The Paladin

FOUNDER OF THE LEGENDARY HEROES

LEGENDARY HEROES
You’re brave and bold, and where your fellows faltered you inspired them to press on.
Now the regent stands before you, and they will answer for the evils they have brought to the land.

+2 Iron
0 Glass
+1 Sulphur
-1 Mercury
Blood
Harm
Choose one:
Weapon Fists (tags: stun, close)
Greatsword (tags: cleave, unstable).

History
One of the other founders risked great Looks: Gleaming chivalric plate; basic
danger to save your life. Say what they did peasant garb; rugged travelling gear.
and give their bloodline 2-pact on you. Name: Joseph, Gerda, Ambrose, Faysal,
They say how you’re still wounded. Fatima, Katerina, Zlatomir.
 BLOODLINE MOVES Pick two:
Name n Audacious †
When your explorer confronts the Regent, roll
n Secret Technique †
There’s a particular fighting style passed down

Chalices Wands +Swords. On a 7-9 pick 1, on a 10+ pick 2:

• They’ll talk for a time before attacking
or leaving.
your bloodline through training, genetics, or
mystical empowerment. Pick one:
• Cheating Death: The first time your explorer
• They let slip a weakness of their plans. triggers their Death Move, they survive
Swords Coins • They focus on your explorer and ignore
the others.
hanging onto the barest thread of life.
• Consecrated Blood: Any monster that
n Defeat Means Friendship † consumes your blood feels agonising pain.

Relics When your explorer would inflict the killing blow

on an Acolyte, they may stay their hand. If you do,
Your explorer can take 1 Harm to give their
weapon the Holy tag for one strike.
• Accelerate Perceptions: Can take 1 Harm to
roll +Chalices. On a 7-9 pick 1 they get enough
move incredibly fast for a few seconds, at the
MAKING YOUR HEROES control to tell you:
cost of being exhausted and unable to move
• How the Regent’s ritual can be set back.
Stats Traditions for a few seconds after.
• How the Acolyte can be saved.
Pick one: Pick one from each or write one of your own: • A secret weakness of another Acolyte. n The Will to Fight †
Chalices 1 Swords 1 Coins 0 Wands Style: Stylish contemporary fashion; They then retreat into the maze-like corridors of Your bloodline has a tenacity that lets them cheat
-1 if fate and coincidence keep bringing family crests and heirlooms; rustic or the castle. death so long as they have something to fight
your bloodline to the castle despite their utilitarian clothing. On a 10+ they gain enough control to change sides for. All of your explorers start with +1 Armour.
ignorance of mystical matters. Lore: Picking it up as they go along; ancestor’s and work alongside you, though they cannot act Whenever they take a blow for another explorer,
Chalices 0 Swords 1 Coins -1 Wands 1 crumbling journals; oral history passed from directly against the Regent. they can refresh the Armour box.
if your bloodline is tested from childhood parent to child. n Our Town
for martial aptitude and trained to face Name: A noble title; an inherited naming When you call on your reputation in a community
the castle. convention; bearers of the ________. that knows your legend, roll +Chalices on
Chalices 0 Swords 1 Coins 1 Wands -1 if History Reinforcements instead of +Coins.
your bloodline are world travellers with a
fortune built on castle raids. One bloodline’s legends taught you how to be
heroes. Set your pact with them to 1. You say SHELTER MOVE
what legend you’ve heard, they say what secret
When your explorer finds Shelter in the castle, they can inspire the others with tales of selfless heroism.
failure the legend left out.
The next time their allies would mark contamination while trying to aid or protect another explorer,
they ignore it.
PACT: THE WAY OF GOLD
You prize heroism and valour. At the end of each While at one of your camps, members of other Context
play session, pick the explorer whose heroism bloodlines can spend 1-pact to gain a weapon Each generation, pick one from each or make your own:
most impressed you and raise their pact with your from your stores. Give it two perks and a flaw, and REFUGE DRIVE BREACH
bloodline by 1. describe its history. A inn or cafe where your sister Your love, kidnapped by the Regent. A grand door and a sturdy boot.
Bloodline Pact with them plays music. Your parent, cursed to waste away A great stained glass window and a
A general shop run by A neighbourhood, devastated hefted brick.
your grandfather. by monsters. A high wall and a knotted rope.
A club, park or back alley where
friendly gangs hang out.
 The Tainted
FOUNDER OF THE HALF-DAMNED
THE HALF-DAMNED
Maybe the castle almost claimed you, and it was only thanks to your fellows that you remained human.
Maybe the darkness was always inside you, and your struggle to stay in control is even harder now the
castle has given it physical form. Either way, it’s time to put these gifts to use.

+1 Iron
-1 Glass
2 Sulphur
0 Mercury
Blood
Harm
Choose one:
Weapon Claws (tags: tether, close)
Rapier (tags: piercing, grazing).

History
One of the other founders is helping you keep Looks: Half-human, half-beast; undead
control. Give their bloodline 2-pact on you. pallor; grotesque chaos.
You say how they’re keeping you sane, Name: Willem, Annah, Petra, Mico,
they say what will happen if they stop. Amelia, Lyko, Tali, Haruto.
 BLOODLINE MOVES Pick two:
Name n Dark Legacy †
All your explorers bear the curse of the castle,
n One of the Horde
When you send your family members to blend

Chalices Wands but have learned to resist its corruption. Each

explorer starts with a Blood Move; when using
it, you may choose to take 1 harm instead of
in with the castle’s denizens, roll +Wands. On a
7-9 hold one, on a 10+ hold three. Spend the hold
1-for-1 to get them to:
marking contamination. • Strike from within a group of castle denizens,
Swords Coins n More Than Human
When you make an explorer, choose one:
sending them into disarray.
• Help you navigate, giving you 1 Travel the
Labyrinth hold.
• They have natural weapons: claws, spines, etc.
Relics Give them a perk and a flaw.
• They have resistance to harm: fur, chitin,
• Smuggle you a useful item.
n Voice of the Regent
thick skin etc. Get 1 Armour. Add the following option to Resist Doom:
MAKING YOUR HALF-DAMNED • They have unnatural agility. They can climb • Give your explorer a one-time ability to
walls, run on water or leap dozens of metres, command the castle’s denizens.
Stats Traditions and get advantage on Dodge.
When they use this, the denizens become their
Pick one: Pick one from each or write one of your own:
n In the Shadows of Humanity loyal servants. When they fight alongside you,
Chalices 0 Swords 1 Coins -1 Wands 1 if Style: ragged fabrics and animal skins; your attacks gain the cleave tag. When you
Human society may recoil from you, but that
your bloodline is cursed with obvious signs fastidiously clean and modern clothing; send them to act independently of you, the GM
doesn’t mean you’re powerless. If you intimidate
of damnation and must live on the fringes anonymous peasant or low class clothing. will decide how well they do. When you take
people into helping you or appeal to their baser
of society. Lore: Ancient immortals with flawed memories; Harm, you can choose to have the denizens be
urges, roll +Swords on Reinforcements instead
Chalices -1 Swords 1 Coins 1 Wands 0 a voice whispering in your nightmares; religious destroyed instead.
of +Coins.
if your bloodline is cursed with terrible texts that damn you but offer advice.
hungers or a lingering blight, even as they Name: A shared mark or feature; after your
appear completely human. progenitor; what zealots and bigots call you.
Chalices 1 Swords 0 Coins -1 Wands 1 if History
one bloodline member in each generation
shows the physical gifts of the curse, while One bloodline hunted you as monsters before you
the rest suffer the frailties imposed. forged a treaty. Set your pact each other to 1. You SHELTER MOVE
say how you proved your humanity, they say
When your explorer finds Shelter in the castle, they can use the power of the blood to push back death.
how they made amends.
Anyone in the party can mark contamination to heal 1d6 Harm.

PACT: THE WAY OF RED Context

You prize integrity and sacrifice. At the end of each While at one of your camps, other bloodlines can Each generation, pick one from each or make your own:
play session, pick the explorer whose mercy most spend 1-pact to transfer a point of contamination REFUGE DRIVE BREACH
impressed you and raise their bloodline’s pact with to a member of your bloodline. Say how the A graveyard where your The beast that turned you, working The regent’s menagerie,
you by 1. recipient is further twisted. peers shelter. for the Regent. using yourself as bait for the
Bloodline Pact with them An aerie overlooking the land. Your sibling, called to the castle by game wardens.
Underground tunnels forgotten an irresistible compulsion. The servant’s quarters, and a
by man. A mob whipped into a frenzy by fear stolen uniform.
of the Regent. The barracks, and notes on the
patrol schedule.
 The Saint
FOUNDER OF THE HOLY CHURCH
THE HOLY CHURCH
You may not be trained in occult lore, or mortal combat. But you know evil, and you know good.
So long as good people stand against evil, you will be there with them to keep them safe.

+1 Iron
+2 Glass
-1 Sulphur
0 Mercury
Blood
Harm
Choose one:
Weapon Ceremonial Staff (tags: holy, brace)
Sling (tags: ranged, ammo).

History
One of the other founders joined your flock Looks: Ancient and venerable; young and
and helped spread your healing truth. naive; grizzled survivor.
Give their bloodline 2-pact on you. You Name: Irene, Timothy, Marija, Dobroslav,
say how you blessed them, they say what Zhang,Costin, Malina.
doubts remain.
 BLOODLINE MOVES Pick two:
Name n Stoke The Flame
When an explorer on the verge of death is brought
n Holy Vanguard †
You are vigilant protectors of the mundane. When

Chalices Wands back to one of your camps, roll +Chalices. On a

7-9 the deadly wound is stepped down to a major
wound; on a 10+ it’s gone entirely. On a 6- their
an Acolyte ventures out to attack the mortal world,
your explorer can spend 1 Travel the Labyrinth hold
to immediately intervene and confront them.
soul gutters out entirely, replaced by something n Martyrdom
Swords Coins dark: they’ll die and become an undead Acolyte,
unless 1 Relic is sacrificed to stop it.
When you Resist Doom, your character can sacrifice
some of their lifespan to channel greater power.
n Shield of Faith † You may substitute a minor wound for 1 relic, a

Relics So long as your camps maintain a constant vigil of

prayer, they will not come under attack.
major wound for 2 relics, or a mortal wound for
3 relics.
When your explorer attempts to manifest this shield, n The Flesh is Weak †
MAKING YOUR CHURCH roll +Sulphur. On a hit, radiant light prevents With prayers and unguents, you can concentrate
creatures of the castle from coming within a the castle’s corruption in one part of an explorer’s
Stats Traditions few metres of you. On a 7-9 pick two, on a 10+ body. Actions using the corrupted body part have
Pick one: Pick one from each or write one of your own: pick one: Advantage, but so long as this ritual continues the
Chalices 1 Swords 0 Coins -1 Wands 1 if Style: A simple symbol of your faith, fastidious
• You cannot move without breaking the shield. explorer marks an additional point every time
you act as a mystery cult, revealing deeper clerical robes, joyous flowing colours.
• You cannot attack without breaking they mark contamination.
truths only to those who have shown the Lore: The whispers of martyrs in your dreams,
the shield. Amputating the node of corruption deals the
ability to handle it. a holy book filled with ecstatic visions,
• No-one else can shelter under the shield. explorer a major wound, and they lose a point of
Chalices 1 Swords 0 Coins 1 Wands -1 if accumulated folklore from your congregations.
you are an offshoot of a grander church, Blood and a Blood Gift. The removed body part
Name: The virtue you follow, the mark you
giving you temporal influence but limited counts as 1 relic.
wear, your hope for the future.
ability to dabble in the occult.
Chalices 1 Swords 1 Coins -1 Wands 0 if History
you’re a scattered group of devotees resisting You saved another bloodline from falling to
persecution in pursuit of righteousness. darkness. Set your pact with them to 1. They say
what dark temptation was twisting them into SHELTER MOVE
servants of the castle; you say what you did to
When your explorer finds Shelter in the castle, they may lead the group in prayer. They each hold 1:
redeem them.
spend the hold to miraculously avoid a curse, spell or mystical attack.

PACT: THE WAY OF WHITE Context

You prize self-sacrifice. At the end of each play While at one of your camps, other bloodlines can Each generation, pick one from each or make your own:
session, pick the explorer who risked the most to spend 1-pact on you to take a Relic from your REFUGE DRIVE BREACH
help others and raise their bloodline’s pact with stores. Describe it, and suggest how it came to be An old church still warded against A saint’s relics stolen from a The tainted chapel, and the supply
you by 1. owned by your order. malign influences. desecrated grave. wagons that bring in sacraments.
Bloodline Pact with them A memorial remembering the dead of A great demon only vulnerable to The burial catacombs, and a crevasse
the last great war. the righteous. that’s opened them to the world.
The home of a believer, where the A sin that can only be washed clean A marble-floored museum, and its
faithful are waiting out the horrors. through great heroism. ornate skylights.
 The Mastermind FOUNDER OF THE HIDDEN HAND
THE HIDDEN HAND
You’re not here out of the goodness of your heart, but raw pragmatism. Frankly, hordes of
monsters are liable to ruin your plans for wealth, prestige and power. At least your talent for
command has come in useful managing this ragtag band of ‘heroes’.

0 Iron
+1 Glass
-1 Sulphur
+2 Mercury
Blood
Harm
Choose one:
Weapon Sharp dagger (tags: piercing, close)
Crossbow (tags: ranged, reload).

History
One of the other founders helped Looks: Young and ambitious; portly
you find a wondrous treasure. Give and arrogant; spindly and scheming.
their bloodline 2-pact on you. Name: Sigismund, Mohana,
They say what form the treasure Livonia, Ciannait, Vígi,
took, you say how it’s liable to Kwame, Halim.
taint its owner.
 BLOODLINE MOVES Pick two:
Name n Avarice
The strange by-products of the castle’s intrusion
n Opulence
When you shower luxury on party of explorers, you

Chalices Wands into our reality retain their power, if you let them
feed from you. When you would spend a relic,
you may mark contamination to keep it in your
may roll +Coins to give them Rest & Relaxation.
n Bodyguard †
bloodline’s stocks. Your explorer has a skilled companion to back

Swords Coins n Experimental Weaponry

Your family’s resources are devoted to the creation
them up in the castle. Pick one when you create
your explorer:
Your companion fights beside you, giving your
of new weapons to be used against darkness. Once
Relics a generation, you can gain one of these weapons
for your struggle.
attacks the cleave tag.
Your companion protects you, giving you
advantage on Withstand.
When your scholars bring their most recent creation
MAKING YOUR HIDDEN HAND to your camp, roll +Coins.
Your companion heals you: whenever you
Shelter, heal 4 Harm.
Stats Traditions On a 7-9 pick one, on a 10+ pick two:
Pick one: Pick one from each or write one of your own: • You can sacrifice it to Strike without needing n A Web of Influence
Chalices 1 Swords 0 Coins 1 Wands -1 if Style: Formal wear and subtle marks of an Opening. Your contacts stand ready to support your war
you live lives of luxury and try not to think membership, opulent clothes and impractical • If you sacrifice a relic, it gains the holy tag for against evil. When you roll a 7+ on Reinforcements,
too hard about the source of your wealth. accessories, state-of-the-art arms and armour. the rest of the fight. you may pick one extra option.
Chalices -1 Swords 1 Coins 1 Wands 0 Lore: Reports from agents scattered around the • It has three perks and a flaw, or two perks and
if you act as a mercenary group, guiding world, an iron grip on the rare book market, no flaw.
the world’s conflicts in a direction that a private institution of scholars probing the
benefits you. boundaries of knowledge.
Chalices 0 Swords -1 Coins 1 Wands 1 Name: a mythical creature, an alchemical
if you’ve suborned the world’s elite into a process, a feudal role.
secret society bound by occult rituals and History
mutual blackmail. You split the fabulous wealth you found with
another bloodline. Gain 1 pact on them. They SHELTER MOVE
say what they used the wealth for; you say how When your explorer finds Shelter in the castle, they may upgrade and reinforce their party’s gear. They
entropy and betrayal robbed them of it. each hold 1: spend the hold to get fleeting advantage on Strike or Endure.

PACT: THE WAY OF SILVER Context

You prize entrepreneurship. At the end of each play While at one of your camps other bloodlines can Each generation, pick one from each or make your own:
session, pick the explorer who most increased their spend 1-pact on you to get access to more luxurious REFUGE DRIVE BREACH
wealth or power and raise their bloodline’s pact supplies, giving them advantage on Shelter until A mansion filled with A rumoured treasure that might The deeper vaults, and a brace
with you by 1. they return to a safe camp. helpful servants. bring eternal life. of explosives.
A watch station, barricaded up Your political rival, empowered by A grand soiree, and a
Bloodline Pact with them
against the darkness. the regent’s corruption. forged invitation.
A scholar’s laboratory, fizzing with Rare reagents created by The clock tower, and a zip line
strange chemicals. abhorrent rites. anchored to a nearby belfry.
 The Ritualist FOUNDER OF THE MAGI
THE MAGI
Ancient lore and improvised cantrips have got you this far, but you can feel the power rolling off the
Regent in the next chamber. You’ll set your soul alight if that’s what it takes to burn this place down.

-1 Iron
+1 Glass
+2 Sulphur
0 Mercury
Blood
Harm
Choose one:
Weapon Blood whip (tags: flexible, painful)
Pyromancy (tags: ranged, reload).

History
One of the other founders is a lynchpin Looks: Robes covered in sigils; a bandoleer
in your ritual to keep the Regent’s power of charms; tattooed with occult sigils.
contained. Give their bloodline 2-pact on Name: Morgan, Imar, Jabir, Vyasa, Virgil,
you. You say what they had to sacrifice to Albertus, Ramon, Pietro, Ursula, Isobel.
empower the ritual, they say what insight
it’s given them into the Regent.
 BLOODLINE MOVES Pick two:
Name n Dimensional Relocation
When you warp space to move explorers between two
n Eldritch Insight
You have learned how to turn the castle’s

Chalices Wands safe camps, roll +Wands. On a hit, they make the
journey successfully; on a 7-9, pick one:
• They leave something important behind.
burgeoning power towards your own ends.
Whenever the Regent’s clock ticks down, gain
a Relic.

Swords Coins
• They bring something nasty with them. n A Miracle of Science †
n Arcane Library † When your explorer dissects a defeated Acolyte,
While at your safe camps, any explorer can archive gain 1-organ. With a few minutes of preparation,

Relics a spell (learned via Drink Deep) and receive a they may spend 1-organ to:
Relic in return. At any later point anyone can • Craft a healing salve and remove a minor or
spend a Relic to learn a spell from the archive. major wound.
Choose two spells to have in your archive already: • Merge it with a weapon and give the weapon
MAKING YOUR MAGI • See your foes with perfect clarity. a new perk.
Stats Traditions • Charge your weapon with lightning (add • Graft it on and raise Blood by 1.
Pick one: Pick one from each or write one of your own: perk: stun). • Inspire those around them, restoring 4
Style: Skin covered in arcane glyphs, thick robes • Float gently down instead of falling. harm to all explorers nearby or rejuvenating
Chalices 0 Swords -1 Coins 1 Wands 1
of strange fabrics, bags and bandoleers loaded any wraiths.
if you’re a selective academic institution n Empowered Wards
teaching occult rituals to those that can with reagents.
Lore: A bag full of scholarly texts, drilled-in When you roll 10+ on Resist Doom, your ritual
afford your fees..
mnemonics, a chorus of spirits bound into your lingers providing active opposition to the Regent.
Chalices 0 Swords 1 Coins -1 Wands 1 if
gear to offer advice. The next time their clock would tick down, it’s
you’re hands-on learners, extracting occult
Name: The name of your school, The ____ stopped from doing so.
wisdom from the beasts and devils you hunt.
Chalices 1 Swords 0 Coins -1 Wands 1 if Way, The Path of ______ .
you’re occultists without borders, travelling
the world and pushing back blights
History
wherever you find them. You taught another bloodline how to use the
castle’s power safely. Gain 1 pact on them. They SHELTER MOVE
say what the ritual allows them to do; you say When your explorer finds Shelter in the castle, they may lead the group in a ritual of controlled
what it costs them instead of their souls. corruption. Each explorer may transfer 1 point of contamination to another explorer, with that
explorer’s consent.
PACT: THE WAY OF BLUE CONTEXT
You prize arcane insight. At the end of each While at one of your camps, other bloodlines can Each generation, pick one from each or make your own:
session, pick the explorer who wielded the most spend 1 pact on you to get an item of power from REFUGE DRIVE BREACH
supernatural power and raise their pact with your your stores. They can destroy it to cast a spell as per
A caravan on the city’s A celestial conjunction promising A garden of perfect geometric
bloodline by 1. Drink Deep.
outskirts selling charms and great power - or great doom. statuary, and a hole in its iron fence.
Bloodline Pact with them occult paraphernalia. An opportunity to rectify a mistake A pocket dimension outside reality,
A visionary made in your apprenticeship. and a ritual to transport you there.
doctor’s surgery-laboratory. An unnatural plague sweeping An alchemical storage vault, and the
A cafe where the intelligentsia gather through the city’s slums. combination for the vault door.
and debate.
 Bonded Moves Pick two:
Astral Projection Spiritual Fusion
With force of will you can send your spirit out to act in the castle. When you fuse with your spirit, roll +Sulphur. On a 7-9 hold 2,
As long as you concentrate you can see through its eyes and - with on a 10+ hold 3. On a 6- hold 1 but mark contamination. Spend
effort - pull switches, open doors, move small object, etc. a hold to use the spirit’s power. Work it out with the GM, but
it should be about the level of a spell from Drink Deep: rapid
Bloody Insight healing, temporary invulnerability, a burst of flight, etc. When all
When you take harm from an adversary, hold 1. Spend 1 to reveal hold is gone the spirit’s power is spent, and you can’t fuse again
a weakness in their fighting style and give an ally advantage until you use Shelter or Rest and Recreation.
against them. Spend 3 to create an Opening.
Spectral Knowledge
Soul Blade When you ask your spirit for advice, roll +Glass. On a hit, ask a
Your spirit has its own weaponry. Pick a perk and a flaw for question and the GM will answer honestly... for the most part.
it. When the spirit fights, roll +Sulphur to Strike and Face the On a 7-9 pick two, on a 10+ pick one:
Horde. If you have Astral Projection, the spirit can fight with the
• The spirit confuses parts of its past for the present.
weapon when distant from you; otherwise, it must stand beside
• The spirit cannot perceive some significant detail.
you as it fights.
• The spirit asks you to agree to something before it answers.

C o n ta mi

Blood Gifts
Blink Half-Dead
Blood
THE BONDED na
tio n
Pick one when Blood increases:
When your spirit is away from you
thanks to Astral Projection, you may mark
contamination to swap places with it.
The spirit’s connection to your body is
pushing your mortality away. Gain 1
Armour against physical attacks, but take 1
NAME Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Apotheosis more harm from magical/spiritual attacks.
Medium
Your spirit reveals its true form, though
Get a Blood Gift. it taxes your body to host it. Mark You can mark contamination to summon a
Get a Blood Gift. contamination to channel its full power spirit of place, the unquiet dead, or a lesser
Iron Glass Sulphur Mercury Retire your character; they
may return as an Acolyte.
into an attack, giving it Advantage and a
tag of your choice.
imp or seraph. They won’t be hostile - at
least, at first.

Stats Gear Covenants Harm Death Move

MAKING YOUR BONDED

You start with this array; add 1 to a Make a weapon (1 perk, 1 flaw). Go around the table, introducing
As your life fades, the spirit reveals why it was bound to you and reveals a choice:
stat of your choice. your explorer to the group.
Transfiguration: The spirit Guardian Angel: As you die Damnation: The spirit is
Iron ±0 Glass ±0 Pick a covenant you have with merges with you. You stand back the spirit vows to continue your banished, but the castle takes
Sulphur +1 Mercury -1 the player to your left at rank
Minor Wound up, burning with power, and mission. For the rest of this its place. Mark contamination
Blood starts at 0. Pick one extra armament: 1. Examples:
Major Wound you’re immune to harm for the generation, it’ll follow the other for each point of Harm you
Looks Martial arts training • You grew up together. Mortal Wound rest of the fight. Then you die. players and provide whatever heal. From then on, any time
(tether, close). • You were close friends or lovers. aid it can. you would take Harm you mark
Ambiguous, Concealed, Reinforced coat (1 armour). • You have a grudge between you. contamination instead.
Feminine, Masculine. Spiritual aura (Advantage to
Maimed body, lithe body, muscular Add extra details and context for
body, stout body.
attack intangible foes).
the covenant the player to your
Covenants
Asian, South Asian, Black, Pick two pieces of utility gear: right has chosen. EXPLORER STRENGTHEN WHEN... WEAKEN WHEN...  RATING
Caucasian, Hispanic, Survivalist gear.
Latino, Indigenous, Middle Old journals of past
Eastern, ________ encounters with the castle.
Kujo, Aamir, Malkhazi, Aretha, A hip flask of spirits, skin of
Temperance, Christa, Camilla, wine or pouch of tobacco.
Sebastian, Drahomíra, Annette. As many rations as you need.
 Slayer Moves Pick two:
Lightning Swift Blood Trail
You’re incredibly fast. Your attacks always have the cleave You’re merciless in pressing your advantage. Once you’ve
tag, and you have Advantage on Dodge. landed a Strike on a target, get Advantage on future Strikes.
Regain Momentum Trophy
Flesh and blood is less important that confidence. When You know secret rituals to preserve an enemy’s power in a
you land a successful Strike, heal the last Harm you took. severed part of their body. When you draw on the power of
a trophy carved from an Acolyte, roll +Iron on Drink Deep
Trick Weapon instead of +Sulphur.
Your weapon is versatile, enchanted or a marvel of
engineering. Pick two perk/flaw sets for it: you can switch
between the two at a moment’s notice.

C o n ta mi

Blood Gifts
Frenzy Burning Blood
Blood
THE SLAYER na
tio n
Pick one when Blood increases:
When you roll a miss on Strike, you can
mark contamination to immediately
make another Strike.
Your blood burns as it leaves your
body. You may mark contamination
to create a wall of fire most monsters
NAME Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Lupine won’t willingly cross.

Get a Blood Gift. Your teeth and fingernails gain a keen Voice of Command
Get a Blood Gift. edge. You always have access to them, When an Adversary is bearing down on
Iron Glass Sulphur Mercury Retire your character; they
may return as an Acolyte.
as a weapon with Piercing/Close. an ally, you can mark contamination
to force them to target you instead.

Stats
You start with this array; add 1 to a
Gear
Make a weapon (1 perk, 1 flaw).
Covenants
Go around the table, introducing
Harm Death Move
MAKING YOUR SLAYER

stat of your choice. your explorer to the group. As the final blow comes down you choose not to defend yourself, instead using your attacker’s
Iron +1 Glass ±0 Pick a covenant you have with momentum to drive your weapon home. Now it’s lodged in them, slowing them down and
Sulphur ±0 Mercury -1 the player to your left at rank creating a weakness your allies can use to take revenge. Until they take advantage of the
Blood starts at 0. Pick one extra armament: 1. Examples: Minor Wound embedded weapon as an Opening, your allies take advantage on Dodge and Stand With Me.
A pistol (ranged, reload). Major Wound
Looks Breastplate or mail shirt
• You’re teaching them to fight.
• They nursed you back to health.
Mortal Wound
Maimed body, lithe body, (1 armour). • You’re monster-hunter partners.
muscular body, stout body. A shield (advantage on Confront,
Add extra details and context for
Asian, South Asian, Black, disadvantage on Dodge).
the covenant the player to your Covenants
Caucasian, Hispanic, Pick two pieces of utility gear: right has chosen. EXPLORER STRENGTHEN WHEN... WEAKEN WHEN...  RATING
Latino, Indigenous,
Middle Eastern, ________ Torches and fire lighting kit.
Bandages and healing salves.
Lilianna, Isidor, Ayako, Farhana, Anti-venoms and stimulants.
Laura, Peter, Simon, Julian, As many rations as you need.
Laurens, Jiddu
 Reckoner Moves Pick two:
Bend Time Pinning Fire
When you roll 10+ on Dodge, time seems to slow for everyone Your shots are precise and lethal. When you attack a foe with
except you. If you can perform your next action within a few a ranged weapon, the foe must choose: remain where they are,
seconds, it’ll have Advantage. or be taken out (if they’re a minion) or provide an Opening (if
they’re an adversary).
Reshape Chaos
The shifting nightmare of the castle bends to your will. You may And next you’ll say...
spend Travel the Labyrinth hold, 1-for-1, to uncover one of these When you tell an opponent what they’ll do next, roll +Glass. On a
details in your environment: hit, they pick one:
• A mechanism that will close off a passage. • They do exactly what you predicted.
• A secret passage or trapdoor to shelter from harm. • They stumble, hesitate or flinch.
• An environmental hazard (caustic vat, rock-slide, fuel tank, On a 10+, reveal a trap you set up to take advantage of your
etc) ready to be set off. prediction. If they go through with the predicted action, the trap
True Sight creates an immediate Opening or takes out a minion.
You can always recognise an illusion or supernatural deception as
what it truly is. In addition, you get Advantage on See Clear.

C o n ta mi
Just You and Me Chaos Eyes

Blood Gifts
Blood
THE RECKONER
If a foe’s within arm’s reach, you can mark The shifting chaos of the castle bleeds out
na
tio n contamination to reshape the castle and of your mind and into those that meet your
Pick one when Blood increases: trap you both within an empty room. The gaze. Your eyes are a weapon with ranged,
NAME Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
previous state is restored when you will it,
or when you take a major wound.
piercing, unstable.
Psychopomp
Get a Blood Gift. Worlds Away You can mark contamination and spend
Get a Blood Gift. If a foe’s within arm’s reach, you can mark 2 Travel the Labyrinth hold to guide your
Iron Glass Sulphur Mercury Retire your character; they
may return as an Acolyte.
contamination to reshape the castle such group to or from: an individual’s psyche,
that you are separated by a deep chasm, a the land of the dead, where the castle
barricade or a surging river (of what?). comes from.
Stats Gear Covenants
MAKING YOUR RECKONER

You start with this array; add 1 to a

stat of your choice.
Make a weapon (1 perk, 1 flaw). Go around the table, introducing
your explorer to the group.
Harm Death Move
Iron -1 Glass +1 Pick a covenant you have with As you die, you command one final effort of will to enforce order on the castle. The current
Sulphur 0 Mercury 0 the player to your left at rank ward locks down - your allies have unlimited Travel the Labyrinth hold there. It’s harder to
Blood starts at 0. Pick one extra armament: 1. Examples: affect more distant areas, but you can lock the regent and their acolytes into their respective
Minor Wound wards and rewrite the connections between them.
Looks A crossbow (ranged, reload).
Protective gear (1 armour).
• You’re working together to find a
lost treasure. Major Wound
Ambiguous, Concealed, An old map (sacrifice to get 2 • You’re heavily in debt to them. Mortal Wound
Feminine, Masculine. Travel the Labyrinth hold). • You’ve hunted many
Spindly body, stout body, athletic
body, out-of-shape body. Pick two pieces of utility gear: monsters together. Covenants
Asian, South Asian, Black, Long-burning glow sticks. Add extra details and context for EXPLORER STRENGTHEN WHEN... WEAKEN WHEN...  RATING
Caucasian, Hispanic, Chalk, paints and dyes to the covenant the player to your
Latino, Indigenous, Middle mark the corridors. right has chosen.
Eastern, ________ A theodolite and a spirit level.
Hector, Taniqua, Lamia, Oscar, As many rations as you need.
Arsene, Richter, Sypha, Kasi,
Joseph, Grant.
 Mystic Moves Pick two:
Cast the Runes Blood Reinforcement
When you scry into the future, describe your ritual and ask the When you perform rites to manipulate the castle’s power, roll
GM a yes/no question. Then roll +Mercury. On a hit, they’ll +Relics sacrificed. On a 7-9 pick one, on a 10+ pick two:
answer truthfully; get fleeting advantage acting on the answer. • Add a perk to a weapon.
On a 10+ you may ask a follow-up question. • Remove a flaw from a weapon.
• Raise the armour value of an outfit.
Binding • Crystallise the power in a fragile gem: consume it to heal all
When you land a Strike on an adversary, choose one: harm but mark enough contamination to raise Blood.
• It must not cross a specified boundary.
• A specified explorer gets Advantage to Dodge its attacks. Soul Vessel
• You can use the wound as a weapon: ranged, piercing, painful. When you defeat a minion of the Regent, you can catch its spirit.
If you do, roll +Sulphur. On a hit, you catch it; on a 7-9, it
Arcanist taints you and you mark contamination. So long as a spirit
When you use a spell learnt via Drink Deep, pick one: is contained, you can freely use one of its moves. When you
• The spell’s effects linger as long as you like. mark contamination you can shift it onto the vessel, destroying
• The spell affects more or fewer targets than normal. the spirit. You must destroy your currently trapped spirit to
• The spell take effect when a condition you set now is met. catch another.

C o n ta mi
Eyes on the Inside Ghost Eater

Blood Gifts
Blood
THE MYSTIC
You can mark contamination to perceive You can consume the spirits trapped in
na
tio n the intangible and immaterial. When you your Soul Vessel. When you do, mark
Pick one when Blood increases: Assess or See Clear with this sight, you can contamination but heal your last wound.
NAME Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
roll +Mercury instead of +Glass.
The Unquiet Flesh
The Blood is Life
When you shed your blood as a medium for
Get a Blood Gift. Your body is shifting to become something spirits, roll +Harm taken. On a 7-9 pick 1,
Get a Blood Gift. ancient. You may mark contamination to on a 10+ pick 2 about the spirit that forms a
Iron Glass Sulphur Mercury Retire your character; they
may return as an Acolyte.
grow an organ or limb - arms, tentacles, body from it: they follow your commands,
they remember useful information, you
wings, eyes, mouths or similar.
can banish them at will.
Stats Gear Covenants
You start with this array; add 1 to a Make a weapon (1 perk, 1 flaw). Go around the table, introducing Harm Death Move
MAKING YOUR MYSTIC

stat of your choice. your explorer to the group.

Iron -1 Glass ±0 Pick a covenant you have with
As death takes hold, you perform one final work - an alchemy of the soul. Each explorer
Sulphur ±0 Mercury +1 the player to your left at rank with you may transfer one point of Blood to you, losing a Blood Advance of their choice but
Pick one extra armament: keeping the stat advance or blood gift. For each, one part of your body becomes a Relic usable
Blood starts at 0. 1. Examples:
A protective amulet (destroy to Minor Wound in arcane rites.
Looks avoid marking contamination).
• You’re afflicted with the
same curse.
Major Wound
Ambiguous, Concealed, Purified salt (1 armour within Mortal Wound
• You’re studying their dreams.
Feminine, Masculine. a circle of it).
• You follow different faiths.
Slim body, athletic body, A last-ditch ice burst
stout body, frail body. (stun, painful). Add extra details and context for Covenants
Asian, South Asian, Black, the covenant the player to your EXPLORER STRENGTHEN WHEN... WEAKEN WHEN...  RATING
Pick two pieces of utility gear:
Caucasian, Hispanic, right has chosen.
Crystals that glow
Latino, Indigenous, Middle like candles.
Eastern, ________ Bandages and healing salves.
Reuben, Harland, Maria, Ume, A pouch of
Emilio, Mercurio, Abaris, Julia, alchemical samples.
Hugh, Miles As many rations as you need.
 Packrat Moves Get Cornucopia and one more:
Cornucopia Stock: Hirelings
You carry with you endless satchels, packs, pouches and bandoleers. You have servants to help you carry your gear. Your base level
Within them - somewhere - is anything your party might need as of stock is 8 instead of 5, and your staff can perform other useful
they explore the castle. You start with 5-stock, and reset to 5 every duties: lift something heavy, staunch your wounds, barricade a
time you return to a safe camp. Spend 1-stock to pull out a utility item door, etc. When they fight alongside you get Advantage on Strike
from the bag: matches, rope, a pocket mirror, pitons, chalk, etc. and Face the Horde. If you ever lose them, your maximum stock
drops to 5 until you can replace them.
Walking Armoury
Spend 1-stock to: Lucky Cigarette Case
• Pull out a basic weapon (one perk, one flaw) The many layers of gear, salvage and bric-a-brac surrounding you
• Repair/rearm a fragile or ammo-using weapon. serve as protection in a pinch. When you would take harm, roll
• Reinforce someone’s gear, giving them 1 armour. +stock spent (minimum 1). On a hit, the harm is negated; on a
7-9, the GM will name one other piece of equipment you have
Apothecary that is destroyed in the process.
Whatever is in your sacks can be ground, chewed and mixed up into
a cure for what ails you. You can spend 1-stock to create a poultice
that can heal a minor wound, or a draught that will heal 1d6 harm.
In addition, you can break down a Relic into 1-stock in the field.

C o n ta mi
Titan’s Might Paradox Bag

Blood Gifts
Blood
THE PACKRAT
You can mark contamination to augment When you reach into your sack, you can mark
na your strength and stability, letting you carry contamination to pull out something it’d be
tio n any weight. Leverage may still present issues. impossible to have in there - e.g. something
Pick one when Blood increases:
NAME Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Get +1 to a stat (max 3).
Junk Homunculus
When you assemble the various odds and
too big, or too dangerous, or on the other side
of the world, or in your antagonist’s hands.
Get a Blood Gift. ends in your pack into a rough human form, Maw of the Void
Get a Blood Gift. bound together with spit and blood and If you can fit something into your bag, it
Iron Glass Sulphur Mercury Retire your character; they
may return as an Acolyte.
twine, you can mark contamination to give
it life. It will follow your commands faithfully
cannot escape without your say-so. Mark
contamination to turn the bag into a
to the best of its ability, but cannot leave powerful vacuum (tether, close) that keeps
Stats Gear Covenants the castle. sucking until something’s entirely consumed.
You start with this array; add 1 to a Make a weapon (1 perk, 1 flaw). Go around the table, introducing
MAKING YOUR PACKRAT

stat of your choice.

Iron ±0 Glass +1
your explorer to the group.
Pick a covenant you have with
Harm Death Move
Sulphur -1 Mercury ±0 the player to your left at rank
As you die, you reveal a final pouch - one packed full of explosives. Pick one:
Blood starts at 0. Pick one extra armament: 1. Examples: • The explosion destroys one of your adversary’s Qualities.
• The smoke gives your allies Advantage on Dodge and Rescue for the rest of the fight.
Looks Homemade Explosives
(lingering, ammo).
• You healed them up from a
mortal wound.
Minor Wound
Ambiguous, Concealed, Major Wound
Enchanted shirt (1 armour 1). • They’re heavily in debt to you.
Feminine, Masculine. Mortal Wound
Extraordinary wine (when • You’ve sworn loyalty to them.
Burly body, bent body,
stocky body, weaselly body.
you find Shelter, sacrifice to
pick an extra option).
Add extra details and context for Covenants
the covenant the player to your
Asian or South Asian, Black, EXPLORER STRENGTHEN WHEN... WEAKEN WHEN...  RATING
Pick two pieces of utility gear: right has chosen.
Caucasian, Hispanic/
Latino, Indigenous, Middle A musical instrument.
Eastern, ________ Antitoxins and miracle cures.
Yasmin, Vyasa, Cathaoir, Aleksander, A bag of shiny metal coins, in
Cecilia, Angela, Clement, Krister, hundreds of denominations.
Orinth, Elizabeta. As many rations as you need.
Exploration Moves
Travel the Labyrinth Flow like water
Confrontation Moves Harm Moves
Strike Confront When you take harm, you can reduce it by suffering an
When you attempt to navigate the When you risk danger to change your When you take advantage of an When you confront danger head-on, unmarked wound.
labyrinthine twists of the castle, roll environment or your position in it, Opening with... roll +Iron. On a hit, you throw
+Blood. If you choose, you may • Stealth and guile, the foe off-balance and create an
Minor wounds: -1 Harm
roll +Mercury. On a hit, pick one:
mark contamination to roll with roll +Mercury. Opening, but take the brunt of their When you take a minor wound, choose one:
advantage. On a hit, hold 1 and
• You’re where you need to be.
• Physical force, roll +Iron. attack. On a 7-9 pick 1, on a 10+ • Get infected and mark contamination.
• Another explorer has a clear
describe your insight into the ward’s • Precise insight, roll +Glass. pick 2: • Fall back and recuperate, healing 1 Harm.
path to you.
purpose or layout. • A particular threat isn’t a • Sorcery or sacrifice, • You roll with the blow: take 1 Major wounds: -3 Harm
• On a 7-9, the area you arrive problem any longer. roll +Sulphur. less harm. When you take a major wound, choose one:
at contains castle denizens On a hit, you damage one of the • You are fearsome and
On a 7-9 the GM will give your • Frenzy and get fleeting advantage on your next attack.
or traps. foe’s qualities - if you destroy commanding: the foe will focus
action a cost: harm, contamination • Play possum, making foes focus on someone else.
• On a 10+, the area you arrive its final quality, it’s dead. The only on you.
or lost gear.
at contains something valuable Opening’s now gone. On a 7-9, the • Your mind is steel: you don’t The Edge of Life
or useful. See Clear GM picks 1: mark contamination. When you mark your fifth harm box, you’re on the verge of death.
When you try to read a dangerous Dodge
When you leave the area, spend 1 • The foe lashes out at you: Pick one:
situation, roll +Glass. On a hit, you When you try to avoid incoming
hold to retreat to a safe camp, 2 to take Harm appropriate to • Expend the last of your energy: trigger your playbook’s Death
can ask the GM questions. On a 7–9 danger, roll +Mercury. On a hit
find an exit to another ward, and 3 the enemy. Move, then die.
ask 1, on a 10+ ask 3, on a miss, ask 1 pick 1, on a 10+ pick 2:
to find the Acolyte’s sanctuary. One • The foe separates you from the
but prepare for the worst: • Collapse unconscious until the current danger has passed.
person rolls each time you navigate, others or puts you in a spot. • You avoid taking harm.
and the group’s hold from multiple • Which exit takes me to my goal? • The foe frenzies, dealing +1
Heal all harm but mark your Mortal Wound box: so long as
• You avoid getting separated
rolls is pooled together. • What here is valuable? Harm for the rest of the fight. it’s marked, you can’t take action unless another explorer is
from the others or losing
• What can the enemies here do? something valuable. assisting you.
Face the Horde Line It Up
• What should I be on the • The foe’s heedless in pursuit of

Covenant Moves
When you assault a group of castle lookout for? When you size up the enemy to locate
denizens, roll +Iron. On a hit, you a weak spot, roll +Glass. On a hit you: create an Opening.
Get fleeting advantage when you act
tear through them - say how. on each answer. you find an Opening. Say where it’s Stand With Me
On a 7-9 pick 2, on a 10+ pick 1:
Shelter
coming from - the environment, When you heal, encourage or aid an Help or Hinder
• They hit back - suffer harm. a chink in their armour, a flaw in ally, roll +Sulphur. On a hit, pick 1:
When you look for a safe space to When you help or hinder another explorer, spend a point of covenant
• You get some on you - their fighting style. On a 7-9, pick 2,
recover, roll +Mercury. On a hit, • They’re rescued from danger: a with them to give a dice to roll as per dis/advantage. If the dice you
mark contamination. on a 10+ pick 1:
precipice, poison, a curse, etc. gave is the highest, get a point of covenant back; if it’s the lowest, gm
each explorer picks 1:
• You end up in a risky position. • The foe makes you its • They heal their lightest wound.
• Tend to another explorer: they will say what misfortune you suffer.
• More are coming. highest priority. • They heal 2 harm.
heal 2 Harm, or remove their • The Opening only lasts a Summon Aid
Drink Deep lightest Wound. On a 10+ the camaraderie shown
few moments. When you call on your covenants for help, distant (or dead) characters
When you draw on the power • Encourage another explorer - gives your ally fleeting Advantage.
• Attempts to use the Opening can answer. If they do, they step from the shadows near you as a
of a potent item or ritual site, they get fleeting advantage. without one weapon perk
roll +Sulphur. On a hit, mark • Use your bloodline’s
Victory wraith. They take action as normal, but can’t take wounds. The first
have Disadvantage.
contamination and learn a spell - Shelter move.
When the foe is defeated, everyone harm they take weakens them; the second harm banishes them,
the GM says what it does. Flee still living may raise Blood and add weakening their covenant with you by 1.
• Gain aid from a contact.
When you cast it, pick 1: When you use an Opening to retreat, 1 to their Covenant with each other.
On a 7-9, advance the any and all characters can flee the The foe’s sanctum becomes a place Betrayal
• Mark contamination.
• Forget the spell.
Regent’s clock. battle. Advance the regent’s clock of power, usable for Forward Base. Why let your sentiments hold you back when the castle will give
Each explorer checks over their by one. you power in return for betrayal? Each covenant sets out a way the
• Take 1 Harm.
covenant strengthen/betrayal bond between you is weakened: whoever hits that trigger marks
On a 10+, you don’t need to pick an triggers, and see if any have been hit
option on your first cast. contamination, and the covenant’s rating is weakened by 1.
since they last rested.
Bloodline Moves Generation Moves
Arcane Power Lend aid Darkness Falls Spoils of Victory
When you use the castle’s cast-offs to When you help another bloodline with a When the regent’s clock fills, they blight the mortal world. The If you leave the castle without claiming the grail, pick one of
empower your bloodline’s actions, spend 1 move, offer them a dice. If they take it, GM marks one: the choices unlocked by your Explorer’s Blood.
Relic and get advantage on a roll. they roll it with their own as if they had A section of the region’s population is cursed and BLOOD 0+
advantage. If your dice is the highest, say made monstrous.
how you made the difference and gain • Your explorer loots the castle for valuable trinkets. Say what
Day is short and nights are starless.
Rest and Relaxation 1-Pact on them. If it’s the lowest, the Monsters walk the world every full moon.
they spend the rest of their life doing with their fortune,
When you provide aid to characters in a GM will say how helping them hurt you. and start the next generation with 1 more Relic.
Weather becomes unnatural and devastating. • Your explorer devotes their life to preparing the next
safe camp, roll +Chalices. On a 7-9, pick Plagues strike a section of the population.
2; on a 10+ pick 3. generation. Choose one other bloodline - say how you
Resist Doom If all are marked, the castle claims the mortal world. All is lost. helped train their next explorer, and increase your Pact with
• Each explorer may heal all harm. them by 1.
• Each explorer may heal all wounds. When you work a grand ritual, spend Each player picks how their bloodline responds to the blight,
1-3 Relics on occult resources and and adjusts their stats: • Your bloodline works to heal the wounds left in this community
• Each explorer can repair and when the castle leaves. Gain advantage on all Coins moves
resupply their weaponry. ceremonial paraphernalia and roll • You stayed safe, at the cost of withdrawing from the world. Say
+Wands. On a hit, choose one for each which of your connections suffered in your absence. if the castle returns here.
• Each explorer may form a new
covenant, or raise an existing Relic spent: +1 Chalices, -1 Coins. BLOOD 2+
covenant by a step. • Reduce the Regent’s clock by 1. • You fought to push it back, but your best mystics lost their lives. • Your explorer instils their skills into a piece of gear. Describe
• The regent’s clock doesn’t • Bless a weapon to strike true Say what their sacrifice achieved. +1 Swords, -1 Wands. how they pass it down to the next generation: when they
tick down. against one Acolyte, giving it the • You took some of the taint into your family. Say what lingering use it, they can access one of your current explorer’s moves,
Holy perk. malady the blight has left you with. +1 Wands, -1 Chalice. but it gains the heirloom tag.
Each explorer checks over their
• Reduce a character’s Blood rating by • You waged a shadow war keeping society safe at great cost to • Your explorer forces permanent order on the castle. One ward
covenant strengthen/betrayal triggers,
one - they lose a Blood Advance. your warriors. Say which settlement still stands thanks to will remain in its current form for the rest of time, and your
and see if any have been hit since they
you. +1 Coins, -1 Swords. bloodline gets Advantage Travelling the Labyrinth there.
last rested. On a 7-9, the Regent weaves a counter-
spell; you’ll need to defeat an Acolyte • You invest in improving your bloodline’s resources. Sacrifice 3
before anyone can work further rituals. Relics to raise a bloodline stat by 1.
Gnosis
Forward Base When the Regent is slain, the explorer with the highest Blood BLOOD 4+
When you claim a place of power as a can choose to inherit the Grail. If they do, they increase • You let the corruption sink deep into your bloodline, controlled
Reinforcements
forward base in the castle, roll +Swords. a bloodline stat by 1 but reduce their Pacts with the other but ever-present. Your future characters start at Blood 1,
When you Bloodline members search for
On a hit it’s yours, and you can use it as bloodlines by 1. They get one wish from the Grail: with a Blood Advance to match.
rumours or resources in the mortal world,
a safe camp for the purposes of Rest and • Life Everlasting: Your character can return in each • You form a bond with the castle. Your explorer can always
roll +Coins. On a 7-9 choose 1, on a 10+
Relaxation and Travel the Labyrinth. On subsequent generation, and will never truly die. mark contamination to get a vision of what the regent is
choose 2.
a 10+ pick one bonus: • The Resurrection of the Dead: One person of your choice is doing at the moment, and ask one follow-up question the
• They find resources worth 1 Relic. GM must answer truthfully.
• There’s room for more: it counts as returned to life.
• They hear tales of a ward’s acolyte,
another Bloodline’s camp too. Get • Insight From Beyond: Gain a new bloodline move.
and clues to how they’re helping
1-pact on them. • Wealth of Kings: Your bloodline gains 5 Relics.
the regent.
• It’s well-located: explorers • Peace on Earth: Each bloodline gains 1 Relic; you gain
• They learn what the regent plans
leaving the camp get +1 Travel the 1-Treaty on the others.
next, and which clock segment it’ll
Labyrinth hold. • Purification: Remove a Blight infected by a previous Regent.
• It’s comfortable and secure: trigger on.
The castle then takes you with it as it leaves reality behind. You
get advantage on Rest and will return as its next regent unless you chose Life Everlasting -
Relaxation here. in which case the next regent is Death Itself.
GM Guidelines Building Antagonists Contacts
Use these to add a bit of variety to your castle, give the
AGENDA Acolyte Roles Acolyte/Regent Harm players non-hostile characters to interact with and build
You have three guiding rules as you run this game: • The Acolyte strengthens the Regent. Give the Each quality should give the adversary some kind of relationships with, and flesh out the world of this time
Regent an extra quality, so long as this Acolyte is attack, to which you should assign a harm rating. Here’s period. When you make a neutral character, work out
• Make the world feel real. what’s motivating them and what the players could do
still serving them. some guidelines - though feel free to adjust up and down
• Fill the character’s lives with action and adventure.
• The Acolyte guards the Regent. While the depending on the circumstances in play. to win their support. If they do, these contacts are usable
• Play to find out what happens. Acolyte is serving the Regent, it will ambush with the Shelter move, conferring particular benefits:
1 harm: An adversary may deal one harm if they
the explorers when they attempt to travel to the Alchemist: Can convert a Relic into a potion of vigour.
WHAT TO SAY castle’s heart.
are particularly weak in a certain circumstance - for
Consume it to give yourself fleeting advantage.
example, if a fire demon is attacking you while
• What your prep demands. • The Acolyte speeds the world’s blight. If the you’re underwater. Apothecary: Sacrifice a Relic to create a healing salve - 1
• What the rules demand. Acolyte still serves the Regent when the clock 2 harm: The default. Stick with this if you don’t have use, heals 4 Harm.
• What honesty demands. has ticked a certain number of times, it will enter reason to change it.
the mortal wound and cause terror, ruin and Armourer: Performs repairs, giving each explorer
3 harm: If an adversary’s attacks are particularly
PRINCIPLES corruption. At best, this will remove one of the effective in a certain circumstance - for example,
fleeting Advantage on Confront.
• Keep momentum up. player bloodline’s safe camps outside the castle. At if a lightning demon is attacking you while Chronicler: When you tell them a story of your
• Make a move that follows. worst, it will trigger one of the options listed under you’re underwater. expedition, write it down. Later generations can strike
• Begin and end with the fiction. Darkness Falls. The first Acolyte given this role 4 harm: An attack that the adversary needed to take off a story to get fleeting Advantage on a related roll.
• Think offscreen too. triggers on the 4th tick, the second on the 3rd tick, some action setting up. For example, if a flesh demon Civilian: Get up-to-date information on the state of the
• Taint everything the castle contacts. and the third on the 2nd tick. needs to merge with your flesh before bursting out in world outside.
• Give power alongside corruption. shower of gore. Engineer: Collapse a corridor, bridge a narrow gap or
• Twist reality around them. create a route between different floors.

MAKE REACTIONS WHEN: Ideas for Qualities Minion Harm Lure: Can make enough noise to attract all monsters in
an area, letting you sneak by or set up an ambush.
• A player rolls a 6- on a move. • A quality representing the main way they attack. Minions deal 1 Harm by default. Add 1 for each:
• A quality giving them useful movement abilities, Mapmaker: Name a destination you’ve been to and
• Everyone’s looking to you to find out what • The minion is towering and powerful.
letting them close the gap with the explorers or spend the appropriate Travel the Labyrinth hold.
happens next. • The minion empowers its attacks with
escape close combat. The resulting map will take whoever holds it there
• The regent’s clock ticks. magical force.
• A quality that lets them alter the battlefield: plunge for 0-hold.
• The players offer you up a golden opportunity. • The attack is close-range and brutal.
it into darkness, open fissures, command hordes of Medics: One Explorer can heal their least
minions, unleashing traps. severe wound.
REACTION LIST • A defensive quality that the explorers must remove Priest: Spend 1 Relic to create purifying incense,
• Use a reaction from a minion or foe. to target their other qualities. removing 1 Blood and an Advance.
• Reveal an unwelcome truth. • Only one quality is active at any one time. As the
• Forecast doom. Occultist: Spend 1 Relic and mark 1 Blood to learn a
explorers strip each one away, the next one activates simple spell, as per Drink Deep.
• Deal harm as established. and the battle enters a new stage. Each individual
• Take away their stuff. quality will need to pull more weight here, so write Oracle: Sacrifice a Relic to see what the Regent or an
• Turn their move back on them. ones that give offense and defence. Acolyte is currently up to.
• Separate them. • The acolyte is multiple individuals. Maybe each Scout: They’ll have information on the monsters seen
• Put someone in a spot. individual is represented by their own quality in neighbouring areas.
• Highlight a weakness of their gear. - remove the quality, remove the adversary. Or Soldiers: They’ll travel with you, and can take out a
• Give them an opportunity fitting their strengths. maybe the explorers are striking away their single mob of minions.
• Offer an opportunity, with or without cost. formation, their cohesion, their armaments.
• Strike at their mortal allies. Weaponsmith: Can use 2 Relics to add a perk to a
• After every reaction: “what do you do?” weapon, or 4 Relics to remove a flaw.
Weapon Tags Example Covenants There's a grudge or rivalry between you.
One of you nursed the other back to health.
Perks
When one of you protects the When one of you recklessly When one of you risks When one of you shows off
• Cleave: Can slice through many foes in a single swing. danger or cost to aid their superiority over the
• Flexible: It wraps around defences and can be other from harm, strengthen puts the other in danger,
the covenant. betray the covenant. the other, strengthen other, betray the covenant.
redirected mid-swing. the covenant.
• Hefty: Knocks an enemy back on a hit.
• Holy: Causes intense pain against a particular foe. This tag is One of you is teaching the other to fight.
only accessible via moves. You grew up together.
When the trainee gets a When one of you shows
• Lingering: It causes ongoing pain: if you hit someone with it killing blow, strengthen concerning brutality, betray When you take time out When you turn your back
they’ll try to stay away from you. the covenant. the covenant. to catch up, strengthen on the ways of your youth,
• Piercing: Can penetrate armour and thick hide. the covenant. betray the covenant
• Ranged: Can attack any foe in eyesight.
• Stun: Makes enemies slow and sluggish on a hit. You're hunting down a lost treasure together.
You follow different faiths.
• Tether: After you hit, you can easily hold onto/keep pace with When you find a clue to When you lie to or
the foe. the treasure's location, mislead the other, betray When one makes sure the When you preach the
strengthen the covenant. the covenant. other has time for their superiority of your
Flaws observances, strengthen faith's teachings, betray
• Ammo or Fragile: If any dice on an attack come up 1, the the covenant. the covenant.
weapon’s useless until you Shelter or get Rest and Relaxation. You used to be close friends or lovers.
• Brace: You need to stand on steady ground to use it. When you share stories of When you act as you did One of you is heavily in debt to the other.
• Close: You need the enemy to be within arm’s reach to use it. the good times, strengthen when you broke up, betray
• Grazing: It only deals surface harm, not deep wounds. the covenant. the covenant. When one of you forgives When you take the other's
• Heirloom: If you lose it, get Disadvantage on bloodline moves or pays back the debt, gear without permission,
until you get it back. strengthen the covenant. betray the covenant.
You're afflicted with the same curse.
• Painful: If any dice on an attack come up 6, take 1 Harm.
• Reload: You need to take some action to attack again after When you help the When you willingly One of you has strange dreams the other
using it. other manage the curse, embrace the curse's benefits, is studying.
• Thrown: Once you attack with it, you need to recover it. strengthen the covenant. betray the covenant.
When one of you benefits When one of you is hurt
• Unstable: You’re vulnerable and unable to move after using it.
from an insight gained from because they followed
You're long-time monster hunter partners.
Example Weapons the dreams, strengthen the dreams, betray
Warhammer: hefty/brace. When one of you saves When one of you embraces the covenant. the covenant.
the other from danger, the Castle's corruption,
Rapier: piercing/superficial. strengthen the covenant. betray the covenant.
Harpoon: tether/thrown.
Flintlock: ranged/ammo.
Greatsword: cleave/unstable.
Blood whip: flexible/painful.
Bareknuckle boxing: stun/close.