Action Roll 11

Action Ratings 11

Clocks 14

GM Principles 15

Complications and Consequences 15

Combat In ICON 18

Chapter 19

Player characters in Narrative Play 20

Play Example 21

Making a character 24

Folk of Arden Eld 24

Cultures of Arden Eld 26

BOND 31
The Path nder 31

The Seeker 32

The Mighty 33

The Wolf 34

The Harlequin 35

The Bright 36

The Brave 37

TACTICAL COMBA 38
Combat, step by step 39

Attacks 41

The Battle eld 46

3 of 142
N
S
fi
fi
y
T
 Vigor, Elixirs, Camping, and Healing 47

Combat Glossary 48

Choosing your job 52

Relics 52

JOB 53
CLASS: Stalwart 54

Bastion 56

Demon Slayer 59

Class: Vagabond 62

Shade 64

Freelancer 67

CLASS: Mendicant 70

Seer 72

Sealer 76

CLASS: WRIGHT 80

Enochian 82

Spellblade 86

RELIC 90
Advanced Combat 94

Expeditions, camps, and interlude 96

THE CAM 101
Advancement and Rewards 106

FOE 109
GLOSSARY OF FOES 112

Elite 116

Monstrosity 117

FACTION 123
Relict 123

Ruin Beast 124

Scavenger 126

IMPERIAL 127

4 of 142
S
S
S
S
P
s
DEMON 129

DEEPTOWE 132

5 of 142
R
 ICON

plowed over the skeletons of ancient war

Legacy of The machines. Cities are few and far between, and
connected over the long stretches of idyllic
Arkenlord wilderness by crumbling roads dotted with the
caravans of traveling peddlers and traders.
Long ago, the cruel and prosperous Arken
The era is peaceful and pastoral. The land is fertile
Imperium crushed the nations of Arden Eld. With
and good, and the land is broad and beautiful.
its military might and its command of magitech
Trade is flourishing between towns and war is, for
and ancient etheric sorcery, it slew the Titans who
the most part, a distant memory of a darker time.
held up the four pillars of the world and cast then
down, proclaiming itself an eternal empire. It
spread itself from sea to sea, altered the land itself The Shado
with great projects, raise mighty cities of iron and
stone, and bent the elden magics to its will, setting The people of Arden Eld, such as they are, live in
its sights on the seat of the makers themselves. era of contentment and prosperity. Yet at the
The Arkenlords became swollen with power that edges of their lives, the shadow of the past looms.
drove them far beyond the concerns of petty men,
and made them blind to their own rapidly The paths through the wilderness between towns
approaching doom. When it finally came, it was as are treacherous, sometimes dangerous. The ruins
rapid as it was inevitable. A great inexorable of the Arkenlords are everywhere, jutting out of
destruction wracked the empire, shattering it, and the land and riddling the earth itself. For the most
scouring the land. In its wake, monsters crawled part, the ruins are quiet, a mournful reminder of a
from great pits to feast on its remnants, and in forgotten and terrible past. Occasionally, however,
time retreated to the deep earth, leaving only the ruins will disgorge creatures of the old world -
smoldering ruins. monsters born of the Doom or the strange
energies harnessed by the empire. Left
The Green Ag unchecked, these Blights can endanger the roads,
fields, and forests of the world above - sometimes
becoming threatening enough to imperil whole
A thousand years have passed. The land settled,
towns.
and healed, and a gentler, greener age slowly
dawned over the land. The shattered, labyrinthine
Quite often an entire ruin will surface, pushed up
ruins of the old empire now lie entombed in the
and out of the earth by some unknown seismic
verdant earth, their depths occasionally
force or elden magic. These surfacing ruins are
disgorging monsters, mysteries, and ghosts of the
often more active than their long-dead
old world, but over and around them the world
counterparts and will rarely burst from the earth
has recovered. Forests have grown over ancient
very close to villages or in the middle of cities,
galleries, floral meadows have sprung up covering
causing great destruction.
old battlegrounds, and sparkling streams now
flow through the collapsed and teetering stones of
Deep within the ruins themselves lurk the Relict
old aqueducts and overpasses.
remains of the old empire, the undead fragments
of its servitors and sorcerers - and deeper within,
Over the ruins and in their shadows, life has
greater prizes. When the Doom befell the Arken, it
flourished, as it always will. Now towns and
shattered the land so quickly that entire chambers
villages dot the landscape, nestled in glades and
were sunk deep into the earth, or buried in
valleys and surrounded by farms and fields

6 of 142

 underground caverns or passages mostly intact. Many in your position use it to plumb the depths
Within these preserved ruins is also buried the of the old world in search of treasure and fame.
Arkentech of the old empire - magical and Others use it to drive back the Blights and protect
technological creations and devices of terrifying the villages of the Green from the specters of the
import. The ruins themselves are so seeped in the past, or keep the roads and ways safe for the
elden sorcery of the old lords that they exude Dust young and old alike. Some work as mercenaries
- the essence of condensed raw magic highly for the city guilds and take to the sky in great
sought after by the wrights and technological airships, while others wander the land helping the
artisans of the world above. lost or forgotten. Some use their power to kill to
cut away threats to the world, others to defend
Brave or daring adventure seekers or treasure those they hold dear.
hunters often venture into these ruins in search of
wealth or power, and are frequently rewarded, Will you defend the Green Age? Will you help
despite the terrible danger that these expeditions usher in the Churning Age? Or will you cast all
pose. aside to turn the great wheel of history and allow
its stagnant blood to flow again? Whoever you are,
it is your decisions that make you who you are,
The Churning Ag and cement your place in the Tale of Ages.

Now, the world stands at the edge of a new age -

the Churning Age. You are an Icon.
More and more adventurers plumb the ruins of
the old world in search of its treasures. Factions of
the trade guilds and city councils now turn their
eyes to the terrible potential of arkentech, and
seek it greedily. Great Aetheric airships, built with
the power scraped from the ruins, now soar into
the sky in search of crumbling spires or ancient
catacombs to plunder. In response, the ruins
themselves have become more active - disgorging
more monsters, becoming more unstable, and
more often rising up from the earth itself in
terrifying seismic displays.

The Churn threatens to throw the Green Age into

tumult. A treasure fueled sickness has made its
way into the hearts of Kin. There are even those
who whisper, more and more openly, about the
legacy of the Arkenlords, of the need for strength,
wealth, power, and war banners to be hoisted
once again. Cities eye each other with suspicion.
Travelers grip their cloaks tightly and tighten
their sword belts, and for the first time, banditry
has sprung up over the stones and passes of the
old imperial highways.

At the very edge of this age is you.

You belong in this world, and you are tied to its
fate. You are cursed to wield great power, but how
you choose to wield it is up to you.

7 of 142

 (1-4, 5-8, 9-12). Each chapter represents a

Playing the game different scale of power, and enemies, challenges,
and stakes will increase in severity accordingly.
ICON is a role playing game for two or more Moving on to the next chapter is a decision taken
players. An ideal group is 3-5. One player will act by the players, who can choose to stay in a certain
as the game master (GM) who will adjudicate the chapter as long as they like (but will have a cap on
rules and help create and move the narrative their power as they cannot level up past the
forward. chapter limit).

This game assumes you know what a role-playing

game is. If this is your first RPG and you’re
Rolling Dic
unsure, there are plenty of resources available
online to bring you up to speed. In ICON, there are different dice rolls for
narrative play and tactical combat.
Two modes of pla
In narrative play, characters use d6s.

ICON has two modes of play: narrative play, When the outcome of an action is unclear, risky,
and tactical combat. The rules for these or contested, a character names their goal and
modes are different and there is next to zero makes an action roll, rolling a number of d6s
overlap between them. It’s entirely possible to run equal to an action rating on their sheet and
a game of ICON entirely in one mode or the other, choosing the best result. The GM tells the player
and rules are provided to play the game only in before they roll the effect and risk of their
narrative mode if you so desire. Typically games action. On a 1-3 the character fails to accomplish
will start in narrative play and remain there their goal and suffers the risk, on a 4-5 they
whenever there is storytelling, free role playing, or succeed but may suffer the risk anyway, take some
a need to move the story somewhere. When other consequences, setback or reduced effect,
there’s a point of tension that can only be decided and on a 6 they succeed with no complications.
through the drama and violence of combat, then There’s many more details on on action rolls in
the game swaps to a grid-based tactical game, the section on narrative play.
with more clearly defined turn order and more
structured rules. In tactical combat, characters mostly use
d20s.
Expeditions and Interlude
The two rolls in tactical combat are attack rolls
In ICON, characters are adventurers that go on and saves.
expeditions in order to accomplish a goal. On an
expedition they can camp to restore their lost Characters usually make an attack roll when they
health and ease their minds. After the expedition take a hostile action against another character
finishes, they can pause the action to take an with the attack tag. For an attack roll, a
interlude, a longer pause in the action. character rolls a d20 (and may also roll a number
of d6s, or add another number), then compares
Some goals are more long term than a single the final result to their target’s defense, beating it
expedition. Any goal that takes multiple if they match it or roll higher.
expeditions to complete is called a quest.
Characters make saves to avoid or end harmful
Chapte ongoing effects, such as dragon breath, poisonous
gas, being stunned by a boulder, or something
Campaigns of ICON are split into 3 chapters. Over similar. For a save, a character rolls a d20
the course of their adventure, characters will (usually with no modifiers). On an 11 or higher,
become increasingly more powerful, represented they save against the effect successfully, ending or
by levels. Every chapter represents four levels avoiding it.

8 of 142

 There’s many more details on attacks, saves, and that defeated means dead. You can decide if you
tactical combat in the rules in that section. want to run a game with a different tone that
players can decide whether to defeat or kill an
Boon and Curs enemy they reduce to 0 hp, if an enemy is always
killed when reduced to 0 hp, or if an enemy is
Some abilities give rolls boon or curse. These never killed when reduced to 0 hp unless
modifiers represent situational modifiers that can characters take some extra action.
happen during a dangerous and chaotic
adventure. Many character abilities will give Here are the game’s other setting elements:
boons built in and many enemy effects will give
curse. Setting conceit

For narrative play, when a roll has a boon, add an The game takes place in a world called Arden Eld
additional d6 to the roll for each boon. When a (old Arden).
roll has any curse, subtract a d6 for each curse.
Arden Eld is old, wild, and untamed. Where
For tactical combat, when a roll has a boon, roll civilization exists, it is green, pastoral, and
an add a d6 to the total d20 roll for each boon. If idyllic, except for the cities, which are few and
more than one boon is added to a roll, choose the far between. There are no nations the way we
highest d6 result, no matter how many rolled. For think of them today, but there are tight knit
curses, do the opposite (subtract 1d6 per curse, communities and city states.
subtracting the highest for multiple curses).
Arden Eld is post apocalyptic, and full of
Boons and curses cancel each other out, 1 to 1 ruins, dungeons, caverns, and other unexplored
(don’t even roll). and dangerous spaces. There was an ancient,
cruel, and technomagically advanced empire
For example: that collapsed under its own hubris, irrevocably
- A character makes an attack roll with two boons changing the land. In these deep and perilous
and +0 to the roll. They roll 1d20, and gets a 13. spaces there is great treasure in the form of lost
They roll 2d6 (one for each boon), and gets a 3 magic and technology.
and a 4. They take the highest boon result (a 4)
and add it to the total, for 13+4 = 17. Arden Eld is a fantastic world. The technology of
Arden Eld is roughly medieval, but the existence
- A character makes a save with 2 curses and 1 of arkentech means there are firearms, automata,
blessing. The blessing cancels one curse. They roll skyships, and other ancient machines all over the
1d20, and get a 12, then roll 1 remaining curse and place. High technology tends to be rare,
get a 4. Their total result is 12 - 4 = 8, a failure. coveted, and buried.

Arden Eld is full of monsters that pour forth

from the ruins, but those monsters are never
Setting and Ton people. People may contest, thwart, fight, or
even try to kill the characters, but their violence
ICON’s setting is kept relatively loose for you to is always motivated.
adapt to your game. Several aspects of narrative
play and tactical combat are kept loose for you to Game conceit
decide what is important to you in your game.
When a section of the game does this, it’ll mention ICON is a game about playing heroic
it directly, and give you some options or characters that fight for their ideals. They go
examples. on expeditions to fight monsters, explore
ruins, and gather power. During interludes,
For example, non player characters that are they build, heal, and learn. Eventually they may
reduced to 0 hit points in tactical combat are end up changing or saving the world. Heroic in
defeated. By default, the game does not assume this context doesn’t necessarily mean

9 of 142

 ‘altruistically motivated’ but fated, or larger than

life.

ICON fits into a ‘mythic fantasy’ or ‘high fantasy’

type of game, where the heroes can perform feats
of incredible strength, speed, or magic, and the
beliefs and ideals of the heroes are central.

Changing these conceit

As a game master you are welcome to change,

add, or tweak any of this content for your own
setting or use. Certain aspects of ICON, however,
are core to the game and before running a game
using this system, think carefully about these
aspects.

If you want to run a game that is more grounded

or low technology, it will probably not fit with the
base tone and setting of this game. Characters are
heroic and powerful and have many abilities that
give them a lot of narrative agency. Magic and
technology is everywhere.

ICON does not care about minutely tracking time,

supplies, detailed wounds, etc., nor does it care
about tracking currency for the most part, except
when it matters.

Players always have the initiative in ICON,

especially in narrative play. Running a slow, tile-
by-tile dungeon crawl with traps, puzzles, etc is
not well suited to ICON without modifying the
way you think about these challenges. The game
prefers to move through these aspects narratively
and quickly.

If you want to run a nonviolent social game with

little combat, it is possible, but ICON’s focus on
monster fighting, battles, and exploration of
dangerous spaces (even if done narratively) is a
core part of the game.

10 of 142

 Narrative Play

Narrative play is the default mode of play of

ICON. Whenever you’re talking, exploring, You might get bonus dice or dice penalties on a
investigating, or on the move, you’re probably in roll from allies helping you, in the form of Boons
narrative play. It covers pretty much everything (+1d6) and Curses (-1d6). These cancel each other
outside of tactical combat. In Narrative play, the out 1 to 1.
primary goal of the players and the GM is to play
to find out what happens in the story, and the These are sometimes written as +1d or -1d for
story itself is the medium of play. simplicity.

Players typically say what their characters do and The most important rule to remember is that you
say, and the game master tells them how the can’t get more than +2 or -2 additional dice on
world or other characters respond to them. It’s a any roll, no matter how many dice you get
bit like a conversation back and forth between the otherwise.
GM and the players.

Narrative play can be very loose and unstructured,

Action Rating
and you can play a long time without touching any
dice. However, when the outcome of an When an action roll is required, players decide
action is unclear, difficult, dangerous, or which rating best fits their action.
contested, a player makes an action roll.
• Sneak - Move with stealth and silence. Perform
actions without notice. Spring an ambush.
The Action Rol • Excel - Act with concentrated precision or skill.
Hit a tiny target at range. Catch a falling coin.
To make an action roll, players state their Balance on a narrow wire. Squeeze through a
intent, then pick an action on their character tight space.
sheet that they think best describes their action. • Survey - Scan and assess a broad area or
Based on the action chosen, the GM judges the situation. Spot at a distance. Look for tracks,
risk and effect of that action. Then the player clues, paths, or hidden things.
makes an action roll, rolling 1d6 per dot of the • Channel - Sense, talk to, understand, or attune
chosen action and picking the highest result. For with magical forces or creatures. Interact with,
actions with a rating of 0, players roll 2d6 and alter, or dispel magical forces or constructs.
pick the lowest. Hold a ritual.
• Charm - Sway with charisma, appeals, or
Check the final result: diplomacy. Call in favors. Cause distraction or
misdirection. Lie to someone’s face.
• 1-3: The character fails to accomplish their goal • Command - Use force of will and presence to
directly and suffers the full consequences lead or intimidate. Strong-arm or intimidate
• 4-5: The character is successful, but at a cost someone. Lead or organize a group of people.
• 6: The character is successful • Tinker - Interact with, understand, or use
• 6,6: - Critical Hit! The character is successful alchemy, magitech, or other technology. Fix,
and has increased effect pick, or break locks or mechanisms. Craft,
deconstruct, improve, or alter technology.

Bonus dic

11 of 142

 • Study - Look at something or someone up close

and with great detail. Discern someone’s
Risk and Effec
intentions. Perform research.
When a player suggests a course of action and
• Recall - Dredge up useful lore, history, rumor,
names their goal, the GM decides how risky the
or memory. Remember important details about
action is and how effective it’s going to be, based
monsters or ruins.
on the narrative.
• Traverse - Climb, swim, leap. Run swiftly.
Chase or flee. Pilot a vehicle or ride an animal.
Risk can be controlled, risky, or desperate.
• Smash - Overwhelm with physical or magical
Effect is usually weak, normal, or powerful.
force. Hurt someone. Throw a punch or blast
down a door with a magic spell. Wreck an object
By default, all actions are risky and have normal
or obstacle.
effect. Risky means there is some degree of
• Endure - Push yourself to your limits. Power
consequence if a character fails - this is usually
through pain, cold, heat, or harsh environments.
the case! Normal effect just means that there’s an
Lift or drag something enormously heavy.
expected outcome, i.e. what the player expects to
happen will happen.
• When you want to move quietly past the Wyrm
without it noticing you, you’re probably
Controlled risk means there are few or weaker
Sneaking.
consequences for failure. When a situation or
• When you want to kick down the heavy dungeon
action is controlled, the character usually has a
door, you’re probably Smashing it.
good position, plenty of time, or relative safety.
• When you want to figure out how to dispel the
Desperate risk means great or dire
ward over the door, you’re probably
consequences for failure. When a character finds
Channeling.
themselves in a bad situation or throws
• When you want to cut the drawstrings of the
themselves into one for a faint hope, that’s
guard’s trousers with a swipe of your sword,
desperate.
you’re probably Excelling.
When effect is weak, it’s less effective than the
You’ll notice that some of these actions have a
player expects. For example, a character tries to
little overlap, but are flavored differently. For
tinker a gemstone loose that’s powering a
example, taking someone’s purse from them could
magical trap, but only succeeds in prying it out
be cutting it from their belt (with Excel) - quick
half way, making them have to take additional
but not necessarily quietly. Alternately, it could be
action. When an effect is powerful, it’s more
taking it quietly with Sneak. You could even
effective than expected. For example, a character
perhaps Charm them to divert their attention
trying to recall or survey a way out of a maze
while you take it off them. A heavy dungeon door
with powerful effect may figure the whole thing
could be tinkered (if it has a lock). Alternately, it
out and gets the party out in one roll.
could be smashed with a fireball, or perhaps
someone could endure lifting and holding it
open for the group to pass through. No effect and superpowere

All of these different situations have different Sometimes the GM can judge an action can have
narrative outcomes and might be more risky or no effect at all. For example, the GM might decide
more or less effective depending on the situation. trying to charm monsters to persuade them that
The key thing is that players always choose the your actions are just may not have any effect.
approach and the action they want to use. The Trying to traverse by leaping up a 50 foot wall
GM is free to suggest actions, and also to decide probably doesn’t have any effect unless it’s already
whether an action is riskier or even been established your character can jump that
effective. This is where the meat of narrative high.
play in ICON lies. Players can use their creativity
to form approaches to problems, and the GM acts Sometimes an action has extraordinary effect, is
as the judge to set the stakes. heroic or outsized in scale, or pushes beyond
mortal limits. This level of effect is called

12 of 142

 superpowered. Characters can get a These two tools together - risk and effect - are
superpowered effect by pushing their effect kept slightly loose for a reason. They let you set
beyond powerful through their abilities or getting the tone of the game you want to play, and also
a critical hit on a powerful action. A superpowered give the GM tools to judge situations based on the
effect can accomplish feats that we normally story.
wouldn’t think possible - like traversing that 50
foot wall in a single leap, smashing a tower to How much can a powerful or super powered
rubble with a blow of your sword, sneaking action do in your game? Can a superpowered
through a whole army, or supernaturally smash destroy a boulder or a whole tower? Does
recalling the exact words of an ancient emperor, changing the mind of the enchantress take a
lost to time. powerful charm or a normal charm? Can a
character command a whole army by themselves
Fortun with normal effect or is that effect weak without
aid?
When a character is trying to accomplish a task
that isn’t particularly dangerous or doesn’t have Which actions end up being more or less risky and
obvious consequences, but the action is difficult the consequences of character action also sets the
or the outcome is unclear, they can make a tone. If a character attempts to leap across a wide
fortune roll. This a roll that uses actions as chasm, is that a desperate action, or merely
normal, but the outcome is slightly different, risky? Can a character even jump across a chasm
based on what the character is trying to do: that wide unaided, or will they have no effect
without a superpowered action?
• 1-3: Poor result or outcome
• 4-5: Expected or average result or outcome Might and Magi
• 6: Good result or outcome
• 6,6: Excellent result or outcome One last note - you might notice that there are no
explicitly magical effects in the actions. The
The most common application of these rolls is outcome of the actions and the type of action is
when gathering information about a situation, what’s important. Whether in the story your
or during interludes. For example, a character character is using their skill, physical strength, or
surveys a group of monsters from a distance. The magical forces to perform the action makes no
GM judges that it’s too far for there to be any difference - all heroes are ICONs, after all, and all
danger, so the player makes a fortune roll and gets equally capable of great feats. However you flavor
a 4, getting average information. the action is up to you - you choose which action
rating you think best fits your activity in the story.
Researching and working on long term projects Survey could be your character using magically
are usually all fortune rolls. Tests of ability can be enhanced eyesight to scout a situation, or just
a fortune roll - a character can roll traverse to your character’s keen senses. You could sneak on
see how fast they show up at a scene, for example, your own two feet or with a magical cloaking spell,
or endure to win a drinking contest . Tests of or you can recall by consulting an arcane tome
knowledge are also usually fortune rolls. A instead of your own memory. You could even
character might roll recall to see how much they channel by using your own senses, awareness,
remember about the corrosive properties of Wyrm and intuition, instead of magical ability.
bile, or they might roll tinker to test their
familiarity with a magitech device. Player initiativ

The GM can also make a fortune roll if they want In ICON narrative play, the Game Master
to leave a situation up to chance. How’s the never rolls (except maybe to make a fortune roll
weather? Is the town elder busy today? How rocky here and there, as stated above), and players
are the river rapids up ahead? always have the initiative. Non-player characters,
traps, hazards, etc are not treated like individual
Judging risk, effect and setting ton entities with their own ‘turns’ or action ratings,
but rather like a part of the scene or story, with

13 of 142

 the story itself being the most important thing! take more time, or multiple steps, to complete,
Characters take action, and the GM responds by and doing everything in one roll just doesn’t feel
narrating what happens next. right.

The only way players can take consequences is In all these cases, it’s best to use a clock!
through their own actions. The extent of those
consequences are up to the GM, however, which When you have a clear challenge or goal, you can
could include them ‘losing’ the initiative by set out a clock with an even number of segments
forcing them to react to a situation. In tense (4, 6, 8, 10, 12). You can draw out an actual clock,
situations, a GM can always turn things back on split into segments, or use a tracker, or simply tick
the players and force them to react, even when off check marks if you like. The longer the clock,
players have a successful roll. Always look to ask the more complicated or challenging it will be to
the question “What do you do?” fulfill. Name the clock after the challenge or goal,
not necessarily the method. For example, you can
One Rol have a clock that says ‘Guards’, ‘Traps’, and
‘Alarm’.
Most tasks can be accomplished in one roll, but
you can decide how far one roll goes in your game. When characters take action related to a clock
that would further it in some way, they will fill in
• Will one roll let you sneak into the castle, or will segments on that clock with their actions on a
you need to take a series of actions? successful roll equal to their effect:
• Will one roll let you convince the knight of your • Fill in 2 segments for normal effect
worthiness, or will you need to prove your • 1 for weak,
mettle to them with further actions? • 3 for powerful,
• Will one roll let you fight your way out of the • and 5 for super powered actions.
monster infested flooded passage, or will you
play out tactical combat to get out instead? When the clock fills up completely, the task or
challenge it represents is complete or
Stretching the value of a single roll can let you surpassed. No further action is necessary from
control the tone of the game and how it’s framed - the characters.
how much time and action is covered - and you
can vary it from scene to scene. In the previous example, we could set out a single
clock (maybe a longer one, such as 10 segments)
for the whole castle, called something like ‘The
Clock Castle’. Alternately, we could set out a few
(shorter) clocks representing each major obstacle
as the characters come across them - like ‘Guard
Let’s think about sneaking into the castle in the
in the hallway’, ‘Big complex lock’, ‘Hidden
section above - there may be several discrete tasks
Trapped Room’, judging the characters successful
or obstacles that need to be cleared - guards,
if these smaller clocks are filled in.
locks, trapped doors, you name it. One roll may
not feel right for the purposes of this task. If the
Clocks abstract out a whole task, scene, or series
journey in doesn’t particularly matter, a character
of events. It’s certainly possible to just use a series
could make a single roll to sneak in and have to
of normal rolls for many complex tasks (and a lot
figure out how to get out. Or, if this is something
of tables will play that way). However, using
we want the story to brush past or montage
clocks to represent complicated tasks ensures
through without much further consideration or
you’re only rolling when there’s persistent
consequence, we could do the whole thing in a
narrative tension, constrains the number of rolls
single roll (perhaps this is a scene from the
made for any given task, and creates clear
character’s history, or the task is far below their
parameters for success. It allows the story to
skill).
progress and means you don’t have to waste time
lingering on tasks that would otherwise require a
Sometimes a task is too complex or daunting to be
lot of rolling, all of which we find extremely
completed in one roll. Sometimes a task might

14 of 142

 effective for speeding up play. You can use them

to move more quickly and efficiently through Heres some basic principles for the GM to follow
narrative scenes. If you’d prefer to keep things when running ICON:
looser, then don’t worry over making clocks for • Keep away from ‘no’. ‘Yes, and…’, and ‘Yes,
every little thing. but…’ keep the story moving and keep things in
the player’s hands. You can always tell a
Project clock character an action isn’t possible given their
approach without denying them completely.
You can easily use clocks to track progress on a Offer alternative approaches or suggestions to
long term project, especially the kind that problems, and let player creativity be rewarded.
characters might try to work on during an “You can’t open that door by smashing it down
interlude. by yourself, it’s too heavy. If you could find
something strong to use as a battering ram
Progress clock though…”.
• Let players choose how to move the
You can also use clocks to track the status or time action forward. Give players choices and let
pressure of a larger ongoing situation in the world them choose how to proceed. Players should
or campaign, such as a war, a spreading Blight, a nearly always be the ultimate drivers of action in
faction’s political influence, or an assassination your story, not your NPCs, plots, or events. You
plot. These progress clocks tend to move by can always force the players to react by throwing
themselves. Tick segments on these clocks when something unexpected on at them if you want to
the story or campaign moves forward. A good mix it up. “Railroading”, or taking away player
time to do this is after an interlude. When ticking agency, only typically becomes a problem when
these clocks, tick one segment if the situation you deny players the chance to take action or
progressed a little, two if it progressed as normal, intervene in a situation.
and three if there was great progress. For • Play to find out what happens. It’s perfectly
example, if you have a clock tracking the progress fine to have a plan or outline for a session or
of a war and it’s drawing to a close, you might tick expedition. If there’s a scene or event you really
three segments on that clock at the end of want to happen, however, and the players totally
downtime. avoid it, then let it happen! You can find a way
to introduce it later. Players will often deviate
from the path you lay out for them, and the
Failure state
story is often better for it.
• Foreshadow consequences and threats. If
You can also create clocks that fill up as a result of
you’re going to shoot someone with a crossbow,
failures, rather than successes, establishing fail
show the players a glint of it from a window
states for situations. These clocks get filled in as
first. If the fall off the mountain is going to
consequences of failed rolls or complications of
inflict critical harm, you should probably tell
Risky or Heroic rolls. For example, if a group of
players how steep and dangerous the mountain
PCs were trying to flee from a band of
path looks. The game has a very easy way to
mercenaries, you might set out two clocks: one
foreshadow threats built in with risk.
that represents the PCs’ safe escape and one that
• Make characters look good. Characters are
represents the mercenaries catching up to them
heroes. If they fail, they should never fail due to
and forcing a fight. The Escape clock fills up when
incompetency.
PCs successfully put some distance between them
and their pursuers, while the Capture clock fills
up when they either fail those actions or have to
make trade-offs. You might fill in two segments
Complications and
whenever a PC fails a roll and fill in a single
segment as a complication if they roll a 4-5. Consequence
Characters take some sort of consequences or
GM Principle complications for their actions on any final action

15 of 142

 result except a 6 - something that will happen or they are late to the peace summit. Put them
fairly often! on the back foot.
7. Reduce effect - Give characters less effect on
Consequences are typically narrative in nature a successful action, perhaps making them
and will depend on the nature of the action that have to roll again.
the character is taking in the fiction. For example, 8. Inflict strain, as established - Inflict
a character trying to leap a chasm might fall, strain. There’s more on strain below. For a
stumble, or find themselves clinging to the edge if risky action, inflict 2, for a controlled action, 1.
they don’t get a full success. The severity of For a desperate action, inflict 4 strain, or in
consequences should depend on the risk of the rare cases, inflict critical strain.
action that a character is taking, with more
severe consequences the worse the risk Foreshadowing consequence
was. For a controlled action, consequences are
minor, for a desperate action major, and for a It’s good practice as a GM to foreshadow or hint at
standard risk action they should be somewhere in the possible consequences behind a character’s
the middle. In the previous example, a character actions. This is especially important for
might fall completely into the chasm if the action consequences with hard outcomes, such as strain.
was desperate (probably getting majorly hurt!), Establish consequences in the story first. This is
find themselves clinging to the edge on a risky pretty easy and intuitive to do:
action, and maybe drop something on the way
over in a controlled action but otherwise make it • “The robber levels their dagger at your chest. It
over safely. looks pretty sharp.”
• “You can take a shortcut to get ahead of the
Here’s some broad suggestions for the GM when fleeing courier, but you’ll lose sight of her -
inflicting consequences. better hope you catch up.”
• “You can definitely sneak past the sleeping
1. Put someone in a bad spot - Increase the giant, but he’s sleeping lightly and the slightest
risk of their next action. Put them in a worse noise will probably wake him up.”
position than before, like teetering on the edge
of a cliff, separated from the group, sliding off Sometimes players will even suggest possible
a rooftop, or in the middle of a crowded guard outcomes or consequences for their own actions -
post. in which case you should run with it. You can also
2. Start a ticking clock - Start a ticking clock communicate this pretty easily by setting risk for
for a much worse consequence. Perhaps a actions. Don’t worry too much about doing it
character knocks a pillar, now the whole room every time, just try to remember when you inflict
is about to collapse. hard or severe outcomes to communicate the
3. Tick an existing clock - Tick 1-2 segments possible outcomes before the character takes the
for a partial success, tick 2-3 for a failure. If action - and allow players to back out of their
the action was desperate or controlled tick ideas if they want. This helps the game feel fair.
more or less.
4. Offer a hard choice - Make characters
choose between two harder outcomes - do you Strain and Burden
want to recover the key to the ancient door or
let the treasure chest fall into the abyss? When a character is physically hurt, mentally
5. Weigh them down - Present characters with drained, or narrowly avoids injury from a
a sudden obstacle or hindrance - pin them situation, they take strain.
under a heavy boulder, give them an annoying
hanger-on at the party, blow out all the In base ICON, characters are heroic and larger
torches and make the room pitch black than life. Only the stresses and stakes of tactical
6. Make them lose initiative - The character combat can truly hurt characters. Outside of
misses a window of opportunity or loses combat, they take strain. Taking strain
valuable time. They lose sight of the thief represents the mental and physical effort a
they’re pursuing, a door slams shut on them, character must put into avoid serious bodily

16 of 142

 injury, taking injury anyway and pushing through

the pain, taking mental stresses, or suffering A burden is more long-term strain to a character
through a difficult situation. Strain can represent and represents the mental and physical ordeal of
everything from actual bodily injury to the adventuring life. How much a burden
exhaustion, enervation, tiredness, or exposure to interferes with a character is up to that character’s
the elements. Strain taken is 1, 2, or 4. Characters player, but they get xp for letting it do so. When
can also take critical strain. you take a burden, write the nature of the burden
underneath it. It could be a long term injury of
Average strain is 2, usually taken as a result of some kind that the character ignores, scars, a
risky actions. This is usually something like change in attitude, tiredness, sickness, etc.
getting swiped at by an average monster, a short
but painful fall, slashed at by a weapon, eating Possible burdens (not an exhaustive list, just
something poisoned, exhausted from a long trek, examples):
frozen in the blinding wind, dizzy from a lack of • Injuries: broken leg, broken arm, gashed ribs,
sleep, etc. monster bite, etc
• Corruption: Infection, disease, illness, dark
Minor strain is 1, usually taken as a result of magic
controlled actions - still enough to be painful. • Negative emotions: Anger, resentment,
Bad bumps, scrapes, minor wounds, animal bites, jealousy, rage, hatred
tiredness, sickness, etc. • Exhaustion: tiredness, ennui, sadness

Major strain is 4, usually taken as a result of Invoking Burden

desperate actions. Major strain is something If a character has any burdens, they can invoke
very painful or hurtful, like a long fall, getting their burdens in narrative play. The GM chooses
smashed by a boulder, smacked around by a large one of the following, based on the nature of the
monster, burned by a fireball, going days without burden.
sleep or food, getting badly sick or poisoned, shot • Get into trouble - the character starts trouble,
in a vital place with an arrow, etc. requiring some action to get out of it
• Increase the risk of their actions this scene
Critical strain is something that a normal (typically to desperate)
person probably wouldn’t survive, such as falling • Reduce the effect of their actions this scene to
off a cliff, getting crushed in the jaws of a wyrm, weak
falling into lava, riddled with arrows, etc. You’ll
survive - you’re an ICON after all, but in order to For example, a character has the ‘Broken Leg’
do so, you’ll have to push through a lot. burden and chooses to invoke it when their party
is doing a scene to climb a mountain. The GM
Breaks and Burden decides that this characters actions will be more
risky during this scene because of the leg.
Characters have a limited number of strain boxes,
usually 4. If they would tick a box and their ‘Get into trouble’ means starting trouble where
boxes are already full, or if they take critical there is none. For example, a character with the
strain, they break and are too hurt or ‘exhausted’ burden decides to get into trouble.
overwhelmed to continue in the current scene, The GM decides this character wanders off, not
unable to move or act on their own. A broken aware of their surroundings, while the party is
character only act by pushing or receiving aid (see traversing a monster-infested tunnel. A character
more on stress below). When they do, they don’t with the ‘anger’ burden decides to get into trouble
get the regular benefits of pushing or gaining aid, - the GM decides that the character acts out at an
just the ability to act normally. inopportune moment.

When a character breaks, they clear their strain When getting into trouble or invoking a burden
boxes and take a burden, and at the end of the means changing a character’s behavior or making
scene they cease to be broken and can act them act out-of-character, the GM can say what
normally. happens but it can be up to the player to act it out.

17 of 142

 characters don’t have the ability to go all out, it’s

If you invoked a burden at least once during a not worth tactical combat. For most situations
session get 1 xp at the end of that session per involving violence, assess whether it’s important
separate burden you invoked. enough to dip into tactical combat. If you get into
other situations, it might be better to play it out as
Healing Burdens and strai a narrative scene, using clocks. This is a way you
can set the tone and pacing for your game.
Characters can heal all strain when they camp
or when they finish an interlude. • Is a bar brawl a tactical combat, where the
stakes are high and characters will use the full
Burdens can only be healed during an interlude, extent of their powers and abilities, or is it a
during the special Heal Burdens step. Burdens narrative scene using Excel, Smash, Endure,
are represented with a clock of 4, 6, or 8 and Command to overwhelm and outwit your
segments, and characters can only heal them rowdy opponents?
slowly. Characters can fill in any burden they like • If the local militia shows up to arrest the
when they take one. players, is that a tactical combat or a
negotiation? Can it degrade into a tactical
3 burden combat or can players make other rolls to avoid
fighting?
• If the characters find a large Arkogre guarding
A character with 3 burdens can still break,
the entrance to a dungeon, can they talk to it, or
clearing all strain, but doesn’t mark an extra
will they have to fight it in tactical combat if
burden. Instead of recovering and returning to
they fail to sneak past?
themselves at the end of the scene, however, they
remain broken until the expedition is over (they
Transitioning into tactical combat is usually done
can still push or receive aid to act normally).
smoothly out of narrative scenes or as a tension
break when things go sour. When the characters
A character with 3 burdens is in bad shape
fail to sneak past the Relict, when they burst into
emotionally and physically and can often be
the baron’s hall hell bent on confronting them, or
‘retired’ or take a break from adventuring - they
when they stand in defense of the town as the
can still heal burdens during interludes and can
wave of monsters approaches.
return to expeditions after healing.

Narrative Comba
Combat In ICO
As an alternative or companion to tactical combat,
ICON has a tactical combat system, but this you can play combat scenes out exactly like you’d
system doesn’t have to get used to represent every play out any other narrative scene - using action
occasion when violence breaks out. You have a rolls, clocks to track challenges, etc.
couple options, including not playing with tactical
combat at all! Combat action
If using narrative combat, you can use a
character’s combat ratings when they inflict
Use tactical comba violence in narrative play. There are three ratings:
By default, ICON assumes GMs and other players
• Skirmish: Act with mobile, fast, and quiet
will be using the tactical combat system in the
violence. Powerful against numerous foes, but
second half of this book. This system is only for
Weak against larger, tougher, or armored foes.
when the stakes or the tension are high and must
• Snipe: Act with long range, precise, but slow
be resolved through combat. In tactical combat,
violence. Less Risky at a distance. More Risky
characters can actually be hurt or killed, and
up close.
they are going to use the full extent of their
might - all their destructive magical and physical
power. If the scene doesn’t warrant that, or the

18 of 142

 • Crush: Act with strong, loud, and close challenges characters could be expected to handle
violence. Powerful against larger, tougher, or as beginning adventurers. Chapter 2 is for
armored foes. Weak against numerous foes. established adventurers, and Chapter 3 is for
legendary adventurers.
Characters start with one rating at 2, one at 1,
and one at 0, and can improve them like any Character’s actions are more effective and less
other action rating. The flavoring and theming of risky against threats and challenges 1 chapter
a character’s action and attacks is up to the player, lower than them. Against threats and challenges 2
and any rating could be used for physical or chapters lower than them, characters can surpass
magical combat. them without rolling at all, or in one roll.

In a narrative combat situation, characters don’t The opposite is true. Character’s actions are less
have to just use combat ratings, but can use any effective or more risky (or both!) against
action to progress a clock, as long as its effective. challenges 1 chapter higher than them, and have
reduced effect twice and increased risk against
In this situation, don’t treat monsters or foes like challenges 2 or more chapters higher, which could
you would in a traditional rpg, but instead use mean they have no effect at all!
clocks, risk, and effect to represent them. The GM
can adjudicate or adjust these based on the Characters can tackle higher Chapter threats by
qualities of the foes characters are facing, deciding mitigating risk and effect as normal, such as
which actions in the moment would be more or through using Superpowered actions.
less effective.
In the above example with the Wyrm, the GM
For example, characters are fighting a Wyrm in might rule that the Wyrm is a Chapter 2 foe, a
open combat. The Wyrm itself might be powerful monster, and players will be less
represented with a 10 or 12 segment clock (a effective against it (and take more risky actions) if
pretty powerful foe!) with segments filled in as they want to tackle it now. Or they could rule it’s a
characters take actions against it. A character legendary monster and players have no current
flinging daggers at a mighty armored wyrm with recourse against it without special preparation or
Skirmish might have no effect, or be a weak and superpowered actions.
desperate action. A different character trying to
hit that wyrm’s weak scale with a snipe action What constitutes chapter appropriate depends on
might have normal effect and the action might the tone of your game, and what superpowered
merely be risky. However, another character using effect can do in your game. Here’s some examples
Survey might try and spot openings for the for a game I’d run, however:
rapier-wielding player, changing their effect, or a
character might use Smash to topple a pillar onto Chapter 1
the Wyrm to immobilize it, Endure to grapple its • Fighting a small band of bandits or an average
jaws and hold its attention, Charm to distract it, monster
etc. All these actions can key into each other and • Scaling a high manor wall
all of them could potentially fill out the Wyrm’s • Swimming across a river
clock to defeat it. • Surviving in the wilderness for a few weeks
• Sneaking into a camp undetected
• Charming a merchant into better prices
Chapte • Commanding a few lackeys
• Deciphering odd runes from a ruin
Chapter is a rough approximation of power level
in ICON, and narrative play is no exception. The Chapter 2
following rule applies for Chapter in narrative • Fighting a large group of well trained soldiers
play: • A tough, intelligent, or powerful monster
• Scaling a huge castle wall
When the players come across a challenge, assign • Sneaking into a guarded castle
a Chapter to it. Chapter 1 is for threats and • Riding a monster without a saddle

19 of 142

 • Forging a new set of armor in a night and a day

• Creating a new legendary alchemical formula
• Enduring a fall off a high peak
Ideal
• Riling up an entire crowd into revolution
These short sentences or activities can be ticked if
you performed them during a session at least
Chapter 3
once. At the end of a session, if you ticked at least
• Commanding an entire army
one, get 1 xp. If you ticked all of them, get 2 xp.
• Fighting a whole regiment of soldiers by
yourself
• Traverse by flying through the air Stres
• A legendary monster All Bonds have a certain number of stress boxes
• Scaling an epic peak with your bare hands (usually 3). By default, stress can be used in the
• Swimming across an ocean channel following ways:
• Stealing the crown off the king’s head while he
holds court • Push: Tick 1 stress to add +1 Boon (+1d6) to
• Surviving being hurled into a hostile dimension any action roll or improve its effect (normal >
for a few weeks powerful) for example
• Charming an ancient sorcerer into aiding you • Aid: Tick 1 stress to help another character.
• Making ground-breaking discoveries in They get +1 Boon on their action, but you also
magitech. Forging new forms of magic. share in any consequences of their action
(strain, bad situations, etc). A character can only
You can absolutely adjust this up or down. benefit from aid once on an action roll.
Perhaps Chapter 3 actions are less heroic or high • Resistance: Tick 1 stress to reduce strain
fantasy and require superpowered effect to suffered as a consequence of your actions by 1.
accomplish. Can only be taken once per roll.
• Team Action: You make an action as a group.
Choose a leader, who spends 2 stress. The leader

Player characters in makes an action with increased effect and the

outcome or consequences apply to the whole
group. For example, a Team Sneak can get a
Narrative Pla whole group of characters through a difficult
situation. A team narrative combat action (like
In ICON, every character has a unique drive - Snipe or Skirmish) lets a whole group fight at
something that represents how they move through once.
and interact with the world. This is called their
Bond. You can think about it like a character Some characters have more or less stress boxes, or
‘class’ or archetype, except your character’s Bond can use stress in different ways.
is purely for narrative play. Think about how your
character acts around other people, what If a character is maxed out on stress, they’re
motivates them, and what ideals they hold near - stressed out. A stressed out character can’t
that’s your Bond. spend any more stress and some Bonds may get
bonuses when they’re stressed out.
Each Bond gives you bonuses to certain actions
and powers that help you play to that archetype or Stress Relie
give your own unique spin on it. When you make a
character, you’ll choose the Bond you’ll have for Characters relieve all stress when they finish an
the rest of the game, with some exceptions. Interlude or when they camp. They can also
heal it any time by fulfilling their stress relief
Bonds all have some variation of the following triggers, unticking a box each time this happens.
features: These are different for each Bond, and can only
• Ideals trigger once in the same scene. They sometimes
• Stress get you into trouble.
• Bond Powers

20 of 142

 Using stress while broke Set u

If you’re broken in a scene (you maxed out on All characters can make an action roll to set up
harm and took a burden), if you push or receive another character - for example by distracting the
aid, you can act normally for a single roll. You merchant while your ally sneaks up behind them,
don’t get the bonus die or effect, however. studying a monster for a weak point, or charming
a mercenary your ally wants to hire. Your roll has
no effect by itself, and you can still take
Bond Power consequences, but your ally gets +1 boon or
increased effect on the action you set up if your
Bond Powers are special abilities that either give
roll is successful. Some bond powers give more
you the ability to do something without rolling, or
powerful set ups or key off setups.
boost your existing actions or abilities. They are
very powerful and help distinguish your character.
You can further define what your characters’
specific powers look like and where they come
Play Exampl
from.
Here’s a quick play example.
• Scene: Some powers or Bond features (like
stress relief) apply until the end of the current Play example: The hall of deat
scene, or can only trigger once a scene. A scene
is a contiguous series of events where we don’t The GM is playing with two players, Alice and
‘cut away’ from the action. When we enter a new Marco. Alice’s character has the Bond of the
sequence of action or dialogue (like a new room Mighty, James’ character has the bond of the
in a dungeon, a new challenge, a different Pathfinder.
conversation happening in a different place) the
previous scene is over. This is pretty easy to The character are exploring a ruin and reach a
judge naturalistically. hallway. The GM knows this hallway is trapped
• Limited Powers: Certain Bond Powers can with pressure plates (on the floor) which will
only be used by spending Stress, and many can cause poison darts to fly out from the far wall. A
only be used a certain number of times per tough scenario!
game session. You get these powers back at the
start of a new session. The GM can do a couple things here. If characters
• Range: A few powers have a loose effect range - take action without checking the hallway out, the
these are hand (within hand’s reach), close traps end up being an obvious consequence for
(within speaking distance), far (within shouting their actions, and their actions are probably risky,
distance), and vision (within distance of vision) if not desperate! If characters take a moment to
survey the hallway and get good information, the
Gambit GM can make their actions more effective or more
controlled moving forward, since they know about
Normally you can only take powers from your the traps.
own Bond. However, once you have four powers
from your own bond (including your starting The GM can also decide to let the whole thing get
power), you can take a Gambit, which is a power covered in one roll. Or, if the trap is more
from any bond. dangerous or complicated, they can set up a clock
for it.
Knack
The GM can use good practices and foreshadow
Some powers give you a knack. A knack is a skill threats here by showing the players that the hall
or area of expertise or knowledge, usually specific. might be trapped.
When you can apply your knack to a roll, get +1
Boon (+1d6) on the roll. Let’s see some permutations of each of these
scenarios.

21 of 142

 They set out a 6 segment clock to represent the

The introduction: hall.
GM: You come to a long stone hallway, chocked
with dust, and probably only wide enough for one Marco: I have a bad feeling about this hall. I’m
person at a time to move down. It’s pretty long going to get closer to study the stonework
and the far end is too dark to see. Propped against GM: Ok, give me a roll. It’s a little riskier to study
the wall on your side is an old rusty breastplate, a since you have to get close, but I’ll say its more
piece of armor long abandoned, as though effective. I’ll say its still controlled.
someone took it off in a hurry. It’s pock-marked Marco (rolls study, gets a 1 ): Ok, I’ll take it. I
with small holes. have 0 in survey so I’d rather use study. Ah, a 1.
GM (Inflicting strain): Oh yeah, it’s definitely
One roll, players don’t gather information: trapped. A flurry of darts shoot out through the
Alice: I forge ahead, carefully. darkness right at you. Since your action was more
GM (taking the initiative): Ok! There’s a click as powerful, I’m giving you some progress on this
you step on a pressure plate. You hear the soft clock (The GM ticks 2 segments on the clock.
hiss of air at the other end of the room, and you Normally they’d tick 1 or none on a ‘1’ roll).
see a flurry of darts heading your way! What do However, you’re still getting shot, for only 1
you do? Your action is probably going to be pretty strain, and you’re sure there’s more plates in the
risky. hall.
Alice: Damn. Ok… I’m going to bring my shield up Marco: I’ll take it.
and try and endure the darts. Alice: Can I boost Marco’s character on my shield
GM: Great, I’d say that’s pretty effective but to get them across the hall and give them a bonus
desperate. die?
GM: Sure. You can make a roll to set up Marco if
Alice rolls 3 dice for her character’s Endure action you like, or just tick a stress to aid him.
and rolls a 1,2, and 5, a mixed success. Darts shoot Alice: Ok. I’m going to roll for it. Is… excel a good
into her character, inflicting 3 strain on her. action for this?
Alice’s player chooses to spend 1 stress for GM: Probably, or smash, I think, since you’re
resistance to reduce the strain by 1. The darts using force.
having activated, the hall is clear and the Alice: My smash is better, so I’ll use that.
characters can move on. GM: Ok, it’s going to be controlled risk for you I
think
One roll, gathering information: Alice (rolling a 4): A 4.
Alice: I’m going to check this hall out. GM (putting her in a worse spot): Great, you
GM: Ok, give me a fortune roll for that, since you boost Marco in the air. However, you have to take
seem safe where you are. a couple steps forward, and now you’re in the
Alice (rolls survey, gets a 4): I’m going to survey middle of the hallway. Anything you do from here
the hall for threats. A 4. is going to be way more risky.
GM: Squinting your eyes, you can just make out Marco: Let’s do this. I’m going to traverse by
strange cracks in the floor ahead of you. It’s hard kicking off the walls. I’m also going use my
to tell, but you’re pretty sure this hall is trapped, pathfinder power Windrider to push myself for
with pressure plates. another die and choose to not touch the floor.
GM: Great, that’s two bonus dice, one from Alice’s
The scenario plays out as above, but the risk for character and one from your push, and you have
Alice’s character’s action is now controlled, since better effect from your cool power. I’ll say since
she knows about the trap. Now she only takes 1 you don’t have to touch the floor, your action is
strain when she’s hit by the darts, which she going to be less risky, so instead of being risky it’s
spends resistance to ignore. going to be controlled.
Marco (Rolling 1,2,2,3): Great. Oh shit, a 3.
Using a Clock, gathering information GM: No problem. You still get two ticks on the
clock from your better effect (The GM ticks two
The GM decides this trap is a bigger threat, more segments, bringing the clock to 4/6).
something they want to spend a short scene on. Marco: Ok, but I’m a dead man, right?

22 of 142

 GM (offering a choice): Your action was If the characters are in a higher chapter than the
controlled thanks to your power, so you don’t get treat, a hall like this, in the fiction, may not pose
riddled with darts, but you’ve got a tough choice. much of a threat. The GM can ignore it, make it a
You don’t make it quite down the hall, and you’re single roll, or make it a shorter clock. If the
close enough to see the mechanism. Do you try characters are in a lower chapter than the hallway,
and leap forward disable it now, and maybe get maybe it poses a huge threat and is super risky,
poisoned for your trouble, or do you try and make and the character’s actions are less effective.
another roll? I’ll let you finish the clock right now
if you want.
Marco: I’m going for it.
GM: Ok! You dive forward and jam your blade
into the mechanism. A vaporous cloud of poison
pours out from the dart holes as the trap
deactivates. You’re going to take 2 strain from the
poison.
Marco: Ouch. That would give me a burden.
Alice: Can I use my stress ability to take the strain
instead by pushing Marco aside?
GM: Yeah… but you’re not close enough - you
were put in a bad position, right?
Alice: Ah, ok. Can I just throw my shield and
smash the mechanism before it manages to poison
Marco?
GM (Avoiding saying ‘no’ to this creative
solution): Sure, I think that would reduce the
strain, but give me a roll. Risky, since you’re
trying to do it quickly from far away!
Alice: Ok, I’m going to use 1 stress to push this.
(Rolls 2, 3, 6). A 6!
GM: Cool. You hurl your shield and crumble the
wall, sealing off the vapor. Marco only takes 1
strain.
Marco: Nice.

Flexibility and ton

You can see each of these scenarios changes both

the narrative weight of the scene, and the number
of actions players need to overtake it. For
example, a player with powerful or superpowered
effect could take care of the clock in the third
example with just one or two rolls!
Think about how this scenario might change
depending on the tone of game you want to run.
In a more grounded game, maybe getting riddled
with darts is more strain, or even critical strain on
a desperate action. Maybe diving down the
hallway, bouncing off the walls, isn’t possible
without powerful or superpowered effect (Marco
did use an ability there to justify it, so keep that in
mind).

23 of 142

 Making a character
To make a character in ICON:

1. First choose what kind of Kin they are, then

choose what Culture they’re from. Get an
action bonus based on your culture.
2. Pick a Bond that you think represents your
character narratively. You can choose one
bond power, take the Bond’s basic actions,
and can fill in 4 more dots on actions,
taking none higher than 3 right now. If you’re
using narrative combat, fill in combat ratings
(2,1,0).
3. If you’re playing with tactical combat, then,
pick a Job for tactical combat. You get two
abilities from your job. There’s more on
tactical combat and all jobs after this section.

You’re done! In the first session you can choose

something for your camp with your group and set
out on your first expedition.

Folk of Arden El
The collective peoples and folk of ICON are
collectively referred to as Kin. Kin have lived in Thryn
Arden Eld since time immemorial.
The Aethrynn, or Thrynn (most commonly) are
When you make a character, choose what Kintype found everywhere across Arden Eld. They are an
you are. There’s no statistical or mechanical adaptable, diverse people with a strong sensitivity
differences in game terms for whatever Kin you to Aether and a strong connection to arkentech,
pick. It’s true, for example, that Troggs as a whole some say because they are direct descendants of
are larger and stronger than most Thrynn. the Arken that survived or fled the Doom and the
However, each individual is different, and more dark age that followed. They make up a large part
importantly you are a hero. of airship crews and captains in the great Guilds
due to their potential for aether sensitivity making
Your bond is more important for determining the them excellent pilots.
kind of person you are. If you want to play up the
unique attributes of your Kin, you can pick a bond Thrynn are made up of a dazzling swathe of
that fits that fantasy, and pick actions that fill out backgrounds that span the continent. They tend to
what you want your character to be strong at. A live in clans that cluster into villages, towns, and
strong, physically powerful Trogg may want to city associations. Symbology and culture of the
pick the Mighty Bond. An agile Xixo who is an ancient Thrynn clans, called the Seven Families,
excellent swimmer may pick the Pathfinder bond. are present in many modern cultures of Arden
Eld, and some draw strength and purpose from
Broadly speaking members of all Kin can be found their ancient texts and teachings.
in every part of the world and every walk of life in
ICON, and none have any ancestral nation, Some Thrynn will occasionally have small glowing
‘homeland’, or monoculture, especially due to the ‘star-marks’ on their body, especially when
ancient influence of the Arken Empire. attuned to or channeling strong sources of Aether.

24 of 142

 These can form constellations of stars or twisting with tails. The Troggs reproduce slowly, have few
branch-like patterns under their skin. children, and treasure them greatly. Trogg
Occasionally these marks are strong enough that children spend a long time maturing and only
even being near to a strong source of Aether is reach adulthood around forty years old.
enough to light them up.
Like other Kin, Troggs are hugely diverse in their
Very rarely, Thryn are born with delicate vestigial backgrounds and cultures but due to their small
insect-like wings, not capable of flight. Children number tend to be loners or outsiders to the
born this way are given special attention, having communities they join. In legends, they are
been divinely marked, and often have roles in the supernaturally tolerant of heat and can handle
community leadership or priesthood prepared for even molten metal with their bare hands, though
them. They may grow into these roles or how much this holds up in real life varies from
eventually reject them. Trogg to Trogg. Very traditional Troggs worship
the Elden Flame, the primal force of creation, and
give themselves over to the study of smithing or
the aetherial arts. Since Trogg artisans live a long
time, they can accumulate several lifetimes of
knowledge that Kin from a similar background
could accumulate.

Trog
Troggs, also called Ogres, are horned demi-giants
that are few in number but outsize in stature.
Legend has it that the Troggs descend from the
Titans who originally kept the four pillars of the
world stable before they were slain by the Arken,
Beastfol
or at least have some titan blood running through
their veins. Adult Troggs typically stand anywhere
The variety of animal-like Kin found across Arden
between six and eight feet tall, and never stop
Eld can be broadly called Beastfolk. They are the
growing throughout their very long lifetimes,
most common Kin and the most diverse
sometimes living four or five hundred years and
physically. There are many clans of beast folk:
growing to truly enormous stature. All have horns
of various size and shapes, and some are born

25 of 142

 • The Lopen are cat or rabbit-like folk originally

from the great plains.
• The Garou are wolf or dog-like folk from the
deep forest and islands.
• The Goblins or Vodya are amphibious river-
dwelling kin.
• The Lorito are feathered, birdlike kin
originally hailing from the high steppe.

Beastfolk tend to be shorter in stature than

Thrynn, though some are taller and hardier.
They live around the same time as Thrynn and
typically (but not always) have large families.
Beast folk are present in every culture, from
desert dwelling nomads, to pastoral farmers, to
city guilds.

Traditional Beastfolk have a strong connection

to the earth and the forest. They are strong
woodsfolk, hearty eaters, and excellent hunters.
They have better senses than other Kin and are
sensitive to the changes in wind, moisture, and
earth that signal the weather, the crops, or the
changing of the seasons. Their excellent sense of
taste and smell lead a lot of beastfolk to become
excellent cooks (or picky eaters).
Cultures of Arden El
Xix
When you make a character, choose what their
The insectile or crustacean-like Xixo (ZIK-zo) are cultural background is. Unlike your ancestry,
a group of water-dwelling kin that can these do give you +1 to two specific actions as
traditionally be found as traders up and down the they represent your background, upbringing, or
waterways of Arden Eld. Xixo are excellent skills.
swimmers and can hold their breath for long
periods of time (up to an hour). They vary widely Culture is far more important than Kintype. A
in physiology, though they are unique in that Trogg and a Xixo from the same village are far
during spawning season they can change sex, and more alike than two Troggs from different part of
many Xixo swap around throughout their lives. the world.
Though they can have weak eyesight, they are
highly sensitive to smell and chemical signals and These are the six broad cultures of Arden Eld and
Xixo can communicate simply emotions or moods don’t necessarily represent every culture present
to each other through pheromonal markers, in the world. Every type of Kin is present in every
leading to the stereotype that they can read each culture in varying degrees.
other’s minds.
Yeoki
Though individual Xixo live much shorter lives
+1 to two: Survey, Traverse, or Endure
than other Kin, typically living until their mid 40s,
they have perfect memories, able to recall
The vast majority of people in Arden Eld live in
everything in their lives with absolute clarity. A
the Green, the swathes of peaceful farmland,
common understanding among the Xixo is that
villages, townships, and trading posts in between
other Kin are terribly cursed - living twice as long
the arkenruins. Life in the villages is hard work
as the Xixo, but eventually forgetting a large part
but generally pleasant, and organized around the
of their lives.

26 of 142
o

 yearly harvests. Neighboring villages tend to commerce with the mainland. Islanders have
depend on each other for trade, safety, and strong taboos about going back on promises, and
information, and come together for festivals (of value someone’s word very strongly.
which there are many, especially in the summer
months). The villages typically are run by a city Respect for strength, a healthy sense of
elder, or a council of elders and have a strong humor, reliability, and independence are all
connection to nature and its cycles. Faithful strong values for Islanders. Outsiders can
villagers tend to pay their respects to the spirits or sometimes see them as insular, surly, or loud.
the Titans at local forest shrines or holy sites such
as pools or groves.
Leggi
+1 to two: Excel, Tinker, or Survey
Villagers tend to be proud of their local traditions,
festivals, and gods. Most villages have a regional
The villages of the Green rely on a healthy
cooking or craft specialty, and people will often
network of trade caravans, peddlers, crafts-kin,
visit from many towns over just to sample them.
menders, and healers of all kinds. Parts of these
One village might specialize in iron and smithing
networks are made up of local farmers and
work, another might be known for the quality of
traders, but over time some of the caravans have
its steamed buns, and another might have miles of
grown into permanent residences and a quasi-
beautiful grazing pastures and be known for the
religious way of life for the people that crew them,
quality of its milk and dairy products.
who have come to be known as the Leggio. Their
massive, colorful caravans make seasonal
Regional village councils sometimes will gather a
rotations around Arden Eld, stopping in the cities
militia to defend against a surfacing ruin or a
to resupply, and are broadly welcome wherever
blight, and those towns very close to the ruins
they show up, since it means a chance to buy,
typically have a wall to keep out roaming
repair, and indulge in all the necessities and
monsters. Many villages, especially those deep in
luxuries so sorely missed. The Leggio always eat
the wilderness, will train some or most of their
well and trade fairly with the towns, and will often
members in old and secretive martial arts
take on travelers who are seeking safe passage to
techniques unique to each village that can be used
the next village, post, or city.
to defend the village in times of crisis.
Nearly all Leggio have some sort of family trade or
Community, hard work, respect for nature,
skill they are specialized in (sometimes multiple),
and family are strong values for Yeokin.
and many famous or legendary artisans, smiths,
Outsiders can sometimes see them as parochial,
and weapon makers come from old Leggio
stubborn, and uncultured.
families. Leggio Grand Caravans can be two (or
sometimes three!) stories high and are carved
Islande with family histories. They are pulled by draft
+1 to two: Smash, Endure or Command beasts and sometimes captive monsters, who are
kept docile by Leggio beast tamers.
The islands around Arden Eld are an oddity, in
that most of the arkenruins out there are sunken Leggio are nearly all armed and trained in fighting
beneath the ocean. Unfortunately, this has only since they were young as they often have to pass
made them more active. The island chains are through dangerous or blighted areas in order to
beautiful, sun-soaked places that seem paradise- reach a town in need. They regard their duty to
like to many Kin, but the people that live there are keep towns supplied as sacred and pray to the
tough and disciplined, having to constantly Titan of chance to give them safe passage.
defend their idyllic-seeming homes from horrors
that rise unendingly from the sea. Islanders are Craft, sociability, discipline, and
prolific sailors, strong drinkers, and prodigious hospitality are all strong values for Leggio.
fighters. They tend to have a dark sense of humor Outsiders can sometimes see them as brash,
and more than a touch of bravado. Most of their overly friendly, or nosy.
living is made through fishing, carpentry,
mercenary work, and through trade and

27 of 142
o

 Dependability, hustle, professionalism,

Churne and caution are highly valued by Churners.
+1 to two: Sneak, Charm, or Traverse
Outsiders can sometimes see them as deceptive,
opportunistic, or exploitative.
A sporadic, nomadic culture, churners live a
dangerous and daring existence, especially
compared to most people of Arden Eld. In their Chronicle
caravans and camps, they follow around +1 to two: Study, Recall or Channel
Arkenruins as they surface, and make their living
off them in whatever way they can. Sometimes The ancient monasteries of the Chroniclers dot
this involves venturing into the ruins themselves Arden Eld, overlooking its deep valleys from
(though never too far for most Churners, they mountain perches, or buried deep in the rifts of its
leave that up to the adventurers and the canyons. Within is buried ancient knowledge -
foolhardy), and scraping Dust from the ruins, or and sometimes dangerous secrets.
searching the surface levels for fragments of
Arkentech. Most of the time this involves directly Chroniclers are a unique, isolated culture - a
servicing the adventurers themselves who venture quasi-religious society of monks and acolytes built
into the ruins by supplying them with necessary around the Chambers - the great monasteries of
food, supplies, arms and armor, and elixirs. When the continent, whose building predates the Arken
a new ruin is discovered or surfaces from deep and survived their fall. There are twelve of these
beneath the earth, it is not uncommon for a ancient edifices, and they are typically located in
Churner camp to appear at the edge shortly after, extreme or hard to reach locales, requiring them
like a spray of brightly blossoming flowers over a to be self sufficient. Small monastery towns and
grave. trading posts grew up around them over time,
forming a tight-knit communities that revolved
Especially brave Churners will sometimes set up around and intermeshed with monastery life -
shop within the surface levels of a dungeon, moving with their festivals, rituals, and traditions.
sometimes maintaining large crops of herbs,
fungi, or other staples that will only grow in the The Chambers are part temple, part archive, and
dust-soaked environment of the arkenruins. The part prison. As legend goes, they were built to
more daring of them will hire themselves out as protect the great secrets of the making of the
guides, tinkers, or hirelings for wealthier world. Some of their inner vaults now lie empty,
adventurers. Due to their unique living and three of the Chambers are broken and hollow
circumstances, most Churners tend to know more ruins, whatever was contained within long
about monsters than any other culture, mostly disgorged into the world. The inner passages and
their spoor, habits, and how to avoid them. halls of the Chambers are rumored to be full of all
kinds of secret knowledge, ancient weaponry, and
Churners are a highly itinerant culture, and while old and powerful evils - though none can say for
some travel together, they tend to congregate only sure.
when a new dungeon surfaces and the old sites
dry up. Many of them are former adventurers who As for the Chroniclers themselves, they live in a
have settled out of obligation or necessity and strict, hierarchical, and somewhat spartan society,
seek a slightly more respectable existence, but but one which values justice, education, equality,
others are skilled merchants, crafts-kin, cooks, and honesty. Ascending up the ranks of the
smiths, and suppliers that come from old families priesthood takes a long time and a lot of
of Churners and run their tents and wagons with a ceremony, and only the most senior monks are
high respect of the Churner Code (honesty, safety, allowed into the central halls of a Chamber.
convenience). Recently, due to the increasing ruin
activity, the number of Churners has been rapidly It is not uncommon at all for monks to dip and
increasing, and a lot of the old and more out of the priesthood in order to have families,
respectable families complain of grifters, explore the world, or go on missions of utmost
swindlers, and ill-intentioned shady merchants import for the monastery. Junior temple acolytes
sullying their reputation. wishing to become higher members of a
Chronicler order are often required to leave the

28 of 142

 temple for a while to find purpose in the greater

world. Cities are the centers of technology and magic in
Arden Eld and are the chief drivers of the hunger
Chroniclers highly value knowledge of all kinds, for Dust and arkentech, which the technomagical
and tend to be highly educated. This drive often institutes and Guilds use to produce mechanical
pushes traveling chroniclers to explore ruins, and magical wonders. Citizens of the great cities
challenge authorities, or pry where they don’t of Arden Eld are the most diverse in background
belong, often getting them into danger. and profession, and tend to enjoy a higher
standard of living than those in the Green, with
Truth, justice, discovery, and tradition are access to many conveniences such as rail and
important values to Chroniclers. Outsiders can see airship travel, running water, and arkenlamp
them as secretive, old-fashioned, or stiff. lighting. However, they also are the most unequal,
with many Kin languishing crammed into hot and
overcrowded residences in the increasingly
Guilde mazelike city depths, while the Guild Barons at
+1 to two: Command, Channel, or Study
the top scrape most of the benefits off for
themselves while claiming to be acting for the
There are no nations in Arden Eld, but its cities
benefit of all. Some predict the coming of the
are growing in both size and influence. Their
Churning Age will extend this way of life even out
cobbled streets and teetering towers are
to the Green, and fear what that portends.
expanding and stretching to the sky, and the fires
of industry and arkentech burn deep in their
Guilders tend to be more educated, more
bellies.
knowledgeable about Aetheric principles and
more connected to magic and science than other
Those that live in the cities are known as Guilders,
Kin, who they may see as backwards. They also
and often belong to one of the great Trade Guilds,
tend to be very tolerant and welcoming, and the
loose and oligarchical organizations that regulate
most worldly of Kin.
the trade and production of certain items between
cities and act as informal government associations
Tolerance, patience, drive, and
of sorts. Cities are often ruled by the guilds or
friendliness are highly valued by Guilders.
their proxies and to most people of Arden Eld are
Outsiders can sometimes see them as haughty,
chaotic, overcrowded, wondrous, and very smelly
know-it-all, or pampered.
places where the food is greasy, the markets are
bright and burgeoning, and the sights are as
incredible as they are strange.

29 of 142

30 of 142
 BOND
The Pathfinder
Discover new things, meet new people, learn new • Freesoul - You can escape from any restraint,
things. The Pathfinder is always looking to grab, shackle, hold, or prison cell without
horizon. They’re the first to clamber up the rolling. You can conceal this ability if you wish.
mountain, leap across the river, or dash down • Lay Burdens - 1/session, When you enter a
the slope. The road is their friend and they can’t populated location, tick 1 segment on up to two
wait to see what’s around the corner. burdens of your choice.
• Airfeel - When you camp or start an
+2 Traverse expedition, you can ask any of the following
questions about the next day or so of travel and
Ideal get a yes or no answer from the GM:
- I addressed challenges with curiosity, discovery, • Is it a long, dangerous, or arduous
or understanding journey?
- I expressed my heritage, background, or beliefs • Is the journey defended or contested?
through my actions • Are you currently being pursued, tracked,
- I saw, heard, or tasted something truly unique or hunted?
• Colortongue - You can understand and speak
Max stress: 1 all languages and read all scripts.
Stress relief: Relieve stress when you enter a • Horizon Sweeper - When you’re outside, your
new scene. survey actions have increased effect and aren’t
Stress special: Leading traverse or sneak affected by weather or time or day.
actions doesn’t cost stress for you • Memory of the Sole - Name a location you
Strain: 4 last set up camp. The GM will determine the
difficulty of the journey there by answering the
questions below. When the next scene starts,
POWER you and up to ten other willing people can
• Saddleborn - Get a knack for riding animals choose to be safely there if you take 2 strain for
or piloting vehicles each ‘yes’ answer, which could cause you to
• Windrider - When you push yourself to take a break. Work backwards to figure out how you
traverse or sneak action, you also get got there (the scene doesn’t necessarily have to
increased effect and choose one of the following take place the next hour or day, for example).
for the action: you don’t touch the ground, you • Is it a long, dangerous, or arduous journey?
don’t make a sound, you can’t be touched while • Is the location defended or contested?
moving. You can spend 1 additional stress for • Are you currently being pursued, tracked, or
additional effects. hunted?
• Dabbler - Get +1 point to put in any action • Lightspeed - 1/session - Your next traverse
rating. At the start of an interlude, you must action has superpowered effect
swap this point around to a new action. It can’t • Gambit of Momentum (requires 4
take any rating higher than 4. powers): Take a power from another Bond

31 of 142
s

 The Seeker
Uncover forbidden knowledge, untangle people, • Darksight - You can see in the dark, which
teeter on the edge of sanity. The Seeker wants could make your risk and effect better. Your
answers - about the world, about magic, about study and channel actions get increased effect
monsters, about themselves - all of it. Their keen in darkness.
wits let them cut through any situation, even if • Unhinge - Your desperate actions have
they may not like what they uncover. increased effect
• Dark Clarity - 2/session - Close your eyes and
+2 Study study the ambient emotional state of someone
in close distance from you (make a roll). If your
Ideal action is successful, your next action against
- I addressed challenges with investigation, that person gets +1 boon and increased effect. If
intuition, or instinct your action fails, take 1 strain and regain a use
- I expressed my heritage, background, or beliefs of this ability.
through my actions • Possession - 2/session - Ask a presence inside
- I questioned my own understanding of the world you for advice. The GM will answer. Get +1d on
the next action to follow the advice as if the
Stress: 2 presence aided you.
Stress relief: Relieve stress when you discover • Instinctive - 2/session - Describe a course of
something hidden, forbidden, or secret. action to the GM you plan to take in the same
Stress special: When stressed out, you get +1d scene. You will receive an answer that is
on study, channel, or recall and can aid in those truthful, if unclear, that comes from a feeling.
actions without spending stress. The GM can choose from the following options:
Strain: 4 Wheel (good/positive outcomes), Stone (bad/
negative outcomes), and Chaos (a mix of good
and bad outcomes).
POWER • Geist - When you touch someone skin to skin
and tick 2 stress, even if you break contact, you
• Heartsight - 1/session - Close your eyes. You can see through their eyes and experience their
can view a location within far distance for 1 sensations and ambient emotional state, though
minute as if you were there as an invisible you can do little but observe, and they are not
observer, hearing and seeing everything. You aware of your presence. The effect lasts until the
cannot move your point of vision, and your body end of the scene, or until you use this ability
is immobile and vulnerable while taking this again, and while you’re concentrating on it, you
action, and you can end it any time. You don’t cannot do anything yourself except sit in quiet
have to be able to see the location you’re trying focus, otherwise the effect breaks. A player
to view. character must be willing.
• Library Organ - 1/session - Get +1d on study, • Living Tome - 1/session - Increase the effect of
channel, and recall actions for the rest of the your next Recall or Study action to
scene, but -1d on all other actions Superpowered
• Argus - You get a knack for sensing danger, • Gambit of Knowledge (requires 4
hidden traps, or ambushes, and can use this powers): Take a power from another Bond
knack on any action when surprised.

32 of 142
s

 The Mighty
Use your prodigious physical or magical that (you have 3 burdens for example) this effect
strength to destroy obstacles and help your ends at the end of the scene.
friends. The Mighty revels in strength and • Iron jaw - You can’t suffer critical strain (take
power, and presents an unbreakable front to the 4 strain instead)
enemy, but uses that power not to oppress and • Volcanic - 2/session - When someone or
control, but to protect the vulnerable and stand something harms an ally in your presence, you
against evil. can trigger this ability to get +1d or increased
effect (choose) on all actions against them for
+2 Smash the rest of the scene
• Hammersoul - Your Smash actions have
Ideal increased effect when you’re stressed out
- I addressed challenges with strength, leadership, • Overpower - You can push by taking 2 strain
or force instead of spending stress for Endure and
- I expressed my heritage, background, or beliefs Smash actions
through my actions • Stoneskin - The first time you take strain in a
- Someone challenged me or my friends and I session, reduce it to 0
didn’t back down • Force of Will - 1/session - You can choose to
automatically treat your next Command action
Stress: 2 roll against another character as a 6. The GM
Stress relief: Relieve stress when you take strain can decide a character is too strong willed for
for others, or take strain while aiding others this to work on them, but if they do, heal 2
Stress special: When an ally close to or closer stress.
suffers strain, you can take the strain for them. • Half Light - When you gather information
You can resist it as normal. about violence or possible threats, you can use
Strain: 5 Endure, Smash, or Command
• The Wall - 1/session - This scene only, reduce
all strain suffered by 1, to a minimum of 1
POWER • Make Total Destroy - 1/session - Increase the
effect of your next Smash action to
• True Grit - When you break, you remain in superpowered
control of your character for the rest of the • Gambit of Strength (requires 4 powers):
scene. If you would remain broken longer than Take a power from another Bond

33 of 142

 The Wolf
You are a tough exterior covered in scars. Your • Blood Scent - You get a knack for tracking or
competency makes you strong, but you also can’t intimidating anyone or anything that’s wounded
let anyone see where you’re vulnerable. The wolf • Go for a Walk - 2/session - When you act
stands strong alone, but can’t forget that they completely alone, you can trigger this ability to
ultimately rely on the pack. get +1d or increased effect on your action
• Cornered - When you are clearly outnumbered
+2 Excel in a hostile situation, reduce all strain you suffer
by 1, to a minimum of 1
Ideal • Viper - If there’s any question about who acts
- I addressed challenges with precision, coldness, first in a scene, its you. If there’s multiple
or intimidation characters with this power, roll off.
- I expressed my heritage, background, or beliefs • It’s Nothing - During Heal Burdens, heal 2
through my actions extra ticks on a burden of your choice if nobody
- I let my mask crack helps you heal burdens. Heal 1 tick on two
burdens if someone does help you heal, instead
Stress: 4 of just one burden. You can’t help other people
Stress relief: Relieve stress when you fix heal burdens.
someone else’s mistakes. • Crack Shell - When you’re stressed out, you
Stress special: You cannot take or benefit from can benefit from aid actions and team actions
aid or team actions. normally, and can take aid actions without
Strain: 4 spending stress.
• Bishop - When you set someone up, that
person gets both +1d and increased effect on the
POWER set up roll.
• Clarity - If you break, clear all stress, and you • Wick - 1/session - Increase the power of your
can push your next action for free next Sneak action to superpowered
• Scarcoat - +1 max strain per Burden you have • Gambit of the Fang (requires 4 powers):
Take a power from another Bond

34 of 142
s

 The Harlequin
Trick, humiliate, and dance around the powerful. • Mockingbird - You get a knack for mimicking
The Harlequin despises those who take sounds or voices
themselves too seriously, and delights in slipping • Fast Friends - 2/session - You can choose to
in and out of conversations, roles, and situations. automatically treat your next charm action roll
as a 6. If you do, its effects only last a minute
+2 charm until its target(s) realize they were manipulated.
• The Big Show - Critical hits on excel,
Ideal charm, or sneak actions relieve 1 stress for all
- I addressed challenges with cunning, subterfuge, party members who witness your feats
or deceit • Habitual Line Stepper - 2/session - You
- I expressed my heritage, background, or beliefs instantly disappear from sight and re-appear
through my actions somewhere nearby in close distance. You don’t
- I talked my way out of a charged situation have to see your destination, but you are
shunted back to your starting point if it’s
Stress: 3 occupied or obstructed (like trying to hop into
Stress relief: Relieve stress when you get in solid rock, for example).
trouble with someone or something powerful • Quickfingers - 1/session - Name an object
Stress special: When you’re stressed out, get nearby that you can see that could fit or carry in
+1d on sneak one or both hands. By the start of the next
Strain: 4 scene, you have possession of it. If you stole it,
the person you stole it from will find out within
the hour
POWER • Ridi Pagliacci - You can invoke each of your
burdens instead of spending a stress, once a
• Mirrormask - You can always tell if someone session for each burden
is lying if you can see their face, though the • Exuent - When you lead an action to flee or
nature of the lie is unclear escape trouble, don’t spend stress.
• Mercurio - You can change your appearance • Tongue of the Bards - 1/session - Increase
completely by spending 2 stress, including the power of your next Charm action to
height, weight, gender presentation, etc. You superpowered
must appear as Kin (a person), but you could be • Gambit of the Laughing Titan (requires 4
a different Kintype, and otherwise everything powers): Take a power from another Bond
else is up to you. This effect lasts until you
camp, or until you eat or drink something, and
while active you get a knack for impersonation.

35 of 142
s

 The Bright
You gather your group with cheer and good effect with or against characters or creatures
attitude. You use your power to fix, heal, and that trust you.
mend. You can be quiet, but when you’re loud, • Untangle - When you help someone else lift
people listen. burdens, you increase their segments healed by
+1, and heal 1 segment yourself
+2 Command • Pangloss - When you fail a desperate action,
your next action can be pushed for free.
Ideal • A Better Way - When you channel to
- I addressed challenges with diplomacy, understand how something or someone is hurt
positivity, faith, or empathy or broken, get +1d and increased effect
- I expressed my heritage, background, or beliefs • Mender - 2/session - You can channel or
through my actions tinker to heal someone’s strain. Check the final
- I defused a potentially violent situation result:
• 0-3 - Characters can gain 1 stress to heal 1
Stress: 5 strain
Stress relief: You can’t relieve stress. • 4-5 - Character heals 1 strain
Stress special: You can relieve someone else’s • 6 - Character heals 2 strain
stress by 1 by spending 1 stress. • 6,6 - Character heals 4 strain
Strain: 4 • Encourage - 2/session - Spend a use of this
ability to use aid without spending stress or
• Push through - You can spend 1 strain instead exposing yourself to consequences
of spending stress to take aid actions • Take Hope - When you critical hit on an action
• Divine Luck - When you take strain as a roll, you can tick a segment on one of your or a
consequence, roll a 1d6 fortune roll. On 6, single ally’s burdens
reduce the strain suffered to 0. • Gaia - 1/session - Increase the effect of your
• Illuminate - Your Charm, channel, and next Channel or Command action to
tinker actions have +1 boon and increased superpowered
• Gambit of the World Soul (requires 4
powers): Take a power from another Bond

36 of 142



 The Brave
Use your courage, luck, and wits to smash head aided you or were in a team action) also reduce
on into problems. The Brave is always at the incoming strain by the same amount
front line, hurling themselves at problems, and • Luck as a Constant - When you critical hit,
hoping their allies will pick up the pieces. They’re lose 1 stress and 1 strain
at their best when relying on fate, teamwork, and • All in - Using Aid to help a character taking a
the power of perseverance. desperate action costs 0 stress for you
• Joyluck Wind Thrower - When you take a
+2 Endure desperate action, you can take +1d on the
action. If you do, you can’t resist, gain aid, or
Ideal reduce or transfer strain suffered in any way.
- I addressed challenges with perseverance, • The Sun- 1/session - Gain increased effect on
friendship, and passion all actions for the rest of the scene
- I expressed my heritage, background, or beliefs • Coordinate - Aiding you on team actions costs
through my actions 0 stress
- I trusted someone with my life • Heart of Hearts: 1/session - You can flash
back to a scene from your past or hometown and
Stress: 3 describe how your memory of that time inspires
Stress relief: Relieve stress when you charge you in the current moment. You can treat your
forth without a plan next roll as though you rolled a critical hit (6,6).
Stress special: When you lead a team action, get You can only use this ability three times ever,
+1d on the action and when you expend its third use, replace this
Strain: 4 power with another one.
• Team Player - When any ally sets you up,
you have increased effect on your next roll
POWER • Brave Destiny - Your critical hits have
• Strike the road - The first team action you superpowered effect
lead in a session costs you 0 stress • Gambit of the Wheel Smashing King
• Stronger Together - When you reduce (requires 4 powers): Take a power from
strain (from resistance or otherwise), allies another Bond
that suffer strain from the same action (if they

37 of 142
s

 TACTICAL COMBAT

When you go into a situation in ICON where high- alternate taking turns. When everyone (allies and
stakes violence is about to break out, it’s probably foes alike) have taken their turn, a round passes,
time to go into tactical combat. Combat is ICON is and a new round begins.
for answering the tensions or questions that
words alone can’t solve - when the outcomes are This section is basic combat rules. For
important, and true mettle is tested. Typically advanced combat rules (with more detailed
heroes fight against the monsters and horrors that explanations of some statuses, effects, and each
clamber within and without the sunken chambers section), you can see further down this section.
of the arkenruins, but sometimes you may find Each class and subclass has the combat rules,
yourself fighting against other people when an statuses, and effects most relevant to it explained
argument can’t be solved any other way. at the start of its section.

In combat, the non player characters, including

the foes, are controlled by the game master, and
Your characte
there is usually (but not always) an objective of
Like your Bond, your character has a Job, chosen
some kind.
at level 1. Your job has a class (basically an over-
job, a category of sorts) and gives you your basic
When to go into comba
game statistics and abilities which you can use
in combat. Let’s go through them quickly.
Go into tactical combat when the tension and
the stakes of the story can’t be resolved • Health: Determines how healthy your
except through battle. character is. Multiply health four times to get
your Hit Points. When you gain vigor (a
When you go into combat, establish the stakes - shield that goes over your health, usually from
what each side wants out of the combat. This can healing) it’s equal to a multiple of your health
be as simple as survival. If you can’t get a clear value. Other effects can heal you equal to your
answer, then there’s probably no reason to play health value, so it’s a quick shorthand.
out tactical combat! • Hit Points (HP): 4x your health, representing
your character’s physical state, energy, and
ability to avoid damage. Once you run out and
Combat in ICO go to 0, you are defeated. You’re
incapacitated (can’t do anything, need help to
Tactical combat in ICON is a game that is get up) and take a wound. Certain abilities care
intentionally an abstraction. It’s a different about if you’re below 50% or even 25% hp.
mode of play to narrative play, and has more • Wound: When you take a wound, fill in 25% of
tightly constrained rules. your hp. You normally get wounds from being
defeated. You can’t typically recover or heal a
Tactical combat in ICON is grid based (a square wound until you take an interlude. If you
grid is used, with each square representing 1 space accumulate 4 wounds, you die.
= 5 feet on each side) and turn based. On your • Elixirs: Outside of combat, a character can take
turn, you can move up to your speed and take two a few moments to drink an elixir to heal hit
actions. Sometimes you will take both actions to points by 50%. Characters all start any
do something. You may also use Interrupts off expedition with 2.
your turn, if you have them. Allies and enemies

38 of 142

 • Defense: How hard it is to land a blow on you That isn’t to say there isn’t power to be found in
in combat. A hostile character must beat or gear and weapons, but ICON only cares about the
match your defense with a to-hit roll to hit you truly legendary stuff. During your adventures, you
with an attack (and you have to do the same to will recover and unlock powerful Relics, ancient
them) magic that can take the form of armor, weapons,
• Armor: Subtract all damage taken by your or enchanted items. These relics must be leveled
armor (unless that damage has the pierce tag). up alongside your character by infusing them with
• Speed: Affects how far you move when you Dust, which you can recover as a reward from
take a standard move, run, or dash. your exploits. Dust can also be used to empower
• Size: How many spaces (square) you take up on your group as a whole by investing it into your
the battlefield. Player character are all size 1. Camp, or infused into more temporary items of
power, called Arkentech.
• Attack bonus: Depends on job. Add this
number to your attacks.
• Damage: Damage in ICON depends on your Combat, step by ste
job, and comes in different degrees. Every class
has a damage die (d6, d8, etc) and a fray
The Golden Rule(s
damage value (a low, fixed amount).
There are two general rules that apply to this
• Saves: When you make a save, roll 1d20, and
section
save against the effect on an 11+.
1. Specific beats general. Armor usually
• Resolve: Resolve is a resource you build up
reduces all damage, however the pierce
slowly over combat and you must spend to use
tag, which says it ignores armor, takes
your most powerful abilities, called Limit
precedent, because it’s more specific.
Breaks.
2. Round up to the nearest whole number.
• Traits: Passive abilities, based on your job,
class, or your relics, that always apply to your Turn orde
character. These are unique to your job and
class. A player character always takes the first turn in
• Abilities: The actions you can take in combat, any combat in ICON (players can decide which).
based on the jobs you have taken. You can have Once their turn is finished, the game master will
six abilities active on any expedition, and one choose a hostile character to take their turn.
Limit Break. All abilities have talents which are Players then choose another player character or
unlockable improvements to each ability. All allied npc to go, then the game master chooses a
abilities, even Limit Breaks, have a master hostile character, then so on and so forth,
talent which further improves the ability. alternating. Once there is only characters of one
• Gambit: One of your abilities (just one, side left, they take their turns one after the other
typically) can be taken outside your class. in any order. The round then starts with a
character from the opposite side that ended the
last round (so if the round ends with a player
Strength of Spiri
character turn, it will start with an npc turn).
You may notice that unlike other RPGs, in ICON,
your health, defense, attack bonus, armor, and Slow turn
even damage are determined by your job, not
your gear. In general, this game expects in tactical At the start of a combat, at the start of any round,
combat for your character to be as well armed and or if they are forced to (because they become
armored as they possibly can, given their training, inflicted with the slow status, for example),
background, and powers. The armor, weapons, characters can take a slow turn. Slow turns follow
and look of your character is up to you. If you’re the same rules for every other turn (they alternate
not well armed and armored, then don’t go into ally-enemy-ally-enemy), except slow characters
tactical combat! take their turns after all other non-slow
characters have acted (imagine it like its own
mini-round). Some abilities get powered up when

39 of 142

 used on a slow turn, or you may choose to take If you move through spaces adjacent to a hostile
one for a tactical advantage. character, each space of movement costs +1
more space to move through. This is called
The Gri engagement.

Combat in ICON is fought on a square grid, with Moving through certain terrain on the battlefield
equal space representing 5 ft on each side. The can also slow your movement. Difficult terrain,
grid is an abstract of the battlefield, so it’s not like mud, snow, or swamp, increases the cost by
necessary to translate everything perfectly. When +1 space. Moving up elevation also costs +1
measuring distances and range, measure from the space.
edge of the origin space (or character).
These effects can all stack.
Characte
If movement would cost too much to even make a
Any character that can take action or takes up move (moving past an enemy in the snow might
space is called a Character. cost 3 spaces to move 1 space for example), then
the movement can’t be taken.

Dashin
On your tur
Dashing is a special form of movement. When you
On your turn in any combat, you can move up to dash, your movement ignores engagement, so
your speed, then take two actions. Some you can move normally past other characters, and
abilities cost both your actions to perform. You also doesn’t trigger interrupts (so other
can only use one ability with the attack tag per characters can’t take advantage of it to attack or
round, no matter what, and you can only use harm you).
each action or ability once on your turn (no
duplicate actions).
Basic Action
Movin
Tactical combat is a highly structured game in
A character can make a single standard move ICON. Activities that are not specified here or
action on their turn at any point during their covered by the rules here can’t be taken by
turn, moving spaces up to their speed. All character in tactical combat, the same as in any
characters get this action for free on each of their board game or video game you might enjoy. If you
turns. want to improvise, be creative, or add a flourish to
your abilities, you can do it within the constraints
All movement in ICON, whether granted by an of your character’s abilities and actions - there are
ability or effect, must be taken orthogonally (in plenty to choose from!
straight directions, no diagonal movement),
unless specified, and it can’t be broken up by Run (1 action): Move half your speed, rounded
other actions. You can stop at any point during up.
movement to take an action or interrupt, but if Dash (2 actions): Dash your speed.
you do, the movement ends. There are exceptions Interact (1 action): Interact with something on
to both these rules but unless specified all the map that takes more than a few moments,
movement in ICON works this way. such as pulling a lever, opening a heavy door,
picking up a heavy object, etc.
You can’t move through obstructions that block Rescue (1 action): Help an adjacent defeated
your movement (by default hostile characters or ally. They end the incapacitated state on
terrain), unless an ability allows you to do so. You themselves and heal to full hit points, minus any
can move through allied characters but not end wounds they’ve taken.
your turn in their space. Basic attack (1 or 2 actions): Make a basic
light or heavy attack

40 of 142

 Whack (1 action): Kick, punch, or throw • Light attack (1 action): On hit, deal light
something from the environment. Deal 1 physical damage. On miss, no effect.
damage as an effect to a character in range 3. • Heavy Attack (2 actions): On hit, deal heavy
damage. On miss, deal light damage. If your
That’s it! These actions seem rather limited total roll is 20+, your attack is a critical hit
because all characters in ICON, including the foes and deals critical damage.
you will face, also have powerful abilities they
can use. If you do want to improvise, use the Let’s break down attacks a little more:
constraints of the rules offered here or in your
abilities. For example, if you want to knock over a Targeting and Rang
heavy boulder so it smashes into your enemy, the
GM might rule that it’s a basic heavy attack. You can only make attacks against foes in range
and line of sight, unless specified. Range can be
No repeat measured in any direction, including diagonally.

When you take an action, you can’t repeat it in Attacks can be either ranged or melee.
the same turn. You can only run, rescue, or • For ranged attacks, a character must be at
whack once on a turn regardless of how many least partly within the listed range of the attack
actions you have left, for example! This also to be a valid target. Make ranged attacks with
applies to all abilities. +1 curse per adjacent hostile character to
you. Ranged attacks also care about cover
Free and limited Action • For melee attacks, a character must be
adjacent to be in range for an attack, unless a
Some abilities take Free Actions. These abilities higher range is specified. Melee attacks ignore
don’t take an action slot to use and must be used cover. Adjacent means in any adjacent space,
on your turn, but still follow the No Repeats rule. even if that space is higher or lower
• Ranged and melee attacks get terrain
Other actions, often free actions, are limited. advantage: +1 boon against targets standing
These abilities are written as X/turn or X/ on lower terrain than you, and ranged attacks
round (like 1/turn, 2/turn, etc). These abilities gain +1 range for every level of height you have
can break the no repeats rule but can only be on your target. If someone attacks you on higher
used a specified number of times a turn or round terrain, or your foe is on higher terrain, they get
instead. +1 curse instead.

Line of sight means you can see and interact

Attack with the character. This is pretty self explanatory
but has more specificity in the advanced combat
section.
You can only make one action with the attack
tag per round in ICON, no matter what the
action cost is. Every character can perform basic Cover and Line of Sigh
attacks, which are melee or ranged depending on All terrain in ICON has height (more on terrain
job. shortly), from 1-3. Player characters are size 1, but
other characters such as monsters can be larger or
To make any attack, including basic attacks, smaller.
choose a hostile character in range and line of • If character is adjacent to terrain the same
sight. Roll 1d20 plus any boon or curse, plus height as it, it can draw line of sight to other
your attack bonus. This is called a to-hit roll. characters past that terrain, and other
If your total equals or surpasses your target’s characters can draw line of sight to it, but it
defense, you hit. If not, you miss. Attacks have gains cover from them. The character adjacent
different effects depending on hit, miss, or critical to terrain gains resistance to damage from any
hit. ranged attack that they have cover from.
• If a character is adjacent to terrain that is higher
than it, it cannot draw line of sight to any

41 of 142

 characters past that terrain, and you can’t draw Critical Hi

line of sight to it.
A critical hit triggers on any total attack roll of
Typ 20+. Normally only heavy attacks gain benefits
Attacks and other actions can be physical or from critical hits, but certain light attacks may
magical. Physical attacks deal physical damage have effects that trigger on critical hits.
and prompt physical saves, and magical attacks
deal magic damage and prompt magic saves. Attack, Ability, and Effec
Some characters and monsters might be stronger Attack abilities and actions often have two
or weaker against one of the other. components: attack and effect. Together, this
makes up an ability.
Damag • The attack component often requires a to-hit
Damage in ICON is based on job and has two roll, requires a primary target, and has different
values, fray damage, and a damage die (like triggered effects based on hitting, missing, or
d6, d8, etc). critical hitting. Effects that trigger on hit, on
miss, or on crit only apply on attack.
• Fray damage is a fixed value equal to your • The effect component of any ability or attack
power. When you deal fray damage, deal the simply happens, though it might prompt
damage listed (you don’t need to roll anything!). saves or rely on the attack hitting first. There’s
• Other damage values are set based on your more on this in the advanced combat rules.
damage die. These are light, heavy, and • The ability refers to the whole thing (attack and
critical damage. effect)
• When an attack tells you to deal light damage,
roll one of your damage dice, and apply the The important thing to remember is that any
total result as damage. For heavy damage, roll ability or effect that empowers or triggers off an
two, and for critical damage, roll three. attack only counts or empowers the attack
Simple! component (the to-hit roll part) and not the
effects, unless specified.
Increasing Damag
If an ability lets you increased damage, it will If an ability triggers off or empowers an ability, it
either grant you bonus damage, boosted empowers the whole action (attack and effect).
damage, or double damage. For example, and ability that gives you bonus
• For bonus damage, roll one more die than damage on your next ability increases all damage.
normal each time you gain bonus damage, then
choose the highest 1, 2, or 3 dice based on the Sav
damage you are dealing. For example, with a Some attacks or effects require a save from the
damage die of d6 and gaining bonus damage character they target to avoid some nasty effect,
twice on a light attack, you would roll 3d6 (3, 5, like extra damage or a status. To make a save, roll
2), then pick the highest single die, because it’s a 1d20. On an 11 or higher, you save successfully,
light attack (5 damage). usually ignoring the effect.
• For double damage, simply roll and then
double the entire result before applying it. Characters typically save for every status (a
This doesn’t stack, so if you gain double damage negative effect) on them at the end of each turn,
twice, it still only multiples the whole pool twice ending them on a success.
(not 4 times).
• A few abilities will boost damage to the next
category (light > heavy for example). Critical
damage cannot be boosted further.

Fray damage cannot be boosted or benefit from

bonus damage, but it can be doubled.

42 of 142
e

 Area of Effect (AoE AoE pattern

Some attacks and abilities specify an area of effect
(AoE). If that’s the case, you can target any Most AoEs have a listed pattern, sometimes
character or any space on the ground in range, combining the two. Unless specified, the origin
including allied characters. Area of effect attacks space is the original owner or caster of the ability.
have an attack space and area spaces. • Line: A line of X spaces long, with at least 1
• For a character in the attack space, make an space adjacent to the origin space. Cannot be
attack, with a to-hit roll, and apply the attack placed diagonally. Attack space is the first
part of your ability. character other than the caster in the area.
• For a character in the area space apply the listed • Blast X: A central space, with x spaces around
area effect. it in every direction, placed in the range listed
• Some AoEs have additional effects. If so, apply from the origin space. Attack space is the central
them to all spaces. space.
This might mean that an AoE attack doesn’t • Close blast X: A blast that must be placed so
actually end up having an attack component and that at least one space of the total area is
doesn’t make any to-hit rolls (you can target it so adjacent to the origin space
that only area spaces hit characters), so choose • Arc X: X contiguous spaces, with at least one
your targets carefully! directly adjacent to the origin space. If it has a
listed range, can be placed in range. Spaces can
Area effects triggered by abilities or effects be placed diagonally or orthogonally, but each
only have area spaces. They merely apply area space must be further away from the origin
effects (such as a save) to the whole area. space than the last. Attack space is the final
space.
• Cross X: X spaces in every orthogonal
direction, drawn from the origin space. Attack

43 of 142

 space is the first character hit (attacker’s choice Abilities will specify targets: Self, Foe, Ally,
if there’s a tie) or the origin space if the attack Characters, Summon, or any combination of
has a listed range. these.
• Self: You! Abilities can’t target yourself unless
If the origin space is not listed, or is listed as specified.
(self), the origin space is the user of the ability. • Allies: An allied character other than you
Abilities with no listed range or a target of • Foe: A hostile character.
(self) don’t affect the caster. If the ability has • Summon: A character controlled or owned by
a range, the origin space can be anywhere in that another character (summoner). Hostile
range, and the ability can affect the caster, so be summons can be targeted as normal. Allied
careful! summons can only be targeted by abilities and
only count for abilities if the ability specifically
Combined AoE mentions it can target or count summons.
If an ability has a combined effect area, the
combined area is placed in the attack space of If an ability merely specifies ‘characters’, it
the first pattern. For example, an area that is line means all of the above except yourself.
3 + cross 2 would be a line 3 area with cross 2
radiating out from its attack space. If patterns Like attacks, all abilities require line of sight
overlap, they extend the area and don’t affect the unless specified.
overlapped area twice.
Effect
The secondary area of a combined AoE does not
have an attack space, but extends the total area Many abilities apply effects, including some
effect. attacks. Effects simply take place when specified
and don’t require a to-hit roll. Even if abilities
deal damage, they don’t count as attacks unless
Abilitie they have the attack tag.
Every job has abilities, including additional
light or heavy attacks, specified in each job.
Some effects can take place out of turn, and
don’t take an interrupt slot to activate, making
Each ability can only be taken once per turn,
them quite powerful.
and only one attack can be made per round.
Statuses and Blight
Abilities have an action cost, a listed range, and
might have tags, indicating special properties
Many effects apply a status or force a save to
(such as inflicting a status or dealing damage), or
avoid gaining a status. Statuses apply ongoing
the type of ability they are. These tags are all listed
negative effects to a character.
in the job descriptions and in the advanced
combat section. Non-attack abilities can only be
Blights are similar to statuses but are more
used on specified character in range and line of
elemental in nature and cause certain abilities to
sight (the same rules as attacks).
become stronger. Characters take 1 damage to
every unique blight they are affected by at the
A character can only take 6 available abilities and
start of their turn, ignoring armor. Unlike
one limit break with them on any given
statuses, blights cannot be cleared automatically
expedition, even if they’ve learned more abilities.
and last until the end of combat, or until they are
They can swap them out before each expedition if
removed by abilities.
they choose, so some characters may choose to
have a larger tool kit available to them.
Ongoing statuses cannot be removed and are
usually caused by an ability you used yourself.
Targetin
Clearing Statuse

44 of 142

 At the end of any characters own turn, they can members of the group, so any use of it must be
make a save against each status currently affecting used with the consent of your your team
them, ending them on a successful save. members. Resolve is always spent at the
beginning of the action.
Special State
Victory and Defea
There are two special states that also can’t be
removed and don’t count as statuses - bloodied When any character (hostile or player character)
(when a character is under 50% hp), and is reduced to 0 hit points, they are defeated.
incapacitated (when character is reduced to 0 Defeated player characters are incapacitated
hp) (can’t do anything), don’t cause engagement, are
immune to damage, gain a wound, and remain
Interrupt that way until someone uses the rescue action to
bring them back to their feet. If a player character
Some abilities are called interrupts and can be with 3 woulds would become defeated and gain a
used off your turn. You can use each interrupt a 4th wound, they instead die.
number of times indicated by the tag (Interrupt 1,
Interrupt 2, for example) between your turns, only Defeated enemy characters are incapacitated,
one interrupt during any turn (yours or another don’t cause engagement or obstruction, and are
character’s) and get them all back at the start of immune to damage and effects. Depending on the
any of your turns. Imagine them like a card that tone of your game or the scene, defeated could
you play and can draw again at the start of your mean slain or killed, or merely beaten and unable
turn. to fight any longer. Battles in ICON typically
aren’t to the death, unless monsters are involved.
Like they sound, interrupts have a trigger which
interrupts any action currently being taken, and Characters (player characters, npcs, and hostile
then immediately apply effects. characters) can also spend their entire turn to give
up and admit defeat any time, becoming
Resolve and Limit Brea defeated (without gaining any wounds as a
player character), or flee the battlefield by
Limit breaks are the most powerful abilities in moving off the edge of the grid. Combat ends
ICON. Every character unlocks limit break at level when every character of one side is defeated,
2. dead, or has fled the battlefield.

Limit breaks are abilities (with an action cost, etc) If all player characters are defeated or dead, they
that may or may not be attacks, and don’t count are totally defeated as a party. The outcome of
against number of abilities taken. All Limit Breaks this will depend on your GM and the tone of your
cost a unique resource, called Resolve, to use. game, if you’re totally defeated, you’re at the
mercy of your foes, but it’s up to the GM whether
Resolve is split into two pools, party and your foes use the opportunity to escape, teach you
personal resolve. Party Resolve goes up by 1 a lesson, leave you tied up, dump you in a pit
after every round in combat, and depletes to 0 somewhere, or merely attempt to finish you off
after combat ends (perhaps unsuccessfully).

Personal resolve is gained at a rate of 1 after every Monsters and Ki

combat, and resets to 0 after you camp. You
might want to push on instead of resting in order Foes in ICON are split into Monsters, which fight
to get the most out of your abilities. to the death typically, or Kin, which fight for a
reason. Kin typically don’t fight to the death -
When you spend Resolve to use a limit break, you they’re people and value their own lives. More
can use any combination of party or personal details on this in the Foes section.
resolve, but party resolve is shared between all

45 of 142

 Difficult terrai
The Battlefiel
Difficult terrain represents mud, snow, swamp, or
Each space on the battlefield has a type: water. It could also be something like a river, deep
water, or rubble.
Ground - Flat, no special effects.
Difficult Terrain - Costs +1 space of movement Interactable
to move through You can rule that certain terrain objects or spaces
Dangerous - Take piercing damage equal to the are interactable, like levers, switches, heavy doors,
chapter number for each space you move into or force fields, traps, etc. Interacting with them (as
through an action) changes some part of the map or has
Impassable - Blocks movement of all kinds some effect, such as dealing light damage in an
unless it has phasing, and always blocks line of area, creating cover, creating new terrain, or
sight. Could be a pillar or a solid rock wall that summoning foes or allies.
goes to the ceiling.
Terrain - Categorized by height, 1-3. Blocks Alternate victory condition
movement. Provides cover if you’re the same There’ll be more on this in the final game, but
height. Blocks line of sight if you’re smaller. having alternate victory conditions can make your
Characters can move up and stand on top of combats more interesting and interactive. Here’s
terrain. Costs +1 movement per difference in a few for you:
height to move up a level but not down a level. • Escort: Characters have to escort an ally or
Terrain can represent a large object or obstruction object, who is an intangible object or ally, to the
on the map, such a cart, a boulder, a chunk of other edge of the map and flee off the edge by
ruin, or just something like a hill. If you want ending their turn there. The ally or object can be
terrain to be destructible, give each space 10 hp ‘picked up’ by a character as an interact action.
per height, and attacks automatically hit. While carried by a character, that character
cannot attack, run, or dash, but can take other
When measuring range, measure it flat even if the actions. They can drop the character or object in
terrain is elevated (don’t worry about doing a free adjacent space as a free action, and also
Pythagorean math!). drop them when they are hit by an attack or
reduce to 0 hp. Enemies can also pick up the
Size object or ally. Characters fail if they haven’t
Battlefields should be around 15x15, 20x20 or taken their escort to the goal in six rounds.
25x25 or so. You can go smaller or larger, and • Control: Mark three zones in three different
change the proportions. parts of the map. At the end of the round, a side
(ally or foe) scores 1 point if they have more
Terrain advantag non-summon, non-mob characters in the point
• Cover: Characters gain resistance to damage than the other side. Elites count for two
from ranged attacks while they are in cover characters, monstrosities count for four. Most
• Height advantage: +1 boon on any melee or points at the end of round 6 wins.
ranged attack against a target on lower elevation • Holdout: Characters must try and survive. Use
than you, and increase range of ranged attacks 2x the point budget for a normal fight. Deploy
by +1 space for each level of height of the terrain the normal budget of enemies at the first round,
you’re standing on. then bring in half at the start of the third round,
• Height disadvantage: If you attack a then half more at the start of the fourth. If
character in higher elevation than you, get +1 characters aren’t totally defeated by the fourth
curse round, they win.

Fallin
If a character is shoved or moves so that they
would move down more than 1 space of terrain,

46 of 142
:

 they take physical damage for every space they fall Between combats, characters can either drink
(2 or 3 damage). Characters fall immediately. an elixir to heal 50% hp, or camp regain all of
their hp. Camping is limited, and characters only
Edg embark on an expedition with 2 elixirs by default.
The GM might rule that a certain area of the map Some camp upgrades or abilities allow you to heal
is an edge, like a pit or a cliff. Characters shoved wounds, but generally wounds are only fully
off an edge are removed from play. They can avoid healed when you end an expedition and enter an
this by passing a generic save, stopping at the interlude.
edge. Otherwise, remove them from play for the
rest of the round. If they’re a player character,
they can return to play as close to where they
moved off an edge at the start of their next turn. If
they’re a foe or NPC, the GM can rule whether
they come back or not. Mobs (weak foes) never
come back from getting shoved off an edge.

Flying characters can cross but not end their turn

in an edge area.

As an optional rule, the edge rule can also apply to

the edge of the battlefield, with every edge of the
battlefield that is a possible exit being treated as
an edge.

Creating an interesting battlefiel

Battlefields that have cover, interactables,

objectives, terrain of different heights, difficult or
dangerous terrain, or odd shapes will be far more
interesting than a plain empty field.
Asymmetrical battlefields can also be more
interesting than perfectly symmetrical ones. Try
to fill at least half your battlefield with points of
interest.

Vigor, Elixirs,
Camping, and Healin
In ICON, it’s rare to heal in combat. Instead,
characters that heal (for example, from the Cure
ability) often gain Vigor, which is a temporary
shield that goes over your hit points. Damage goes
to vigor first when you take it. Vigor gained is
always some multiple of your health value (1x, 2x,
3x, etc), and any vigor shield gained replaces the
last shield instead of stacking with it. You lost all
vigor at the end of every combat. For a little more
on vigor, see the advanced combat rules.

47 of 142
e

 Fly - A flying character has melee evasion and

Combat Glossar ignores terrain effects, engagement, and
obstruction from ground based obstacles and
There are more details on combat in the advanced characters. Moving over terrain doesn’t cost extra
combat section, including detailed explanations of movement.
action order. Fray damage - Low fixed damage.
Immune to X - Not affected by X in any way. A
You don’t need to memorize all these specific character that’s immune to damage or effects
rules - they are placed here for your convenience doesn’t even count as taking them.
(these rules are the rules used by every single Intangible - Can be targeted, but immune to all
job!). The most relevant rules are summarized damage, effects, conditions, and blights. Doesn’t
with each class.. cause obstruction.
Mark - Place your mark on a specific character.
You can only place one mark at a time on each
Combat Concept
enemy or ally and each ability can only place one
mark. If you place a new mark on a character with
Resistance to X - Take 1/2 damage from X,
a mark from you, you can choose which to keep or
rounded up
which to discard.
Armor X - Reduce all incoming damage by X
Obstruction - Can’t move through something
AoE - Area of effect, usually has a specific
that causes obstruction. By default this is hostile
pattern. Only one space in an area of effect is the
characters and terrain.
attack space and requires a roll, the others apply
Phasing - Can ignore obstruction and pass
area effects automatically.
through, but not end your turn in, terrain or
Auto-hit - This attack doesn’t require an attack
characters.
roll but automatically hits.
Shove X - Move a character involuntarily X
Charge - When used on a slow turn, this ability
spaces in a line away from you. If they would
becomes more powerful.
move into another character’s space, or a piece of
Cleanse - A character that’s cleansed can remove
terrain, they Collide and stop, taking fray
all blights and marks and immediately save
damage.
against all effects
Slay - An effect that triggers when this action
Combo - Actions with Combo have two or more
reduces a character to 0 hp. Can only trigger once
versions. When you use a combo action, your next
per action.
combo action (on any turn, and not necessarily
Slow - Go after all other characters. If multiple
the same action) uses the next part of its combo,
characters take slow turns, it takes the same order
looping back to the first part after the final part.
as regular turns (ally/enemy/ally)
Cover - Gain resistance to ranged damage from
Summon - A character controlled by its
any attack you have cover from
Summoner. Abilities that target allied characters
Cure - A character that’s Cured gains Vigor 1, or
cannot target summons unless specifically
Vigor 2 if they’re bloody
mentioned. Summons don’t take turns, actions, or
Damage - Every class has a damage die. Damage
movement on their own unless specified. By
comes in three varieties, light (1 die), heavy (2
default, summons have defenses equal to their
dice), or critical (3 dice).
summoner’s and hp equal to 50% of their
• Bonus Damage - Roll one more damage die
summoner’s. When reduced to 0 HP, they are
each time you gain bonus damage and choose
removed from the battlefield instead of becoming
the highest 1, 2, or 3, depending on the base
defeated. They are also removed if their
damage.
summoner is defeated.
• Boost Damage - Increase damage to the next
Teleport - Instantly move to a free space within
level (light>heavy for example)
range. You cannot teleport while immobilized or
• Double Damage - Double total damage. Only
stunned.
applies once.
Terrain effect - Something that creates or
Dash - Special movement that ignores
modifies the terrain spaces on the battlefield.
engagement and doesn’t trigger interrupts
Elixir - Heal 50% hp outside of combat per elixir
Blight
drank. Start with 2 by default.

48 of 142
s

 The Blights are Burning, Electrified, Poisoned, Guardian - Special interrupt. When an ally you
and Frostbite. A character takes 1 piercing can see in range 3 is targeted by an attack, you can
damage at the start of their turn for each different dash up to 2 spaces towards that ally. Then, if
blight they are afflicted by. Moves become you’re adjacent, you can change the target of the
stronger when used against a character suffering attack to you.
from these blights, depending on the move. Pierce - Ignores armor.
Blights can only be cleared by Cleanse or other Regeneration X - Gain vigor X at the end of
abilities that specify they can clear blights. your turn
Skirmisher - Can move diagonally
Statuse Stance - Ongoing effect. A character can only
Blind - Can only target adjacent spaces have one stance active at a time and can drop a
Dazed - +1 curse on attacks stance by taking a new stance or as a free action at
Hatred of X- When taking actions against a the start of their turn.
hostile character, must include X character as a Stealth - Cannot be directly targeted except from
target for the action to be valid. an adjacent space. Breaks on taking or dealing
Immobilize - Max speed reduced to 0 damage.
Pacified - Max damage reduced to 1. Breaks on Sturdy - Immune to shove, daze, stagger, and
taking damage. stun
Stunned - Take 1 less action. Unlike other True strike - Ignores dodge, evasion, and does
statuses, automatically clears at the end of your not trigger guardian
turn. Doesn’t stack. Unstoppable - Immune to all statuses and can’t
Staggered - Attackers gain +1 Boon against a be shoved.
staggered character Vigilance - Hostile characters can’t dash in your
Slow - Must take a slow turn while slow. engagement and can’t move through your space
Vulnerable - All damage taken increased by 1 for any reason
Vigor X - Gain a shield that goes over your hit
Special state points, equal to X times your health value.
Bloody - Under 50% hp Damage goes to Vigor before Hit Points. Vigor
Incapacitated - Speed reduced to 0, can’t take does not stack, and when you gain Vigor you can
actions, movement, or use abilities. Immune to all choose to keep the old value or gain the new
damage. Characters that are defeated and value. Lose all vigor at the end of combat.
incapacitated by default when reduced to 0 HP.
Player characters take a wound when they’re
defeated.

Ongoing Statuse
Ongoing statuses cannot be purged or removed
(for example, by becoming sturdy or
unstoppable).

Positive effect
Counter - Deal fray damage to your attacker
after being attacked, hit or miss.
Defiance - Prevents hit points from being
reduced past 1 hp. When this triggers, remove this
effect.
Dodge - Immune to all damage and effects on
miss or successful save. Immune to damage and
effects from the non-attack spaces of AoE attacks
and abilities.
Evasion - Roll a d6 when targeted by an attack.
On a 4+, the attack automatically misses. Check
before the attack roll.

49 of 142

50 of 142
51 of 142
 Choosing your jo Relics represent extraordinary or powerful
artifacts from the old world, lost with its ruin.
At level 1, pick a job from those available to you. They might be enchanted weapons, magitech
There are 8 available in this playtest, two for each armor, or something similar. There’s a suggestion
class. You get all the traits from your class for each Relic as to the form it takes, but this can
(basically a meta-job, of which there are 4), plus be loose. It’s up to the player to decide how they
the traits from your job itself. You can then pick came across the relic in their adventures, or
two abilities from your job. If you’re unsure, pick whether it’s something they are working on
the first two abilities listed, you’ll have plenty of creating themselves. They don’t have to take any
opportunities to choose others. action to receive the relic, but will have to work on
it by infusing Dust into it to unlock it’s benefits.
When you gain xp, at 4 and 8 xp you’ll be able to
pick new abilities and strengthen your current Relics provide powerful passive bonuses to a
abilities through talents, although you can only character in combat, no matter what job they
equip six abilities at a time to take on currently have. They have four unlockable levels,
expeditions. with each level giving increasing benefits. Some
Relics give a % chance for certain effects to occur
(use a d100 or a d% dice to check for them). Relics
Gambits can be leveled up by infusing them with Dust,
which is the magical essence sought after by the
When you level up, you will eventually get the powerful factions of Arden Eld.
opportunity to pick another job. This allows
you to swap from Expedition to Expedition to Aspect
different jobs as needed. You can take abilities The fourth level of a Relic is called an Aspect, and
from your new job and use them just as you would provides more powerful benefits. Aspects can be
your primary job abilities, however you can only unlocked either with their (high) Dust cost or by
equip abilities that are from the same class as completing a task listed in the Aspect as part of an
your job with one exception, called your expedition. If the Aspect task is completed once
Gambit. by any character, aspecting the same relic costs
only 4 dust from that point onwards.
For example, if your job is Bastion and you also
have a Spellblade job, you can equip exactly one
Spellblade ability and any number of Bastion
abilities. A Bastion character can equip and use
any number of Demon Slayer abilities, however,
since they are from the same class (and vice
versa!).

Characters can learn 3 jobs (one per chapter) and

can learn every ability in the jobs they unlock
given the choice, so they have high degree of
flexibility.

Traits and Limit Break

Your traits and your Limit Break are unique to
your active job only, so think carefully when
selecting your jobs.

Relic
At level 2, then at levels 6 and 9, characters pick
up a Relic.

52 of 142

 JOBS
CLASS: Stalwart 54

Bastion 56

Demon Slayer 59

Class: Vagabond 62

Shade 64

Freelancer 67

CLASS: Mendicant 70

Seer 72

Sealer 76

CLASS: WRIGHT 80

Enochian 82

Spellblade 86

53 of 142

 CLASS: Stalwart Class STATS

Chapter 1:
Weapon master and unparalleled soldier Health: 6
HP: 24
Stalwarts are sturdy and tough warriors, with Elixirs: 2
heavy armor and abilities that let them stand their Armor: 2
ground, protect their allies, and control space. Defense: 8
Stalwarts largely eschew the use of ranged attacks Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
and magic but are mythic soldiers and gods of the
battlefield, able to perform incredible feats of Attack bonus: +1
physical prowess and resilience. Fray damage: 2
Damage: D6/2d6/3d6
Bastions boast the Guardian ability, allowing Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Physical Range
them to take hits for their allies, Daze, which 3
makes it harder for enemies to land attacks, and
Vigilance, which makes it much harder for Chapter 2:
characters to move around them. They are also Health: 8
the only class that can become Sturdy normally, HP: 32
making them totally immune to stun, shove, and Elixirs: 2
other nasty effects. Armor: 3
Defense: 10
Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
Class Traits
Vigilance: Enemies can’t dash in your Attack bonus: +2
engagement or move through your space for any Fray damage: 2
reason. Damage: D8/2d8/3d8
Toughness: Start every combat with vigor 1. Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Physical Range
Guardian (Interrupt): Once a round, if an ally 3
in range 3 is targeted by an attack, you may dash 2
spaces towards that ally if you’re not adjacent to Chapter 3:
them. Then, if you’re adjacent, you may swap the Health: 12
primary target to you instead, even if you’re not in HP: 40
range. Elixirs: 2
Armor: 4
Meter: Heroic Defense: 12
Stalwarts can perform Heroics, more powerful Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
versions of their regular abilities. They get one
free Heroic use of an ability per combat, Attack bonus: +3
however, other abilities may allow additional uses Fray damage: 3
of Heroics. Damage: D10/2d10/3d10
Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Physical Range
3
Stalwart Gambit
If you take a Stalwart ability as a non-Stalwart
class, you get Heroics

54 of 142

 MOST RELEVANT RULE does not stack, and when you gain Vigor you can
choose to keep the old value or gain the new
Resistance to X - Take 1/2 damage from X, value. Lose all vigor at the end of combat.
rounded up Vulnerable - All damage taken increased by 1
Armor X - Reduce all incoming damage by X
Bloody - Under 50% hp
Charge - When used on a slow turn, this ability
becomes more powerful.
Counter - Deal fray damage to your attacker
after being attacked, hit or miss.
Dash - Special movement that ignores
engagement and doesn’t trigger interrupts
Dazed - +1 curse on attacks
Defiance - Prevents hit points from being
reduced past 1 hp. When this triggers, remove this
effect.
Elixir - Heal 50% hp outside of combat per elixir
drank. Start with 2 by default.
Hatred of X- When taking actions against a
hostile character, must include X character as a
target for the action to be valid.
Guardian - Special interrupt. When an ally you
can see in range 3 is targeted by an attack, you can
dash up to 2 spaces towards that ally. Then, if
you’re adjacent, you can change the target of the
attack to you.
Immobilize - Max speed reduced to 0
Regeneration X - Gain vigor X at the end of
your turn
Shove X - Move a character involuntarily X
spaces in a line away from you. If they would
move into another character’s space, or a piece of
terrain, they Collide and stop, taking fray
damage.
Slow - Go after all other characters. If multiple
characters take slow turns, it takes the same order
as regular turns (ally/enemy/ally)
Stance - Ongoing effect. A character can only
have one stance active at a time and can drop a
stance by taking a new stance or as a free action at
the start of their turn.
Sturdy - Immune to shove, daze, stagger, and
stun
True Strike - Ignores evasion, dodge, and
guardian
Unstoppable - Immune to all statuses and can’t
be shoved.
Vigilance - Hostile characters can’t dash in your
engagement and can’t move through your space
for any reason
Vigor X - Gain a shield that goes over your hit
points, equal to X times your health value.
Damage goes to Vigor before Hit Points. Vigor

55 of 142

 forgotten hero’s code, an old oath to stand

Bastion against chaos in all its forms.
Proud and unbreakable knight
Traits:
The Bastions are the shield lords of Arden Eld, Momentum: When you shove one or more
larger than life figures that tread the ancient characters with an ability, you can dash after one
imperial roads with their heads held high and of them the same number of spaces you shoved
armor gleaming. From town to town they act as them as an effect, ending adjacent to them if
errant knights and mercenaries, protecting the possible.
weak and vulnerable, and driving back the Bull’s Strength: When you shove a foe and
Blights with hammer-like blows from their trigger Collide, they must physical save or also
greatshields, which they throw like a discus with become dazed. If that foe is already dazed, they
incredible force. The imperious and mighty are stunned instead. When you trigger Collide on
presence of a Bastion in town is a stabilizing a foe with a non-Heroic ability, your next ability is
force and can become an event for a whole empowered and becomes Heroic
village. All Bastions follow an ancient and long- Black Rock Punisher: Once during your turn,
when you take an action that shoves, dazes, or

56 of 142

 stuns a character that’s immune to that effect they pass through take fray damage and are
(such as from sturdy or unstoppable), deal light shoved 1.
damage to them as an effect.
Rook: Allied characters can use you for cover SHIELD SLAM
Heavy Physical Melee Attack
Abilitie
Crash your greatshield into the earth, sending up
devastating shockwaves.
HERACULE Attack: On hit: Deal heavy damage. Miss: Light
Light Physical Ranged Attack damage. Critical Hit: Critical Damage.
Range 3, True Strike Effect: All characters adjacent to your target take
light damage, then are shoved 1
Hurl your shield as a discus with irrepressible Heroic: Increase the range of the effect area to
force. all characters in range 2 of your target
Attack: On hit: deal light damage and shove 1.
Effect: On hit: a different foe in range 3 from Talents
your target is also shoved 1. I. Charge: Primary target must also save or
Heroic: All ranges and shoves from this ability become immobilized
increased by +1 II. If Shield Slam’s effect shockwave shoves 2 or
more characters, gain vigor 1.
Talents:
I. Charge: Increase ranges by +1 and the Master talent: LAND WASTE
primary target must physical save or be dazed Before Shield slam’s effect triggers, you tear up
II. Trigger Heracule’s effect +1 times on hit the very ground, creating a terrain effect of two
rock spires, height 1 pieces of terrain in range 3 of
Master talent: ETERNAL DISCU you. When you use this ability again and summon
Heracule’s effect triggers +1 times, triggers even new spires, any others placed by this ability
on miss, and the effect now deals fray damage crumble to dust.

BATTERING RAM VALIANT

1 Action 2 Actions

Use your shield, weapon, or armored fist and Charge forth, with your shield held before you,
send your foe flying. battering aside foes.
Effect: An adjacent foe must physical save or be Effect: Dash in a line AoE equal to your speed
shoved 2 spaces. On a successful save they are +2, phasing through characters.
shoved 1 anyway. Area Effect: Foes you pass through must
Heroic: +1 curse on the save, and shove 4 instead physical save or become dazed, then shoved 1 to
on a failed save. either side.
Heroic: Daze the first enemy in the area of effect,
Talents then shove them to the end of the line, moving
I. Effect: If your target collides, they release an them with you. They can physical save to avoid
explosion, dealing fray damage as a blast 1 this effect.
area effect centered on them
II. Effect: Shove all adjacent characters to your Talents
target’s final position 1 space I. Charge: Increase the dash by +2
II. Effect: You may repeat the dash effect back to
Master talent: GATE SMASHE your starting point, but don’t trigger any other
Battering Ram’s target can pass through effects. If you pass through 2 or more
characters while being shoved instead of characters with any part of this move. gain
triggering collide (you can choose for each vigor 1
character). If collide isn’t triggered, characters

57 of 142

 Master talent: MARATHO attack. If the attack misses, deal light magical
Heroic valiant is a free action damage to your attacker as an effect.

LIVING FORTRESS Master talent: MANGONE

1 action, stance Catapult becomes Interrupt 2

Become as the castle, unmovable and

unbreakable. Arrows crash against your skin
Limit Break: HELIO
and you laugh. 2 resolve
Stance: While in this stance, your max speed 1 action
becomes 0 and you cannot dash or teleport, but
you become sturdy, gain cover, and for allies Your shield becomes the sun: a discus of light and
count as both a character and a height 1 piece of motion, shattering enemy ranks and spurring
terrain for movement, cover, obstruction, and allies forth.
abilities At the start of your turn, you can refresh
this stance until the start of your following turn, Effect: You hurl your shield, and every foe on the
or exit it. battlefield in line of sight is shoved 1 space in a
Any characters standing on you when you exit this direction of your choice. Then you may shove all
stance are shoved into an adjacent space as an allies and allied summons 1 space in a direction of
effect your choice.
Heroic: Gain Regeneration 1 in Living Fortress
Master talent: PERFECTED HELIO
Talents You can repeat this effect once on either allies or
I. Grant sturdy to any allies while they are enemies.
adjacent to you in Living Fortress
II. Gain counter while in Living Fortress

Master talent: IRONSKI

When you exit Living Fortress, become
Unstoppable until you take at least 1 damage to hp

CATAPULT
Interrupt 1

Use your shield as a springboard to set up ally

maneuvers or to deflect projectiles
Trigger: An ally moves into an adjacent space
Effect: Shove that ally 3 spaces in any direction.
If they collide with a character, they take no
damage, deal fray damage to that character, and
can dash 1 as an effect.

Heroic: The shoved ally is shoved 5 spaces and

deals light damage on colliding instead

Talents
I. Your shield becomes a valid target for allied
ranged attacks. When targeted, you can
expend Catapult to retarget the attack from
your position to a new valid target in range 3.
II. You can trigger catapult when targeted by a
magic attack to gain evasion against the

58 of 142

 forbidden techniques, arcane arts, and oversized

Demon Slayer weaponry that normal Kin would quake at
Monster hunter and dark knight wielding. They organize themselves into loose
orders and train and hunt together, sharing tales
Warriors of impossible strength and insane and trophies of the colossal horrors they have
bravado, demon slayers are warriors that slain. Some say in order to fight their quarries,
specialize in fighting the largest and most the slayers must ingest demon blood to gain their
dangerous monsters to crawl out of the pits that strength, giving them dark and forbidden power
riddle the land. They relish in fighting against that makes other Kin fear and respect them in
impossible odds, training themselves in equal measure.

59 of 142

 attack until you move into or adjacent to your

Traits: weapon space, ending this effect. Nobody else can
Wind Up: Foes save against the effects of any pick it up. Any characters standing on your
charged action with +1 curse weapon when you pick it up are shoved to the side
Demon Strength: Once on your turn, you can of their choice.
make any ability Heroic. If you do, you can’t Charge: Line 5
attack or use Heroics on your following turn. Heroic: Your weapon releases a blast 1 explosion
Hissatsu: If you don’t attack during your turn, as an area effect when it lands. Characters
your next attack ability deals double damage. This caught in the area must physical save or take light
effect ends after you attack, hit or miss. physical damage.
True Horn: You are sturdy from the start of each
round until the start of your turn. Talent
I. Spaces adjacent to your weapon become
difficult terrain while it’s out.
Abilities II. Effect: When you pick your weapon up, deal
fray damage to an adjacent foe and shove 1
DEMON CUTTER
Light Physical Melee Attack Master Talent: SINGING BLAD
Arc 3, Combo If you choose, your weapon automatically returns
to you at the start of your next turn, no matter the
You slash your weapon in a deadly arc, sending distance, drawing an Arc area equal to the
cutting shockwaves out that rip through enemy distance between you. Characters it passes
armor. through are shoved 1 to either side, and you pick it
Attack: On hit: deal light damage. up when it returns to you.
Area effect: Fray damage
Effect: Your attack target must physical save or DRAKEN CROSS
become vulnerable
Heavy Physical Melee Attack
Heroic: Boost attack damage to heavy and gain
Cross 2 (self), True Strike
pierce against foes larger than you
Fill the air with the flurry of blades.
Combo: DEMON SPLITTER Attack: On hit: Deal heavy damage. Miss: Light
Change effect area to line 3 damage. Critical Hit: Critical Damage.
Area effect: Light damage
Talent Charge: Increase area of effect to cross 4 (self)
I. Charge: Action deals bonus damage and Heroic: Dash 1 and repeat the area of the attack,
extend effect area by +1 applying only the area effect. Characters can be
II. If you hit 2 or more targets, gain vigor 1 hit again even if they were already damaged by
this action.
Master Talent: BLOODY SWATH
Increase size of Demon Cutter and Demon Splitter Talent
by +3 I. If this ability targets only one character, boost
attack damage to critical damage.
COMET II. This action deals bonus damage against
1 action, Line 3, True Strike vulnerable targets

Your weapon becomes like a meteor, burning Master Talent: JUDGEMEN

through the air as you smash it into the earth Gain Effect: Dash 1 and repeat the attack area,
Effect: You hurl your weapon in a line 3 area applying only the area effect. Stacks with the
effect, dealing fray damage to characters it passes Heroic version.
through. Place your weapon at the end of the line,
or as close as possible. Your weapon becomes a WEAPON VAULT
piece of terrain (height 1) while it’s out. You can’t 1/turn, Free action

60 of 142

 Heroic: Gain counter while Royal Guard is

Use your great weapon as a vaulting pole, and active.
soar into the sky.
Effect: Fly to any space next to an adjacent foe. Talent
That foe is shoved into the space you just left. I. When Royal Guard activates, deal bonus
Weapon vault can’t be used on any turn you damage with your next ability
attack, and you can’t attack on any turn you use II. You can spend Royal Guard on damage
weapon vault. sources targeting adjacent allies
Heroic: You may dash 1 before and after Weapon
Vault triggers. Master Talent: DEMON SKI
Royal Guard stacks twice. When it refreshes, add 1
Talent stack.
I. When you weapon vault, save against a status
or end a blight or mark.
II. Charge: Foe also must physical save or Limit Break: SPLIT
become dazed
HEAVEN AND HEL
Master Talent: DEMON DANC
3 resolve
Weapon vault becomes 3/turn
Free Action

OVERKILL Sever Divinity and cut through the threads of

1 action possibility. Pour all your rage into one blow and
topple the Gods.
Time to end this.
End your turn. Gain effect: Your next attack End your turn and charge up a God Cutting
slams your foe’s defenses on hit and leaves them Blow. While you’re holding this blow, you are
wide open. On hit, your foe loses all armor and slow (ongoing) and have resistance to all damage.
resistance. This effect ends after they are damaged This effect ends when you take an attack. Your
by an attack. next melee or ranged attack additionally releases
Charge: Your target must also physical save or a shockwave as a line area of effect that is 3 spaces
become vulnerable wide and goes the length of the battlefield, passing
Heroic: You can dash up to 3 spaces before through the primary target of your attack and
releasing the overkill attack. phasing through all terrain or obstructions. All
characters it sweeps through take light piercing
Talent damage with true strike as an area effect and are
I. While holding Overkill, you can dash 1 as an shoved 1 directly away from you.
effect after taking damage
II. Your Overkill ability also deals bonus damage Master Talent: BURY THE LIGH
Deal fray damage once to the final character hit by
Master Talent: BRAVE the shockwave for every hostile character the blow
When you take Overkill, you are unstoppable until passes through before hitting them, up to six
the start of your next turn. times.

ROYAL GUARD
1 action, Stance

Bat aside every strike at you with supernatural

precision.
Stance: When you take this stance, the next time
you take damage from a foe, reduce it to 0. When
you start a slow turn, refresh this stance.

61 of 142

 Class: Vagabon Class Statistic

Chapter 1:
Rogue, Scoundrel, and Blade for Hire Health: 6
HP: 24
Vagabonds are the mercenaries and wanderers of Elixirs: 2
Arden Eld. They know how to slip a knife through Armor: 0
the chest plate of a knight or the armor of a Defense: 12
monster, how to move quietly and quickly, and Speed: 4 (Run 2, Dash 4)
how to fling a knife with deadly precision.
Attack bonus: +2
Vagabonds boast high damage and even higher Fray damage: 1
mobility. Extended Dash and Skirmisher lets Damage: D8/2d8/3d8
them move faster and further than other classes, Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Physical Range
while Dodge lets them avoid damage unless 4
targeted directly. They make use of Stealth,
Blind, Evasion, and Finishing Blow to crush Chapter 2:
weak enemies and avoid their counterattacks Health: 8
HP: 32
Class Traits Elixirs: 2
Extended Dash - Your dash action can be taken Armor: 0
for 1 action. Defense: 14
Skirmisher - You can move diagonally Speed: 4 (Run 2, Dash 4)
Dodge - You are immune to all damage and
effects from missed attacks. You become immune Attack bonus: +3
to all damage and effects when you save Fray damage: 1
successfully against something. You are immune Damage: D10/2d10/3d10
to the damage and effects of area effect spaces. Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Physical Range
4

Meter - Finishing Blow Chapter 3:

Your actions with Finishing Blow become more Health: 10
powerful when they include a bloody foe as a HP: 40
target. Elixirs: 2
Armor: 0
Vagabond Gambit: Defense: 16
If you take a Vagabond Ability as a non-Vagabond Speed: 5 (Run 3, Dash 5)
class, you get Finishing Blow.
Attack bonus: +4
Fray damage: 2
Damage: D12/2d12/3d12
Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Physical Range
4

62 of 142

 MOST RELEVANT RULE removed from the battlefield instead of becoming

defeated. They are also removed if their
Blind - Can only target adjacent spaces summoner is defeated.
Bloody - Under 50% hp
Dash - Special movement that ignores Teleport - Instantly move to a free space within
engagement and doesn’t trigger interrupts range. You cannot teleport while immobilized or
Dodge - Immune to all damage and effects on stunned.
miss or successful save. Immune to damage and
effects from the non-attack spaces of AoE attacks Blight
and abilities. The Blights are Burning, Electrified, Poisoned,
Elixir - Heal 50% hp outside of combat per elixir and Frostbite. A character takes 1 piercing
drank. Start with 2 by default. damage at the start of their turn for each different
Evasion - Roll a d6 when targeted by an attack. blight they are afflicted by. Moves become
On a 4+, the attack automatically misses. Check stronger when used against a character suffering
before the attack roll. from these blights, depending on the move.
Fly - A flying character has melee evasion and Blights can only be cleared by Cleanse or other
ignores terrain effects, engagement, and abilities that specify they can clear blights.
obstruction from ground based obstacles and
characters. Moving over terrain doesn’t cost extra
movement.
Intangible - Can be targeted, but immune to all
damage, effects, conditions, and blights. Doesn’t
cause obstruction.
Mark - Place your mark on a specific character.
You can only place one mark at a time on each
enemy or ally and each ability can only place one
mark. If you place a new mark on a character with
a mark from you, you can choose which to keep or
which to discard.
Phasing - Can ignore obstruction and pass
through, but not end your turn in, terrain or
characters.
Pierce - Ignores armor.
Skirmisher - Can move diagonally
Slay - An effect that triggers when this action
reduces a character to 0 hp. Can only trigger once
per action.
Slow - Must take a slow turn while slow.
Stance - Ongoing effect. A character can only
have one stance active at a time and can drop a
stance by taking a new stance or as a free action at
the start of their turn.
Stealth - Cannot be directly targeted except from
an adjacent space. Breaks on taking or dealing
damage.
Summon - A character controlled by its
Summoner. Abilities that target allied characters
cannot target summons unless specifically
mentioned. Summons don’t take turns, actions, or
movement on their own unless specified. By
default, summons have defenses equal to their
summoner’s and hp equal to 50% of their
summoner’s. When reduced to 0 HP, they are

63 of 142
s

 day, they must fast and train their shadow to

Shade obey them, transforming them into assassins and
Nocturnal Assassin spies of the highest order.

The legends say Shades make a deal with the The Shades say the stories are rumors, and they
Weeper, the dead Titan queen of night and air, to get along with their Darksides. They do have a
split their soul in two. Their shadow becomes tendency to appear when least expected, in
animate, bestial and hungry. Over a week and a uncanny and unsettling ways.

64 of 142

 Traits: an effect. If your marked character dies, you can

Shadow walk: While in stealth you have phasing attempt to transfer the mark to a new character in
Soul Freeze: Attacks deal bonus damage to range 3 of you as an interrupt (magic save avoids).
characters inflict by Frostbite
Darkside: When you teleport for the first time Talents:
on your turn, you leave a shadowy twin behind I. Gain stealth after you teleport
you in the space you left. Your darkside is a size 1 II. When you teleport, inflict frostbite on your
intangible summon. It doesn’t take actions or target. If they already have frostbite, deal fray
movement on its own, but when you make an damage again.
action that targets another character, you can
make it from either your location or the twin’s Master talent: TWINTAI
location. When you teleport again, you can choose You may throw an additional dagger at a different
to either replace your old twin or keep it. foe, marking both. You may teleport and deal
Meld: You can spend your standard move to damage to one or both foes when this ability
swap spaces with your shadow twin, teleporting. activates.
You can make this move even if your speed is 0.
DEATH BLOSSOM
Abilitie Heavy Physical Melee Attack
Close blast 1
UMBRA
Light Ranged Magical Attack
From beneath a cloak, out from flying sleeves, or
Range 4.
hidden in coils of hair - infinite blades.
Attack: On hit: Deal heavy damage. Miss: Light
By the power of darkness.
damage. Critical Hit: Critical Damage.
Attack: On hit: Light damage.
Area Effect: Light damage
Effect: You may teleport to an adjacent space to
Effect: Attack target must pass a physical save or
your foe after the attack.
become blinded.
Finishing Blow: Inflicts frostbite. If your foe
Finishing Blow: This ability inflicts frostbite
already has frostbite, boost damage (to heavy).
and deals bonus damage to all characters

Talents
Talents
I. Critical Hit: Instead of teleporting adjacent to
I. Critical hit: Increase blast size by +1
your foe, you may attempt to swap places with
II. After this attack, you may teleport to any
them, teleporting. They can magic save to
adjacent space to an affected character
avoid this effect.
II. You may teleport 2 spaces in any direction
instead of adjacent to your target Master talent: SHUKUCH
You can teleport 3 spaces before and after using
this ability.
Master talent: NINJUTS
Has the range of the battlefield against blinded or
frostbitten characters. VEIL
1 Action, stance
SHRIKE
Draw down a veil of shadows to mask your
1 Action, Mark
countenance. Harden your heart.
Stance: Gain stealth, and your next attack, hit or
With the flick of a wrist, you hurl a spectral
miss, forces a magical save or your target is
blade, marking your foe with an umbral seal.
blinded and is inflicted with frostbite. This stance
Effect: Flick a dagger at a character in range 3
ends after you attack.
and line of sight. That character must magic save
or become marked. While marked, that character
takes magical fray damage at the start of your turn Talent
and you may teleport adjacent to that character as I. Finishing Blow: Refresh Veil

65 of 142

 II. Increase the range of all teleports by +1 under I. Finishing Blow: Deal light damage instead
the effects of veil II. After Danse Macabre resolves, you may
teleport adjacent to any affected character.
Master talent: CENTIPEDE TECHNIQU
Gain phasing with veil, and moving through Master talent: LIZARD TECHNIQU
terrain or other character’s spaces with Veil costs Deal fray damage once to the final foe targeted by
0 spaces of movement. this ability for every character you teleported to
prior to them, up to three times.
NOCTURNE
Interrupt 1
Limit Break: ABYSSAL
You capture a thin silver thread of spilled life
force of a foe and use it to tear open a space of ECSTAS
night and cold. 1 Action, 2 Resolve
Trigger: You slay a foe.
Terrain Effect: Mark a blast 1 area around that A prayer and a drop of blood, and soothing
character, then create a terrain effect in that area. darkness cloaks the battlefield.
This cloud of shadow does not create cover or Effect: All allies and allied summons gain stealth,
block line of sight, but inside the zone, all and all foes are blinded. These effects end if a
characters (including you) have permanent character takes or deals damage, or saves against
stealth. The area disperses at the end of the next them with a magic save at the end of their turn.
round. If you trigger this interrupt again, you can
replace the zone or keep it. Master Talent: ULTIMA ECSTAS
The stealth effect from this ability does not break
Talents on you when you take or deal damage, but instead
I. When you score a finishing blow, refresh lasts 1 round. Extend this by 1 round when you
the duration of your Nocturne zone until the slay a foe.
end of the next round.
II. Keep stealth even if you leave the zone

Master talent: SPIDER TECHNIQU

When a foe is defeated in the zone, increase its
size by +1, up to a maximum of blast 3

DANSE MACABRE
1 action

You step through the air, emerging from the

shadows of your foes, where they find only
gleaming knives.
Effect: Teleport adjacent to a character or
summon in range 3.
• If they’re an ally or allied summon, repeat this
effect.
• If they’re a foe, you may deal fray damage to
them, then roll 1d6. On a 3+, repeat this effect.
• Characters can only be targeted once as part of
this action
Finishing blow: Repeat this effect without
rolling.

Talents

66 of 142

 Freelancers have their history in an ancient

Freelancer disgraced knightly order from one of the Seven
Divine punisher, wielder of the Holy Families of the Thrynn. They wield a bright
Chamber metal six gun or long rifle with extreme skill, the
bullets of which they infuse with raw Aether.
Freelancers are free-roaming exorcists and hired Each gun is a relic passed down from master to
guns, roaming the land and fighting blights, student over the years, and can only be won in a
demons and bandits in the name of justice. They duel with another freelancer. The freelancer’s
tend to act as wild cards: highly independent, ultimate weapon is the Astral Chain, a holy
highly effective, and sticking to their codes of gauntlet which they use to purge and bind
honor. demons and rogue spirits into their service as
Seraphim.

67 of 142

 Traits: • When you trigger a Finishing Blow with an

Aether Shell: Every third attack you make attack against a character in range 3 of the
upgrades any hit into a critical hit. Seraphim, they may teleport adjacent to that
Divinity Bullet: Your light attacks can critical character and deal piercing fray damage
hit. If they do, deal bonus damage.
Run and Gun: You can split up and interrupt The seraphim lasts until you use this ability again,
any movement you make with ranged attack or until reduced to 0 hp.
abilities.
Deadeye: Gain +1 Boon on to-hit rolls against Talent
marked characters of any kind, even if they were I. Allies can also ricochet attacks off the
marked by another character. seraphim
II. Attacks that ricochet off the seraphim ignore
Abilitie cover
STRAFE SHOT
Light Ranged Physical Attack Master: ARCHANGE
Range 4 Effect: When you ricochet a shot off the
seraphim, after the attack resolves it shoots a
A flash of gun smoke, and the shine of gleaming flurry of divine bolts, dealing piercing fray
steel. damage to all marked or electrified targets in
Attack: On hit: deal light damage. range 3 of it.
Effect: You may dash 2 before or after the attack.
Critical Hit: You may dash 2 after the attack ASTRAL CHAIN
Finishing blow: Your target must magical save Heavy Ranged Magical Attack
or become electrified. If they’re already electrified, Mark, Range 3
boost damage (to heavy).
With your heavenly chain skillfully whirling
Talents through the air, you dispense divine justice.
I. Gain flying while dashing as part of this action Attack: On hit: Deal heavy damage. Miss: Light
II. Effect: After this action, deal piercing fray damage. Critical Hit: Critical Damage.
damage to a character in range 3 Mark: Your foe is marked, hit or miss. As long as
your target is marked by you, at the start of your
turn, if they are in range 3, they take magical
Master: SIDEREAL RODE
piercing fray damage from you as a bolt of
Increase the distance of all dashes by +2 as part of
lightning shoots between you.
this action
Critical Hit: You may shove your target 1 space
towards you
ASTRAL GUARDIAN Finishing blow: You sink a magical sigil into
1 action, summon your foe. While marked, you can use your
standard move to teleport within range 3 of them.
Calling out their true name, in a flurry of
celestial wings, you summon your bound spirit.
Talents
Summon: Summon an astral seraphim in range
I. Gain evasion against your target while they’re
3, a phasing, flying summon that trails after you.
in range 3 of you
• At the end of your turn, you can teleport your
II. Your attacks against your marked target may
seraphim to a space in range 3 of you, otherwise
gain shove 1, but they can only be shoved
it takes no action or movement on its own.
towards you
• You can target your seraphim with a ranged
attack. If you do, the seraphim takes no damage
or effects, but re-directs the attack to a new Master: ASTRAL PUNISHE
target in range 3 of the seraphim, using your When Astral Chain’s damage or shoves trigger,
attack roll, line of sight, and effects from the they also triggers on all hostile characters within
new location. Attacks that the seraphim re- range 2 of your target
directs electrify their target on hit.

68 of 142

 HOT CHAMBER 1 action, stance

Interrupt 1
The world goes still, and is split by a bolt of
Fan the hammer. lightning.
Trigger: You score a critical hit Stance: Your next hit is upgraded to a critical hit.
Effect: Fire up to 1d6 shells from a sidearm at When you critical hit, this stance ends.
foes in range 3 of you, each dealing fray damage. Finishing Blow: Roll a d6. On a 5+, refresh this
Each foe can only be hit by one shell. stance and gain stealth.

Talents Talent
I. If you fire 4 or more shells, gain stealth after I. The Ace attack also gains true strike
this action II. When Ace refreshes, you can eject the bullets
II. Electrified characters can be hit by any from your gun and deal fray damage to a foe in
number of shells range 3 as an effect

Master: VERTIGO BULLE Master: SUPERNOV

Effect: If you slay a foe with Hot Chamber, roll Your Ace attack causes a blast 1 explosion around
1d6 again and add it to the shells remaining. This your target as an area effect. Characters inside,
effect can only trigger once a round. including your target, must magic save or become
blinded.
DIVINE BINDING
1 actions, mark Limit Break: AETHER
You lash out with Aetherial cords, lassoing your
enemy in an inescapable web.
OVERDRIV
Mark: Mark a foe in range 3 of you and lash to Heavy Ranged Physical Attack
them with an astral chain, then end your turn. 4 resolve
If that target ends their turn further away from
range 3 from you, the chain snaps. That foe must Become one with your weapon. Smite your foes
magic save or they take piercing fray damage and with high caliber justice.
become blinded. The effect then ends, on a failed
or successful save. Empty your gun to deal piercing physical fray
If you score a finishing blow or critical hit damage +1 to each foe in line of sight and range 4.
while your target is marked, shove your marked then Go Beyond Gun.
target 1 away from you
When you Go Beyond Gun, you draw on raw
Talent Aether to pull bullets from nothingness. You can
I. Gain evasion against your marked foe while fire an extra shell at any foe in range 4, dealing
the chain is intact. piercing fray damage +1. This can be the same or a
II. You can plant your end of the chain in the different foe. You can then choose to keep firing
space where you stand when you take this shells at the same or different foe, one at a time.
action. Before you fire each shell past the first, roll a d6.
On a 2+, you can fire normally, on a 1, your gun
Master Talent: RIDE THE LIGHTNIN jams and overheats. This ability continues until
Interrupt: When the chain snaps, you can fly as you overheat or have fired 6 shells. If your gun
an interrupt in an arc AoE as far as possible overheats, you are stunned and cannot attack
towards your foe until you are adjacent to them, until the end of your next turn.
by the shortest possible route. Every character you
pass over takes piercing fray damage as an area Master Talent: ULTIMA OVERDRIV
effect. Go Beyond Gun has the range of the battlefield
and can fire up to 8 shells.
ACE

69 of 142

 CLASS: Mendican Class Stat

Wandering Healer and Storyteller Chapter 1:
Health: 6
Mendicants are the wandering healers of Arden HP: 24
Eld. They travel from town to down, healing Elixirs: 2
sicknesses of the body and soul, cleansing the Armor: 1
damage dealt by the Blights, consulting with local Defense: 10
spirits, and setting up wards against evil. Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)

Many mendicants are highly learned scholars, but Attack bonus: +2

others come from folk practices, temple monks, Fray damage: 1
green witch circles, or town priesthoods. Damage: D6/2d6/3d6
Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Magical Range 4
Mendicants are the only class that can
consistently heal by giving out Vigor with Cure Chapter 1:
and also end negative effects, blights, and marks Health: 8
with Cleanse. They have many alternate ways to HP: 32
trigger these powerful effects, as well as the very Elixirs: 2
potent statuses Staggered and Pacified. Armor: 1
Defense: 12
CLASS TRAITS: Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
Cure: 1 action - An ally in range 3 gains vigor 1.
Increase to Vigor 2 if they are bloodied. Other Attack bonus: +3
actions can trigger Cure. Fray damage: 1
Cleanse: 1 action. An ally in range 3 ends all Damage: D8/2d8/3d8
blights and marks and can immediately saves Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Magical Range 4
against all effects. Other actions can trigger
Cleanse. Chapter 1:
Bless: 1 action: Grant a blessing token to an ally Health: 10
in range 3 HP: 40
Resilience - Make all saves with +1 Boon Elixirs: 2
Succor - You can use Rescue at range 5 instead of Armor: 2
adjacent. Defense: 14
Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
Meter - Blessin
Attack bonus: +4
Certain actions give characters a Blessing token.
Fray damage: 2
Characters can only carry one Blessing at a time,
Damage: D10/2d10/3d10
and all blessings are discarded at the end of
Basic Attack: Physical Melee or Magical Range 4
combat. Different Mendicant jobs interact with
Blessings in different ways.

Mendicant Gambit:
If you take a Mendicant Ability as a non-
Mendicant job, you get Bless and Blessing.
Characters can spend your blessings to Cure and
Cleanse themselves as an action.

70 of 142

 MOST RELEVANT RULE Vigor X - Gain a shield that goes

True strike - Ignores dodge, evasion, and does
Resistance to X - Take 1/2 damage from X, not trigger guardian over your hit points, equal to
rounded up X times your health value. Damage goes to Vigor
Auto-hit - This attack doesn’t require an attack before Hit Points. Vigor does not stack, and when
roll but automatically hits. you gain Vigor you can choose to keep the old
Charge - When used on a slow turn, this ability value or gain the new value. Lose all vigor at the
becomes more powerful. end of combat.
Cleanse - A character that’s cleansed can remove
all blights and marks and immediately save Blight
against all effects The Blights are Burning, Electrified, Poisoned,
Combo - Actions with Combo have two or more and Frostbite. A character takes 1 piercing
versions. When you use a combo action, your next damage at the start of their turn for each different
combo action (on any turn, and not necessarily blight they are afflicted by. Moves become
the same action) uses the next part of its combo, stronger when used against a character suffering
looping back to the first part after the final part. from these blights, depending on the move.
Cure - A character that’s Cured gains Vigor 1, or Blights can only be cleared by Cleanse or other
Vigor 2 if they’re bloody abilities that specify they can clear blights.
Elixir - Heal 50% hp outside of combat per elixir
drank. Start with 2 by default.
Mark - Place your mark on a specific character.
You can only place one mark at a time on each
enemy or ally and each ability can only place one
mark. If you place a new mark on a character with
a mark from you, you can choose which to keep or
which to discard.
Pacified - Max damage reduced to 1. Breaks on
taking damage.
Slay - An effect that triggers when this action
reduces a character to 0 hp. Can only trigger once
per action.
Slow - Go after all other characters. If multiple
characters take slow turns, it takes the same order
as regular turns (ally/enemy/ally)
Staggered - Attackers gain +1 Boon against a
staggered character
Stance - Ongoing effect. A character can only
have one stance active at a time and can drop a
stance by taking a new stance or as a free action at
the start of their turn.
Summon - A character controlled by its
Summoner. Abilities that target allied characters
cannot target summons unless specifically
mentioned. Summons don’t take turns, actions, or
movement unless specified. By default, summons
have defenses equal to their summoner’s and hp
equal to 50% of their summoner’s. When reduced
to 0 HP, they are removed from the battlefield
instead of becoming defeated. They are also
removed if their summoner is defeated.
Teleport - Instantly move to a free space within
range. You cannot teleport while immobilized or
stunned.

71 of 142
s

 Great Arcana, the esoteric practice of reading

Seer destiny itself, the Great Wheel of Arden Eld that
A fortune teller and unparalleled master of determines the final fate of all things.
fate
Through ritual, ceremony, and unrelenting
The Seers are made up of all the orders of hedge practice, Seers gain the ability to predict and
witches, stargazers, corner prophets, folk even defy a person’s fate, using their Aether
healers, shamans, and all manner of individuals infused card decks to influence the turning of the
that find themselves attracted to reading the Great Wheel and empower their allies with
foresight, precision, and uncanny accuracy.

72 of 142

 Bend Fate: You can discard any number of cards

Traits: when you roll a random d6 as part of any action to
roll an extra die per card discarded and choose
The Wheel of Fate any result.
Set up a deck made up of one suit of a 52 card Skein (1 action): Draw two cards
deck (so 13 cards). At the start of any combat, Karma: Allied characters caught in your area
draw 5 cards. Your hand and deck persist through effect spaces are resistant to their damage and are
combats. Discarded cards go in a discard pile. Cleansed after the action resolves. If they’re
Once you draw through your deck, shuffle the caught in the attack space, they are immune to the
discard pile and draw it as your new deck damage and effects and are Cured instead.
(meaning there’s no replacement and you will
eventually draw through the deck). Abilitie
Foretell: Allies can discard 1 blessing token any
time to allow you to tell their fortune as an effect.
ASTRA
Heavy Magic ranged attack
You can discard a card from your hand and
Combo, Line 4 + cross 2
immediately apply the effects to your target, no
matter the distance or if you can see them or not.
You call down the heavens themselves on your
If you have no cards in hand, draw the top card of
foes.
your deck instead, apply its effects, then discard
Attack: Auto hit: Deal light damage, inflict
it.
frostbite, and stagger your foe
Area effect: Light damage and inflict frostbite.
THE GREAT WHEEL

2 - The Fool - Ally must immediately dash 3 Combo: Fortuna

towards the nearest enemy and gains hatred of Close blast 1
that enemy until end of their next turn. Attack: Auto hit: Fray damage
3 - The Scepter - Teleport your ally to an Area Effect: Bless all allied characters in the
adjacent space to you. area. All foes are staggered.
4 - The Ewer - Cleanse your ally and all
characters adjacent to them, hostile or allied Talent
5 - The Devil - Ally gains 3x vigor but gains a I. Staggered or frostbitten characters take bonus
wound. If this would kill them, they are stunned damage from Astra.
instead and gain no vigor or wounds. II. Charge: Increase area of effect for all areas by
6 - The Sword - Ally’s attacks gain Pierce until 1
the end of their next turn, but their max armor is
reduced to 0 for the same duration. Master Talent: STARSHIEL
7 - Death - Ally gains Defiance. After you use Astra, roll 1d6. On a 1 or 2 nothing
8 - The Chariot - Ally’s movement ignores happens. On a 3-5, a shield of floating stars may
engagement and terrain penalties until the end of surround you or an ally in the area of effect after
their next turn. the ability resolves, granting them resistance to all
9 - The Papessa - Ally becomes pacified and damage of the next attack they are hit with, then
gains regeneration 1 while pacified. dispersing. On a 6, the shield manifests over both
10 - The Emperor - Ally gains stealth you and your chosen ally.
J - The Star - Ally saves with +1 Boon until the
end of their next turn. WILD CARD
Q - The Moon - Ally gains Evasion until end of 1 Action, Summon (intangible)
their next turn
K - The Sun - Ally gains Counter and cannot gain You flick a beautifully illustrated ethereal card
or benefit from stealth until end of their next turn onto the battlefield, laden with the threads of
A - The World - Ally becomes Unstoppable until potential.
the end of their next turn Summon: Summon an intangible wild card onto
the battlefield in range 5. When it’s hit by an allied
area of effect action, it explodes, extending the

73 of 142

 area effect space of that AoE to encompass its area You crook a finger, and pull on the threads of
and destroying the card. Wild cards can be fate, casting an irrevocable curse.
triggered by other wild cards. Mark: Mark a foe or ally with a magical card,
which pulses with astral energy. At the end of any
Talents of the marked character’s turns, you roll a d6. On
I. Effect: After a Wild Card explodes, Bless an a 6, the card explodes in a blast 1 area effect
ally in range 3 of the card centered on that character. This becomes 4+ for
II. You can throw a Master Card instead of a frostbitten characters. A character can pass the
regular card. It’s not destroyed when it card off to another adjacent character (allied or
explodes, but using this ability again will hostile) as an action on their turn. The card also
replace the last card created. explodes if the character is slain.

Master Talent: WILD GAMBL When the card explodes, characters in the area,
When you trigger a Wild Card with an AoE, roll including the primary character, must magic save
1d6. On a 1, nothing happens. On a 2-5, it inflicts a or take fray damage and become staggered. The
random blight on all affected characters (2 primary character takes light magic damage
burning, 3 electrified, 4 frostbite, 5 poisoned). On instead and automatically fails their save.
a 6 it inflicts all blights.
Talent
Sleight of Hand I. If you hit the target with a critical hit, the card
immediately explodes
Light Magic Ranged Attack
II. If a character is defeated while under the
Range 4
effects of Doom, the card may pass to a new
character of your choice in range 3 of the
A flash of bright color, and a card is stuck to your
defeated character.
foe, bursting with power.
Attack: Auto-hit: You attach a magical card to a
foe in range Master Talent: SEAL FAT
Effect: The next attack against the target gains +1 When Doom is passed at least once, it deals heavy
Boon. The next time an ally hits the target with an damage instead of light to its primary target.
attack, the card explodes in a blast 1 area effect for
fray damage and grants that ally a blessing. The POLARIS
triggering ally is immune to all damage from this 1 action
ability.
A distant glint in the heavens, portents of the
Talent devastation to come.
I. You can target an allied character with this Effect: Choose a space on the battlefield in range
attack to attach the card to them instead, 5, which becomes visible to all characters. At the
marking them. It triggers on any attack, not end of every turn that passes after yours (allied or
just allied, and they’re immune to its damage foe), roll 1d6. On a 6, a meteor lands in that spot,
II. You can throw a card in an arc 3 area effect exploding for a blast 1 explosion, dealing light
when you throw it, dealing fray damage to damage as an area effect and inflicting Frostbite.
characters it passes through before it hits its Frostbitten characters must also save or become
target. immobilized. This effect ends at the start of your
next turn.
Master Talent: PERFECT HAN
You throw two cards with this move at two Talent
separate targets I. You can choose to make the meteor check on
only allied or enemy turns (pick one) when
you cast it. If you do, it checks at 5+
DOOM II. Also check for the meteor falling at the end of
1 action, mark your turn.

74 of 142

 Master Talent: GRAN POLARI

The meteor check becomes 1 easier for every turn
that passes (6 to 5+ to 4+ to 3+ and so on, down
to 2+)

GRAN REVERSA
1 action, stance

Causality unmakes itself around you, as wounds

heal instantly.
Stance: While in this stance, any time a character
in range 3 of you takes damage, roll a d6. On a 5+,
they are Cured afterwards as an effect. This
applies to foes and allies alike.

Talents
I. Allies gain a blessing if this effect triggers.
II. Foes this effect triggers on must also magic
save or become pacified.

Master Talent: FATAL REVERS

If a character or summon (foe or ally) in the aura
is reduced to 0 hp, roll a d6. On a 5+, they
immediately gain and lose Defiance, immediately
triggering it, and are returned to 1 hp instead.

Limit Break: HIGH

PROPHEC
Free action, 3 resolve

A burning third eye of pure aetheric energy

appears on your forehead. Possibilities unfurl
before you, laid out like infinite gleaming
threads.

Become slow (ongoing) until the end of your next

turn. Until the start of your next turn, every d6
you roll is either a 6 or a 1 (you decide). This
includes for boons, curses, and random d6s.

Master Talent: THOT

5 resolve
This effect also extends to all characters in range 4
of you.

75 of 142

 for the will of the local spirits. They often travel

Sealer with many blessed relics of the deities of the land
Warrior monk and purger of evil or even portable shrines on their back.

Traveling priests, monks, and mages, the Sealers In their other role, Sealers are legendary
roam the world from village to village, monster hunters and exorcists of unbelievable
performing necessary rituals, marriages, prowess and unshakeable faith. Whenever an
ceremonies, and yearly festivals. They are a especially bad blight or an arch demon appears,
welcome sight in most villages, and most the Sealers are usually there to drive it back with
perform the important function of traveling ancient sealing magic, blessed brands, and
judge, acting as an impartial party translating flaming weapons.

76 of 142

 True Strike
Traits: Attack: On hit: deal light damage, either physical
Blessed Weapon: Characters can spend your or magical, and inflict Burning. Deal bonus
Blessings when they use an ability to give that damage if your target is already burning.
ability bonus damage and +1 boon on any attacks. Effect: On hit: your target is staggered and a
Mantra of Sealing: When you hand out a character in range 3 of you is blessed.
blessing token, set out a d6 at 1 or tick it up by 1 to
a maximum of 6. You can spend it for the BURNING SEAL
following effects when you make an attack: 1 action, Mark
• Cloud Riding: Reduce your Mantra by 2.
Teleport 2 before making the attack. Bind an enemy in an astral seal, condemning
• Seal: Reduce your Mantra by 3. Gain effect: them and crushing them under the weight of
attack target must magic save or become their own evil.
pacified after the attack. Mark: A foe in range 3 becomes pacified. It can
• Smite: Reduce your Mantra by 6. Your next end this condition on itself any time, including
attack inflicts burning and its damage is directly after this action, as an effect, but must
boosted. then immediately magic save or become staggered
Break Meridians: Your attacks against pacified and burning. If it’s already burning, deal light
targets are critical hits on hit. Your light attacks damage.
against pacified targets can critical hit, dealing
bonus damage. Talents
Martial Arts: You have dodge I. Charge: Increase range to 6
II. Bless all allies adjacent to the marked foe
Abilitie when it chooses to end the effect

Master: MILK SUTR

GOD HAND
Interrupt 2
Light Physical/Magical Melee Attack
Trigger: A foe chooses to end this mark,
Combo
Effect: You may pass it to a new foe in range 3 of
that character.
Divine energy infuses you, allowing hammer-like
blows that would fell a demon with even your
bare hands. MATSURI
Attack: On hit: deal light physical damage Heavy Melee Magic Attack
Effect: On hit: an ally in range 3 of you is
blessed. Swing your weapon in a flaming arc that sends
sprays of fire in bright displays, lighting up the
Combo: DEVIL HAND sky.
Attack: On hit, deal light magical damage Attack: On hit: Deal heavy magic damage and
Effect: On hit, your foe is staggered inflict Burning. Miss: Light Damage. Critical hit:
Critical Damage
Slay or critical hit: Bless all allies in range 2 of
Talents
your target
I. God hand can Cure your ally instead of Bless
Effect: Gains true strike against burning foes.
them. If it does, reduce its damage to 1.
II. Devil hand inflicts Burning on hit. If a
character is already burning, it deals bonus Talents
damage. I. Critical hit: Allies in range 2 of your target
may teleport 1 space.
II. Charge: Make attack roll twice and choose the
Master Talent: FISTS OF HEAVEN AND
higher result
HEL
Add a third part of the combo.
Master Talent: Blood Festiva
Combo: FISTS OF HEAVEN AND HELL

77 of 142

 The first time you hit with Matsuri in a combat, it Allies that end their turn in the area are cured and
deals double damage and ignores all armor and cleansed, then pacified. The area persists until you
resistance to damage. take this action again or until the end of combat.

JUSTICE Talents
Interrupt 1, Combo I. Charge: Increase area to blast 2
II. Magic attacks against allied characters in the
Invoking the spirits of the land and air, you move area gain +1 curse. Allied characters magic
at impossible speed, doling out blows faster than save with +1 boon.
the eye can see.
Trigger: You score a critical hit or slay a foe Master Talent: ELDEN SAL
Effect: Teleport adjacent to every character in Sanctify inflicts light damage and burning as an
range 2 of you in any order. Foes become burning, effect to hostile characters in the area when you
allies are blessed. take this action, and hostile characters must
immediately save or become pacified.
Combo: JUDGEMENT
Interrupt 1, True Strike ENSHRINE
Trigger: You score a critical hit or slay a foe 1 Action, mark
Effect: Roll a d6 for every foe in range 2 of you. You place a holy seal over your ally, enveloping
On a 1, that character is struck by a fiery bolt from them in divine protection.
heaven, takes light piercing magic damage with Mark: Mark an ally in range 3. While marked,
true strike. Roll becomes a 1 or a 2 against foes that attack your target must magic save or
burning characters. become pacified after the attack resolves. The
effect ends at the end of the marked ally’s turn.
Talents The marked ally can extend the duration of this
I. Also roll a d6 for allied characters with effect until the end of their following turn by
Judgement. If they roll a 6, they are cured and spending 1 blessing token.
blessed.
II. You can teleport 1 space after triggering Talents
justice or judgement but before applying the I. Your ally can teleport 1 as an effect after being
effect attacked
II. Your ally gains Counter while marked
Master Talent: GRAN JUDICAT
Add a third part of the combo: Master Talent: SHROUD FROM HEAVE
Your ally also gains stealth after being attacked
Combo: GRAN JUDICATA
Interrupt 1
Trigger: You score a critical hit or slay a foe Limit Break: PASSAGE
Effect: Cure and Cleanse every bloody ally in
range 2. Deal light piercing magic damage with TO THE AFTERLIF
true strike to every hostile character over 50% hp
in range 2. 5 resolve
Heavy Magical Melee Attack
True Strike
SANCTIFY
2 actions You unleash the supreme Sealer war art,
shattering the connections of your foe’s vital
You throw out a handful of glittering salt, energy to their body and hurrying on the
scorching the spiritually impure. transmigration of immortal souls.
Terrain Effect: You scatter salt in a close blast 1
area. Foes that start or end their turn in the area Attack: On hit: Deal light damage three times.
must magic save or become pacified. Miss: Deal light damage twice. Critical hit: deal
light damage four times

78 of 142

 This damage can’t be boosted. Roll damage once,

then apply it the number of times listed.

Effect: You may teleport adjacent to the target

before the attack if they’re in range 3. Every allied
character in range 3 of the target can also teleport
adjacent to your target. Your target then takes
additional fray damage from each adjacent ally
once.

Master Talent: REACH HEAVEN THROUGH

VIOLENC
The teleport effect has the range of the battlefield
for both allied characters and yourself. If your
target is at or under 25% hp, they take fray
damage twice from each ally instead.

79 of 142

 If you take a Wright ability as a non-wright class,

CLASS: WRIGH you get Aether and Supercharge.
Mage, thaumaturge, and master of the
arcane arts Class Statistic
Chapter 1:
Wrights are those who have mastered the Health: 6
manipulation of the raw power of creation: HP: 24
Aether. All souls are connected to Aether, and Elixirs: 2
everyone is able to connect to it and feel it to some Armor: 0
degree. Those with training, potential, and ability Defense: 8
can learn to form and shape Aether as natural as Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
they move their own flesh and blood. Wrights
wield terrifying power - and they know it. Attack bonus: +1
Fray damage: 2
Wrights become stronger the longer fights go on Damage: D8/2d8/3d8
by the power of Aether, able to unleash some of Basic Attack: Magical Melee or Magical Range 6
the most spectacular attacks in the game, which
they can use to Infuse their abilities. Wrights Chapter 2:
focus heavily on Blights and Area of Effect Health: 8
abilities. HP: 32
Elixirs: 2
Class Traits Armor: 0
Aether Rage: All Wrights have an empowered Defense: 10
ability that triggers off high amounts of Aether Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
Wrightcraft: Wrights add flat damage to their
damage as they level up and gain more fray Attack bonus: +2
damage than other classes Fray damage: 3
Aetherwall: Wrights gain automatic cover Damage: D8+1/2d8+2/3d8+3
against all attacks that originate outside of range 3 Basic Attack: Magical Melee or Magical Range 6
from them.
Chain Reaction: 1/round, if you catch 2 or more Chapter 3:
foes in an an abilities’ area of effect, gain 1 Aether. Health: 10
Supercharge: Wrights have very powerful HP: 40
Superheavy attacks, which consume their entire Elixirs: 2
standard move as well as 2 actions. Armor: 0
Defense: 12
Speed: 3 (Run 2, Dash 3)
Meter: Aethe
All Wrights gather Aether during combat,
Attack bonus: +3
passively gaining 1 at the start of their turn,
Fray damage: 4
starting with 0. Other abilities and Chain
Damage: D8+2/2d8+4/3d8+6
Reaction will generate Aether when used. Use a
Basic Attack: Magical Melee or Magical Range 6
die to track Aether. Aether has a maximum of 6
normally but can be pushed beyond with certain
abilities. All Aether disperses at the end of
combat.

INFUSE X:
Many spells have upgraded versions that can only
be cast by Infusing them by spending X Aether.
Aether is consumed at the start of the action.

Wright Gambit:

80 of 142

 MOST RELEVANT RULE

AoE - Area of effect, usually has a specific

pattern. Only one space in an area of effect is the
attack space and requires a roll, the others apply
area effects automatically.
Charge - When used on a slow turn, this ability
becomes more powerful.
Cover - Gain resistance to ranged damage from
any attack you have cover from
Cure - A character that’s Cured gains Vigor 1, or
Vigor 2 if they’re bloody
Elixir - Heal 50% hp outside of combat per elixir
drank. Start with 2 by default.
Fray damage - Low fixed damage.
Mark - Place your mark on a specific character.
You can only place one mark at a time on each
enemy or ally and each ability can only place one
mark. If you place a new mark on a character with
a mark from you, you can choose which to keep or
which to discard.
Obstruction - Can’t move through something
that causes obstruction. By default this is hostile
characters and terrain.
Pierce - Ignores armor.
Slay - An effect that triggers when this action
reduces a character to 0 hp. Can only trigger once
per action.
Slow - Go after all other characters. If multiple
characters take slow turns, it takes the same order
as regular turns (ally/enemy/ally)
Summon - A character controlled by its
Summoner. Abilities that target allied characters
cannot target summons unless specifically
mentioned. By default, summons have defenses
equal to their summoner’s and hp equal to their
health value. When reduced to 0 HP, they are
removed from the battlefield instead of becoming
defeated. They are also removed if their
summoner is defeated.
Teleport - Instantly move to a free space within
range. You cannot teleport while immobilized or
stunned.

Blight
The Blights are Burning, Electrified, Poisoned,
and Frostbite. A character takes 1 piercing
damage at the start of their turn for each different
blight they are afflicted by. Moves become
stronger when used against a character suffering
from these blights, depending on the move.
Blights can only be cleared by Cleanse or other
abilities that specify they can clear blights.

81 of 142
s

 they work for to support them. Those that work

Enochian on contract with guilds, armies, or mercenary
Unbridled Destruction companies tend to value their independence.

The Enochian Orders of wrights are the most The power that condenses inside an Enochian is
chaotic of the mage orders. They have no official related to the element of fire, a wild spark that
organization, most of their members being hedge grows and wanes with their emotions and
wizards or self taught. Many Enochians disdain energy, but with control can be focused into
authority and work for hire, sleeping and eating power that can carve mountains, scorch forests,
where they can and relying on the communities and boil rivers. In times of desperation, the

82 of 142

 Enochians can feed this power with their own life

force, a dangerous practice that the other orders Master Talent: MAX EXPLOSIO
of wrights look down upon. The Enochians, for Infuse 5: MAX EXPLOSION
their part, see other wrights as stiff and Becomes a superheavy attack. Increase range to
uncreative. They’d rather do it their way, after 12, and radius to blast 3.
all.
ELDEN RUNE
Traits: 1 action
Inner Furnace: Enochians can burn their own
life force instead of paying the Infuse cost for You carve a burning rune of power into the very
abilities. They take 1 wound for every 2 Aether ground beneath you.
gained. Any Aether gained as part of Inner Terrain Effect: Inscribe an Elden Rune on the
Furnace is lost after the action resolves. terrain space underneath you. While standing on
Embersoul: Gain defiance at the start of each an Elden Rune, the range of your magic attacks
combat. Heal 1 wound at the end of each combat if with a listed range is extended by 3 spaces. The
Inner Furnace was used. rune lasts until the end of the scene. A foe can
Phoenix Rage: If you take damage that would scrub out an Elden Rune by moving over it.
reduce you to 0 hp, release a blast 1 explosion
around you dealing light damage and triggering Talent
Chain Reaction, then spend all Aether. 15% I. You can spend your standard move to teleport
chance per Aether burned you are instead up to 5 spaces into or out of an Elden Rune
instantly returned to 50% hp instead of becoming space.
incapacitated. II. While standing in an Elden Rune, the infuse
Apocalypse: If you don’t attack during your costs of your spells are reduced by 1
turn, for your entire following turn, your abilities
that cause blasts have their size increased by 1 and
Master Talent: ARKENRUN
they deal bonus damage if they’re an attack
The size of your Elden Runes extend to a blast 1
area, they can only be scrubbed out with an
Abilitie action, and their benefits extend to any allies
standing in the area.
PYRE
Heavy Ranged Magic Attack LANCE
Range 8, blast 1. Light Ranged Magic Attack
Line 6
Power curls into a writhing ball in your hand,
before it’s unleashed on your enemies. A flash scorches the eyeballs, and a thin line
Attack: On hit: Heavy damage. On miss: Light burns through rock, flesh, and armor
damage. Critical hit: Critical damage. Attack: On hit: Light damage
Area effect: Light Damage Area Effect: Deal fray damage.
Effect: Inflict burning on all characters in the Effect: On hit: Your attack target becomes
area burning. If they were already burning, attack
deals bonus damage and gains pierce.
Infuse 3: EXPLOSION
Becomes a superheavy attack. Increase radius to Infuse 2: VOLVAGA
Blast 2 Gain Effect: This attack ignores vigor completely
and goes straight to hit points
Talent
I. Effect: If the attack target is burning, it causes Talent
a secondary explosion, dealing fray damage to I. This attack ignores cover
all affected characters II. Infuse 1: Extend line effect by +3. You can
II. Chain Reaction: Shove all affected characters repeat this infusion multiple times.
1 away from the center space

83 of 142

 Master Talent: DRAGON SLAV centered on them. They can save to remove the
DRAGON SLAVE mark and all associated effects.
Infuse 5
Superheavy ranged magic attack Talent
Line 10 I. Characters affected by the flame burst are
Attack: On hit: deal heavy damage. Miss: Light shoved 1 away from the marked target.
Damage. Critical Hit: Critical Damage II. The flame can be released as a close blast 1
Area Effect: Light damage area instead.
Effect: After the attack resolves, every character
in the area also releases a blast 1 explosion that Master Talent: ELDFLAM
deals light damage as an area effect. A character A character marked with Immolation takes fray
can be hit by multiple explosions. damage at the start of their turn even if the mark
or blight ends. This effect cannot be saved against,
SOUL BURN cleansed, ignores resistance and armor, and only
1 action, stance ends when the combat ends or if you end it as an
effect.
You stoke the furnace with the very essence of
your being. AETHERSHARD
Stance: Burn your own life force into a protective 1 action, summon
shield of magical energy and gain regeneration
1. Refresh this stance until the end of your next You crystallize ambient Aether with force of will,
turn if you trigger a Chain Reaction or if you forcing it to take a useful form
slay a foe. Otherwise this stance ends at the end Summon: Spend 1 Aether to summon an
of your turn. When this stance ends and it’s not Aethershard in a free space in range 6.
the end of combat, lose 25% hp. This could cause Aethershards are intangible size 1 Summons. They
you to go to 0 and become defeated. count as foes for the purposes of Chain Reaction.
When you target an Aethershard as part of any
Infuse 2: INCANDIUS attack, they release a pulse of energy, releasing a
Your attacks deal bonus damage while you’re in blast 1 explosion dealing fray damage as an area
Soul Burn effect, then roll a d6. On a 1-3, they disintegrate
and are destroyed. Otherwise they remain until
Talent the end of the combat.
I. When Soul Burn ends or refreshes, shove all
adjacent characters 1 Talent
II. While in Soul Burn, foes that hit you with a I. When you take any action that spends Aether,
melee attack gain burning you can teleport one of your Aether shards 3
spaces in any direction.
Master Talent: MAX INCANDIU II. You can choose to summon a Great Shard
While in Soul Burn, you also have counter and instead for 2 Aether. It counts as a size 1 piece
dodge. of terrain that is immune to all damage and
effects as well as a Summon, but still works
IMMOLATION the same way (and counts for Chain Reaction).
1 Actions, Mark
Master: LEY LIN
Use your target’s own life force to spark a Blasts and lines can be supercharged if they hit an
terrifying flame. Aethershard. Any blast effect that hits an
Mark: A foe in range 5 and line of sight must Aethershard increases its radius by 1. Any line
magic save or become marked by you. While effect or attack that passes through an
affected by this mark, they are burning and when Aethershard doubles its length. The Aethershard
you hit them with an attack, they release a burst of is always destroyed if activated this way.
flame, dealing fray damage as a blast 1 area effect

84 of 142

 Limit Break:
GIGAFLAR
Superheavy ranged magic attack
4 resolve
True strike, pierce

Let the air become death. Ignite, and send them

to Hell!
Area Effect: Deal light magic damage to every
character and summon, hostile or allied, on the
battlefield, ignoring cover. Characters in range 2
of you are exempt from this ability’s AoE.

The damage from any version of this ability

cannot be boosted.

Infuse 6: TETRAFLARE
5 resolve
Deal light damage twice instead.

Master Talent: METEO

Infuse 8: METEOR
6 resolve
Superheavy ranged magic attack
You can pay the resolve, aether, and action cost of
this spell with your life force, dying as part of this
action.
Deal light damage four times instead.

85 of 142

 Spellblade The lightning Aether that the spellblades wield is

Swordmaster, Wind Dancer highly volatile, and requires intense training and
focus to control. Once a spell blade has learned
Spellblades are a martial order of highly trained their craft, however, the speed, power, and
wrights. Many of them come from the Guild precision at which they can act is intoxicating,
Academies in the great cities of Arden Eld, where crossing great spans of space in an instant,
they often take prestigious posts in the local riding the Aetherial currents with a flash of
militias and city watch. gleaming steel.

86 of 142

 Traits:
Aether Deflection: You may spend 1 Aether as ODINFORCE
an interrupt when targeted by an attack to 1 Action, Stance
immediately gain Evasion against that attack
Static Charge: The Infuse cost of your abilities You thrust your weapon skyward, and pierce the
is reduced by 1 for every electrified enemy in heavens.
range 2, to a minimum of 1.
Storm Hilt Rage: If you start your turn at 6 Stance: Shoot a flurry of lightning bolts into the
Aether, during that turn your teleports have the air. While in this stance, when you teleport,
range of the battlefield and you can teleport to any Odinforce has a chance to come down. Roll a d6
visible space as an effect before taking any action. each time you teleport. On a 6, a bolt descends
At the end of that turn, reduce your Aether to 0. and hits a foe in range 3 of you, dealing light
Klingekunst: Every third line, arc, or cross piercing magic damage as an effect and
ability you use has its area of effect increased by electrifying them. Odinforce ends when three
+3 bolts have come down.

Abilitie Talent
I. Every third Odinforce bolt that comes down,
the affected character must also magic save or
BOLT become stunned.
Light Ranged Magic Attack II. Slay: Add +1 charge to Odinforce
Line 5
Master Talent: NOTHUN
A bright lance of lightning shoots from your Odinforce’s maximum bolts becomes 6
weapon or hand, piercing your foes with a
hundred shards. LEVINBLADE
Heavy Melee Magic Attack
Attack: On hit: deal light damage and electrify
Arc 4
your foe.
Area spaces: Deal fray damage
You summon a blade of pure lightning energy,
Effect: If your foe is already electrified, deal
sweeping it in a shining arc.
bonus damage and you may teleport 2 after the
attack.
Attack: On hit: Heavy damage and electrify your
target. Miss: Light damage. Critical hit: Critical
Infuse 3: LEVINCROSS
damage.
Increase attack area to line 6 + cross 2. Area
Effect: Teleport 1 space before or after the attack
spaces deal light damage.
Terrain Effect: If your attack target is already
electrified, the attack area becomes difficult
Talent terrain for the rest of combat, or until you create
I. Slay: Teleport 2 terrain with this ability again.
II. Gains pierce against electrified foes
Infuse 2: FREYA
Master Talent: Increase effect area and teleport by +2
Infuse 5: GAE BOLG
Superheavy ranged magic attack Talent
True Strike I. Electrified characters treat this difficult
Line 10 + cross 4 terrain as dangerous
Attack: On hit: Heavy damage. Miss. Light II. When you pass through at least 1 space of this
Damage. Critical Hit: Critical Damage terrain with any movement, gain flying until
Area Effect: Light damage you take damage.
Effect: After the attack resolves, teleport to any
space in the attack area
Master Talent: BLADE MASTER

87 of 142

 Levinblade and Freya’s effect area and teleport

increased by +2 STURMREITEN
2 Actions
ÄTHERWAND
1 Action You transmute yourself and your gear into pure
lightning Aether, coursing through the
You summon the highwinds to batter your foes. boundaries between worlds in a moment.

Terrain Effect: Swipe your weapon to create a Effect: Dash in a line 6 area. You gain phasing
line 3 area of crackling winds in range 3. The area and intangible while dashing. Foes you pass
is difficult terrain for foes and foes that attempt to through for the first time on your turn take fray
move into or start their turn in the wall’s space damage and are electrified. Electrified characters
must pass a magic save or be unable to move into take light damage instead.
the area and shoved 1 spaces back away from it.
The area lasts until the end of the scene or until Infuse 2: Instant Transmission
you use this ability again. Becomes a free action.

Infuse 1: Äthersturm Talent

Area becomes line 5 I. Moving through terrain or the spaces of
electrified characters costs 0 movement
Talent II. Every character you pass through increases
I. The area provides cover to allies the movement remaining from Sturmreiten by
II. Electrified characters take +1 curse on the 1. This effect only triggers once for each
save and are shoved 2 spaces instead character per use of this ability.

Master Talent: HELLERWIN Master Talent: MJÖLLNI

Allies that pass through the area for the first time Dash in an Arc 8 area instead.
on their turn can fly 3 as a free action.

ELECTROMAGNETISM Limit Break: GRAN

1 Action, Mark
LEVINCROS
You charge your target with unstable magnetic Heavy Ranged Magic Attack
energy, causing unstoppable attractive force. 3 resolve
Cross 6, Range 6
Mark: A foe in range 3 must save or become
marked, and electrified while marked. The area Cut through the walls between worlds and
adjacent to but not under the marked character is unleash a roaring cataclysm.
difficult terrain and characters that end their turn
within range 2 of the marked character must Effect: Deal light damage and inflict electrified
magic save or be shoved 1 towards them. on all characters in the area, then teleport all
characters out of the affected area into the nearest
Talent free space. Characters can pass a magic save to
I. Effect: The marked character takes 1 damage choose which side they end up on. Area becomes
for every electrified character other than itself impassable terrain until the end of the next round.
in range 2 at the start of its turn
II. This mark can be placed on allies. If it it, they Infuse 4: GIGA LEVINCROSS
don’t need to save and aren’t electrified. Effect: Increase the size of the cross area to the
entire map, splitting it into four sections of any
Master Talent: DOOM BOL size. You must have line of sight to the origin
Your ranged attacks against the target while point.
marked deal bonus damage and ignore cover.

88 of 142

Master Talent: GÖTTERDÄMMERUN

Infuse 8: Götterdämmerung
Effect: Instead of the regular cross area, create a
cross of sections going across the whole map, then
a cross of sections going through each quarter of
the map created by the first section. Increase
damage to heavy.

89 of 142

 A statuette of the Weeping Titan, impaled by

RELIC spears
I. At 25% hp or lower, gain counter
II. Counter also applies on adjacent allies
III. After being damaged by a hostile attack, gain
Relicts start with no levels and take 6 dust to counter until the start of your next turn.
unlock a level and gain its benefits. Infuse 1 dust Aspected: Counter stacks twice
into a relic of your choice when you complete a
tactical combat. Characters gain a relic at level 2, Aspect quest: Gather and reforge true iron nails
6, and 9. Once a Relic is level 3, it can be Aspected from the sarcophagus of a Relict Emperor
by either infusing 12 dust or completing a
legendary task. These tasks are suggestions and
can be adjusted by the GM to fit your game. Once
UNGOLIANT
A massive weapon carved from the fang of an ur-
at least character has completed an aspect quest
spider.
for a relic, other characters can complete it for 4
I. Charged attacks gain +1 boon
dust.
II. Charged attacks deal bonus damage vs slow
targets
Relic actions that require a % dice to activate roll
III. Every third attack forces a save, hit or miss,
a d100.
or your foe becomes slow.
Aspected: Every third charged attack can be
Relic actions that are ‘every X’ actions carry over
taken during a normal turn
between combats.
Aspect quest: Weave the aethersilk of an ancient
CRIMSON KING Ur-spider into your relic
A blood red gem, similar to an Elixir Stone, set
into your weapon or armor
I. At full health, gain +1 boon on all saves
ERYS
A horned helm or fur mantle with a demonic
II. When you lose a health segment or gain a
pattern
wound (by spending it or losing it in combat),
I. Every third attack you make shoves 1, or
10% chance to immediately regain the
shoves +1 if it already shoves
segment and ignore the wound.
II. Immune to shove
III. Every sixth time you slay at least one foe with
III. Shoves shove +1 when you’re at or under 25%
an ability or attack, gain 25% hp. If you’re at
hp
full hp, gain vigor 1.
Aspected: Increase threshold of III to 50% hp
Aspected: Every time Crimson King III triggers,
heal a wound.
Aspect quest: Take the horns of a legendary beast
as your trophy
Aspect quest: Quench your relic in the still-warm
blood of a wyrm
ORPHEO
APE GOD A cracked mirror, set on a pendant or into a
shield or weapon hilt
An elaborately carved, studded, and oversized
I. Gain defiance at the start of each combat.
gauntlet, incredibly heavy
II. When defiance triggers, you may deal light
I. Immune to stun
piercing magical damage as an effect to a
II. When you stun a character you can also shove
character in range 3
them 1 in any direction
III. Every sixth time you slay at least one foe with
III. Every sixth attack stuns on hit (no save).
an ability or attack, gain defiance. If you
Aspected: Every third attack forces a physical
already have full instances of defiance, trigger
save, hit or miss, or your foe is is stunned
it and replace it.
Aspected: Defiance stacks twice
Aspect quest: Climb the highest peak in Arden Eld

MAIDEN

90 of 142

 Aspect quest: Bathe in the water of the river that III. Every third teleport action you make has its
leads to the underworld range additionally increased by +4
Aspected: Increase Hermes III to every other
RUIN teleport action
A weapon, bow, or stave carved from ancient
stone, a heavy slab of a thing. Aspect quest: Weave a strand taken from the
I. Immune to pacified cloak of the Titan of trickery, the Laughing God,
II. You may trade in 1 boon, once per attack, for into your relic
bonus damage.
III. Your first attack in any combat does double MISTBORN
damage This weapon is made from seeping mist, and
Aspected: Your first attack also gains pierce, true doesn’t seem to be entirely present
strike, and its listed ranges are increased by +2 I. Every third attack you make, gain stealth after
making the attack.
Aspect quest: Gather rubble from the pillars of the II. Attacks from stealth deal bonus damage
oldest Arkenruin III. At 25% hp or lower, gain phasing, and gain
stealth at the start of your turn.
SLEIPNIR Aspected: Increase threshold of III to 50% hp
Odd wooden armor carved with the image of an
eight legged horse. Aspect quest: Sail to the edge of the world and
I. Every third action you take that dashes, fly bathe your relic in the mists there
instead
II. Increase all flight as part of your abilities by ARENHEIR
+1 This weapon or armor has the imagery of a great
III. When you start a flying movement, any fierce wolf on it
adjacent allies can also fly 1 as an effect I. +1 boon on attacks against vulnerable targets
Aspected: Gain flying every third turn from the II. Piercing attacks deal bonus damage
start until the end of that turn III. Every third attack you make gains pierce
Aspected: All attacks gain piercing against
Aspect quest: Tame a titansteed, one of the bloodied characters
enormous legendary wild horses
Aspect quest: Find the burial tomb of the ancient
GLADESONG Berserker Titan, the Sundered Queen, and pray
A weapon carved from supple but durable gaia there
wood, sharper than any metal
I. Attacks against characters standing next to an SCHEHEREZADE
allied summon gain +1 boon This weapon emits a faint singing tone that can
II. Your summons gain vigor 1 when summoned only be heard in a quiet room
III. 10% chance to duplicate a summon when first I. Every other turn, gain 1 blessing token on
summoned yourself. You can spend blessing tokens on
Aspected: Increase III chance to 25% yourself to grant yourself +1 boon on a save.
II. You can also spend blessing tokens on yourself
Aspect quest: Drink from the primeval Gaia pool to also grant +1 boon on an attack
III. When you gain a blessing token or grant a
HERMES blessing token to any character, 10% chance to
Intricate, curling silver wings have been carved also Cure your target as an effect
into this artifact, weapon, or armor Aspected: Increase III chance to 25%
I. Every third action you take that dashes,
teleport instead Aspect quest: Recover a genuine page fragment of
II. Increase range of all teleports as part of your the legendary Tale of Ages
abilities by 1
ESPER

91 of 142

 This gem is a void of space within. If you stare II. When you use the combo version of an ability,
long enough, you can see stars. dash 1
I. Every third time you slay at least one foe with III. When you cast the base part of a combo, 10%
an ability or attack, you can cast Cure as an chance to immediately perform the second
effect on your turn, targeting an allied part of the combo as a free action
character in range 3 Aspected: Chance of Stormlord III becomes 25%
II. Increase range of all Cures by 3
III. Cures can target foes and deal light magic Aspect quest: Ride the lightning to the palace of
damage as an effect. clouds and learn from the teachings of the long-
Aspected: Cures against hostile characters gain dead Battle Titan, the Storm Lord
true strike
VESSEL
Aspect quest: Find a shrine of the Titan of death, This weapon or armor seems surprisingly
the Weeper, and survive the trials there hollow, despite how durable it is. It’s cold and
heavy.
BYRAX I. Cure’s effect on you increased to vigor 3 when
Goat horn engravings adorn this armor, you’re at or under 25% hp
weapon, or cloak, curling into intricate runes II. When a foe breaks your vigor, deal piercing
I. When you refresh a stance, dash 1 magic fray damage to them as an effect.
II. When you refresh a stance, immediately save III. Cure has no maximum range when targeting
against a condition or end a blight affecting you and doesn’t need line of sight
you. Aspected: 1/round, when you’re cured, duplicate
III. 25% chance of a stance automatically it on an ally in range 2
refreshing at the start of your turn
Aspected: You can hold +1 more stance than Aspect quest: Split a part of your soul into your
normal relic at a deep shrine of the Black Blood Titan, the
Holy Body
Aspect quest: Find the resting place of the
Hundred Sword Titan, take a splinter of one of his APOPHIS
weapons, and reforge it. Coiling serpents cradle the hilt of this weapon or
curl around the base of this necklace
MERCY I. At the start of your turn, deal fray damage to
This gold-filagreed choker or torc is surprisingly all poisoned foes in range 2 of you
light, and includes imagery of grasping hands II. Your attacks against poisoned foes gain Slay:
I. When you use Rescue on a character, Cure Gain vigor 1
them as a free action III. Your attacks against poisoned foes deal 1
II. When you Cure another character with an damage to their hp on hit, ignoring vigor,
ability that costs 1 or more actions, gain vigor resistance, and armor.
1 Aspected: Your attacks against poisoned foes
III. First Cure you cast in combat has its efficacy ignore vigor and go straight to hit points
doubled
Aspected: First Cure you cast grants a character Aspect quest: Infuse your relic with three scales of
Defiance the ancient Wyrm Nidhogg

Aspect quest: Find and incorporate a twig of the CLOUDPIERCER

eternal world tree into this relic This bright metal weapon crackles with latent
power
STORM LORD I. +1 boon on attacks against electrified foes
This armor is wrapped in knotted holy cords and II. When you electrify a foe, you may electrify a
imagery of the sea during a storm. different character in range 3
I. When you use a combo version of an ability,
you may deal fray damage to all adjacent foes

92 of 142

 III. When you hit an electrified character with an Coiling thorns have been set into this ranged
attack, deal fray damage to all other electrified weapon. The barbs sometimes curl towards your
characters in range 2 of that character flesh.
Aspected: Increase III range to 4 I. Deal bonus damage if a character is at
maximum range of your ranged attack or line
Aspect quest: Survive a day in the Hundred Year or arc area effect
storm II. Range of ranged attacks increased +1
III. Every third ranged attack ignores cover
SKIPJACK
This gem-incrusted gauntlet is intricately made Aspected: Every third ranged attack has any
and seems heavy, but is oddly light to wear. range you like, up to range 10
I. Increase the range of ranged and melee
attacks against burning foes by +1 (melee Aspect quest: Climb to the highest floor of the
attacks with no listed range can be made incredibly dangerous dungeon the Tower of Barbs
within range 2).
II. You can bounce ranged attacks off allies or HUNTRESS
foes, inflicting no damage or effects but This supple leather bracer has been crafted with
retargeting them to a new character in range 3 images of Gaia, the Hunter Titan
of the original target I. Gain dodge against marked characters
III. When you hit a burning ally or foe with a II. Attacks against marked characters deal bonus
melee attack ability, you can create a fireball damage
that copies and bounces the ability to a new III. When you hit a marked character with an
character in range 3 of the original target, attack, teleport 1 in any direction
inflicting no damage or effects to the original Aspected: When you hit a marked character with
target. an attack, teleport them 1 in any direction
Aspected: 1/round, when you bounce an attack,
15% chance that you may duplicate it on a new foe Aspect quest: Take the pelt of a legendary beast
in range. and incorporate it into your relic

Aspect quest: Find and use the workshop of the

Forge Titan in the heart of Arden Eld

PLEIADES
A set of six star-diamonds, flickering with a
distance light, set into earrings or a neck piece.
I. At the start of your turn, inflict frostbite on all
adjacent characters
II. The area adjacent to you is also difficult
terrain for frostbitten characters
III. When you inflict frostbite on a character for
the first time in a round, they are also shoved 1
space towards or away from you
Aspected: When you inflict frostbite on a
character, they also become immobilized if they’re
bloodied (magic save avoids).

Aspect quest: Find and learn from the observatory

of the Stargazer Titan.

TOWER OF BARBS

93 of 142

 Advanced Combat When taking damage, apply any multiplications

or additions on the attackers end first (such as
These are some of the more unique or tighter double damage), then the defender applies armor
combat rule explanations for ICON. or other reductions, then any multiplications or
divisions on their end, such as from resistance.
For an example, an incoming attack that deals 4
Attack and Effec
damage against a character with 1 amor and
resistance would do 4-1 = 3 damage from the
Effects that improve an attack only apply to or
armor, halved to 1.5 then rounded up to 2.
trigger off the ‘attack’ portion of an ability that
require an attack roll. Effects that empower the
Vigor takes damage before hit points, and armor
whole ability apply to everything. Effects never
and resistance apply normally to it.
trigger or inherit effects meant for hits, misses, or
critical hits (unless specified).
Vigor and wound
Adjacent character
Taking a wound reduces your max hp by 25%,
including the max amount of vigor gained. Even if
Characters that are in adjacent spaces are
you gain, for example, vigor 3 (75% of your hp) at
considered adjacent, even if they are on higher or
2 wounds, you will only gain vigor 2 since you
lower elevation. For example, a character on a
have only 50% max hp.
height 3 space could be attacked by a melee
attacker, even if that melee attacker is at ground
level or doesn’t have enough movement to move Thinking about height in ico
up. They still get +1 curse to attack. We assume
they climb or scrabble up a little ways to take a In ICON, you can’t move straight up, just along
swipe. A character on height 3 with an adjacency the ground. Even flying characters are always
aura would still affect a character on height 1. treated as reachable by melee characters - we just
don't track vertical space. If something is too high
to be reached in tactical combat, either don’t
Effect and Interrupt Orde
include it, or make it a flying object or character.
Unless specified, effects happen in the order they
are listed, and interrupts resolve with the most Valid spaces for summoning or
recently triggered interrupt first. For example, if a teleportin
character’s effect deals damage to an enemy, and
the enemy has an interrupt that reads ‘when this For a space to be valid for summoning,
enemy takes damage’, the enemy’s interrupt teleporting, or creating terrain pieces, it must be
would trigger first (even if they are killed by the free and unobstructed, and you also need line of
damage), then the damage would be applied. sight.

If a character owns multiple effects, and there’s Shove

ambiguity in the order in which they trigger, they
can determine the order. Shoves are not optional, and also cannot shove
characters off the edge of the map unless you’re
‘May’ effect playing with the optional Edges rule.

Unless an effect says you may do something, the line of sight

effect is not optional. For example, an effect that
says ‘dash 1 and repeat the attack area’, you must For all targeting there must be line of sight (you
dash and repeat the attack area unless it says ‘you have to be able to see your target) and line of
may dash 1 and repeat the attack area’ effect (your ability has be able to trace a clear path
to your target). For example, if you can see a
Damage orde character through a transparent magical forcefield

94 of 142

 or a window, that forcefield or window still blocks

your line of effect, so they can’t be targeted. Characters with stealth cannot be targeted directly
except from an adjacent space, but could still be
Immunity and intangibilit hit by an area effect, or effects that hit a certain
Intangible characters can be targeted, but don’t range from a character. It’s a good combo with
take damage or effects unless specified. dodge, since dodge allows characters to ignore
Characters that are immune (to damage, effects, a areas effects.
condition, etc) follow the same rule. If an effect
relies on dealing damage, or hitting with an Vulnerabl
attack, for example, unless specified it won’t Vulnerable applies +1 damage every time a
trigger off an immune or intangible characters character takes damage, for each separate
since they can’t take damage or effects. instance of damage. For example, if as part of an
action character takes light damage, then fray
damage as an effect, they would take 2 extra
Specific tag rule damage (1+1). It is not a separate instance of
damage, but increases the damage dealt.
Comb
Combo actions can be interwoven. For example,
Ability A and B both have combo. I use ability A,
and when I use ability B I will use its combo
version, since I already used a combo move with
A. This carries between turns.

Mark
Any number of marks from different characters
can be on one character, but each character can
only mark another character once, and only one
mark per ability causing it. For example, if I use
the ability Immolate, which marks an enemy, the
next time I use Immolate on a different character,
the mark on the first character will fade. If I use a
different mark ability on my immolate target,
immolate will end on my target.

The same applies for allied marks (using one will

override any existing mark placed by you).

Evasion and Dodg

Evasion only applies to the attack component of
an ability, turning it into a miss. Effects that don’t
require a hit or happen automatically go through
evasion.
Dodge is a potent combo with Evasion because it
allows a character with Evasion to ignore missed
attacks completely and also ignore AoE spaces
which can go through Evasion.

Counte
Counter deals damage as an effect and triggers
even on ranged attacks or if the character with
counter can’t see their target.

Stealt

95 of 142
o

 For example, you could leave a place of safety

Expeditions, inside of a city and remain there while you travel

to confront the Ruin Barons, or solve the mystery
of the murders by the docks, or something similar.

camps, and
If you’re expecting to encounter opposition,
danger, or uncertainty, you’re probably heading
into an expedition.

interlude
All expeditions have a clear goal at the start, even
if that goal changes.

Campin
Expedition
During an expedition, you can momentarily pause
Sessions of ICON are focused around the action to camp. Camping allows everyone in
Expeditions. Whenever you leave a place of the group to recuperate and eat and drink, healing
safety with a clear goal in mind, you’re on an all strain, statuses, blights, stress, and hit
expedition. points. It only takes an hour or so and a place of
relative safety for characters to be able to camp.
Typically in ICON this involves leaving the safety
of a village, town, or city, and setting out into the Characters can only camp a certain number
wilderness to explore some ruin, claim some of times per expedition, and when characters
artifact, or stop some force from causing harm, camp they lose any resolve they accumulated.
but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that simple.

96 of 142
g

 At camp, if characters have gained 4 or 8 xp, they it? Will the heroes track down and stop the
can also unlock abilities or talents for their mysterious stranger who has been stealing from
abilities (a sort of mini level up). the village shrine? Will the heroes put a stop to
the brewing fight between the towns of
The Camp shee Barrowglade?
Characters can upgrade their camp, name their
group, and set group ambitions when they camp 2. Define the number of camps. Before
or go into an interlude using the camp sheet. characters embark on an expedition, the GM sets
the amount of times characters can camp.
Think of the camp like a character sheet for the Supplies to camp in the wilderness are limited,
whole party - everyone benefits from it. and time is usually short. Camping lets characters
heal and fully recuperate. For a short or time
Interlude limited expedition, characters won’t be able to
camp. For other expeditions, characters should
When the goal of an expedition is accomplished, gain the ability to camp once for every 3 combat
abandoned, put on pause, or no longer relevant, encounters the GM expects them to go through
and you return to a place of safety, the (so once for 1-3 encounters, twice for 4-6, etc), or
expedition is over, and you go into an if there is no tactical combat, about once for every
interlude. An interlude is a longer period of three major obstacles GMs expect them to have to
more narrative time in which characters can rest, go through. Characters can camp at any time they
relax, and recuperate. have a few hours and enough safety in which to do
so.
During an interlude, characters can get
rewarded for their adventures, spend xp and 3. Set your job and abilities, if you expect
dust to level up or improve, can heal burdens tactical combat. Pick which combat job and
and pursue ambitions, and can freely role- which abilities you are using (up to 6). If you have
play. any bonuses from your group (see the section
below, such as elixirs or cooking), apply them
now.
Returning to an expeditio
4. Define rewards. All expeditions normally
Interludes should always aim to come back to an
reward 6 xp and 3 dust if they’re successful. If
expedition at the end of each interlude, creating a
there are extra rewards possible, define them
loop of expedition > interlude > expedition.
here. If an expedition’s not long enough to prompt
rewards, it’s probably not an expedition!
Starting an expeditio
When you set out on an expedition, take the 5. Set out! Don’t worry about how you get there,
following steps: or over-planning. Get your feet on the road and
cut to the action.
1. Define your goal. What are you hoping to
accomplish? What are you setting out in search Why Expeditions
of? Who are you trying to stop? You can pose this
as a question if you like, phrased like ‘Will the Expeditions are used in ICON so that characters
heroes do X?’. We play to answer this always have goal they are working towards, and
question. If you’re a GM, you don’t need to have they can expect the story to move at a certain pace
an answer yet, just an idea of how players might and with a certain amount of tension. When we’re
get there. on an expedition, things are probably dangerous
or uncertain. There might be combat involved.
Example goals: Will the heroes recover the Certain activities, like healing, can only be done a
mysterious arkenrelic from the ruins that’s limited amount inside an expedition (it’s not safe
rumored to be able to destroy an entire town? Will enough, or there’s not enough time!), and certain
the heroes discover what is causing monsters to actions, like getting rid of burdens, can’t be taken
pour out of the oak hill dungeon and put a stop to in expeditions at all!

97 of 142

 with each expedition’s goal being to explore one

Expeditions don’t have to take a single session to part of the dungeon.
complete (and might often take multiple).
When you complete a quest, not only do you get
Time and safet the xp and rewards for all expeditions in the
quest, but you also get additional xp equal to two
Camping doesn’t have to mean staying in a village, times the number of expeditions you took to
town, or city. It could just be a safe and clear spot accomplish the quest, up to 12 xp.
for the characters to get the time and space to rest
and recuperate. There could be a sanctuary in the This can allow a GM to set more long term goals
middle of the wilderness, or a dungeon. for the characters. You can work on multiple
quests at once.
Alternative and Extra reward
INTERLUDE
During play, the GM can always offer additional
rewards for going after extra treasure, completing Interludes are the spaces between adventures -
tasks for characters, slaying an especially the kind of freeform narrative play that most role
powerful monster, etc. These rewards can be in playing games get into when characters aren’t
the form of additional xp, dust, Arkentech, or actively pursuing a quest or goal. They are the
might be something more substantial like camp spaces between expeditions when characters have
upgrades or Aspected Relic upgrades (each time to pursue their personal goals, gather
Aspected relic has a little hook for a task players information, do more casual roleplaying,
can complete to upgrade them without paying shopping, etc. Every adventurer needs a break
dust). from the grind of fighting against the encroaching
darkness.
Abandoning an expeditio
When you end an expedition, you go into an
Characters can always abandon an expedition if interlude right away, and all interludes should
they’re too hurt to continue or if the goal has end with the aim of launching another expedition.
changed. Leaving an expedition unfinished Certain actions can only be taken in an interlude,
abandons the original goal the characters had in like healing burdens or pursuing ambitions.
finishing it, which may now be beyond their
grasp. Whatever the case, if characters return to While you’re in an interlude, it’s typically for
the expedition, the situation should have changed. couple days but you can decide how much times
passes - if you want to play things out in a more
Quests strict, granular way, or if you want to ‘montage’
through events and have time move quickly.
Sometimes you have a longer or more complicated Interludes stereotypically take place in a town or
task or goal, like exploring a large dungeon, going city, but don’t necessarily have to - characters
on an epic journey, or unseating a despot, in could take an interlude in the wilderness if they
which case you’re on a quest. like, as long as they have relatively safety to do so.

Quests take more than one expedition to Each time you go into an interlude, fully heal all
complete. You can take interludes in the middle of strain, stress, hit points, and wounds. If
a quest or take on other expeditions. characters were successful during their
expedition, they get rewarded (xp, dust, or
Each expedition can represent a small part of the other rewards). Characters can then spend xp
quest (a leg of the journey, a wing of the dungeon, and dust to level up and improve their job,
gathering allies to fight the king, etc), and bond, or relics.
characters can take interludes normally in
between. For example, characters could take a Characters always do this at the start of an
quest to explore a large dungeon. The GM decides interlude, and for more details on payout and
this will take about three expeditions to complete, leveling see the section below.

98 of 142

 character has to give up working on their own

All characters then get to do the following ambitions.
activities, in any order or combination:
You can write new ambitions any time, but if you
Heal Burden change or abandon an ambition, clear any
segments on the clock that’s representing it. An
Each character can heal burdens, ticking off a ambition must be a clear goal or project, and the
total of 3 segments on any of their burden clocks length of the goal (which clock it represents) is
(4, 6, 8). If a clock is filled out completely, the determined by the GM. You only have room for
burden is lifted and no longer bothers the one ambition of each length. If you want to write a
character. If you like, play out a healing scene to new minor ambition (4 segments) and already
describe what characters are doing to heal their have one, for example, you have to change your
burdens (there are prompts for this on the current one.
character sheet). If you like, you can forgo your
own healing to help someone else heal their Clearing ambitions rewards 1, 2, and 3 xp
burdens, allowing them to tick 1 extra segment respectively. Clearing a group ambition rewards
on any burden. Each character can only be helped 1-3 xp to the whole group.
once.
Ambitions are typically projects or long-term
Pursue Ambition goals, like gathering information, researching,
crafting, or organizing. It could be something like
When you have a clear goal or project in mind, or plotting revenge on a rival, learning a new skill,
you want to obtain something (power, allies, dust, fixing up an old aethership, finding a secure route
access, information), you can write it as an into a dungeon, deciphering old texts, or learning
ambition. The GM decides if the ambition is about your mysterious parentage.
possible, or if a reduced version of it is possible
instead. If your ambition is to become king, for Aside from the xp for clearing ambitions, the GM
example, the GM might decide that’s too large of a is free to give you some concrete benefit for
step for now, but you might be able to pursue completing them, like dust 0r camp upgrades.
becoming a knight instead. They are also free to tick segments on your
ambition clocks if they feel like your actions
Then they decide how hard the ambition will be to further the goal, even if they weren’t taken as a
accomplish and chooses which of the ambition Pursue Ambitions action.
clocks on your sheet it will take up (short,
medium, long), and what filling that clock up will If a goal is complicated or world changing it may
represent. The clocks are 4, 6, and 10 segments take multiple ambitions to complete. Alternately,
long. it may require an expedition or quest to complete,
in which case completing the ambition clock
During an interlude, each character can pursue represents the preparation for that expedition or
ambitions by doing a scene or a montage quest. When it’s full, you’re ready to take it on
describing how they’re pursuing their goals, then with your group.
making an action roll, filling out 1 segment on a
1-3, 2 segments on a 4-5, 3 segments on a 6, and 5 Freepla
on a critical roll. Characters can work on the same
ambition if they like, even if that ambition is Play out any scenes or role-playing activities you
another character’s, but won’t share in the xp. like! Interludes are meant to accommodate more
relaxed role playing.
When you make your characters, and during any
camp or interlude, you can also write group In general, Interludes are meant to represent an
ambitions, which reward everyone for working area of relative peace and quiet. However, lot of
on them. A group ambition can only be worked on groups may get into trouble during an interlude,
once during an interlude, and to work on one a and the situation might change. Characters might
go bargain with the thieves’ guild only to try to

99 of 142

 double cross them, wander a little too far out into

the wilderness, or open a dangerous magitech
device.

If characters get into trouble, you can play out a

narrative scene or tactical combat to resolve the
situation. If it’s more complicated than a scene or
two, you’re probably heading into a surprise
expedition!

If characters took strain, stress, or wounds during

an interlude, they can heal them when an
interlude ends. In general, characters are
intended to start an expedition with all their
resources at their disposal.

Bringing it bac

Interludes should always aim to launch the

characters into a new expedition of some sort. The
characters leave a place of safety with a clear
goal in mind.

100 of 142

 Aetherpearls
THE CAM Purchase: 6 Dust
Upgrade: 3 Dust

This small set of pearls are aetherically linked

together, and can be inset into armor or worn as
Adventurers in Arden Eld often get around on
jewelry. There are always just enough for all
enormous aetherships, traveling wagons, vehicles,
player characters and no more.
or caravans. They bring with them all kinds of
supplies: portable shrines, elixir cauldrons,
Every character can add +1 to their channel,
cooking pots, vittles, and lengths of rope for
charm, or command ratings.
traversing caverns. The camp can be any of these
things. It’s representative of the gear, supplies,
While wearing a pearl, characters can talk to any
and transportation that the characters keep in
other character wearing a linked pearl within a
common, and may take with them on an
mile. They must talk out loud and hear the other
expedition.
person’s voice in their ear.
When you start a group of characters at level 1,
Upgrades:
also start a camp sheet. Camp sheets have the
• Extended pearls: Up to 6 additional pearls
following:
can also be given to NPC allies. Pearls can also
be linked to any other pearl network within
1. Group Name: You can name your group if
their range, connecting them together.
you like, or leave it blank until later.
• Resonant pearls: When in a populous
2. Ambitions: Write 1-3 long term goals for
location with an aetheric field (like a city) the
your group. If you accomplish an Ambition
pearls don’t have a maximum distance
during an interlude, everyone in your group
• Silent pearls: Within the same room (or a very
gets 1 xp, then write a new ambition. You can
short distance) anyone wearing a linked pearl
leave these blank for now if you like.
can communicate telepathically, without
3. Camp fixtures: The various pieces of gear,
speaking out loud
shelter, and accoutrement that your group
keeps around camp. Fixtures apply their
benefits to everyone in the group and anyone Aethervault
can spend dust to purchase, upgrade, or use Purchase: 3 Dust
them. Start with 2 of your choice. Upgrade: 3 Dust

Fixture You can keep up to 6 Dust inside this crystalline

prism, where it is safely stored. Characters can
deposit or withdraw Dust from it by touching it.
Here at the various camp fixtures and their
Only characters attuned to the prism (your group,
upgrades. When you make your characters, start
and any NPCs you choose) can withdraw or
with two. Additional upgrades and fixtures can be
deposit dust, and it is practically indestructible
bought during an interlude and take effect at the
unless you hurl it into an high powered
end of an interlude. Anyone can spend dust on
Aetherforge.
them.
The vault has a clever but slow acting condenser
If camp upgrades are nested (bulleted below each
inside. At the end of each interlude, if there is at
other), you need to take the previous upgrade to
least 1 Dust inside the Vault, it attracts more
get the one under it.
Aether, adding 1 Dust to the vault. If there’s no
room in the vault, not more Dust is generated.
• Upgrade 1: Characters need to take this
upgrade…
Upgrades:
• Upgrade 2: … before they can take this one!

101 of 142

 • Empowered attunement: Dust can be • Power flask: A character can drink a power
withdrawn or deposited into the Vault from flask to gain +1 boon and bonus damage on all
anywhere. actions until the end of their next turn.
• Aether Sapphire: Increase the vault’s capacity
to 12 GMs can offer flask ingredients as rewards for
• Aether Ruby: Increase the vault’s capacity treasure collected during an expedition, or side
to 16 tasks. If that's the case, forgo the dust cost for
• Upgrade condenser: If it’s at least half full, brewing a flask if you have the ingredients.
the vault condenses 2 dust instead of 1.
Upgrades:
• Flask belt: Characters can hold on to two
Cabinet
flasks
Purchase: 6 Dust
• Improved flask belt: Characters can hold
Upgrade: 6 Dust
on to up to three flasks
Add the following to your flask brewing by taking
This dusty cabinet or traveling trunk allows you to
an upgrade for each. They cost increased dust to
keep additional gear with you.
brew and take rarer ingredients.
• Flask of Godly Speed: 3 dust. Until the end
During camp, you can swap out your abilities at
of your next turn, double your speed and gain
will.
evasion
• Flask of Godly Strength: 3 dust. Double the
Upgrades:
damage of your next action
• Soulstone: Characters can change jobs at
• Flask of Godly Health: 3 dust. Clear all
camp
blights and conditions and gain vigor 2
• Great Soulstone: Characters are now able • Flask of Divine Grace: 2 dust. Increase the
to take a second Gambit for their Bond.
effect of your next narrative action to
• Elden Soul-stone: Characters can take a superpowered.
second Gambit for their combat job. It must
be from a job they’ve learned, and it must be
from the same class as their other Gambit. Cooking Pot
Purchase: 6 dust
Upgrade: 3 dust
Cauldron
Purchase: 6 dust
When you embark on an expedition, or when you
Upgrade: 3 dust
camp, one character can cook a meal for everyone.
A heavy iron cauldron and apothecary where
A character’s cooking skill is a unique action,
characters can brew flasks.
starting at 1d6. A character can improve their
cooking by spending 2 xp during an interlude to
Characters can brew one of the following flasks
improve their cooking skill by 1, up to a maximum
during an interlude by spending 1 dust. Flasks
of 4.
can be drunk instead of taking an action roll (in
narrative play) or as an action in combat.
Roll 1d6 per level of cooking skill and choose any
Characters can only hold on to one flask at once.
die as the final result.
• Flask of Action: A character can drink a flask
to gain +1 boon and increased effect on their
Meal effects apply to the very next combat you
next narrative action
get into.
• Phoenix flask: An incapacitated character can
spend a full turn to drink a Phoenix Flask to
Rescue themselves at the end of that turn. D6 Result
• Cleansing flask: A character can drink this
flask to cleanse themselves (clear all blights and 1 Burnt meal - No effect!
immediately save against all effects).

102 of 142

 D6 Result • Memories of purpose: Once a session, all

characters can relieve 1 stress merely by taking a
2 Nutritious meal - Ignore terrain moment to breathe.
penalties for difficult terrain and moving • Memories of hope: When using memories
up terrain of purpose, characters also heal 1 strain
• Memories of home: All characters gain
3 Refreshing meal - Saves are successful +1 stress box and +1 max strain.
on an 9+ instead of an 11+
4 Invigorating meal - Deal bonus Elixir Stone
damage in the first round of combat Purchase: 6 dust
Upgrade: 3 dust
5 Healthy Meal - Start combat with Vigor
1, or Vigor +1 if you already start with This unsettling and extremely valuable blood red
Vigor. stone, found in the very deepest depths of the
6 Hearty Meal - Resistance to all damage arkenruins, is condensed Dust and life essence in
in the first round of combat its purest form. When exposed to Aether, it bleeds
a substance that can be condensed into elixirs.

Upgrades: Characters embark on an expedition with +1

• Foraging: Your group can forage or shop for elixir.
ingredients during an interlude. Roll 1d6. You
can hold on to that number until used during Upgrades:
cooking. If you roll and save a 1, you can use it • Elixir Brewing: When they camp, characters
as insurance. Discard it when you roll a 1 can replenish 1 elixir by spending 1 dust.
cooking result to re-roll, taking the second • Deep Elixir Stone: When they camp,
result as final. characters can heal 1 wound by spending 1
• Improved ingredients: When you cook, dust and 1 elixir. This also heals the HP lost.
you can keep any 2 dice and combine their • Clarity: Characters can drink an elixir to heal 3
effects. strain instead of hp
• Variety: If a different character from the last
one cooks each time you camp or go into an Portable Library
interlude, roll +1d6 when cooking.
• Masterclass: If you get a critical hit on a
Purchase: 6 dust
cooking roll, the effects apply to every combat
Upgrade: 3 dust
until you camp or go into an interlude.
A collection of well-worn tomes, manuals, and
Campfire scrolls.
Purchase: 6 dust
Upgrade: 3 dust Every character can add +1 to their tinker, study,
or recall rating.
Your camp has a bright and well fed fire. It’s easy
to take a load off and talk around the fire, and it Upgrades:
burns brightly even in dark moments. • Training Manuals: At the end of each
interlude, each character gets +1 xp.
During Heal Burdens, characters can tick a free • Focused Training: Instead of healing
segment on a burden of their choice. burdens, characters can train to gain + 1 xp.
Stacks with training manuals.
Upgrades: • Arkentomes: Characters can make rolls to
• Commonality: Characters that help others recall or gather information about dungeon or
heal their burdens instead of healing their own monster lore at +1 dice
tick 2 segments instead of 1
Shrine

103 of 142

 Purchase: 3 dust someone aid. It doesn’t take strain and doesn’t

Upgrade: 3 dust take actions otherwise.
• Combat: The spirit is not a unit in battle, but
Shrine to the Titans, the slain precursors. Grants can be invoked any time by a character as an
Divine Mercy. When characters would take their interrupt to aid someone, giving them +1 boon
last wound and die, roll a d%. 25% chance that on any attack or save. This ability works once
they ignore the wound instead and miraculously per battle.
heal all wounds and hit points. Divine Mercy can
only occur once for a character ever in their life As a character, the spirit has the following powers:
time. • Narrative: The spirit has 2 stress, 2 strain, and
rolls 1 dice for all actions. It heals all stress and
Upgrades: strain at camp. If the spirit takes maximum
• Commune: Once a session, a single character strain, it must disperse for a scene and can take
can pray at the shrine and ask a yes/no question no more action, then re-enters the next scene
about a person, place, or object. The GM will with 0 strain. It can do everything a player can
answer with one of the following: Wheel (yes, do otherwise.
positive), Stone (no, negative), or Chaos (mixed • Combat: The spirit is a size 1 allied character
outcome). with 10 hp, [10+chapter] defense, 0 armor, 4
• Absolution: A broken character with 3 speed, and no bonuses to saves. It heals to full
burdens can pray at the shrine during camp to HP after each combat. The spirit’s attack bonus
recover from being broken. is equal to twice the chapter number. It can take
• Resurrection: A dead character (someone a standard move and the following actions:
who took 4 wounds and died) can be returned to • Spirit slash (light magic melee or
life during an interlude by burning 10 dust, as ranged attack, range 3): Make an attack
long as they died in the last year. The character roll, adding power. Deals 1d6+chapter
is living on borrowed time as the dust is damage on hit, or chapter damage on miss.
animating their body and must undergo a • Push (1 action): An adjacent character must
journey or expedition to make things physical save or be shoved 1 space
permanent. The GM can set up an expedition or • Intimidate (1 action): A character in range
an ambition for this. 3 must physical save or be staggered or dazed
(spirit’s choice).
Spirit Idol • Dash (1 action): The spirit dashes 2 spaces
Purchase: 6 dust • Spirit mark (2 actions): A character in
Upgrade: 3 dust range 3 must magical save or become marked.
While marked by the spirit, allies have +1
You can pray at this shrine to summon it’s boon to attack the target.
aetheric spirit - usually in the form of an animal, • If defeated in combat, the spirit disperses
small creature, or fairy. The spirit is friendly to and reappears in a space in range 3 from an ally
your group, and can be played two ways: either as at the start of the next round with full hp.
an NPC, or as a character (for a player to
control). Upgrades:
• Empowered spirit: The spirit gains +1 stress
The spirit can only be summoned as a character if and its combat ability as an NPC can be used
it’s controlled by someone who is not already twice a battle instead
playing a character, including the GM. Playing a • Great spirit: As character the spirit can choose
spirit for a group is a good way for someone not to become Size 2 when it starts battle. If so, its
familiar with role playing games, guesting for a speed is reduced to 2, but it also becomes Sturdy
session, or calling in remotely for a session to and deals 1d8 damage with its attack instead of
participate, since it is relatively simple. 1d6
• Spirit vengeance: As a character, the spirit
As an NPC, the spirit has the following powers: can do each of the following once a session: take
• Narrative: The spirit has 2 stress, regains all of a superpowered action, and deal double damage
it when you camp, and can burn it to give with its next attack

104 of 142

 Survival Gear
Purchase: 6 dust
Upgrade: 3 dust

Knives, tanning racks, cooking spits, climbing

gear, and supplies for wilderness survival.

Every character can add +1 to their traverse,

smash, or endure rating.

Upgrades:
• Rangers: Increase health by 1 for all characters
• Toughened: All burden clocks are 1 shorter
• Footwork: All characters can make up to 1
square of diagonal movement when they move
• Advanced footwork: All characters can
make up to 2 squares of diagonal movement
when they move

Thieves’ Gear
Purchase: 6 dust
Upgrade: 3 dust

Lockpicks, cloaks, keys, sacks for carrying loot,

and magitech devices for spying or listening.

Every character can add +1 to their sneak, excel,

or survey ratings

Upgrades:
• Skeleton Key: 1/session you can make any
action roll to open, unlock, or activate a device
or door superpowered in effect.
• Shadow cloaks: For the first combat after you
embark on an expedition, start with stealth.
Lose stealth at the start of the second round if
you gained it this way.
• Whisper cloaks: Also gain this benefit after
you camp.

105 of 142

 Experienc
During their adventures, characters earn
Advancement and experience points, filling out an experience bar. At
certain breakpoints in the bar, they will unlock
Reward new abilities or talents.

The xp bar is 12 ticks long. At 4 and 8 xp gained,

The power of characters in ICON is measured by during an interlude or at camp characters can
their level. Characters start at level 1 and level up unlock a new combat ability in any job they
to a maximum of level 12. have, or gain a new talent for an ability they
already have.
Chapter
Once the bar is full (12 xp), they can clear all xp at
Levels are split into three chapters (1-4, 5-8, the end of an interlude to increase their level
9-12), and moving forward in a chapter is the by 1. Certain benefits are only gained on level up.
decision of the players. Until the chapter passes,
characters cannot level up past the cap of each Characters gain xp the following ways.
chapter, and characters that are maxed out When you start an interlude, immediately
on xp can donate it to any character. This is gain xp for any expedition or quests you finished
to allow characters to catch up on experience if (6 for expedition, 2 per expedition for a quest)
they’re behind, invest Dust they have earned, and Check at the end of a session :
also allows them to set the pace of the game, since 1. Did you fulfill at least one of your ideals? 1 xp.
foes become slightly stronger in higher chapters of All your Ideals? 2 xp
the game. 2. Completed at least one tactical combat
encounter - 2 xp
Moving up a Chapter increases everyone’s 3. Accomplished an ambition (group or
combat statistics, including those of the personal) - 1-3 xp
foes you face. 4. Invoked Burdens - 1 xp per Burden invoked

Lvl Chapter Combat Benefit Narrative Benefit

Choose a Bond, a Bond power, and improve
1 1 Choose a job and two abilities
four actions
2 1 Unlock Limit Break and first relic Improve two actions or gain a Bond power
3 1 Gain a Bond power
Choose a second job OR gain a
4 1 Improve two actions or gain a Bond power
mastery point
2- Gain Mastery Point to unlock a
5 Improve an action
Stat up! master talent for an ability
6 2 Unlock second relic Gain a Bond power

7 2 Improve an action
Choose a third job OR gain a mastery
8 2 Improve two actions or gain a Bond power
point
3-
9 Unlock third relic Gain a Bond power
Stat up!
Gain Mastery Point to unlock a
10 3 Improve an action
master talent for an ability
11 3 Improve an action
Gain Mastery Point to unlock a
12 3 Gain a Bond power
master talent for an ability

106 of 142

 simply buying extra ammunition, supplies, etc, on

Dus the market.
Dust is the currency of Arden Eld and measured
Characters can hold on to and use three pieces of
in abstract units. It is so prevalent in the
Arkentech at once.
arkenruins that merely venturing into them, small
amounts can be scraped from the fingernails or
Arkentech can usually be bought or sold for Dust
the bottom of boots. It is primarily used to
equal to its recharge cost. Once a character has a
upgrade character’s relics and their camp. Dust is
hold of a piece of Arkentech (even if they bought
earned in the following ways:
it), they can usually get recharges in a city, village,
or town.
1. Completing a combat encounter infuses 1 dust
into a relic of your choice.
There’s a limited amount of arkentech in this
2. The GM can offer dust rewards for retrieving
playtest as an example here, and a few more used
extra treasure, artifacts, items, or completing
in Deeptower, the example expedition, but you
extra tasks during an expedition, usually 1 or 2
can use it as your own jumping-off point.
dust. This dust can be carried on you and used
in whatever way you like.
3. Finishing an expedition or quest rewards dust
concurrent with how dangerous the quest is.
By default this is 3 dust per player for an
expedition, and 6 for a quest.

Characters can’t personally carry more than 8

dust on them.

Dust can be spent in the following ways:

1. Upgrading a relic costs a total of 6 dust per
level.
2. Upgrading a relic to an Aspected relic requires
a level 3 relic and a total of 12 dust.
3. Buying a camp upgrade or fixture costs 3-6
dust.
4. Dust can be used to buy benefits from the
camp or additional uses of arkentech.

Arkentec

Arkentech offers a way for GMs to offer additional

minor rewards other than xp or dust.

Arkentech is a loose term for anything powerful

that is scavenged from the dungeons and ruins of
Arden Eld, whether it’s a magitech wonder or
something carved from a monster or beast.
Arkentech is a little less powerful than Relics,
however, having limited use and requiring
infusions of Dust to function further. Each piece
of Arkentech has a number of uses, and the effect
when it’s used. To recharge Arkentech, a character
must spend the listed amount of dust during an
Interlude, restoring its maximum charges. This
can either represent infusing the tech directly, or

107 of 142

Example Arkentec
Recharge
Tech Description and Effect Uses
(dust)
Spend an action to wreath your ammo in shimmering
Entropy Ammo frost. For the rest of combat, your ranged attacks inflict 2 2
frostbite on hit
Wrap this cloak around you and blink in and out of
Displacement Cloak 3 1
existence to use your standard move to teleport instead
An ancient Relict weapon that still functions, shooting
bolts of lightning. You can make a light attack with it (line
Relict Arbalest 1 2
5, heavy damage, secondary effect: light damage, effect:
electrifies all targets)
Venom from a howler beast. You can apply it as an action.
Howler Venom Your next physical attack gains bonus damage, piercing, 1 2
and the effect: Inflicts poisoned and dazed on hit
Wrap your armor in tough howler hide. Apply before an
Alpha Howler Hide expedition. This expedition, you start every combat with 1 3
vigor +1
Strap on a piece of decaying armor for extra protection.
As an interrupt when you’re hit by any attack but before
Decayed Plate 1 2
damage is applied, you can expend the plate to gain 6
armor against the attack.
Point this stave at a space on the ground in range 3 as an
action to release a spark of flame as an effect, inflicting
Stave of Flame 2 2
burning and fray damage to all characters in a blast 1
area.
Use as an action to splash the oil about, reversing gravity
and drifting into the air. Gain flying but also become
Drift Oil 1 1
immobilized. You can use this action again to end the
effect.
Step on the screecher gland as an action to make a
horrible screeching noise. Characters in a blast 1 (self)
Screecher gland 1 1
area, including you, must physical save or become
stunned

108 of 142
h

 survival, or a supernatural desire for destruction.

Monsters can’t be bargained with and have
simple motivations for violence (food,
territory, aggression, or survival). In many cases
(but not all), monsters will fight to the death.

Ki

The ruins draw all kinds of adventurers and

contenders, seeking wealth and glory, and not all
of them are pure in intent. Even outside of the
ruin, in the cities and towns of the world, people
of all kinds plot to exploit, hurt, or deceive their
fellow Kin for personal gain.

Banditry and highway robbery is becoming

increasingly high in the Churning Age, with the
large number of blights and the decreasing safety
of the roads. Mountain bandit or coastal pirate

FOES
clans will often organize and maintain large
hideouts, where they will periodically raid nearby
towns for loot and captives. In the ruins
themselves, some adventurers make a living not
The ruins that litter Arden Eld and churn beneath only off the ruins, but also off robbing their fellow
its surface are sometimes peaceful, hollow affairs - adventurers. In the cities, wealthy criminal
full of dust and destroyed monuments to a dead syndicates, sometimes masquerading (or acting
empire. More often than not, however, they are openly!) as guilds, pursue enrichment at all costs,
host to innumerable monsters that slither, crawl, running kidnapping schemes, forcing labor, or
and stalk through their hallways, born of the using debt to control large numbers of people.
Doom that befell the Arken Empire and the grand
technomagical projects they undertook. These Mistrust has reached the point that some towns
ruins can be deadly places despite the riches they and cities have begun eyeing the legacy of the
offer, and occasionally when a ruin surfaces, it Arkenlords, arming themselves for what they see
disgorges monsters continuously that boil over as a coming grand conflict between Kin. War
into the surface world, called a Blight. Minor between city states or towns, so rare between Kin
blights can deform and destroy the landscape and in the Green Age, is becoming more common and
threaten nearby villages, towns, and cities, and increasingly severe in scale. Some powerful towns
every few decades a blight surfaces that can or city states see themselves as inheritors of an
threaten large portions of the world. imperial legacy, with the warlords helming them
titling themselves a new Emperor, seeking to
Monster unite the cities by force into Arden Eld’s first
nation. The ambitions of these self-styled
The creatures that stalk the halls of the ruins are a Imperials remain unfulfilled - for now.
mix of mundane beasts that have been warped by
the ruins’ influence, native fauna that have grown When Kin commit or threaten violence, it’s
accustomed to dungeons, terrifying horrors from always motivated. Kin can be bargained
beyond the realms of understanding, and the with (even if that bargain on your end is giving
remnants of the old empire, animated by the up all your money or throwing down your
ruins’ magic. weapons in surrender!), they’re people after all.
Kin will almost never fight to the death and
Monsters are dangerous and beyond reasoning will often flee or surrender if their lives are
with. Though some have some shred of threatened.
intelligence, they are motivated by hunger, pain,

109 of 142
n

 Monsters and Ki you to fit the ‘fantasy’ of the foes you are thinking
of in your story and fit them to statistics that help
In combat, there are two rules to apply to them perform that role in combat.
monsters and kin:
There are four classes for foes, with numerous
1. Kin always have reasons to fight. If their jobs inside. Each class grants every job its general
demands or desire are met, then they are willing statistics must like player jobs. When those
to bargain or avoid a fight. statistics are different from the usual, it’s listed in
2. Kin will surrender or flee, potentially each job’s stat block.
ending a tactical combat, if they have suffered
heavy losses or see there is no chance they will • Heavy: Slower, melee focused enemies that
win. Typically this is easy to judge as a GM, but defend their allies with their higher hp and
make a call when Kin are outnumbered 2 to 1 or traits like Guardian, Vigilance, and True Strike.
more than half their forces have been defeated. • Skirmisher: Fast, mobile, short ranged
3. Kin won’t kill without a reason. enemies that deal high damage but are fragile
themselves. Have many traits like Stealth,
The most important rule to stick by is that Evasion, Finishing Blow, and Dodge.
monsters are never people, and people are • Leader: Foes that improve the combat
never monsters. If monsters are intelligent capabilities of their allies or heal them. Have
enough to be a character in their own right, or traits like Cure, Shelter (bonuses to saves), or
bargain with or be characters in their own right, auras that improve or move their allies
treat them like Kin. • Artillery: Long range, slow enemies that
become powerful if left alone by either creating
or summoning more allies, or simply dealing
How to use this sectio more damage. Deal the highest damage but
relatively little defense or health. Have traits like
In tactical combat, foes in ICON have statistics Pierce, Overdrive, Aetherwall, and inflict Blights
such as HP or armor, abilities, and actions just
like player characters. On their turn, they can take SPECIAL FOE RULE
2 actions and move, also just like player
characters. Unlike player characters, they are Foes can all make a standard move like heroes,
limited to the actions in their profile, and and can all run, dash, or interact with something.
they are also much simpler. The usual rules around attacks, abilities, and
effects apply.
Foes in ICON aren’t listed out in individual detail,
like in some role-playing games. Instead, there are However, foes have some special rules, tags, and
classes and jobs for foes, much like for player traits that apply only to them:
characters, which informs how they function in
tactical combat. A monster that’s a soldier and a • Repeatable X: This action is repeatable X
Thryn soldier will function much of the same (an number of times in a turn, ignoring the no
up close fighter that gets more powerful when repeats rule, including the 1/round attack limit!
adjacent to an ally). The jobs are not strict • Multiattack X: This action can make X attack
definitions and can be ‘flavored’ any way you like. rolls, targeting the same or different characters.
For example, if you need a flying monster that • Recharge X+: After this ability is used, it can’t
harasses enemies, you probably want a Hellion. If be used again until it recharges. Roll a d6 at the
you want to represent a guard with a crossbow, start of the foe’s turn for each ability. On the
you can choose an Archer (for a more mobile listed number or above, recharge the ability and
option) or an Arbalest (for a long range, slow, it can be used again.
high damage option). The Hellion could just as • Foes all deal flat damage. This is to speed up
well represent a soldier using a magitech device to the game on the GM side, since you’ll be playing
fly around, however, and an Archer could many more characters.
represent a monster that launches spines, spits • Foes can never choose to take a slow turn unless
acid, or something similar. This flexibility allows specified

110 of 142

 • 5 mobs is worth 1
Foes may have additional or unique tags, such as • 1 regular foe is worth 1
Autocure or Prowl (see jobs for more details!). • 1 elite is worth 2
• 1 monstrosity is worth the number of players.
Special classe
There are a few special classes for foes in ICON For example, if I have 3 players, I can run 4
that change the gameplay of foes up slightly: regular foes against them, or one elite and 2 foes,
or 20 mobs.
• Mob: Mobs are weak, numerous enemies with 1
hp. They can be used for a more ‘heroic’ feeling To balance up or down, add or remove 1 or 2
game where characters cut down enemy after points from the encounter budget. The most
enemy. They can overwhelm characters in important balancing factor is action economy - ie
numbers. When you take an enemy turn, you how many fighters are on one side or another. If
can take a turn for up to 5 mob-type foes. your players outnumber your foes, no matter how
• Elite: Elites are more powerful foes that take powerful their enemies are, they will typically win!
additional turns, have more hp, and take more
actions. They are akin to ‘mini-boss’ encounters Using the chapter syste
in a role playing game, representing a more Both foes and player characters increase slightly
powerful or skill enemy. in stats each chapter. This system is here to let
• Monstrosity: The most powerful foes in ICON. players that are behind on experience catch up
Monstrosities are fights worthy of an entire and let players set the pace of their game. You can
group, and meant to represent huge or use this to do a couple of things:
legendary monsters, such as wyrms, giants, or • Increase the difficulty of combat encounters by
elder demons. They take multiple turns, have adding foes from later chapters
phases (different actions and abilities based on • Decrease the difficulty of combat encounters by
different situations), have attackable locations lowering a foe’s chapter
that can disable or weaken their attacks, deal • Keep foes in certain locations ‘frozen’ at a
high damage, and have high hp. certain chapter to give players a sense of
progression
Faction • Keep foes at certain locations ‘frozen’ at a higher
chapter to give players a potential challenge.
You might feel that having every ‘soldier’ type
enemy fit one template will make things feel a
little same-y, but to distinguish foes from another,
there is one more component to Foes in ICON,
which is Faction. Faction allows you to put a
‘template’ on top of enemies to give them bonus
traits, change their statistics, or grant them a
choice of additional actions. These faction
templates help create a sense of unity among foes
of different jobs and can change the experience of
fighting them completely.

Making foes and balancing encounter

To make a foe, pick which job you think

represents it, then choose one of the faction
templates to apply to it. If there are optional
actions, choose one or two.

Balancing encounters for ICON is very simple.

Count the number of players, then add 1.

111 of 142
s

 GLOSSARY OF FOE Pike (2 actions, melee attack). On hit, deal

heavy damage and shove 1. On miss, deal fray
damage.
Mo Impale (2 actions, melee attack, true
strike, recharge 5+): On hit: foe takes light
damages and is shoved 3. The Impaler dashes
Chaff after the target, following it. Collide: foe is also
HP: 1 dazed and immobilized. Miss: light damage
Speed: 3
Defense: 6+chapter
Brute
Attack: +1
Large foe that becomes dangerous across
Mob: This character doesn’t trigger slay effects
multiple turns
+50% hp, 0 armor, No Run, No Dash
0 armor, run 2, dash 3
Large: Increase size to 2
Scrabble (2 actions): Deal 1 damage as an
Traits: Guardian, Slow, Vigilance
effect. If an ally is adjacent to the target, make an
Poise: Sturdy when not bloody
attack, dealing 3 damage on hit.
Sweep (1 action, melee attack, repeatable
Heav 2): Arc 3. On hit: Light damage, inflict daze. If a
character is dazed, they must physical save or be
Health: 8/9/10 stunned. Area effect: Fray damage
HP: 32/36/40 Shove (1 action): Adjacent foe must physical
Speed: 3, run 2, dash 3 save or be shoved 1. Collide: daze.
Defense: 6+ chapter Crusher (2 actions, recharge 4+): An
Armor: 2/2/3 adjacent foe makes a physical save or takes heavy
Attack: +0/+2/+4 damage and becomes immobilized. On a a
Fray Damage: 2/2/3 successful save, they take light damage. If already
Damage: 3+chapter/5+chapter/7+chapter immobilized, boost damage to critical.
Damage/save type: Physical
Knuckle
Soldier Heavily armored foe that defends allies
Basic melee fighter, stronger in groups 3 armor, Run 1, Dash 0
Traits: Guardian, Slow, Vigilance
Traits: Guardian, Vigilance Poise: Sturdy when not bloody
Rank and File: Gain true strike if adjacent to an
ally Overpower (1 action, melee attack, true
strike): On hit: light damage. Miss: fray damage.
Slash (1 action, attack): On hit, deal light Shove (1 action): Adjacent foe must physical
damage. On miss, deal fray damage. save or be shoved 1. Collide: daze.
Bash (1 action): An adjacent character must Fortify (1 action, stance): Count as in cover
physical save or take fray damage and become and grant cover to allied characters, but cannot
dazed dash. End if shoved, dazed, staggered, or stunned.
Fortify (1 action, stance): Count as in cover Mark of Vigilance (1 action, recharge 4+):
and grant cover to adjacent allied characters, but Mark a foe in range 3. The Knuckle and allies
cannot dash or run. End if shoved, dazed, adjacent to the knuckle gain counter against the
staggered, or stunned. character and the marked foe gets +1 curse on
attacks against the knuckle and any adjacent
Impaler allies. Foe can pass a magical save at the end of
Shoves around characters and keeps them their turn to clear the mark.
pinned.
Sledge
Traits: Guardian, Vigilance

112 of 142

 Armored foe that crushes enemy defense Traits: Skirmisher, Extended Dash, Dodge,
3 armor Prowl, Finishing Blow
Traits: Guardian, Vigilance
Flank: Loses all armor if 2 or more foes are Strafe shot (1 action, ranged attack 5): On
adjacent. hit: deal light damage. Can interrupt movement.
Poise: Sturdy above 50% hp Pepper (1 action, repeatable 2): Deal fray
damage to a character in in range 5.
Wind up (2 actions): Next Slam costs 1 action Riddle (2 actions, ranged attack 5,
and gains +1 accuracy recharge 5+): On hit: Deal fray damage four
Bash (1 action): An adjacent character must times. Miss: Two times.
physical save or become dazed
Slam (2 actions, melee attack): +1 difficulty. Berserker
Pierce. On hit, deal critical damage and character
must save or become vulnerable. Traits: Skirmisher, Extended Dash, Dodge,
Finishing Blow
Nimble: Has evasion unless suffering from a
Skirmishe status
Revenge: Has counter under 50% hp

Prowl: Gains stealth at the start of their turn Vengeful Slash (Interrupt 1): When damaged
Finishing Blow: Boost damage if character is for the first time a round, Berserker deals light
bloodied. damage as an effect to a random adjacent
Extended Dash: Can dash as 1 action character (for or ally).
Skirmisher: Can move diagonally
Furious Slash (melee attack, repeatable 2):
Health: 6/7/8 On hit: Light damage. Critical hit: Character must
HP: 24/28/32 physical save or become vulnerable.
Speed: 4, run 2, dash 4 Charge (1 actions, recharge 4+): Dash, then
Defense: 9+ chapter deal light physical damage to an adjacent
Armor: 0 character
Attack: +2/+4/+6
Fray Damage: 1/2/3 Hellion
Damage: 3+chapter/6+chapter/10+chapter
Damage/save type: Either Traits: Skirmisher, Extended Dash, Dodge,
Finishing Blow
Assassin Winged: Gains flying at end of their turn. Loses
flying if shoved, dazed, staggered, or stunned.
Traits: Skirmisher, Extended Dash, Dodge,
Prowl, Finishing Blow Bolt (1 action, ranged attack 4): On hit: light
Nimble: Has evasion unless suffering from a magic damage.
status Swoop (1 action, recharge 6): End turn and
leave the battlefield. Return to the battlefield in a
Bolt (1 action, ranged attack 4): On hit: light free space at start of next turn.
magic damage. Dive (1 action): Fly in a line 3 area effect. Once
Deumbra (1 action, repeatable 2): Teleport 2 character within the area must physical save or
Lunge (2 actions, melee attack, recharge take fray damage, be shoved to the end of the line,
6): May dash 4 before attack. On hit: Heavy and become blinded.
physical damage. Trigger finishing blow if
character has no adjacent allies. Skulk

Shortbow Traits: Skirmisher, Extended Dash, Prowl,

Dodge, Finishing Blow

113 of 142

 Slippery: Gain evasion under 50% hp Armor 1, Dash 1

Traits: Shelter, Autocure
Stab (1 action, melee attack): On hit: deal
light physical damage. Gains pierce if the target Holy (2 actions, close blast 1): Attack: On hit,
has no allies adjacent. deal light damage. Area effect: Deal fray damage.
Cheap trick (1 action): An adjacent foe must Effect: Characters must magic save or become
physical save or become blinded staggered or blinded (Zealot’s choice)
Sprint (1 actions): Dash 6 Succor (2 actions, recharge 4+): Target
defeated ally, return them to life with the summon
type and 50% max hp.
Shield of Faith (2 actions): Allied character in
Leade range 3 becomes marked and resistant to all
damage while marked. This mark ends if they
Health: 8/9/10 would be shoved, staggered, or stunned, or the
HP: 32/36/40 zealot uses this ability again.
Speed: 3, run 2, dash 2
Defense: 7+ chapter Commander
Armor: 1/1/2
Attack: +1/+3/+5 Armor +1
Fray Damage: 2/3/3 Traits: Shelter
Damage: 3+chapter/5+chapter/7+chapter Command Aura: Allies in range 3 have +1 boon
Damage/save type: Either on attacks.
Tactics Aura: Staggered, Dazed, or Stunned
Shelter: Adjacent allies get +1 accuracy on saves enemies in range 3 take +2 damage
Autocure: At the start of their turn, may grant Counter Strike (Interrupt): The commander
vigor 1 to an ally in range 2 or an ally in range 3 gains evasion against an
incoming melee attack
Incanter
Leader’s strike (1 action, melee attack,
Traits: Shelter, Autocure repeatable 2): On hit: deal light damage and an
Purity: Immune to Blights ally in range 3 can dash 2 spaces.
Commander’s mark (1 action): A foe in range
Counter Curse (Interrupt): The Incanter or 4 must magic save or become marked. While
an ally in range 3 gains evasion against an marked, they lose and cannot gain stealth, and
incoming magic attack attacks against them gain true strike. They can
repeat this save at the end of their turns.
Smite (1 action, melee attack): On hit: light Forced march (1 action, stance): When
damage. Character must physical save or be Commander takes this stance, and at start of
blighted. Miss: Fray damage commander’s turn, the commander and all allies
Punishment (1 action): A foe in range 4 must in range 3 can dash 2 in the same direction.
magic save or become staggered.
Purge (1 action, recharge 4+): Cleanse ally in Cantrix
range 3
Incantation of protection (1 action, Dash 2
stance): Allies in range 3 gain +1 boon on attacks Traits: Shelter, Autocure
and either magic evasion, sturdy, or true strike Aetherwall: Cover from ranged attacks
(choose one, each one replaces the last each time
this stance is chosen). These effects do not apply Chant of investiture (1 action, stance,
to the incanter. recharge 4+): An ally in range 8 is marked by
the Cantrix and gains resistance to all damage,
Zealot sturdy, and +1 boon on all attacks and saves while
in range 8 of the Cantrix. While in this stance, the
Cantrix reduces their speed to 0. It ends if the

114 of 142

 Cantrix is shoved, stunned, dazed, or staggered, or Traits: Overdrive 3, Slow, Aetherwall

if it takes this action again.
Slumber (1 actions): A character in range 8 of Lob (1 actions, ranged attack 8): On hit:
the Cantrix must magic save or become pacified. Light magic damage. Pierce, ignores cover, inflict
If already pacified, the character is also stunned. blight. Miss: Fray damage. Blightboost: repeat the
Dissonance (1 actions, recharge 4+): A attack. The new attack does not have blightboost.
character in range 8 of the cantrix must magic Fell Shot (1 action, repeatable 2): Mark 2
save or be shoved 1 and drop all stances. unoccupied spaces in range 8. Foes or allies that
Escape (1 action) : The Cantrix swaps place pass through these spaces take piercing magic fray
with its marked ally damage as an area effect. At the start of the
siegewright's turn, any spaces created by this
ability disappear.
Entrench (1 action, stance): Aetherwall grants
Artiller damage immunity to ranged attacks instead of
resistance. Ends if the wright moves, is shoved,
Health: 5/6/7 dazed, staggered, or stunned.
HP: 20/24/28
Speed: 3, run 1, dash 1 Alchemist
Defense: 7+ chapter
Armor: 0 1 armor
Attack: +2/+4/+6 Traits: Overdrive 3, Aetherwall
Fray Damage: 2/3/4 Acid Splash: Attacks deal piercing fray damage
Damage: 3+chapter/6+chapter/10+chapter on hit or miss to all foes in range 2 of the target as
Damage/save type: Magic an area effect
Mobile: Ignores difficult terrain and terrain
Overdrive X: Deals boosted damage if the effects
current round is X or higher
Aetherwall: Cover from ranged attacks further Spray (1 actions, close blast 1, repeatable
away than range 3 2): On hit: piercing fray damage and inflict blight.
Blightboost: If attacking a blighted character, Miss: fray damage. Area effect: fray damage.
gain an increased effect. Blightboost: Increase to close blast 2.
Sticky solution (1 action, recharge 5+): An
Illwright arc 3 area adjacent to the alchemist becomes
difficult terrain for the rest of combat.
Traits: Overdrive 4, Slow, Aetherwall Flash (1 actions): A character in range 6 must
Resonance: Attacks deal boosted damage if they magic save or take magic fray damage and be
hit 3 or more targets. blighted
Power overwhelming: If overdrive has
triggered, gain flying and vigor 2
Summoner
Blast (2 actions, ranged attack 8, blast 1):
On hit: Heavy magic damage and inflict blight. Dash 1
Miss: Light magic damage. Area effect: Light Traits: Overdrive 3
damage. Blightboost: Increase to blast 2.
Flash (1 actions): A character in range 6 must Summon (1 action, repeatable 2): Summon
magic save or take magic fray damage and be two mobs (of any type, by default the chaff mob)
blighted with the summon type in unoccupied space in
Aethersup (1 actions): Tick down Overdrive range 3 of the Summoner. They take a normal
counter by 1 turn this round. If overdrive has triggered,
summon 3 mobs with this action instead.
Siegewright Puppetmaster (1 action, stance): An allied
summon in range is marked. While marked, it

115 of 142

 gains vigor 1, regeneration 1, pierce on all its next turn. Immediately ends if reduced below
abilities, and doubles its speed. 50% hp, and can’t take while bloody.
Great Summon (2 actions, recharge 6): Great Bash (1 action recharge 4+): Dash
Summon a soldier with the Summon type and forward up to 3 spaces, then an adjacent foe must
25% max hp. physical save or take light damage and be be
shoved 3 spaces. Collide: stun.
Arbalest Blackheart (3 actions, melee attack,
Multiattack 2): On hit: deal light damage. Miss:
Dash 1 light damage. Boost on hit damage to heavy if
Traits: Overdrive 3, Slow character is stunned or dazed.

Hurried shot (1 action, ranged attack 4): +1

curse. On hit: light damage.
Rogu
Aim (2 actions): Boost damage of next ranged
attack, and double range. Health: 6/7/8
Heart Seeker (2 actions, range 5, pierce): HP: 36/42/48
Attack: On hit: heavy physical damage. Miss: fray Speed: 5, run 3, dash 5
damage. Cannot target adjacent characters. Defense: 9+ chapter
Armor: 0
Attack: +2/+4/+6
Fray Damage: 1/2/3
Elit Damage: 3+chapter/6+chapter/10+chapter
Damage/save type: Either

Traits: Skirmisher, Stealth, Dodge, Finishing

Archo Blow
Elite: Takes 2 turns and has 3 actions
Evasion: Permanent evasion
Health: 8/9/10 Greater Stealth: Not targetable from outside
HP: 64/72/80 range 3
Speed: 4, run 2, dash 4
Defense: 6+ chapter Wicked Slice (2 actions, melee attack,
Armor: 2/3/4 multiattack 2): On hit: light physical damage.
Attack: +0/+2/+4 Effect: Boost damage vs blind characters.
Fray Damage: 2/2/3 Vile (1 actions): A foe in range 5 must magic
Damage: 3+chapter/5+chapter/7+chapter save or become blind and blighted
Damage/save type: Physical Danse Macabre (2 actions, recharge 5+):
Target a blast 2 area. Teleport three times. May
Traits: Defiance, Guardian, Vigilance deal light damage as an area effect to an adjacent
Elite: Takes 2 turns and has 3 actions foe each time. Must choose a different hostile
Strength: All attacks have shove 1 character each time unless every character has
Poise: Sturdy above 50% hp been hit at least once.
Rage: Under 25% hp, gains unstoppable and Deumbra (1 action, repeatable 2): Teleport 2
regeneration 1. spaces

Ravage (1 action, melee attack, repeatable

3): On hit: Fray damage, true strike, and Archpries
character must physical save or be dazed. If a foe
is already dazed increase damage to light.
Health: 8/9/10
Great Fortify (2 actions, stance): Reduce
HP: 64/72/80
max speed to 0, but gain cover and sturdy, and
Speed: 3, run 2, dash 2
apply to all allies while adjacent. Ends at start of
Defense: 7+ chapter
Armor: 1/2/3

116 of 142

 Attack: +1/+3/+5 Liminal Arrows (1 action, recharge 5+):

Fray Damage: 2/3/3 Mark all foes in line of sight and range 6. At the
Damage: 3+chapter/5+chapter/7+chapter end of those character’s turns, they take heavy
Damage/save type: Either magic damage if marked and not in cover from
the Eldenwright, then the mark ends.
Traits: Defiance, Autocure Fell Shot (1 action, repeatable 2): Mark 2
Elite: Takes 2 turns and has 3 actions unoccupied spaces in range 8. Foes or allies that
Great Shelter: Adjacent allies gain +1 boon on pass through these spaces take piercing magic fray
saves. At the start of the arch priest’s turn, all damage as an area effect. At the start of the
adjacent allies can cleanse a blight, end a eldenwright's turn, any spaces created by this
condition, or clear a mark. ability disappear.
Slip (1 action): Teleport 5
Great Holy (2 actions, ranged attack 4, Aethersup (1 action): Tick down Overdrive
blast 2): Attack: On hit: Light damage. Miss: counter by 1
Fray damage. Effect: Foes inside must magic save
or be staggered.
Seal (1 action): A foe in range 5 must magic Monstrosit
save or become pacified.
Immaculate (1 action): An ally in range 5 Monstrosities are built to be worthy foes for a
becomes Intangible until the start of its next turn. whole party of characters. They have high hit
Cannot choose the same ally twice in a row. points, abilities that can hit the whole party, and
Gran Succor (3 actions, 1/combat): All take turns after every player character turn. They
defeated characters in range 3 are returned with have a few special rules:
the summon type and 50% hp. • Due to their complexity, monstrosities can
take templates (Beast, Demon, Relict, etc) but
Eldenwrigh can’t take sub-templates (Wight, Ghoul,
Armor Demon, etc). Instead, re-flavor their
abilities as you see fit.
Health: 5/6/7 • Monstrosities have phases, which change up
HP: 40/48/56 their available actions and traits. Phases trigger
Speed: 3, run 1, dash 1 based on set factors. When a phase triggers, the
Defense: 7+ chapter Monstrosity becomes immune to all damage
Armor: 0 and effects until the start of its next turn.
Attack: +2/+4/+6 • Monstrosities have targetable body parts
Fray Damage: 2/3/4 that can disable or weaken certain abilities.
Damage: 3+chapter/6+chapter/10+chapter Body parts have the same defenses as the
Damage/save type: Magic monstrosity but a separate pool of hit points,
which doesn’t affect its main hit points.
Traits: Overdrive 6, Slow, Aetherwall However, any damage taken to body parts when
Elite: Takes 2 turns and has 3 actions they are reduce to 0 ‘spills over’ to the main
Resonance: Attacks deal boosted damage if they body.
hit 3 or more targets.
Unstable reality: After being damaged by an
attack or effect, teleport 1 in any direction. DEMOLISHE
Power overwhelming: If overdrive has
triggered, gain flying and vigor 2 The Demolisher is pure strength and rage
personified. It can be used to represent
Annihilate (2 actions, ranged attack 10, particularly colossal demons, giants, or huge
blast 1): Attack: On hit: Heavy damage and armored beasts.
inflict blight. Miss: Light damage. Area effect:
Light damage. Blightboost: Increase to blast 2. Health: 8/9/10
After attack resolves, summon a height 1 space of HP: [24/27/30] x number of player characters
terrain in the area. Speed: 5, run 3, dash 5

117 of 142

 Defense: 6+ chapter Cannot move this turn, or use on any turn that
Armor: 2/3/4 it moved. End turn and combo returns to
Attack: +0/+2/+4 Wind Up.
Fray Damage: 2/3/4
Damage: 3+chapter/5+chapter/7+chapter Phase 2: Rage mode (50% hp or under)
Damage/save type: Physical Tantrum: Gain hatred of character that
triggered phase change. Swap to the closest
Traits: Vigilance character at the start of each following turn. If
Enormous: Size 3 multiple characters are evenly close, the
Monstrosity: Takes 1 turn for every player demolisher can choose
character, and has 3 actions. If slow, only one of Rage: Gain unstoppable and regeneration 1 at
its turns is affected. 25% hp.
Colossus: Immune to immobilized and shove. Charge (1 action): Move 6. All characters it
Has phasing for characters and terrain smaller passes over must physical save or become shoved
than it and can end turn in those spaces. Ignores 1 to either side. Collide: Daze.
movement penalties for terrain. Swat (1 action): Adjacent foe must physical save
Monstrous strength: All attacks have shove 1. or be shoved 2 and staggered. Collide: also
1/round after attacking a character, create a space Stunned
of height 1 terrain adjacent to the target. Lash (1 action): The Demolisher whips a chain,
hook, or tongue around a foe in range 5. They
Body parts: must physical save or be shoved 3 or as far as
Head (10 hp) - Demolisher becomes blinded possible towards the demolisher.
(ongoing) Rage Pound (2 actions, multiattack 3):
Lash (10 hp) - Demolisher loses its lash attack Melee attack, range 2. On hit: Light damage.
Armament (10 hp) - Demolisher gets +1 curse Miss: fray damage. If a character is hit by 2 or
on all its melee attacks. Destroyed Demolisher more attacks, they are immobilized.
armament can be sold for 2 dust. Wind up (1 action, combo): End turn, become
resistant to all damage. Can use Smash.
Phases: Phase change triggers instantly when • Combo: Smash (3 actions, melee attack,
reduced to 50% hp or lower. close blast 1): On hit: heavy damage, double
damage, and character is stunned. Miss:
Phase 1: Lumbering Heavy damage. Area effect: Heavy damage.
Swat (1 action): Adjacent foe must physical save Cannot move this turn, or use on any turn that
or be shoved 2 and staggered. Collide: also it moved. End turn and combo returns to
Stunned Wind Up.
Lash (1 action): The Demolisher whips a chain,
hook, or tongue around a foe in range 5. They
must physical save or be shoved 3 or as far as
possible towards the demolisher.
Pound (2 actions, multiattack 2): Melee
attack, range 2. On hit: Light damage. Miss: fray
damage
Wind up (1 action, combo): End turn, become
resistant to all damage. Can use Roar.
• Combo: Roar (1 actions): End turn.
Characters in range 3 must magic save or take
physical piercing damage, become
immobilized, and shoved 1 towards the
Demolisher. Can use smash.
• Combo: Smash (3 actions, melee attack,
close blast 1): On hit: heavy damage, double
damage, and character is stunned. Miss:
Heavy damage. Area effect: Heavy damage.

118 of 142

 Amygdala (2 action): A character in range 3

Nocturna must magical save or be forced to flee and shoved
4 in a direction of the Nocturnal’s choice.
The Nocturnal relies on extreme mobility and fear The Horror (1 action, melee attack,
to strike down its foes. It can be used to represent repeatable 2): Attack: On hit, deal light damage.
winged demons, gargoyles, bat-like beasts, or Miss: fray damage. Effect: May teleport up to 3
other vicious predatory and cunning monsters of spaces towards target before the attack. Cannot
the night. repeat this attack on the same target.

Health: 6/7/8 Phase II: Night lord

HP: [18/21/24] x number of player characters Take to Wing: Flying in this phase
Speed: 6, run 3, dash 6 Rake (1 action, repeatable 3): Fly in a line 3
Defense: 9+ chapter area effect. Characters along the path take fray
Armor: 0 damage.
Attack: +2/+4/+6 Amygdala (1 action): A character in range 3
Fray Damage: 2/3/4 must magical save or be forced to flee and shoved
Damage: 3+chapter/6+chapter/10+chapter 4 in a direction of the Nocturnal’s choice.
Damage/save type: Either Blood drain (2 actions, melee attack): On
hit: Heavy damage. On miss: Light damage.
Traits: Skirmisher, Dodge, Finishing Blow Effect: If made against a character with Vigor,
Large: Size 2 removes all Vigor and the Nocturnal gains Vigor 1.
Monstrosity: Takes 1 turn for every player
character, and has 3 actions. If slow, only one of Phase III: Blood frenzy
its turns is affected. Blood scent: Gains Hatred of the closest bloody
Colossus: Immune to immobilized and shove. character
Has phasing for characters smaller than it, can Frenzy: 1/turn, when hitting with an attack,
end turn in those spaces. Ignores movement gains +1 action
penalties for terrain. Death Grasp (1 action, multiattack 3): Melee
attack, range 6. On hit: deal light magic damage
Body parts: and shove character up to 5 spaces towards
Head (5 hp) - Nocturnal always has the Blood Nocturnal. Miss: shove 2 spaces towards
Scent trait (phase 3) active. Nocturnal
Back (10 hp) - Nocturnal loses its Clinging Mists Rake (1 action, repeatable 3): Fly in a line 3
trait in phase I. Back spines can be sold for 2 dust area effect. Characters along the path take fray
if broken. damage.
Wings (10 hp) - Nocturnal loses its ability to fly Blood drain (2 actions, attack, Combo): On
hit: Heavy damage. On miss: Light damage.
Phases: Phase change triggers at the start of each Effect: If made against a character with Vigor,
round. The Nocturnal starts in phase II and can removes all Vigor and the Nocturnal gains Vigor 1.
shift up or down one phase (so it can’t shift from I Gains a combo in phase 3
to III for example). It must shift phases. • Combo: Embrace (2 actions): Adjacent
character must physical save. On a successful
Phase I: Slasher save, they are shoved 1 and take light piercing
Hunter: Deals boosted damage to characters physical damage. On a failed save, they are
with no adjacent allied character or summon reduced to half their current hit points, or 1
Clinging mists: The Nocturnal is intangible and hp, whichever is higher, and the Nocturnal
not visible on the map unless in range 3 of a foe or gains vigor 1.
summon controlled by a foe.
Rake (1 action, repeatable 3): Fly in a line 3
area effect. Characters along the path take fray
damage. Brood Lor

119 of 142

 The Brood Lord represents a monster that Possession Gem (20 hp): Possession costs 3
commands a legion of lesser minions, such as an actions. Characters can sell a possession gem for 4
enormous spider, a Relict Necrolord, or a insectile dust.
Demon.
Phases: The Brood Lord can switch phases at the
Health: 8/9/10 start of each round. It can be forced to switch
HP: [16/18/20] x number of player characters phases if it loses all its minions, in which case it
Speed: 4, run 2, dash 4 happens instantly.
Defense: 7+ chapter
Armor: 1/2/3 Phase 1: Darklurker
Attack: +1/+3/+5
Fray Damage: 2/3/3 Lurk: The Brood Lord is intangible in this phase
Damage: 3+chapter/5+chapter/7+chapter and cannot summon new minions. If all its
Damage/save type: Either summons are destroyed, it is immediately forced
into phase 2.
Traits: Shelter, Autocure Looming Shadow: The Brood Lord’s space is
Large: Size 2 difficult terrain for hostile characters and allied
Monstrosity: Takes 1 turn for every player characters spend 0 movement to cross spaces in
character, and has 3 actions. If slow, only one of the area.
its turns is affected. Brood assault (free action, 1/turn): Up to 3
Colossus: Immune to immobilized and shove. brood minions make an attack, using the brood
Has phasing for characters smaller than it, can lord’s attack bonus. On hit, deal fray damage. Deal
end turn in those spaces. Ignores movement fray damage twice if at least one other brood
penalties for terrain. summon is adjacent.
Legion: The Broodlord starts combat with 5 of its Shadow spines (1 action, melee attack,
unique summons per player character, which can repeatable 2): Close blast 1. On hit: light
be placed in any space on the battlefield not damage. Miss or area effect: Fray damage. Allies
within range 2 of players. are immune.
Great Puppeteer (1 action): Up to three allies
Brood Minions: The Brood Lord creates unique in range of the Broad Lord can dash 4
summons with its abilities. It can summon any Possess (1 action, stance): An allied character
combination of the following minions, which all or summon in range 10 of the Brood Lord gains +1
have defense 7+chapter and 1 hp by default. They action, +1 boon on attacks and saves, and vigor
can move 4 spaces when the Brood Lord takes equal to the Brood Lord’s health. Can only possess
their turn, otherwise cannot take actions by one character at once.
themselves unless specified. Evolve Brood (3 actions): Destroy one brood
• Clawing Brood: Foes treat spaces adjacent summon and replace it with an Impaler, Sledge,
clawing brood as difficult terrain. or Skulk. This new unit has the summon type and
• Grappler Brood: Characters that start their only 25% max hp.
turn next to an Grappler brood must physical
save or be shoved 2 in a direction of the Brood Phase 2: Despoiler
Lord’s choice
• Crusher Brood: 1/1/2 armor. Characters that Spawn (3 actions, 1/round): The Brood Lord
start their turn adjacent to 1 or more crusher spawns a new unique minion in any space on the
brood must physical save or become dazed or battlefield that’s not in range 2 of a player. They
staggered (Brood Lord’s choice). summon 2 unique summons per players
Brood assault (free action, 1/turn): Up to 3
Body Parts: brood minions make an attack, using the brood
Brood Control (15 hp): Brood can only move 2 lord’s attack bonus. On hit, deal fray damage. Deal
spaces instead of 4, and brood assault becomes 1 fray damage twice if at least one other brood
action. summon is adjacent.
Spines (10 hp): Shadow spines can only be used Shadow spines (1 action, melee attack,
once repeatable 2): Close blast 1. On hit: light

120 of 142

 damage. Miss or area effect: Fray damage. Allies Heartscale (15 HP): Loses Heavy Armor trait
are immune. and all armor.
Great Puppeteer (1 action): Up to three allies Horns (15 HP): Wyrm gains permanent hatred
in range of the Broad Lord can dash 4 of the player that destroyed the horns
Possess (1 actions, stance): An allied Tail (15 HP): Tail lash costs 3 actions.
character or summon in range 10 of the Brood Characters can sell a Wyrm tail for 4 dust.
Lord gains +1 action, +1 boon on attacks and
saves, and vigor equal to the Brood Lord’s vigor. Phases:
Can only possess one character at once. Enters a new phase at the start of every round, in
Screaming spire (3 actions): The Brood Lord order (looping back to phase I after phase III).
summons a height 1 terrain piece in any free space Since the Wyrm enters God of Destruction the
not adjacent to a player character. Foes in range 2 round its Overdrive triggers, characters should
of the spire take double damage from summons, aim to end the fight by then.
and allied summons have dodge in the same area.
Attacks automatically hit the spire, and it is Phase I: Dominant
destroyed after taking 10 damage. The Brood Lord Cataclysm: At the start of each turn, create a
can only create one spire at once. rock spire, a height 1 terrain piece in range 3 of a
player character.
Snap (1 action, repeatable 3): Character in
range 2 must physical save or take piercing fray
Wyr damage
Swat (1 action): Adjacent character must
A Wyrm is a flying serpentine monster famous in physical save or be shoved 3, staggered, and
legend and myth, a lesser god of destruction that dazed. Collide: also Stunned
wreaks havoc on towns and villages. Eruption (2 actions): A Rock spire in range 3
emits a pool of blight, covering every adjacent
Health: 5/6/7 space to the spire. The space is dangerous and
HP: [15/18/21] x number of players difficult terrain, and characters that end their turn
Speed: 6, run 3, dash 3 in the space are blighted.
Defense: 7+ chapter Tail Lash (2 actions, melee attack, Arc 4):
Armor: 2/2/3 Attack: On hit: Heavy damage. Miss: Fray
Attack: +2/+4/+6 damage. Area effect: Light damage and Shove 1.
Fray Damage: 2/3/4 Must target a character in its area. Destroys any
Damage: 3+chapter/6+chapter/10+chapter rock spires in the area.
Damage/save type: Magic
Phase II: Soaring
Heavy Armor: Immune to pierce over 50% hp Take to Wing: Flying in this phase
Rage of Arenheir: Overdrive 6 Rake (1 action, repeatable 3): Fly in a line 5
Enormous: Size 3 area effect. Characters along the path take fray
Monstrosity: Takes 1 turn for every player damage.
character, and has 3 actions. If slow, only one of Spitfire (1 action, repeatable 2): Mark a
its turns is affected. character in range 6. At the end of that character’s
Colossus: Immune to immobilized and shove. turn, if that character is marked, the Wyrm shoots
Has phasing for characters smaller than it, can a blast of blight at them for a blast 1 explosion
end turn in those spaces. Ignores movement area effect. Characters within must magic save or
penalties for terrain. take light damage and be blighted. The ball
Blightheart: Wyrms deal one of the four blights destroys any rock spires in the area.
exclusively, except for in their God of Destruction Scorch (2 actions, attack): Range 8, Blast 1.
phase. Pick one when creating the Wyrm. On hit: light damage: Miss or area effect: light
damage. Blightboost: Increase all damage to
Body Parts heavy.
Wings (15 HP): Cannot fly Tail Lash (2 actions, melee attack, Arc 4):
Attack: On hit: Heavy damage. Miss: Fray

121 of 142

 damage. Area effect: Light damage and Shove 1.

Must target a character in its area. Destroys any
rock spires in the area.

Phase III: God of Destruction

The Wyrm loses flying in this phase

Pulse of Destruction: The Wyrm’s max speed

is 0 this phase. Every turn but the last turn this
phase, the Wyrm must take the radiance action.
The Wyrm is unstoppable and has resistance to all
damage in this phase. The Wyrm’s last turn is
slow, and it always takes Elden Chaos and
Aftermath in order.

Radiance (2 actions): All characters not in

cover from the Wyrm take light damage as an area
effect.
Spitfire (1 action): Mark a character in range 6.
At the end of that character’s turn, if that
character is marked, the Wyrm shoots a blast of
blight at them for a blast 1 explosion area effect.
Characters within must magic save or take light
damage and be blighted. The ball destroys any
rock spires in the area.

Elden Chaos (2 actions, ranged attack): The

Wyrm breathes a beam of pure ancient chaos. The
beam is a 3 wide line area effect that crosses
through all obstacles, terrain, and goes across the
whole battlefield. Attack: On hit, deal heavy magic
damage three times and inflict all blights. Miss or
area effect: Deal light damage twice and inflict all
blights.
Aftermath (1 action): All characters except the
wyrm are dazed (save ends). Destroy all rock
spires and clear all eruptions.

122 of 142

 FACTION Defiant Spark: All Relict have Defiance

Monsters: Relict do not flee or negotiate.
Faction Blight: Electrified

Relicts all have the Wight template applied to

them by default:
Relict
Wight
Networked: +1 boon on all attacks if another
Relict is adjacent to their target
Shuffle: A wight can move 1 space forward at the
start of their turn. When they do this, they can
also move any wights that are contiguously
connected to them via adjacency.

For every 1 points worth of Wights in an

encounter, one of the following templates can be
applied to an enemy:

Heavies or Leaders
Idol
Some Relict are walking statues powered by an
amalgamation of feeble souls.
+25% hp
Large: Increase size to 2
Combat subroutine: Has hatred of the closest
character
Imbued strength: All melee damage is boosted
and gains shove 1.
Stone march: Slow and cannot dash, run, or
teleport.
Heavy: Immune to shove.
Relict are the most common danger that
adventurers face in the ruins of Arden Eld. They
Fused
are the spectral remnants of the Arken Empire,
Some relict have become fused due to damaged
souls bound in an Aetheric network that runs
networks. The result is a large, fused mass of
through the ruins by an ancient Eldmage as a
tormented souls.
last ditch effort to save a dying people. The
+25% hp
process was technically successful, but most relict
Large: Increase size to 2
have been left mindless husks - souls harnessed
Deadsoul: Has evasion and dodge vs magic
and stored in lightning powered sarcophagus-
Shambling: Permanently staggered and dazed
like nodes nestled throughout the ruins. Relict
Release passengers: When defeated, summon
armor sits eerily still, or crumpled into a corner,
4 relict chaff mobs in free adjacent spaces.
until its a node senses intruders, the Relict within
rippling out through conduits to manifest in
crackling undeath. Skirmishers or Artillery
Ghoul
There are some Relict - a priest class - that have Some relict have learned to survive by absorbing
retained more sense of themselves and work at their brethren to boost their sense of self.
dark purpose to resurrect the old empire and Sparkfeed (2 actions): The relict absorbs an
bring back the arkenlords. adjacent defeated relict, destroying its ally and

123 of 142

 gaining vigor 2. It doubles its speed for the rest of Ferocity: On the first round of combat, beasts
combat the first time it uses this ability. double their speed.
Electrostatic death: When destroyed, this Flank: While two or more beasts are adjacent to
character explodes in a blast 1 area effect for light a character hostile to them, that character takes
damage. If it used sparkfeed, boost this damage to +2 damage from their attacks
heavy. Feral: Always have hatred of the character that
damaged them last, or the closest character (can
choose either).

Beasts have no restricted sub-templates. Instead,

choose a type of beast, which gives it some
additional traits and limits its job selection.

Heavy Beasts:

Stone Lizard
Thick hides and stony camouflage make these
large beasts almost impossible to tell from
boulders.
Dire Hide: Resistant to physical damage above
50% hp
Heavy Armor: Immune to pierce above 50% hp
Rolling Boulder: Gains character phasing, and
when moving through foes for the first time in a
round, they are shoved 1 to the side and take fray
damage
Flank: If two or more hostile characters are
adjacent, lost all armor

Halitoad
Wraith: The enormous and foul-smelling Halitoad uses its
Tethered to the network, relict can float on the long tongue to strangle and digest its prey.
air with eerie grace, flickering in and out of Large: Increase size to 2
existence. Stench: Melee attacks have +1 curse. Characters
Reduce hp by 50% starting their turns in an adjacent space are
Immortal rage: When defeated, instead become poisoned.
Intangible for one round. At the end of that Tongue lash (1 action): A foe in range 4 must
round, evaporate from the battlefield. physical save or be shoved 3 towards the Halitoad
Ethereal: Flying, phasing, and intangible unless Tongue Constrict (2 actions, stance,
there’s an adjacent foe recharge 4+): Adjacent foe must physical save
Slip (1 action): Teleport 3 or become immobilized, stunned, and take light
piercing damage at the start of the beast’s turns.
Beast cannot move while in this stance and it ends
if beast is stunned, staggered, dazed, or shoved. A
Ruin Beas character can also repeat the save at the end of
their turn to end this effect.
The ruins are full of wildlife that has adapted to
their unique environment over time - or have Horned Beast
been changed or warped by it. Large omnivores that use their horns to tear up
dungeon stones and get at the roots and insects
Monsters: Beasts do not flee or negotiate. within.
Faction Blight: Poisoned Large: Increase size to 2

124 of 142

 Gore (2 actions, recharge 4+): The Horned Chameleonic: When starting or ending its turn
Beast dashes up to 5 spaces. An adjacent character adjacent to cover, gains stealth
must then physical save or take light damage and Decoy (Interrupt 1, recharge 5+): When hit
be shoved for each space the beast moved, or half by an attack, turns that hit into a miss and
on a successful save. teleports 3 spaces to an unoccupied space it can
Strength: All attacks gain shove 1 see, which is its ‘real’ location.

Howler Leader Beasts

Part ape, part wolf, the Howler is a hyper
aggressive monster with a bad temper. Aethertick
Howl (2 actions, recharge 6): All non-howler This slow moving bug absorbs ambient Aether
characters in a blast 1 must physical save or be from its Environment.
stunned Aether-fatted: Permanently slow. Rewards 1
Rage: Gains unstoppable and regeneration 1 at dust after the fight if characters fought at least one
25% hp or lower. Aether tick.
Sonic screech (1 action): A character in range Absorb Aether: 1/round, gains vigor 1 when a
3 must magical save or become dazed. If already magic ability is used in range 3
dazed, shove 2 and deal light magic damage Rune skin: Resistant to magic damage above
50% hp
Skirmisher beasts Disperse Aether (1 action, recharge 5+):
Allies in range 3 gain vigor 1. Increase this to vigor
Burrower 2 if the Aethertick has any amount of vigor.
A heavy clawed mammal that chews up and
digests raw stone into a slurry which it uses to Ruin Ape
make its lair. Small and intelligent simians that form
Burrow (1 action, recharge 4+): Mark a symbiotic, if slightly one-sided, relationships
character. At the start of the beast’s next turn, if with other monsters.
that character is still marked, it teleports to a Small: +1 curse on all physical saves. Shoves
space adjacent to that character, dealing light shove +1 against this character
damage. If the character is flying, they take no Latch: Starts combat sharing the same space as
damage. If the character is alone, they take heavy another ally the same size or larger (can be
piercing damage instead and must physical save targeted separately), reducing the ape’s speed to 0
or become vulnerable. but moving when its mount moves, and gains
Digging Claws: Attacks gain pierce if a character cover while latched on. Knocked off if shoved,
has no adjacent allies dazed, staggered, or stunned. Can latch on to a
new allied character in range 3 with 1 action,
Ironfeather teleporting to its space.
This greedy avian’s feathers are spine-like and Spur (1 action, recharge 4+): The character
can be shot like quills at range. the Ruin Ape is latched on to dashes 4 in a
Winged: Gain flying at the end of their turn. direction of the Ape’s choice and can make an
Lose flying if shoved, stunned, dazed, or attack that takes 1 action or less as an interrupt
staggered.
Feather spray (1 action, recharge 4+): Yellow Creeper
Characters in a close blast 1 area take fray damage This parasitic creature has a symbiotic fungus
twice as an area effect. that it uses to control other creatures.
Spore (1 action): The Creeper puts down two
Stalker intangible summons in free spaces in range 3.
This reptilian creature will follow parties for Characters that pass through these spaces gain
days, and has the uncanny ability to mimic spore infestation for the rest of combat. While
speech. they have a spore infestation, they are staggered
Ambush: Attacks that break stealth gain true and gain regeneration 1. Spore infestations can be
strike and deal bonus damage Cleansed.

125 of 142

 Spore detonate (2 actions, recharge 6): A • Flee: If a Scavenger has 4 or more valuables
character with a spore infestation explodes, tokens, they attempt to flee the battlefield,
dealing heavy damage in a blast 1 area as an area fleeing successfully if they start their turn in an
effect. Characters within the area can save to edge space of the battlefield with no hostile
reduce damage to light damage. The host fails this characters adjacent
save. The spore infestation on the targeted Faction Blight: Poisoned or Burning
character then ends. Valuables: If fighting scavengers, place 3
Puppet (1/turn, free action): A staggered valuables tokens on the battlefield. Valuables are
character (foe or ally) in range 5 is shoved 3 intangible tokens that can be picked up by any
spaces in a direction of the creeper’s choosing. character by moving over their space. Characters
drop them when defeated. At the end of an
Artillery Beasts expedition, all characters gain 1 dust for every 2
valuables tokens the party has as a whole.
Ruin Centipede
All scavengers have the ruffian template by
These huge, man sized insects are a potent
default:
symbol of bad luck in most villages.
Acid Splash: Attacks deal piercing fray damage
on hit or miss to all foes in range 2 of the target as Ruffian
an area effect Corner fighting: At the start of their turns,
Toxic spines (1 action, recharge 6): A ruffians can dash 1 as a free action
character in range 5 must physical save or become Greed: Deal +2 damage against characters with
poisoned and instantly lose all vigor. at least one valuable token

For every 1 points worth of Ruffians, one of the

Gulper
following templates can be applied to any job:
This amphibian exudes a thick layer of slime
when threatened, which it can spit as a weapon.
Slime Lob (1 action, recharge 6): The Gulper Toe-taker
creates a blast 1 area of difficult terrain. Dust congregates under the fingernails and toes
Characters in the area when it’s created must save of travelers in the ruins, with predictable
or become immobilized. The area lasts for the rest influences on the truly desperate.
of combat, or until the Gulper uses this ability Drop valuables: When reduced below 50% hp,
again. toe takers drop 1 valuables in an adjacent space,
Slippery: Gains evasion under 50% hp plus any valuables they are already carrying.
Venomous: Inflict poisoned on any adjacent Consumptive Greed: Toe Takers have hatred of
character that damages them any character with a valuables token and deal
boosted damage against them.

Scavenge Looter
Kin that care little for what they carry out, only
Scavengers is a particular term in Arden Eld, that it glitters.
referring to the scions of the Churning Age - Loot sack: When defeated, a looter drops any
those who rush into the ruins in search of relics to valuables they have, plus 2.
extract for a quick profit. Many find that it is Mug (2 action, recharge 4+): An adjacent
easier to have others do the hard work for them, character must physical save or become stunned.
then rob them blind on the way out. On a failed save, the Looter also steals all
valuables from the character.
Kin: Scavengers are kin, can be bargained with,
and will flee or surrender if heavily outnumbered Quickfinger
or heavily losing a fight Trained thieves from city guilds often find
• Motivations: Scavengers are typically after the comfortable homes with scavenger bands.
wealth in the ruins and won’t fight if terms can Prowl: A quick finger gains stealth at the end of
be reached their turn

126 of 142

 Decoy (Interrupt 1, recharge 5+): When hit • Commanding Officer: Designate one foe the
by an attack, turns that hit into a miss and commanding officer of the imperial detachment.
teleports 3 spaces to an unoccupied space it can They get a special template.
see, which is its ‘real’ location.
Pick pockets (1 action, recharge 4+): An Special Mob: Auxiliary
adjacent character must physical save or become
dazed as their loose change is pilfered. The quick
finger gains 1 valuables, even on a successful save. Auxiliary
Made of of levies pressed into service from
Shank captured villages and towns and armed with
heavy arquebuses.
Rough and tumble street fighters, come to the
HP: 1
ruins to turn a quick guilder.
Speed: 3, run 1, dash 2
Backstab: When a shank makes an attack
Defense: 8
against a character adjacent to one of their allies,
Attack: +1/2/3
their attacks gain true strike or pierce (they can
Mob: This character doesn’t trigger slay effects
choose).
Sucker punch (1 action): An adjacent
Firelance (2 actions, ranged attack): Attack:
character must physical save or become dazed. If
On hit, deal 1 damage. Increase to 3 if in the
the character is holding any valuables, they also
command aura of an imperial officer.
drop them in adjacent spaces.

Special template: Imperial Officer

IMPERIA Any job
Poise: Sturdy above 50% hp
Arkentech Power armor: Start combat with
The great cities of Arden Eld are growing,
Vigor 1. Immune to blights, difficult, and
stretching at their limits. Some have crowned
dangerous terrain
kings, dictators, or patricians. Other set their
Command Aura: Allies in range 3 of the
ambitions higher - to create a nation, or recreate
Imperial officer have +1 boon on attacks. Other
the old empire - a terrible endeavor indeed. The
Imperial units may gain bonuses while in any
leaders of the Imperials are single-minded people
Command Aura (this trait, or a trait with the same
in love with regalia, the war-banner, the factory,
name).
and the clang of steel. They worship the musket.
Their soldiers on the ground are less enthusiastic,
Imperials all have the Legionnaire template
but given the chance, they will trample the Green
applied to them by default:
into mud and ashes none the less.

Kin: Imperials are kin, can be bargained with, Legionnaire

and will flee or surrender if heavily outnumbered Receive orders: When this unit starts its turn in
or heavily losing a fight range of a command aura, it recharges all its
• Motivations: Imperials have orders they are abilities.
following from whatever guild master, warlord, Rifle (2 actions, recharge 6): Ranged attack,
or under-baron they serve. Usually this is to range 8. On hit, deal light piercing damage and
capture a location, object of power, or person of inflict burning.
interest. If characters can work around those
orders, Imperials can usually be bargained with For every 1 points worth of Legionnaires, one of
or even be helpful. the following templates can be applied:
• Flee: When the commanding officer of an
Imperial detachment is defeated, there’s a 20% Heavy Imperials
chance the remaining imperials will attempt to
flee or will surrender on the spot. Praetorian
• Faction Blight: Burning Armed with Arkentech armor, these heavy
imperial troops are a fearsome sight.
Improved armor: Armor +1

127 of 142

 Receive orders: When this unit starts its turn in Arkentech mine (1 actions, recharge 6): The
range of a command aura, it recharges all its Demolitionist places an intangible size 1 summon
abilities. in a space in range 3. If any character moves or is
Heavy Armor: Immune to pierce above 50% hp shoved more than 1 space over or adjacent to the
Flank: If adjacent to 2 or more foes, lose all mine, it explodes for heavy damage in a blast 1
armor area effect and inflicts burning.
Flame hurler (1 action, recharge 6): Line 3. Detonate mines (2 actions): All mines laid by
True strike. Inflict fray damage and burning as an the demolitionist explode as if triggered.
area effect on all within.
Leader Imperials
War Beast
This large, bear-like imperial beasts are bred for
Drillmaster
war and fitted with armor.
Retired officers that sometimes go into battle to
Improved armor: Armor +1
complete the training of levies and legionnaires
Large: Increase size to 2
with brutal discipline.
Heavy Armor: Immune to pierce above 50% hp
Tactics Aura: Staggered, dazed, or stunned
Frenzy: When hitting with an attack, can
enemies in range 3 take +2 damage
immediately make another attack with an action
Discipline (Interrupt 1): When an ally in the
cost of 1 or less as a free action. This free attack
tactics aura misses with an attack, the Drillmaster
doesn’t trigger frenzy.
can use this interrupt to cause them to re-roll the
Leashed: Designate another character the
attack with +1 boon, taking the second result as
handler. Can only take 1 action maximum, loses
the final result.
all armor, and cannot trigger frenzy unless
adjacent to the handler or in a command aura.
Artillerist
Skirmisher Imperials Furnished with the latest scopes and tech,
Artillerists bring the imperial firepower to bear.
Firing Drills: The ranged attacks of allies in
Imperial Spy range 3 ignore cover
Top line imperial operatives, trained at a guild Spotter (1 action, recharge 4+): Mark a
academy character in range 8 and line of sight. That
Receive orders: When this unit starts its turn in character becomes Vulnerable (ongoing) to
range of a command aura, it recharges all its ranged attacks while marked and cannot gain
abilities. stealth. A character can repeat the save at the end
Disguise (1 action, recharge 6): A foe in of their turn to end this effect.
range 5 must magic save. On a failed save, the Spy
switches places with them, teleporting both
Artillery Imperials
characters.
Explosive Decoy (1 action, recharge 6): The
Spy teleports 3 spaces, gains stealth, and leaves an Imperial Sniper
explosive decoy in its space. The decoy is a A college-trained wright or gunwright with a
summon with 1 hp. As an action by the spy, or pedigree in precision combat
when damaged, the decoy explodes for light Receive orders: When this unit starts its turn in
damage in a blast 1 area effect, destroying it and range of a command aura, it recharges all its
inflicting magical fray damage and burning. abilities.
Brace: When adjacent to cover, increase the
Imperial Demolitionist range of all ranged attacks with a listed range by
+3, and increase all line attacks by +3
Laden with explosives, demolitionists blow doors
Deploy cover (1 action, recharge 6, 2/
in ruins, gatehouses of cities, or collapse tunnels
combat): The sniper creates a space of height 1
below armies.
terrain in an adjacent space
Receive orders: When this unit starts its turn in
range of a command aura, it recharges all its
abilities. Imperial Powdermage

128 of 142

 Imperial wrights are often fitted with the latest Defense: 5

in powder technology - rotary six guns that Attack: +0
mimic the Holy Chambers wielded by the Mob: This character doesn’t trigger slay effects
Freelancers. Summon: Natals disappear when reduced to 0
Receive orders: When this unit starts its turn in hp.
range of a command aura, it recharges all its
abilities. 0 armor, run 2, dash 3
Pistol (1/round, free action): The powder Void vomit (2 actions): Deal 1 piercing damage
mage fires a pistol at a character in range 5, as an effect to a character in range 3.
dealing piercing fray damage as an effect.
Pistol flurry (2 actions, recharge 6): The Demons have no restricted sub-templates.
powder mage uses Pistol on all visible hostile Instead, pick a type of Demon, which limits its job
characters in range 5. selection and gives it some traits and actions.

Heavy Demons
DEMO
Starving Demon
These skeletal demons swell to enormous size
The origin of Demons is a mystery, but most
when they absorb their defeated foes.
scholars agree they appear to be closely related
Flesh Hook (1 action, recharge 4+): A
to the Doom. They are among the most
character in range 4 must pass a physical save or
dangerous and fearsome creatures that lurk in
be shoved towards the demon as much as possible
the deep levels of the Arkenruins, existing
Cleave (1 action, repeatable 2): Deal piercing
seemingly only to destroy. Whenever they
fray damage as an effect.
appear, they drive other creatures to the surface
Feast: Devour only costs 1 action for this Demon,
in a Blight.
and it can dash 1 before using it
Engorge: Increase size by 1 and gains +1 action
Monsters: Demons do not flee or negotiate.
for the rest of combat if it feasted.
Faction Blight: Any
Legion: When fighting demons, at the start of
combat, place three Natals on the map in Armor Demon
unoccupied space somewhere outside of range 2 These knight-like demons fight with no sense of
of players. These don’t count for the total self preservation and crush all before them.
encounter budget. Hellforged: Increase armor by +3
Devour (2 actions): The Demon devours and Heavy Armor: Above 50% hp, immune to pierce
absorbs an adjacent Natal or another defeated Flank: If adjacent to 2 or more hostile characters,
Demon, healing 25% of their HP and gaining vigor lose all armor
1. A Natal devoured this way is destroyed. Crush Bones (2 actions): Choose an adjacent
Banish: A character can disintegrate an adjacent character. That character is immobilized and the
defeated demon as an action, returning it to the Armor Demon becomes Slow. At the start of the
void from which it came. Armor Demon’s next turn, if that character is still
adjacent, they take critical piercing damage with
Special Mob: Natal true strike as an effect. The targeted character can
save against this effect as normal.
Natals are immature demons, smooth, pale-
skinned humanoids. Wherever demons appears,
breaching the veil between worlds, they Gaping Demon
inevitably pour forth. This demon is almost all mouth, teeth, and
tongue, which nearly splits its body in two.
Natal Large: Increase size to 2
Feast: Devour only costs 1 action for this Demon,
and it can dash 1 before using it.
HP: 1
Invigorate: When the Mouth Demon uses
Speed: 3
Devour, it also recharges any abilities it has

129 of 142

 Swallow Whole (2 actions, recharge 5+): A

adjacent character must physical save or be Leader Demons
removed from play as they are swallowed. While
swallowed, they share the space with the Mouth
Bulging Demon
Demon, their max speed is 0, they can only use
This demon’s grayish skin shifts and bulges
actions that target the Mouth Demon, and become
unnaturally.
untargetable and intangible. At the start of each of
Regeneration 1
their turns, they take light piercing damage, and
Large: Increase size to 2
at the end of their turn they can save against this
Disgorge: When reduced to 50% hp, summon
effect. Saving against this effect places them in a
two natal in free spaces in range 3
free adjacent space
Last Revenge: When reduce to 0 HP, explodes
in a blast 1 area effect. Non-demons in the area
Skirmisher Demons must magical save or take light magic damage and
be blighted. Summon 3 Natals in the area.
Hollow Demon Venomous: Inflict poisoned on any attacker if
This demon is barely there, a hole in reality that struck by a melee attack
sucks in the air at the edges. Hands occasionally
grip the edges of the hole. Cutter Demon
Reduce hp by 50% This demon’s arms end in cutting blades with
Ethereal: Flying, phasing, and intangible unless black, reflective edges.
there’s an adjacent hostile character Void rift (1 action): Create a line 3 area of
Void Touch: Inflicts blight with all attacks, hit or difficult terrain in range 5. This area lasts until the
miss end of combat or until the demon uses this ability
Pure Void: When a Hollow is destroyed, create again. Demons can use it for cover and ignore its
impassable terrain in its space. At the start of each difficult terrain
round, summon a Natal in an adjacent space to Void Slip: The Defiler can spend 1 space of
the void. Destroy the void after combat. movement when moving into a Void Rift to move
to the space of any other void rift.
Prowling Demon Detonate rifts (2 actions, recharge 6+): Any
This bestial demon has the ability to become characters standing in or adjacent to a void rift
insubstantial, retreating to the void from whence must magical save or take heavy damage, be
it was spawned when in danger. shoved 1, and become inflicted with frostbite. All
Defiance, Prowl rifts then disappear, and the Defiler cannot make
Phase slip: After being damaged for the first any more rifts this combat.
time in a turn (any turn), become intangible until
the start of the following turn Puppeteer Demon
Void shift (2 actions, recharge 6): Teleport This silent demon is made up of woven strings,
to a visible space and can unweave itself to link to the vital forces
of other creatures
Screaming Demon White Strings: All demons and allied summons
This demon is full of holes that make a high in range 3 can dash 3 spaces as an effect. All foes
pitched shriek when it moves. in the area must magic save or be shoved 1
Large: Increase size to 2 Black Strings (1 action, recharge 5+): A
Terror: Characters that attempt to move into an character in range 5 must magic save. On a failed
adjacent space for the first time on their turn or save, they teleport up to 3 spaces to the nearest
star their turn there must pass a magic save or ally and deal light damage to them as an effect.
treat spaces adjacent to the Demon as impassable Detonate Natal (1 action, recharge 5+): A
terrain. If they start their turn there and fail a natal in range 3 is destroyed, and explodes for a
save, they are shoved 1 blast 1 explosion area effect. Characters in range
Shrieking: When the Screaming Demon attacks, must magic save or take light magic damage.
characters in range 2 of it must physical save or
lose any stances they are holding Artillery Demons

130 of 142

 Lurking Demon
This reptilian demon’s skin constantly shifts to
match its surroundings.
Dodge
Chameleonic: When starting or ending its turn
adjacent to cover, gains stealth
Void rift (1 action): Create a line 3 area of
difficult terrain in range 5. This area lasts until the
end of combat or until the demon uses this ability
again. Demons can use it for cover and ignore its
difficult terrain

Unstable Demon
This demon is a barely controlled chaos, it svery
form constantly twisting and warping
Implode: If the Unstable Demon reaches its
overcharge counter, it explodes, dealing light
piercing damage as an area effect to all non-
demon characters on the battlefield.
Chaos: Unstable demon attacks inflict all four
blights

Color Demon
This demon is a color that cannot be named.
Looking at it too long hurts.
Distorted Soul: Above 50% hp gain resistance
to all physical damage and gain flying. Below 50%
hp, gain resistance to all magic damage and gain
Absorb Aether.
• Absorb Aether: Gain 1 vigor when a magic
ability is used in range 3.
Distort space: All Natals in range 3 are
intangible

131 of 142

 DEEPTOWE
Deeptower is a simple expedition for level 1 or The top of the tower broke off and was lost
level 2 characters. Try it at level 2 if you want to somewhere during its ascent from the deep earth,
test limit breaks and for characters to have more but the bottom half is still intact. The Chroniclers
options. You can use it as a jumping off point to who noted the event on their seismographs have
get people into the game and write your own named the sinister ruin Deeptower.
material.
Persons of Interest and hook
REWARDS: 6 xp, 3 dust. There’s some extra Here are some folk that players might run into in
arkentech and dust possible, and camp upgrade. town, and a quick description of each. You can use
CAMPS: 1 any or all of them as hooks for players to go to the
tower.

The Tow Elder Yu:

Beastfolk (goblin), Yeokin, he/him
Oxbridge is a small, tight-knit farming A wizened goblin beast folk who is the town elder.
community, a collection of twenty or homesteads, He speaks slowly and his great age is apparent. He
barns, and a small town square surrounded by has two foster sons and has kept the town safe for
fields of green and small town shrine to the local two decades or so.
spirits. Ruins haven’t surfaced near here for Hook: Elder Yu may get a boy to approach
generations, and the valley surrounding the town characters as they come into town, imploring
is quiet, bucolic, and peaceful. It’s a cozy town, them to see him, or may have called them in the
with a welcoming, peaceful, and friendly vibe. The first place. He’s in a desperate state. His foster son
thatch of the houses is overgrown with grass, Gwyn has been missing for several days after
neighbors sit outside in the evenings and gossip, staying out later for work, and his other foster son
and the gardens and windowsills are lush with Cado is in a terrible depression because of it.
wildflowers and vegetables. Everyone knows each There are also lights in the tower, making the
other. Elder think that people are camped there, or
worse. He suspects that Gwyn’s disappearance
There’s also the eponymous Ox bridge, just was connected to the tower or people who have
outside of town, where the local herders drive come to plunder it. Yu will promise payment in
their cattle before coming into town to trade. It’s dust if characters can find what happened to his
old, perhaps pre-empire, massive, and made of son and bring him back… or his body.
red stone that has weathered the rest of time.
Cado
Thrynn, Yeokin, he/him
The Towe A teenager. Anxious and quiet, and gangly. Won’t
talk to the players without some prodding or
There’s an undercurrent of anxiety running
action on the part of the players to get him to
through the town. Just three days ago, an
open up. Players might see him acting
Arkenruin surfaced about half a day by foot, up in
suspiciously around town.
the foothills. This is probably the reason the
Hook: Cado and his foster brother, Gwyn, heard
players are here. The ruin is close enough to the
about the riches in the tower from Quell, the
town that it presents a significant danger if left
Churner who was passing through town. Quell
unexplored, and there is doubtlessly still a strong
promised to pay them handsomely if they could
concentration of Dust and arkenrelics within for
bring her back something from the ruins, and
the adventurous or greedy - which will doubtlessly
while exploring, they were ambushed by Relict
draw scavengers.
and split up. Cado fled, leaving Gwyn, and has felt

132 of 142

 so guilty about it he can’t tell his foster father

what really happened. He’ll tell characters this out
of some sense of guilt and even take them to the
ruins, but will refuse to come with them further
without extreme convincing.

Quell
Trogg, Churner, she/her
Quell is a Churner, a traveling merchant who was
in town for the night when the tower surfaced.
She has a dark sense of humor and keeps her true
intentions hidden.
Hook: Quell knows towers like this can have
powerful arkenrelics hidden deep inside, and paid
Yu’s sons to go scout it out, not expecting them to
actually enter the tower. She felt so terrible about
what happened that she pulled some strings and
hired a mercenary band, Carel’s Brigadiers, to go
get the kid out. The band is still at the tower and
hasn’t returned. She’s genuine in her remorse, but
secretly has also promised the band she’ll fence
any relics they find as payment. She’s not
planning on actually selling the relics, but intends
to split town as soon as she gets her hands on
anything. She might get the characters to go fix
her problem for her, promising payment.

133 of 142



134 of 142
135 of 142
 The Towe
Setting out for the tower is not a particularly hard
journey, though a lot of it is uphill. The tower,
when it comes into view, juts out of the
mountainside like a broken fang, the top split off,
leaving part of it open to the air. The earth around
its base is torn up and characters who linger in the
area will occasionally feel minor seismic tremors
in the earth.

There are several areas that characters could enter

the tower (if you want to check for this
information, you could have a character make a
fortune roll to gather information). The first and
most obvious route is through area 1 at the gate. A good mix of Heavies with ranged attackers will
The second is an open gallery on the second story, make a more satisfying fight. The summoners and
area 5, that looks like it would take some climbing illwrights, if included, stay back.
to get to. Cado can tell the players that he entered
this way with his brother. The third, and least At the start of the fight, the main gate starts to
obvious (requiring some looking to notice) is a close. Characters can prevent this for a round if
windowed part of the tower jutting down the cliff more player characters than hostile characters
face (area 9) that characters could climb through, stand in the objective zone at the center of the
a difficult and more dangerous proposition, and map. If the gate closes for three rounds, it remains
the open part of the wall around from there, area so permanently (for the meantime) and characters
11, which takes some further climbing. will have to find another way around.

2B. THE GALLERY, MAIN LEVE

1. THE GATE This room is overgrown with dark, leafy greenery
COMBAT ENCOUNTER: GATEKEEPER already and lit faintly from above during the day
with thin shafts of sunlight. A dark pit in the
The main tower gate is open but not undefended. center of the room is a shaft that descends all the
Relict stand undying watch over it, their empty way to the pit entrance (area 3). There are stairs
shells eerily still until the presence of life causes that lead up to level 2A and down to 2C.
them to hiss and spark into motion.
The door to area 4 is jammed closed but could be
For every two players, add one of either: opened with one or two actions from the players.
Wight Soldier It makes a lot of noise and could alert Carel and
Wight Impaler his men in area 7 on failure.

4. The Knigh
Then fill the remaining with the following
enemies depending on your players and
preferences: A crumpled figure in ancient arkentech amor has
collapsed on an altar at the end of the room here,
lit by a sunbeam. Adjacent to the altar is a stair
Fused Brute leading down. Rows of stone pews mark the way
Wight Summoner there.
Wraith Illwright
Wraith Skulk A dark miasma has seeped from the knight’s
helmet, a curling black mist that seeps across the
floor and sinks low across the stone, which looks
corroded.

136 of 142

 It’s a 6 or 8 segment clock to try and move across Carel

this room safely and deal with the knight Thrynn Guilder, he/him
somehow without touching the life-leeching Well dressed, callous, calculating
miasma, which can inflict harsh strain on the • Carel is willing to talk and negotiate with the
players. Removing the helm will cause the body players, especially if Quell sent them.
within and the armor to collapse into dust. • Carel knows that Gwyn is somewhere down in
the lowest level - he can hear the boy calling out
Rewards for help sometimes.
The helm is a dangerous arkenrelic worth 2 dust if • Carel knows there’s a patrol of Imperials from
players take it out. It can be investigated with an the city Encross that landed by airship about a
action or two from the players to learn that the day away and have entered the lower levels
helm is broken. It can be fixed as a minor somewhere. He’s deciding whether it’s worth
ambition during an interlude to gain the risking his men’s lives to tussle with the
following: imperials. If characters can deal with the
imperials, he’ll let them use the key he has to get
Helm of Mist into the pit.
Arkenrelic • Carel is planning to double cross Quell and Yu
Effect: Activate this arkenrelic to start a combat and try to ransom Gwyn back to the town. He
with Stealth might let this slip accidentally, or if the players
Uses: 2 presss him.
Recharge (Dust): 2 • Carel has the key to the door to the Pit, rather
conspicuously around his neck. He also has a
The stairs lead down to area 11: THE WELL key to the cell in area 7 where Marat is being
kept.
2A: THE GALLERY, UPSTAIR • Carel and his men have already clearly looted
the top levels of the ruins
The top of this room is open to the sky and
elements. Greenery has poured in over the edges If negotiations go poorly, he’s not beyond
over the last few days. There’s a narrow corridor attempting to rob them blind (of any dust they’re
going to area 6. This room has a couple of grates carrying), knock them out, and kick them out of
with bars in them, behind which is darkness. the tower. If Carel’s band is defeated, he’ll
Investigation of the spaces shows that they were surrender and leave the tower if asked.
empty but once may have served as cells. One of
them has someone inside (7). If characters use the key to get into the pit, Carel
and his men will attempt to ambush the
5. OLD GATEHOUS characters on the way out. They will demand any
A second gatehouse juts out of the building here. treasure the players found as a finders fee,
It’s a little climb up. Climbing without alerting the fighting the players if they refuse. Canny
Relict in area 1 or Carel in area 6 is probably a 6 characters can also get away before they’re cut off.
segment clock that could end in a fight or a
confrontation. Cado is happy to point the ENCOUNTER: CAREL’S BRIGADIER
characters here.
Carel is an elite and takes up 2 points:
The gatehouse door is ajar and voices can be Shank Rogue
heard from behind it. Crumbled pillars have
almost sealed it off, but there's enough space to The rest can be filled from the following, at 1 pt
squeeze through. each:
Ruffian Arbalest
6. CAREL’S BRIGAD
Looter Sledge
The mercenary scavenger Carel and his men are Shank Assassin
here, camped out across the bridge. Ruffian Incanter

137 of 142

 One of the lords very obviously held a key in her

If fought in area 6, the levers on the map can be hands, but that key is missing (Carel in room 6
pulled with the interact action (1 action) to raise has it).
or lower the bridges on the map.
The entrance to room 9 is barricaded and will take
7. MARAT, THE TRADE muscle to get through unless the barricades are
Inside this cell is a Xixo Leggio trader (upbeat, removed from the other side. Characters
talkative, they/them), named Marat. They don’t attempting to get through the barricades might
seem particularly concerned about being locked in alert the imperial patrol in room 9.
a cell, telling characters they can get out any time.
In fact, Carel locked Marat in here after catching 9. THE FIFTH ENCROSS LEGIO
them in the ruin just yesterday. A patrol from the Fifth Encross Legion has set up
here after landing their airship a day or so away
Marat has some extra elixirs, will trade them for 1 and marching in on foot. Encross is a large city-
dust (1 dust, or 1 dust worth of goods for 1 elixir), state with a cruel patrician and ambitions to
and will loudly try and get characters to buy, become a nation-state. Fortunately, it is rather far
possibly alerting Carel in room 6. They will also away, and this is only a scout patrol.
constantly hint to the characters about Carel and
his band in room 6 and ask if they come across a The gallery is open to the air at points. Characters
key to return and let them out (it’s no trouble, can climb in down the cliff face and through the
really). window, but it might be a tough endeavor
(probably a 4 or 6 clock at least). Complications,
2C: SUBLEVEL other than falling or slipping, could involve
This level is dark, with little light penetrating it. alerting the imperials.
Sprawled across the landing here are desiccated,
skeletal remains. The stair down is blocked by The imperials arrived a day ago, trying to make it
debris and climbing safely to area 3 will require down to the bottom chamber in order to retrieve
some action by the players. the artifact they suspect is there. They have no
idea about Cado and Gwyn, though they are aware
The hall to the east (that would go to area 11) is of Carel and his men. They lost a soldier to the
blocked by debris that could be cleared by a armor demon exploring area 10, and after
superpowered action. The hall to the west is open, checking out area 11 have determined there may
but the heavy stomping of armored feet can be be a way down to the lower level through the well
heard down it. there.

8: THE COURTYAR The commanding officer of the patrol is Hela

Valstrakker.
In the center of this courtyard is a huge statue of
Hela
imperious looking Arkenlords, decayed over time.
Beastfolk (garou), Guilder/Imperial, she/her
Braziers set into of the stone in this room glow
Ambitious, patriotic, confident, disdainful.
with artificial green fire.
Hela wears a suit of arkentech power armor which
gives her a bulky frame and an oversized sense of
At the pinnacle of one of the arkenlord’s staffs is a
confidence.
massive looking ruby, which nobody seems to
have noticed it. Grabbing it, it can be sold later for
Hela’s orders are to secure the tower and retrieve
2 dust. On investigation, the hollow eyes of the
the artifact from its lower levels at all costs. She’s
statues are trapped and will shoot beams of
willing to talk to the players, but may try and get
lightning at characters that venture close. It’s easy
them to stand down or surrender first, attacking if
enough to skirt around the edge of the room to
they refuse. If she defeats the players, she’ll
avoid the traps. Climbing up the statue without
capture and interrogate them, but probably let
falling, making a ton of noise, or activating a trap
them go. If defeated, she’ll try and retreat with her
in the room is fairly risky, and requires a clock.

138 of 142

 men to the airship and return to Encross if

allowed. Here’s what she knows: This room is light by bright sunlight coming in
• She’s frustrated and upset after losing a man in through the cracked wall during the day.
her initial forays, and after discovering Carel’s Characters can climb here from outside, or climb
band, the group is deciding whether they need up to the entrance from here, but it’s a long and
to mount an assault on the mercenaries or not. difficult climb.
• The well in room 11 probably leads to a way
down but is blocked by some sort of monster. If There’s muffled, deep snoring coming from the
characters can deal with it, she’ll deal favorably enormous well, which is coated in a thin layer of
with them and send some men to accompany slime and has an absolutely otherworldly stench
them. coming from it. Characters that get close without
• Area 10 has a dangerous monster in it, some waking it up can see that the well is clogged by a
sort of demon, but it seemed to also house a Halitoad. It’s possible for creative players to find
relict node, which could contain dust. other ways past the toad (luring it away from the
• Demons means this tower might disgorge more well, setting a distraction, etc) but failure means it
parts of itself, and ultimately a blight, if not will immediately wake up and attack them.
quieted.
• If told about Gwyn, her posture towards the COMBAT ENCOUNTER: WELL BEAS
characters will soften, and she’ll promise to help
the players out of they help her, and they let her The creature in the Well is a Halitoad, a huge
get out with the relic. beast monster. Its noise attracts other monsters to
• If they promise to deal with Carel and bring the fight from the outside.
back his key, Hela will scoff but gladly accept.
Halitoad Brute
ENCOUNTER: ENCROSS PATRO
Fill out the rest with any combination of the
Hela has the following profile:
following, but save 1 point.

Officer Knuckle
Ironfeather Shortbow
Howler Impaler
Fill out the rest of the encounter with the
following options, costing 1 point each: Gulper Siegewright

4x Auxiliaries After two rounds, a Stalker beast enters the fight.

Legionnaire Soldier
Stalker Berserker
Legionnaire Siegewright
Artillerist Commander Clearing the toad from the well reveals a set of
Imperial Spy Shortbow stairs going down.

The pools of oil (difficult terrain) on the map can 10. BATTLE CHAMBE
be ignited by damaging them with any magic
attack (attacks auto hit) or attack that inflicts The sounds of heavy footfalls echo through this
burning. They become difficult and dangerous room, which is filled with the crumpled skeletal
terrain. remains of warriors, and the broken armors of
Relict.
Alliance: If they promise to help clear out the
courtyard for the Imperials or fight Carel for his The center of the room has a sunken
key and are successful, Hela will accompany the Sarcophagus-like structure, the relict node. A
characters in their fight with the Nocturnal. statue atop this node once held a huge gleaming
mace, almost as big as a man, but it has been torn
11. THE WEL

139 of 142

 off by the demon in this room. The node is

damaged. The node has a chamber full of 2 dust, which can
be retrieved after combat, or with an interact
A massive armor figure treads the room in a action in combat.
circle. Occasionally, a relict will flicker to life only
to get swatted aside and disperse. The figure is an The armor demon’s mace can be taken as
Armor Demon, which has been trapped here in a Arkentech. It can barely be swung by a normal
nonstop battle for centuries. person, requiring magical infusion to
supernaturally lighten it.
The demon will immediately attack upon noticing
the characters. Without its attention, the node Dread Mace
roars to life and summons Relict. Arkentech
Uses: 1
COMBAT ENCOUNTER: DREAD KNIGH Recharge: 3
Gain new ability:
Armor Demon Archon Obliterate
Superheavy melee attack
Attack: On hit, deal heavy damage and target
Also joining the fight are Natals, which the armor must physical save or become stunned. Miss:
demon can consume to heal itself. Light damage. Critical Hit: Critical damage and
character must physical save or become stunned.
3x NATALS
3. GREAT SEA
Along with the demon are Relict, which can be
chosen from the following: The very bottom of the tower is sealed by a
circular door. Inspection shows it has been
Wraith Illwright inscribed with arkenrunes of sealing. The door is
sealed with an extremely powerful mechanism. A
Ghoul Skulk
long clock or a superpowered action could serve to
Ghoul Berserker get it open, or the key from Carel in area 6 could
be used to open it right away. Opening it reveals a
At the start of round 2, summon two more relict. yawning void, with a narrow staircase descending
downwards against the wall. It’s a long fall.
The Relict are not allies of the armor demon, nor
is it allies of them. They will generally attack 12. Collapsed roo
whatever is closest.
This room’s exits and entrances are all blocked by
The four pillars in the room can clearly be rubble, except the exit to room 14. Normally
attacked and destroyed (10 hp each). If 2 or more characters won’t enter this room unless Room 10
pillars are destroyed, or at the start of round 3, the collapses into it. If they enter this room, Room 10
whole room collapses into the second combat hasn’t collapsed, and the archon is still alive, with
map, room 12, which is adjacent to the Pit room. some light they can see its heavy footfalls shake
All characters without dodge take light damage as dust from the ceiling. If the room above has
an effect and are dazed (save ends). collapsed, characters can climb up out of it again
with only a little effort.
Rewards:
The relict node in the room is damaged and can 13. Bottom of the Wel
(unusually) be disabled. It’s fairly difficult, but the
aetheric network in the area can be shut down, The staircase that leads down here from the well
disabling the Relict at the gate (area 1) and also in breaks off about 15 feet from the floor, requiring
the room. Characters that discover this can spend characters to take some action to get down safely.
an entire turn during combat to accomplish this
effect.

140 of 142

 The room is pitch black without light. The well is This room is the former prison of The Wretch, a
dry, having drained during the tower’s ascent Nocturnal demon, a powerful monstrosity,
from the deeps, but there’s still a thin film of which will allow characters to enter the room
water and clinging on the floor here. before attacking if it notices them.

A shoe, belonging to Gwyn, is stuck in the mud, THE WRETCH

close to the entrance to area 14. If characters Demon Nocturnal
make enough noise here, Gwyn will call out for
help with a hoarse voice from the adjacent area.
Also joining the fight are Natals, which the
nocturnal can consume to heal itself.
14. THE PI
5x NATALS
This is the lowest chamber in the tower, a circular
chamber with recesses in the walls inset with iron
On the map there are four braziers. A brazier can
bars, like prison cells. It stinks of stale air and
be lit with an action, or stifled with an action by a
rotting meat.
Natal or the Nocturnal. Torches emit a blast 1 area
around their own spaces. They count as friendly
In one of these cells is Gwyn, the adoptive son of
summons for the Nocturnal’s clinging mists
the Elder, and Cado’s adoptive brother.
ability, and the Nocturnal is vulnerable (ongoing)
in their light.
Gwyn
Beastfolk (Lopen), Yeokin, he/him
Characters can flee from the fight, taking Gwyn
Gywn is a very tired, hungry, and frightened
with them, if it’s going poorly. The Nocturnal is
teenager, only a little older than Cado. He’s been
repulsed by even a thin sliver of sunlight coming
trapped down here for days by the Nocturnal after
down either the well (in area 13) or the stair out of
fleeing from monsters. He managed to squeeze
the pit or way out of the collapsed room (area 3
through the bars in one of the cells, which seem to
and 12) and will not follow the characters out of
be anathema to the demon, and has only been
its chamber.
drinking what little rainwater has seeped down
here. He hasn’t seen the sun in days.
Rewards:
In the center of the chamber is a plinth with a
In the area, set into the central plinth that was
blood red stone inlaid into it, and a set of pitons,
trapping the natal, there is a precious Elixir
that used to pin a pair of iron shackles to the
Stone, a powerful relic and camp fixture.
plinth. The pitons have been torn free in the
Characters that can make it out with the stone get
tower’s ascent. The shackles are around the wrists
the fixture for free at the start of the next
of a colossal, batlike demon that will unfurl itself
interlude, or can sell it for 4 (total) dust.
from the shadows and attack the players at a point
of its choosing after they enter the room, or if they
notice it, starting a combat encounter. Sneaking in Camping at the towe
and out without alerting the demon is possible but
probably requires superpowered effort, or a Characters will have the opportunity to camp
difficult clock (10 or 12 segments). once, which only takes an hour or two. Leaving
the tower and camping safely outside is always
possible. If characters are on good or neutral
COMBAT ENCOUNTER: THE WRETC
terms with Carel or the Encross Imperials, or have
gotten them out of the way, they can safely camp
Gywn, with some convincing can be freed from his on their levels. Camping on the lowest level is
cage with the Interact action in combat. He is too impossible.
weak to walk. Treat him like an intangible ally
that can be picked up with Interact. While
Leaving the towe
carrying Gwyn, characters cannot dash, run, or
attack.

141 of 142

 Characters that get out safely (or flee) will find the blight near the border, and crossings aren’t safe.
following, depending on the situation: If you can deal with it, the patrician will pay you
• If Carel and his band haven’t been defeated, and personally.
the imperials are still active, they’ll give up and • The second part of the tower surfaces nearby.
split town, taking their loot with them • Marat finds your band and has a proposal: bring
• If Carel is still around but the imperials are not them back to their Leggio family, a few days
a factor, he’ll let characters leave with Gwyn, but from here. There’s a big problem though -
demand they cut him and his brigade in on the Marat has a terrible price on their head.
valuables, including the elixir stone. He can be
convinced otherwise with a lot of effort (or
healthy intimidation), otherwise he will attack.
• If Hela and the Imperials are around and on
good terms with the players, and Carel has left,
she’ll let them go with their valuables and Gwyn,
but demand the Elixir stone before they leave,
or she’ll order her soldiers to take it by force.
She can be convinced otherwise, but it’s
difficult.
• Neither Carel nor Hela will kill player characters
if they can help it. If players are defeated, they’ll
be dumped somewhere outside the tower, with
Gwyn. Carel will rob them and split town, Hela
will take the stone, leave them with 2 dust, and
leave.

Aftermat

Returning Gwyn to the town will make his foster

father extremely happy, and Quell very relieved.
Characters can collect payment (6 xp and 3 dust
per player). Quell will pay characters an extra 1
dust per player if they know the true story to keep
quiet. If players try to indict Quell and offer
convincing evidence, Yu will kick her out of town
after some deliberation, banning her for a year.
Quell won’t be that upset about it.

Marat safely escapes from the tower, regardless of

if characters free them or not.

Hook

The game can safely go into an interlude

(probably in town) at this point. If you want to use
this as a jumping off point for another expedition,
here’s some hooks you can use:
• Carel’s mercenaries have purportedly set up
shop robbing passerby at the Ox Bridge, and
they’ve joined forces with another, much nastier
band of scavengers, the Skull Kickers. Elder Yu
calls a town council to convene.
• Hela reports back to Encross, who reaches out
to your band with a proposal: there’s been a

142 of 142