In T13 every aspect of the Game is built from smaller Components, Proficiency Threads and Facet Boons are combined to create Knots like Annexes and Hitches, and Knots can be combined to create Patterns.
Patterns are recurring things, that you might use once, or every time you use the system, as required. They can be pretty diverse, with Patterns including:
- Extras: Who are the minimal Characters, Animals or Mobs, usually built around a Single Annex sometimes with a Hitch. Extras are usually created from a Yarn Card NPC Archettpe, which specifies a Persona, a Core and a Hitch, for each NPC type. Extras can also be easily given additional Annexes, Hitches or even Monster Facets to make them more powerful, and more of a challenge for PCs to defeat.
- Descendants: Descendants are harder to understand. They are everything else that you might find in the universe, that isn’t a Character or Animal. To start with it can easiest to think of Descendants as Props, things like the tools a Character might carry around, weapons, equipment, armour. Although, Descendants are so much more than that, they can be magic spells, martial arts, software, knowledge from books, reputations, guilds, companies, families, buildings, forests, land, planets, and much more.
Regardless of the type the Pattern is still largely the same. They consist of at least one Annex, called the Master Annex. A Pattern may have other Annexes, but is restricted in how many it can have and their type. If your Master Annex is a Power with Boon 45 then the Pattern could have 10 other Annexes, and the other Annexes could be at most Talent Annexes.
Normally with a Pattern you can have as many Talents as Skills (but no more) and the number of Talents Reduced (Score of a Boon) gives the number of Powers that can be had. So a Power 45 Boon could have 5 Skills and 5 Talents, Power 51 Boon could have 6 Skills and 5 Talents. A Super-Skill Boon 45 could have 5 Skills, 4 Talents, 1 Power.
The Number of Skills can be limited by the Referee, to the Ruins (Boon Draw / Boon Double Reduced), Banes (Boon Score / Boon Reduced) or the Boon of the Patterns largest Hitch, or not at all as they prefer. Character created Patterns are usually limited to the Ruins for Grunts, Banes for Heroes, and Boons for Yarn-Tellers, but the Referee and Plots are not limited in the same way (although it can help to be consistent).
Some Patterns can have special Master Annexes, these special Master Annexes sit above even Super-Annexes in terms of what they can unlock.
- Extras for example can have Personality Annexes (which converts them into Archetype Characters). Personality Annexes are built from Hitches, Personas and Cores, and you can have up to 13 Hitches.
- Locations (and Kaiju which are Extras with added Size) can have a Size Annex, which just reflects how big the Location is (using the Sway Table look up the Size and the Chi cost) the Boon of the Size Annex should match the Chi Cost.
- Pacts have a Pact Annex. The Pact Annex is exactly like the Size Annex of a Location, using the Group Size. However, the Pact Annex should also be at least equal to the Highest Personality Annex in the Pact.
Pattern Incarna
Patterns should always have a Facet Incarna, to help decide what sort of Pattern it is. Extras for example are usually Flesh which is the Nature Incarna (although Spirits would be Awe Incarna).
Extras usually have a Character Incarna, such as these.
| Facet | Incarna |
|---|---|
| Awe ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Spirit (Ka) — As Awe is the Facet of Spirit its Incarna is Spirit. The Ka is the living soul that leaves the body upon death in the ancient religion of Egypt and echoes of this belief are found within most religions. Pick this Facet Incarna if you are wanting to play a lost soul, ghost, spectre, or nature spirit, or perhaps a Genius Loci or Familiar Spirit. |
| Burden ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Earth — Burden is the Incarna Facet to choose if you wish to build a statue, or play a living rock. Gemstones, Earth Elementals (Gnomes), living statues, gargoyles, golems, rock giants, and buildings can also share this Incarna. |
| Craft ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Toil — High craft of prolonged time. Craft is the Incarna to pick if you wish to play or build a carefully constructed, fiddly mechanical thing. You might want a robot or mechanimal to be made from Toil, many works of art are actually made from Craft, any sort of living artwork or golem could be made from Toil. |
| Dominion ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Group — When you want to play or build a society or social construct (such as a Pact, a Guild, a Company or even a family), or if you wish to play a social insect hive, a swarm, shoal or hive mind, or a Vermis Bulmäs then you want a Dominion Incarna. |
| Enigma ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Riddle — If you are trying to create a code, or a puzzle, or if you are wanting to play a enigmatic creature of unknown origin, a mysterious entity from a hidden realm, or some cryptid such as a Bigfoot, Chupacabras, or Black dog, then Enigma is the Incarna for you. |
| Fury ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Water — All liquids are descended from, or are siblings of, Elemental Water. Ever changing and unpredictable, it is a very suitable Incarna for any liquids, potions, as well as water nymphs, undines, intelligent liquid tentacles, white horses, as well as water giants like the Maelstrom whirlpool or Charybdis. |
| Gossamer ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Air — Not just Elemental Air, but any gas uses this Incarna. Need to build a gaseous weapon, gas leak, gas giant planet, or want to play a Sylph, a Zephyr, a Wind-giant, an literal Airy-Fairy, some Djinn, or a truly silent-but-deadly ninja fart? Then Gossamer is the Incarna for you. |
| Heresy ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Fiction — Whether you are constructing a delicately balanced web of deceit, writing a pulp sci-fi e-book, or want to play an escaped fictional character on the run in the real world, a Character from a digital simulation or a simulation of a real mind, such as a Toon or Cyberwraith, or a lie brought to life by magic, then Heresy is the Incarna Facet for you. |
| Inertia ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Time — If you want to manipulate time, create a save-point Chronolith event, build a time-machine (whether Tunnel, Delorean, Clock, Police-Box, Phone-Booth, Train, Plane, Cannon-Class Destroyer Escort ship or UFO) or play a being that is a living weaponised moment, a quantum-phase-locked chronovore that looks like a statue of an angel, timeflies (who famously like arrows), or a Lord Temporal, then you will be wanting an Inertia Incarna. |
| Jeer ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Mockery (Illusion) — Whether you want to create an illusionary wall, a hologram, or if you want to play a Toon, hallucination, or a mockery of human life risen from the grave, then the Jeer Incarna is for you. |
| Key ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Inspiration — If you want to build a meme, a memory, a thought, a culture-bomb, or play a being composed of pure thought, a monster from the Id, a powerfully psionic energy being, a higher being that has evolved beyond corporeal requirements, or a virus-like meme or concept that wants to spread and be known then Key is the Incarna for you. |
| Liberty ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Dream — If you wish to create a nightmare, or want to play a creature composed entirely of dreams, an inhabitant of the Dreamlands, a Dream-Sculptor, Chimera, or Jack-Spectre of the Summer Court, and all sorts of monsters from the unconscious or subconscious mind, then you want a Liberty Formation Facet |
| Miasma ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Poison/Potion — Whether you wish to create some deadly Iocaine powder, or an invisibility serum, develop nerve gas, an anabolic steroid, mutagenic compound or play a character who has ingested so much toxin that their touch has become deadly, fell in a magic potion as a baby, was dipped in a river of Hades as a child, has been permanently altered by drugs or chemicals, or was created with a super-soldier serum, you want the Miasma Incarna. |
| Nature ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Flesh — This is the most commonly selected Incarna, it is the Incarna of most people and most animals, nine times out of ten your character could have a Nature and the Flesh (Blood and Bone included) Incarna. |
| Orthodox ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Data / Truth — Perhaps you are trying to collect data, or want to write something down, or maybe you wish to play a living word, a being of objective truth, some Artificial Intelligences, some angelic beings, or a Fact that is trying to get itself discovered, if so you are after the Orthodox Incarna. |
| Phoenix ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Fire (Plasma) — Whether you want to model a camp-fire, summon a blazing, conflagration elemental or play an alien composed of intelligent plasma filaments, a salamander, fire devil, fire giant, some Djinn and Ifrit, you will probably want a Phoenix Formation Facet. |
| Quiet ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Vegetation/Wood/Paper — When you need to model plants, papers, or any wooden structure, or if you have a pressing need to play a sentient vegetable that used to believe it was a scientist, a walking tree (beard optional), a wood nymph, dryad, hamadryad, any number of flower faeries, a triffid, venus man-trap, wooden sailing ship complete with animated figure head, any variety of talking (or animated) book, or origami sculpture, then you’ll want to look at a Quiet Formation Facet. |
| Rook ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Defence — If you are trying to build a suit of armour or even a castle, you will require the Rook Incarna. If you want to play a smart shield, a possessed flak jacket, a haunted castle, a sentient fort, guard robots (or a guardian creation of any sort), or someone who just seems un-killable, then you will want a Rook Formation Facet. The Defence Incarna automatically grants a Descendant the Passive Rook Nimbed. As a Character Incarna the Character will always automatically Discard the Lowest card of an incoming attack. |
| Sin ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Vice — When you are building a descendant that is a vicious new street drug, or you want a black magic totem, or you are playing an anthropomorphic representation of a deadly sin, a demon (or more likely a devil), an incubus, a succubus, an Unseelie faery, a temptation, a dark god, fallen angel, or living addiction, then you will want the Sin Formation Facet. |
| Trial ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Metal — Whether you’re thinking about swords, cars, planes, full-body cyborgs, a lot of robots, some demons, some devils, the occasional Grim Reaper, intelligent, people-chomping cars, glittering chrome winged horses that transform into motorbikes, or the axe-wielding heavy-rock bands from industrial working class backgrounds. A Trial Formation Facet will grant you that Metal Incarna, which can be both a genre and an actual metal. |
| Virtue ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Energy — Maybe you want to model a power source or you’d like to train electricity or you just want to play an alien that is a living psionic energy field, an angelic being, something god-like, an actual god, a divine bodhisattva, a being of light, some Seelie Faeries, a living laser beam, or a lightning or storm giant, well then the Virtue Incarna is for you. |
| Wyrd ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Fate / Sway — Magick, Curses and the magical creatures of the Wyrd, including most Fairies (or the Fæ if you prefer), and some Eelafin and Solos may have a Wyrd Incarna as do the beings responsible for reality itself, a number of divine beings, anthropomorphic powers, gods, some Angels, most True Faeries and some prophets and prophetesses. |
| Yonder ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Space (Location) — When you need to build a Location, or play a sentient building, grove, forest, city, land or planet, some giant Kaiju, such as a Storm / Hurricane / Typhoon giant, or a telepathic pocket dimension that has an entrance looks like a blue box and can move in space and time, then you will want a Yonder Formation Facet. |
| Zeal ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Faith — It is said that it is harder to kill an idea than a man, even more so a belief. Whether a prayer, a belief, or even a god that you are trying to model, you should consider a Zeal Incarna. |
| Facet | Incarna |
Where as Descendants have their own slightly different Incarna, that can specify what sort of Descendant they are.
| Facet | Descendants |
|---|---|
| Awe ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Spiritual — The Descendants of Awe are spiritual in nature, they may actually be Spirits, or could be spiritual objects such as texts, totems or relics. |
| Burden ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Material — Material Descendants can be treasures, luxury cars, or homes, fall into this category, as well as simple treasures like a wallet full of cash, or these Descendants can be heavy, dense or immense things, like giant statues, pyramids, or earthworks. |
| Craft ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Works — Craft Descendants may be the crafts, skills and tools of any work, or can be the result of long hours of toil. |
| Dominion ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Pacts — Pact Descendants include any group that you might belong to, from nation to best friends. |
| Enigma ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Puzzle — Enigma Descendants are puzzles, perhaps they are or have a secret known to a select few (like a magic trick), or are themselves disguised as something else or hide another (like camouflage), or they may simply be a puzzle, then again maybe you just lost the manual. |
| Fury ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Loud — Loud Descendants make noise. They might be musical instruments, or roaring engines, or automatic firearms… The noises may have effects themselves may be the tones of an Alchemically-tuned Dondekannon, a toneloque shot, or a heart-felt song. |
| Gossamer ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Aery — Gossamer Descendants are as light and strong as silk, or the wind. Fine clothing, aetheric engines, strange mists, gasses, spores or perfumes, parachutes and aerial devices are all good Descendants. |
| Heresy ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Unorthodox — Heresy Descendants are unorthodox, they might be fictions — untrue things, lies, or deceptions, such as a fake passport or disguise — or perhaps a good book, or an ugly rumour. Then again they may be true, but strange, banned, or perhaps occult in nature, not accepted as legitimate or legal. |
| Inertia ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Time — For the Inertia Descendant Time is all, it might be an antique clock, or Chronolith allowing you to view a fixed event in the past or future, past-lives and ancient artefacts, anachronisms and of course vehicles, especially time-machines are all good examples. |
| Jeer ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Game — Jeer Descendants are called games, as they represent pure entertainments. It could be a haunted board game, or a living toy, but more likely games are banter, shows, jokes, stunts, plays, tricks, movies,hallucinations, illusions, holograms and Toons. |
| Key ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Inspired — Key Descendants are quite varied, they might be a single thought, a flash of genius, or they may be the result of years of research and experimentation. They can be works of art, of science, or both as Technology is perfected. Mental powers and abilities, as well as Psychosocial Spaces can be inspired too, they too can be nothing but a thought. |
| Liberty ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Fancy — Liberty Descendants are often dreams, imaginary things, creations of illusion and magic. They can be highly imaginative, or instead of being Fancies (Fantasies) they may just be fancy. Some Fancies include Psychosocial Spaces, especially Underworlds. |
| Miasma ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Nasty — Miasma Descendants are called nasty, they may be poisonous, toxic, or noxious, foul-smelling or looking. Or they can simply be dangerous, unhealthy, or destructive. Weapons that are particularly vicious-looking, poisoned or potentially dangerous to the user may be Nasty Descendants. |
| Nature ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Natural — Natural Descendants are not just around us, they are us, bloodlines, species, genetics, all are different ways of discussing our nature. Animals have natural weapons, horns, teeth, claws, quills, stingers, fangs, etc. that could all be Natural Descendants. We can adapt natural Descendants, growing hedges, raising livestock, using wooden, stone or animal part tools, at least until they are knapped, carved, artificed or crafted. |
| Orthodox ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Teachings — Orthodox Descendants are potentially anything that can be taught, learnt or researched (including most Lores). All knowledge and traditions are Teachings, but so too are books, information technologies (like computers) and experiments. Teachings can include the creation of specific Psychosocial Spaces and States within a Personal, Clique or Underworld. |
| Phoenix ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Cleansing — Phoenix Descendants are called cleansing, some are curative, or remedial in nature, like medicines and bandages, others are sterilizing, burning or purgative, like a purifying flame-thrower. Cleaning tools and materials also fall in this category, making a flaming torch and a dripping mop both Phoenix Descendants. |
| Quiet ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Hushed/Wooden/Paper — Quiet Descendants are called hushed, paper or wooden. They may be serene powers gained by silent meditation, whispered secrets, written words, anything designed to do a noisy thing more quietly, or anything made from wood or paper. Some weapons are hushed for example, with silencers, stiletto knives and garrottes all being excellent examples of trying to make killing quieter and staves, clubs, wands and bows all being wooden weapons and tools. Wood is itself an example of a hushed Descendant, it grows silently, even splitting and breaking stone with nothing more than a few creaks and the susurrus of leaves. Paper though is the ultimate hushed descendant, made from wood, ground and mashed, mixed with water, and then patiently allowed to dry in sheets, before silent words are added with the firm pressure of a printing press. Hushed Descendants can include Psychosocial Action Spaces, especially for those meditative and hermit-like Characters. |
| Rook ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Defences — Rook Descendants are Defences, they are often armour, shields, but can be forcefields, walls, sandbags, and fences or hedges as well. Defences are always able to act as a passive or active defence (even Skill Descendants) (see the Defence Edge). This even extends to Psychosocial Spaces where all defences become Mental Defences. |
| Sin ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Evil — Sin Descendants are evil, or at least someone, somewhere, at some time has thought they were. Evil Descendants include the obvious vices, such as drug use, alcholic beverages, slavery, not making slaves of your defeated enemies, most sexualities and sex acts, holding or even keeping certain weapons (weapons of mass destruciton or bio-weapons, particularly), performing magic (especially necromancy, black magic, or that one where a lady gets sawn in half), using poisons (especially on people), lying, cheating, and even using salty language, as well as anything any kind of moral panic has tarred with the Evil brush, be it games, music genres, movies, books (including comics), or art. Evil, it turns out, really is everywhere, and corrupting everything. |
| Trial ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Gear — Trial Descendants are the weapons and equipment of warfare and sporting contests. Any military weapon or vehicle is probably a piece of Gear, so is most sports equipment. At a push, improvised weaponry, such as rocks and broken glass, can count as Gear. |
| Virtue ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Pure — Virtue Descendants are pure, they might be innocence embodied, filled with divine light, like holy relics, angelic miracles, or can just be pure in a chemical, physical sense. |
| Wyrd ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Sentences — Wyrd Descendants are usually called Sentences. Sentences can actually take a lot of forms including any Trophy, Prize or Artefact (Chronoliths and Dark Matter are technically the same thing, as are Seats, Real Estate, Provinces and Dark Territories, and Trusts, Leagues and Covenants, but they all behave a little differently), Traps (as all Traps are technically Snare Wounds) and codemn a victim somehow, which is also true of Laws (as legislation and royal decrees are known) or Spells (as any bewitchment, enchantment, charm, or sorcery may be called). |
| Yonder ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Locations/Connections — All Locations are Yonder Descendants (although they also have a second Location or Psychosocial Facet too), however there are also Connections, which can connect Locations or Characters, examples include virtually every technology with “tele-” in its name, as well as doors, elevators, stairs, some Locations are also Connections such as roads, rivers, corridors, passages, and even Space-Time itself. |
| Zeal ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Engine — Zeal Descendants are known as engines, and while that does mean the mechanical type (and includes vehicles), it also encapsulates engines of belief such as political philosophies and religions too. Most religions can be defined as an Engine Descendant driving the Character to better themselves in some way. |
| Facet | Descendants |
Pattern Costs
Building Patterns doesn’t come free. You can’t just merge a few Proficiencies and suddenly have a Laser Rifle, or new Castle. Patterns always have a long term cost.
Of course, all of this should be handled by the server, but just in case you need to do it by hand, the cost is calculated as follows.
- The Patterns Cost (see Descendant or Extra Costs on the Sway Table) in Chi. e.g. A Location starts at 16 Chi.
- +The Master Annex Cost in Chi. The Annex Cost is calculated from the Boon, + all Nimbed Boons – all Umbral Boons + 1 for each Proficiency in the Annex.
- +The Annex Cost Reduced of each additional Annex.
- -The Boon of any Hitches the Pattern may have.
This gives the Base Cost of the Pattern. That is then modified by things like the commonality of the Descendant (does everyone have one? must be cheap then). Commonality decides what type of Sway that the Pattern can be purchased with.
| Type | Description | Cost Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Ubiquitous | Found literally everywhere, like stones generally, or computers in a Cyberpunk setting. Ubiquitous Pacts typically include the Pacts that Characters are automatically born into, like their citizenship, nationality or species. | Base Cost is paid in Banal Tao Sway. |
| Everyday | As common as cutlery, a coffee mug, or a daily newspaper. Everyday Pacts are usually memberships of particular social media platforms, or the readership of a particular daily paper, however the most common one is membership of a huge world religion, such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or Christianity. | Base Cost paid in Intrepid Facet Sway. |
| Common | At one time the Knife, or Cooking were common, most people had them, these days a mobile phone or a car are Common. Common Pacts will obviously vary greatly by setting, in a fantasy setting, your Class Guild would be a Common Membership, in the modern day it might mean a membership to a particular big international charity organization, a smaller world religion such as Sikhism, Judaism, or Zoroastrianism, or working for a huge multi-national company. | Base Cost is paid in Chi or Bold Facet Sway. |
| Uncommon | Not everyone owns one, in medieval times Armour and Swords were around this Commonality, these days a high specification PC, a sports car, or military equipment is this common. Uncommon Pacts are usually the powerful political party memberships, big national chains, international fan clubs, or religions that are not common to the area although they may be more common elsewhere, like African and Asian “Ethnic” religions such as Shinto, Shamanism, Bantu, San, Akan, Edo religions, etc, Rastafarianism and generic Neopaganism are also around here. | Base Cost × 2 is paid in Chi or Bold Facet Sway. |
| Rare | Rare objects are extremely expensive, and difficult to source, but are still mass produced objects. In medieval times such objects included Jewellery, field plate armour and even clocks. In the modern era, Super-cars, Jet-liners and pre-production test models are around this Commonality. For Pacts Rare means exclusivity, these may include small sects, secret clubs and societies, a membership of a Coven or particular church may fall at this level. | Base Cost × 3 is paid in Chi or Bold Facet Sway |
| Unique | Truly one of a kind. These are Artisanal masterpieces, uniquely designed, fitted, tailored, they are usually irreplaceable, and utterly personal. Prototypes and Crown Jewels usually fall into this commonality. Unique Pacts can be tricky to define, as a lot of Pacts are unique, by virtue of their membership being unique, but a truly one of a kind Pact is usually either secretive to the point of obscurity, but powerful, or infamous, but exclusive (and often still powerful). These are societies that hand-pick new members, and always have some strange reason for existing, and often have a cause they are working towards. | Base Cost is paid in Yarn (or Value Chi). |
| Type | Description | Cost Modifier |
The State that you found a physical Descendant in is also important.
| Type | Description | Cost Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Junk | Found literally lying around, it is probably broken. Junk generally has at least one Mortal+ wound, already. A Junk Pact is one that no one wants to join, but that some people end up in, examples mostly include the most severely oppressed minorities. | Base Cost is Reduced (to a minimum of the Type Cost). |
| Battered | This Descendant is probably already damaged. You might get a few more cautious uses out of it. Battered Descendants usually have at least one Crippling Wound that stops a Sub-Annex from working. Battered Pacts are typically oppressed minorities, or self-selected outcast groups, they are often viewed with suspicion or pity. | Base Cost is halved. |
| Dirty | Sure, it could be cleaner, but it works fine, mostly. Okay, so it may be a bit… eh… glitchy or something… Dirty Descendants usually have at least one Maiming Wound usually on a Sub-Annex. Dirty Pacts are looked down on by others, usually because of some criminal activity in the past or other unsavoury nonsense. A lot of religious groups end up in this state after they become associated with repeated scandals and abusive crimes. | Base Cost -8 (to a minimum of the Type Cost). |
| Like New | Reconditioned, Second Hand, polished up and looks okay. Everything should work, although it might not have the battery life, or range it once had. Like New Descendants generally have at least one Flesh Wound on a Sub-Annex. A Like New Pact is usually one that has undergone a rebranding, some people may remember the bad old days, but most are willing to move past the past and look to the future of the group. Occasionally a newer group may fall to this level after a little while, not due to any scandals or even suspicions, but simply due to a lack of awareness. | Base Cost -5 (to a minimum of the Type Cost). |
| Pristine | Literally straight out of the box. It works perfectly and doesn’t have a single scratch, yet. Pristine Descendants have no Wounds. Pristine Pacts are typically brand new groups, companies and organisations, they haven’t had time to create or garner bad publicity, and usually little good publicity either, beyond whatever the PR department arranged for the opening. | Base Cost unmodified. |
| Collector’s-Piece | Not only is this still perfect, but it is either a special edition, or just a perfect example. It might be older, but the owner’s manual has been followed to the letter. If you continue to look after it, it will continue to work for years. Collector’s-piece Pacts are truly rare, very few organisations or companies manage to keep a pristine record, unsullied by previous leaders or public relations disasters, in our world this is is rarely possible, even Pacts that are very respected such as Disney, Apple or the Catholic church have their detractors who know where the bodies are buried. | Base Cost × 4. |
| Type | Description | Cost Modifier |
and finally Age of the Descendant also affects the cost (although not for Locations generally).
| Type | Description | Cost Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient | If this was in any better condition it would be in a museum. | Base Cost Halved (÷ 2). |
| Old | Sure there’s some spots of rust, and the leather might be a bit worn, but it still works. | Base Cost Two-Thirded / ÷ 3 and × 2 (× ⅔). |
| Not new | A few years ago this would have been State of the Art. | Base Cost normal. |
| Last Season | “Why are you still using that model? Don’t you know there’s a new one out?” | Base Cost Doubled (× 2). |
| Brand New | The very latest deluxe model, with all the features and packages. Sure, you can look, but don’t touch. | Base Cost Tripled (× 3). |
| Anachronistic | So new they don’t even make it yet. It might be a an advanced prototype, the work of a genius ahead of his time, or maybe it fell back from the future. | Base Cost Quintupled (× 5). |
| Type | Description | Cost Modifier |
The Setting Author or Referee has final say which of these modifiers should be applied, generally this would be the applicable modifiers that raises the price most. All Applicable modifiers should be applied to the Base Cost and then the Cost should be paid as appropriate. Generally speaking mulitplication and division should be applied before addition or subtraction. For example an Ancient Dirty Common Descendant would have the Base Cost ÷ 2 – 8 which should be paid in Chi.
Trophies, Prizes, Artefacts, Edges and Glows
In T13, if you keep a Descendant for a long time, and look after it well, it becomes special. Hero Characters, like Mercari, can force additional Chi into a Descendant and make it special more quickly. We call these special Descendants “Trophies” although they also come in other flavours like Prizes, Chronoliths, and Real-Estate (created deliberately by Heroes), or even Artefacts and Provinces (deliberately created by Yarn-Tellers).
Trophies and Seats
Trophies are normally created by Characters using a Descendant, Seats are their equivalent for Locations, technically Events are related to them when they ahve been performed. Slowly, under the right circumstances, Sway and Chi can accumulate in the Descendant. This can be accelerated by Geometry, I-Ching, and Nimbeds, but typically is the result of the Weilder gaining Chi from Success Levels when using the Descendant for its intended purpose.
Trophies can only store Chi or Yin and Yang equal to the maximum Score that their Annexes can generate (which is also usually the Stress Limit for each Boon Die see Stress). So, if the Descendant Food Mixer only had a Master Annex that rolls 2d10-1 then that Trophy could store 19 Chi or 19 Yin and 19 Yang. If it also had a 1d8 Sub-Annex (in blending say) then it could store 27 Chi. We call this amount of Chi the “Edge Tier Cost” as it can be used to purchase Edges for the Descendant. Note that a stored point of Yin and a stored point of Yang, or 2 points of Yin, or 2 Points of Yang, are all equal to a point of stored Chi.
While a Trophy stores Chi, it may have an Edge, which grants it (or its wielder) some special bonus or ability. So that “Food Mixer” Descendant could hold 1-27 Chi and have an Edge.
Prizes, Real Estate and Chronoliths
If a Trophy or Seat is full of Chi then it cannot naturally gain Chi any more. A Hero Character or Yarn-Teller may be able to force more Chi into the Trophy or Seat creating a Prize (also called a Monolith if made of rocks and gems or Real-Estate in the case of a Location). This creates a second Edge Tier that can be filled with Chi. Each Tier is the same size as the last and each Tier adds an Edge to the Prize or Real-Estate. So every Prize or Real-Estate begins with 2 Edges.
A Prize (or Monolith in the case of Prized stones) can store Chi equal to the Value of the Boon of the Edge Tier Cost. So 27 Chi Edge Tier Cost Prize could store 216 Chi. We call this the Glow Tier Cost, and if a Prize reaches that amount of Stored Chi it can promote one of its Edges into being a Glow instead. It should be noted that this also limits the number of possible Edges that a Descendant can have. The example above could have at most 9 Edges when not full of Chi, and 8 and 1 Glow when full of Chi. Each time a Prize is filled it may change which Edge is a Glow, if it loses any Chi then the Glow will revert to being an Edge.
Chronoliths are events with Chi stored in them, any Moment, Duration or Age can be an event as can a single instant, adding Chi to an instant of time allows Hero Characters to manipulate those events in interesting ways, such as treating them a savepoint, reloading back to them later. Chronoliths generally have a Chi Edge Tier Cost of 8 Chi, but they can increase the Edge Tier Cost to grant them more Edges, if required.
Artefacts and Provinces
Artefacts are even more powerful than Prizes, they can only be created by a Yarn-Teller, who must push the Chi over the Glow Limit by storing Yarn in the Descendant. They can also push Real-Estate into being Provinces
Each time an Artefact fills Chi to the Glow Tier Cost it may promote another Edge into being a Glow. Each time an Artefact loses Chi below a Glow Tier Cost a Glow will be demoted to an Edge again.
An Artefact cannot have more Glows than Edges, and can never add another Edge, so eventually a balance is found. Our example Artefact could start with 1 Glow and 8 Edges with a total of 216 Chi, but could reach 4 Glows and 5 Edges after storing a total of 648 Chi in the Artefact, and would demote one Glow if it lost even 1 Chi.
Edges and Glows
Edges add minor abilities and bonuses to a Descendant, some of which may affect the User or Owner (who may not be the same person if you lend the Descendant to someone, or steal one or find one in the wild). Glows are more powerful versions of the Edges, and are much more major abilities.
Glows and Edges come in two types. The first types can only be used on Descendants, and so are called Descendant Edges and Glows.
| Type | Description | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Affecting | Affecting Descendants have additional effects upon their users and surroundings. | The Affecting Edge causes the Descendant to cosmetically alter the appearance of the user. The Affecting Glow causes the Surrounding Location or User to be affected as though Side-Stepped by the Master Annex Roll as Yarn when the Descendant is entered, held, drawn or used as appropriate. |
| Annex | The Annex Descendant has additional Annexes beyond normal. | The Annex Edge grants the Descendant an additional Annex of the highest type available (Proficiency for a Skill, Skill for a Talent, etc). The Annex Glow grants an additional Annex of type “equal” to the Master Annex or Super-Annex, and one of each lower Annex type down to Proficiency. |
| Assault | An Assault Descendant is intended to cause greater damage to its targets, but is draining on the Descendant. | An Assault Edge can make one Attack per Scene at Extreme Stakes and may Roll the Descendant’s Master Annex Die and add the result to the Pips for the Attack for a cost of 1 Stored Chi. An Assault Glow makes one Attack per Ordeal Round at Extreme Stakes automatically, and adds the Descendant’ Edge Tier Limit to the Pips of that Attack for 1 Chi. |
| Back-up | An Back-up Descendant is capable of calling or sending back-up, assistance, or aid. It is common on Pact Descendants. | A Back-up Edge can summon one member of the Pact from a lower Tier or one Extra with a Boon smaller than the Master Annex Boon of the Descendant. A Back-Up Glow can summon all same or lower Tiered members of the Pact or Summon a number of Characters equal to the Total Stored Chi in the Descendant (see sway table). Summoning will take time based on the Master Annex Boon as a Chi Limit Duration, but may be accelerated by paying Chi from the Descendant. |
| Better | A Better Descendant is just better than others. | A Better Edge adds the current number of Edges to every rolled Score (does not effect the Tier Limits). A Better Glow adds +2 for each Edge and +5 Score for each Glow. |
| Changes | The Changes Descendant grants a Descendant a personality of sorts. This is often a animistic spirit the User associates with the Descendant, but it may be communicative such as an AI assistant. It is certainly true that the Descendant gains Sway in new ways and may even have its own abilities that it can employ. | The Changes Edge grants the Descendant an I-Ching Hexagram (with a Gain that usually pays 1). The Changes Glow grants a second Hexagram to the Descendant that is normally the same as the previous one, granting that Hexagram’s “Unchanging” ability (or Changing Lines) to the Descendant. |
| Dark | Dark Descendants are wreathed in shadows and darkness. | A Descendant with a Dark Edge has a shroud of darkness that engulfs it. This clouds an area equal to the Edge Tier Limit as a Size, with an unfavourable lighting condition or shadow for non-Users (-2). A Dark Glow is a deeper darkness that renders everyone in the radius apart from the User effectively blind (-13), or affects them with an Umbral effect. |
| Doomed | Doomed Descendants have a greater purpose, and can be leveraged by Characters to achieve theirs. | Doomed Edges allow a Wyrd Tarot card to be played upon the Descendant, that will linger permanently. Court cards are permanently active in their desired facing for the Descendant and any User, but Non-Court cards must be activated for 1 Chi. Doomed Glows allow the Descendant to use the lingering Doom card as a Yarn Card at anytime by the User (even Grunts can Yarn-Tell a little with this Descendant). |
| Diabolic/Unseelie | Diabolic or Unseelie Descendants are usually associated with devils, demons, and Unseelie faeries. | Diabolic / Unseelie Edges grant a Descendant a bonus to all Yang Facet Actions equal to the number of Edges × 2, but exude an aura may be sensed as a malevolent force. Diabolic / Unseelie Glows raise this bonus to +3 for each Edge and +10 for each Glow, but the aura is now visibly present as a flame, shadow, or sparks. It also creates a noise when used, like screaming souls, moans, whispering voices, or raging fires, and has an associated smell such as brimstone, corruption, or excrement. |
| Discount | Discount Descendants grant the user discounts on other Descendants that they purchase. This can represent staff or guild discounts, loyalty cards, insider knowledge, old school networks, or just being rich. | Discount Edges grant a discount on purchases of other Descendants, usually based on genre conventions and social conventions (subject to Yarn-Teller and Referee agreement) equal to the Edge Tier Limit / Master Annex Score in Chi for each Edge. Discount Glows increase this ability to the Master Annex Boon for each Glow. Purchases retain a minimum cost of 1 Chi. |
| Divine/Seelie | Divine or Seelie Descendants are usually associated with saints, gods, and Seelie faeries. | Divine / Seelie Edges grant a Descendant a bonus to all Yin Facet Actions equal to the number of Edges × 2, but exude an aura that may be sensed as a benevolent force. Divine / Seelie Glows raise this bonus to +3 for each Edge and +10 for each Glow, but the aura is now visibly present as a flame, frost, or light. It also creates a noise when used, like a bell ring, singing choirs, whispered prayers, or susurrating leaves, and has an associated perfume, such as flowers, fresh pine, incense or fresh baking. |
| Effective | Effective Descendants are more effective than others. | A Descendant with an Effective Edge adds a Success Level once per Scene. As an Effective Glow this increases to adding a Success Level to every Action. |
| Eternal | Eternal Descendants never age, or are damaged, until they are destroyed. | The Eternal Edge causes a Descendant to not age. It will always maintain the appearance of whatever age it had when the Edge was added. The Eternal Glow increases this to make the State of the Descendant also unchanging. Additionally, no Wound will affect the Eternal Descendant until it is affected by any Mortal or Carnage Wound when it will immediately collapse into dust. |
| Extended | Extended Descendants are customised to make them permanently bigger somehow. Often this pertains to a single dimension, such as length (a Stretch Limousine), height, or duration (time such as, Chronoliths that last longer than an Instant). | The Extended Edge increases the selected dimension slightly. Increasing in size can increase Reach or add a new Size Annex to the Descendant equal to the number of Edges (e.g. 3 Edges could grant Reach or Size +3), but is most important for extending the duration of normally instantaneous effects. The Extended Glow increases the Scale of the Owner by +1 (even beyond their number of Hitches), and increases the Reach or Size Annex by 2 per Edge and 3 per Glow |
| Fast | Fast Descendants are quicker than others. | A Descendant with an Fast Edge reduces the RT of all Annexes by the total number of Edges and all GRTs by 1. The Fast Glow reduces GRT by the number of Glows +1 and RT is at most 1. |
| Fortunate | Fortunate Descendants are less likely to be randomly difficult to handle, or explosive, unstable, etc. | If a Descendant with an Fortunate Edge rolls less than average then it automatically takes the average instead, this also grants a re-roll of one Proficiency die during a Proficiency Crisis. When raised to an Fortunate Glow, the Descendant always rolls maximum. |
| Hardened | A Hardened Descendant is tougher than you might expect. In some cases it may be nigh on indestructible. | A Hardened Edge can store one additional Wound on one of the Descendant’s Annexes. A Hardened Glow will store an extra Wound on each Annex, and may ignore 1 Wound completely. |
| Knowledge | Knowledge Descendants grant their User access to their own Proficiencies as though they were the Users. | Knowledge Edges allow the Wielder to access one Proficiency from each Annex of the Descendant as though it was their own. Knowledge Glows grant the User access to all the Proficiencies in the Descendant as though they were their own. |
| Light | Light Descendants are lit with an aura that only the User can see. | A Descendant with an Light Edge has a flickering aura that activates when the Descendant is used. This Aura lights an area equal to the Edge Tier Limit as a Size, usually only the User can see by this light, but it may be visible to everyone in a high magical field or setting. A Light Glow grants each and every action with the Edged Descendant a specific Facet Success, chosen by the Creator. |
| Monstrous | Those who wield the Descendant, or enter the Location or Space become Monsters. | Each Monstrous Edge grants the User (or those in the Location) access to a Monster Facet (usually the Descendant Incarna or Master Annex Channelling Facet). However, the Monster Pool is restricted by the Descendant, to the Edge Tier Cost Reduced cards. A Monstrous Glow grants full unrestricted access to the Monster Pool and grants access to Monster Facets of both the Master Annex Root and Channel Facets. |
| Paid | A Descendant or with a Paid Edge is cheaper to use than others of its type. | A Descendant with a Paid Edge allows its user to ignore one Umbral or Hitch when using the Descendant. A Descendant with a Paid Glow will negate all Descendant Hitches and Umbrals when using the Descendant. |
| Personal | Personal Descendants are intended to be used only by their Creator or Owner | Descendants with a Personal Edge add +2 Score per Edge when used by the person who set the Edge, but have a -2 per Edge if wielded by someone else. The Personal Glow will attempt to attack anyone who does not have a Personal Edge that attempts to use the Descendant and adds 1 Failure Level to every action they attempt with the Descendant. |
| Personality | The Personality Descendant becomes, or at least seems close to, sentient. It definitely displays at least an animal-like personality. Combined with Changes this can create a truly intelligent and real personality. | The Personality Edge can grant a Descendant either a Master Annex Channelling Facet Persona, or a Master Annex Root Facet Core. These Cores may affect the user if Referee and Yarn-Teller deem it appropriate. As a Glow this will grant both, and effectively replace the Descendant with an appropriate Archetype / Extra Character. |
| Rank | Rank Descendants allow grades of Membership for Pacts (or similar). | Each Rank Edge purchased buys a Rank within the Pact/Descendant, the number of possible Rank Edges gives the number of subordinates within the organization that the Rank has (as Yarn Group Size on the Sway Table) E.g. a Military Organization Pact, may have Rank 1 (Corporal) 3-10 Subordinates, Rank 2 (Sergeant) Dozen to 39 subordinates, Rank 3 (Lieutenant) 40-84 subordinates, Rank 4 (Captain) 85-374 subordinates, and so on. A Rank Glow will add Two Rank Edges, and grant access to another Edge such as Mentor or Proficient. Subordinates are expected to follow the orders of those with a higher Rank, or face expulsion from the Pact. Rank also counts as a Pay-day Edge but all Chi rewards are halved. |
| Relieving | Relieving Descendants provide Stress Relief for their User. | A Relieving Edge Relieves Stress for the User. Typically the Edge will Relieve Stress equal to the Rolled Score each use. A Relieving Glow will Relieve all Stress when drawn or weilded. |
| Shielding | Shielding Descendants help protect themselves and their User. | A Shielding Edge creates a Descendant or Defensive Style Pool Prepared Defence, each time it is wielded. This Prepared Defence always has a minimum card of a 2 and a maximum card Pip equal to the Master Annex Maximum Score. E.g. A d6 Sword would create a 2-6 Prepared Defence. A Shielding Edge adds a total number of Pips equal to the Edge Tier Cost × the total number of Edges, e.g. the d6 sword with a Shielding Edge and two others would create a Prepared Defence for 2-6 Pips and 18 Pips total each time it is drawn. A Shielding Glow creates a Prepared Defence that is always up and can block all Ordeal cards. It uses the current stored Chi as the Pips of the Defence, but will lose 1 Chi for each card stopped. |
| Shrinking | Shrinking Descendants are customised to make them capable of collapsing or shrinking somehow. Usually this Shrinking will effect the Reach (a magical shrinking staff, collapsable baton), Size (collapsible ladders or tents) or Duration (Limiting normally permanent effects such as making a temporary hole). | The Shrinking Edge decreases the Size, Reach or Extend Duration (or more often, increases the Limit Duration) of a Descendant by the number of Edges when required. e.g. 3 Edges, 1 of which was Shrinking, would grant Reach or Size of -3 or a Duration Limit of a Decade. The Shrinking Glow allows the User to change size with the Descendant, and decreases the Reach, Size or Duration by 2 per Edge and 3 per Glow as Chi. This can allow a Shrinking Glow along with two other Edges to alter Reach or Size by -7 (which can shrink the User to the size of a Bee), or let you kill someone for 4 months before they get better. |
| Stressful | Stressful Descendants generate Stress for their User and the Target. | A Stressful Edge creates Stress for the User and the Target each use. The User Gains the generated Score from the Die roll as Stress. The Target Gains Stress always equal to the Maximum possible roll. A Stressful Glow mulitples the Stress gained by the total number of Edges, which can quickly become Strains or Shocks and Traumas. Use with care. |
| Wielded | A Wielded Descendant grants its owner or user an Edge of their own. | A Wielded Edge grants the User or Owner one of the other Edges that effects themselves. A Wielded Glow grants either another Glow to the User or all Edges, as the Owner decides. |
| Type | Description | Rule |
The second type of Edge and Glow vary by Facet and are limited to Edge and Glow effects on the Annexes of the Descendant. They are often less powerful than the Descendant Edge and Glows, but are more diverse in flavour and result.
| Facet | Edge |
|---|---|
| Awe ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Numinous — A Numinous Edge on an Annex or Descendant grants it the ability to affect the Spirit and Spirit World (whether the Lea or a Psychosocial Action Space within a Character’s mind). Attacks with the Edge are usually treated as Psych Attacks, or as Emotional Effects, Defences with the Edge are Psych Defences. Once per Story / Chapter / Session Numinous Edges can raise the Stakes to Soul Stakes. |
| Burden ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Rewarding — The Rewarding Edge grants you a Sway Gain each use of the Annex, or Chi Gain for each use of a Descendant. |
| Craft ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Proficient — The Proficient Edge grants an additional Proficiency Dice (to a maximum of 4) to any roll, when the Annex or Descendant is suitable for the Task. |
| Dominion ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Pact — The Pact Edge allows an Annex or Descendant to affect all members of a specified Pact as a single Target. This Edge is often given to Pact Descendants that usually specify themselves as the Pact. Users may specify the Pact of an Annex during any modification to the Annex (such as adding a Proficiency). |
| Enigma ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Occult — The Occult Edge grants hidden, secretive, and arcane knowledge and abilities. The Occult Edge makes it difficult to work out how an Occult Annex or Descendant worked, or even sometimes what it did. The Action itself is hidden, with the Enigma Boon creating the Difficulty to Spot the Action and adding Penetration Pips to any cards played. Understanding the Action would require beating the original Occult Action Score + the Enigma Boon. |
| Fury ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Storm — A Storm Edge is rarely quiet and always raises the Stakes to High when it is used or drawn. Once per Story / Chapter / Session the Storm Edge can raise the Stakes to Extreme. Storm Edges add Fury Stress to all rolls made by the Annex or Descendant, which may be immediately spent as Strain. |
| Gossamer ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Grappling — A Grappling Edge makes an Annex or Descendant grab things (possibly with Reach or Range). Grabbing a Character will Restrain them by playing a card as a Restraint (see Gossamer Critical). Grabbing a Prop would allow it to be “Tugged” (Possession Magic) by Actions. Grabbing a Location would allow Actions with the Annex or Descendant to move the Character (a grappling hook allows you to climb) at walking pace. |
| Heresy ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Beguiling — A Beguiling Edge lets an Annex or Descendant lie and create false impressions and illusions. A Beguiling Edge has a lie that it tells and tries to convince the universe of, with a Heresy Score. The lie can be something simple like “These are not the robots you are looking for” or more complex like “Whoever holds this Descendant will be mistaken for the King”. |
| Inertia ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Pulse — An Pulse Edge indicates an Annex or Descendant that acts semi-autonomously, often it will be started by the User, but it will continue on its own until stopped. After initial activation the Pulse Edge will activate the same Annex again, usually on the same Target, as soon as the RT and GRT are paid off. These Pulse activations do not incur GRT themselves. |
| Jeer ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Retorting — A Retorting Edge lets an Annex or Descendant respond with an Emotional Effect in response to a certain circumstance (often being attacked). It allows the Annex or Descendant to play the User’s Jeer Draw cards from their Ordeal Pool as an Emotional Effect on the Attacker, this incurs Jeer Score RT on the Annex or Descendant Master Annex or Gaining Jeer Score Stress as preferred. |
| Key ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Pointed — A Pointed Edge adds Nimbed Key Score Penetration to the Score (and all cards) of any Full-Action the Annex or Descendant makes. |
| Liberty ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Freebie — A Freebie Edge means that the Annex or Descendant has a lower cost than normal (ideally 0). The Freebie Edge ignores Nimbed Liberty Draw Umbrals in the Annex, but they still add their Value. Typically, on a Descendant usually only the Master Annex is affected by the Freebie and the Descendant will usually have a Hitch to reduce the cost. |
| Miasma ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Contagious — A Contagious Edge has a chance to infect the Target of the Annex or Descendant with a contagious affect, which will go on to infect others. The chance of Contagion is based on the User’s Miasma Die beating the Target’s Phoenix Score (which may be rolled), if they are affected by the Annex (or Descendant). Additionally, if the Annex or Character manages to Stress the target some how, each Stress gained will add +1 to the roll; if the Annex (or Descendant) Wounds a Character then the Contagious Effect may add the Pips of the Wound to its roll, this is doubled if the Wound Festers. The Contagious effect will take Annex Boon as Chi Limit Duration (Boon 32 Would take 2 Days) to appear during which it may be cured and cancelled by Healing, Medicine, etc. beating the Contagion Score Doubled. The infection may then attempt to infect another, by using that Character’s Miasma. |
| Nature ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Living — A Living Edge means the Annex’s effects are motile and responsive and will actively resist attempts to “dispel” it. Add Nature Score to difficulty to dispel or Heal as inanimate objects dodge and wounds bite back. Living Descendants can naturally regenerate and may be able to move on their own, depending upon the Yarn-Teller and Plots. |
| Orthodox ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Instructive — An Instructive Annex or Descendant can teach lessons to others (usually the User or Target). The Instructive Edge usually teaches the Owner of a Descendant with it enough Proficiencies that they will be able to roll at least one Proficiency die when using the Descendant the first time they touch it (often a Specific Proficiency in using the Descendant), if they already have Proficiencies enough then it does not immediately instruct them. An Annex or Descendant that has an Instructive Edge can duplicate a Proficiency from the Annex (or Descendant) to a Target, or from the Target (or Descendant) to the User, if any Proficiency Die rolls maximum. This Instructed Proficiency will fill any available slot, including those within Talents or Powers. |
| Phoenix ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Flaming — A Flaming Edge can make an Annex or Descendant have a shimmering, flaming effect. The Flaming Edge need not actually involve flames, sometimes a glowing inner-light or an aurora will be more appropriate, although if an exhaust can spit flame it should. The Flaming Effect allows all Hearts played by the Annex or Descendant to add the Phoenix Score to their Pips, it can also increase all cards of a “Burn” Attack. |
| Quiet ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Muted — A Muted Edge makes the effects of an Annex or Descendant less loud, more quiet, or softer sounding than normal. This is adding a silencer on a gun, or engine, or a mute to a trumpet. Hearing the Annex or Descendant effect will have to beat the Quiet Score with a Key check or a Quiet check of their own. |
| Rook ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Defence — A Defence Edge attempts to protect the User from attack. This allows the Annex or Descendant to act as a either a passive Soak-Layer, or an active Block action, against Energy, Magic, Physical, Psych, or one Resource Attack Type (affecting Health is usually considered the same as normal Physical for example). Some other Edges may logically expand the Defence Edge to include additional types, such as a Numinous Edge on a helmet that is a Physical Soak-Layer would allow the helmet to be used for Psych Soaks too. A Passive Soak-Layer Draws Ordeal Cards, but after Playing Cards from their Pool and only the Annex Draw, if a Defence Edge Annex has a Draw of 2 but can passively Play 3 then they will only draw 2 cards back. Active Defences usually roll and vary the number of cards drawn. |
| Sin ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Wicked — A Wicked Edge makes an Annex or Descendant can render the attack addictive to the Target, any ♣ Played in the attack will create an Emotional Effect on the Target, that even if a Positive Emotion will behave as a Negative Psyche Attack, leaving them wounded (Mortal+ Wounds may create “Addiction” Hitches). |
| Trial ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | War — A War Edge makes an Annex or Descendant intended for use in Warfare. As such the Edge raises the Stakes to at least High the moment it is used or drawn in the case of a Descendant. Additionally it adds the User’s Trial Score to all Spades played by the Annex or Descendant. However, each non-Spade played by a War Edge adds 1 Stress to the User. |
| Virtue ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Shining — A Shining Edge makes an Annex or Descendant capable of emitting a “Beam” attack (which may be as simple as reflecting a beam of light across their eyes, or may be a huge column of laser light depending upon the situation) that can strike multiple Targets. You may Draw and Play an Extra card that can pay Range and Extra Target Pip costs on the Beam. |
| Wyrd ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Destiny — A Destiny Edge indicates an Annex or Descendant is part of a greater Destiny for a Character. The Annex or Descendant may Play any Ordeal Pool card as a Wyrd Tarot card upon the User or Target with each use. |
| Yonder ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Ranged — A Ranged Edge allows an Annex or Descendant to be useful at longer-range. The User’s Yonder Boon divides the Range before Difficulty is calculated. Confined Terrain divides Range in metres by Yonder Score, Closed Terrain divides by Yonder Boon and Open Terrain by Yonder Value. e.g. Boon 13 gives 4 / 13 / 66 divides Confined Terrain Ranges by 4, Closed Terrain by 13 and Open Terrain Ranges by 66. |
| Zeal ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Potent — A Potent Edge is just more powerful than other Annexes or Descendants, the Edge will add the Zeal Score to the Annex Score. |
| Facet | Edge |
| Facet | Glow |
|---|---|
| Awe ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Numinous — A Numinous Glow extends the Numinous Edge and makes the Action target the Target’s Master Annex (or Personality Annex) automatically. All Numinous Glow Actions are automatically at Soul Stakes. |
| Burden ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Rewarding — The Rewarding Glow grants you a Chi Gain each use of the Annex or a Yarn Gain for each use of a Descendant. |
| Craft ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Proficient — The Proficient Glow raises the dice of your Proficiencies one step (d4 -> d6 -> d8 -> d10 -> d12) so a 2d6 Prof Pool becomes a 2d8. |
| Dominion ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Pact — Pact Glows can allow an Annex (or Descendant) to be Shared with all other members of a specified Pact for free. |
| Enigma ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Occult — The Occult Glow grants allows an Annex or Descendant to access Magical Difficulties regardless of whether they are actually using magic to accomplish it. This allows the Occult Annex or Descendant to accomplish “impossible” things, such as throwing balls of fire, or hacking the banks computers by pressing the buttons on the ATM. |
| Fury ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Storm — A Storm Glow raises the Stakes of all Actions taken with the Annex or Descendant to Extreme Stakes. Once per Story, Chapter, Episode, or Session the Storm Glow may add Fury Boon plus all current Stress as a Score to a single Action, all Stress is Relieved by this Action. |
| Gossamer ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Grappling — A Grappling Glow increases the ability of the Grappling Annex or Descendant so that it now behaves almost as an extension of the Character’s arms and hands. Multiple opponents may be Grappled at once, and each Restrained by the same card. Props may be “Puppeted” (Possession magic) by the Actions of the Annex or Descendant. Grabbing a Location allows the Character to move as though Flying with the Actions of the Annex or Descendant. Additionally Gossamer Score may be added to the Reach or Range to increase it. |
| Heresy ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Beguiling — A Beguiling Glow tells lies that become truths, such as face-dancing, shape-shifters, or fairy glamours can do. The Target, User or Location can be altered by the lie as though Side-Stepped by the Annex Score (Rolled) as Yarn when the Annex is used or (Master Annex in the case of Descendants) Descendant is entered, held, drawn or used as appropriate. |
| Inertia ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Pulse — A Pulse Glow raises the bar on the Pulse Edge, by reducing the RT of all Actions that take place at the “Tempo” time (including the Tempo itself) by the User’s Inertia Score. The Tempo of the Annex has a minimum “beat” equal to its GRT. |
| Jeer ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Retorting — A Retorting Glow lets an Annex or Descendant responds as a Retorting Edge without incurring any RT penalties, but it can also respond with a full instant Action, Drawing as normal and performing a full-action that was decided when the Glow was created (often attacking the Attacker or Preparing a Defence). Retorting Glows do have a cost, they must Relieve Jeer Score Stress with each activation. Lack of Stress will result in the Glow not activating. |
| Key ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Pointed — A Pointed Glow can once per Scene make a Full-Action where the Annex or Descendant ignores all barriers and Obstacles within the Location (but not Range, Reach or Movement), and once per Story / Chapter / Episode or Session you may make ignore all barriers, Obstacles and Soak-Layers, making all Wounds played Unsoakable. |
| Liberty ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Freebie — A Freebie Glow makes an Annex or Descendant no longer have any Umbral Costs including all Umbral Tangles, on any Action or activation (all though Difficulty modifiers such as Range or Targets and Nimbed Tangles will still apply). |
| Miasma ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Contagious — A Contagious Glow infects every Target that the Annex or Descendant affects, causing the effect to spread as they in turn infect others. The Contagious effect takes hold over a period of time equal to the User’s Miasma Boon as a Yarn Limit Duration, and the Annex Die replaces the Miasma Die of the Character of the Edge, again plus any Wound Pips (doubled if the Wound Festered). |
| Nature ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Living — The Annex’s effects are motile and responsive and will actively resist attempts to “dispel” it. Add Nature Boon to difficulty to dispel or Heal as inanimate objects dodge and wounds bite back. Living Glow Descendants are effectively Ally Extras, they may be animals, or Characters depending upon their intelligence and other Edges the descendant may have. |
| Orthodox ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Instructive — The Instructive Glow empowers the Instructive Edge such that it will transfer one Proficiency for each Proficiency Die rolled, and should any Die roll maximum (including the Annex Dice) it will duplicate a Skill (including creating a new Descendant on the Target or User if they have no free Skill Slots) instead of just a Proficiency. |
| Phoenix ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts). | Flaming — A Flaming Glow allows all cards played by the Annex or Descendant to have Pips added equal to the User’s Phoenix Score. However this activation Relieves 1 Stress for each card. |
| Quiet ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Muted — A Muted Glow deadens all sound around the active Annex or Descendant. This is more like the Silence spell, or a security cone effect. Hearing any noise in the Location, Stage, or 4 metre radius requires beating a Quiet Boon difficulty with a Quiet or Key Test. |
| Rook ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Defence — A Defence Glow improves on the Defence Edge by providing a Soak-Layer that automatically Prepares Stalled cards in the Soak-Layer as additional Prepared Defences (pick a Defensive Sub-Style) as they are Stalled. |
| Sin ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Wicked — A Wicked Glow makes an Annex or Descendant attack addictive to the Target. Up to 3 cards from the Attack will also have an Emotional Effect on the Target, that even if a Positive Emotion will behave as a Negative Psyche Attack, leaving them wounded. This effectively doubles an attack, making it both physical (or energy etc) and an additional Psyche Attack disguised as a Positive Emotional Effect. |
| Trial ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | War — A War Glow is a more powerful version of War Edge. Drawing a Descendant with it or using an Annex with it raises the Stakes to Extreme. It adds the Trial Score to the Pips of all cards played by the Annex or Descendant but each Card played Relieves 1 Stress (and requires that Stress to activate). |
| Virtue ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Shining — A Shining Glow makes an Annex or Descendant capable of emitting multiple “Beam” attacks that can each strike multiple Targets. Usually the Glow works like the Edge version only with multiple Beams (and no extra cards), however if the User spends all their current Merits (and they must have at least 7 Merits in total) they may roll their Virtue Die and Draw and Play that many extra cards on their Beams (which are handled as normal) OR without extra cards the Beams will fill the current Location and strike everyone inside the Location that the User Targets (Fumbles and Failure Levels may strike unintended Targets) for the full normal Strike attack. |
| Wyrd ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded. | Destiny — A Destiny Glow indicates an Annex or Descendant that is meant to have a Profound effect upon the Destiny of a Character. The Annex or Descendant will Draw and Play an extra card as either a Wyrd Tarot or Yarn Card each use. However, playing as a Yarn Card causes the User to Gain Stress. |
| Yonder ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate. | Ranged — A Ranged Glow on an Annex or Descendant can ignore all Range costs for any Full-Action once per Scene. Otherwise it functions as the Ranged Edge |
| Zeal ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded. | Potent — A Potent Glow is much more potent than other Annexes or Descendants. The Potent Glow adds the Zeal Boon to the Annex Boon (or all Annex Boons of the Descendant) directly. This increases the dice available permenently and the Edge effect also applies to the new die roll. |
| Facet | Glow |