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MCG066 Swordbreakers PDF
MCG066 Swordbreakers PDF
Credits
Writer/Designer
Introducing the Swordbreakers 3
Bruce R. Cordell
Developer
Monte Cook
Manifest Zeal (for the GM) 4
Creative Director
Shanna Germain Swordbreaking (for player characters) 14
Editor & Proofreader
Ray Vallese
Cover Artist
Matt Stawicki
Graphic Designer
Bear Weiter
Cartographer
Hugo Solis
Artists
Patrick McEvoy
Grzegorz Pedrycz
Joe Slucher
Matt Stawicki
Tiffany Turrill
2
INTRODUCING THE SWORDBREAKERS
3
MANIFEST ZEAL (FOR THE GM)
4
MANIFEST ZEAL (FOR THE GM)
ANDREW COTGREAVE GREAVES wounds he received, most people would have Greaves Summary:
Andrew Cotgreave, commonly called Greaves given up. But Condar vowed to live. He crawled foul-mouthed, loud,
by his teammates, is a former Navy SEAL. Andrew 10 miles back to base in what can only be called a doesnt (seem to) give
a rip
is a brash man of few regrets and fewer friends. superhuman effort. Hes a man of his word, and
Mostly, only other Swordbreakers have warm not just to himself. If Condar promises something,
feelings for him (and not all of them, and none he wont stop until he does what he swore hed do. If Greaves were a PC, in
Ardeyn his focus would
of them all the time). Despite his sometimes Condar Freeds indomitable will is what first usually be Slays Dragons,
harsh bearing, flaring temper, and fiery language, allowed him to fend off the fear that besets unless he Embraces
Greaves is a man of honest feelings and the kind most people who deal with ghosts, spirits, and Swordbreaker Zeal.
of person you want in your corner. As your friend, necromancy. Despite the real possibility that a
Greaves will never let you down. As your enemy, bodiless spirit could sour and become wrathful
he will never stop looking for you until youve paid or demonic, he recognizes that those who have Slays Dragons, page 77
for whatever you did to piss him off in the first passed into the spirit realm should be protected,
place. respected, and, when possible, saved from a fate of Dragon, page 267
Like any sane resident of Ardeyn, Greaves is irredeemable evil. Heart Core, page 186
concerned about Lotanic cultists, but he has a In Ardeyn, Condar Freed gains the ability to
special dislike for dragons, who once served as command spectral spirits.
the mounts for Lotans ancient army. Even though Embraces Swordbreaker
most dragons in Ardeyn have no obvious remaining Zeal, page 14
connection with what burns in the Heart Core,
CONDAR FREED STATS
ON EARTH
Greaves retains a nigh-unstoppable hatred for the
Level: 5
creatures that seems unlikely to ever be tempered.
Attacks with pistol as level 6, tasks
In Ardeyn, Greaves is particularly adept at hunting
related to engine repair and
and killing dragons, which puts some of the fear of
explosives as level 6 Condar Summary:
him into dragons that dragons normally instill in quiet unless provoked,
Health: 20
others. intense, given to staring
Long-range pistol attack for 4 points of damage
impolitely
5
him not only the capacity to study the techniques techniques in Ardeyn have had much more time to
of old masters but also the mental agility to develop.
incorporate moves of newer teachers, including In Ardeyn, Federico studies and improves his
those located in a mere recursion like Ardeyn. blade technique with as much intelligence and
Federico appreciates how the near-boundless attention to detail as he applied to mastering
computing potential of the dark energy network computer code and related technology on Earth.
precipitated Ardeyns retroactive history, making
it almost as real and relevant as actual history on ANDREW BRERETON
Andrew Summary: Earth. That history is also much longer, and blade Andrew Brereton is a tough palooka type, ready
jolly, friendly, ready with
to take on anything that comes his way. Thats
a joke
because hes truly jovial and never lets anything get
FEDERICO FRANCESCHI STATS
him down too long. That good nature extends to
If Andrew were a PC, ON EARTH
his focus in Ardeyn his comrades. Andrew is always ready with a quip,
Level: 5
would usually be Abides a play on words, or a comedic expression to ease
Tasks related to computer use and
in Stone, unless he the strains of everyday lifeor, in the case of the
Embraces Swordbreaker
hacking as level 6
Swordbreakers, the vicissitudes of the occasional
Zeal. Health: 20
grueling mission. In fact, Andrew is in many ways
Scimitar attack for 5 points of damage
the glue that holds the Alpha Team together.
Internally, his near-endless supply of good cheer
IN ARDEYN
Abides in Stone, is something that other Swordbreakers have come
page 51
Level: 5
to rely on, even if they never admit it. Moreover,
Health: 20
without Andrew to put a pleasant face on Greavess
Armor: 1
foul mouth, Federicos cruel wit, and Condars
Two shamshir (scimitar) attacks as
intense silence, the Swordbreakers would probably
a single action for 4 points of damage each
have a much different reputation than the fairly
Carries Swordbreaker Zeal fragment
positive one they enjoy in Ardeyn.
6
MANIFEST ZEAL (FOR THE GM)
Andrew had a tough childhood, one in which energy (which shines blue-white). In this guise,
his father was something of a bully and an avid the Swordbreakers commander comes across as
proponent of corporal punishment. Rather than a no-nonsense leader with little time for niceties
pull into himself, Andrew looked outward for or distractions. That may be her true personality,
peace and happiness in other parts of his life. though because she has a limited period while
And he was rewarded in spades. In Ardeyn, where in simulacrum formusually no more than an
jokes are less common, he applies himself to hour at a timeshe just might not have time to
riddles. In the city known as Citadel Hazurrium, he act otherwise. When she is not communicating Citadel Hazurrium,
sometimes presents himself not as a member of the through the Soul Gem of Zeal or present in the page 166
Swordbreakers but as the celebrated Golem Riddler, Swordbreakers base as a spirit energy simulacrum,
whose riddles are as hard to penetrate as his stony where she resides remains a secret.
hide is. (On the rare occasion he translates back to Zanousha Summary:
Earth, its usually to attend an open mic night at a ZANOUSHA STATS terse, focused, sometimes
comedy club.) AS ENERGY SIMULACRUM wistful
When Andrew translates to Ardeyn, his body Level: 6
becomes stone like a golems, which is incredibly Health: 30
useful when his jokes fail to impress servitors of Armor: 3 from Zeal energy
Lotan, the Betrayer, or invading Strangers. Long-range Zeal energy attack that inflicts 7 A Stranger is the term
for any creature native to
points of damage and ignores Armor the Strange, rather than
ANDREW BRERETON STATS If destroyed, reappears 24 hours later Earth or a recursion.
ON EARTH
Level: 5
Tasks related to diplomacy,
persuasion, and detecting the SWORDBREAKERS BACKGROUND
lies of others as level 6 Zanousha Nazari wasnt the first Swordbreaker.
Long-range pistol attack for 5 points of damage When the Quiet Cabal formed the organization,
the group first picked Gordon Galbraith to lead Gordon Galbraith,
the team. He immediately set the Swordbreakers page 13
IN ARDEYN
Level: 5 on a quest to find and destroy something called
Health: 25 the Soul Gem of Zeal. According to Galbraith,
Armor: 3 from stone form the power accumulating in the soul gem was
Melee fist attack for 8 points of like a time bomb, and the longer it was allowed
damage to resonate, the more certain Lotans eventual Lotan, page 162
Carries Swordbreaker Zeal fragment freedom would become.
To destroy the soul gem, the Swordbreakers had
to find it. Thanks to the efforts of Condar Freed Condar Freed, page 5
and his ability to question spirits, the soul gem
ZANOUSHA NAZARI was finally located in a bastion in the hollowed-out
The true identity of the Swordbreakers center of a massive stone monument along the
commander is secret, but her code name is eastern Borderlands of Ardeyn. The bastion was
Zanousha Nazari. She apparently resides in defended by several golems, but Andrew Brereton
Ardeyn, but the team members have never met her convinced the creatures that the Swordbreakers
in person. She sends them mission updates via the were allies, not enemies. The team slipped into the
Soul Gem of Zeal whenever official Swordbreaker inner sanctum, where the soul gem rested in an
services are required. elaborate cradle. Its potent guardian, a creature of
In rare circumstances, a simulacrum of Zanousha brilliant spiritual energy powered directly by the Soul
forms for short periods, composed of Zeal spirit Gem of Zeal, emerged to face them.
Theres no time to feel sorry for the victims. If that makes me a bad guy, too bad. The
Lotanic cultists who did this dont feel bad, for fucks sake. So we need to toughen up
and go after them right now, not sit around wringing our hands.
Greaves, Swordbreaker
7
At the precipice, the four team members turned
on their commander. It was touch and go, but
THE QUIET CABAL AND THE PRIME ELEMENT
Quiet Cabal, page 199 they prevented Galbraith from utterly destroying
The organization called the Quiet Cabal in Ruk
the soul gem. However, he managed to escape.
Ruk, page 190 has a covert arm pledged to protecting Earth from
He remains somewhere at large to this day,
various Strange-related dangers. They believe
plotting his revenge and sending trouble the
Karum, page 200 that if Earth were destroyed, Ruk would be as
Swordbreakers way every now and then.
well. Much of the Quiet Cabals assets are tied
Prime Element, In the aftermath, the team members were
up in countering another faction in Ruk called
page 201 chastened by how theyd been rooked into doing
the Karum. To help fight the Karums recent
the opposite of their charter. They pledged to
Ardeyn, page 160 upsurge in activity, a special force called the
make amends, gain vengeance on Galbraith, and
Prime Element was created. The Prime Element is
work against Lotans servitors and other threats
made up of Earth humans recruited from military
to Ardeyn. In this work, they found a new ally and
units, security companies, and related situations.
eventual leader: the same guardian entity theyd
For a while, the Quiet Cabal was content with
first defeated upon attaining the soul gem chamber,
leaving Ardeyn-only conflicts to the Estate, its
Zanousha Nazari. Due to the partial destruction
sister organization on Earth. But that eventually
of the soul gem, Zanousha can manifest physically
changed, and the Swordbreakers was born.
for only a limited time. Even when not manifest,
she can still communicate as an image on the Soul
Gem of Zeal, or to anyone carrying a fragment of the
The creature named itself Zanousha and seemed gem that broke off during the conflict. (Zanousha
Andrew Cotgreave, unstoppable until Greaves plunged his lance into the never explained her lack of a physical body or her
page 5 soul gem itself. Although this attack didnt destroy association with the soul gem, despite being asked
the gem, it did splinter off several fragments and many times.) Besides allowing communication,
dissipate Zanoushas form. Galbraith stepped forward each Zeal fragment serves as a power conduit
and began smashing the remaining Soul Gem of artifact to the main soul gem. These days, an
Zeal into so much powder. As he bashed the relic, outsider might know a Swordbreaker by the soul
Federico Franceschi, Federico Franceschi finally put together all the clues fragment he carries or the bluish-white glow of Zeal
page 5 that Galbraith had accidentally provided. With his that shines like a faint nimbus around him.
impressive intellect and knowledge of Ardeyn history
to draw upon, Federico realized that the massive SWORDBREAKER GOALS
monument in which they stood likely represented Though individual members have their own
Seven Sentinels, the ruins of one of the missing Seven Sentinels of motivations, as a group under the command of
page 182 Ardeynwhich meant the soul gem that Galbraith was Zanousha Nazari, the Swordbreakers are consumed
hammering away at was a sentinels heart or engine. by two desires. One is to track down Galbraith and
Age of Myth, page 162 Given that the Seven Sentinels were supposedly set to exterminate him and every other Lotanic cultist in
guard against Lotans release, it occurred to Federico Ardeyn. The second is to explore the mysteries of
Qephilim, page 163
that destroying a sentinels heart might be unwise. the Age of Myth, especially those that pertain to the
Seven Sentinels. This includes learning the fates of
the many artifacts and magic objects that bedecked
the qephilim cities of old.
Individual Swordbreakers are free to pursue
secondary concerns, as long as those do not
interfere with the organizations goals. For instance,
Andrew Brereton occasionally attends comedy clubs
on Earth (and performs during open mic nights)
and later goes out drinking with friends who have
no idea of his secret life in Ardeyn. If he does so on
a night before a major mission, however, theres
friction between him and other team members.
When the Swordbreakers deploy on missions
related to their primary goals, they usually plan
ahead, develop fallback contingencies, and pull the
trigger only when theyre reasonably confident they
know all the facts (the history of their founding still
leaves a psychic scar on the original members).
8
MANIFEST ZEAL (FOR THE GM)
SWORDBREAKER KEEP
Located on a free-floating skerry in the Borderlands CROSSING THE GAP Borderlands, page 178
east of Lornvale is a mass of broken stones. Moving between free-floating skerries in the
Thrusting up from the center is Swordbreaker Borderlands is difficult for creatures that cant
Keep. The keep was once a stupendously large fly. That counts as one more defense that
humanoid statue, but to naive eyes, it now appears Swordbreaker Keep enjoys, but it also limits the
like a particularly tortured natural mesa. The skerry ability of well-meaning petitioners to approach
that hosts the keep is part of the demolished original and ask for aid. To help alleviate this gap, the
sculpture, one of the lost Seven Sentinels. A heavy group recently built a transfer tower on the very
mist usually swirls about the area, which further edge of Ardeyn. From it, the mist-swaddled mote
conceals the true nature of what the place once was. of Swordbreaker Keep is visible several miles in
the distance, right where the atmosphere begins
KEY FEATURES to fuzz and give way to the Strange. A group brave
Swordbreaker Keep is essentially a series of enough to enter the cage at the top of the tower
tunnels and rooms carved into the core of a and pull the rusted iron lever labeled Pull for
defunct Sentinel. The chambers are spread across transfer is slung like a bullet from a ballista on an
several levels. arcing trajectory that deposits them on the shore
of the skerry holding Swordbreaker Keep. Travelers
Defenses who fail a difficulty 3 Speed defense roll take 4
One of the keeps best defenses is its relative points of damage from a hard landing. A similar
isolation. Enemies who find it must contend with tower on the skerry can provide return passage.
a handful of exterior golem guards that stand Golem, page 270
watch at equidistant points across the skerry. If a
golem notices unannounced visitors, it booms out
a warning that echoes across the entire chunk of
free-floating landscape.
9
All told, about a dozen golems (including the The feminine visage of Zanousha forms on
golem watchers on the exterior) remain active enough the gems surface, or steps out as a fully formed
to respond if invaders appear at the keeps gate. They humanoid simulacrum of bluish-white energy, to
dont automatically attack visitors; those who arent greet visitors or fend off attackers. If someone new
obviously Lotanic cultists, servitors of Galbraith, or is accepted into the ranks of the Swordbreakers,
otherwise deemed to be enemies are escorted under Zanousha gifts them with a fragment of the
heavy guard (two golems) through the keep gate and soul gem, which functions as an artifact known
into the audience chamber (see below). as a Swordbreaker Zeal fragment. (Despite not
Besides golems, the Swordbreakers, including being completely physical, Zanousha enjoys the
the manifest simulacrum of Zanousha, defend their benefits of wielding a fragment herself, one she
keep if it comes under attack. In addition to the never needs to renew while the Soul Gem of Zeal
Bravo Team Alpha Team, Bravo Team Swordbreakers (if any) also remains intact.)
Swordbreakers, page 14 respond to an alarm. Because each member carries The Soul Gem of Zeal is a level 9 object suffused
a Soul Gem of Zeal fragment, communication with magic power. How and why Zanousha Nazari
between them is usually well coordinated. became so intimately associated with an object of
Qephilim Free Finally, several level 3 qephilim Free Battalion Ardeyns extrapolated history remains mysterious
Battalion mercenary, mercenaries serve as general staff for the keep. They to say the least. Being asked about that association
page 284 clean, cook, repair, and do other needful tasks. They is one of many topics that Zanousha will not
also defend the keep when necessary. entertain, instead leaving by simply dissipating her
visage or simulacrum.
Visiting the Swordbreakers
Guests are first escorted to an audience chamber.
Banners showing a symbol of an exploding sword
decorate this large hall. Comfortable seats and
a long table fill most of the room; foods from a
connected kitchen are laid out when visitors arrive.
Guests are usually accorded the opportunity to
talk to a senior Swordbreaker. Visitors are in luck if
they get Andrew Brereton, but not so lucky if one
of the others is on diplomatic duty, especially if its
Greaves.
What the Swordbreakers do with guests after
the initial greeting depends on why the visitors
have journeyed to the keep. If they bring dire news,
all the Swordbreakers are eventually summoned,
including the simulacrum of Zanousha.
Theres always the chance that none of the Alpha
Team are present, in which case a Bravo Team
member (if any) or a qephilim meets with guests and
determines whats to be done.
10
MANIFEST ZEAL (FOR THE GM)
MOUTH OF SWORDS
The Mouth of Swords is an ancient qephilim burial place full of treasures from the Age of Myth. A crazed Qephilim, page 163
spirit of wrath called the Myth Keeper guards the stored items on behalf of their original owners. The secure
underground complex is also guarded by lesser spirits, traps, and sorcerous wards. Its treasures have lured
For additional
more than one adventuring company to its doom. information on the
Mouth of Swords, see
The Dark Spiral, page 47.
11
PROVE YOUR WORTH LOCATE ANOTHER SOUL GEM
Something bad is happening in the city of A trading caravan attempting to find new routes
Shalmarn, page 169 Shalmarn. Residents in random neighborhoods discovers a potential location of one of the missing
wake to find their eyes are missing. The only clue Seven Sentinels. The site is deep in the Green Wilds,
regarding the nature of the eye thief is that a and according to the stories of the surviving traders,
pearlescent slime remains behind in the otherwise it is overrun with flesh-eating vines, spiders the size
Green Wilds, page 170 empty sockets of victims. With investigation, a of houses, and sark.
residual slime trail leads to previously unknown
entrances to the abandoned qephilim ruins and Getting the PCs Involved: One of Zanoushas
mines that the city of Shalmarn is built over. longstanding goals is to locate the remains of
(In fact, many of the buildings are converted the Seven Sentinels. Every so often, rumors of a
remnants of structures first built during the potential new site come to light, and Zanousha
Age of Myth, page 162 Age of Myth.) sends the Bravo Team to investigate whether theres
12
MANIFEST ZEAL (FOR THE GM)
13
SWORDBREAKING (FOR PLAYER CHARACTERS)
14
SWORDBREAKING (FOR PLAYER CHARACTERS)
You keep whatever equipment is provided physical weapon held by the target breaks. This Blinded creatures act as if
by your normal Ardeyn focus. However, when effect supersedes the minor or major special effect in complete darkness.
Embraces Swordbreaker Zeal is active, you can youd gain for rolling a 19 or 20. If the target isnt
display a faint bluish-white nimbus (or not, as you holding a physical weapon, the difficulty of all
desire). actions attempted by the target is increased by Darkness, page 111
Swordbreakers are commonly vectors, but one step for one round. If the weapon held by the
paradoxes and spinners also join the group. target is an artifact, it does not break unless you
Connection: This is never a PCs starting focus. succeed on a Might-based task whose difficulty is Embraces Swordbreaker
Equipment: As provided by your normal Ardeyn equal to the artifacts level. Enabler. Zeal GM Intrusions: The
focus. cultist has allies. A scene
Minor Effect Suggestion: Bluish-white energy Tier 5: Improved Swordbreaker Grace. You are of horrific sacrifice and
blazes from you and partially blinds your foe for specialized in using a weapon or an attack. If you torture is uncovered. A
demon of Lotan attempts
one round, increasing the difficulty of all its actions are already specialized in that weapon or attack,
to possess the character.
by one step. you instead deal 2 additional points of damage
Major Effect Suggestion: Bluish-white energy with it. Enabler.
blazes from you and fully blinds one or more foes
for one round. Tier 6: Amazing Zeal. When using Minor Zeal, Demon of Lotan,
you draw 2 points from your soul gem fragment page 265
Tier 1: Find the Lotanic Cultist (1 Intellect point). instead of 1 point. Enabler.
You sense the presence of the nearest creature
(including living cultists) within immediate range
who serves or has been touched by Lotan. If the
Lotanic cultist has taken special precautions to ARTIFACT: SWORDBREAKER ZEAL FRAGMENT
hide her identity, determining her presence or true Level: 5
nature is an Intellect-based task whose difficulty is Form: A crystal fragment, usually set in an amulet, a staff head, a
equal to the targets level or the level of the effect weapon hilt, or a ring
employed. Action. Recursion: Ardeyn
Minor Zeal. You gain 1 point from your soul Effect: Someone with this fragment who has personally renewed it (see
gem fragment that you can spend when you spend below) gains access to the following abilities. Anyone else with this
points from any Pool for any reason. This is a fragment can use only the Repel Enemies function. Each use requires
difficulty 2 Intellect-based task, but each time you a depletion roll unless otherwise noted.
use it again before your next ten-hour recovery roll, Speak: The user can broadcast to all the other fragments and the Soul
the difficulty increases by one step. In addition, Gem of Zeal for about a minute. If more than one fragment bearer
you must make a depletion roll for your soul gem does this simultaneously, it enables real-time communication
fragment. For example, if you use Find the Lotanic between them. Action to initiate.
Cultist, you can use this ability to pay the cost Shift Focus: The user can change her normal Ardeyn focus to Embraces
instead of spending 1 point of Intellect. If using Swordbreaker Zeal, or change it from Embraces Swordbreaker Zeal
another ability that costs more than 1 point, you to her normal Ardeyn focus. Switching foci is a difficulty 1 Intellect-
can use Minor Zeal to pay part of the cost. Enabler. based task. Action to initiate.
Repel Enemies: If the user makes an attack of any kind against a
Tier 2: Flame of Zeal (2 Intellect points). You emit a Stranger, a demon of Lotan, a creature that employs spells provided
bluish-white beam of energy that deals 5 points of by Lotan, or Lotan himself, the difficulty of the attack is decreased
damage to a target within long range. Alternatively, by one step; this effect does not require a depletion roll. If the attack
you can use this ability to enhance a melee succeeds, the artifact bearer decides whether to activate the following
weapon, causing it to inflict 1 additional point of additional effect (which does require a depletion roll). If activated, the
damage. The weapon continues to burn with the fragment flares with Zeal, and the attack inflicts 4 additional points of
flame of Zeal until the next time you use this ability damage (ignores Armor). Enabler.
or any other special ability from this focus. Action. Renew: Once a fragments energy has been depleted, it can be renewed
if it is pressed against the Soul Gem of Zeal by someone who utters
Tier 3: Swordbreaker Grace. You are trained in the Swordbreaker Oath: I vow to quench the fires of Lotan, to stand
using a weapon or an attack in which you are not as a bulwark against Strangers, and to break the swords drawn
already trained. Enabler. against the sanctity of Ardeyn. By the Seven, I so bind myself with
bravery, honor, and sacrifice. Action.
Tier 4: Weaponbreaker. When fighting a creature Depletion: 1 in 1d20
touched by Lotan (including living cultists) and
you roll a 16 or higher on a successful attack, the
15
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