Written by Rob Leigh

www.isolation-games.co.uk
 AGE OF STEEL FIRST EDITION
Written by
Rob Leigh

With contributions from

David Cartwright
Matthew Holland
Chris French

Artwork
Omercan Cirit
Kylie O’Neil
Paul Finnan
Ted Ottosson
Rob Leigh
Stock provided by Pixabay

Proofreaders
Mark Shelby, Lawrence Gillies

Playtesters
Rhiannon Llewellyn-Leigh, Chris French, Alec Woods, Ali Fowler, Helen Parker,
John Portsmouth, Bob Meatcher, Vincent Spencer, Steve Calkum, Michael Calkum, Chris Lewis,
Brandon Dummer, Nathan Wild, Steven Nelson, R.J. Dennis, Jessa Jansen, Katie Dennis, Adam Harmon,
Richard Corley, Jiří Stibor

www.ageofsteelrpg.co.uk

©2017 Rob Leigh. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission by the author is expressly denied, except
for the purpose of reviews.

Mention of or reference to any companies or products in these pages is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights
concerned.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of
the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely
coincidental.
 INDEX
Introduction 4 Vehicles 80
Eleanor’s Story 5 Crafting 85
The World of Neres 6 Jake’s Story 87
Molly’s Story 47 Combat 88
The Rules 48 Gerhart’s Story 99
Skills 51 Running the Game 100
Backgrounds 56 Allies and Antagonists 107
Moxie Points 57 Stock NPCs 111
Character Generation 58 Map of Neres 119
Equipment 61 Example character 120
Rigs 77 Character Sheets 122
 INTRODUCTION
THE WORLD OF AGE OF STEEL
Age of Steel is a dieselpunk roleplaying game set in
the world of Neres; a world not unlike our own in the
first few decades of the 20th century.
Neres has just emerged from its first global conflict;
a war known as the Great War in which hundreds of
thousands of men and women died in the mud and
horror of the trenches.
Technology in Neres has taken a slightly different
route to our own world; personal mecha powered by
diesel engines are used for numerous applications
from war to common labor; huge airships ply the
airways; bipedal automata act as servants for the rich
and gadgeteer inventors construct homemade ray-
guns in their basement laboratories.
In the wake of the Great War Neres is a hotbed of
political scheming and economic growth. Industry and
commerce have come to rule the world which, thanks
to the airship, aeroplane and radio is rapidly becoming
smaller. It is a time of innovation and advancement, as
well as a time of chaos and conspiracy.
Little do the majority of people know but an ancient
evil is at the heart of the conflict in their world. Eldritch
monstrosities from before the dawn of time seek to
unmake reality, aided by cults of insane worshipers.
Into this world come the player characters; free
agents and soldiers of fortune looking to find their way
in a new and dangerous era of adventure, technology,
intrigue and hidden evil.
THE PLAYER CHARACTERS
Player characters in Age of Steel are drawn from
social groups at the fringes of modern society;
outcasts, visionaries, dissenters and misfits. They are
the people who see the world for what it truly is; a
land of opportunity and danger, where playing by the
rules will only slow you down.
These people are the only ones who have the
opportunity to learn the truth about their world and
possibly fight back against the darkness that is slowly
infecting the governments of their home nations.
Introduction
INSPIRATION
Age of Steel has been inspired by a number of
sources; movies such as the Indiana Jones series,
4
The Mummy and National Treasure; the works of
Raymond Chandler; the Uncharted and Bioshock
video game series; the works of H.P. Lovecraft and the
Hellboy comics and movie series.
Obviously the setting has also been heavily
influenced by the Dieselpunk genre of
speculative fiction.
MOVIES
Casablanca (1942), The Maltese Falcon (1941), The
Mummy trilogy (1999 - 2008), The Indiana Jones
movies (1981 - 2008), Sky Captain and the World of
Tomorrow (2004), Hellboy & Hellboy II (2004 & 2008),
The Rocketeer (1991), The Shadow (1994),
Porco Rosso (1992)
GAMES
The Uncharted series, Wolfenstein, Bioshock &
Bioshock 2, The Tomb Raider series
BOOKS AND COMICS
Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe Stories, HP
Lovecraft’s Mythos series, Mike Mignola’s Hellboy,
Brian Clevinger‘s Atomic Robo, The Tales of the Ketty
Jay series by Chris Wooding
WHAT IS DIESELPUNK?
Dieselpunk is a genre of speculative fiction based
on the 1920s to 1950s of our own world, spiced up
with retro-futuristic innovations such as rocket packs
and rayguns and combined with occult elements.
Dieselpunk stories are generally grim and gritty,
featuring strong use of technology and morally-
ambiguous themes. Dieselpunk heroes are not ‘good
guys’; they’re antiheroes, gamblers, private eyes and
mercenaries.
Like Steampunk, Dieselpunk is a genre dictated
primarily by its aesthetics rather than by its thematic
content. Both grime and glamour have their place in
dieselpunk. Technology in dieselpunk is not clean and
digital, it is clunky, dirty and analogue. It is a world that
combines futuristic ideas with retro technology in a
blend that never existed in our world.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
At a minimum you will need two people; one to be the
Gamemaster and the others to be the players.
You will need several 6-sided dice (referred to herein
as d6) for each person, some pens or pencils, and
some paper. A good imagination is helpful.
 ELEANOR’S STORY
The telegram that told Eleanor her brother was dead
was printed on very cheap paper. It niggled at her;
that such terrible news could be delivered in three
tiny strips of cheap paper glued inexpertly to an
equally cheap piece of card and brought to her by a
bored looking girl who slunk away after she’d been
tipped.
Eleanor took one last look at the telegram before
she crumpled it into a compact ball of bad news and
tossed it into the trashcan by her office door. Lighting
another cigarette she sat back in her creaky office
chair and looked out at the grey dawn washing over
the soot-streaked roofs of Queensport. The daylight
was weak and thin, as if the sun wanted to be there as
much as Eleanor wanted to be awake. The previous
night’s rain glimmered wetly on the dead forest of
rooftop water towers and chimneys, and on the bright
tracks of the raised railway across the street. With a
sigh Eleanor opened the desk drawer, pulled out a
bottle of Highland whiskey and poured a generous
measure into her coffee.
Poor Edgar. To make it through six years of hell in the
trenches only to get shot to death in some back-alley
gin house half the world away. It didn’t seem right to
Eleanor, or feel just.
In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she
didn’t like it. The more she didn’t like it, the more
whiskey she added to her cup until it stopped being
coffee and started feeling like something more
sustaining.
With a scowl Eleanor drained her cup and stood. The
pistol from her desk draw went into the holster under
her arm and her cigarettes went into the pocket of her
trench coat. She grabbed her hat from the rack and
strode out the door.
Edgar owned a small apartment across town. It was
still early and the landlady was nowhere in sight, so
Eleanor let herself in with a lockpick. Inside Edgar’s
lack of gainful employment was writ large on the floor
in stacks of empty bottles and a pile of red-edged
letters by the door.
“Damn it, Ed.” Eleanor muttered to the cold apartment,
thumbing through the letters, “If you needed money
why didn’t you ask me?” But she knew exactly why he
hadn’t. Ed had idolised his older sister, following her
around as a child and following her to war as a young
man. He’d always been running to keep up, to show
her he was just as good as she was despite being four
years younger. He’d never admit to Eleanor when he
needed help, just set his jaw and keep struggling until
he made it through or got knocked down trying.
The letters were no help, so Eleanor put them down
on the table by the door and drifted around the
apartment, picking through her brother’s life in search
of a clue why he’d upped sticks and flown to Dar-el to
get himself shot.
Edgar hadn’t lived in the apartment in weeks, from
what she could tell. No new newspapers in the stack
by the radio, dishes washed and put away neatly
just like their mother had drilled into them both; the
apartment even had the dusty smell of neglect a
place develops after a few days of being shuttered.
Then she found it; a sheaf of three letters hidden
poorly behind a faded photograph of their family on
the bedside table. Her mother and father smiled up
at her from the silver nitrate, a six-year-old version of
herself squinting at the camera while a two-year old
Egar grimaced at her from her mother’s arms. She
pushed the picture aside and flipped open the letters.
They were typed and on paper worth a damn sight
more than the stuff Edgar’s death had arrived on.
The letterhead belonged to some club called the
“Thorncroft Foundation” and the language used full of
airs and graces Eleanor never had time for.
The first letter was inquisitive; whoever sent the letters
knew of Ed’s monetary troubles, and also knew about
the stint he’d spent in Queensport jail just after the
war for burglary. They dodged around the subject but
asked if Edgar was available for work.
The second letter thanked Ed for his reply and
again artfully dodged around the subject of illegal
work, using all kinds of fancy terms like “uncertain
provenance” and “through such means as you deem
fit”. But the promise of money was there nice and
simple. Enough money that Edgar would have never
passed it up.
The third letter gave Eleanor what she wanted. A
jeweller in Dar-el Bida, an address and a photograph
of a large gem. A ruby, the letter said. Acquire at all
costs and bring it to a house in Dar-el for payment.
Give it to a man named Azire Bodho.
Eleanor's Story
Eleanor tucked the letters into her coat and left the
apartment. She needed to find the next airship to Dar-
el. A man by the name of Azire Bodho was going to
answer some questions.
5
 THE WORLD OF NERES
THE WORLD OF NERES
Neres is a world much like our own, with a similar
range of climates and a comparable range of seasons.
There are four primary continents; Haldora, Vulkovia,
Kijani and Zhan.
Haldora is an expansive continent. In the north it
is covered in thick forests, rolling heathlands and
towering, snow capped mountains and in the south it
is covered in verdant plains and prairies.
Vulkovia is the largest landmass on Neres and is
divided into three distinctly separate subcontinents;
Vulkovia Minor, Prynne (also known as Vulkovia Major)
and Kesh. Vulkovia Minor is a land of shadowy pine
forests, deep fjords and alpine pastures; Prynne is a
cold steppeland that gives way to arctic tundra in the
north and Kesh, which lies to the far south, is a land of
lush savanna and arid desert.
Kijani is a large island continent to the south-west of
Vulkovia and is home to dense tropical jungle and
fertile grasslands. At its heart lies a huge range of
ancient mountains covered in towering rainforests.
Haldora
Kijani
The World of Neres
6
Zhan is the easternmost continent and is covered in
arid grasslands, thick jungle and primeval swamps.
To the south of Zhan is a large archipelago known as
Zhan’Mora or more commonly as ‘the Eastern Isles’.
Neres also possesses both a northern and southern
ice cap. The northern ice cap is connected to Prynne
by large ice sheets most of the year, and is home to a
number of large arctic predators as well as a scattered
population of wandering nomad tribes.
The southern ice cap is comparatively smaller and
home only to communities of flightless penguins and
strange, albino whales.
Neres has a single moon named Sares which orbits
the planet once every 30 days.
THE GREAT NATIONS
There are five superpowers that lead politics,
technology and society in Neres, referred to as the
Great Nations. Very few countries exist outside the
influence of these nations, and those that do have
very little control over the world’s stage.
You can find more detailed descriptions of the Great
Nations later in this chapter.
Prynne
Zhan
Vulkovia
Minor
Kesh
THE HALDORAN THIRD KINGDOM
Covering the entirety of Haldora, the Third Kingdom is
an ancient empire ruled by a monarchy. At one point
the Third Kingdom ruled almost two thirds of the
entire world; it was said that its borders stretched from
sunrise to sunset. In recent decades the Kingdom
has begun to decline in power and influence; many
of its colonies have begun to break away and claim
independence or have joined other nations. Despite
this Haldora remains a powerful nation. Wealthy,
influential and with one of the most powerful armed
forces in the world, Haldora is not to be trifled with.
Haldora is defined by its long history, which has been
recorded continuously for over a thousand years since
the days of the First Kingdom; every other nation on
Neres is conscious of Haldora’s age and experience.
Haldorans are a proud and noble people, with a long
military tradition and a famously dry wit. However they
are also bound by a rigid class system and have a
reputation for belligerence.
THE LITVIAN EMPIRE
Located in Vulkovia Minor, the Litvian Empire is a
relatively young but increasingly powerful nation that
is renowned for its technological prowess, its wealth
and its tenacity. A hegemony of over a dozen smaller
nations, the Empire is a cosmopolitan society that
embraces its diversity and believes it gives them
great strength. The main constituent members of the
Empire are Litvic, Astmark, Riland and Yalgir; with each
country bringing its own traditions and customs to the
melting-pot that is ‘Litvian Culture’.
Regardless of their country of birth, all Litvians have
a inclination towards technology and progress. Of all
the nations, Litvians are seen as the most accepting
of modern society and new discoveries. Other nations
often believe that the Litvians have lost a little of
themselves in their blind pursuit of advancement,
however.
THE THEOCRATIC EMPIRE OF PRYNNE
The Theocratic Empire dominates the subcontinent
of Prynne, a land covered in sprawling plains, boreal
forests and sweeping steppeland. More commonly
referred to as ‘the Theocracy’, the Theocratic Empire
is ruled by the Divine Emperor; supposed successive
reincarnations of the Prophet Mandus.
With much of its culture and government mandated
by the church, some nations see the Theocracy as a
stagnant reminder of older times; however Prynne is
intent on bringing itself into the modern age and is
one of the most populous nations in Neres.
The Prynnese are a dour, stoic people but are also
very family-orientated and deeply loyal to their
friends. They have a rich heritage that they are
intensely proud of, and are often deeply spiritual and
thoughtful individuals. The Theocracy is not without
its problems though; the church’s secret police have
been growing in power in recent years, resulting in a
growing feeling of unrest in the people of Prynne.
THE REPUBLIC OF KESH
Hailing from the deserts and savannas of Kesh, the
Republic is a highly religious nation with a long history
and a love of trade. Unlike the pious Theocracy, the
Keshi believe that religion should bring happiness
and freedom. The Republic can trace their history
back almost as far as the Haldorans, to the ancient
Muldoori Empire whose religion the Republic still
follows to this day.
The Keshi and the Theocracy have a long history of
rivalry; the Theocracy was founded by exiles from
the Muldoori Empire and Kesh and the Prynnese
have never seen eye-to-eye. The religions of the two
nations are closely linked, but each considers the
other nation to be heretics.
The Keshi people are friendly, generous and lively and
are naturally inclined towards trade. They also have
a reputation for lax morals and an inclination towards
avarice.
THE FREE NATIONS OF KIJANI
The Free Nations of Kijani is the youngest of the
Great Nations. Founded only two years ago, the
Free Nations are a coalition of allied kingdoms that
make up the majority of the people of Kijani. A proud
and warlike nation, the people of the Free Nations
have a long history of warfare and conflict with both
themselves and the other nations of Neres, which has
earned them a fierce reputation.
The Free Nations are a vibrant and industrious nation,
keen to earn their place on the world’s stage. With
dozens of sub cultures and traditions, the people of
The World of Neres
Kijani are gregarious and have a great love of history
and stories.
However, due to the fact that Kijani mercenaries
fought on both sides during the Great War, many of
the other nations are slow to trust the Kijani people,
who they see as bloodthirsty mercenaries.
7
 JOHANN ANSLER
Johann Ansler is a name known to virtually everyone
in each of the Great Nations; a name both revered and
reviled.
Professor Johann Ansler and his colleagues are
responsible for most of the advanced technology in
Neres. They are also simultaneously responsible for
ending the great war and for the largest loss of life in
the history of the world. Ansler murdered thousands
to save millions, and for that no one will ever forget or
forgive him.
Born the son of a wealthy Litvian shipping magnate,
Johann Ansler was a renowned physicist, electrical
engineer, mechanical engineer and mathematician.
He invented several notable devices before being
hired by the Litvian government to found a science
academy in Eisenstadt.
Ansler lead the Litvian science academy for several
years before coming to the conclusion that his
inventions, and those of his fellows, should benefit all
of Neres, not just Litvic. So in 1259FK Ansler used his
considerable personal wealth to buy a small island off
the west coast of Litvic, Mowena, and declared it an
independent state. On Mowena he constructed a new
academy; the Ansler Institute.
Open to all and any who wished to study and better
The World of Neres
8
humanity, the Institute gave rise to technology that
was spread across Neres. Labour Rigs, radial engines,
simulacra and mechaugmetics were all produced by
the Institute. Of particular note was the huge airship
designed by members of the Institute named the
Spirit of Creation.
The Ansler Institute concentrated the scientific and
engineering minds of the world into one place where
they could inspire and feed off each other. Thanks to
this technological advancement in Neres skyrocketed
in the years after the Institute’s creation.
However, just as the institute was a haven for scientific
discovery, it was also a place unbound by moral or
ethical restraints. Some members of the Institute
carried out research considered immoral by others;
such as the work of Doctor Julia Weismann who
created the Neogenic Serum and Mechaugmetics.
One of the major advancements was the so-
called ‘Ansler Powercell’. No larger than a human
fist, powercells are high-capacity batteries that
can contain enough electrical power to fuel large
machines for several hours or smaller devices for
days. Although not created by Ansler himself, they
were created by his students utilising a lot of his
theories and so bear his name.
With the outbreak of the Great War Ansler and his
colleagues had to redouble their efforts to remain
neutral to all nations. Litvic, Haldora, the Theocracy
and the Republic all attempted to coerce the
respective members of the institute back home. Some
went, applying their minds to the pursuit of war, but
the many stayed with the Institute.
THE GREAT WAR
The defining event of the modern era, the Great War
was a global conflict that engulfed almost all of Neres.
Beginning in 1270FK the fighting lasted for six years
until finally ending in 1276FK. Hundreds of thousands
of young men and women lost their lives during
the course of the war, making it the greatest loss of
human life in recorded history. During the course of
the war many new technologies were invented and
following the war the political and social upheaval
continued to have an impact for years afterwards.
The war drew all the Great Nations, who formed into
two opposing alliances; the Haldoran Third Kingdom
and the Theocratic Empire of Prynne formed the
Northern Alliance; the Litvian Empire and the Republic
of Kesh formed the Southern Coalition. The various
nations of the Kijani people joined both sides as
mercenaries, while some remained neutral to both.
The primary zone of conflict was centered in and
around the border kingdom of Nidec, a small
independent country situated between Prynne and
Litvic. Vast trench networks were dug by both sides,
spreading east-west across almost the entire country,
and vast numbers of infantry waged war there for the
entire duration of the war.
Sporadic fighting also took place on the west coast
of Litvic and the east coast of Haldora and several
naval engagements took place in the Median Ocean.
Airships were used by both sides to bomb enemies
cities, mostly in northern Litvic and southern Prynne.
Limited fighting also took place in Kesh, Kijani and in
the Alashambra archipelago.
The initial trigger of the war was the death of High
King Archibald IV of Haldora. Archibald, a well-liked
ruler, was holidaying in Nidec when he died in an
apparent hunting accident. While there was no
direct evidence of foul play, the Haldoran parliament
insisted it was an assassination and demanded
an investigation be launched. When the Nidecian
authorities refused to investigate, Haldora sent a
brigade of King’s Guard into the country. This was
declared an act of War by Nidec, who demanded aid
from their political allies; the Litvian Empire.
In the years leading up to 1270FK both the Litvian
Empire and the Third Kingdom had been dueling both
politically and economically, with the older and more
powerful Haldora trying to prevent the increasingly-
wealthy Litvic from securing trade deals with other
nations. Litvic had also made several highly lucrative
alliances with Kijani nations who, up until only
recently, had traded solely with Haldora.
Due to this tense political relationship between the
two nations, Litvic was more than happy to bloody
Haldora’s nose once more and sent their own troops
into Nidec. Rather than forcing Haldora to withdraw,
however, this ignited a powder keg that lead to the
total collapse of communications between the two
Great Nations and cemented the start of the Great
War. A number of skirmishes were fought, with neither
side gaining an upper hand. Within weeks both sides
had started constructing the trench networks criss-
crossing Nidec that would come to define the war.
Meanwhile Haldora appealed to the Theocratic
Empire to aid them. For a while the Theocracy held
off, not keen to become embroiled in the conflict, until
they learned that their hated enemy the Republic of
Kesh had agreed to supply the Litvian Empire.
Due to the religious tension between the Theocracy
and Kesh that had been escalating over the previous
decade, the Theocracy acquiesced and agreed to
supply both munitions and supplies to Haldora.
As the war progressed, both Kesh and the Theocracy
became more and more involved, until both sides
were directly involved in the fighting themselves.
As the war continued the fighting spread across Nidec
until the entire country was covered in fortifications
and sprawling trench networks running east to west.
Fighting also took place in the Median Ocean as
Haldoran and Litvian naval fleets engaged each other
in an attempt to cut off supply shipments to Nidec.
Both sides also sent battleships to engage in shelling
coastal cities, turning the west coast of Litvic and the
east coast of Haldora into warzones in their own right.
The World of Neres
In the winter of 1271FK the Litvians escalated the
war to a new stage when they sent a squadron of
airships to bomb Kostek, a Theocracy city close to
the border of Nidec and a staging post for supplying
the Haldoran troops to the south. Over the course
of six nights Kostek was reduced to a fire-scorched
ruin by the sustained fire-bombing. In response
9
 the Theocracy entered the conflict fully, sending
thousands of its own men and women south to fight
alongside the Haldorans.
From this point onwards, both sides began to employ
strategic aerial bombardment of munitions factories,
rail yards and airfields. Such bombardments were
common in northern Litvic and southern Prynne.
As the war continued, the nature of the conflict
changed, as did the technology used by both sides.
The initial engagements in 1270FK were fought in the
manner and with the equipment used in all border
wars at the time; soldiers fighting from defensive
trenches and earthworks with bolt-action rifles and
light cannons. Cavalry charges by soldiers in steel
armour carrying pistols and sabres were used as
shock attacks, especially by Haldora who were
masters of the tactic. In 1271FK a new advancement
from Litvic saw the end of such cavalry actions; the
machinegun. Capable of firing hundreds of rounds
a minute, machineguns brought terror and death to
the battlefields. Cavalry charges and trench assaults
by the Haldorans were met with hails of gunfire from
Litvian machinegun emplacements; the death tolls of
such assaults were unbelievable.
THE BIRTH OF THE BATTLE RIG
In response to the rise of the machinegun, the
Haldorans replaced the horses in their cavalry with
something considered a farming and industrial
implement up until that point; the labour rig.
The ‘Ambulatory Power Transfer Harness’, better
known as the Rig, was first created by members of the
Ansler Institute, including Ansler himself, in 1261FK.
Designed to help dock workers unload cargo from
airships, Rigs were large metal humanoid vehicles
piloted by a single operator. For years they had been
seen as labour devices, nothing more, but by welding
plates of heavy steel onto labour rigs, the Haldorans
found a slow-moving but nigh-indestructible
replacement for their horses. Better still, due to their
bipedal nature the rigs could easily navigate the
trench networks and wire-strewn battlefields better
than horses, ploughing through most obstacles with
The World of Neres
ease.
With the realisation of the new weapon before them,
factories on both sides began churning out dedicated
‘Battle Rigs’ and weapons for them to wield. The first
full engagement fought with dedicated battle rigs on
both sides was the Battle of Dacem in southern Nidec;
10
a battle that saw the deployment of almost 400 rigs
and the deaths of over 30,000 men and women.
THE ANSLER SOLUTION
By the spring of 1275FK the fighting had spread to the
western deserts of Kesh, the northern coast of Kijani
and across the Alashambra archipelago. Both Litvic
and Haldora had begun experimenting with advanced
long-range weapons such as unguided rockets,
intending to begin sustained bombing of targets deep
inside previously ‘safe’ territory. To many it seemed
that there would be no end to the war except for the
mutual destruction of both sides.
One such person was Johann Ansler. Over the five
years of war the professor had seen his ideas turned
into weapons of mass murder; his students leave the
Institute to return home and fight and others turn their
talents to creating nothing but new ways to kill their
fellow man.
Only a few members of the Ansler Institute remained
on Mowena, those most dedicated to the ideals of the
Institute and the Professor. They watched as Ansler
shut himself away from the world, refusing to speak
to or see anyone except for the brass simulacra that
brought him food or books from the Institute’s library.
For months Ansler remained in his isolation, until
one day in Autumn 1275FK when Ansler emerged,
pale and drawn, from his rooms and gathered his
remaining students in one of the Institutes old lecture
halls.
There he explained what he had realised during his
contemplation; there was only one way to stop the
war and save the lives of everyone on the planet. Both
sides had to be united against an even greater threat.
Ansler proposed that they become that threat.
Long before the war Ansler had accidentally
happened upon a theory that only had one
application; a weapon of unrivaled destructive power.
A beam of particles with a range limited only by line
of sight and with enough power to level mountains.
Conscious of what could happen if the theory was
known to others, Ansler carefully hid his notes away.
Now he realised it could finally serve a purpose; he
named it his Peace Ray.
For months Ansler and his colleagues laboured to
build Peace Ray projectors into the huge airship Spirit
of Creation, turning the icon of discovery into a war
machine of unrivaled power.
They completed their work at the end of spring
1276FK. Ansler and his inner circle boarded the airship
and left their island home behind. Those who chose
not to go with them vanished into obscurity, going into
hiding. Mowena was left empty and abandoned, the
only remaining residents were a handful of simulacra
left tending some of the Institute’s larger experiments;
processes that could not be easily shut down.
The following morning, at daybreak, Ansler fired
his Peace Ray at the Litvian city of Mirhast, a major
manufacturing centre for the Litvian’s new unguided
rockets. The entire city disappeared in a flash of light
so bright it blinded anyone looking in the direction of
the city for dozens of miles. Over 100,000 people died
instantly in the blast. When the glare faded, nothing
was left of the city but a shallow bowl of glass two
and a half miles across. Buildings at the edge of the
blast had been neatly sheared in half.
Three hours later Ansler turned his Peace Ray on
the Haldoran city of Durapol, home of their Airwing
manufacturing. Durapol was wiped from the map
in the exact same manner as Mirhast, claiming over
90,000 lives.
Days turned into weeks, with soldiers slowly coming
to the realisation that the days of ‘going over the top’
into a hail of machinegun fire were perhaps over. In
one case a group of Litvian soldiers ventured into
no-man’s-land to retrieve their dead and were met
by a group of Haldoran soldiers on a similar mission.
Whereas before such meetings lead to gunfire,
instead both groups held a shared vigil for the dead
before helping each other recover fallen comrades.
Similar scenes of tense diplomacy occurred over the
following weeks.
Finally in the autumn of 1276FK diplomats from Litvic,
Haldora, Prynne and Kesh met to agree a permanent
ceasefire and an end to the War.

Minutes after the destruction of Durapol, Ansler

transmitted a signal to every radio on the globe.

“People of Neres, I am Professor Johann Thaddeus

Ansler. I am a man of peace, of knowledge and
discovery. I am sickened by the conflict that has marred
our world for the past six years; I have been witness to a
world consumed by hatred and bent on self-destruction.
And so I have acted. Today I have destroyed two cities;
Mirhast and Durapol. One Litvian, one Haldoran. Know
this; I have the power to destroy any city on this planet.
No one can stop me. But I will stay my hand, provided
you meet a single demand. Stop fighting. Cease
hostilities at once, and I will stay my hand. Continue,
and I will return, and my punishment shall be swift.”

With that the Spirit of Creation vanished into the

clouds.

Ansler’s actions, what many would come to call

‘The Ansler Solution’ had the effect the Professor
The World of Neres

had desired. Hours after Ansler’s radio broadcast

a tentative ceasefire was called all along the main
front in Nidec, with fighting coming to a halt in other
theatres by the end of the day.
A strange, tense peace followed, with both sides
keeping their forces ready in case the other side ‘Red’ Molly Buchanan, Kijani Smuggler
attacked, but fearing retribution from Ansler if they
attacked first.

11
 TECHNOLOGY
Technology in Neres has taken a slightly different
course to that in our own world. Mostly this is due to
the existence of Johann Ansler and his creation of the
Ansler Institute. Before the Great War new technology
had begun to proliferate due to the Institute but
it was the war itself that caused the real boom in
technological advancement.
Now in post-war Neres devices such as Rigs,
Simulacra and the ever-present Anslertech are
common and appear in every walk of life.
RIGS
The ‘Ambulatory Power Transfer Harness’, better
known as the Rig, was first created by members of the
Ansler Institute, including Ansler himself, in 1261FK.
Designed to help dock workers unload cargo from
airships, Rigs are 12 to 15 foot tall metal humanoids
piloted by a single operator. The pilot of the Rig sits in
the chest cavity of the machine and controls it via a
pair of articulated gloves and boots which control the
Rig’s arms and legs respectively.
There are dozens different manufacturers of Rigs
and hundreds of different models, but generally any
Rig can be assigned to one of three distinct classes;
Labour Rigs, Battle Rigs and Heavy Battle Rigs.
Labour Rigs are designed for manual labour such
as construction and carrying heavy loads. They are
usually unarmoured (apart from the heavy steel used
to construct them) but are more than capable of
tearing apart sheet steel with their bare hands. Labour
Rigs are typically skeletal looking machines, with the
cockpit a metal cage open to the air to allow the pilot
to communicate to other workers by the expedient
method of shouting. The Rigs are humanoid, with
arms terminating in large dexterous hands and legs
that end in heavy, stabilising feet. On the back of
the Rig is a large double-exhaust diesel engine that
powers the vehicle. Most Labour Rigs are painted
plain colours such as cream, grey or olive green
although some private owners decorate them with
metallic paint or even chrome plating them.
Battle Rigs are military version of the Labour Rig, first
The World of Neres
created in 1272FK to fight in the Great War. Covered in
thick armour and designed as weapons of war, Battle
Rigs turn normal soldiers into terrifying engines of
destruction. While structurally the same as Labour
Rigs, Battle Rigs look a lot more substantial due to
the plates of riveted armour that cover the cockpit,
arms and legs. Battle Rigs are accessed by a hatch in
12
either the roof of the vehicle or on the back between
the two exhausts. Most Battle Rigs are painted in drab
colours intended to blend in with the environment
they are operating in; typically dark green, dark grey
or sandy yellow, although the Theocracy also paint
theirs in jagged grey and white patterns designed to
conceal them in the snowy plains of their homeland.
A growing number of Rig pilots have started to paint
designs on their machines such as scantily clad men
and women in ‘pin up’ poses, grinning mouths and
personal mottos.
Heavy Battle Rigs are huge 20-foot tall Battle Rigs,
developed in the later years of the Great War to serve
as mobile artillery pieces and to hunt smaller Battle
Rigs. Heavy Battle Rigs differ to both Battle Rigs
and Labour Rigs in that they require two crew rather
than one; one to pilot the Rig and the other to man
the weapon systems and control the complicated
electronic systems. Heavy Rigs are still humanoid but
they look a lot more angular and gangly than their
smaller cousins. Most Heavy Rigs still have arms,
although they lack hands and instead have cannons
and machineguns directly built into the forearms.
Some newer Heavy Rigs lack arms altogether and
instead have heavy cannon turrets jutting from either
side of their torso. The legs of Heavy Battle Rigs are
long, designed to allow the machines to step over
difficult terrain, and are often reverse-jointed like
the legs of birds, to better balance the weight of the
machine on top of them.
AIRSHIPS
Airships have been used as the main form of
international travel for over 100 years. Airships were
initially filled with hydrogen which, although cheap
and offering superior lift, resulted in several deadly
accidents. Many airship manufacturers began using
helium to fill their ships but found it expensive and
inferior until members of the Ansler Institute created
an artificial lifting gas with the strength of hydrogen
but without its flammable qualities. This gas, Loftium,
is now used in every airship in Neres and allows huge
airships to be constructed. Airships are the most
commonly used form of heavy transport, being used
to ship goods between towns and cities and across
international borders. Although slower than the newer
aeroplane, there is a certain grandeur to airships
and the people of Neres have a near-universal love
of them.
Not all airships are large; in fact a great many are
small vessels that can be flown by one or two crew
and are used to ship goods between cities or to ferry
small numbers of passengers.
AEROPLANES
The aeroplane is a relatively new invention, having
been developed only in the last 20 years. While faster
than airships, they have not been well received by
the general population and as such are still a niche
technology.
This has not stopped several companies from
developing the aeroplane. The most common models
are the seaplane, which is used for both cargo and
passenger transport, and the biplane which has
started to become a popular weapon of war due to its
ability to out-maneuver airships.
The aeroplane was first envisioned by a Kesh inventor,
Suhaila Ibnat Khayrat in 1262FK. Khayrat developed
and tested several basic aeroplanes in the deserts
of her homeland but aeroplanes were never widely
adopted and seen more as a novelty than as a viable
mode of transport.
In 1273FK, during the Great War, a Theocracy Air
Service marshal turned to biplanes as a means of
defending airfields from Litvian airships. The small
nimble biplanes were able to launch quickly when
alerted to incoming bombers, climb quickly and
attack the slower-moving airships from above.
Following the end of the Great War aeroplanes,
especially seaplanes, have seen greater use. No
longer seen as a novelty they are becoming a more
common sight in the skies of Neres. Even so, it will be
quite a while before they are completely accepted;
airships are still seen as the best method of long-
distance travel.
SIMULACRA
Colloquially known as ‘Clanks’, simulacra are
humanoid robots powered by specialised long-life
powercells and programmed with punch cards. They
resemble metal skeletons with blank dome-like faces
and a card-slot on their chest. While they can perform
basic tasks when instructed, they are not intelligent
or even problem solving; if programmed to walk a
certain route and then confronted with a locked door
a Simulacra would simply stop in front of the door and
wait for it to be opened.
Clanks have steadily become more and more popular
in post-war Neres and are now a relatively common
sight in most cities. Simulacra are often found in
dangerous industrial jobs, such as forges, refineries
and manufacturing plants. Able to work tirelessly
and efficiently, Clanks have replaced a hundreds of
human workers in recent years, some times leading to
protests and even anti-Clank riots.
Outside of industry, it is becoming fashionable and a
sign of wealth to have a personal Simulacra servant
in the home to answer the door, carry belongings and
advertise how well-off an individual is.
MECHAUGMETICS
Created by Doctor Julia Weismann, a member of the
Ansler Institute, Mechaugmetics are mechanical limbs
designed to replace arms, legs and other body parts
lost to injury and disease.
When first envisioned by Doctor Weismann,
mechaugmetics were intended to help works injured
in industrial accidents, or people affected by diseases
such as polio and bone diseases.
However, when Doctor Weismann left the Institute
during the Great War to return to her homeland of
Litvic, she took her work with her and gave it to the
Litvian Empire military.
Mechaugmetic limbs were mass produced on an
industrial scale, allowing injured soldiers to be
outfitted with powerful new limbs and sent back to
fight in half the usual time required for recuperation.
While bulky and often unsightly, these replacement
limbs are invaluable to people who would otherwise
be left crippled.
The plans for mechaugmetics were eventually stolen
by the Northern Alliance, who began manufacturing
their own versions.
Following the war mechaugmetics are still produced,
with every iteration more advanced and less
obtrusive than before. With the number of soldiers
injured in the war, mechaugmetics are a common
sight. However, they also carry something of a social
stigma. Mechaugmetics are powered by Anslertech
powercells; a single cell will power a limb for around a
week of normal function. However, due to the cost of
The World of Neres
powercells some soldiers who received replacement
limbs during the war for ‘free’ now find themselves
shackled by debt, unable to afford new cells and
stuck with a metal limb they cannot afford to power.
13
 NEOGENIC SERUM
One of the lasting and darker legacies of the Ansler
Institute is the creation of Neogenic Serum. Another
invention of Doctor Julia Weismann, Neogenic
Serum allows a user to surpass their natural strength,
intelligence or social aptitude for a short time. Initially
intended to heal the sick and grant a normal life to the
disabled, the serums instead became addictive and
dangerous drugs.
The development of the serums were also fraught
with moral lapses. While the experiments to develop
the serum began ethically, they slowly became
less and less humane, with Doctor Weismann and
her team purchasing illegal genetic material from
suppliers in Kesh and, according to rumours, even
testing the drugs on prisoners from Litvian prisons in
exchange for samples of the finished serum.
Regardless of the methods used to create it, it was
undeniable that the serum was a wonder drug.
Patients who took the drug could lift dozens of times
their body weight, run for miles without tiring, solve
complex puzzles and even exhibited enhanced social
skills.
However, some patients exhibited strange side
effects, such as distorted musculature, bone
overgrowth and psychopathic behaviour.
Realising that the serums were dangerous, Doctor
Weismann attempted to bury her formula, but it had
already been leaked by her fellow researchers.
Nowadays Neogenic Serums are illegal in almost
every country. However they continue to be produced
illegally and sold on the black market.
ELIXIR
An offshoot of the Neogenic Serum research
conducted by Doctor Weisman, Elixir is a rare drug
that increases the rate at which a person heals.
Unlike Neogenic Serums, manufacture of Elixir is
legal and most nations have their own manufacturers
responsible for producing it. However, it is expensive
and difficult to produce, meaning that currently Elixir is
The World of Neres
reserved for special cases, or those who can afford it.
ANSLERTECH
‘Anslertech’ is a common word used as a catchall term
for advanced technology that shares a common set
of similarities. Not necessarily created by Ansler -or
even anyone from the Institute- Anslertech is more
14
of a label of the device’s manner of creation and
operation, rather than one of its manufacturer.
Anslertech devices are almost always powered by
Anslertech powercells; small batteries capable of
powering large machines for long periods.
Some devices that many would term ‘Anslertech’,
such as mechaugmetics and elixir, are mass-
produced, but by and large most Anslertech devices
are usually built by individual inventors in labs
and workshops, rather than in large factories. As
such most Anslertech has a custom, jury-rigged
appearance and usually no two devices operate in
exactly the same manner.
MODERN SOCIETY
In the period immediately following the end of the
Great War life attempted to return to exactly how it
was before war were declared. However, due to the
changes in politics, technology and society created by
the war, many people found their old lives impossible
to return to for various reasons.
Now, four years after the ceasefire was declared,
society has begun to stabilize. The surge of
technological advancement has plateaued and the
general public have become used to the availability
of technologies that, before the war, were luxuries.
Clanks are now a common sight in most cities and
even in the country farmers and labourers are starting
to use labour rigs for common tasks.
Daily life for most citizens of the Great Nations is,
cultural differences aside, reasonably similar. Most
people will own a small house, a car and earn enough
money to enjoy the occasional entertainment such as
a visit to the movies or playhouse once a month. Most
homes have a wireless radio which the family gathers
around in the evening to listen to entertainment
broadcasts and the news.
Private telephones are still somewhat of a luxury, but
public telephone booths are now a common sight on
most street corners and in diners and airship docks.
Changes in manufacturing have made previous
luxuries inexpensive and plentiful, meaning more
people have access to items previously only available
to the upper class.
Most large cities now feature elevated railways that
carry commuters to work, and airship docks that allow
small airships to land and offload both passengers
and cargo are commonplace.
Due to the proliferation of both radio and electrical
telegraph global communication is now much faster
and easier. News travels very fast now compared
to before the war, enabling newspapers to feature
stories from around the world, broadening readers
horizons. Similarly, common citizen are now able to
afford the use of telegrams as a matter of daily use,
allowing them to communicate over distances that
before the war would have taken days by postal
service in a matter of hours.
In most of the Great Nations society has changed
significantly compared to before the war. Whereas
previously young adults would spend their time at
home with parents, in school or learning a trade, now
they are spending more time in pursuit of pleasure,
joining subcultures such as Flappers or Greasers
Eleanor Greywood, Haldoran Private Eye
and attending dance clubs to listen to Slick music. It
has become somewhat fashionable to rebel against
one’s elders and society in general, leading to the
popularity of both Slick music and the subcultures
that listen to it.
Soldiers who four years ago were fighting in the Great
War now find themselves having to reintegrate into
normal society. Some have done so easily, whereas
others find daily life strange and dull and have begun
to look for something else; something to make them
feel alive again. These men and women are frequently
drawn into a life of crime, adventure or both.
RACE, GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN NERES
Age of Steel has been written to be a race, gender
and sex-neutral setting.
Race has never been much of an issue in Neres. No
one race is seen as lesser to the others; no race has
actively enslaved another and racial tensions do not
exist to the degree that they do in our world. There
is tension between nations, assuredly, but it is not
based on the colour of the other nation’s skin but
rather the fact that they are a foreign nation. There
are racial epithets used by members of some nations
when referring to other nations, but mostly these are
derogatory remarks about that country’s diet (such as
Haldorans referring to Litvians as ‘Hoggers’ because
of their love of pork sausages and other pork-based
foods), their dress (Kijani refer to Haldorans as ‘frill
necks’ because of their historic love of cravats) or
their habits (such as Yalgiri referring to Kesh as ‘sand
counters’ due to their love of money and their sandy
homeland).
Women and men are seen as equals in modern
society, in no small part due to the Great War.
While there had been a long history of female leaders
and women fighting alongside men in past conflicts,
there was also a mild perception that women
and men should adhere to certain stereotypes.
Traditionally Haldoran, Theocracy and Kijani women
occupied roles such as trading, housework and raising
children. Astmark with it’s highly martial culture had
The World of Neres
a long history of female warriors, including several
influential all-female warrior sororities. Women in Kesh
also had a greater degree of freedom.
With the advent of the Great War the final remnants
of gender stereotypes fell away as the need for
engineers, doctors and support personnel increased.
As the Great War reached fever pitch women were
15
 finally permitted to enlist as soldiers.
Since the end of the Great War this gender equality
has remained, with women enjoying equal respect in
all levels of society.
Sexuality is not highly discussed in polite society,
but the same can be said for a number of subjects.
Homosexuality is not taboo in Neres, although it is not
overly discussed either. There have been a number
of gay and lesbian leaders and celebrities and no
emphasis is placed on their sexuality, but it is not
brought up specifically either.
Reincarnation is a key belief to both the major
religions in Neres. As such, transgender people
have been widely accepted for centuries. The
fact that sometimes a soul is reincarnated into a
body of a different gender is taken as a matter of
course; Transgender people have equal status and
rights in every county and Nation, they are seen as
regular citizens. Currently surgical transition is an
experimental and dangerous procedure used by
only a few individuals. However, there are rumours
that some doctors in the Litvian Empire using Dr
Weisman’s research have started working on a
neogenic serum to aid in transition. It’s effects are
currently unknown, if it even exists.
SOCIAL UNREST
Since the great war society has seen an increase in
social unrest. Many ex-soldiers, previously promised
a ‘land fit for heroes’, suffered when unemployment
rose rapidly and the ambitious wartime programme
of ‘reconstruction’ failed in the face of an economic
slump.
A new concept of ‘labour unions’, especially popular in
the Lowlands of Haldora, has added to the unrest with
previously amenable workers now banding together
and demanding better pay, more reasonable hours
and safer working conditions.
Both of these situations have lead to riots in some
cities, and a growing unrest in the downtrodden
and disaffected.
In the Theocracy the normally obedient population
The World of Neres
have begun to chafe under the increased presence of
the Midnight Order who, before the war, were much
less powerful and invasive of the daily life of citizens.
However, the Order exerts significant control over
the government and the military, making opposing
them difficult and dangerous. Despite this a growing
number of Theocracy citizens are standing up to the
16
Order, opposing them in subtle (and sometimes not
so subtle) ways. There are also rumours of cells of
freedom fighters gathering support against the order.
The post-war youth often show their disaffection
with society by joining one of the numerous
subcultures found across Neres such as bikers,
dieselpunks or riggers. One social movement of note
are the so called ‘Hot Riggers’ or ‘Riggers’. Gangs of
mechanically-inclined young adults, Riggers buy old
labour rigs and upgrade their engines and cowlings,
painting them bright colours and with flame-decals.
Extra exhausts are added, often chromed, and the rigs
are shown off at ‘Rig Meets’ and used in races.
Although private ownership of a rig is not illegal, the
noise and disruption caused by the Rigger’s races is
often seen as a nuisance and results in clashes with
the police.
Because of their access to powerful rigs and
mechanical knowledge, some Riggers later fall into
the dieselpunk lifestyle; becoming mercenaries
and adventurers.
Much of the social unrest is a symptom of the post-
war period. However, some of it is undoubtedly stirred
up by the unseen Silent War.
SLICK MUSIC
Since the end of the war a new style of music has
rapidly become popular across Neres. Known as
‘Slick’ the music is epitomised by soulful trumpets,
moody singers and lyrics that revolve around loss,
hardship and the desire for material wealth.
Musicians who play Slick are commonly referred to
as ‘Slickers’ or ‘Slick players’ and are seen as louche,
disreputable and self-destructive.
Despite its underground nature, Slick has begun to
influence aspects of society and Slick singers and
musicians are starting to appear among the rich and
famous (a first since before the war such people were
often underpaid and unappreciated).
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment is becoming big business in Neres.
The most popular form of entertainment is the radio;
almost every household now has a radio set, which is
generally one of the most expensive and important
items in the home. Radio broadcasts are treated as
the evening entertainment for most families, with
hundreds of stations and broadcasters available
across the various nations.
Most radio broadcasts take the form of serial dramas
or comedies broadcast at the same time every week
and telling stories over dozens of episodes. News
reports and music shows are also popular.
Movies, black and white motion pictures, have been
around for 30 years but in the last two years ‘talkies’
-movies with sound and voices- have appeared and
have become massively popular. Shown in large
‘movie halls’, movies are becoming a highly popular
weekend entertainment. For relatively little a patron
can buy a ticket that allows them to watch several
features and usually a newsreel in between.
The movie industry is rapidly becoming one of the
wealthiest industries in both Haldora and Litvic. Big
budget movies, shot on location in exotic settings
such as Alashambra and the deserts of Kesh are
becoming more and more common, with movie stars
rising in celebrity.
Theatre has been a popular entertainment for
centuries but in recent years has come to be viewed
as somewhat old fashioned and favored by the
upper class. Music halls, featuring a variety of music
including Big Bands and Slick Bands, are also popular
although seen as slightly more working class.
Clubs, which are related to music halls but tend to
serve more alcohol and feature more modern music,
are growing in popularity. They are frequently meeting
places for the subcultures such as flappers and
slick fans.
TRAVEL
Travel is now an affordable luxury for many. Before the
war long-distance travel was expensive and difficult
for most people; with the explosion in the number
of airships, aeroplanes and automobiles now most
people can consider travelling to other cities if not
other countries.
Airships have been the most popular form of travel for
decades and remain so now. Filled with safe Loftium
gas and powered by multiple diesel engines, a small
cutter-class airship can carry half a dozen passengers
to another city in a matter of hours. A large airliner can
carry dozens of people in style and luxury across the
entire globe.
Although aeroplanes have never been seen as
reliable or popular, seaplanes are growing in number
and are often used to travel short distances quickly,
especially around the coasts of Kijani and Kesh.
Trains are used to get around cities and to carry
large quantities of goods across country. In cities
above-ground elevated railways are a common sight,
carrying commuters to and from work every day.
Cargo trains -huge diesel-powered behemoths- are
used to carry goods across nations. Luxury trains also
exist, carrying passengers in suites similar to those
found and intercontinental airliners.
Seagoing vessels are used in Neres, but they are
something of a rarity. Most people would prefer to use
an airship for crossing the oceans. Most sea vessels
are fishing ships or short-range cargo ships.
RELIGION
Religion was once highly important in Neres but with
the end of the Great War and the rise of technology
many are beginning to turn their back on the spiritual
in favour of rational science and human endeavour.
Of the Great Nations both the Republic of Kesh and
the Theocracy are deeply religious. Some citizens of
Haldora and Kijani, especially in the older generations,
are still religious but it is beginning to fall out of
fashion. The Litvian Empire is fervently secular, with
almost the entire population believing that religion is
a relic of the past.
There are two distinct religions practiced in Neres;
The Old Way and the Muldoori Faith, although they
share common roots.
THE OLD WAY
The Old Way is the religion practiced by the
Haldorans and Kijani. It was also the religion practiced
in the countries of the Litvian Empire, before they
turned away from faith in favour of science.
The ancient people of Neres believed in a Great Spirit
that was the source of all life. This spirit was named
Vaide, often referred to as the All-Mother. In addition
to the Great Spirit there existed a host of Lesser
Spirits, which inhabited plants, animals, rivers, rocks
The World of Neres
and places such as forests and mountains.
They also believed that the Great Spirit was largely
unconcerned with the fate of mankind but she could
be appealed to through the Lesser Spirits. As such,
Lesser Spirits were honoured and worshipped with
offerings and sacrifices. Portions of a hunt were left to
honour the spirit of the animal slain. Gifts were left in
17
 forest clearings to bring luck when felling trees, and
so on.
Lesser Spirits were also believed to reside within
every man and woman. Upon a person’s death their
Lesser Spirit would be taken by Vaide and woven into
a new body as a newborn child; the same spirit but
without any memory of it’s past life.
The Old Way remains largely unchanged in modern
times. Modern followers of the Old Way still leave
offerings to lesser spirits they wish to appease or
curry favour with, but usually at small personal shrines
located in homes or in sacred gardens found around
cities. In more rural areas entire sacred groves of
trees are still found, tended to by aging priests and
priestesses, but they are becoming less common in
the modern, industrialised age.
THE MULDOORI FAITH
The Muldoori Faith is followed by the Keshi and the
Theocracy, although in two slightly different forms.
In 798FK a Muldoori nobleman named Mandus
was gravely injured in battle. As he lay dying he felt
his spirit rise up to meet Vaide. Mandus claimed
that, instead of washing away his memories and
reincarnating him in a new body, Vaide instead spoke
to him.
For three days Mandus lay amongst the corpses on
the battlefield while his spirit conversed with the All-
Mother. Then, on the third day his spirit returned to his
body and he rose, restored and enlightened.
Mandus returned to his home city and began to
spread the word of what Vaide had told him.
Mandus spoke that in the beginning there was
nothing but a single nameless divine consciousness.
Light dawned on the universe and the light split the
consciousness in two great spirits; one male and one
female. The female spirit was named Vaide and the
male was named Sares. They were two and yet one.
Brother and Sister, yet also Mother and Father. Vaide
and Sares joined and created the universe, and filled
it with plants and animals, imbuing each with a tiny
The World of Neres
portion of themselves; the Lesser Spirits. And for a
while, all was good.
However, unbeknownst to Vaide and Sares, they were
not alone in the celestial realm.
When the Light struck the divine consciousness and
created the two Great Spirits it also threw a terrible
18
Shadow across the celestial realm. This Shadow,
the shadow of the divine consciousness, was the
antithesis of the great spirits. A single entity, yet a
legion of minds, the Shadow sought to destroy all that
Vaide and Seras had made.
While Vaide and Seras has laboured to create the
universe the Shadow had hidden, watching their work.
Now as they rested the Shadow struck at the great
spirits and attempted to destroy all they had made. A
terrible battle was fought in the celestial realm, during
which Seras was killed. But with his death the Shadow
was defeated and Vaide sealed it away, beyond the
celestial realm and far from the physical realm. A
prison beyond time and thought.
Vaide then took the remains of Seras and used them
to create mankind, imbuing each and every mortal
with a fragment of her lost Brother. With the leftover
remains she created the moon and hung it in the sky,
so that Seras could watch over their creations for all
time.
Mandus taught that because mankind were made
from the essence of the Great Spirit, each and every
man and woman was sacred. It was not Lesser Spirits
that inhabited them, but fragments of Seras. That is
why man was reborn again and again.
His writings became highly popular and Mandus
rose to a position of great power and authority within
the Muldoori Empire. Following his teachings the
Empire gave up its warlike ways and became a haven
of peace and learning, spreading the teachings of
Mandus across the world.
When Mandus died in 845FK the Empire attempted
to follow his teachings, but after only six years the
Muldoori Empire began to collapse, divided by
religious debate and infighting.
THE SCHISM
The Schism is the term used to reference the divide
between the Theocratic Empire of Prynne’s view of
the Muldoori Faith and the view held by the Republic
of Kesh.
The Theocracy was founded by a group of Muldoori
clerics who were exiled from the collapsing empire for
their heretical interpretations of Mandus’ writings. The
exiles believed that Mandus, as the chosen herald of
the Great Spirit, would be reborn with his memories
intact; ready to lead the Empire once more. In fact
they believed that the Prophet had already returned
to them in the form of a child named Kadir; the son
of their leader Birak Bir. As such they believed that all
people should worship Kadir as the ‘Divine Emperor’.
The rest of the Muldoori people maintained that
Mandus had always taught that no one man should
be placed above another by birthright. To them the
idea of a Divine Empire was heresy.
Unable to reconcile their differences, the exiles left
the Muldoori Empire and travelled north where they
eventually founded the Theocracy.
Even today the Theocracy and the Kesh - the
descendants of the Muldoori Empire - cannot
reconcile the difference in their beliefs. A Prynne and a
Kesh can be in the same room together, but if religion
is raised as a topic things will become unpleasant
very quickly. Indeed the whole reason the two nations
entered into the Great War was largely due to it being
an opportunity to fight each other.
In the years immediately following the end of the
Great War tensions between Kesh and the Theocracy
eased somewhat, but now they have begun to rise
once more.
THE COILED ONES
Whether Mandus actually met and conversed with
the Divine Spirit or not, there is one thing he was
right about; the Shadow of the Divine Consciousness,
which killed the Great Spirit Seras, is very very real. It,
or rather, they, are the Coiled Ones; and they seek to
destroy the physical world and kill everything within it.
A single entity, yet also a legion of intelligences,
the Coiled Ones still exists beyond space and time
in an eternal void. They can see the physical world
from their prison, but are unable to interact with it
except for in a few small locations. These locations,
weaknesses in the walls of their prison, move in
accordance with celestial conjunctions and the
movement of the stars. Other such locations are fixed,
but only ‘open’ at certain times.
When they do reach into the physical world, the
Coiled Ones presence brings madness and death.
They manifest as pillars of darkness that seem to fold
impossibly in on themselves.
While the Coiled Ones want nothing more than to
destroy the physical world, they are not mindless in
their pursuit of that goal. They fully realise that they
need help to escape the Void Beyond and, as such,
are willing to make pacts with humans in order to
facilitate their escape.
To date they have never managed more than a minor
break through into the physical world.
SECRET SOCIETIES
There have always been a number of factions and
societies who know of the existence of the Coiled
Ones. Some factions work for the Coiled Ones,
seeking ways to release them from their prison;
other work to keep them locked away. At times these
factions come into direct conflict with each other;
other times they work quietly from the shadows.
The Muldoori
The first faction to stand against the Coiled Ones
and perhaps the first faction to ever learn of their
existence. When Mandus rose to power in the
Muldoori Empire he created a number of societies
and orders to combat their servants.
For several years the warrior and scholarly societies
created by Mandus stood against the Coiled Ones,
with no need to hide their existence from the rest of
the world.
With Mandus’ death the societies lost much of their
power and were either forced into hiding or were
hunted down and destroyed during the fall of the
Muldoori Empire.
While some relics remain in museums or lie buried in
hidden tombs, nothing else remains of these groups
in the modern age.
The Exiles
The Muldoori clerics exiled from the Empire due
to their heretical views were unknowingly lead by
worshippers of the Coiled Ones. Birak Bir and his son
truly believed in the reincarnation of Mandus but their
advisors were secretly agents of the Coiled Ones.
Always careful to hide their true beliefs, the inner
circle of Coiled One worshippers hid themselves from
the rest of the Exiles while remaining amongst the
The World of Neres
leadership of the group.
When the Exiles finally founded the Theocracy the
inner circle set about sinking their claws into every
aspect of the new empire.
The Midnight Order
The successors of the original inner circle of Coiled
19
 One worshippers, the Midnight Order are the secret
police of the Theocratic Empire of Prynne.
While not every member of the Midnight Order is a
worshipper of the Coiled Ones, many are.
Maintaining both military and secular arms, the
Midnight Order has grown to such size and power that
stopping it is all but impossible without attacking the
Theocracy as a whole.
They are undoubtedly the most powerful and
dangerous group of Coiled One worshippers in the
world and are actively involved in perpetuating -and
even escalating- the Silent War.
The Red Hand
A vile cult of Coiled One worshippers from the
time of the Haldoran First Kingdom. The Red Hand
worshipped the Coiled Ones with blood sacrifice
and murder and were feared across Haldora for their
violence and debauchery.
The cult was hunted down and destroyed by knights
of the First Kingdom, but crypts and tombs containing
their relics are occasionally discovered in the forests
of the Highlands.
The Order of the Dove
A Haldoran knightly order from the time of the Second
Kingdom who swore to hunt down worshippers of
the Coiled Ones. The order was destroyed centuries
ago, but several groups sharing the name have
appeared over the following decades although none
last very long. Who keeps reforming these groups
and teaching them of the Coiled Ones is unknown.
Perhaps it is a group of hidden lorekeepers, perhaps
ancient books of secrets are circulated by unknowing
scholars.
The Pira Sag
An Astmarkian warrior clan from the time of the
Second Kingdom. The Pira Sag still exist today as a
mere handful of nobles. The Pira Sag have not actively
stood against the Coiled Ones in decades but they
still maintain one of the largest libraries of lore on their
enemy in the world.
The World of Neres
The Ansler Institute
More recently Johann Ansler also learned of the
existence of the Coiled Ones, and his Ansler Institute
became another bastion against their creeping
influence. Ansler was careful to only share the
knowledge of the Coiled Ones with his most trusted
colleagues, for fear that the Coiled Ones had sent
20
spies into the Institute.
Wherever Ansler went after enacting the Ansler
Solution, he is no doubt working against the Coiled
Ones still.
The Thorncroft Foundation
The Thorncroft Foundation was founded by Lord
Nicholas Thorncroft the year the Great War ended; it
is a society of adventurers, explorers and free agents
who are united by a lust for adventure. Initially based
in Haldora, the Foundation has spread and now has
offices in Haldora, Litvic, Kesh and Kijani.
Secretly the Foundation is also one of the few groups
to know of and directly oppose the Coiled Ones and
their agents.
It is known that Lord Thorncroft was once a member
of the Ansler Institute, but left the Institute shortly
before Ansler enacted his terrible Solution and ended
the War. When asked why he left, Thorncroft will only
ever cite ‘a difference of opinion’ with Ansler.
In truth, Thorncroft was actually a member of Ansler’s
inner circle and voluntarily left the Institute to act as
an observer once the Solution was enacted. Ansler
knew full well he would have to disappear from the
public eye once he made his move, so Thorncroft was
nominated to stay behind and keep a watch for the
Coiled Ones.
Thorncroft genuinely doesn’t know where Ansler
went, and is keen to find out. To this end he has sent
several of his most trusted agents to try and locate
the Professor, the Spirit and other members of the
Institute.
So far, none have returned with anything concrete;
those who return at all.
Other members of the Foundation stand against the
Midnight Order and the other agents of the Coiled
Ones.
ANSLER’S DISCOVERY
Most people on Neres believe that Ansler destroyed
Mirhast and Durapol to end the Great War. This is true
enough, but the great inventor had another reason for
doing so.
For years Ansler had suspected that there was an
external agency influencing events across the globe;
pushing Litvic and Haldora into competition with each
other; keeping the religious friction between Prynne
and Kesh from dying down; encouraging the border
wars in Kijani.
To the mind of Ansler the clues were discernible as
faint patterns in trade traffic and troop movements;
as if some shadow organisation with tendrils in every
government of the Great Nations was pushing the
world towards conflict. However it was nothing he
could prove.
As war was declared and his students and fellow
scientists slowly left the Institute to help the war effort
in their own countries, Ansler became increasingly
convinced that some external agency was at work,
pushing the Great Nations towards a point of mutual
annihilation.
Shutting himself away with research materials, notes
and history books Ansler sought to work out who
would benefit from such unrivaled destruction.
And so Ansler learned of the Coiled Ones. Reading
the ancient visions of Mandus, Ansler realised that the
Shadows the ancient prophet had spoken of were the
force driving the Great Nations to destroy one another.
Ansler realised that the Coiled Ones had spread their
influence too far to be stopped; to disrupt their plans
he would have to stop the Nations themselves from
desiring war. With a heavy heart he realised there was
one way he could do so; make himself a greater threat
than all of the Nations combined.
And so Ansler explained his discovery and his plan to
his inner circle. Together they turned the airship Spirit
of Creation into the most deadly war machine Neres
had ever seen.
Wherever Ansler and his colleagues aboard the Spirit
went after destroying Mirhast and Durapol, it is almost
certain that they are still trying to stop the Coiled
Ones and their plans.
From time to time abandoned bases are found across
the world; in the jungles of Kijani, in the deserts of
Kesh or even in the icy wastes of the Southern Pole.
THE SILENT WAR
The majority of people believe that with the end of the
Great War that Neres is at peace. Following the Ansler
Solution and the ceasefire agreements signed by the
Great Nations, armies have downsized, fortifications
have been mothballed and life has largely returned
to normal. However in truth all the ceasefire did was
force the war into the shadows.
The Ansler Solution ended the Great War, but it did
not remove the animosity the Great Nations felt
toward each other; animosities the Coiled Ones had
carefully fostered in the hearts and minds of the
leaders of each nation for decades and not easily
assuaged.
For a year or two after the end of the war things were
indeed peaceful, but slowly and steadily the Great
Nations began to plot and manoeuvre once more. It
began gradually, with politicians and trade deals, but
eventually spies, free agents and assassins became
involved. Agents of the Coiled Ones survived the war,
embedded in the governments of the Great Nations,
and these agents have been carefully engineering the
coming conflict.
Now the Silent War, as it has come to be known, is
waged across Neres. It is not fought on battlefields; it
is an engagement fought in back alleys, boardrooms
and in hidden research facilities. Sabotage, espionage,
border skirmishes and trade sanctions are the tools
employed. Both government teams and freelance
mercenaries are used by the Great Nations.
It is a war with no allies. The Third Kingdom moves
against the Theocracy, fearing their growing power,
as much as they move against the Litvian Empire and
Kesh. Similarly Kesh no longer trust their former allies
the Empire. Everyone moves against everyone.
Naming it the Silent War makes it seem like an official
engagement, however it is far more nebulous than
that. Not even the leaders of some nations know the
war is being fought; it is orchestrated by intelligence
agencies and ministers who feel they are doing
the ‘right’ thing for their country or sometimes just
pursuing their own agendas. Regardless, the masters
of the Silent War are the Coiled Ones.
Each of the Great Nations has a stake in the Silent
War. Kesh seeks to become the wealthiest nation;
the Theocracy wants to see all nations become
followers of their church; the Third Kingdom wants to
The World of Neres
reclaim their former glory; the Litvian Empire wants
to become the most technologically advanced
nation and Kijani wants to become the most powerful
military.
Simultaneously the Great Nations have a shared goal
in the Silent War; to be the first to find Ansler, discover
the secret of his Peace Ray, find any new technology
to give them an edge in the coming war, kill the
21
 scientist so he cannot interfere again and to stop the
other Nations from achieving these goals themselves.
To date the Silent War has not escalated beyond
minor engagements, however those involved can
see that soon the conflict will reach a level where it
will boil over into outright conflict. Each of the parties
involved is keen to avoid that for now; until they can
find Ansler and neutralise him, the fear of retribution
keeps the Silent War a game of shadows.
The effects of the Silent War on the world at large are
visible to those who know where to look: increasing
prices on foreign goods; reports of political tension
in the newspapers; tales of airships vanishing over
the Median Ocean. By and large these stories are
dismissed by the general public; following the Great
War the common people desperately want peace and
quiet and sometimes willingly ignore signs that all is
not well with the world.
Key groups involved in the Silent War include the
Shadow Office, Bureau 12, the Midnight Order and the
Thorncroft Foundation.
AGE OF STEEL WITHOUT
ELDRITCH HORROR
Some people might not want to run Age of Steel
with the eldritch horror element of the Coiled
Ones. That’s perfectly fine; removing the Coiled
Ones and their machinations is quite easy and
adds a new slant on the world and factions within.
Without the Coiled Ones driving the conflicts
between the Great Nations the world of Neres
becomes a lot more bleak. Now it is mankind’s
greedy and warlike nature driving the Silent
War, rather than an outside alien influence. The
shadowy government agencies are now fully
understanding of what their doing, rather than the
puppets of the Coiled Ones.
Ansler without the Coiled Ones becomes a
very different character. No longer did he enact
The World of Neres
his Solution for the good of humanity. Ansler
murdered thousands to save millions in an act of
calculated genocide. Worse still, he could return
at any moment to do so again.
22
BUREAU 12
Bureau 12 is the codename of the Haldoran Secret
Service. Created in 1184FK the Bureau’s initial purpose
was to combat the growing number of spies known
to be operating in the Kingdom sent by the fledgling
Litvian Empire, the Republic and the Theocracy.
Over the years the Bureau expanded to incorporate
its own spy networks as well as units of soldiers
schooled in ‘uncivil warfare’; a polite term for
assassination and guerilla warfare.
With the start of the Great War, Bureau 12’s services
suddenly came under high demand, with the number
of suspected Litvian and Keshi spies skyrocketing
and paranoia at an all-time high. Similarly their other
skills -assassination and irregular warfare- were also
in demand. As their budget increased, Bureau 12
became more and more powerful with hundreds of
agents and authority rivaling that of most generals.
Although supposedly a secret, Bureau 12 became
well-known to the general public of the Third
Kingdom, with agents appearing in wartime pulp
stories and radio plays where they were portrayed
as dashing men and women of mystery and action,
defending the Kingdom from the evils of the Southern
Coalition.
As the Great War ended with Ansler’s Solution the
Bureau chiefs suddenly saw their power and authority
diminishing as Neres moved back into peacetime.
Eager to retain the life they had become used to,
some of the Bureau chiefs began looking for new
threats to justify keeping their departmental budgets.
Others, driven to paranoia during the war (or by the
influence of the Coiled Ones) continued to see threats
everywhere and pressed to retain their spy networks.
Although romanticized by the people of the Third
Kingdom, the truth is that most agents are selected
for their callous natures and unflinching loyalty to King
and Nation. They will stop at nothing to eliminate what
they see as threats to the Third Kingdom, even if those
threats are fellow Haldorans.
THE SHADOW OFFICE
The Shadow Office (or, in Litvian, Schatten Büro) is a
covert military unit created during the Great War to
handle espionage and intelligence. Created from a
number of elite military units, the Office was given the
remit of conducting behind-enemy-lines raids, sowing
terror and disrupting the Northern Alliance chain of
command through assassination and misinformation.
Clad in black and often wearing concealing face
masks, Shadow Office members became ill omens
to the Southern Coalition troops, who dubbed them
‘spooks’. Seeing a spook in or near a trench was
considered bad luck, and all manner of military
superstitions grew up about them. The Shadow Office
did little to dissuade these legends, seeing them as
adding to their fearsome reputation.
Following the Great War the Shadow Office become
the de facto Intelligence Service of the Litvian Empire, people of the Theocracy has caused a number of
removing themselves from the military hierarchy and
becoming part of the Imperial Government to increase their lives and the lives of their family.
their influence and authority. Many dissenters who
argued against a military unit becoming part of the
government have mysteriously vanished.
The Shadow Office have a large number of former
Ansler Institute members on their payroll and
as a result are equipped with cutting edge and
experimental weapons, armour and devices. Some
spooks continue to wear the black trench coats and
obscuring masks from the war, whereas others are
more subtle. However, regardless of appearances, the occasion. Members of the Foundation have, in the
Shadow Office retains the sinister reputation
cultivated during the war and, if rumours are true, it is Shadow Office and Bureau 12 by helping rival spies
well deserved.
THE MIDNIGHT ORDER
The Midnight Order are the well-known secret police
of the Theocracy. For decades the Midnight Order
were nothing more than a small group of priests who
chastised individuals who broke church laws such as
smoking tobacco or working on holy days. However
in the decade leading up to the Great War, during
a period of increased piety and religious fervor, the
Midnight Order began to increase their authority and
powers until they became the secret police of the
Theocracy, reporting directly to the Arch Prelate.
When the Theocracy entered the Great War to assist
their allies the Third Kingdom, the Midnight Order
assigned ‘Church Officers’ to every military company.
These were Order members possessing military
rank equal to an officer and who were responsible
for ensuring every member of the company adhered
to Church and National beliefs. Church Officers had
the authority to summarily execute any soldiers
they believed exhibited cowardice, incompetence
or heretical beliefs. They were also in charge of unit
morale, although most believed that daily prayers and
intimidation fulfilled this requirement.
Due to their presence in both the military and the
police the Midnight Order had incredible levels of
authority and control during and after the Great
War. Nowadays they are the sole police force of the
Theocracy, policing both religious and traditional
crimes. They also have hundreds of military personnel
and a large network of spies and informants both
overseas and within the Theocracy.
The Midnight Order is greatly feared by both the other
Nations and the people of the Theocracy themselves.
Their rise to power and authoritarian views concerns
many foreign diplomats and their iron grip on the
formerly loyal citizens to flee the country in fear of
Members of the Thorncroft Foundation are especially
concerned by rumours that key members of the
Midnight Order are puppets of the Coiled Ones, or
even knowing worshippers.
THE THORNCROFT FOUNDATION
Although a civilian organization and ostensibly
an ‘explorers club’ the Thorncroft Foundation has
involved itself in the Silent War on more than one
past, thwarted the plans of the Midnight Order,
escape or hiding former Ansler Institute members
from the other intelligence agencies.
With offices in almost every nation and members
scattered across the globe, the Foundation is
excellently placed to intervene in the plans of the
other agencies. Orders are sent to Foundation
members by telegraph and safe houses arranged at
a moment’s notice. The Foundation has significant
funds; enough to finance missions and purchase the
latest equipment for its members.
Lord Thorncroft is keen to stop all three intelligence
agencies, who he believes are so riddled with agents
of the Coiled Ones that they are no longer working in
their Nation’s best interests. Whether Lord Thorncroft
is right in his beliefs or not, he has involved himself
and his allies in the Silent War and has begun to
attract the attention of the other three intelligence
agencies. How they will react is still to be seen.
OTHER AGENCIES
There are, of course, other agencies involved in
the Silent War. The Free Nations have a fledgling
The World of Neres
intelligence department but currently they are trying
to remain unnoticed and are yet to fully comprehend
the depth and severity of the Silent War. Still, they
have dispatched agents to other nations and have
been involved in more than one skirmish to date.
Kesh prefers to hire freelance agents, rather than
having its own dedicated spy networks, but even
23
 so it has dabbled more than once in the Silent War.
Currently a number of government departments
within the Republic are lobbying to create an
intelligence department, but they are being resisted
by the Assembly for unknown reasons.
Lastly there are a small number of criminal
organisations and free agents who have become
involved in the Silent War, whether knowingly or not.
By making deals, accepting payments or just bad
luck, these people become caught up in the web of
intrigue between nations. Few such individuals survive
for long, however.
NERES GAZETTEER
Below is a more detailed look at each of the Great and
Minor Nations.
THE GREAT NATIONS
The Great Nations consist of the Haldoran Third
Kingdom, the Litvian Empire, the Theocratic Empire of
Prynne, the Republic of Kesh and the Free Nations of
Kijani.
THE HALDORAN THIRD KINGDOM
Haldorans are a proud and noble people, with a long
history and a rich culture. However they are also
acutely aware that their empire is slowly fading and
that soon younger nations such as the Litvians and
Kijani may replace them as the most powerful nation
on Neres.
The World of Neres
24
Culture
The Haldoran Third kingdom is a nation steeped in
history and tradition. Although Haldora’s power is
in decline the people still remember the previous
centuries when the Kingdom’s Empire extended
across the globe.
Culturally Haldora is still quite feudal with a rigid class
system; all citizens are either of the Noble Class, the
Merchant Class or the Working Class. Although in
recent years the importance of the class system has
begun to wane, most Haldorans are constantly aware
of their place in society and have been raised to
believe that they shouldn’t aspire to anything seen as
‘beyond their class’. A member of the Working Class
will seldom aspire to an academic life of research, for
example. Similarly a member of the Nobility will never
feel truly comfortable lowering themselves to manual
labour. While restrictive, many Haldorans see the
class system as comforting; everyone has a role and
knows their place.
The Kingdom has a long history of warfare, both
internally and with other nations, and many Haldorans
are martially inclined. Insults are settled with swords
or fists in honour duels. Such duels are still perfectly
legal in Haldora, providing they follow legal process
and are correctly witnessed, although they are rarely
fought to the death.
Art is highly prized in Haldora, as is literature.
Haldorans are very fond of tragic romance as a theme
for their stories and poems. Both writing and painting
are traditionally a pursuit of the Noble class but in
recent decades a number of famous painters, poets
and writers have emerged from the Merchant and
even Working classes.
Politics
The Third Kingdom is an Imperial Monarchy; the ruler
is both King or Queen and Emperor or Empress.
The Third Kingdom was founded and is still ruled by
the Aurelian bloodline. The current High King is David
Aurelian III, who ascended to the throne following the
death of his father, Archibald IV, whose assassination
sparked the Great War. The High King rules absolutely
but is advised by a Royal Council of lords who help
him decree laws, debate foreign relations and decide
how taxes are spent.
Politically Haldora is divided into six duchies, with
each duchy overseen by a Duke or Duchess. Each
duchy is further divided into several counties. Laws
are dictated by the King and his Royal Council and
passed onto the Dukes and Duchesses who may
choose to keep the law as written or add their own
addendums to apply within their duchy.
Modern affectations are beginning to creep into
the otherwise feudal system with the introduction
of the Royal Intelligence Office; a police force with
royal authority to investigate crimes across duchies
regardless of local laws.
Currently the Third Kingdom enjoys good relations
with its wartime ally the Theocratic Empire of Prynne,
with trade flourishing with the northern nation since
the end of the Great War. Because of this a number of
Theocracy expatriates can be found living in Haldoran
cities and small elements of Theocracy culture, such
as their love of vodka, have become fashionable in
Haldoran culture recently.
Haldora has had a long and complex history with
Kijani. Both nations are warlike and have been both
enemies and allies for extended periods in the past.
During the Great War Kijani mercenaries fought on
both sides, something the Haldorans have not yet
forgotten. The political relationship is currently tense,
but trade continues between the two nations.
Relations with the Litvian Empire are frosty at best,
but trade is slowly beginning to return to pre-war
levels. However Haldora always has one eye on their
former enemies and has invested no small amount
of money in spies, information networks and any
other countermeasures they believe they can slip
past Ansler (if he’s even still watching). No Haldoran is
quick to forget that Ansler was Litvian-born, despite
the fact that he killed more Litvians than he did
Haldorans with his Peace Ray.
People
Haldora is also divided into two distinct ethnicities;
Highlanders and Lowlanders.
Highlanders, who hail from the north of Haldora,
consider themselves to be the ‘true’ Haldorans. It was
in the Highlands that the First and Second Kingdoms
were founded and where the Third Kingdom has
its seat of power. Highlanders are reserved, cynical
and stoic. They have a dry sense of humour and are
renowned for their acerbic wit.
Lowlanders are the people from the wide open plains
of southern Haldora. They are a relaxed, friendly
people with the same stoic outlook as Highlanders
but much more inclined to laugh, sing and carouse.
Lowlanders make friends quickly and hold grudges
for a long time.
Although both Highlanders and Lowlanders see
each other as rivals either will instantly put aside their
quarrels when faced with outsiders. All Haldorans
are fiercely proud of their homeland and will defend
any slight against another Haldoran -Highlander or
Lowlander- vigorously. They are not a bloodthirsty
people but few foreigners will pick a fight with
a Haldoran if they know what’s good for them; a
Haldoran never backs down from a slight to their
honour, perceived or otherwise.
Both Highlanders and Lowlanders are typically tall
and tend towards thinner builds with hair colours
ranging from black to brown and occasionally fire-red.
Highlanders tend to have pale skin and blue or green
eyes, whereas Lowlanders more commonly have
ruddy skin and brown eyes.
Fashion in Haldora often has a martial twist. Coats cut
to reflect dueling jackets are popular for both men
and women and other military affectations such as
epaulettes and military-style caps are also in fashion
following the end of the Great War. Moustaches are
popular for men, and it is the fashion for hair to be
worn short. The current fashion for women is to cut
their hair into bobs.
History
The current calendar of Neres runs from the founding
of the First Kingdom. All dates are recorded as FK
(First Kingdom). The current date is 1280FK; 1280
years since the founding of the First Kingdom.
The First Kingdom was founded in 0FK by Queen
Marissa of Hengis, who united a number of Highland
clans. The walled cliff-top town where she ruled from
became known as Queensport and has remained the
capital of the Haldoran Kingdoms ever since.
The First Kingdom lasted for 208 years until a terrible
plague ravaged the land, decimating the people and
leaving so many dead that the plague reeves resorted
to burning bodies in the streets. Records tell how one
of these fires lead to the destruction of Queensport
when it burned out of control and there were too few
people left to extinguish it.
For 300 years Haldora was a lawless land of tribes and
The World of Neres
clans until a chieftain claiming ancestry to Marissa
united the people once more and founded the
Second Kingdom in 510FK.
The Second Kingdom lasted for just over 200 years
before collapsing in civil war.
The Haldoran Third Kingdom was founded in 942FK
when a warrior named Aurelian lead a huge crusade
25
 across the Highlands and into parts of the Lowlands,
uniting the various tribes, clans and cities into the
largest Kingdom Haldora had ever seen.
Crowning himself King, Aurelian lead his people into
an age of reason, discovery and lasting peace.
In the 1080s Haldora began to explore the rest of
Neres, sending ever-more sophisticated sailing ships
to map the world and trade with the people they
found overseas. The Haldoran expansion began
shortly after this, with parts of Kijani, Alashambra and
Vulkovia joining the Kingdom (by choice or otherwise).
During this period Haldora began it’s long-running
feud with the Ombombwian Kingdom.
Some people have begun suggesting the site should
either be torn down and redeveloped or turned into a
monument to the lives lost in the War.
There are also rumours that the ruins are ‘haunted’
by the people murdered by Ansler’s Peace Ray.
Tales tell of ghostly apparitions walking the ruined
streets; shades of the dead citizens of Durapol who
apparently reenact the morning of their last day
on Neres.
Haldoran Names
Male names:
Alfred, Avery, Cyril, Douglas, Edward, Archibald,
Felix, Garrett, Harold, Arthur

The most recent historically-significant event in Female names:

Haldoran history was the assassination of King
Archibald IV in 1270FK. This event triggered a
sequence of events that lead to the Great War.
Geography
Haldora is an expansive continent, covering a huge
range of climates and environments. The northern
Highlands are covered in thick forests, rolling
heathlands and towering, snow capped mountains.
It is a land of harsh, stark beauty. The southern
Lowlands are home to sprawling verdant plains and
arid prairies that stretch for hundreds of miles.
Queensport is the capital of the Third Kingdom.
Located on the east coast of the Highlands,
Queensport has existed for over 600 years. The city is
sprawling and crowded, with numerous ivy covered
buildings dating back to the Second Kingdom. The
edges of the city are surrounded by gated slums
where the poor are shut away and kept out of sight.
It is in these areas that most heavy industry can be
found, further adding to the misery of the working
poor with the belching fumes and billowing smoke.
Arlette, Bridget, Edith, Polly, Silvia, Miriam, Audrey,
Beatrix, Rowena, Dawn
Surnames:
Blackwood, Carter, Tailor, Smythe, Cooper,
Highcliff, Brown, Jones, Williams, Clark
THE LITVIAN EMPIRE
The Litvian Empire is a diverse nation of dozens of
cultures and countries that all come together under
a single flag. Regardless of which country they were
born in, all citizens of the Empire adhere to ‘Litvian
Culture’ and strive to aid the advancement of their
nation. However, some Litvians go too far in their
quest for progress, sacrificing too much of themselves
and others.

Durapol was a sizable town in the east Lowlands

known for its growing industrial works. During the
Great War the town ballooned in size when it became
the site of several airship and biplane manufacturers.
It also became the home of Haldora’s Airwing factory,
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producing huge super-bombers capable of flying

between Haldora and Litvic to launch bombing raids.
The city was destroyed by Ansler as part of his
‘Solution’, claiming over 90,000 lives in a single
moment of cataclysmic destruction.
Nowadays the site is a crumbling ruin; a bowl of fused
glass and melted steel that stands as silent testament
to Ansler’s power and the day the War ended.

26
Culture
Due to the diverse range of nations that make up the
Empire, Litvic is a cosmopolitan nation. Although all
member states embrace ‘Litvian Culture’ they each
have their own traditions and heritages. Litvians
embrace these differences, believing that their
diversity gives them great strength.
Litvian children are taught that anyone, regardless of
their birth or social standing, can aspire to greatness. A
beggar can become a captain of industry; an engineer
can become Emperor. Litvian society embraces this
belief and it is a common theme in their novels, plays
and silent movies.
Regardless of their homeland, all Litvians believe
that technology and scientific research are the keys
to the future and the cure of all of society’s ills. Of all
the Great Nations, the Litvian Empire has devoted the
most time and money to schools, research centers
and engineering colleges. Due to this, most Litvians
are familiar with technology and many have basic
engineering skills and understanding.
However, this has also lead to widespread
industrialisation of Litvic, with huge factory complexes
sprawling across the landscape in places, belching
choking fumes into the sky.
By and large art is not highly prized in the Empire,
although there is a school of painters called the
‘Observists’ gaining increasing praise for their
technical artwork of machinery. Litvians love literature,
however, and every home will have at least a small
bookcase of novels and technical manuals. Popular
Litvian fiction tends to be either murder mysteries or
‘weird tales’ involving fantastic science and voyages
into the unknown.
Politics
The Litvian Empire is ruled by the Emperor, advised
by a council known as the Alterrat formed from the
rulers of each member nation, which is lead by the
Lord Chamberlain.
The title of Emperor is, in theory, an elected position
but to date it has only passed from parent to child
within the Drakonoff family, the ruling family of Litvic.
The current Emperor is Kasimir von Drachenberg,
the third Drakonoff Emperor, who has held the title
since the death of his father 20 years ago. Although
the Lord Chamberlain is an elected official chosen
by the members of the Alterrat from amongst their
number, since the creation of the Empire 134 years
ago the post has always been occupied by the
ruler of Astmark and their descendants. The current
Chamberlain is the young Queen Emilie of Astmark.
Each country within the Empire adheres to Imperial
Law, a set of edicts created by the Emperor and the
Alterrat and enforced by each country’s own police
force. Most countries also have their own set of local
laws which visitors must adhere to in addition to
Imperial Law. However Imperial Law states that no
local law can supplant or overrule Imperial Law. The
sanctity of Imperial Law is overseen by the imperial
police force known as the Aufsicht. Members of the
Aufsicht are recruited from across the Empire and
they have authority to enter any country and oversee
any legal matter.
Each country must contribute a number of men and
women each year to the Imperial Guard; the standing
armed forces of the Empire. Following the Great War
the Imperial Guard has shrunk in size but increased
its spending on weapons research and development.
Rumours abound of simulacra soldiers, new types of
battle rigs and advanced Anslertech weapons. The
shadowy government agency known only as the
‘Shadow Office’ are apparently one of the key groups
driving the Litvian Empire’s research into new and
deadly weapons.
The Empire has strong relations with Kesh thanks to
their wartime alliance. The two countries share a land
border and so trade between them has flourished
since the end of the Great War. If there is one area
the two allies cannot agree on, however, it is religion.
Most Litvians are disregardful of organised religion,
being strong proponents of scientific theory over the
traditions of faith. This has on more than one occasion
caused friction between the two nations, although
to date the incidents have been smoothed over by
diplomats shortly afterwards.
The Empire enjoys good relations with Kijani, despite
the fact that Kijani fought for both the Southern
Coalition and the Northern Alliance. The Litvians, ever
pragmatic, have recognised that trade with the Free
Nations is more profitable than enmity and so airships
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and seaplanes regularly cross the Median Ocean to
Kijani laden with Litvian trade goods and return filled
with gold, diamonds and other treasures.
Relations between Litvic and Haldora are,
understandably, still frosty at best. Trade has begun to
cross the ocean once more, but the airship captains
who fly to Haldora are closely scrutinised by the
27
 Aufsicht for any signs of spying. Not that Litvic is
above sending its own spies, of course.
People
The Litvian Empire is made up of 14 countries allied
under the flag of Litvic, the largest and most powerful
country in the Vulkovian subcontinent. The constituent
members of the Empire are (in descending order of
size): Litvic, Astmark, Yalgir, Riland, Arnfort, Hamahan,
Jhen, Celgrad, Lirdansta, Algaria, Driftport, Yanmire,
Ferrise and Juntabad.
Native Litvians are jovial, fond of beer and singing but
are also renowned for being mechanically skilled,
whether with carved wooden clocks or hulking
automata. They are usually of average height and with
healthy, stocky builds. Hair colour ranges from brown
to black, but blondes are not uncommon.
Astmarkians hail from an ancient warrior culture, and
are almost as fond of honour duels as the Haldorans.
They are a grim people renowned for cooking spicy
food and living high up in the mountains of Vulkovia
Minor. Astmarkians are almost exclusively pale-
skinned and dark-haired, with hawkish noses and
heavy brows. Astmarkian men favour long hair and
long drooping moustaches and the women grow their
hair long and tie it into complex braids.
Yalgir is an eastern nation and is home to a tall, fair-
skinned people who are natural sailors with a great
love of the sea. Yalgiri are friendly and gregarious,
but with a sense of humour that few non-Yalgiri
understand.
Riland sits on the border of Vulkovia Minor and Kesh
and enjoys a warm, fertile climate. Rilanders are an
olive-skinned people who are passionate about a
great many things including food, wine and romance.
Rilanders can shift moods with a blink of an eye, flying
from spouting praise to hurling insults and back again
in seconds.
Something that is deeply embedded in the psyche
of all Litvians, regardless of the country of their birth,
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is the fact that Ansler was born in their Nation. This
collective guilt is a new occurrence but shows no
signs of vanishing any time soon. It manifests as a
caution around Anslertech and its creators; while the
Empire is a melting pot of scientific advancement and
discovery, it is tempered by caution and prudence.
28
History
The Litvian Empire was founded 134 years ago in
1146FK. Before this each of the member countries
existed as independent nations, sometimes allies,
other times rivals. The Empire grew out of an alliance
between Litvic and Astmark created when King Jorge
of Litvic married Queen Liliana of Astmark and joined
the bloodlines of their two kingdoms.
Shortly afterwards Riland and Yalgir joined the allied
kingdoms, putting an end to the border wars that had
plagued Vulkovia for centuries. The alliance between
the four kingdoms grew and evolved into the Empire.
As the Empire grew several smaller city-states such
as Driftport, Yanmire, Ferrise and Juntabad joined,
until all of Vulkovia was united under the flag of the
Empire.
In 1250FK the Empire founded the Litvian Science
Academy with the intention of driving forwards
the progress of technology and invention. The
Academy quickly hired Professor Johann Ansler to
be its figurehead and for nine years Ansler lead the
Academy, creating countless groundbreaking devices
until he left to found his independent Ansler Institute.
During the Great War the Science Academy was
lead by Doctor Julia Weisman, one of Ansler’s former
pupils. Under her leadership the Academy was
responsible for a number of scientific advancements,
such as the self-guided rockets use to deadly effect
towards the end of the war.
Following the Great War Litvic is keen to recapture its
lead in scientific advancement, although it is careful
to keep an eye on it’s scientists lest they turn into
another Ansler. The Litvian Science Academy is now
striving to undo the reputation it gained during the
war by working on medical technology and labour-
saving devices, rather than mustard gas and weapons.
Geography
Litvic is geographically the largest member of the
Empire. Litvic is a country of dark pine forests and
alpine pastures, although more and more of the
country is slowly being developed into industrialised
cities. It’s capital is Eisenstadt, which is also the capital
of the Empire.
Astmark is the next largest constituent of the Empire.
It is a highly mountainous country but home to
beautiful forests and towering, ancient castles. The
weather is almost as grim as the people who live
there, with snowstorms and heavy rain. The capital
city of Astmark is Holbazt.
Yalgir is a coastal country north of Astmark. Like
Astmark it is mountainous but features many fjords
and lochs that are filled with fish and whales. Yalgir’s
capital is the bustling seaport Sodenburg, situated on
the western coast.
Riland lies to the south of Litvic and is a warm, fertile
lowland covered in cypress trees and olive groves.
The fertile soil of Riland has earned it the moniker
‘Litvics Larder’, a title the Rilanders both relish and
begrudge in equal measure. The capital of Riland is
Timpali, a sprawling city filled with markets.
The capital of both Litvic and the Litvian Empire is
Eisenstadt, located on the western coast of Litvic.
It is also the capital of technological advancement
in the empire, with dozens of research stations and
institutes. The city is a marvel of engineering and
architecture, with towering skyscrapers and raised
railways threading between the buildings. Simulacra
are commonplace, carrying goods and delivering
telegrams and even driving automobiles in places.
However the scientific advancement has come at the
cost of choking by pollution and a decline in moral
standards, with many shady back alleys
In the southern flatlands of Litvic, near the border with
Riland, lie the ruins of Mirhast.
Once a thriving factory town, Mirhast was chosen as
the site for the Coalition’s secretive self-guided rocket
program during the later stages of the Great War.
Designed to travel huge distances carrying powerful
warheads, the self-guided rockets inflicted terrible
devastation on Haldoran and Theocracy targets alike.
Mirhast was destroyed by Ansler as part of his
“Solution” killing almost 100,000 people. All that now
remains of the town is a bowl of fused glass.
The Litvian government has declared the entire area
is restricted and erected a fence around the ruins.
Rumours persist that it is now the site of a secret
research base attempting to reverse-engineer the
Peace Ray.
Driftport is a small city on the south-west coast of
Litvic, close to the border of Riland. An independent
city state until it joined the Empire, Driftport sits on a
straight known as the Drift and has a reputation for
being one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Driftport was a major manufacturing plant during the
Great War and the influx of revenue lead to a period of
massive expansion that then turned into an economic
collapse following the war when people, drawn to
the city by the numerous manufacturers, left for the
exact same reason. Pollution has stained the towering
skyscrapers black and the rampant unemployment
has lead to gang culture and organised crime
becoming rife.
Because of the extreme lawlessness the city is ideal
for smugglers wishing to offload contraband and has
an extensive black market where almost anything can
be bought, for the right price.
Litvian names
Male names:
Dieter, Gerhart, Klaus, Hans, Werner, Kurt, Horst,
Ernst, Erich, Otto
Female names:
Ursula, Ilse, Hilde, Edith, Margot, Gisela, Erna,
Anna, Eva, Lotte
Surnames:
von Hocheturm, Weber, Schneider, Becker, von
Weissburg, von Flusstadt, Koch, Bauer, Kruger, Hahn
Rilander names
Note: Rilanders often have multiple first names,
usually one chosen by their mother and another
chosen by their father.
Male names:
Marco, Francesco, Luca, Matteo, Fabio, Nico,
Kosta, Manis, Angelo, Stelios
Female names:
Maria, Sofia, Nefeli, Demi, Camilla, Carlotta,
Sabrina, Ana, Paula, Silvia
Surnames:
Amplio, di Moda, di Aspro, Brusco, Ormanni,
Manganiello, Ibarra, Vasquez, Dias, Calvez
Yalgiri names
Male names:
Johan, Jesper, Edvin, Isak, Arvid, Lexsander, Viktor,
Emil, Oskar, Rasmus
Female names:
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Linnea, Hanna, Johanna, Tilda, Wilma, Alva, Lovisa,
Kajsa, Nora, Lina
Surnames:
Johansonn, Tildadatter, Akerlund, Sandstrom,
Holmberg, Lindgren, Modig, Skold, Eliasson,
Elsadatter
29

Astmarkian names
Male names:
Tamas, Balint, Roland, Laslo, Marton, Tibor, Andris,
Gabor, Akos, Gergo
Female names:
Eszter, Reka, Dora, Petra, Fanni, Dori, Lilla, Bianka,
Noemi, Kata
Surnames:
Eleszem, Szigoru, Eroskar, Balog, Kovacs, Zabo,
Orosz, Bakal, Malik, Tvardov
THE THEOCRATIC EMPIRE OF PRYNNE
The people of the Theocratic Empire are an austere,
thoughtful folk who treasure family and are guided by
their faith in the Divine Emperor. While many outsiders
see them as simple and dour, the Prynnese have a
deep and vivid history. The growing influence of the
Church’s secret police is a worry to many Prynnese
following the Great War; in recent years the Midnight
Order have become powerful indeed.
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Culture
Prynnese culture is, unsurprisingly, based around
faith and religion. From birth the people are raised to
believe they are the chosen people of Neres; they are
the followers of the Divine Emperor and by his grace
they alone are blessed to live as the Great Spirits
intended. This might sound to an outsider that life in
30
the Theocracy is dull and pious, however beyond the
rituals and daily obeisance there is a surprising depth
and vitality to Prynnese culture.
The branch of the Muldoori faith followed by the
Theocracy, Kadirism, encourages daily prayer, up
to three times a day. Morning and noon prayers are
often conducted in the home or elsewhere, but
evening prayers are typically conducted at the local
temple. After the evening prayers most Prynnese
stay at the temple where a communal evening meal
is then served. Families mingle and socialise during
this time and business is even conducted. These
evening gatherings, known in Prynnese as bhakash,
are often the highlight of the day for many people
and can last the entire evening. It is possible to leave
the bhakash after eating, to return home or attend to
other business.
The final bhakash of every month is known as the su-
bhakash and lasts the entire afternoon. Most people
are excused from work for the su-bhakash. The event
is primarily a religious observance, with several hour-
long prayers and readings from the Kadirist holy texts,
but there are also several meals interspersed with
the prayers. Marriages are traditionally performed at
the su-bhakash, with several marriages in the same
day common. Couples married in the same day
often socialise with each other afterwards and it is
considered very good fortune for the children of such
couples to marry.
The culture of Prynne has two distinct roots. One lies
in the traditions and beliefs of the Muldoori Exiles who
brought the Divine Emperor north; the other in the
history of the native Prynnese tribes who were united
by the Exiles.
A number of substances, foods and beverages are
forbidden by the Muldoori holy texts, such as pork,
tobacco and various drugs, but one thing that is not
forbidden is alcohol. The Prynnese are particularly
fond of vodka, a spirit brewed from potatoes that
has become quite popular overseas in recent years,
especially in Haldora. It is very common for vodka to
be consumed at bhakash, although becoming overly
intoxicated is considered offensive.
Politics
The Theocratic Empire is ruled by the Divine Emperor
who is the absolute ruler of the land, decrees all
laws and is also head of the state church. The Divine
Emperor passes his decrees to the Arch Prelate and
the council of High Prelates who then disseminate it to
the people of the Empire.
When a Divine Emperor dies the Kadirist holy texts tell
that his soul is immediately reincarnated in the body
of a newborn infant related to the previous Emperor.
As such the Imperial family is massive and sprawling,
with dozens of branches and scions. When a current
Emperor begins to show signs of age or ill health a rash
of pregnancies follow as the various bloodlines of the
Imperial family rush to conceive the next host of the
Divine Emperor. When the Emperor finally dies the Arch
Prelate and his council take all babies born within the
next week and study them for signs of holiness. Once
the next Divine Emperor is found the Arch Prelate then
governs until the child has reached 15 years of age at
which point they are crowned as Emperor.
The current incarnation of the Divine Emperor is Nazar
IV, who is in his late 60s. Recently the Emperor’s
health has begun to decline and already his family
are beginning preparations for his succession. Nazar’s
Arch Prelate is the venerable but politically-powerful
Samira Yelenova. There are numerous rumours
that Arch Prelate Yelenova is the true ruler of the
Theocracy, and that Nazar is really her puppet. Such
rumours are whispered with extreme care due to the
Midnight Order.
The Midnight Order are the Church’s secret police and
are greatly feared by the population of Prynne. Before
the Great War the Order was only a small police
organisation with limited power that mostly extended
to chastising people who broke Church law. During
the Great War the Order extended its reach, becoming
a paramilitary organisation with hundreds of members
and thousands of informants and spies.
Now the Order is the de facto police force of the
Theocracy, with powers to enter citizen’s homes and
cross any border in the name of the Arch Prelate and
the Divine Emperor.
The Theocracy is divided into provinces, each of
which is overseen by a High Prelate. The Prelates are
both religious and political leaders who report directly
to the Arch Prelate in Sivosk. The Arch Prelate, as well
as assisting the Divine Emperor, also oversees Sivosk.
The Theocracy maintain good relations with their
wartime allies the Haldorans, although in recent years
the relationship has become somewhat strained with
the increasing power of the Midnight Order and the
restrictions they place on international trade.
The Theocracy consider the Keshi to be their mortal
enemies and have enacted several trade embargoes
with the rival nation. As yet things have not escalated
beyond political jousting but many fear the two
countries may be the first to reignite the Great War
and bring about Ansler’s wrath.
Kijani and Litvic seem to be beneath the Theocracy’s
notice. Trade has resumed with both nations, although
the Midnight Order have taken a special interest in
Litvic, specifically the whereabouts of Ansler and any
plans for the Peace Ray he might have left behind.
People
The Prynnese are a devout people dedicated to their
beliefs. They are dour, pious and dependable, but also
capable of rare moments of wry humour and quick
smiles. A common Theocratic saying is “Let’s not be
hasty”, and many Prynnese live accordingly, always
considering their actions before doing anything,
even talking. This often leads to Prynnese being
stereotyped as slow-witted or stupid, but it is often far
from the truth.
A common Prynnese belief is that ‘hardship is nothing
to the faithful’. As such the Prynnese will endure great
hardships without complaint, and almost expect
such hardships. Many outsiders often see this as
pessimism, however it is more of a religious outlook.
By suffering the Prynnese believe they enrich their
souls; overcoming an obstacle is more of a reward
than avoiding it.
Another common trait of Prynnese is their unwavering
loyalty to those they consider their friends and family.
Once a Prynne considers someone a friend they will
take any slight against that person as if it were made
against them and fight tooth and nail to defend them.
By and large most Prynnese are tall and muscular;
the men sport thick beards and moustaches, and the
women plait their hair into long braids that sometimes
reach their knees.
Evidence of the Muldoori exiles’ bloodline is still
apparent in many Theocracy families, although
diluted by the more northern features of the people
they interbred with. The holy Imperial family is one of
the purer Muldoori bloodlines, retaining the copper
The World of Neres
skin and dark hair of their southern ancestors.
Most Prynnese have a patronymic or matronymic
family name based on the name of an ancestor.
There is no bias towards either gender, generally the
ancestor did something significant enough to have a
scion named after them. The name of the ancestor is
appended by -vich for males or -ova for females. For
31
 example, Pieter’s ancestor was Vasilie so his surname
is Vasilievich. Samira’s surname is Yelenova, for her
great-grandmother Yelena.
History
The Theocracy was founded 332 years ago by a group
of religious exiles from the Muldoori Empire who were
banished from their own lands due to the claims of
their leader, Birak Bir, that his infant son Kadir was the
reincarnation of Mandus. Travelling north, the exiles
sought out a land they could call their own. Cutting
a bloody swathe through what would become Litvic,
the holy warriors arrived in the frozen plains of Prynne,
where they began a 100-year long war of unification,
in which they united the scattered tribes who lived
on the steppes and taught them the values of the
Muldoori faith.
Eventually the last tribe fell under the control of the
fledgling church and the Theocratic Empire of Prynne
was founded in 948FK.
For decades the newly-formed Theocracy attempted
to return to the crumbling Muldoori Empire and unify
their two nations, but the remnants of the Muldoori
resisted. Eventually the Republic of Kesh was founded
in 972FK, forever rejecting the Theocracy.
When the Haldoran King was assassinated in Nidec
the Theocracy were hesitant to lend the Haldorans
aid, despite their long standing alliance and the
proximity of Nidec to the southern border of Prynne.
Slowly however Haldora convinced the Theocracy
to allow troops to land on their shores and move into
Nidec via their borders. Eventually Prynne found itself
fighting alongside Haldora, creating the Northern
Alliance.
In 1277FK the Midnight Order enacted the so called
‘revision’; dismantling the previous police force and
replacing it with their own Special Police. Since that
time many Prynnese citizens have begun to worry that
the order now has too much power and authority. The
Arch Prelate now gives more radio broadcasts than
the Divine Emperor and there are rumours that the
Arch Prelate now runs the Theocracy.
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Geography
Prynne is a very large country with a variety of
climates and terrains but by and large tends towards
colder weather and flat grass plains. Towards the
north-east of the country there are expansive
mountain ranges known as the Chernesk. A number
of wide, cold rivers flow from the Chernesk towards
32
the sea to the west and south and many of Prynne’s
settlements can be found along their length.
To the south of the country are dense forests that
border on northern Litvic and the ruins of what was
once Nidec. It is here that the fiercest fighting took
place during the Great War and some areas still bear
the scars of war. There are still dozens of fortified
outposts, watch stations and even defensive walls
left from the Great War and many of them are still
manned, if only by skeleton crews.
Sivosk is the capital of the Theocracy and is home to
both the state church and the Imperial Palace. It lies
on the west coast and is a city of towering baroque
churches and beautiful carved frescos. Although
Sivosk is a thriving modern city it still retains an old-
world charm. There a no skyscrapers and very few
factories and as such the sky remains clear of smog.
Such eyesores are kept far away from the holy palace
of the Divine Emperor, in lesser cities.
The very north of Prynne connects to the northern
ice cap and is home to wandering tribes of nomads
known as the Alyût. Although nominally part of the
Theocracy, the Alyût are often seen as second-
class citizens at best. They are the remnants of the
pre-Unification tribes and see the Theocracy as a
tyrannical government. The Alyût follow a more
agrarian way of life, living in seal-skin yurts and hunting
whales and polar bears for their meat and ivory.
Theocracy names
Note: Due to Muldoori exile bloodlines still
present in the Theocracy, a small percentage of
the population have Muldoori names. Below are
a list of native Prynnese names, but Theocracy
characters could equally have names inspired by
the Kesh names list.
Male names:
Sergey, Vladimir, Sasha, Ivan, Oleg, Pavel, Pieter,
Alexey, Kostya, Ludo
Female names:
Nastya, Dasha, Maria, Olda, Alina, Katya, Tanya,
Yana, Svetlana, Lera
Surnames:
Rehanavich, Olganova, Kuznetsov, Vasiliev,
Petrov, Sokolov, Bendlin, Verenich, Galygin, Salko
THE REPUBLIC OF KESH
The Keshi are a people with a great love of personal
freedom, faith and trade. With a long history and
complex culture, the Republic is often seen as a rival
to the Third Kingdom. Many people believe that the
Keshi are too lax with their morals, seeing them as
covetous and untrustworthy.
Culture
Similarly to the Theocracy, life in Kesh is centered
around their religion. The Keshi variant of the Muldoori
Faith teaches that all men and women contain a
fragment of the divine. Because of this, all men and
women are equal and should never have cause to
negatively affect the life of another. This has lead
to a society in which great emphasis is placed on
personal freedom. While outsiders sometimes see
this as meaning there is no order in the Republic, that
is far from the truth. There is considerable structure to
Keshi society.
Unlike the Kadirist teachings of the Theocracy,
the Keshi faith requires no formal prayer times or
organised worship. Everyone is free to worship the
Great Spirits as they see fit, at times suitable to them.
Some people build lavish shrines in their homes,
whereas others attend prayers at the local temple.
For the Keshi religion is a joy and not a chore; by
worshipping the Great Spirits they enrich their own
lives and the lives of others around them.
While most Keshi live in walled towns and cities
on the banks of rivers or near the coast, a small
percentage of the population are nomadic traders
that travel across the desert regions of central
Kesh. To these tribes hospitality is vitally important,
stemming from pre-Republic times when travellers
in the desert had to trust one another to survive. The
nomads believe that inviting someone into your home
means that person is expected to behave well and
bring no violence, as is the host. It is not unknown for
mortal enemies to act civilly towards each other under
the auspices of hospitality, then resume their feud
once they have left the premises. Even non-nomad
Keshi still respect the laws of hospitality, although to a
much lesser extent.
Trade and commerce are lifeblood to most Keshi; they
believe that all things can have a price. Most Keshi
do not earn their living as a merchant, but almost
all seek out opportunities to turn a profit. Even in
social situations they are comfortable seeing their
interactions with others in monetary terms. Keshi
hosts are not insulted by a guests’ offer to pay for a
meal, nor by a request to purchase an ancient family
heirloom. They are no greedier than other people
-there are plenty of things they wouldn’t contemplate
selling- but they won’t be angry at being asked,
provided a refusal is accepted.
Because of this outlook, Kesh is a country where
almost anything can be purchased for the right price.
Goods considered illegal in other countries can be
found in Kesh marketplaces. Due to this, and the
Muldoori concept of personal freedom, parts of Kesh
are extremely corrupt and crime is a serious problem.
Despite their love of trade, the Muldoori Faith demands
charity and selflessness during times of great hardship
and war. During the Great War the Keshi donated
thousands of Scales worth of food, medical supplies
and weapons to their allies the Litvians.
Politics
The Republic is lead by the Assembly, a council
of twelve individuals elected by the citizens of the
Republic. Usually the members of the Assembly
The World of Neres
are drawn from the military, prominent politicians,
wealthy merchants and religious leaders; however
anyone can stand for election and in the past
members of the Assembly have come from all walks
of life.
The Assembly rule from the capital Mandit Al-juran,
from the so-called Marble Palace. The laws and
edicts decided by the Assembly are passed to local
33
 leaders who ensure that their region adheres to the
law of the Republic.
The Republic is closely allied to their wartime allies
and geographic neighbours the Litvian Empire. Kesh’s
northern border is the southern border of the Litvian
Empire and as such trade passes between the two
nations at an incredible rate, enriching both countries.
The Kesh are incredibly fond of their northern
neighbours, but are troubled by the Litvian’s disregard
of religion. More than once Litvian officials have
disparaged the Keshi love of religion as ‘out of date’
or as a fear of modern scientific thinking. The Keshi,
however, see their religion as a personal strength, not
a weakness. It is an area the two will probably never
agree on.
The Republic also enjoys a surprisingly cordial
relationship with Haldora, considering they were on
opposite sides of the Great War. Haldora sees in Kesh
a vast trade opportunity and in Haldora Kesh sees a
vast amount of money. The Keshi were quick to try
and repair their relationship with the Third Kingdom
following the end of the Great War and since then
trade has steadily recovered. The more suspicious
observers point out that this trade is an excellent
mask for sending spies to Haldora, but how much
truth is in that observation is yet to be determined.
While the Theocratic Empire considers Kesh their
mortal enemies, Kesh take a much more flippant view
of the Theocracy. Live and let live is their motto. They
are not stupid, however, and numerous spies have
been sent into the Theocracy, and no small part of the
Republic Guard are always on standby in case of an
attack from the far north.
People
The people of Kesh are gregarious, friendly and
expressive, but also have a reputation for greed
and lax moral standards. There is a common Litvian
saying; “Keep a smiling Kesh at arm’s length if you
have a full purse”.
Keshi are of average height with bronze skin, dark
The World of Neres
eyes and dark hair. Men and women traditionally leave the Prophet.
their hair as long as possible, braiding it or wrapping
it up in long colourful scarves. Men are often fond of Geography
neatly clipped beards, especially goatees. The eyes
are considered to be especially attractive in Keshi
culture and both men and women wear makeup
around their eyes to accentuate them; men usually
draw simple lines around their eyelids with kohl,
34
whereas women use more colourful pigments to
decorate their brows.
Traditional Republic dress is designed to be cool
and allow ease of movement. Men and women alike
wear long robes over loose trousers, although suits,
dresses and vests such as worn in the Litvian Empire
are becoming quite popular in recent years. Hats
are highly fashionable at the moment, with the most
popular design being the traditional red fez for both
men and women.
History
The Republic traces its history back to 195FK when
the people known as the Muldoori united the desert
nomads into the Muldoori Empire. Putting aside their
nomadic ways, the Empire constructed many of the
cities the Keshi still inhabit to this day, including their
former capital Alnnakhil al’Abyad.
For centuries the Muldoori Empire endured invasion
by the Vulkovian barbarians to the north, civil war,
plague and natural disasters.
In 798FK a nobleman by the name of Mandus,
presumed dead after a battle with raiders, staggered
out of the desert with a story that would change the
Empire, and much of the world, forever.
Mandus claimed to have died and, rather than his
soul being spun back onto the Great Wheel, spent
several days in communion with one of the Great
Spirits. Mandus’ claims quickly gained significant
popularity and he became an influential prophet of a
new religion.
After only four years Mandus has risen to become the
new spiritual leader of the Muldoori Empire, with the
majority of the Empire converted to his new faith.
After nearly 650 years of stability the Muldoori Empire
began to collapse as various tribes began to break
away from the Empire and internal conflicts steadily
increased.
Many historians attribute the collapse to Mandus’
death in 845FK, although in truth the collapse had
been slowly building for years preceding the death of
Kesh covers a large area and is made up almost
entirely of desert, badlands and shrublands. To the
south and west there are areas of savanna and even
coastal mangrove swamps but much of the country is
arid and dry. There are only three rivers that run from
the Nihyat Mountains in the north-west and stretch
to the sea in the west and many towns and cities are
built along their length.
Rare oases can also be found in the deserts, where
tribes of nomads often build semi-permanent cities of
tents to trade and socialise.
The capital of the Republic is Mandit Al-juran, a city
of white marble buildings built on the great Savydia
Delta and overlooking a great bay of sapphire blue
ocean. Beautiful, wealthy and baking in the desert
heat, Al-juran is famed for both its markets and its
temples, of which there are hundreds.
Since the end of the Great War a sizeable aerodrome
has been built outside the city, creating a huge influx
of trade and tourism from other nations and adding to
the wealth of the city.
Another notable Republic city is Alnnakhil al’Abyad
or ‘Vulture City’; a city in southern Kesh known for
markets where anything can be bought for the right
price. Once the capital of the Muldoori Empire, today
al’Abyad is a dangerous place ruled by the crimelord
Khulman Saede but can also reward the adventurous
with trade and surprising bargains.
Kesh names
Male names:
Khalid, Saeid, Farhad, Rehan, Rashid, Khulman,
Murad, Yousef, Rahad, Alhud
Female names:
Nadia, Mira, Samya, Yasmin, Ayesha, Mohisha,
Majda, Riham, Safiya, Tia
Surnames:
Al’haza, Burhan, Al’Bariq, Fellah, Asem, Hijazi,
Basiri, Ghazi, Dhawash, Hamid
THE FREE NATIONS OF KIJANI
The people of the Free Nations are painfully aware
of how young and fragile their nation is. Thrust onto
the world’s stage with the other Great Nations, the
Free Nations must find their way in the modern world
or risk losing everything they have worked for. This
is not helped by the Kijani reputation for ferocity and
violence.
Culture
The Kijani people are renowned for their love of battle
and for their proud natures. It is said they are ‘fiercely
proud and proudly fierce’. Although exceptions exist, it
is rare for a Kijani to back down from a confrontation,
whether a physical fight or a verbal one. Due to their
similar mindset the Kijani have had a long history of
conflict with the Haldorans, whom they have fought
on numerous occasions since the days of the Second
Kingdom.
The Kijani are traditionally mercenaries, forming large
companies that hire their services to the highest
bidder. Due to this the Kijani people fought on both
sides during the Great War, including fighting each
other when they ended up on opposite sides of the
battlefield. This has lead to a measure of distrust of
Kijani in post-war Neres.
Due to the fact that the nation is still in its formative
years the Free Nations often have trouble with its
citizens’ disregard of the law. The tribes chafe under
new laws and test the limits of the newly-created
police forces. Outsiders often regard the Free Nations
as a lawless place where might makes right; to an
extent this can be true in some areas, but by-and-
large the Free Nations are just as law-abiding as the
other Great Nations. In fact, due to their desire to
The World of Neres
create a stable society, in some parts of Kijani the laws
are almost draconian.
Many Kijani have an opinion that “Gold makes for
good friends”; physical wealth is highly regarded
because if an individual is wealthy then, by extension,
so is his tribe. Many outsiders believe that you can
35
 buy a Kijani’s loyalty with money and, to an extent,
they are right. However, regardless of how much
money you offer a Kijani he will never turn on those
he considers his family; whether bound by blood or
friendship, a Kijani’s family are the one thing they
hold more precious than gold. This is a commonly
misunderstood element of Kijani culture; many people
consider them to be amoral mercenaries.
During the Great War a number of incidents were
recorded when Kijani mercenary companies refused
to take part in certain conflicts, knowing that oath-
bound friends were fighting on the opposing side.
On one occasion when a Litvian captain threatened
to shoot the Kijani mercenaries who were refusing
to fight, the entire company decamped, crossed
no-man’s-land and offered their services to the
Theocracy troops in the opposing trenches.
Outside of combat, the Kijani have a great love of
horses and riding. Children are taught to ride from
a young age and owning a horse is as common as
owning a good pair of boots. Kijani are excellent
horsemen and regular competitions of riding skill are
common in any Kijani city.
Kijani are also proud historians and love reading
historical texts about their people and history.
Historical stories are the most popular genre in Kijani
writing and the burgeoning movie industry has taken
note of this and has begun to produce grand
historical epics.
Politics
Kijani is traditionally a matriarchal society ruled by a
council of Queens, Princesses and Chieftains. While
men can also hold power they are usually secondary
to female leaders, who are seen as wiser and with an
ability to see further into the future than males.
When the Free Nations were founded the Chieftains
and Queens of the countless tribes met in the city of
Kitakuba and between them elected a council of 16
ruling Chiefs. These 16, known as the Yaju (literally
translated as ‘the highest’), form the ruling body of
the Free Nations. The decrees of the Yaju are passed
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to the other Chieftains who disseminate them to the
various tribes.
Law is enforced by a police force drawn from all the
tribes. These police are a new feature in Kijani and are
still trying to find their feet; many locals do not respect
them as any individual police officer is not guaranteed
to operate in the territory of their home tribe. As a
result, many police officers are heavy handed and
36
some have become somewhat corrupt.
Although there is a level of distrust of the Kijani
people from the other nations due to their mercenary
actions during the War, every nation is also painfully
aware of Kijani’s wealth and prosperity. Due to those
same mercenary actions, the tribes of Kijani almost
universally profited from the war. Coupled with the
nation’s gold and diamond mines, every nation in
Neres is keen to be on good terms with the fledgling
Free Nations.
Kijani troops continue to enjoy a reputation for skill
at arms and ferocity, meaning they are still highly
desired as mercenaries by other nations. Since the
end of the Great War Kijani mercenaries have been
used less conspicuously, being employed as proxies
for the Silent War.
People
There are countless tribes in the Free Nations, but
most adhere to one of three distinct bloodlines of the
Kijani people; the mabonde, the mito and the msitu.
All are dark skinned and dark haired, but there the
similarities end.
The mabonde, the plains people, are found in the
north-east of Kijani and tend to be tall, thin and wiry
with long hair that both men and women traditionally
braid into long dreadlocks. They dress in bright
clothes and are an energetic, friendly people who
love cooking and singing songs.
The mito, the river people, are found in the north-west
and tend to be slightly shorter, stockier and more
muscular than the mabonde. They are an earnest,
thoughtful people with a tradition of shipbuilding and
sailing to rival the Haldorans. They are skilled with
rifles and several famous snipers during the Great
War hailed from their tribes.
The msitu, the forest people, come from the thick
jungles of the south of Kijani. They are perhaps the
most warlike of all the tribes and are tall, muscular
and both men and women often shave their hair
down to fuzz and are fond of facial tattoos. The
msitu’s ancestors founded the Ombombwian
Kingdom and they are proud of their heritage and
seldom forget to tell others about it.
Each tribe has its own traditional dress and customs,
but since the founding of the Free Nations there has
begun to be some cross-pollination of ideas and
styles. Most Kijani prefer traditional loose-fitting robes
and circular brimless caps, but Litvian and Haldoran-
style clothes are becoming fashionable, especially
along the northern coast in cities such as Dar-el Bida
and Kitakuba.
History
Up until 100 years ago all of Kijani was united under
the rule of the great Ombombwian Kingdom, ruled
from the legendary Golden City in the jungles of the
south.
Founded in 929FK, the Ombombwian Kingdom ruled
Kijani for 250 years, uniting the disparate tribes with a
mixture of fear and wealth.
A warlike nation, Ombomwian war-galleys raided
both the southern coast of the Third Kingdom and the
shores of the Republic of Kesh countless times over
the years.
In response both the Haldorans and the Keshi made
war on the Ombombwian Kingdom, although such
conflicts tended to be short-lived and punitive in
nature.
When the Kingdom collapsed into civil war in 1179FK
the tribes scattered into individual fiefdoms ruled by
queens, warlords or anyone who could hold power.
For 100 years Kijani remained a largely lawless nation
broken into dozens of small kingdoms, each at various
states of hostility with each other.
The Great Nations were quick to exploit Kijani’s lack
of unity, creating colonies and puppet-states as they
saw fit. As long as the foreigners paid the Kijani were
happy to allow them to do whatever they wanted.
When the Great War was declared the individual
tribes sold their services to the highest bidder as
mercenaries. As such there were Kijani troops on
both sides during the Great War, which lead to great
animosity between former neighbours.
After the Ansler Solution brought the war to an end
the mercenaries returned home, bringing the grudges
formed during the war with them. This resulted in a
period of warfare known as the Grudge Wars, in which
Kijani was plunged into a state of conflict almost equal
to the Great War itself.
The other Great Nations became highly nervous at
the ongoing conflict, believing Ansler would see the
civil war as breaking the peace he had demanded and
return to destroy them as he had threatened.
Facing increasing external sanctions, the Kijani tribes
eventually called for peace with each other, leading to
the Great Council of Queens and finally the creation of
the Free Nations.
Geography
The Free Nations cover the northern and central
areas of the Kijani continent. The northern coast of
Kijani is covered in fertile grasslands, rolling veld and
arid badlands. Towards the center of the islands, on
the Free Nations’ southern border, being the thick
jungles of the southlands at the heart of which lie the
towering Mweusi mountains. Everything south of the
mountains lies outside of the Free Nations; tribes that
inhabit the towering rainforests around the mountains
are isolationist and generally hostile to ‘outsiders’.
Across the northern plains lie several large city-states,
built during the rule of the Ombombwian Kingdom.
These cities are constructed from local sandstone and
either painted in vibrant colours or whitewashed to a
brilliant white finish. Kijani houses are usually square,
flat-roofed and with multiple stores housing several
generations of the same family, giving the cities
towering skylines. Many towers have lush gardens on
their roofs, adding a splash of green to the cities.
Kitakuba is the capital of the Kijani Free Nations. A
sprawling city that has expanded rapidly in the last
few years, Kitakuba lies on the east coast of Kijani and
is home to the Yuja Council buildings and other such
buildings. Areas of the city are either grossly wealthy
or crushingly poor, with very little between. Despite
being the capital of the fledgling nation, Kitakuba has
a reputation for being a city where a deal can go bad
in seconds, and bad deals end in violence.
Also known as the “City of Sapphires”, Dar-el is a
sprawling port city on the north-west coast of Kijani.
A city where money can buy anything, Dar-el has a
reputation for adventure, danger and romance and
has been the setting a number of movies following
the war. Dar-el was one of a handful of city-states that
remained neutral during the Great War and continues
to maintain that reputation today, with anyone
welcome in the city providing they cause no trouble.
That said, Dar-el is frequently the scene of covert
missions, assassinations and nighttime gun-battles.
The Golden City is the legendary lost capital of the
The World of Neres
Ombombwian Kingdom. Deep within the southern
jungles of Kijani its exact location has been lost for
over a century. Dozens of explorers have vanished
over the years, searching for the Golden City, and
rumours abound of feral savages, cannibals and
worse inhabiting the lost city.
37
 The southern jungles are still largely unmapped
Kijani names
and filled with ruins dating from the Ombombwian
Male names:
Kingdom at the earliest. Some ruins are filled with
Akida, Sefu, Reth, Zuberi, Auni, Hashaan, Jabali,
deadly traps; others are home to savage indigenous
Mosi, Malawa, Njau
people unaware of the outside world.

Female names:
Adiah, Tabia, Zalika, Tishala, Chiku, Lakicia, Mosiya,
Nya, Mashika, Sauda

Surnames:
Ajanlekoko, Omiata, Adebowale, Akiloye, Okoye,
Bello, Mbadinuju, Ife, Ngige, Buhari

TIMELINE
Below is an overview of the major historical events in recorded history. All of the Great Nations use the First
Kingdom (FK) calendar, which charts events from the founding of the Haldoran First Kingdom.

0FK Founding of the Haldoran First Kingdom

195 Founding of the Muldoori Empire
208 Haldoran First Kingdom destroyed by fire and plague
510 Founding of the Haldoran Second Kingdom
730 Haldoran Second Kingdom destroyed by civil war
772 Birth of the Prophet Mandus
798 Mandus experiences his Divine Vision
845 Death of Mandus, beginning the collapse of the Muldoori Empire
851 Muldoori exiles begin the War of Unification in Prynne
916 The Chath’Zhan Sun Empire construct the Great Wall around their empire
929 Ombombwian Kingdom unites majority of Kijani
942 The Founding of the Haldoran Third Kingdom
948 End of the War of Unification; founding of Theocratic Empire of Prynne
972 Creation of the Republic of Kesh
1030 The Age of Reason - invention of movable type, gunpowder and basic medical procedures
1080 The Age of Sail - Haldoran and Kesh ships sail and explore the known world
1146 The Litvian Empire is founded
1179 Ombombwian Kingdom collapses into civil war
1259 Johann Ansler creates the Ansler Institute
1261 Creation of the first Labour Rig
1268 Alashambran Uprising
The World of Neres

1270 The Great War; The Haldoran Third Kingdom declares war on the Litvian Empire
1272 Invention of the Battle Rig
1276 The Ansler Solution; Ansler uses his Peace Ray to end the Great War
1277 Kijani Grudge Wars
1278 The tribes of Kijani unite to form the Free Nations of Kijani
1280 Current year

38
MINOR NATIONS styled after a totem animal, believing that their totem
As well as the Great Nations there are a small number will imbue them with its spirit. As such popular totems
of minor nations in Neres. Less powerful or advanced are jaguars, snakes, crocodiles and eagles.
as the Great Nations, the minor nations have much
less influence in global politics. Politics
The Sun Empire is ruled by the Emperor, who rules
with absolute power. The Emperor passes their
THE SUN EMPIRE
decrees to a court of viziers and warlords who then
The Sun Empire is a primitive and reclusive nation
enforce the Emperor’s will throughout the various fiefs
from the eastern continent of Zhan. Centuries ago
and provinces of the empire. Any variance from the
the people of the Sun Empire, the Chath’Zhan, built
Emperor’s will is punished swiftly and brutally, with
a colossal wall around their homeland, isolating
corporal punishment and even summary execution
themselves from the rest of the world for mostly
being commonplace.
unknown reasons. Even today very little is known
about the Chath’Zhan. The entire continent is largely
Due to it self-imposed isolation, the Sun Empire
ignored by the rest of the world, despite the rumoured
has had no political contact with any other nation
riches that lie inside the wall. Despite its large size and
for over 350 years. The traders who come to the
presumably considerable population the Sun Empire
Empire’s port towns are never politically sanctioned
is not considered one of the Great Nations due to its
by their home nations; they are always independent
isolation and lack of technological advancement.
traders. Attempts by various nations to establish
communications with the Emperor have been
Culture
dismissed as impossible by the trader caste, who
What little is known about the Sun Empire is gleaned
reply that the Emperor is “Too pure to share words
from the four port towns that lie outside the great wall.
with barbarians”.
These towns were specifically built by the Chath’Zhan
to maintain trade with the outside world and are
The traders of the Sun Empire do not favour any one
apparently solely inhabited by a caste of traders who
nation above the other in their dealings. Theocracy,
are forbidden from dwelling inside the wall, lest they
Haldoran, Litvian, Kijani and Keshi alike are treated
‘contaminate’ the rest of their people. These traders
equally and with the same apparent distaste. To the
are not even permitted inside the wall themselves,
Chath’Zhan all outsiders are barbarians, regardless of
passing trade goods to their people via an elaborate
their homeland.
pulley system that allows baskets of items to be
hauled up and down the side of the wall.
People
The Chath’Zhan are a short people, usually not
As such, exact details of life inside the wall are hard
standing taller than five and a half feet at the tallest,
to come by. The traders are a tight-lipped people,
with bronze skin, almond-shaped eyes and black
cautious of talking about much beyond silks, rare
hair. The traders encountered in the port towns often
wood and exotic fruit. What they will share is that the
exhibit facial tattoos and bone piercings in their ears,
Empire has a rigid caste system with dozens of castes
nose and lips. Apparently the tattoos and piercings are
including nobles, priests, warriors and merchants.
used to signify caste and position within that caste,
Some castes exist for a single purpose, such as
although exact details are hazy to outsiders.
butchers, whereas others seem much broader in
Women tend to shave the sides of their heads, leaving
their remit. Those born into a caste can never leave
a crest of hair down the center of their scalps; men
it, but it is possible to be assigned to a lower caste as
prefer to leave their hair long and braid it into long
punishment. Rumours of unknown origin tell of a caste
tails that sometimes hang to their waist.
that exists solely to be consumed in cannibalistic
The World of Neres

feasts by the nobles and high priests. When asked

Due to the warm climate of Zhan most Chath’Zhan
about these rumours the traders remain silent.
clothing tends to be light and sparse. Men and
women alike wear short kilts made from linen, often
Technologically the Sun Empire is centuries behind
dyed brilliant shades of red, green and blue. Shawls
the rest of Neres, still utilising bows and arrows,
made from silk are apparently a sign of higher rank
leather armour and elegant two-handed swords to
and are worn by only a few members of the trade
wage war. Warriors apparently wear elaborate masks
caste.

39
 The traders are a quiet, watchful people. They do not
interact with members of the Great Nations beyond
the required amount and share few details of their
lives when asked.
Careful observers have determined that much of
the Chath’Zhan life is heavily ritualised with specific
prayer, eating and sleeping times dictated by holy
texts. Certain foods may only be eaten by permitted
castes and caste members.
A great deal of Chath’Zhan culture is centered around
their religion.
History
Very little is known about the history of the Sun
Empire, apart from its interactions with the outside
world.
The earliest records of Zhan come from writings of
Muldoori explorers who wrote of a land of steaming
jungles, savage wildlife and primitive headhunters
who built vast temples dedicated to snake gods.
These headhunters are presumed to be the
forerunners of the Sun Empire.
The ancient Yalgiri, who sailed the eastern seas in
their longships, wrote of the appearance of the Great
Wall in 916FK. The Yalgiri had raided the coasts of
Zhan before, so the construction of the wall was of
note to them. From their records it can be deduced
that the ancient Chath’Zhan constructed the wall
over the course of about 50 years. Even at this
time the trade ports existed, and the Yalgiri raiders
slowly began to trade with the fledgling Sun Empire,
exchanging fish, iron and leather goods for silk, gold
and jade.
Since that time very little has changed with the Sun
Empire. Trade occurs in the port towns, the trader
caste regard outsiders as distasteful barbarians, and
life within the Great Wall goes unobserved.
Geography
From the writings of Muldoori explorers it is known
that the interior of Zhan is (or was some 400 years
ago) covered in thick jungle. Mangrove swamps
The World of Neres
are common around most rivers, home to giant
crocodiles, huge snakes and all manner of strange fish
and insects. Huge mountains tower over the jungle at
the heart of the continent, easily the tallest mountains
on Neres.
Off the north and east coasts of Zhan lie an expanse of
largely uncharted and extremely dangerous cays that
40
have claimed dozens of ships who tried to sail around
Zhan towards the western coast of Haldora. Coupled
with the unpredictable currents and tides the plague
the western ocean, many sailors choose to either sail
south, through the Alashambran archipelago to get to
Haldora, or turn back east and sail around the cape
of Kesh.
Perhaps the defining feature of the Sun Empire is the
Great Wall. Stretching the entire length of the coast of
the continent, the wall measures an estimated 20,000
miles in length and stands over 200 feet tall at its
highest point, although some stretches situated atop
cliffs send it four hundred feet in the air.
Constructed from large blocks of what appears to be
basalt, the wall is estimated to be around 30 feet wide
at the base and 20 feet wide at the top. Engineers
and scientists have proposed that the wall is filled
with packed earth and that the basalt bricks only form
the exterior of the wall; this would explain how the
Chath’Zhan constructed such a gigantic edifice in the
course of only 50 years.
In most places the wall is situated a few dozen
yards from the coastline, in others it has been built
directly in the sea. The wall is largely undecorated
but in places it has been carved with huge bas-
reliefs depicting strange animals, figures and snakes.
What these reliefs mean and why the Chath’Zhan
carved them is unknown, but everyone who looks at
them agrees they are disturbing and ominous in the
extreme.
Since the Chath’Zhan built the wall in 916FK outsiders
have tried to bypass it and explore the mysteries
within. However such efforts are harder than it would
seem. The waters around Zhan are home to strange
tides and unpredictable currents that drive ships
onto the rocks; similarly the air currents are just as
unstable and airships and planes that attempt to fly
low enough over the wall to land or take photographs
are frequently swept off-course or even caused to
crash land. The crew of such vessels are never heard
from again. It is possible to fly over Zhan if one goes
high enough, but at such altitudes few details can be
discerned beyond the vast green expanse of jungle
and the occasional sprawling city carved from dark
stone.
There are four port towns constructed on the west
and southern coasts of Zhan, built outside the Wall to
allow trade with the ‘barbarians’. These port towns are
named Xocha, Achan, Mahua and Tlachal. These ports
are as old as the wall, some 350 years, and are built of
the same black basalt. The houses are squat, square
and dark but are also refreshingly cool in the tropical
climate.
Religion
The Sun Empire worships a snake god or gods they
refer to as the Great Coiled One. It is unclear if this
is a single entity or several; the Chath’Zhan seem
unwilling to explain and carvings and depictions of
the Great Coiled One show it as both a mass of snakes
and a single vast serpent that is composed of many
smaller snakes.
The exact nature of the Chath’Zhan worship of the
Great Coiled One is unknown, but spies have often
witnessed strange, lurid rituals in the trade ports that
hint at blood offerings, mortification of the flesh and
perhaps even human sacrifice.
Most houses in the trade ports have elaborate shrines
in the common room featuring carved snakes; these
shrines are often seen with votive offerings of herbs,
feathers and raw meat before them.
Of great interest to treasure hunters is the large
quantity of gold these shrines incorporate in the
statues and inlays. If the apparently low-caste traders
can afford such affectations in their shrines, what must
the temples inside the wall be like?
CHATH’ZHAN CHARACTERS
Chath’Zhan are not intended to be played as
characters; they are an alien, strange people who
see the people of other nations as disgusting
barbarians. The people of the Sun Empire worship
strange gods with terrible, bloody rituals and
guard their secrets as a miser hoards gold. The
ways of the Sun Empire and the castes are deeply
ingrained in the psyche of every Chath’Zhan; even
if one were taken away from the Sun Empire they
would still consider themselves part of the Empire
and do everything in their power to return.
The Sun Empire is intended to be a land of
mystery and danger, where adventurers can
venture in search of gold, diamonds and secrets.
ALASHAMBRA
Also known as the Eastern Isles and the Eastern
Paradises, Alashambra is an archipelago of dozens
of islands. Once claimed by the Haldoran Third
Kingdom as part of their empire, the islands are now
free following a number of bloody rebellions ten years
ago.
Modern Alashambra is a diverse place; some islands
are teeming metropolises; some islands cling to the
old tribal ways; some islands are uninhabited ghost-
towns still covered in wreckage from the Great War.
The sprawling cities and slums of the archipelago
are filled with people from across Neres seeking
excitement, adventure and trade; it is said that
anything can be bought in Alashambra, for the
right price.
Culture
The native culture of Alashambra, once heavily
repressed by the Haldoran Third Kingdom, is now
slowly resurfacing. This culture, which is based around
the sea and its bounty, has been the subject of a
number of motion pictures.
For many thousands of years the people of the
archipelago enjoyed a simple style of living, families
banded together in tribes usually with a chief or
‘Domei’ supported by the tribal elders. The Domei
would be the patriarch or matriarch of the most
successful family, the family who caught, grew or
traded the most food and brought the most resources
to the tribe.
The people were neither explorers nor expansionists
but they were and are accomplished sailors,
fishermen and traders reaping the bounty of their
archipelago home and travelling amongst the islands
themselves to sell their catches and goods. Tribal
conflicts did arise from time to time, either between
the islands or tribes on the same island and a number
of accounts of great raids survive in the spoken
histories as cautionary tales.
Since the occupation and subsequent expulsion of
the Haldoran Third Kingdom, Alashambran culture has
gone through a rapid metamorphosis.
The World of Neres
When the Haldoran explorers discovered the
archipelago they found a wealth of exotic foods
and substances, materials, metals and gemstones.
They also discovered that it was inhabited with spirit
worshipping tribes people dressed in leaves, skins
and feathers. The outsiders thought the natives
primitive, backward and ignorant but, while they were
‘primitive’ they were neither backward nor ignorant.
41
 During the occupation Haldoran overseers thought
nothing of how quickly the manual laborers learned
new skills from mining and metalwork to weaving and
manufacture. Domestic workers were praised for their
obedience and quiet dedication to their work, no-one
in the grand houses paid heed to whether they were
listening and what they were hearing.
In the aftermath of the Uprising the Alashambrans had
learned many things but mostly they learned that that
world was interested in them, what they had and how
it could be obtained and so, like the island traders
they had once been, they set out to sell it.
However, the ‘civilized’ invaders culture left a dark
seed in the islands and it grew quickly.
The exposure to Haldoran politics brought new
definitions of ‘success’ to the archipelago.
While many families started to trade honestly with
the outside others discovered piracy (the inspiration
for many romanticized films about swashbuckling
buccaneers, the reality being much darker) and the
trade in illicit substances and pleasures of the flesh.
Though the tribal elders opposed these criminal
activities the tribes or ‘clans’ who dealt in them grew
rich and influential. Violent conflict became seen as
a last, desperate act by the uncouth and intrigue,
assassination and blackmail became the tools of
internecine war between the criminal clans and the
legitimate tribes.
The Clans control drugs, alcohol, prostitution,
gambling, animal fights and death matches between
human combatants and rigs in underworld arenas
located in the back streets of the so-called pleasure
districts. These brightly lit regions infest the larger
cities like ticks on a dog suckling the vital fluids of the
economy from visitor and local alike. Drink, drugs and
any kind of vice can be entertained on these dazzling
streets where darkness seemingly never falls. Behind
this gaudy facade, in shadowy backstreets away from
the bright saloons, clubs, bordellos and casinos are
places where, with the right guide, any number of
darker appetites and perversions can be sated.
Any representatives of the civil authorities seen in
these places are guaranteed to be in the pocket of
The World of Neres
the local Clan boss.
Politics
A republic ruled by a Prime Minister, supported
by a parliament of elders and representatives for
the Domei’s of all the major tribes. The outward
appearance is one of democracy but beneath the
surface lies, intrigue and blackmail play a major part.
42
The criminal clans have their representatives in
the parliament and no-one knows how high their
influence reaches.
As a ‘free port’ Alashambra is also a melting pot of
cultures and a prime location for spies to meet their
handlers to drop-off intelligence, secure the very best
in faked documents or receive new orders. Assassins,
thieves and mercenaries can always be hired if
you know who to speak to. Industrial espionage,
kidnappings, extortion, counterfeit goods, knock-off
tech and all manner of smuggling can be arranged or
bought as long as you can pay the agents and (just as
importantly) bribe the right officials and pay the dues
the Clans demand.
People
The native people of Alashambra are of average
height and olive skinned with almond-shaped eyes
and dark hair.
Alashambrans are a shrewd and adaptive people. On
the outlying islands many still follow the old tribal
ways but for some this is a honey trap for travellers
and day-trippers out of the holiday resorts on the
larger islands.
On the junk islands the lone scavenger shacks are
now shanties inhabited by junkers who make a living
selling reclaimed parts and opportunistic engineers
who cobble together rigs, combat cars and racing
machines at the behest of the Clans for the numerous
underworld ‘sports’ arenas.
In the cities and their surrounding slums are the haves
and the have nots. The poorest people dress in rough
but serviceable tunics and short pants with woven
reed hats. These people supply the manual workers,
fishermen and farmers, guides, loggers, construction
workers, miners and low income services.
Those of a more modest income wear work clothes
inspired by the other nations of Neres with bright
shirts often adorned with colourful details of flowers,
leaves, birds, fish or waves.
The ‘middle classes’ of the Archipelago are generally
employed in one of the trading companies that make
up the bulk of the economy or the burgeoning travel
and holiday industry, catering to the needs of affluent
foreign travellers.
The upper classes, Domei’s, Elders Officials and
the Heads of the Clans commonly wear simple
but elegant suits on professional occasions but
adorned with the markings of their success as
gilded embroidery or elaborate gold and precious
stone inlaid jewelry and often mark the islands they
represent by adding the feathers of some distinctive
tropical bird to their hair or dress. In more relaxed
settings simple robes are worn, decorated with
patterns that reflect a stylized representation of the
simpler times of grasses and skins.
Of course, parallel to the legitimate population, never
more than a stone’s throw from ‘normal’ life are the
criminal classes. From the lowest street informant
to corrupt ministers and Clan lords, anyone in the
Archipelago might be an informant, dealer, assassin or
agent of a foreign power or a local Clan.
Religion
The Alashambran tribespeople of times gone by
didn’t have a ‘religion’ as such, instead believing that
the world and everything in it are the dream of a
greater being known as Lehksha.
Referred to equally as ‘Him’, ‘Her’ or ‘Them’ Lehksha is
described as both the product of and the source for
the human spirit, being both its point of origin and final
destination and subsequent rebirth.
Outsiders have theorised that the Alashambran
tendency to ‘loose morals’ is a result of a cultural
belief in the dreamtime and the lack of any inferred
consequence for one’s actions. They fail, however, to
explain the island peoples peaceful nature before the
introduction of Haldoran values.
With the Haldoran occupation these ‘primitive’ beliefs
were suppressed by the Haldoran themselves and by
Theocracy missionaries who travelled to the islands to
spread the word. Many of the tribes spoken histories
are interrupted and incomplete and the latest
generations are too dazzled by the prospects of the
future to bother with the past but some Elders speak
of dangers in the histories and dark prophecies yet to
be fulfilled and look to record all that is left.
History
The first recorded history of Alashambra was written
in the late 900s after the archipelago’s discovery by
Haldoran explorers. Before that time the Alashambran
people relied on oral tradition, and many of their
legends and stories were subsequently lost during
the Haldoran occupation.
For centuries the islands existed as a tropical paradise
exploited equally by the Haldoran Third Kingdom,
the Theocracy, Kesh and Yalgir. Trade ports were
built on various islands, colonies established and the
natives traded with and suppressed in equal measure.
The native people treated this with surprising
ambivalence; to them everything that transpired was
part of the dreamtime and thus not worth worrying
about.
In 1163FK the Haldoran Third Kingdom made a series
of trade deals with the chiefs of the largest islands
that effectively turned the entire archipelago into a
colony of the Third Kingdom. The Theocracy, Kesh
and Yalgir colonists were forced out and a concerted
effort was waged to bring the people of Alashambra
into the ‘modern world’.
In 1268FK the Alashambran people finally rose up
against the Haldorans after a century of repression in
a series of bloody revolts later known as the Uprising.
The initial cause of the Uprising was a severe tsunami
that destroyed dozens of villages and drove hundreds
of peasants from outlying islands into the cities in
search of food and aid. The Third Kingdom refused to
send additional food to feed the people and, in the
resulting famine, thousands of Alashambrans died.
In response the normally relaxed natives burned
several large towns and trade ports in protest,
which drew the ire of their Haldoran masters. Due to
rising international tensions, the Haldoran High King
Archibald IV ordered an immediate and severe crack-
down on the protestors. However, rather than quell
the situation this resulted in a full-scale revolt that
went on to become the Uprising.
Stretched thin by tensions with the Litvian Empire,
High King Archibald agreed to hand the archipelago
back to the native people rather than be drawn into
a protracted war. Agreements were drawn up that
allowed the Third Kingdom to retain trade ports on
the islands but handing political power back to the
Alashambrans.
During the Great War the Northern Alliance built
several deep-water naval ports in the island chain,
using them to launch assaults on the east coasts of
Kesh and the Litvian Empire. In response the Coalition
sent several battleships into the archipelago and a
The World of Neres
number of large naval battles resulted.
Geography
It may be that there are hundreds of islands in the
chain but many are little more than sandbanks with
a scattering of trees on them whilst a few are vast
islands encompassing mountains, plains and tropical
jungles within their sandy shores. Amongst the many
43
 sandbanks and islets of the Archipelago there are
only a few of any real note to outsiders (unless they’re
searching for the fabled hidden cities or lost temples
that local stories speak of).
The Capital Island Nai’Hwani is a landmass large
enough to hold three major cities and a number of
smaller settlements. The areas not covered in city or
likewise are largely jungle, mountain range or verdant
plains.
Shangon city is the ‘Capital’ of the Archipelago in that
the Prime Minister and the tribal council buildings are
here. It is a port city and the docks operate all day and
all night, all year round. The Clans only have a minor
visible presence here.
Tai’keo is the second city of Nai’Hwani and it is
largely dedicated to tourism. Hotels and bars line the
beachfront while museums, music halls and dance
clubs fill out a buffer zone between the working city
and the tourists playground. Here the Clans have a
greater presence and the Pleasure zones of Tai’keo
are well known either as an enticing prospect for a
new visitor or a gateway to the dark and dangerous
underbelly of the Archipelago as a whole.
Jiutai is the smallest city on the Capital Island. This is
where many of the ‘middle class’ islanders live and
work in support industries that contribute to the larger
cities. As with Tai’keo the Clans have their presence
here but it is nothing like the tourist city. The gambling
dens and bordellos don’t have glowing signs or
glamorous ‘greeters’ outside. They don’t advertise
their presence and the clientele are secretive about
their comings and goings.
The island of Shino’houwe only boasts one city and
shares its name but it is possibly the largest city in
the Archipelago. Business, pleasure, industry and
tourism fall within its boundaries as marble hotels
and shining office blocks give way to litter strewn
alleyways and ramshackle slums. This place is where
the major Clans vie for control of the Archipelago. The
island is a constant hive of activities of all kinds. This
is where tourists come to ‘See the real Alashambra’
shortly before getting their pockets picked or losing
all their money in a gambling den. The docks here
The World of Neres
are territories belonging to the Clans and they are
packed with stolen goods shipments, narcotics
and counterfeit or contraband items. They are also
noticeably absent of any agents of the law. In the back
streets a traveller can find bars, bordellos, gambling
dens, animal fights, bare knuckle and mech-assisted
death matches. Any vice that can be paid for is
represented here. Further from the docks and slums
44
the city begins to appear almost respectable but it
simply introduces a better class of criminal. Services
of all kinds can be sourced from the right agent in
the right bar. Mercenaries and muscle, assassins and
arsonists, thieves, smugglers and kidnappers are
represented here.
Extortion and protection rackets are rife here (and
in most cities of the Archipelago) but, further up
the slopes of the mountains inland, are the serene
palaces of the Clan Lords themselves. Walled
mansions lay at the middle of upmarket housing
districts where crime is unknown. No-one drops litter,
sprays graffiti or even raises their voice for fear of
disrespecting the Clans Domei’s.
Scrap was life. Jei-tan knew it. Since he was a boy
on his father’s knee scrap had been life. It was the
food on their table, the coin in their pockets and
the liquor that helped him relax with his wife after
a hard day.
The scrap mountains of the archipelago were rich
fields of opportunity. One day he had hoped to find
it, the lost tech-treasure that would change his
family’s life. Something so rare and valuable that
the Junklords couldn’t fail to raise him up, give him
a stack of his own and the money to hire his own
scrappers.
That was then.
This was now.
Huddled in the dripping bowels of a ship like he’d
never seen, a relic of the deepest evils committed
during the war he waited. Waited for them to come
for him with their dead eyes, rotting flesh and
steel-braced limbs.
He fingered his pistol, another relic of the war and
no help to him now. The monsters would take him
and he would never see his wife again unless they
remade him, made him like them and he led them
to the surface, to the sun and smiling faces he
would never see again in this life.
He gritted his teeth and pressed the cold metal of
the old pistol to his temple.
‘Not yet!’ he thought. He had to stop them getting
out. Had to bury them here forever. Then, then he
could use the pistol and escape this nightmare.
Then he would find his love in another life.
NIDEC
Nidec is a small border nation situated between the
two great lakes of Vulkovia and linked to Prynne in the
north and Litvic in the south. Once an idyllic pastoral
country famed for its wines and cuisine, Nidec was
ravaged by the Great War; even to this day vast
swathes of the countryside lie ruined.
Before the Great War Nidec was a popular tourist
destination of the aristocracy of both Haldora and
Litvic due to its warm climate, beautiful scenery
and famous vineyards. The Nidecian people had a
reputation for their gregarious natures and love of
singing and dancing.
Unfortunately for the Nidecians, High King Archibald
IV of the Third Kingdom died while holidaying in their
country, apparently shot by one of his companions
while hunting deer. When the Nidecian parliament
refused to investigate the death, ruling it as a simple
accident, the Haldorans sent the King’s Guard into
their country, beginning the conflict that would
eventually turn into the Great War.
Nidec became the primary battleground of the Great
War; vast trench networks were constructed along
its length by both the Northern Alliance and the
Southern Coalition. Artillery barrages reduced scenic
pastures and peaceful forests to blasted wastelands
of mud and barbed wire; towns and villages were
reduced to shattered ruins by firebombs and long-
range rockets.
Even the capital Ambiess was heavily damaged,
with almost three quarters of the city destroyed by
bombardment and fire over the course of the war.
The Nidecian people joined the Litvian Empire to fight
against the Northern Alliance. However they were
poorly trained and equipped and casualties suffered
were high; following the war there are only a few
thousand Nidecians remaining in Neres.
While some Nidecians remain in their homeland,
attempting to rebuild, the larger number exist within
the Litvian Empire as vagabonds and wanderers.
Nidecians are both pitied and begrudged by the
Litvians; they are pitied because they lost everything
during the war; they are begrudged because they
are seen as feeding off the Litvian’s hard work and
generosity.
A small number of displaced Nidecians also exist
within the Theocracy; those who were forced north
instead of south during the early days of the war.
These Nidecians are often treated as a second
class people and marginalised by the Prynnese. In
recent months there are rumours that the Midnight
Order have begun ‘disappearing’ members of these
Nidecian travellers, although proof is hard to come by.
ENEBRA
Enebra is a quiet, rural island country in the Median
Ocean, to the north of Kijani. It is often seen as a
backwards and provincial country by the people of
the Great nations. Life in Enebra is indeed somewhat
bucolic compared to the metropolises of Haldora and
Litvic; horse-drawn carriages are still the primary form
of transport and automobiles, rigs and airships are
seen as strange and expensive luxuries.
The Enebrans took no part in the Great War, although
they did allow the Litvian Empire to establish a deep
water port on their west coast. The port was bombed
several times by the Haldorans, but the Enebrans
maintained that the war was none of their business
and repeatedly refused Litvian entreaties to join the
Empire and fight the Northern Alliance.
Enebrans are a tanned, weather-beaten people with
simple pleasures and a peaceful, archaic outlook
on life. People of the Great Nations often mock the
Enebrans as backward bumpkins, but the Enebrans
do not care; they see their lives as full and happy and
feel no need to compete with the people of the Great
Nations, who they believe have lost something of
themselves in the quest for modernisation.
SALIA
South of Enebra, in the Median Ocean, is the island
country of Salia. The island is made up of coastal
lowlands, a limestone plateau, and a group of volcanic
hills in the north. Salia became notorious as a den
of pirates and thieves some 200 years ago and that
reputation continues even today.
Settled by Haldora during the Age of Sail, Salia was
originally a farming colony but was abandoned
by the Third Kingdom after repeated attacks by
Ombombwian raiders, Litvian privateers and Rilander
pirates. While the majority of settlers elected to
return to Haldora or move north to the larger and
The World of Neres
better defended Enebra, some people stayed on the
island to defend their new homes. No longer part
of the Third Kingdom, these settlers quickly found
that allying with the raiders was easier than fighting
them and in less than a decade Salia had become
something of a freeport, welcoming any ships
regardless of nationality or intent.
45
 The island and its inhabitants quickly gained a
reputation for skullduggery and double-dealing due
to their association with the various pirates of the
Median Ocean. Attempts were made by both the
Haldorans and the Ombomwians to curtail pirate
activity on the island, but to no great effect.
The age of piracy mostly came to an end at the start
of the 1180s when larger, steel-hulled ships became
the standard vessel for crossing the ocean. Salia
remained a freeport, offering a stopover to traders
travelling to and from the various Great Nations, but
slowly the island’s wealth dwindled as less and less
ships needed to dock at their ports.
Today Salia is a poor nation. Sailing ships are no
longer common, replaced by airships, and Salia no
longer lies on many trade routes. The island has
several large ghost towns where bountiful ports once
stood, overgrown by plants and reclaimed by animals.
The island is still used by people who want to lie
low or escape unwanted attention; it is often a port
for smugglers who land their airships to offload
contraband or refuel before heading on to their
final destination.
Modern Salians have a mixed heritage of Haldoran,
Kijani, Litvian and Rilander. They are a suspicious
people, always careful when entering into deals
and constantly looking for loopholes and signs of
treachery (or, most would say, opportunities for
treachery themselves) and most make their living as
fishermen, traders or crew on smuggling ships.
ZAVIA
Zavia is a large island located at the mouth of the
Zavian sea, to the west of Prynne. It is a land of
windswept moors and dark pine forests, home to
bears, wolves and a hardy people who can trace their
ancestry back hundreds of years to one of the tribes
who resisted the Muldoori exiles during the war of
unification. Even to this day the Zavians still harbour
an intense dislike of the Theocracy and their religion.
Zavians are renowned horsemen and are highly
The World of Neres
skilled at fighting from horseback. During the Great
War Zavian mercenaries fought for the Litvian Empire,
outfitting their horses with elaborate gas masks and
steel armour to protect them from the gas and bullets
of their enemies. The Theocracy troops in particular
came to rightly fear the ululating battle cries of the
Zavian heavy cavalry, even after machineguns made
such charges near-suicidal.
46
Zavia is not a rich country; life is mostly agrarian with
few modern luxuries and the people are a hardy, grim
sort. Some leave their home to become soldiers or
adventurers, but the majority stay on the island as
horse breeders, farmers or hunters.
SHA PUNJAL
East of Kesh lies an island covered in dense jungles
that is home to tigers, elephants and monkeys; Sha
Punjal. The island is also home to the Punjali people,
who have worshipped the Old Way for millennia,
carving great temples of white stone in the jungles
to honour the Great Spirits. Nominal allies of the
Republic, the Punjali are excellent hunters and
renowned philosophers, artists and spiritualists.
Due to their strong belief in the Old Way, the Punjali
people are loath to cut down much of their jungle
home, for fear of offending the forest spirits that they
believe call the trees their home. As such there are
few large settlements on Sha Punjal, with the majority
of the population scattered between hundreds of
small towns and villages throughout the jungle.
In places huge temple complexes called patvisaan
sprawl through the jungle. Constructed from white
stone and filled with elaborate and detailed carvings
of people, animals and spirits, patvisaan are part
temple, part village and part government building.
Each complex is lead by a council of shamans who
commune with the spirits through fasting, meditating
and consuming psychotropic plants and advise their
people on how to best exist as one with the
natural world.
Over the years many outsiders have come to
Sha Punjal seeking to commune with the spirits
themselves; as such many people in the Great
Nations see the island as something of a holy land
and even during the Great War were loath to damage
the sacred jungles.
The Punjali people are olive-skinned and generally
quite thin and lithe. They dress in loose, airy clothing
that helps them keep cool in the sweltering heat of
their jungle home. Sometimes Punjali shamans can
be found travelling in the Great Nations, spreading the
will of the Great Spirits to others.
 MOLLY’S STORY
Azire Bodho was dead, which Molly found deeply
upsetting because he owed her a great deal of
money. The kijani fence lay sprawled on his desk, a
small constellation of flies slowly orbiting his body
in the downdraught of the ceiling fan that spun lazily
above the tableau. Thin evening light filtered through
the dusty blinds across the single window, hiding
Azire’s face in a pool of gathering shadow.
“Ugh!” said Pieter, his face twisted in a grimace of
distaste as he evidently caught a whiff of the corpse.
The heat of Dar-el Bida had not been kind to Bodho’s
mortal remains; the cramped office was thick with the
stench of death.
“About a day and a bit, don’t you think?” Asked
Molly, prodding the former fixer with a gloved finger,
“Although in this heat, who can tell.”
“I do not,” Pieter half-formed a sentence before
gagging and ducking out of the room. “Do not know
how you stand smell.” His voice came from the hall
outside. “How he die?”
“Slit throat, by the looks of it.” Molly called out,
inspecting the crusted blood that had spread across
the desk under Bodho’s body. A lot of it had been
soaked up by the mess of papers strewn across
the desk, and the floor around it. Molly would have
thought the room had been frisked due to the mess,
but from prior experience she knew this was just how
Bodho had kept his office. “As messy in death as you
were in life.” She muttered, stepping around the desk
and carefully pulling open the draws.
“Molly, you think it best to be here?” Asked Pieter from
the door. He drummed the metal fingers of his right
hand against the door frame, glancing nervously back
down the hallway to the stairwell. His big face was
scrunched into a mixture of revulsion and worry.
“Six hundred Eagles,” Molly scowled, rifling through
the draws, “Six hundred damn Eagles he owed us.
And not a Talon here to show for it.”
“Maybe he keep money in bank?”
Molly shot her partner a flat look and Pieter sighed
and shrugged.
“Da, not likely. So money not here, where is it?”
“Probably hidden somewhere.” Molly gave up
searching the desk and cast her eye around the
room. It alighted on a small garish statue she’d seen
in the office before; some Litvian Observist piece that
suggested a piston or perhaps an arm.
“What?” Asked Pieter, following her gaze.
“Last time we were here, that thing was on his desk. I
remember because I thought it was awful.”
“So?”
By way of answer Molly picked the statue up and
turned it over. “The base is hollow.” She pulled out her
switchblade and after a moment of prying and the
base plate came away, revealing a velvet bag stuffed
into the cavity beneath.
The smell apparently forgotten, Pieter stepped into
the office and peered over Molly’s shoulder as she
tipped the bag open into her palm. The light from the
window caught what tumbled out with a red gleam.
“A ruby!” Pieter breathed, his voice awed. “Big one too.”
“And worth a damn sight more than six hundred
Eagles.” Molly growled. She gave the office and
Bodho’s body another look and tucked the ruby back
into its bag and slipped the bag into the pocket of her
flight jacket.
“I think we should get the hell out of here.”
Outside the heat of the day was slowly giving way to
the cool of night. Already the sun had set and lights
were coming on in windows and the electric signs
above bars and clubs were flickering into life. Molly
and Pieter stepped out of the building that held
Bodho’s office and headed across the street to their
car.
“Uh oh.” Muttered Pieter. “Looks like they left someone
to watch office.”
Molly looked cautiously in the direction of Pieter’s
casual nod and noticed the kijani woman in a white
linen suit and wide-brimmed hat looking in their
direction. The woman met Molly’s eye for a moment
and vanished around the corner into an alleyway.
“Shit,” Molly hissed. “Get in the car!”
With a roar a car shot out of the alleyway, the woman
leaning out of a window, a trench broom in her hands.
“Car! Car! Car!” Yelled Molly, shoving Pieter and
leaping into the driver’s seat.
“Drive!” Roared Pieter from the back as he scrabbled
for the duffle bag he’d left beneath the seat.
The car leapt into life just as the other car drew level
and the woman in white pulled the trigger of her
submachine gun. Molly stomped the gas and her car
careened forwards, bullets chewing a line across the
bodywork but none finding their mark. In the back
seat Pieter let out a string of Prynnese curse-words.
With a bellow he tore a shotgun free from the bag
and fired it out the window at the windscreen of the
pursuing car, crazing the glass.
Molly's Story
The two cars hurtled down the nighttime street, Molly
pulling ahead but their pursuers hot on their heels.
“Six hundred damn Eagles.” muttered Molly. “This had
better be worth it.”
47
 THE RULES
STATS
All characters in Age of Steel have three statistics
which describe their innate physical, mental and
social abilities. These stats are rated numerically
from 1 to 5, with human average falling around 2 in
each stat. Stats of 5 are extremely rare, and represent
someone who is at the peak of human achievement
in that particular area. Stats of 1 represent someone
who is generally not in good shape, either physically,
mentally or socially.
PHYSIQUE
Physique is a measure of a character’s physical
strength, agility and general constitution. Characters
with a high Physique will find tasks such as climbing,
unarmed combat and stealth easier than those with a
lower score.
INTELLECT
A character’s Intellect score shows a combination
of their Intelligence, common sense and general
reasoning power, as well as governing how sharp their
senses are. Characters with a high Intellect will find
skills such as Medical, Science and Mechanics easier
than those with a lower score.
PRESENCE
The Presence stat combines a character’s charisma,
empathy and force of personality. Characters with
a high Presence will find skill checks relating to
interaction and leadership much easier than those
with a lower score.
SKILLS
Whereas stats represent a character’s innate abilities,
skills represent a character’s learned abilities and
knowledges.
SKILL LEVELS
A character can have a skill at one of three levels;
Untrained, Trained and Mastered. All characters begin
with every skill as Untrained. Any character in Age of
Steel can make a check against any skill; they do not
The Rules
need to possess a skill to attempt to use it. However,
characters who are Trained in a skill will find it much
easier to succeed. Characters who have mastered a
skill will find it easier still.
48
SKILL CHECKS
Skill checks are made by rolling a number of six-sided
dice (d6) and counting the number of ‘successes’ in
the roll. When using an Untrained skill a success is
any die that rolls a 5 or a 6. If a character is Trained in
a skill then a success is any die that rolls a 4, 5 or 6.
If a character has Mastered a skill then a success is
any die that rolls a 3, 4, 5 or 6. For a skill check to be
successful the number of successes in a roll must
equal or exceed the Difficulty Value (DV) set by the
Gamemaster. The number of dice rolled for a skill
check is equal to the number of points the character
has in the stat associated with that skill.
DIFFICULTY VALUES
When making a skill check, the Gamemaster will
assign a Difficulty Value (DV) based on how easy
(or not) the task is. The DV indicated the number of
successes a character requires for a skill check to
succeed.
Some example DVs are listed below.
Task DV Example
Easy 1 A task that anyone without training
could complete
Average 2 A task most people could complete
Difficult 3 A task that would require either training
or above-average competence
Hard 4 A task that requires both training and skill
Heroic 5 A task that is generally only possible with
incredible skill
Impossible 6+ A task that is pretty much beyond a
normal human
EXAMPLE OF A SKILL CHECK
Jake Flint gets into a shootout with a thug in a grimy
back alley. Jake pulls out his pistol and takes a shot at
the thug; the Gamemaster tells Jake’s player Dave that
the DV for the shot is 3. Jake has a Physique of 4 and is
also Trained in the Firearms skill. Dave rolls a total of 4d6
and counts the number of dice resulting in a 4 or more.
Dave rolls 3, 4, 6 and 5; a total of 3 successes, he hits!
ASSIGNING A DIFFICULTY VALUE
When a player asks to perform an action sometimes
it is not clear as to what Difficulty Value a you should
assign to it. Generally speaking most everyday tasks
such as climbing walls, picking locks and anything
that shouldn’t take a hero too long should have a DV
of 1 or 2.
Tasks that require more skill or luck should range
from DV 2 to 3. Difficulty Values of 4 and 5 should be
reserved for tasks that are truly difficult. DV 6 tasks
should only really appear in times of great peril.
OPPOSED SKILL CHECKS
Sometimes two characters come into contest with
each other when making skill checks. In these
situations the DV of a skill check is not determined by
the Gamemaster, instead the characters both make
skill checks and the results are compared against
each other.
In most opposed skill checks there will be an
active character and a passive character; the active
character is the one making the skill check and the
passive character is the one they are trying to beat.
The passive character’s skill check determines the
DV of the active character’s skill check; the active
character must equal or exceed the result of the
passive character’s skill check in order to succeed.
If the passive character fails to get any successes then
as long as the active character gets a single success
they succeed. If neither character gets any successes
then both characters fail.
Combat actions are one example of opposed skill
checks; when a character attacks another the attacker
tries to equal or exceed the defender’s skill checks to
determine if they hit their target.
For example: Eleanor Greywood is trying to sneak past a
guard at the entrance of a hidden base. Eleanor’s player
Karen makes a Stealth skill check and the Gamemaster
makes the guard’s Awareness skill check. The guard
gets 3 successes and Eleanor gets 4 successes; she
manages to sneak past him successfully.
ASSISTING OTHER CHARACTERS
At times two or more characters may wish to combine
their efforts for a particular task. Characters can elect
to aid each other with skill checks in certain situations
when the Gamemaster deems it appropriate.
When aiding each other, the characters involved must
decide who is taking the lead and who is providing
assistance. Both characters make a skill check against
the DV assigned by the Gamemaster. The assisting
character(s) each add half the successes they rolled
(rounding down, to a minimum of 1 success) to the
successes rolled by the leading character. The
number of characters who can assist with any one
check is decided by the Gamemaster.
For example: Red Molly is trying to break down a heavy
door using the Brawn skill. Jake Flint offers to help her
and the Gamemaster agrees that this is an skill check
he can assist with. As Jake is the stronger character
the pair agree he should lead and Molly will assist. The
Gamemaster assigns a DV of 4 to the check and both
Molly and Jake roll their dice. Molly rolls 2 successes
and Jake rolls 3. Molly halves her successes for a total
of 1 and adds it to Jake’s 3 successes for a total of 4;
they succeed!
Certain skills, such as Firearms or Willpower, may be
ruled by the Gamemaster as un-assistable (it’s very
hard for someone else to help you aim a rifle, for
example) but each case should be decided by the
Gamemaster as and when players decide they wish to
assist each other.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE
Depending on the task in question, failing a skill check
can be anything from inconvenient to life-threatening.
The results of failure are not always dangerous,
sometimes tools can be lost or broken, precious
time can be wasted or valuable ingredients can be
consumed and need to be gathered again.
When a character fails a skill check the Gamemaster
must ultimately rule the effects of the failure, but in
general the lower the Difficulty Value of the check, the
less unpleasant the results of failing.
Characters can choose to retry a failed check, but
must ask the Gamemaster first. Depending on
The Rules
the task, failed skill checks may be re-attempted
instantly, after a few minutes or hours, or not at all.
The Gamemaster determines how soon a character
can re-attempt a failed skill check. As a guide, you
49
 should always bear in mind what the task was and the
conditions the test is being made under.
If a character is attempting something fairly routine
that, if they fail, won’t adversely affect the outcome of
a campaign, they could be allowed to retry the skill
check a few in-game minutes later.
If the roll is a crucial check that may swing the
balance of the campaign and ultimately decide if the
players succeed in their goal then the Gamemaster
might well decide they cannot retry; to do so would
lessen the drama of failing the test and having to find
an alternative solution. Similarly some skill checks
might consume limited resources (such as trying
to light a fire) and the Gamemaster can rule that
failure consumes the resources thus making a retry
impossible.
Some skill checks will have the potential to result
in physical harm to a character should they fail,
especially those involving dangerous stunts or
potentially harmful materials. Failing a skill check
should never kill a character outright; the Gamemaster
should always provide a slim chance the character
can survive (unless of course the player insists on
throwing his character into deadly situations on a
regular basis). A Gamemaster can assign a damage
rating to a failed check in the form of a number of d6
rolled to determine damage.
For example: Red Molly attempts to pick a low-quality
lock. The Gamemaster assigns the task a DV of 2 but
Molly fails. The Gamemaster tells Molly’s player Sue
that she can’t get the tumblers to align and will have to
spend more time getting the lock open; she can make
another roll shortly. A minor inconvenience, but not a
life-threatening one.
Later in the campaign Molly tries to jump her
motorcycle off the edge of a 300-foot deep gorge
and land on the other side. The Gamemaster assigns
this daring task a DV of 5 and unsurprisingly Sue fails
the roll. This time Molly is in serious trouble as she
plummets into the gorge. The Gamemaster tells Sue
that Molly will take 5d6 damage from the fall unless she
has an ingenious plan to save herself...
KNACKS
The Rules
Some people are just innately better at a particular
skill than others. Every character in Age of Steel has
three Knacks; these are attached to three separate
skills and represent the fact that those skills are where
50
that character naturally excels.
When using a Knack skill, a character gains a
permanent 2 dice bonus to each roll.
For example: Pieter tries to leap a wide gorge in his Rig.
The Gamemaster tells Pieter’s player John that the DV
for the leap is 4. Pieter has a Physique of 4 and is also
Trained in the Rig Handling skill. Luckily he also has
Rig Handling as one of his Knacks, which grants him
a bonus 2d6 to the roll. John rolls a total of 6d6 (4d6
for his Physique plus 2d6 for his Knack) and counts the
number of dice resulting in a 4 or more. John rolls 3, 4, 6,
4 and 5; a total of 4 successes, Pieter makes the leap!
‘Dames.’ thought Jules as she hurtled headlong
down the back alleys of Tai’keo the tails of her
trench coat flapping behind her, her hair plastered
to her face by tropical rain and her fedora lost
somewhere in the streets behind her. Occasional
flashes of neon and restaurant backlights the only
guide in her flight and the strains of Slick music
coiled through the narrow alleys like smoke.
‘Dames’ll be the death of me.’
Take the last one with her big blue eyes and sob
story about her husband, here in the free port on
‘business’ and missing now for two weeks. The
authorities couldn’t (or wouldn’t) help so she’d
come to Julie Class, private investigator.
It was the tears that’d done it. They always did. Big
blue eyes full of tears. Jules shook the memory
away as she splashed through puddles and
rebounded off dumpsters. Her augmetic arm hung
like a dead weight from her shoulder and that was
going to cost a pretty penny to fix.
It should’ve been easy, he should have been drunk
in some whore’s bed or, at worst, in pieces in a
flesh-traders cold storage, but no. It had to be
worse didn’t it.
She’d had an idea that there were darker things
going on behind the curtains in Alashambra, but
she’d hoped never to stumble across them.
Now she’d barrelled full tilt into them and all she
wanted was to pack up and run.
Suddenly a wall blocked her path, too high to
jump, too rain slicked to climb. She pulled her .38
just as lights followed her into the dead end and
voices shouted just for a split second before the
chatterguns spoke and the lead rain started to fall.
 SKILLS
Below is a list of available skills in Age of Steel. acting strangely and Jake’s player asks if he can use
his Animal Handling skill to work out what’s bothering
Animal Handling (Presence) them. The Gamemaster assigns a DV of 1 and Jake
Athletics (Physique) makes his check successfully. The Gamemaster tells
Awareness (Intellect) Jake something nearby has the animals rattled; Jake
Bluff (Presence) draws his pistol and readies himself only moments
Brawn (Physique) before a group of mercenaries burst from the jungle in
Demolitions (Intellect) an attempted ambush!
Diplomacy (Presence)
Drive (Intellect) ATHLETICS (PHYSIQUE)
Firearms (Physique) The Athletics skill covers a number of abilities such
Education (Intellect) as running, climbing and swimming as well as feats
Intimidation (Presence) of agility such as swinging on ropes and balancing.
Leadership (Presence) It also covers throwing weapons such as grenades
Linguistics (Presence) and knives. The number of successes required for an
Mechanics (Intellect) Athletics check is based on the task being attempted
Medical (Intellect) and any equipment the character may be using.
Melee (Physique)
Perform (Presence) Example: Red Molly is running after a fleeing spy over
Pilot (Intellect) the nighttime rooftops of Eisenstadt. The GM tells Molly
Reflexes (Physique) that to keep up with the spy she must make an opposed
Rig Handling (Physique) Athletics check as they leap over alleyways and
Science (Intellect) skylights. Molly’s player makes her skill check and gets
Security (Physique) 2 successes, the Gamemaster makes the skill check for
Stealth (Physique) the spy and gets 3 successes. Molly is fast, but the spy is
Streetwise (Presence) faster and manages to lose her amid the smoke stacks
Survival (Intellect) and rooftops. Looks like Molly will have to pick up the
Unarmed (Physique) trail elsewhere.
Willpower (Presence)

SKILL DESCRIPTIONS
Below follows a description of the various skills and
an example of how that skill might be used during
a game. The examples and descriptions are not
definitive; players and gamemasters are encouraged
to come up with their own uses and interpretations of
skills.
ANIMAL HANDLING (PRESENCE)
The Animal Handling skill covers the ability to
understand and empathise with various animals. With
this skill characters can give domesticated animals
commands and recognise the moods of wild animals.
This skill is also used when riding horses and driving
vehicles pulled by horses or other beasts.
AWARENESS (INTELLECT)
Awareness covers a character’s sight, hearing, touch
and smell and other less tangible senses. Awareness
checks can be made to spot hidden characters or
items, listen at doors and similar. The number of
successes required to spot a hiding character is
opposed by the hiding character’s Stealth check.
Example: Red Molly is sneaking through the Grand
Library of Eisenstadt, trying to locate a rare book
she wishes to ‘borrow’. As she passes an office the
Gamemaster asks Molly’s player to make an Awareness
skill check; she does so and gets 2 successes. To her
surprise Molly overhears a conversation inside the
darkened office: she is not alone in the Library and
someone else is here for the book!
Skills

Example: Jake Flint is trekking through the jungles of BLUFF (PRESENCE)

Kijani when he encounters a herd of warthogs. The Bluff is the ability to deceive or fast-talk a target into
Gamemaster tells Jake’s player that the animals are believing something false. The number of successes

51
 required for a Bluff check is based on the target’s
level of suspicion toward the character and the
believability of the lie being told. This skill is opposed
by the target’s Willpower skill. Bluff is also used when
playing games of chance, such as poker.
Example: Jake Flint needs to get into the back room of
the Jade Lily Club. The thug at the door initially turns
him away and Jake’s player asks the Gamemaster if
he can Bluff his way in. Jake makes a Bluff skill check
and the Gamemaster makes a Willpower skill check
for the Thug. Jake beats the Thug’s score and spins a
tale about having urgent news for the boss, the thug
grudgingly lets Jake pass.
BRAWN (PHYSIQUE)
Brawn covers a character’s ability to lift heavy objects
and break items through sheer raw strength. Using
Brawn a character can lift objects much heavier than
they normally could, making another skill check
every round they wish to continue lifting the item.
The weight of the object and how easy it is to lift
determines the number of successes required.
Example: Pieter and his friends are trapped in a burning
warehouse. They make it to the exit, only to find it
blocked by fallen timbers. Pieter grabs the timber and
heaves and his player makes a Brawn skill check. He
succeeds and with a mighty grunt Pieter throws the
timber aside, clearing the way.
DEMOLITIONS (INTELLECT)
With this skill characters can properly use, handle,
set and defuse explosives. Demolitions also allows
a character to create their own explosives, and also
recognize other such devices.
Example: Eleanor Greywood is investigating the
hideout of her nemesis when she opens a door and
discovers a time bomb due to explode any second!
The Gamemaster asks Eleanor’s player to make a
Demolitions skill check but unfortunately she rolls no
successes. Eleanor realises there is no way for her to
disarm the bomb and she decides discretion is the
better part of valour and runs for the exit!
DIPLOMACY (PRESENCE)
Diplomacy is the ability to befriend, seduce and
generally sway others with your charisma. This skill
Skills
can be used to get by in social situations, negotiate
with potentially hostile thugs or extract information
from a target without having to resort to violence. The
52
number of successes required for a Diplomacy check
is set by the Gamemaster and is usually based on the
mood of the character you are interacting with.
Example: Red Molly has managed to end up captured
by Khulman Saede, crimelord of Vulture City. Khulman
is tired of Molly’s interference in his schemes and orders
his guards to dispose of her. Molly’s player makes a
hasty Diplomacy skill check opposed by Khulman’s
Willpower skill check. Molly gets more successes than
Khulman; with a few well-chosen words she manages to
convince the crimelord to lock her up rather than having
her killed immediately, giving her ample time to plan her
escape.
DRIVE (INTELLECT)
This skill allows a character to drive any land-based
vehicle such as cars and motorcycles. Drive checks
are generally only required when a character attempts
a potentially dangerous maneuver such as ramming
another vehicle or making an emergency change of
direction.
Example: Jake Flint and his friends are chasing down
a group of sinister agents in their car. As they hurtle
through the slums Jake decides now is the best time
to run them off the road and attempts to ram the other
vehicle off the road. The Gamemaster asks Jake’s player
to make a Drive skill check, opposed by the Drive skill
check of the agent driver. Jake’s score beats the agent’s
and he sends their car careening off the road and into
the side of a shack.
FIREARMS (PHYSIQUE)
The Firearms skill allows a character to use pistols,
rifles, shotguns, submachine guns and an array of
other ranged weapons. Firearms checks are opposed
rolls, based on the Reflexes check of the target (see
Combat section for more details)
Although they don’t use gunpowder, both bows and
crossbows are also covered by the Firearms skill, as
are heavier weapons such as artillery.
Example: Eleanor Greywood finally chases down her
mark and corners him in a gin joint. The mark isn’t going
without a fight and pulls out a knife. Eleanor decides
that was the wrong move and pulls out her pistol and
takes a shot at him. Eleanor’s player makes a Firearms
skill check to see if she can plug the mark before he
takes a swing at her.
EDUCATION (INTELLECT)
Education covers a variety of learned and acquired
knowledges such as history, geography, local
information and other random facts. Education checks
are made when a character wants to dredge their
memory for useful information when faced with a
problem, or when looking up information in a library.
Example: Eleanor Greywood is trying to hunt down a
missing friend. At the friend’s apartment she discovers
a strange leaf on the rug. The Gamemaster asks
Eleanor’s player to make an Education skill check and
she succeeds; the Gamemaster tells her the leaf is from
a tree commonly found in the north of Litvic. Eleanor
deduces that her friend has had some visitors from out
of town recently.
INTIMIDATION (PRESENCE)
Intimidation is the ability to scare and cajole others
through physical strength and threats. Intimidation
checks are opposed by a target’s Willpower check.
Example: Pieter is trying to gain access to the back
room of a bar where he knows a deal is going down. He
tries to Intimidate the guard into letting him in without
an invite. Pieter rolls his Intimidation skill check and
the Gamemaster makes a Willpower skill check for the
guard. Pieter wins and the guard is scared by Pieter’s
threats and lets him through.
LEADERSHIP (PRESENCE)
Anyone can shout at a group of people, but it takes
skill to have those people listen to what you say. The
Leadership skill allows a character to give orders and
have them followed. This skill also covers coordinating
groups of people and giving stirring speeches. The
number of successes required for a Leadership
check is based on the mood of the crowd and the
conditions.
Example: Jake finds himself aboard an airship that
has lost its captain during a firefight. He tries to use his
Leadership to organise the remaining crew and get the
ship airborne before the Midnight Order thugs shooting
at them from the docks swarm aboard. The GM tells
Jake that the crew are scared and confused; the DV to
organise them is 3. Jake rolls his Leadership and only
gets 2 successes; the Midnight Order get another round
to shoot at the ship.
LINGUISTICS (PRESENCE)
Linguistics is the knowledge of languages; more
specifically languages other than a character’s native
tongue. Linguistics checks are made when a character
tries to speak or understand a language other than
their own. The number of successes required is
dictated by the difficulty of the language or phrase.
A character can know any number of languages; the
Linguistics skill is a measure of their ability to recall
the right phrase at the right time.
Example: Jake Flint finds himself deep in the uncharted
depths of the Kijani jungles, surrounded by hostile
natives. Jake’s player asks the Gamemaster if he can
attempt to communicate and the Gamemaster tells him
the DV to work out a basic greeting. Jake’s player rolls
his dice and succeeds; he manages to convince the
natives to lower their weapons.
MECHANICS (INTELLECT)
The mechanics skill covers a knowledge of
mechanical and electronic systems, allowing a
character to create, operate and repair such devices.
The DV of an Mechanics check is based on the
complexity of the device the character is trying to
create or operate, or the degree of damage they are
trying to repair. Using the correct tools for the job will
lower the number of successes required, whereas
improvising tools will increase them.
Example: Pieter’s Rig has taken some heavy damage
and is trying to fix it. He finds himself a workshop and
some tools and the Gamemaster gives him a DV based
on the how damaged the Rig is and the quality of the
tools Pieter has available. Pieter’s player makes the
Mechanics check and fails; looks like it’s going to take
him a long time before his Rig is operational again.
MEDICAL (INTELLECT)
This skill covers a character’s medical knowledge,
including both basic first aid and more advanced
surgical care and knowledge of treatment methods.
This skill also covers the knowledge of poisons and
medicines. Using this skill a character can stop a
character Bleeding Out and also help them to recover
lost Grit and Wounds. See the Combat section for
more details.
Example: Eleanor Greywood discovers the body of an
informant slumped over his desk with a dart in his neck.
Eleanor’s player asks the Gamemaster if they can use
Skills
the Medical skill to work out what was on the dart. The
Gamemaster gives them the DV of the check and the
player makes the roll. The player succeeds and the
53
 Gamemaster tells them the dart is covered in a poison
from the jungles of Kijani.
MELEE (PHYSIQUE)
The ability to use different types of close-combat
weapons such as knives, swords and whips. Melee
checks are opposed by an opponent’s Melee check
(see Combat section for more details).
Example: A deal turns sour and Pieter finds himself
in a knife fight with a thug. Pieter takes a swing at
his opponent, makes a Melee skill check and gets
2 successes. The Gamemaster makes a Melee skill
check for the thug to oppose Pieter’s check and gets 2
successes; Pieter hits the Thug!
PERFORM (PRESENCE)
This is ability covers skills such as acting, singing
and dancing; with this skill a character can entertain
others. The DV of a Perform check is usually set by the
audience; a small bar of hicks is easier to impress than
a concert hall full of opera aficionados.
Example: Red Molly is trying to pass off as a cabaret
singer to infiltrate a club. Despite her best efforts she
ends up on stage in front of an audience and attempts
a song to keep up her facade. The Gamemaster tells
Red Molly’s player that the DV to masquerade as a
passable singer is 1. Red Molly makes her Perform skill
check and gets no successes. Looks like she’s got some
explaining to do.
PILOT (INTELLECT)
This skill allows a character to fly any air-based
vehicle such as airships and planes. Pilot checks are
only required when a character attempts a potentially
dangerous maneuver such as a loop-de-loop or a
dive-bomb.
Example: Red Molly is flying her biplane, pursued by an
enemy plane. In an attempt to lose her tail Molly dives
into a canyon system. The Gamemaster gives Molly’s
player a DV for the maneuver and she makes her
Pilot skill check. She succeeds and weaves her plane
through the narrow rocks, while her pursuer slams into a
cliff and erupts into a fireball!
REFLEXES (PHYSIQUE)
Skills
The Reflexes skill is a measure of how quick your
character’s reactions are. The skill is used to dodge
hazards such as falling debris, explosions and pitfalls.
Reflexes is also used to oppose ranged attacks in
54
combat. The DV of a Reflexes check is based on how
dangerous the hazard is, or how much warning a
character has.
Example: A thug takes a shot at Jake Flint with a pistol.
Jake’s player makes a Reflexes skill check and the
Gamemaster makes a Firearms skill check for the thug.
The thug gets 2 successes and Jake gets 3 successes;
Jake successfully dodges the attack.
RIG HANDLING (PHYSIQUE)
This skill allows a character to drive both combat and
labour Rigs. Rig Handling checks are only required
when a character attempts a potentially dangerous
maneuver such as traversing difficult terrain or leaping
a gap.
Example: Pieter is outnumbered and is being chased
through the docks when he spots an unattended Labour
Rig. Seeing a chance to level the playing field he hops
in and begins the startup procedure. Normally a skill
check would not be required for such a simple action,
but as Pieter is doing it in a hurry the Gamemaster asks
Pieter’s player to make a Rig Handling check to get
the Rig operational before his pursuers arrive. Will he
succeed in time?
SCIENCE (INTELLECT)
Science covers a range of scientific knowledge
including physics, chemistry and biology but
also covering more obscure disciplines such as
astrophysics and quantum theory.
Characters can use the science skill to make
deductions based on scientific evidence, create
chemical compounds and other similar feats of
intelligence. The DV of a science check is based
on the complexity of the task and any available
equipment.
Example: Eleanor Greywood is trying to analyse a
strange compound found in a stolen briefcase. The
Gamemaster gives Eleanor’s player the DV to analyse
the compound and she makes her Science skill check.
She fails the check and the Gamemaster tells Eleanor’s
player that the experiment fails and she only has one
dose of compound left to analyse. Eleanor better be
careful from now on!
SECURITY (PHYSIQUE)
This skill grants a character knowledge of locks as
well as other forms of security. Using the Security
skill a character can either set up their own security
systems or break into those set up by others. This skill
also includes basic lockpicking and trap-making. The
DV of a security check is based on the complexity
of the lock being picked or the system being
circumvented. For creating security systems, see the
Crafting chapter.
Example: Pieter wants to pick a lock. The Gamemaster
tells Pieter’s player that the lock is brand new and
quite complicated; the DV to pick it is 4. Pieter makes
his Security skill check and only gets 2 successes; the
Gamemaster tells him it takes 20 minutes before he
realises the lock is beyond him. He can try again, but
does he have time before the guards patrol past again?
STEALTH (PHYSIQUE)
Stealth allows a character to move silently, hide in
cover and generally avoid detection by others. Using
stealth a character can sneak past or get the drop on
enemies. Stealth is also used when performing sleight
of hand such as picking pockets.
The Stealth checks are directly opposed by the
Awareness check of the person or persons the
character is attempting to sneak past.
Example: Red Molly, Jake Flint and Pieter are trying
to sneak into the lair of Baron Sladovich. A soldier is
guarding the gate so all three make a Stealth skill
check to sneak past her. The Gamemaster makes
an Awareness skill check for the soldier and gets 2
successes. Molly gets 3 successes and sneaks past. Jake
gets 2 successes; as the soldier is the passive character
this means Jake successfully sneaks past her. Pieter only
gets 1 success however; the soldier spots him!
STREETWISE (PRESENCE)
Streetwise allows a character to gather information
in an urban environment. It could be seen as the
urban version of Survival, but with more of an
emphasis on finding information and services. The
DV of a Streetwise check is based on the rarity of the
information or service the character is trying to locate.
Example: Jake Flint is trying to find out if anyone
has been trying to sell a strange emerald in Dar-el
recently. The Gamemaster asks Jake’s player for a
Streetwise skill check with a DV of 3. Jake only gets 2
successes but the Gamemaster tells him he still gets the
information he’s after. However the information costs
him significantly more in bribes then he’d wanted.
SURVIVAL (INTELLECT)
This skill represents the knowledge required to
survive in the wilderness, such as navigation, foraging
and building shelters. Using this skill in a barren or
hostile area will be more difficult than it would be in
a more abundant environment. Survival also allows a
character to identify tracks left by people or animals
and follow them. Using this skill a character can tell
how old tracks are, the direction travelled and similar
information. The state of the ground and the weather
conditions will affect the difficulty of the skill check.
Example: After a blizzard causes their airship to crash
in the frozen tundra of Prynne the party need to look
for shelter. The Gamemaster tells the players that due
to the blizzard and harsh conditions the DV for their
Survival skill check is 3. If they fail the check they will
take damage from the freezing cold!
UNARMED (PHYSIQUE)
Unarmed covers both learned hand-to-hand
techniques such as martial arts or wrestling and
also rough-and-ready street fighting and brawling.
Unarmed checks are opposed by an opponent’s
Unarmed check (see Combat section for more details).
Example: Eleanor Greywood gets caught up in a bar
fight. A thug takes a swing at her; the Gamemaster
makes an Unarmed skill check for the thug’s attack
and Eleanor’s player makes an Unarmed skill check to
defend. The thug gets 2 successes and Eleanor gets 3
successes; she successfully deflects the blow.
WILLPOWER (PRESENCE)
Willpower is a measure of a character’s ability to keep
their actions their own. Willpower checks are made
to resist another character’s Intimidation and Bluff
attempts, or to resist the effects of some drugs.
Sometimes a character will be exposed to mind-
bending horrors; in these situations Willpower is
used to resist fear; the DV of the check is based on
how terrifying the event in question is (see the Rules
section for more details).
Example: Pieter kicks down a door and finds himself
face-to-face with a cultist in the midst of an eldritch
ritual; at the center of the room something huge and
tenebrous squirms. The Gamemaster asks Pieter’s
player to make a Willpower skill check with a DV of
Skills
3. Pieter gets 1 success and the sight of the creature
causes him to back away in terror. Seizing his chance
the cultist flees through a secret door.
55
 BACKGROUNDS
Backgrounds represent financial and physical assets
of a character, as well social assets that may prove
useful. Backgrounds are purchased during character
generation but may also be bought with Experience
Points during play. Each Background has three levels.
CASH
Cash represents a lump sum of money that, once
spent, is gone forever. You might have earned the
money legitimately, been given it or even earned it
through less salubrious methods but, at the end of
the day, it’s yours to spend.
1 $50 starting cash
2 $100 starting cash
3 $400 starting cash
JOB
Upside; you have a reliable source of income, plus a
small amount of starting cash. Downside; you have
to earn it. The Job background means you have a
dependable income, as long as you keep turning up.
Short breaks are usually ok, but missing work for any
length of time might affect how much you earn from it.
Characters in Age of Steel are not intended to be
incredibly rich; more affluent citizens would have access
to magnitudes of money more than the values below.
1 $25 a month, $10 starting cash. You do shift-work
in a bar.
2 $50 a month, $20 starting cash. You have a
dependable, if unpleasant job.
3 $100 a month, $40 starting cash. You have a
decent job.
HIDEOUT
You have a building that you call home; maybe an
apartment in the city, or a corner office or even a
seedy bar you own. While you don’t need to pay rent,
you may need to invest time occasionally to keeping it
in your possession, or maybe tending to its upkeep.
Small hideout, no facilities. A small office or
Backgrounds
1
basement apartment.
2 Medium, some facilities. A townhouse or a bar.
3 Large, lots of facilities. A large house, manor or
warehouse.
56
PERSONAL VEHICLE
You own a vehicle; maybe a car or motorcycle, a rig or
maybe even an airship or seaplane. This vehicle has
seen you through a lot and, while it might not be the
best looking one out there, you’re very fond of it.
Vehicles purchased with this background cannot be
sold (at least for a significant amount), and vehicles
not in the list below cannot be purchased with
this background.
1 Motorcycle, Car, Truck, Airship (cutter)
2 Luxury car, Labour Rig, Rocketpack, Plane, Airship
(freighter)
3 Battle Rig, Fighter plane, Seaplane, Airship (heavy
freighter), Airship (recon)
FAVOUR
Someone owes you a favour. Perhaps you saved
someone’s life, or maybe it’s in exchange for a favour
you performed a while ago. In any case, someone
owes you a solid. Once called in, the favour is repaid.
1 Small favor. They’ll loan you up to $100 cash or
perform a risk-free task for you.
2 Moderate favor. They’ll loan you up to $200 cash or
perform a slightly risky task for you.
3 Huge favor. They’ll loan you up to $400 cash or
perform a highly risky task for you.
REPUTATION
You have a reputation. Maybe good, maybe bad, but
at the end of the day it gets you respect.
Rep may lower the DV of certain checks (such as
Charm or Intimidate) if the NPC in question has heard
of the character.
1 You are famous (or infamous) to a small group of
people. You could be the local hero of a small town,
a soldier well-known within their regiment or a pilot
known along a small stretch of the Kijani coast.
2 You are famous to a large group of people.
You could be a sports star known city-wide in
Queensport, a well-respected poet or a decorated
soldier.
3 You are famous to a huge number of people. You
could be a movie star, a well-known war-hero or
maybe a high-profile doctor.
 MOXIE POINTS
Moxie points represent a character’s luck, guile and
innate ability to pull off phenomenal successes in the
face of adversity.
Mechanically speaking, Moxie points are what
separates player characters from NPCs in Age of
Steel. Only player characters have and can spend
Moxie points.
Characters begin play with a number of Moxie points
dictated by the level of Adventure the Gamemaster is
running. Moxie points are a finite resource; once spent
they are gone. However, Gamemasters can award
Moxie points to players as rewards for completing an
Adventure, roleplaying well or succeeding goals.
Moxie points can be spent for certain bonuses, as
described below. When spending a Moxie point a
player must announce they are doing so before
rolling any dice.
INCREASED SUCCESSES FROM A
SKILL CHECK
Spending a Moxie point before making a skill check
will double the number of successes achieved.
Players can choose to spend either one, two or three
Moxie points to double, triple or quadruple their
successes respectively. If no successes are achieved,
the number of Moxie points spent count as successes
(i.e. one, two or three). Spending a Moxie point in this
manner ONLY counts towards successes on skill
checks (i.e. not on damage rolls or other rolls).
GRIT POINT RECOVERY
A player may spend a Moxie point to instantly recover
all their Grit Points. The character takes a slug from
a bottle of whisky, shakes themself off and gains a
second wind. Only one Moxie point can be spent per
scene in this manner.
TEMPORARY ARMOUR
A player may spend a single Moxie point to grant
themselves an Armour Value of 10 for the next combat
round. During this time bullets ricochet off cigarette
cases, miss the character by a hair’s breadth or are
otherwise near-misses. Only one Moxie point can be
spent per scene in this manner.
BONUS DAMAGE
Spending a Moxie point before rolling damage on
a successful attack will double the damage rolled.
Only one Moxie point can be spent per scene in this
manner.
SURVIVE DEATH
A character may spend a Moxie point to miraculously
survive an attack or other event that would otherwise
have caused their death. However while a character
will survive they will not be unscathed; using a Moxie
point this way will result in a Dramatic Injury (see
Combat section for details).
Bullets smacked into the wall, throwing chips of
stone across the room and irreparably defacing
the temple that had stood silent and unmolested
in the heart of the Kijani jungle for the better part
of two centuries. Alita couldn’t really bring herself
to care that much about the sanctity of the temple,
seeing how those bullets had been aimed at her.
That was more the remit of her client; the man
huddled next to her, gibbering with each crackle
of gunfire.
“They’re shooting at us!”
“Yes, doctor, I am painfully aware of the fact.”
Well, good thing Sipperman had hired her to do
more than just fly him to the ass-end of Kijani. Alita
di Pasolini was more than just a passenger service.
Pulling out her automatic, she darted around the
doorway and onto one knee, pistol cupped in two
hands, drawing a bead on the nearest mercenary.
It seemed the mercenary was a better class of
thug than she’d anticipated. A perfectly-timed
spray of bullets caught Alita full in the chest,
throwing her back through the doorway.
With a groan Alita rolled onto her stomach and
dragged herself back into cover.
“You’re… alive?” Sipperman looked at the half-
dozen holes in Alita’s flight jacket incredulously.
“How?”
With a grimace she pulled open her jacket and
eased out the ancient silver plate, now dented and
deformed by bullets. The doctor’s face went from
Moxie Points
concerned to disapproving.
Alita gave a sheepish grin.
“I was just borrowing it. Good thing I did, eh?”
They both ducked as more gunfire rattled across
the room.
57
 CHARACTER GENERATION
Before you can do anything else with your character,
first you need an idea of who and what they are.
CORE DETAILS
The Core Details of your character are their Name,
Nation and Concept.
NAME
What is your character’s name? Each nation has their
own naming conventions.
NATIONALITY
Which nation does your character hail from? Are they
a proud and noble Haldoran? A cosmopolitan and
tech-savvy member of the Litvian Empire? Do they
come from Kesh, Kijani or the Theocracy?
National identity is still an important concept to the
people of Neres; it also can help you think about how
your character was raised, how they look at the world
and what is important to them.
You can also use your characters nation to contrast;
is there something about their homeland they do not
like, or are ashamed of?
CONCEPT
Concept is exactly what it sounds like; the concept
behind your character! This should help you get into
character, explain to the Gamemaster and other
players what your character is and maybe help you
decide how your character would react to certain
situations.
Your concept can be anything from a single word,
such as “Engineer”, a character from a book or movie
“Allan Quatermain” or even a short sentence that
describes your character “washed-up gunslinger
turned gambler”.
Your concept could reflect your character’s
profession, or it could be a description of their
personality or moral outlook.
Character Generation
SPEND CHARACTER POINTS
Character points (CPs) are used to create the core of
your character; you use them to buy Statistics, Skills
and Backgrounds. It is important to note that Knacks
and Moxie Points are not purchased with Character
Points.
The number of CPs your character starts with is based
58
on the level of the adventure the Gamemaster is
running. Example adventure levels and the suggested
number of bonus Character Points a character playing
in them should start with are listed below:
Adventure CPs Example
Standard 20 Skirmishing with gangsters in the streets
of Eisenstadt
Heroic 25 Venturing into the jungles of Kijani in
pursuit of an ancient treasure
Superheroic 30 A lengthy adventure running from
Haldora to the depths of Kijani and back
Legendary 35 Battling the agents of the Coiled Ones
across the entire globe
BUYING STATS
All characters start with 1 point in each Stat (Physique,
Intellect and Presence) for free. Adding an additional
points costs a number of CP equal to the number of
points the character currently has in that stat (see
table below). The costs of buying more points is
cumulative. The maximum for any stat is 5 points but
players and Gamemasters should remember that
stats of 4 or 5 are considered extremely uncommon.
Stat CP cost Cumulative cost
1 Free 0
2 1 1
3 2 3
4 3 6
5 4 10
BUYING TRAINED AND MASTERED SKILLS
Characters do not start with any Trained skills. To buy
a Trained skill costs 1 CP. To Master a skill costs 2 CP;
this cost is cumulative with the 1 CP paid to already
learn the Trained skill, for a total of 3 CP to buy and
then Master a skill. It is advised that Gamemasters
do not allow players to Master any skills unless the
Adventure is Heroic or higher.
BUYING BACKGROUNDS
Characters do not start with any Backgrounds.
Backgrounds cost 1 CP per level purchased.
Characters are limited to 3 points worth of cumulative
Backgrounds for each level of adventure difficulty (see
below).
 Adventure Total background points STARTING EQUIPMENT
Standard 3 Characters may purchase a number of items of
equipment to begin the game with. The amount of
Heroic 6 money characters have to purchase equipment with is
based on the level of the adventure the Gamemaster
Superheroic 9 is running.
All characters start with a set of simple clothing for
Legendary 12 free; no one runs around naked!

Adventure Starting Money

CHOOSE KNACKS
Standard $350
Characters choose three skills to attach Knacks to.
Heroic $500
MOXIE POINTS
Superheroic $1000
All characters start with a number of Moxie Points
based on the Adventure level. Legendary $2000

Adventure Starting Moxie Points

Standard 3 AN EXAMPLE OF CHARACTER
Heroic 6 Chris sits down with a copy of the Age of Steel
Superheroic 9
Legendary 12
GRIT POINTS AND WOUNDS
Grit Points and Wounds are two stats that represent
how much damage your character can physically take
before they begin the messy business of dying.
GRIT POINTS
Grit Points represent near-misses, bruises, small cuts
and other minor injuries. They can also represent a
character’s ‘Luck’ that slowly wears down as they are
in combat. All characters have 40 Grit Points.
All Grit Points are instantly recovered at the end of a
scene. Grit Points can also be received during a scene
by using Moxie Points, the Medicine skill or by using
certain items of equipment.
WOUNDS
Wounds represent serious injuries that will require
GENERATION
rulebook to create a new character for James’
upcoming game.
Chris already has an idea for a character; he’s a big fan
of the Uncharted series and likes the idea of a Nathan
Drake-style character; a nice guy who keeps getting
himself into tricky situations and who’s not entirely
clean cut.
After reading through the nation overviews, Chris
decides he likes the idea of his character being from
the Litvian Empire, specifically Riland. He writes
‘Litvian Empire - Rilander’ in the Nationality space of
his character sheet.
After thinking about what it is about Nathan Drake
that appeals to him specifically, Chris decides to write
‘happy-go-lucky tomb robber’ in the Concept space
of his character sheet. It’s a good summary of how he
wants his character to behave and a brief description
of the kind of thing the character gets up to.
Looking at the list of suggested Rilander names,
Chris decides that he likes the name Marco. He
notices that Rilanders often have multiple names so
adds Luchano as a middle name and then comes
Character Generation

medical attention to fix. Each character has a number
of Wounds equal to their Physique stat. Wounds can
be recovered by using the Medicine skill or by using
certain items of equipment.
up with the surname ‘di Palma’. He likes the idea of
his character introducing himself with his full name
wherever possible; “Marco Luchano di Palma, at your
service”. He writes this name in the Name space on
the characters sheet.

James -the Gamemaster- has told Chris the game

is going to be a Heroic level adventure, so Chris has

59
 25 Character Points (CP) to spend on creating his
character.
To start with Chris wants Marco to be physically
capable; he sees lots of climbing temples, running
away from bad guys, and jumping off cliffs in this
character’s future. He decides to spend 3 CP straight
away on raising Marco’s Physique to 3 (1 point to raise
to 2, 2 points to raise it then to 3).
Brains are not Marco’s strongest point, so Chris only
puts 1 CP into raising his Intellect stat to 2, making
Marco about average in that department.
Guile and charm are Marco’s second strongest
feature, Chris decides, and so spends 3 CP increasing
his Presence to 3.
Chris has spent a total of 7 CP on Stats, leaving him
with 18 for Skills and Backgrounds.
Moving on to skills, Chris picks out several skills he
wants Marco to have: Athletics (for all that climbing,
running, and jumping); Firearms (for when things go
bad); Security (he is a tomb robber, after all); Stealth
(again, tomb robber); Awareness (to spot traps);
Education (he needs to know a bit about tombs,
after all); Bluff (because things rarely go smoothly);
Linguistics (Marco’s a travelling sort); and finally
Streetwise (for selling off those stolen artefacts).
Raising each of these skills to Trained costs a total of
9 CP (1 CP per skill), leaving Chris with 9 CP. As the
adventure is Heroic, and having already checked
with James, Chris decides to take a single Mastered
skill. He decides that he will increase Marco’s Bluff
to Mastered, spending 2 CP to do so; Marco is really
good at talking himself out of danger.
After spending the CP, Chris puts ticks in all the
Trained boxes on Marco’s characters sheet for the
skills that he bought. He ticks the Mastered box next
to Bluff as well.
Chris has now spent a total of 18 CP.
Looking at the Backgrounds, Chris wants Marco to
have his own airship for getting around. By spending
2 CP on the Personal Vehicle Background, Chris can
get Marco a Freighter-class airship. A much-repaired
and very battered-looking old blimp by the name of
Osprey. Chris notes this down on the sheet and also
writes down a few notes on the Osprey; how Marco
Character Generation
won it in a game of poker and tends to sleep aboard it.
Chris also wants Marco to have a bit of a reputation
in the underworld. He spends 1 CP on the Reputation
Background, meaning he is known to a small group of
people. Chris decides that group is the Underworld of
Marco’s hometown.
Finally Chris spends another 1 CP on the Favour
Background. Marco has someone somewhere that
60
owes him a small favour; maybe it’ll come in handy
during the adventure.
This gives Marco a total of 4 points in Backgrounds;
below the maximum total of 6 for a Heroic Adventure.
Chris does a quick total of all the CP he’s spent so far
and realises he still has 3 CP left over. While he could
spend it on a few more skills, Chris decides that he
wants Marco to be a bit more robust and so decides
to spend all 3 CP on boosting Marco’s Physique to 4.
Having now spent all his CP, Chris moves on to
Knacks, Moxie, and Grit and Wounds.
For his Knacks, Chris decides that Marco will be
naturally skilled at Bluff (Marco is now incredibly good
at smooth-talk), Pilot (he’s not trained in the skill, but
he has a natural aptitude for flying the Osprey), and
Security (he’s always had a way with locks).
Chris marks these Knacks by ticking the box next to
each skill on the character sheet.
As the Adventure is Heroic Marco starts with 6 Moxie
points. Chris writes this in the relevant box on the
character sheet.
All characters have 40 Grit Points, so Chris writes that
in the box on the character sheet. As Marco has a
Physique of 4 he also has 4 Wounds. Chris notes this
down as well.
Because of the adventure level, Marco starts with
$500. Chris notes this down and moves to the
Equipment chapter of the book.
Chris wants Marco to have a trusty pistol and so buys
him a light revolver for $50 and also buys 2 boxes of
bullets for a total of $10.
Tomb robbing is a dangerous business, and Chris
sees Marco as the type to get into trouble, so he also
spends $50 on a Silk Vest for some armour.
All characters start with a free set of Simple Clothing,
but Chris decides to buy Marco some Hot Weather
Gear for $30; he imagines Marco will be the type to
have spare clothing aboard the Osprey.
Finally Chris combs through the Adventuring
equipment list and buys a number of items such as
rope, survival gear, lock picks and a backpack. He
writes down all the items he’s bought on the character
sheet.
Marking down his remaining cash, Chris decides
Marco is ready for adventure!
 EQUIPMENT
In the post-war period of the current age, Neres is a
world of technological development and discovery.
Countless new weapons, medical technologies and
other inventions were created during the Great War
and now, with the reopening of international trade
between the Great Nations, there is no limit to what is
available.
Adventurers with the ability to travel between the
Great Nations and with large amounts of expendable
wealth, are keen to purchase anything new and
cutting edge, and many entrepreneurs count on such
individuals to make their fortune.
Currently there are few laws on the international trade
of military goods such as weapons, armour and Battle
Rigs; in most places the ownership of such items is
completely legal and limited only by the finances of
would-be owners.
CURRENCY
Each of the Great Nations has its own currency; the
Third Kingdom uses the Crown; the Theocracy has
the Kathedra; the currency of the Litvian Empire is the
Mark; the Republic of Kesh uses the Scale and the
Free Nations of Kijani use the relatively new Eagle.
With the end of the Great War and the reopening of
trade between the various nations, coinage travels
across borders and many adventurers will often find
themselves with a pocket full of different coins and
notes.
In practical terms, while the worth of various
currencies fluctuates over time in response to the sale
of goods across the world, by and large this won’t be
of too much concern to adventurers. Regardless of
the currency used, the prices of all equipment listed
in this section is fixed and although prices are listed
in Litvian Marks ($) they would be exactly the same in
Crowns, Kathedras, Scales and Eagles.
Each currency is subdivided into its own subunit: 1
Crown is made up of 100 Crests; 1 Kathedra is made
up of 100 Orbs; 1 Mark is made up of 100 Pennies; 1
Scale is made up of 100 Rings; 1 Eagle is made up of
100 Talons.
AVERAGE INCOMES
Although there are variations in pay depending on
country, region and profession, below are some
example average yearly incomes. These figures
represent someone working full weekly hours
(something most characters don’t do, due to all the
adventuring).
Profession Yearly Income Monthly Income
Staff in a dive bar $900 $75
Office worker $1200 $100
Civil servant $1440 $120
Soldier, enlisted $1320 $110
Soldier, Officer $1560 $130
Member of Government $2400 $200
By comparison, most player characters in Age of
Steel have odd income patterns. On one hand, they
have a less reliable income but at the same time all
they need is one good adventure to bring in a large
windfall of cash. But, once spent, adventurers often
find themselves back to living off their wits.
WHAT IS A MARK WORTH?
What does a Mark (or a Crown, or a Kathedra) get
you? Small daily items such as a loaf of bread or a
sandwich from a convenience store will costs less
than $1. Something costing around $5 is a once-a-
week purchase for most people; something usually
considered either a treat or a routine requirement.
Expensive luxuries cost around $10, most people
would save for a few weeks to afford something
like this. $50 is an investment to most people; it
represents a couple of months of saving. Anything
worth $100 or more is a serious investment for most
people, such as a car.
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
For centuries most of Neres has used the Haldoran
system of measurements. Lengths are measured in
miles, yards, feet, and inches. Weights are measured
in tons, stones, pounds, and ounces. Volumes are
measured in gallons, quarts, pints, and fluid ounces.
Recently some nations (such as Kesh and Kijani) have
begun using the Litvian system of units, in which
Equipment
lengths are measured in kilometers, meters, and
centimeters; weights measured in tonnes, kilograms,
and grams; volumes are measured in litres and
milliliters. The following chapter lists values using the
Haldoran system.
61
 WEAPONS
Despite the fact that the Great War has been over
for four years, Neres remains a dangerous place.
Most people have access to some kind of weapon
and those who travel the world often carry a pistol or
some other weapon as a means of self-defence.
A weapon’s legality depends on where you are. No
one would look twice at a character openly wearing
a pistol on his belt in any part of Kijani, or in Driftport.
The same character would do well to conceal it while
visiting the gleaming metropolis of Eisenstadt. Larger
weapons such as rifles and submachine guns follow
similar rules, although carrying such weapons openly
will attract unwanted attention, even in the most
disreputable of locations.
WEAPON STATS
All weapons in Age of Steel have the following stats:
Damage (DMG)
This indicates the amount of damage a hit from the
weapon inflicts on a target. Damage is listed in d6 (six
sided dice) which are rolled and added together.
Range (RNG)
Only ranged weapons have a range stat; this
indicates the maximum range of the weapon in
yards. Attempting to hit a target at the listed range is
possible, but difficult. Generally weapons are much
more effective at closer ranges.
Magazine (Mag)
Only ranged weapons have a magazine stat; this
indicates how many shots the weapon can fire
before it needs to reload. The cost of a magazine of
ammunition is noted next in the description of each
weapon.
Qualities
Any special qualities the weapon has, such as Blast or
Incendiary, are listed here. See the Weapon Qualities
section below for specific rules.
WEAPON QUALITIES
Some weapons have special qualities; rules which
come into effect in certain situations.
Equipment
Automatic (x)
Automatic weapons are capable of automatic fire,
shooting a number of bullets with each squeeze of
the trigger. This makes hitting targets at close range
much easier, although they eat through ammunition
62
at a much greater rate.
At close range a character using an Automatic
weapon gains a bonus 2d6 to their attack roll.
However, each attack with an automatic weapon
consumes a number of bullets equal to the number in
parentheses.
Blast (x)
Blast weapons do damage in a radius equal to the
number in parentheses in yards. A successful Average
(DV 2) Reflexes check allows a character to throw
themselves aside at the last minute, only sustaining
half damage (rounding up). In situations where an
explosion is inescapable (trapped in a tiny room for
example) a Gamemaster can rule there may be no roll
to halve damage.
Disintegration
Weapons with the Disintegration quality are especially
deadly, literally reducing their targets to dust with a
successful hit. A target reduced to 0 Wounds by a
Disintegration weapon is instantly killed, rather than
becoming incapacitated, with no chance of revival.
Spending a Moxie point will allow a character to avoid
being disintegrated, as per the usual ‘Avoid death’
rules for Moxie Points.
Incendiary
Incendiary weapons spread burning fuel over their
target, granting a chance to set the target on fire. Any
flammable target hit by an Incendiary weapon must
make an Average (DV 2) Reflexes check or catch fire.
Targets set on fire will take additional damage each
round, see the Rules section for more details.
Heavy
Heavy weapons are designed for use by Rigs and are
so heavy and have so much recoil they are unusable
by normal humans. Only characters piloting a Rig or a
heavy Rig can use Heavy weapons.
Mounted
Mounted weapons are even heavier than Heavy
weapons and are only found mounted on vehicles or
heavy battle rigs.
Penetrating
Weapons with the Penetrating quality punch through
armour with ease. When a Penetrating weapon hits
a target the target’s armour is halved (rounding up)
before calculating damage taken.
Reach
Melee weapons with the Reach quality are longer
than usual and give the user a slight advantage in
combat. A character attacking with a Reach weapon
gains a bonus 1d6 to their attack roll.
Heavy Revolver
A large, high-caliber revolver. Famous for its recoil and
stopping power, heavy revolvers are carried by those
who mean business. A box of 30 bullets for a heavy
revolver costs $10.

Scatter Self-loading Pistol

Weapons with the Scatter quality (usually shotguns)
fire a cloud of projectiles rather than a single bullet. In
close quarters these weapons are especially deadly;
when fired at close range Scatter weapons inflict +1d6
damage.
Throwing
Throwing weapons can be thrown with a with a range
of 10 plus the thrower’s Physique in yards. Throwing
weapon attacks are resolved using the Athletics skill,
opposed by the target’s Reflexes skill.
Two-handed
Two-handed weapons are large and heavy and
require two hands to use properly. Using a two-
handed weapon one-handed increases the DV of all
attack checks by 1.
CONVENTIONAL RANGED
WEAPONS
A relatively new weapon, the self-loading pistol fires
bullets from a vertical magazine and recocks itself
with every shot. A box of 50 bullets for a self-loading
pistol costs $8.
Shotgun, Pump-action
The single-barrelled pump-action shotgun is a
versatile and deadly firearm that saw a lot of use in
the trenches of the Great War. A box of 40 shotgun
shells costs $20.
Shotgun, Break-action
Primarily used for hunting, the double-barrelled
break-action shotgun also makes a formidable
weapon. A box of 40 shotgun shells costs $20.
Shotgun, Sawn-off
An illegal modification of a break-action shotgun,
sawn-offs are commonly used by less-than-savory
characters. A box of 40 shotgun shells costs $20.

Below are listed the most common ranged weapons

Combat Rifle
in Neres. Following the Great War such weapons are
Combat rifle is a catch-all term for rifles used by the
reasonably easy to come by.
military. During the Great War such weapons were
universally bolt- or lever-action weapons, but since
Light Revolver
the end of the war new self-loading versions have
A small, low-caliber revolver. Favoured by private
become more common. Regardless of the action,
investigators, street toughs and anyone who prefers
combat rifles fire a single shot per pull of the trigger.
to have a little advantage when the chips are down. A
Following the end of the war thousands of these
box of 30 bullets for a light revolver costs $5.
weapons made their way into civilian hands. A box of
50 rifle bullets costs $25.

Weapon DMG RNG Mag Cost Qualities

Light Revolver 2d6 80 6 $50

Heavy Revolver 3d6 100 6 $100

Self-loading Pistol 2d6 100 10 $80

Shotgun, Pump-action 3d6 40 8 $200 Scatter, Two-handed

Shotgun, Break-action 3d6 40 2 $120 Scatter, Two-handed

Shotgun, Sawn-off 3d6 20 2 $150 Scatter

Equipment

Combat Rifle 5d6 500 10 $250 Two-handed

Carbine 4d6 300 8 $200 Two-handed

Bow 2d6 200 1 $120 Two-handed

Crossbow 3d6 80 1 $80 Two-handed

63
 Carbine
A shorter version of the combat rifle, carbines were
intended to be fired from horseback or used in the
narrow confines of the trenches. Like combat rifles
thousands of them made their way into civilian hands
at the end of the Great War. A box of 50 rifle bullets
costs $25.
Bow
An archaic weapon that still finds favour with hunters
and enthusiasts. A quiver of 20 arrows costs $5.
Crossbow
Another archaic weapon that still has a small fanbase,
crossbows are sometimes used by assassins due to
their silent nature. A case of 20 bolts costs $5.
CONVENTIONAL MELEE WEAPONS
Melee weapons such as knives and clubs are still
quite common among the more rough and tumble
elements of modern society. Other weapons such a
swords and whips are commonly found in the hands
of enthusiasts or eccentrics.
weapons are unlikely to last for more than a few swings.
Large Club/Improvised
A heavy, two-handed weapon such as a
sledgehammer or even an archaic warhammer. Large
improvised weapons that require two hands to swing
such as chairs, statues, and heavy benches also count
as large clubs.
Brass Knuckles
Brass Knuckles are a common street toughs preferred
weapon. A band of metal shaped to fit over the
knuckles and turn a simple punch into a deadly blow,
brass knuckles are cheap and easy to conceal. Brass
knuckles are used with Unarmed skill rather than
the Melee skill. They add their damage to the base
Unarmed damage of the character (see the Combat
chapter for details).
Sword
Swords are still a reasonably common weapon,
despite the advances made in firearms. Many officers
carried sabres during the Great War, and the nobility
of Haldora are still keen practicers of honour duels.

Knife/Bayonet
Axe
A large knife favoured by street toughs and
A tool that sometimes finds use as a weapon, axes
frontiersmen. Bayonets were issued to all troops
were often used in trench warfare during the Great War.
during the Great War; when wielded by hand they
count as a knife. When attached to a rifle or shotgun a
Machete
bayonet counts as a spear.
Any good explorer will always have a machete at his
side, and more often than not they find themselves
Club/Improvised
using them to hack at more than foliage.
Clubs come in many forms, from heavy cudgels
carried by the police to the intricately carved weapons
Whip
used by tribesmen in the depths of the Kijani jungles.
An uncommon weapon but favored by some eccentrics.
Improvised weapons such as pieces of wood, vases,
and bar stools also count as clubs, although such

Weapon DMG RNG Mag Cost Qualities

Knife/Bayonet 1d6 n/a n/a $5 Throwing

Club/Improvised 2d6 n/a n/a $10

Large Club/Improvised 4d6 n/a n/a $50 Two-handed

Brass Knuckles +1d6 n/a n/a $5

Sword 3d6 n/a n/a $60

Axe 4d6 n/a n/a $40 Two-handed

Equipment

Machete 3d6 n/a n/a $40

Whip 1d6 n/a n/a $20 Reach

Spear 3d6 n/a n/a $30 Reach

Javelin 2d6 n/a n/a $20 Throwing

64
 Weapon DMG RNG Mag Cost Qualities

Submachine Gun 3d6 150 50 $250 Automatic(5), Two-handed

Howitzer Pistol 4d6 70 8 $300 Heavy, Penetrating

Buster Rifle 6d6 300 20 $500 Heavy, Two-handed, Penetrating

Flamethrower 5d6 30 25 $750 Automatic(5), Two-handed, Incendiary, Penetrating

Machinegun 5d6 1000 100 $500 Automatic (4), Two-handed

Anti-Rig Rifle 6d6 500 1 $600 Two-handed, Penetrating

Gatkiss Rocket 8d6 500 1 $300 Blast (3), Two-handed, Penetrating

Heavy Machinegun 6d6 1500 250 $800 Mounted, Automatic (5), Penetrating

Light Cannon 8d6 3000 1 $900 Mounted, Blast (5), Penetrating

Heavy Cannon 10d6 6000 1 $1000 Mounted, Blast (8), Penetrating

Light Artillery 10d6 1000 1 $1200 Mounted, Blast (10)

Heavy Artillery 12d6 2500 1 $1500 Mounted, Blast (20)

Spear Flamethrower
Many of the tribes deep within the jungles of Kijani Carried by both foot troops and Rigs, flamethrowers
still make use of spears. When attached to a rifle are deadly and terrifying weapons capable of filling
Bayonets count as a spear. a trench with flaming death in seconds. A canister of
fuel for a flamethrower containing 25 shots costs $50.
Javelin
A lightweight spear designed for throwing. Machinegun
A fully-automatic weapon that became rightly feared
during the Great War for sending thousands of
MILITARY RANGED WEAPONS
soldiers to their deaths. Machineguns are normally
Although the military make use of weapons such as
mounted on a tripod and must be fired from a braced
revolvers, carbines and combat rifles, certain weapons
position to combat their fierce recoil. However,
such as artillery and machine guns are found almost
characters with Physique of 4 or more can carry
exclusively in their hands.
and shoot a machinegun from the hip. A box of 100
machinegun bullets costs $60.
Submachine Gun
Also known as the Trench Broom or the Chattergun,
the submachine gun is an automatic carbine capable
Anti-Rig Rifle
A large bolt-action rifle used by infantry to take down
of spitting out dozens of bullets a minute. A single
rigs and other vehicles. The recoil is so powerful it
drum of 50 bullets for a submachine gun costs $15.
must be fired from a braced position, such as kneeling
Cheaper stick magazines are available for $6 but they
or lying down. Due to the size of the bullets fired, the
only contain 20 bullets.
rifle must be reloaded after every shot. A case of 20
bullets for an anti-rig rifle costs $15.
Howitzer Pistol
The Howitzer pistol is a Rig-sized revolver that fires
huge 0.9 calibre bullets. A box of 20 bullets for a
Gatkiss Rocket
Although there are several different manufacturers
howitzer pistol costs $24.
of these weapons they are almost universally
known as Gatkiss Rockets after the inventor and
Buster Rifle
initial manufacturer. Gatkiss rockets are shoulder-
Buster rifles are the standard armament of Rigs.
launched anti-vehicle rockets that are fired from a
Resembling a huge bolt-action rifle, the Buster fires
Equipment

reusable launcher. Gatkiss rockets are also sometimes

huge 0.9 calibre bullets capable of breaking open a
mounted on Rigs. A single Gatkiss rocket costs $250
Rig or reducing an unarmoured soldier to paste. A box
(the launcher is only worth $50).
of 40 bullets for a buster rifle costs $48.

65
 Weapon DMG RNG Mag Cost Qualities

Trench Knife 2d6 n/a n/a $30

Rig Knife 4d6 n/a n/a $50 Heavy, Penetrating

Pneumatic Pike 6d6 n/a n/a $80 Heavy, Reach, Penetrating

Heavy Machinegun trench knife also incorporates a set of brass knuckles,

Found mounted on airships, heavy battle rigs and
fighter planes. Heavy machineguns are designed to
chew apart vehicles and shred infantry in seconds. A
box of 250 machinegun bullets costs $200.
Light Cannon
Light cannon are found mounted on airships and
heavy battle rigs. Light cannon fire large 3-inch shells
that explode on impact. A single light cannon shell
costs $90.
Heavy Cannon
Found on heavy airships and as ground
emplacements. Heavy cannon fire 5-inch shells
capable of levelling buildings. A single heavy cannon
shell costs $100.
Light Artillery
Found on some specialised heavy battle rigs and
also as ground emplacements, light artillery or field
mortars are anti-infantry weapons. A single light
artillery shell costs $120.
Heavy Artillery
Found only as ground emplacements, heavy artillery
are anti-infantry weapons capable of decimating
entire squads in a single shell. A single heavy artillery
shell costs $150.
MILITARY MELEE WEAPONS
Just as only certain ranged weapons are found in the
hands of the military, so are some melee weapons;
usually those intended for use by Rigs.
Trench Knife
A weapon designed for use in the chaotic hurly-
burly of trench warfare, the trench knife is capable
of punching through armour with ease. The hilt of a
allowing the user to punch and slash with the weapon.
Rig Knife
More of a sword than a knife, the Rig Knife is a Rig-
sized blade capable of cutting through sheet steel in a
single blow.
Pneumatic Pike
A rare weapon, the Pneumatic pike is carried by
some Rigs, particularly the Theocracy Imperial Cadre.
Capable of doubling its length in a split-second, the
pike is a deadly weapon in the right hands.
EXPLOSIVES
Explosives come in a number of forms and are used
for a range of purposes, including warfare.
Grenades and Firebombs are almost universally illegal
for non-military personnel to own, which is why many
criminals repurpose mining explosives.
Grenade
Grenades come in a variety of shapes and sizes but
all share the same function; to explode and scatter
deadly shrapnel in all directions. Grenades are
primarily anti-personnel weapons.
Smoke Bomb
Smoke bombs are simple devices that fill an area with
thick, obscuring smoke. When used a smoke bomb
fills a 10 yard area with smoke. Anyone within this area
suffers penalties for fighting with obscured vision.
Firebomb
Firebombs are small glass vials filled with flammable
liquid and with a burning fuse attached. Improvised
firebombs are sometimes made by simply sticking a
burning rag into a bottle of spirits.

Weapon DMG RNG Mag Cost Qualities

Equipment

Grenade 5d6 Thrown n/a $20 Blast (5), Throwing

Smoke Bomb -- Thrown n/a $15 Throwing, Special

Firebomb 3d6 Thrown n/a $15 Incendiary, Throwing, Penetrating

TNT Stick 3d6 Thrown n/a $12 Blast (3), Throwing

66
 Weapon DMG RNG Mag Cost Qualities

Anslertech Pistol 5d6 40 12 $300 Disintegration

Anslertech Rifle 7d6 400 8 $500 Disintegration

Pulse Grenade 6d6 Thrown n/a $50 Blast (3), Throwing

TNT Stick powered by Anslertech Powercells, one cell will fully

Iconic red sticks of TNT, an industrial mining explosive,
are an improvised but deadly weapon. Commonly
used by criminals to blow open bank vaults,
they also make their way into the hands of more
pyrotechnically-inclined adventurers.
reload a rifle. Due to the more powerful blasts, rifles
fire fewer charges per Powercell than pistols.
Pulse Grenade
Pulse grenades are explosives that send out a wave
of deadly energy rather than shrapnel.

BOMBS
Bombs dropped by airships and aeroplanes during
the Great War ranged in size and function from
small bomblets the size of grenades to the huge
4,000lbs ‘Executioner’ bombs designed to destroy
entire city blocks. Obtaining these weapons in
modern-day Neres is highly difficult and as such
stats for them are not presented here. Bombs
should be used as more of a roleplaying device;
if the players are faced with a bombing raid they
should use their skills and guile to avoid damage,
rather than usual combat mechanics. Big enough
bombs will kill dozens if not hundreds of people
and reduce buildings to rubble.
EXPERIMENTAL WEAPONS
Experimental weapons employ the seldom-
understood principles developed by Ansler and his
pupils. Very rarely are any two such weapons the
same as most are made individually by isolated
inventors. Experimental weapons fire a mixture of
deadly energies, such as fire, light, sonic blasts or
even beams of negative space.
Anslertech Pistol
A small pistol-sized energy weapon that fires beams
of searing light. A range of such weapons can be
found in the various markets and traders across
Neres, and each of them vary in design and origin.
Due to their complexity and the exotic nature of their
construction, there are no factories that produce
these pistols; each is hand-made by an inventor.
These pistols are powered by Anslertech Powercells,
one cell will fully reload a pistol.
ARMOUR
A good suit of armour often means the difference
between life and death. During the Great War a
number of different types of armour were developed,
most of them intended to protect troops during
the deadly trench warfare. Since the end of the
war such suits of armour can be found in the many
marketplaces and bazaars of Neres.
Thick Leather Jacket
Although just plain leather, sometimes a stout jacket
will slow blows and bullets enough to save a life.
What’s more, it won’t draw any attention to the wearer.
Many adventurers wear leather jackets; quite often
aviator jackets or trench coats left over from the Great
War.
Silk Vest
Silk vests are an uncommon form of armour, popular
before the Great War and still available from specific
traders. Made from multiple layers of silk and canvas,
silk vests are easily concealed beneath other clothing,
or sometimes are even designed to look like everyday
clothing.
Flak Armour
Made from layers of canvas and steel plates, flak
vests were issued to every soldier in the Great War
and are capable of stopping -or at least slowing- even
Armour Armour Value Cost
Thick Leather Jacket 2 $25
Silk Vest 4 $50
Equipment

Flak Armour 6 $200

Anslertech Rifle Steel Vest 8 $300

A rifle-sized energy weapon that fires beams of Storm Armour 10 $600
searing light. Like Anslertech Pistols, these rifles are
Anslertech Suit 12 $2000+
custom made and highly sought after. These rifles are

67
 rifle bullets. Following the end of the War thousands
of suits of flak armour went missing from supply
depots, finding their way onto the black market.
Typically a suit of flak armour is sold with a steel
helmet.
Steel Vest
A much heavier version of flak armour, with far more
steel in its construction, steel vests were issued to
assault troops during the Great War to protect them
during trench assaults. Typically sold with a visored
steel helmet.
Storm Armour
Storm armour is a full suit of steel armour worn over
a canvas undersuit and with a fully-enclosed helmet
that incorporates a gas mask. Such suits were issued
to important officers or squads of elite soldiers during
the war.
Anslertech Suit
Anslertech suits are experimental armour designed
by inventors. As such, most such suits are unique and
Equipment
Gerhart Zweifler in his personal suit of Anslertech armour.
68
incorporate any number of strange protective devices
such as magnetic field generators, strange alloys and
odd material weaves. More often than not they will
also incorporate weapons and equipment, such as
grapnel launchers and rocketpacks. Some suits even
boost the strength and reflexes of the wearer, granting
bonus dice to Physique checks. When such suits
appear on the market they are usually snapped up by
eager collectors within minutes. Anslertech suits are
unique items and each one should be designed by
the player and Gamemaster.
All suits of Anslertech armour cost a minimum of
$2000. Any extra systems such as Rocketpacks,
grapnel guns and telescopes add additional cost to
the suit. Adding a strength or skill-enhancing function
costs $250 for a 1d6 bonus. A suit can have up to
$1000 of extra systems built into it.
Anslertech armour also require Anslertech Powercells
to function. A single Powercell will power a suit for
24 hours.
EQUIPMENT
Only a foolhardy adventurer runs off with only a pistol
and a leather jacket. Rope, toolkits and medical
supplies can mean the difference between life and
death, success and failure.
There are countless pieces of equipment an
adventure-seeking individual could purchase, but the
most significant and useful are listed below.
CLOTHING
Since the Great War the fashion industry has
blossomed and dieselpunks and adventurers are
known for their eclectic sense of style as much as
their exciting adventures.
Item Cost
Simple clothing $10
Expensive clothing $25+
Cold weather gear $30
Jungle gear $30
Hot weather gear $30
Simple clothing
Simple clothing represents what most people wear
on a day-to-day basis. Inexpensive, functional and
marginally decorative, such clothing includes shirts,
slacks, blouses, skirts, boots, shoes, hats and so on
made from linen and wool. Every character starts with
a free set of simple clothing.
Expensive clothing Item Cost
Expensive clothing is worn by the rich and famous or
Rope $2
by people wanting to appear so. Fabrics tend to be
silks and cottons, with expensive cuts and dyes. Such Climbing gear $12
clothing is rarely functional; it’s intended to be worn to Telescope $10
high society functions, not while adventuring. Survival gear $15

Holster $1
Cold weather gear
Thick furs and woollen clothing, designed to help Quickdraw holster $4
explorers in regions such as the polar ice caps and at Ammo Bandolier $6
the top of mountain ranges. Characters wearing cold
Backpack $3
weather gear do not need to make tests for extreme
cold damage. Oil lantern $4

Torches $4
Jungle gear Candles $2
Thin cotton, breathable linen and wide-brimmed hats
Spirit lighter $2
designed to help explorers in regions such as the
jungles of Kijani. Jungle gear does not grant immunity Box of matches $0.50
to any extremes of heat, but it does keep characters First aid kit $6
comfortable in high humidity.
Doctor’s kit $60

Hot weather gear Tool kit $6

Thin cotton robes, breathable linen and protective Mechanic’s kit $60
headscarves designed to help explorers in regions Lock picks $6
such as the deserts of Kesh. Characters wearing hot
Burglar’s tools $60
weather gear do not need to make tests for extreme
heat damage. Gasmask $20

Field radio $100

ADVENTURING EQUIPMENT
Firearms kit $20
Adventuring equipment encompasses devices and
items that are essential for exploring tombs, caves Horse $200
and jungles. Most of these items can be procured Riding gear $20
from hardware stores or specific suppliers.
Holster
Rope A hip or shoulder holster for a pistol.
30 feet of good hemp rope.
Quickdraw holster
Climbing gear A holster for a pistol that allows a character to draw
A 30 foot length of rope, a grappling hook, a set of it a lot faster than normal. A character can draw a
crampons, a set of 10 spikes and a small hammer. weapon from a quickdraw holster as a free action.
Grants a 1d6 bonus to Athletics skill checks to do with
climbing. Ammo Bandolier
Allows a character to hold ammunition in easy-to-
Telescope reach pouches.
With 10x zoom. Could be used to grant a 1d6 bonus to
Awareness skill checks in some situations. Backpack
A rugged backpack allowing a character to store and
Survival gear carry a number of items of equipment.
Equipment

A set of tools and equipment for surviving in difficult

terrain. Includes a compass, sextant, a small blade Oil lantern
and matches. Grants a 1d6 bonus to Survival skill A sturdy brass lantern that burns oil and gives a good
checks. level of light. An oil lantern will burn for an hour and
cast bright light in a 25 foot radius before it needs to

69
 be refuelled. A bottle of oil for a lantern, which will
refill a lantern entirely, costs $2.
Torches
A bundle of 3 wooden torches with oil-soaked rags
wound around them. They give poor light but are
cheap and easy to find. A torch will burn for half an
hour and cast moderate light in a 15 foot radius before
it burns out and is expended.
Candles
A pack of 5 wax candles. A candle will burn for an hour
and cast moderate light in a 5 foot radius before it
burns out and is expended.
Spirit lighter
A spirit lighter is a small mechanical firelighter that
runs off a small internal reservoir of flammable spirits.
Used to light fires and cigarettes, spirit lighters are
popular amongst the more roguish elements of
society. If used as a lightsource, a spirit lighter will
burn for 15 minutes and cast dim light in a 5 foot
radius before it needs to be refuelled. Refilling a
lighter costs $1.
Box of matches
A single match will burn for a minute and cast dim
light in a 5 foot radius before it burns out and is
expended. A box usually contains about 50 matches.
First aid kit
A bag containing gauze, ointments and other
equipment. Allows a character to perform Medical
checks without penalty.
Doctor’s kit
A comprehensive bag of medical supplies. Allows a
character to perform Medical checks without penalty
and also grants a 1d6 bonus to Medical checks.
Tool kit
A small leather bag containing a few spanners,
hammers and screwdrivers. Enough to perform
rudimentary repairs away from a workshop. A tool kit
is allows a character to perform Mechanics checks
without penalty.
Mechanic’s kit
Equipment
A large metal case with socket sets, spanners, pliers
and all manner of other tools. Allows a character
to perform Mechanics checks without penalty and
grants a 1d6 bonus to Mechanics checks.
70
Lock picks
Allows a character to perform Security checks without
penalty.
Burglar’s tools
Allows a character to perform Security checks without
penalty and grants a 1d6 bonus to Security checks.
Gasmask
A canvas and leather hood with glass eye pieces
that protects a wearer from mustard gas and other
airborne toxins. While wearing a gasmask a character
is immune to any airborne toxins or gases.
Field radio
A large, backpack mounted radio set powered by a
small hand-cranked (or in some cases Anslertech)
generator. A field radio allows radio communication
with a range of up to 5 miles (although mountains and
other terrain can negatively affect the range).
Firearms kit
A kit for cleaning and maintaining firearms of any kind.
This kit also allows a user to create new ammunition,
with a variety of bullet casts, powder scales and other
tools. Materials for creating ammunition must be
bought separately (see the crafting section for details).
Horse
While no longer essential to the military or industry,
horses remain highly popular in most the Great
Nations as riding animals.
Riding Gear
Riding gear consists of a saddle, bridle and other
items of tack used when riding a horse. Riding a horse
without riding gear will increase the DV of all Handle
Animal checks.
FOOD & DRINK
The various countries of Neres offer a wealth of
different foods. Indeed, it is one of the benefits of a life
of adventure; constantly trying new and interesting
dishes in exotic locations.
Below are a selection of typical meal costs.
Simple meal
A small simple meal, such as enjoyed by the majority
of people. Although filling a simple meal will sustain a
character for half a day.
 Item Cost Item Cost
Simple meal $1 Taxi $1 per 2 miles travelled
Hearty meal $2 Tram $1 per ticket
Extravagant meal $5 Airship, local $5 - $50
Mug of beer $0.25 Airship, long-distance $100 - $250
Glass of wine $1 Train, local $10 - $70
Glass of spirits $0.50 Train, long-distance $120 - $200
Bottle of wine $3 Boat, long-distance $200 - $500
Bottle of spirits $2 Seaplane $100 - $300

Travel modifiers
Hearty meal
Budget -25%
A large filling meal that will sustain a character for an
entire day. Luxury +50%

Low Profile +25%

Extravagant meal
An expensive meal typically enjoyed by those with
money to spare. Although costly, it is no more filling
that a simple meal; an extravagant meal will sustain a
character for half a day.
Mug of beer
A pint of beer. Each country has its own variation on
beer, from the golden ales of Hadora to the dark bitter
enjoyed in Litvic.
Bottle/Glass of spirits
Strong spirits are enjoyed across Neres, from
Haldoran whiskey to Litvian schnapps and Theocracy
vodka. Gin is also a popular drink, especially in Slick
music bars.
Bottle/Glass of wine
Red and white wine are enjoyed by those with a more
refined palate (or at least by those who assume they
have a refined palate). Most wines come from Riland
and Yalgir, although most countries produce a small
amount. Before the Great War Nidec was also a major
producer of wine but now most of their vineyards
are gone.
TRAVEL
Travel has become big business since the end of the
Great War. Whereas before most people were content
to stay in their home countries for their whole lives,
now more and more people are getting the travelling
Taxi
Taxis are common in almost every large town and city.
The type of vehicle sometimes varies; in Kesh you are
more likely to find pedal-powered taxis called Shuks
than actual motorcars.
Tram
Trams are found in most cities, running on rails set
into the roads. Tickets are cheap and often valid for
travel to any station in the city. Millions of commuters
use trams to get to and from work every day, although
they are not the fastest (or most private) method of
getting around.
Airship, local
A trip on an airship from one town or city to another
within the same country. Usually such a trip will be
on a small cutter or freighter, although there are also
dozens of passenger airships that ferry passengers on
a daily basis.
Airship, long-distance
Either an intercontinental cruise or hitching a ride on
a long-distance freighter. Such trips are either from
one end of a nation to the other, or between nations.
Airships that cross the Median Ocean from Haldora to
Litvic are the highest priced.
Train, local
Trains travel from town to city daily in most countries.
Equipment

bug. Below is a list of typical modes of travel player
characters may find themselves in need of.
Some of them can be quite lavish.
Train, long-distance
Long-distance railway travel will consist of one of
three lines; the north-south Haldoran line; the north-

71
 south line from Prynne that runs all the way through them as immoral. Kijani banned Opium and Morphine
Litvic and into Kesh (known as the Ivory Rail) or the at the inception of the Free Nations due to chronic
famous Paradise Line that runs around the coast abuse in previous years.
of Kijani. All three lines run a range of cargo trains,
passenger trains and luxury trains. Item Cost

Pack of Cigarettes $1
Boat, long-distance
Sea travel is uncommon, being reserved for heavy Box of cigars $6
cargo or niche sea cruises. That said, ships sail Pipe $5
regularly from many ports across the world.
Pouch of pipe tobacco $3

Seaplane Dose of Opium $15

A growing trend; seaplanes fly from any coastal port.
At present, most seaplanes only travel short distances
although there are rumours of international seaplane
routes in the near future.
TRAVEL MODIFIERS
Sometimes you have a little more or a little less
money to spend on travel. Or sometimes you need
a little anonymity. Travel costs can be modified by
one of the following additions (but they cannot be
combined).
Budget ticket
An extra-cheap ticket. Travelling on the cheap is
sometimes the only way to get where you need to go,
but it won’t be enjoyable.
Luxury ticket
Luxury transport includes expensive chauffeured cars,
cruise liners (both of the air and sea variety) and the
famous Haldoran Express railway. Such transport is
not any faster, it’s just a lot more glamorous.
Low Profile
By booking circuitous routes, registering under false
names and paying in cash you can keep your travel
plans somewhat secret from others. Low profile travel
increases the time taken by 25% as well as the cost,
but anyone attempting to track the travellers will find
any related skill checks 1 DV higher.
DRUGS
Drug use in Neres used to be rife before the Great
War, with little or no regulation in any country.
Since the end of the Great War both Haldora and
Equipment
Dose of Morphine $20
Dose of Marijuana $10
Pack of Cigarettes
Smoked by almost everyone and recommended by
doctors for countless reasons. Tobacco is grown in the
Haldoran Lowlands, Kesh and Kijani. Cigarettes are
typically sold in packs of 20.
Box of cigars
A pack of 5 cigars. Expensive and generally
considered a sign of wealth.
Pipe
Pipe smoking is a popular pastime in Haldora, Kesh
and northern Kijani. Wooden or clay pipes are the
most common.
Pouch of pipe tobacco
A leather pouch of rich pipe tobacco.
Opium
Either smoked or drunk, opium imparts a euphoric
sensation when taken. Taking opium increases the
difficulty of all actions by 2 for an hour unless the
character passes a DV3 Willpower check.
Morphine
Drunk or injected, morphine is more powerful than
opium and lasts longer. Taking morphine increases
the difficulty of all actions by 2 for two hours unless
the character passes a DV3 Willpower check.
Marijuana
Smoked or chewed, marijuana imparts a relaxed,
euphoric feeling. Taking marijuana increases the

Litvic have enacted a strict prohibition on narcotics

difficulty of all actions by 1 for an hour unless the
except for tobacco. In Kesh drug use is rife and is
character passes a DV2 Willpower check.
becoming a serious problem, to the point that the
Assembly are beginning to consider legal action. The
Theocracy have forbidden drugs for centuries, seeing

72
ANSLERTECH
Anslertech is a catch-all term for high technology
devices manufactured by inventors and scientists.
Professor Ansler has nothing to do with Anslertech;
most of the devices that bear his name were
manufactured long after his disappearance. Typically
no two Anslertech devices, even of the same function,
look the same; each is a unique construction.
Item Cost
Grapple Gun $200
continuous use. An Anslertech lantern casts bright
light in a 40 foot radius.
Tech Goggles
Tech Goggles come in a variety of forms but most
cover both eyes and feature an array of lenses and
optics that enhance the user’s eyesight.
Tech goggles grant a 20x zoom function which could
grant a 1d6 bonus to Awareness skill check in some
situations. They also allow a character to see in low-
light conditions (but not in complete darkness).

Anslertech Powercell $50

Monotask Simulacra
Vial of Elixir $50 A Monotask Simulacra is the most basic Simulacra
Anslertech Lantern $30 model available and commonly found in heavy
industry where they perform tasks too dangerous or
Tech Goggles $180
unpleasant for humans. As indicated by their name,
Monotask Simulacra $200
Monotask models perform a single basic task such as
Multitask Simulacra $500 operating a forge, carrying heavy loads or
Deluxe Simulacra $900 cleaning sewers.

Grapple Gun Multitask Simulacra

An Anslertech device the size of a large pistol that More sophisticated that a Monotask model, Multitask
uses compressed air to fire a small grappling hook Simulacra are usually used as servants and assistants.
attached to a length of high-tensile wire. Once They can perform tasks such as answering the
attached the grapple gun can be used to reel the
user up to the hook. The grapple gun has a range of
50 yards.

Anslertech Powercell
A small device about the size of a human fist
that is used to power a multitude of items from
mechaugmetics to rocketpacks.

Vial of Elixir
Elixir is a medicinal compound that enhances and
accelerates a person’s healing ability for a short while
when injected. A pale golden liquid, Elixir can heal
severe wounds but cannot regenerate lost limbs or
organs. Elixir is typically sold in single-use syringes
that allow a user to quickly inject it.
When used a vial of elixir will instantly heal 1 Wound,
recover 20 Grit Points, instantly stabilizes a character
who is Bleeding Out and returns an unconscious
character to consciousness. Elixir cannot be used
to remove Dramatic Wounds or to return a dead
character to life.
Equipment

Anslertech Lantern
Brighter and safer than an oil lantern, Anslertech
lanterns are powered by Anslertech Powercells.
One Powercell will power a lantern for 48 hours of

73
 door, household chores and fetching and can be
programmed to respond to vocal commands. While
they look identical to Monotask models, Multitask
Simulacra are often better cared for and sometimes
dressed by their owners in the manner of butlers
or maids.
Deluxe Simulacra
Deluxe Simulacra are virtually identical to Multitask
models from the point of view of programming.
Where they differ is in their design. Finished with
lavish casings or modelled to look like classical
statues and fitted with musical voice boxes, Deluxe
models are intended to show the wealth of their
owners. Due to their refinements, Deluxe clanks are
often quite delicate compared to their industrial kin.
SIMULACRA STATS
Simulacra do not have any Trained or Mastered
skills. They cannot perform any task that requires
deductive reasoning, problem solving or involving
any situation they have not been programmed to
deal with. As such they cannot drive vehicles, pick
locks or perform medical procedures. They can
assist characters in the capacity of an extra set of
hands at the Gamemaster’s discretion (“Hold this
wrench for me” or “Clamp this shut for me” would
work, for example). Simulacra are not sentient
creatures; they are dumb machines that resemble
humanoids.
Simulacra are powered by internal long-life
powercells that last for several years.
MECHAUGMETICS
First created by Doctor Julia Weismann to
help workers injured in industrial accidents,
Mechaugmetics are artificial limbs and organs
designed to replicate the function of the human body.
While bulky and often unsightly, these replacement
limbs are invaluable to people who would otherwise
be left crippled.
When Dr Weismann left the Ansler Institute to
return home to Litvic during the Great War the
military leadership suddenly saw the potential in
Mechaugmetics and began producing them on
an industrial scale. Soldiers injured in the war were
outfitted with powerful replacement limbs and sent
back to fight. Because of this mechaugmetics are
reasonable cheap and readily available following the
Great War.
Mechaugmetics are powered by Anslertech
powercells. A single powercell will power a limb for a
month if the user only performs day-to-day tasks with
it. When a user pushes the abilities of the limb (lifting
heavy objects for example) then the cell drains much
faster. Due to the cost of powercells, many recipients
of mechaugmetics often find themselves in debt
after only a few years, or stuck with a metal limb they
cannot power.
Mechaugmetic Charges* Cost
Mark 2 arm n/a $75
Mark 3 arm 10 $100

Heavy Mechaugmetic arm 5 $200

MONOTASK SIMULACRA Mark 2 leg n/a $75
Physique: 3
Mark 3 leg 10 $100
Grit points: 30
AV: 8 Mechaugmetic eye 10 $80

Engineer’s eye 8 $120

MULTITASK SIMULACRA Mechaugmetic organs n/a $150
Physique: 2
Steel skin n/a $120
Grit points: 30
*Per powercell
AV: 6
Mark 2 arm
DELUXE SIMULACRA Mark 2 arms are older style, basic mechaugmetics.
Physique: 2 They replace a missing arm with a skeletal, steel
Grit points: 20 alternative. Most versions replace the whole arm from
Equipment

AV: 4 the shoulder, although there do exist models that only

replace the forearm or hand. While they adequately
replace a missing limb, these augmetics are ungainly
and obvious. They do not confer any additional
abilities, and a single Anslertech power cell will power
the arm for a month.

74
Mark 3 arm
A more advanced mechaugmetic arm, the mark 3 was
created following the war using newer materials and
designs. A mark 3 arm can be used to gain +1d6 to any
Physique skill related to strength or grip, or +1d6 to
any melee damage roll. Doing so consumes 1 charge
from the powercell. For an additional $150 a Mark 3
arm can be plated with gold or silver or worked with
intricate patterns and designs, making them more
visually pleasing.
Heavy mechaugmetic arm
A heavy arm is much larger than a mark 3 arm, with
heavy pistons and hydraulic rams lending it greater
strength than a regular mechaugmetic. This increased
strength comes at a cost however, as heavy arms
are not made with fine manipulation in mind. Using a
charge from the powercell grants a bonus of +2d6 to
any Physique skill related to strength or grip, or +2d6
to any melee damage roll. All actions with a heavy
arm related to fine manipulation or delicate work are 1
DV harder.
Mark 2 leg
A leg replacement designed during the war, Mark 2
legs resemble skeletal metal versions of the limb they
replace. Most versions replace the whole leg from the
hip, although there do exist models that only replace
the leg from the knee down. While functional, there
are few who would describe these limbs as attractive.
They do not confer any additional abilities, and a
single Anslertech power cell will power the leg for
a month.
Pieter Vasilievich is fond of his mechaugmetic arm
Mark 3 leg
Mark 3 mechaugmetic legs are top-of-the line limbs
that replace a missing leg. A Mark 3 leg can be used
to either gain +1d6 to any Physique skill related to
jumping, running or leaping, or to reduce damage
from a fall by 1d6. Doing so consumes 1 charge from
the powercell. For an additional $150 a Mark 3 leg
can be made more aesthetically pleasing with the
addition of inlaid plating or custom designs.
Mechaugmetic eye
An artificial eye. Mechaugmetic eyes tend to be quite
large and bulbous, projecting from the side of the
head. By engaging the extra lenses the owner of a
Mechaugmetic eye can zoom their sight, granting
them +1d6 to any skill check relating to sight. Doing so
consumes 1 charge from the powercell.
Engineer’s eye
An eye designed for fine manipulation. Featuring
multiple lenses that can be rotated into position for
increased magnification, these augmentations are
unsettling to those not used to them. Using a charge
from the powercell grants +2d6 to any skill check
relating to sight. A character fitted with an engineer’s
eye increases the DV of all Diplomacy skill checks
relating to physical appearance.
Mechaugmetic organs
A relatively subtle mechaugmetic enhancement.
Mechaugmetic organs typically replace the heart,
lungs or digestive tract with artificial versions. They
are also one of the only enhancements that do not
require powercells to function (and as such cannot be
overcharged). A character with Mechaugmetic organs
gains a permanent +1 Wound. They also gain a bonus
+1d6 any Physique skill checks to resist drugs
and poisons.
Steel skin
One of the most obvious Mechaugmetic
enhancements, Steel skin is comprised of dozens of
thin, flexible plates that are fastened directly onto the
skin. Recipients of steel skin look strange, angular and
menacing. Some people who elect to have steel skin
fitted do so because they lost a large amount of skin
due to burn scars; others do so because they enjoy
the fear of others.
Steel skin does not require powercells to function.
A character with steel skin has a permanent AV of 6
and gains a bonus +1d6 to all Intimidate skill checks.
Equipment
However a character with steel skin also increases
the DV of all Diplomacy skill checks relating to
physical appearance.
75
 NEOGENIC SERUMS
Neogenic serums are range of chemical serums that
grant an increased ability for a short while. They are
sold in single-use injectors and can be used quickly
and easily. However, prolonged and repeated use can
cause both mental and physical abnormalities. The
manufacture, sale and possession of neogenic serum
is highly illegal almost everywhere; the only place to
reliably purchase them is Kesh and even there their
sale is considered risky.
Neogenic serums grant a bonus to either a specific
skill or to a stat as a whole. The effects of a serum
lasts for a scene.
When taking a serum a character must make a DV2
Willpower skill check. If they succeed then the serum
works as intended with no side effects. If they fail
the check then the serum works as intended but
the character also gains an aberration; a mental or
physical side effect dictated by the Serum they are
using. This aberration lasts until the Serum wears off
(at the end of the scene).
If a character uses more than one serum in a 24 hour
period, the DV of the Willpower check is increased by
1 for each serum previously taken.
PHYSIQUE SERUM
Effect: +1d6 to all Physique skill checks
Cost: $60 per dose
Aberration: Neogenic Brute. Users become notably
more heavy set and brutish, with bloated muscles and
heavy brows and jaw. At the same time their brains
shrink and thinking becomes difficult, often reducing
users to monosyllabic grunting. The character suffers
a 1DV increase to all Intellect checks.
INTELLECT SERUM
Effect: +1d6 to all Intellect skill checks
Cost: $60 per dose
Aberration: Neogenic Savant. Users become aloof
and cruel, obsessed by facts and figures and with a
sociopathic disregard for others. There are seldom
physical side effects, although sometimes the
user’s skull elongates or becomes egg-shaped.
The character suffers a 1DV increase to all Presence
checks.
Equipment
PRESENCE SERUM
Effect: +1d6 to all Presence skill checks
76
Cost: $60 per dose
Aberration: Neogenic Sensualist. Users become
dreamy and detached, obsessed with physical
sensation. At the same time their skin turns slightly
translucent, their fingers elongate and often their
eyes change colour (turning shades such as purple
or brilliant blue or green). The character suffers a 1DV
increase to all Physique checks.
SKILL SERUM
Effect: +1d6 to chosen skill
Cost: $40
Aberration: Neogenic Atrophy. The character suffers
a 1DV increase to all checks to another skill (chosen
by the Gamemaster). Physical and mental side effects
often vary widely with skill serums, with side effects
including obsessive behaviour, strange growths or
protrusions and psychopathic behaviour.
“So, Mr Grant? You think just because you are a
mercenary you can come to our city, disrupt our
operation, collect your money and leave without...
punishment?”
His augmetic limbs mag-locked to the chair,
Hayden Grant could do nothing to avoid the punch
that landed on his jaw. His head snapped back as
his captor went on.
“We are deeply offended that you thought, after
all the trouble you caused, that you could simply
board a commercial airship back to Haldora. It’s
like you don’t take us seriously.”
Hayden pushed a loose tooth out with his tongue
and spat it and the blood that went with it on the
floor at the gangsters feet.
“Hey, you guys wanna break my legs? Go ahead,
legs are a dime a dozen but a face like this? One in
a million buddy.”
“You think this is a joke!”
“I think,” the mercenary eyed the bodyguards
around him, “That this is a waste of both our time.
You want names? I can’t give ‘em to you. Cash?
Cash I got. Name your price. Or maybe you want
me to do a job for you? I’ll give you a discount on
account of the bind I put you in. How about it?”
The gangster stopped pacing, turned to him and
smiled. “It will not be so easy Mr Grant. For the
insult you have offered us you will go to the mech-
pits and fight. Fight until you die!”
“Hey, woah, easy! Do I look like a labour rig to
you?!”
The smile widened, “Perhaps, if you survive your
first fight, we might even give you a weapon.”
 RIGS
Rigs are very common in post-war Neres. They are
used for heavy labour, construction and farming and
several subcultures have grown up around them as
well. Rig racing is an illegal but popular sport in many
cities and so-called ‘Hot Riggers’ build and decorate
their own rigs in garish color schemes.
Battle Rigs are the mainstay of most militaries, and a
number of old decommissioned models have made
their way into private ownership following the war.
RIG SPECIAL RULES
• Rigs have their own Physique stat which
completely replaces the pilot’s Physique for all
skill checks.
• The difficulty of all checks relating to fine
dexterity, hand-eye coordination and balance are
increased by 2.
• If a character piloting a Rig attempts a Brawn
check they count the skill as if they had Mastered
it (successes on a 3, 4, 5 or 6).
• An Unarmed strike from a Rig does the same
damage as their Ram Value.
VEHICLE STATS
All vehicles (including rigs) have the following stats:
The number of crew required for the vehicle to operate.
Passengers
The number of people the vehicle can carry safely.
Cargo Capacity
How much cargo the vehicle can carry in on-board
storage. Note that for Rigs this does not represent
how much they can lift.
Armament
Any weapons fitted to the vehicle as standard.
Cost
How much, on average, a new example of the vehicle
can sell for.
LABOUR RIG
Rigs were invented several years before the Great
War by the Ansler Institute to help in construction and
heavy labour. Formally known as ‘Ambulatory Power
Transfer Harnesses’, rigs are found everywhere in
modern Neres: on construction sites, pulling ploughs
on farms, unloading airships in aerodocks, and even
driven by regular (if eccentric) civilians. Civilian rig
owners are commonly referred to a ‘hot riggers’ and
often decorate their rigs in outlandish paint-schemes.

Armour value (AV)

Any damage taken by the vehicle is reduced by this
amount.

Structure Points (SP)

Structure points are the vehicles Grit points.

Fuel Tank
The capacity of the fuel tank and how far the vehicle
can travel on a full tank.

Combat Speed
How fast the vehicle moves in combat.

Cruising Speed
The comfortable average speed of the vehicle.

Ram Value
The amount of damage the vehicle deals on a
Rigs

ram attack.

Crew

77
 Labour Rig HEAVY BATTLE RIG
AV: 10 Heavy Battle Rigs are huge 20-foot tall walkers
SP: 40 crewed by 2 or more pilots. Unlike Battle Rigs, Heavy
Fuel Tank: 5 gallons/ 100 miles Battle Rigs have weapons permanently bolted onto
Combat Speed: Slow their hulls, resulting in a variety of different models
Cruising Speed: 20 mph being produced by each nation. Some are designed
Physique: 6 to hunt and destroy smaller Battle Rigs, other models
Ram Value: 4d6 act as mobile artillery; using huge cannons to hurl
Crew: 1 (pilot) explosive shells miles.
Passengers: 0 The exact armament of a Heavy Battle Rig depends
Cargo Capacity: 50lbs (onboard), 2 tons (max lift) on its role; the stats below represent a fairly typical
Cost: $400 ‘Rig Hunter’ Heavy Battle Rig.

BATTLE RIG
Battle Rigs are heavily-armoured military versions of
Labour Rigs, first designed to counter the rising use
of the machinegun during the Great War. Battle Rigs
are not fitted with weapons, instead they can carry any
weapons suitably customised for use by their large
fingers. Typically they carry Buster rifles, Howitzer
pistols, Machine Guns, or Flamethrowers.

Heavy Battle RIg

AV: 24
SP: 80
Fuel Tank: 12 gallons/ 120 miles
Battle Rig Combat Speed: Slow
AV: 18 Cruising Speed: 15 mph
SP: 50 Physique: 7
Fuel Tank: 6 gallons/ 100 miles Ram Value: 5d6
Combat Speed: Slow Crew: 2 (pilot, gunner)
Cruising Speed: 20 mph
Passengers: 0
Physique: 6
Cargo Capacity: 400lbs
Ram Value: 4d6
Armament: 1 x Heavy Cannon,
Rigs

Crew: 1 (pilot)
Passengers: 0 1 x Heavy Machinegun,
Cargo Capacity: 50lbs (onboard), 2 tons (max lift) 1 x Machinegun
Cost: $1,000 Cost: $4,000

78
Rigs to scale with one another
BIRTH OF THE BATTLE RIG
Battle Rigs were first envisioned by Brigadier
Emuel Smythe of the Haldoran Engineering Corps
in the summer of 1272FK. At that time the war
had slowed to a crushing battle of attrition due to
the rising use of the machinegun; A new fighting
vehicle was needed, one that could traverse the
deadly mire of no-man’s-land and breach the line
of enemy trenches. By welding thick steel plates
onto a regular Labour Rig, Brigadier Smythe turned
it into an engine of war capable of striding over
abandoned trenches and bundles of barbed wire,
all the while carrying weapons too heavy for a
normal soldier to wield.
The first makeshift Battle Rigs were deployed
against a Livtian battalion dug into the ruins of a
Nidecian village in Cime. An account of the attack
by Litvian lance corporal Gerold Wechsler was
reported by the Litvian News two weeks later, and
has been reprinted several times since.
“It was just before dawn, after the bombardment
stopped, that they came. The Haldorans had tried
to push over the divide between their trenches and
ours twice the previous day; once with troops and
once with a cavalry charge. Both times we cut them
down and drove them back with our machine guns. I
felt sorry for the horses; so many of them still littered
the ground outside the village. I felt less sorry for the
Haldorans.
Since then the Coalition had been shelling our
position to push us into cover and stop our own
assaults on their trenches. It was the same pattern
as always.
I was on watch, hunkered into a hole in the trench
with a mug of tea, when the shelling stopped. We all
knew another wave of troops would be coming and
everyone moved to the firing steps, rifles in hand. The
silence following the bombardment was incredible,
all you could hear was the breathing of the men and
women around you and the patter of the mud as it
flowed down the trenches.”
“Then, out of the mists, they came. Figures like
men, except much taller and walking with a slow,
purposeful stride. One of them stepped over a dead
horse in a single step. A young soldier in my section
who had worked as a stevedore before the war
realised they were Labour Rigs, the kind you’d see
unloading an airship at the dock. But you couldn’t
see the drivers in these ones; someone had welded
metal plates over them, turning them square and
blocky. Someone laughed, someone else swore.
We opened fire on them then, but our rifles and
machine guns were useless. The bullets ricocheted
off the Rigs and they just kept coming, walking with
that terrible unhurried pace.”
“Then they opened fire. As well as metal plates some
terrible genius had added machine guns to the Rigs
and as they walked towards our line they swept
them across our machine gun nests, killing most
of our gunners. I could see our lines waver then, as
everyone realised we were facing something new.
When the cry went up that Haldoran and Theocracy
troops were massing behind the line of Rigs, that
was when we turned and fled.”
Rigs
“War changed that day, and not for the better.”
79
 VEHICLES
Since the end of the Great War vehicle ownership has Car
skyrocketed. Previously combustion engines were AV: 6
expensive and generally belonged only to the wealthy SP: 40
or to companies who could afford to maintain them. Fuel Tank: 10 gallons/ 250 miles
During the War, however, new ways were developed Combat Speed: Medium
to produce diesel in larger quantities and for a fraction Cruising Speed: 30 mph
of the price. Ram Value: 4d6
Now virtually everyone owns a motor vehicle of some Crew: 1 (driver)
kind. Some are old clunkers left over from before the Passengers: 1-4 (depending on model)
war (and as such much cheaper to purchase), others Cargo Capacity: 400lbs
are sleek newly-manufactured models. Entire social Cost: $300
groups have formed around vehicle ownership, such
as motorcycle gangs and the so-called ‘Hot Riggers’.
LUXURY CAR
A luxury car is faster and better made, if a little less
MOTORCYCLE durable, than normal cars. In the post war economic
Motorcycles are popular with many dieselpunks, boom dozens of luxury cars were designed and sold
especially the younger generation. Motorcycle to people tired of the austerity of the wartime years.
gangs are becoming a growing problem in both the Luxury cars, such as the Bello-Ricci ‘Leopard’ are
Third Kingdom and the Litvian Empire; groups of modern, stylish and often featured in movies.
delinquents and criminals who roam from town to
town on their iron steeds, looking for trouble. Luxury Car
AV: 6
Motorcycle SP: 35
AV: 4 Fuel Tank: 9 gallons/ 220 miles
SP: 20 Combat Speed: Fast
Fuel Tank: 2 gallons/ 100 miles Cruising Speed: 35 mph
Combat Speed: Fast Ram Value: 4d6
Cruising Speed: 35 mph Crew: 1 (driver)
Ram Value: 3d6 Passengers: 1-4 (depending on model)
Crew: 1 (driver) Cargo Capacity: 380lbs
Passengers: 1 (2 if fitted with a sidecar) Cost: $500
Cargo Capacity: 20lbs
Cost: $150 ($170 with sidecar)
TRUCK
A typical service vehicle. A truck can carry a large
CAR amount of cargo or up to 16 passengers if properly
Following the Great War almost everyone owns a car. fitted out. During the war such vehicles were often
The number of manufacturers is increasing yearly, used to carry troops; a less common role now.
producing a range of styles and classes with different
numbers of seats and boasting new and innovative
features such as on-board radios. The most popular FUEL
manufacturers are currently Dillerton, from Haldora, Fuel is plentiful and cheap in Neres. Oil fields in
and Bello-Ricci Inc. from Riland. Kesh, Prynne and the Median ocean yield large
quantities of oil which is refined into petrol, diesel
and a variety of other liquid fuels. Fuel varies in
Vehicles

price but regardless of the vehicle being refuelled

it usually costs about $0.20 per gallon.

80
Truck Coast-hugger Boat
AV: 8 AV: 10
SP: 60 SP: 80
Fuel Tank: 14 gallons/ 280 miles Fuel Tank: 200 gallons/ 250 miles
Combat Speed: Medium Combat Speed: Medium
Cruising Speed: 25 mph Cruising Speed: 20 mph
Ram Value: 5d6 Ram Value: 4d6
Crew: 1 (driver) Crew: 2 (pilot, engineer)
Passengers: 1 (in cab) Passengers: 6
Cargo Capacity: 1 ton Cargo Capacity: 2 tons
Cost: $400 Cost: $1,800

ROCKETPACK AEROPLANE
A rocketpack is exactly as it sounds; a small rocket Invented shortly before the Great War, aeroplanes
engine fitted with straps and a harness that allows it to were never really successful as a form of air travel
be strapped to the back of the user. When ignited the compared to airships. While they are faster than
wearer is propelled skywards, swooping and soaring an airship, when they were first invented it was not
among the clouds. Rocketpacks are not commercially possible for more than two people to ride in one and
produced but are instead made by inventors in small they were notoriously temperamental and fragile.
batches. As such each rocketpack is slightly different, During the Great War the biplane become popular as
but all of them allow a person to fly, albeit in a rather a scouting vehicle and, eventually, as a fighter craft.
haphazard manner. Rocketpack users are advised to However they are still seen as a niche, strange vehicle.
wear a good pair of goggles and some warm clothing. The stats below represent a small civilian aeroplane
such as a biplane.
Rocketpack
AV: 0 Aeroplane
SP: 10 AV: 8
Fuel Tank: 2 gallons/ 120 miles SP: 50
Combat Speed: Fast Fuel Tank: 80 gallons/ 600 miles
Cruising Speed: 40 mph Combat Speed: Very Fast
Ram Value: n/a Cruising Speed: 150 mph
Crew: 1 (pilot) Ram Value: 4d6
Passengers: 0 Crew: 1 (pilot)
Cargo Capacity: 0 Passengers: 1
Cost: $500 Cargo Capacity: 200lbs
Cost: $1,000

COAST-HUGGER BOAT
Seagoing vessels are relatively uncommon in
modern-day Neres; with airships so plentiful and
efficient, large ocean-going vessels are something
of a rarity. Still, some boats continue to see everyday
use, the most common of which are the small vessels
referred to as coast-huggers. Most are fishing vessels
but a few are used to haul cargo in areas where
airships are unsuitable. Such ships generally cannot
traverse deep water such as the Median Ocean.
FIGHTER AEROPLANE
Small single-seater aeroplanes were initially used by
the military during the Great War as fast scouts, able
to locate enemy troops and quickly return to base
to report. As aeroplanes became more common the
pilots began taking rifles up with them, to shoot at
enemy planes. Eventually the planes were fitted with
machineguns and became weapons of war in their
own right.
Vehicles

81
 Fighter Aeroplane Airwing
AV: 10 AV: 10
SP: 60 SP: 100
Fuel Tank: 90 gallons/ 500 miles Fuel Tank: 2000 gallons/ 4000 miles
Combat Speed: Very Fast Combat Speed: Fast
Cruising Speed: 170 mph Cruising Speed: 200 mph
Ram Value: 4d6
Ram Value: 7d6
Crew: 2 (pilot, gunner)
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator,
Passengers: 0
radio operator)
Cargo Capacity: 170lbs
Armament: 2 x Machinegun Passengers: 6-52
Cost: $2,000 Cargo Capacity: 5-20 tons
Cost: $10,000

SEAPLANE
Seaplanes are steadily becoming popular following
the war. Large enough to carry a number of
passengers in relative luxury or a large amount of
cargo, seaplanes are faster than airships but can carry
almost as much for the same amount of fuel.
CUTTER-CLASS AIRSHIP
Cutters are the smallest class of civilian airships.
Used for transporting goods between towns and
cities, cutters require only a single pilot and have a
reputation for reliability and ease of use.

Seaplane Cutter
AV: 10 AV: 8
SP: 90 SP: 60
Fuel Tank: 400 gallons/ 2000 miles Fuel Tank: 1200 gallons/ 3000 miles
Combat Speed: Fast Combat Speed: Medium
Cruising Speed: 120 mph Cruising Speed: 80 mph
Ram Value: 6d6 Ram Value: 4d6
Crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot) Crew: 1 (pilot)
Passengers: 36 Passengers: 6
Cargo Capacity: 1,000lbs Cargo Capacity: 1,000lbs
Cost: $6,000
Cost: $2,000

Haldoran cutter ‘Lucky Sparrow’

Republic ‘Ibis’ class seaplane

AIRWING
Airwings, sometimes also called ‘flying wings’, are
extremely rare gigantic aeroplanes developed by the
Northern Alliance during the Great War. An airwing
has a wingspan of 50 yards, has a distinctive V-shape
and is powered by six large radial engines. Airwings
only saw deployment during the last year of the Great
Vehicles

War, when they were used as long-range bombers.

Following the end of the war a few decommissioned
airwings have been repurposed to either carry huge
amounts of cargo or large numbers of passengers. Litvian Recon-class airship

82
FREIGHTER-CLASS AIRSHIP
Freighters are the most common class of airship; large
four-engine dirigibles that can carry a large amount
of cargo for long distances. Some Freighters, known
as Clippers, lack the large cargo hold and instead can
carry large numbers of passengers. Clippers are a
highly common method of getting between cities.
LINER-CLASS AIRSHIP
Liners are huge airships designed to carry passengers
across Neres in the utmost luxury. They are not fast,
but a voyage aboard a liner is akin to staying in a
five-star hotel. A trip from Queensport in the Third
Kingdom to Eisenstadt in the Litvian Empire could
take up to a week on a liner.

Freighter/Clipper Liner
AV: 10 AV: 12
SP: 80 SP: 200
Fuel Tank: 1300 gallons/ 2000 miles Fuel Tank: 3500 gallons/ 4000 miles
Combat Speed: Medium Combat Speed: Slow
Cruising Speed: 60 mph Cruising Speed: 40 mph
Ram Value: 5d6 Ram Value: 5d6
Crew: 2 (pilot, engineer) Crew: 88 (8 bridge crew,
Passengers: Freighter: 8, Clipper: 32 22 engineers, 18 deck crew,
Cargo Capacity: Freighter: 5 tons, 40 service staff)
Clipper: 1,000lbs Passengers: 72
Cost: $3,500 Cargo Capacity: 20 tons
Cost: $12,000

HEAVY FREIGHTER-CLASS AIRSHIP

Heavy Freighters are large airships with six to eight RECON-CLASS MILITARY AIRSHIP
engines, capable of carrying vast amounts of cargo Recon-class airships are military cutters used to
over huge distances. Heavy Freighters are usually patrol the skies. Typically they patrol close to a city or
used to carry cargo over vast distances, such as military installation, keeping unwanted airships away.
between nations. During wartime recon airships were used to map the
countryside and protect larger airships.
Heavy Freighter
AV: 10 Recon
SP: 100 AV: 14
Fuel Tank: 2500 gallons/ 3500 miles SP: 70
Combat Speed: Slow Fuel Tank: 1100 gallons/ 2500 miles
Cruising Speed: 50 mph Combat Speed: Medium
Ram Value: 6d6 Cruising Speed: 90 mph
Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot, engineer) Ram Value: 5d6
Passengers: 12 Crew: 3 (pilot, 2 gunners)
Cargo Capacity: 25 tons Passengers: 4
Cost: $7,000 Cargo Capacity: 500lbs
Armament: 2 x Machinegun
Cost: $6,000

Theocracy Destroyer ‘His Divine Wrath’

Vehicles

83
 BOMBER-CLASS MILITARY AIRSHIP Sky Fortress
Bombers come in a range of sizes but most are six- AV: 24
engine airships capable of travelling long distances SP: 250
and carrying hundreds of bombs. During the Great Fuel Tank: 3300 gallons/ 2500 miles
War bombers turned swaths of the Theocracy and Combat Speed: Slow
Litvic into infernos with their incendiary bombs. Cruising Speed: 60 mph
Ram Value: 8d6
Bomber Crew: 92 (12 bridge crew,
AV: 18 26 engineers, 36 gunners,
SP: 90 18 additional crew)
Fuel Tank: 2100 gallons/ 3000 miles
Passengers: 100
Combat Speed: Medium
Cargo Capacity: 30 tons
Cruising Speed: 70 mph
Armament: 4 x Machinegun,
Ram Value: 6d6
Crew: 7 (pilot, co-pilot, engineer, 8 x Heavy Machinegun,
4 gunners) 8 x Light Cannon,
Passengers: 2 4 x Heavy Cannon,
Cargo Capacity: 1 ton (not including bombs) 2 x Light Artillery,
Armament: 3 x Machinegun, 1 x Bomb Bay 1 x Bomb Bay
Cost: $10,000 Cost: $25,000

DESTROYER-CLASS
MILITARY AIRSHIP VEHICLE UPKEEP
Destroyers are heavily armed airships designed to
Owning and operating a vehicle, especially an
strike fast and take out enemy airships or ground-
airship or aeroplane, can be expensive. Characters
based fortifications.
can start play with several different types of
Destroyer vehicle by purchasing the Vehicle background, but
AV: 18 this doesn’t necessarily mean they can continue
SP: 100 to afford fuel, repairs and somewhere to keep said
Fuel Tank: 3100 gallons/ 3500 miles vehicle. Numerous adventures can revolve around
Combat Speed: Medium a group of characters’ need to earn, borrow or steal
Cruising Speed: 80 mph enough funds to keep their beloved airship flying.
Ram Value: 7d6 It is not essential to do so, but some Gamemasters
Crew: 25 (5 bridge crew, 4 engineers, may wish to have characters pay upkeep on their
16 gunners) vehicles, to represent the operating costs incurred
Passengers: 30
by vehicle ownership. Generally a vehicle will incur
Cargo Capacity: 10 tons
upkeep fees (not including fuel costs) of 10% of
Armament: 4 x Machinegun,
the cost of the vehicle per year. This doesn’t need
2 x Heavy Machinegun,
4 x Light Cannon, to be paid in one lump sum, but this figure can
2 x Light Artillery be used to work out the daily, weekly or monthly
Cost: $15,000 costs likely to be encountered for keeping the
vehicle running.
It’s important that a vehicle not become so
SKY FORTRESS-CLASS expensive that the characters come to regret
MILITARY AIRSHIP owning it, however.
Sky Fortresses are huge armoured airships that
combine the roles of bomber and gunship. Each
Sky Fortress represents a significant investment by
a national military; destroying them was the focus
Vehicles

of countless missions during the Great War. Since

the end of the war only a few Fortress-class airships
remain in active duty.

84
 CRAFTING
Before the war Ansler’s discoveries were featured
heavily in newspapers, moving pictures and in radio
broadcasts. The public clamoured for news on the
professor’s inventions and many aspiring inventors
were inspired to create their own unique devices in
their workshops at home.
Since the end of the war countless tinkerers and
gadgeteers have set themselves up with workshops
and garages, selling their custom devices
and weapons.
CREATING AN ITEM
To create a weapon, armour, item or vehicle use the
below steps below:
1: DETERMINE MATERIAL COST
The materials needed to create an item cost half the
total cost of the item. For a new invention an end cost
should be agreed with the Gamemaster first, then the
material cost worked out from that.
The character creating the item must procure the
materials before proceeding to the next stage.
The rain rattled against the hull of the airship, a hard
counterpoint to the low rumble of the engines and
creating a sound that Arnulf found oddly soothing.
He flipped another lens down over his eye and
checked the soldering on the connections once
more, nodding to himself in approval.
“Well?” Asked the room’s other occupant, who didn’t
seem to be as soothed by the rain as Arnulf was.
“Looks good, should be fine.” Said Arnulf, pulling his
goggles up onto his forehead and reaching for the
pack of cigarettes lying on the workbench. He lit
one with a snap of his spirit lighter, then offered the
pack to Alita.
“Should be fine? Should be? As in, might not be
fine?” Said Alita, her annoyance clear in her tone.
She waved the proffered pack away with a hand that
was all chrome and brass, glittering in the
lamp light.
“You’ve been working on this for three weeks, it’s
cost us hundreds of Crowns and you’re not even
sure it’ll work?” The airship captain’s voice dripped
venom as she stalked around the room, punctuating
her words with jabs of her metal fingers.
2: CRAFTING POINTS
Work out how many crafting points the item requires.
The number of crafting points for an item is equal to
its cost divided by 10 (to a minimum of 1).
3: QUALITY OF WORKSPACE
The area you have available to work will affect the skill
check to create the item. Better tools and equipment
will provide a bonus to the skill check, whereas poor
equipment will impose a penalty. This is in addition to
any bonuses provided by gear.
Improvised workspace
Building gadgets in a cave with a box of scraps will
not yield good results. An improvised workspace
is anywhere that is not intended to be used as a
workshop. Halve the number of successes rolled,
rounding down (to a minimum of 1).
Adequate workspace
An adequate workspace is a regular workshop with
access to normal tools. There is no bonus or penalty
to working in an adequate workspace.
Arnulf drew on his cigarette, considering his
captain’s words, before huffing out a cloud of smoke
with a shrug.
“Yeah.”
“Oh well, that’s fine then.” Alita gave Arnulf a flat-
eyed look.
Arnulf heaved his bulk off the stool he’d been sat
on for most of the day -most of the month come to
think of it- and looked over his work with a
critical eye.
“Look at it this way cap’n,” He said, “If it goes wrong
there’s not much we’ll know about it.”
“That’s deeply reassuring.”
Arnulf nodded. The captain came over to stand
shoulder-to-shoulder with him as they both stared
down at the huge malformed engine that took up
most of the room.
“If it works though,” Arnulf took another drag on his
cigarette and smiled, letting the smoke waft through
Crafting
his teeth, “We’ll be the fastest thing in the skies.”
Alita di Pasolini, airship captain and wanted sky
pirate, smiled with him. Suddenly she liked the
sound of those odds.
85
 Quality workspace before being used to reduce the number of crafting
A quality workspace is well equipped with the latest points for the item.
tools and with access to specialist gear such as arc
welders and alloy furnaces. Double the number of For example: Eleanor and Jake are assisting Pieter in
successes rolled. making an item in a Quality workspace. Pieter is the
lead while Eleanor and Jake are assisting. All three
4: SKILL CHECK characters make their Mechanics skill check; Pieter rolls
The character crafting the item makes a skill check 4 successes, Eleanor rolls 3 successes and Jake rolls
and adjusts the number of successes based on the 2 successes. Between the three of them they have a
quality of the workspace they are using. Crafting total of 6 successes; 4 from Pieter, 1 from Eleanor (3/2
skill checks can be made with either the Mechanics, rounding down = 1) and 1 from Jake (2/1 = 1) which is
Science, Demolitions or Medical skills depending on then doubled because of the Quality workspace bonus
what the character is trying to make. There may be to 12 successes.
some overlap of skills; such as if a character wants
to build an Anslertech pistol they could either use UPGRADING EXISTING ITEMS
Mechanics or Science. Once they have their final Sometimes a character will want to upgrade or
total they reduce the crafting points of the item by change the function of an existing item, such turning
the amount of successes. The character may make giving a pistol the ability to fire fully automatic bursts
one check for every 8 hours of work. Once they have or hiding a blade inside a walking stick. In cases such
reduced the crafting points to 0 the item is complete. as these the skill involved is not building the item
If a skill check reduces the crafting points to a from scratch, but instead making the adaption.
negative number then the crafting time is reduced by
the number of points they went over 0. Upgrading an existing item, vehicle or weapon allows
a player to alter the basic stats presented in the
For example: Pieter wants to make a carbine which equipment chapter or to add new functionality. Such
normally costs $200. The base materials to craft the upgrades should be negotiated with the Gamemaster,
carbine will cost $100. The number of crafting points who will decided how much the upgrade will cost and
required to make the carbine are 20 (200/10 = 20). whether the desired upgrades are balanced.
Pieter is working in his hideout which has previously
been described by Pieter’s player as a garage, the
Gamemaster decides this is an Adequate workspace
(no bonuses).
Pieter then makes his Mechanics skill check for the first
8 hours of work; he rolls 4 successes which reduces the
number of crafting points required to 16.
After several more Mechanics skill checks over the
course of several days Pieter only has 2 crafting points
left. He makes his Mechanics skill check and gets 5
successes. This reduces the crafting points to -3, which
means the carbine is finally finished. Additionally the
last crafting session only takes him 5 hours as opposed
to 8.

ASSISTING A CHARACTER
Multiple characters may wish to work together
crafting a single item. If so one character is the lead,
the other(s) are the assistants (as outlined in the Skills
chapter). Each character makes a skill check; the
Crafting

assisting characters then halve their total successes

(rounding down) before adding them to the lead
character’s successes. This total is then adjusted by
the quality of the workspace they are using before

86
 JAKE’S STORY
It was a quiet evening in the Down and Out, with only
a handful of patrons nursing their drinks as the clank
at the piano played what was meant to be smooth
slick. Jake couldn’t work out of the clank was playing
the tune right, or if something had kinked inside
it’s mechanical guts and it was just picking away
at random keys; modern music just sounded like
syncopated noise to him, nothing like the big band stuff
he liked but that just wasn’t popular anymore.
One of his regulars slid an empty glass across the bar
and motioned to Jake, who refilled it, slid it back and
scooped up the proffered coins in one smooth motion.
Not a word was spoken, it was a quiet comfortable
routine. The people who came to the Down and Out
tended to prefer quiet contemplation and a stress-free
environment.
The door swung open, letting in the sounds of the
evening, and into the bar stepped a tall woman in a
Haldoran-style trench coat and hat. She sat down
at the bar, placed her hat next to her and shook out
shoulder-length blonde hair. She ran a finger across the
old scar running from her lip to cheek as she peered at
the bottles behind the bar.
“By the spirits Flint, don’t you ever get anything decent
in this place?”
“I did,” Jake replied, getting down a glass and filling it
with Highland whiskey before setting it before her. “No
one liked it.”
Eleanor smirked and took a sip of the drink, pulling a
face afterwards. Jake sighed and leaned on the bar.
“So what is it this time? What pried you out of your
office in Queensport and brought you all the way over
here? Not that I don’t like it when you come by to insult
my stock.”
“My brother, Ed. You remember him Jake?” Jake
nodded. “Well he got himself shot to death somewhere
in this damn city.”
“Ah, I’m sorry to hear that. He was a good kid.” Eleanor
made a curt gesture of dismissal and took another sip
of her drink. Her grey eyes hard.
“I’m not here for sympathies Jake. I’m here to find out
who killed him and why. Do you know a man named
Azire Bodho?”
Jake pulled another glass down from the rack and
poured himself a drink, refilling Eleanor’s glass at the
same time.
“I think I do, let me-”
Jake stopped as the door swung open two people
walked into his bar. The first was a tall Prynnese man,
muscular and with a large mechaugmetic right arm.
The other was almost half his size; a dark-skinned kijani
woman in a leather jacket with a riot of hair tied up in a
brightly coloured scarf and a scowl on her face.
Jake shot Eleanor a look and moved over to the pair as
they walked up to the bar.
“Evening Pieter, Molly. What can I get you?”
Pieter gave him a wide, friendly grin while Molly gave
everyone else in the bar a helping of stink-eye until
they decided their glasses held something more
interesting that whatever was about to discussed.
Jake’s regulars knew when to not listen in.
“Jake my friend.” Said Pieter, his grin turning sheepish,
“We are needing that favor you owe me.”
Jake sighed. “I figured. What do you need?”
“Do you know a man named Azire Bodho?” Asked
Molly.
Eleanor’s glass made a quiet clink as she set it down
on the bar. Her eyes met Jake’s. He shook his head,
ever so slightly.
“I think we should talk in the back room.” He said to
Molly. He nodded to Eleanor, “And my friend here
should come too.”
Molly and Pieter turned to look at Eleanor, a question
forming on Molly’s lips, as the door swung open once
more.
Jake looked up to see a group of men and women in
white linen suits file into the bar. They weren’t making
any effort to disguise the guns on their belts or in
holsters under their jackets.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” Announced the
leader; a tall Litvian man with cold blue eyes. His gaze
settled on Molly and Pieter. “I am afraid no one may
leave until those individuals have returned an item they
stole from us.”
“Stole?” Spat Molly. Jake waved her into silence.
“Easy buddy,” He said to the Litvian, whose mooks
were slowly spreading out around the bar. “This is a
nice place, no need for fighting. What exactly are you
looking for?”
“A ruby. These two have it.”
Jake's Story
“A ruby?” Eleanor asked, her voice quiet yet the
question carried across the bar. Jake closed his eye
and let out a sigh. He knew what that tone of voice
meant.
He was going to have to redecorate.
87
 COMBAT
In the world of Neres violence is a sad fact of life for
many. For adventurers and toughs who actively seek
out the more dangerous locations on Neres, getting
into fist- and gun-fights is an almost weekly if not daily
occurrence. For individuals like these, learning how to
look after yourself when all hell breaks loose is crucial
to staying alive.
COMBAT SEQUENCE
The combat sequence begins when one character
(player or NPC) takes action that will cause harm to
another character. At this point the normal narrative
gameplay is replaced with the combat sequence as
outlined below:
1. Determine surprise
2. Combat continues in rounds:
a. Determine initiative
b. Combatants act in initiative order
c. When everyone has had a turn, steps a and
b repeat again until combat ends
1: SURPRISE
Sometimes the best way to get the drop on someone
is to catch them unawares!
If a character has passed a Stealth check opposed
by their target’s Awareness check before combat has
begun then they are considered to have surprised
their target. This grants +2d6 bonus to the attacker’s
Initiative for the first round.
If the victim of the ambush is particularly agile,
however, sometimes they will still beat their attacker’s
initiative, even with the +2d6 bonus. In this case, the
hunter has become the hunted!
2A: INITIATIVE
At the beginning of each combat round, all
participants roll a number of dice equal to their
Physique and count the number of dice resulting in a
4, 5 or 6 (as if they were making a Trained skill check).
The resulting number is their Initiative.
Those with the highest initiative reactive fastest
and strike first; those with the lowest initiative react
slowest.
Combat
Gamemasters may wish to roll Initiative for NPCs
involved in combat as a group, or in several sub
groups (one roll for bad guys, one roll for allies for
example) to speed up play.
88
2B: ACTIONS
Starting with the character with the highest Initiative,
each character involved in the combat may take two
actions chosen from the list of combat actions (see
below). If the actions of a character with a higher
initiative prevent a character with a lower Initiative
from acting (because, for example, they’re left
bleeding out from a gunshot) then that character is
unable to act.
If two or more characters have the same Initiative they
act simultaneously (although the players may wish to
make their rolls sequentially to avoid confusion).
Once every character who is able to act has done
so, the round starts again with every player making a
new Initiative check. Any Surprise modifiers no longer
count after the first round of combat. The sequence of
Initiative and Actions continues until the combat ends,
for whatever reason.
COMBAT ACTIONS
There are two kinds of combat actions; primary and
secondary. Each round a character can perform one
primary action and one secondary action, although
they can perform them in any order. Speaking or
shouting doesn’t cost an action, but as a combat
round only lasts a few seconds characters are limited
to brief sentences, not entire conversations. If a
character cannot or does not want to make a primary
or secondary action, they can only take their other
action (they can’t swap their secondary action for
another primary action, for example).
AIM (SECONDARY ACTION)
Aiming can be used in either close combat or ranged
combat. The character spends their action lining up
on their target, ready to make a more accurate strike
with their next attack. On the next attack check the
character makes they gain a bonus 1d6 to their Skill
check when determining if they hit. If the target they
have been aiming at is removed from combat then
the attacker loses their bonus (i.e. they cannot switch
to a new target and keep the bonus 1d6). A character
cannot aim for more than one round.
ATTACK (PRIMARY ACTION)
The character attacks their target with the weapon
(either close combat or ranged) they are currently
armed with. The character makes an attack skill check
and the defender makes a defence skill check. If
the attacker is successful they deal damage to their
target. See below for details of making attacks.
CALLED SHOT (PRIMARY ACTION)
Sometimes a character may not want to attack an
enemy but a switch, rope or something similar. In this
case they need to make a Called Shot; a variation of
a standard attack. A Called Shot can be made with
either a ranged weapon or a melee weapon.
When making a Called Shot the character is assigned
a DV by the Gamemaster based on the size of
the target and the difficulty of the shot. Hitting a
chandelier is a lot harder than hitting a small lever, for
example. If the character successfully makes the skill
check they hit their target, if they fail then they miss.
The effects of a Called Shot vary depending on what
the attacker was aiming at. Generally the outcome
should be discussed by the player and Gamemaster
before the shot is made.
For example: Jake Flint is careening down a track in
a runaway minecart, pursued by enemies in their own
minecart. Up ahead Jake spots a lever to switch tracks.
Jake’s player asks the Gamemaster if he can shoot the
lever to change tracks, the Gamemaster tells him he
can but the DV of the shot is 4 because he’s travelling
at high speed and trying to hit a small target. Jake’s
player rolls his Firearms skill check...
A Called Shot cannot be used to target another
character (doing this is a standard attack).
CHANGE WEAPON (SECONDARY ACTION)
The character swaps their weapon for another they
have handy. This could be sheathing a sword and
pulling out a pistol from a holster, grabbing a rifle
from the floor or anything similar.
CHARGE (PRIMARY ACTION)
A variation of a standard close combat attack. A
character may initiate a Charge if they are not in close
combat with a target but a target is within a number
of yards equal to 10 plus the attackers Physique. The
attacker moves into close combat with the target and
attacks them with the close combat weapon they are
currently armed with (or their fists if unarmed). The
attacker also gains a +1d6 bonus to their attack skill
check. The defender makes a defence skill check as
normal.
DISARM (PRIMARY ACTION)
Disarm can be used in either close combat or ranged
combat. The attacker focuses on knocking the target’s
weapon (or any other item held) out of their hands.
Unlike a standard attack, Disarm focuses on not
dealing any damage.
When making a Disarm attack the attacker makes an
attack check as normal but the defender gains +1d6
to their defence skill check. If the attack is successful
then the target is disarmed; their weapon is knocked
out of their hands and must be recovered with the
Change Weapon action on their next Initiative. If the
attack fails then the Disarm misses.
Gamemasters should decide if the weapon (or item) is
damaged by the attack.
MOVE (SECONDARY ACTION)
The move action allows a character to travel at a slow
jog or brisk walk. A character may move up to their
Physique plus 10 in yards. Move may be used to move
into close combat, out of close combat, or anywhere
else suitable. If the move would involve the character
vaulting over obstacles then an Athletics skill check
may be required at the Gamemaster’s discretion.
RELOAD (SECONDARY ACTION)
The character reloads a ranged weapon and readies it
for use.
STUN (PRIMARY ACTION)
A variation of a standard close combat attack. The
attacker focuses on striking the target non-lethally,
stunning them rather than injuring them; as such it
cannot be performed with a ranged weapon.
When making a Stun attack the attacker makes
an attack check as normal but the defender gains
+1d6 to their defence skill check. If the attack is
successful then the target is stunned; they lose their
next action and are reduced to stumbling around in
circles shaking their head. During this time the target
increases the DV of any skill checks they are required
to make by 1. If the attack fails then the attack misses
as normal.
Although Stun attacks will wear off after a round,
Stunned characters can be treated by another
character with the Medical Skill to remove the effects
instantly. Doing so requires the treating character to
pass an Average (DV2) Medical skill check. Characters
Combat
may not treat themselves.
89
 TACKLE (PRIMARY ACTION)
A variation of a standard close combat attack. The
attacker attempts to knock the target to the ground
and place them in a hold to prevent them from
acting normally.
When making a Tackle attack the attacker makes
an Unarmed attack check as normal, opposed by
the target’s Melee or Unarmed skill check. If the the
attack is successful then the attacker has successfully
tackled their opponent. Tackled opponents cannot
take any action in combat except to try and escape
(which is a secondary action). To escape requires a
successful Brawn check, opposed by the attacker’s
Unarmed or Brawn (choose). If the tackled character
fails to break free they continue to be tackled for
another round.
While holding a tackled character, the attacker cannot
take any other action except for either releasing the
character or damaging them. Damaging the held
character inflicts damage equal to one third the
attackers Physique stat (rounding up) in d6
each round.
HITTING YOUR TARGET
To hit an enemy in combat, you must make a
successful skill check based on the type of weapon
you are using. The Unarmed and Melee skills are for
close-quarters combat, and the Firearms skill is used
for ranged combat. You must use the appropriate skill
for the weapon you are trying to use.
Both ranged and melee combat attacks are resolved
with opposed skill checks, with the attacker aiming to
equal or exceed the defender’s skill check. The skills
used by the attacker and defender differ depending
on the weapons the attacking character is armed with
and bonus dice may be granted to either attack or
defender depending on the situation.
If the defender fails to get any successes on their
skill check then as long as the attacker gets a single
success they hit the target. If neither character gets
any successes then the attack is considered to
have missed.

TAKE COVER (SECONDARY ACTION)

The character dives into cover. While in cover the
character gains a number of bonus dice to any
defence rolls they are required to make. The number
of dice they gain as a bonus is based on the type of
cover they are in:

Cover Defence Bonus

Soft cover (wooden tables, tree trunks, +1d6

thin metal)

Hard cover (stone pillars, brick walls,

+2d6
thick metal)

As soon as the character moves away from their

cover they lose the defence bonus. Cover may
become damaged over time by attacks aimed at the
character and cease providing a defence bonus, at CLOSE COMBAT
the Gamemaster’s discretion. To hit an enemy in close combat you must be
adjacent to them (generally within a yard) at the start
of your turn.
USE A SKILL (PRIMARY ACTION)
Both combatants make an opposed skill check based
Sometimes a character may want to use a skill in
on the weapons they are armed with; a character with
combat. This could include making a Stealth Check
a melee weapon makes a Melee check; a character
to hide from enemies, using the Mechanics skill to
armed with only their fists makes an Unarmed check.
try and disarm a bomb or using Intimidate to try and
Combat

Characters armed with a pistol, rifle or any other

scare off an attacker.
object make an Melee check (using the item in their
Gamemasters should resolve such skill checks as
hands as an improvised melee weapon).
normal.

90
If a character is attacking a vehicle with a close
combat attack then the driver makes a Drive (or Pilot)
skill check to oppose the attack.
If the attacker equals or exceeds the number of
successes rolled by the defender then they have
successfully hit their target and then roll damage. If
they fail then the defender has successfully parried
their blows and takes no damage.
Both attackers and defenders can gain a number
of Attack Modifiers (bonus dice to their skill check)
depending on the situation (aiming, attacking in
darkness, etc.). See below for details.
RANGED COMBAT
In ranged combat the attacker makes a skill check
with their Firearms skill and the defender makes a skill
check with their Reflexes skill.
If a character is attacking a vehicle with a ranged
weapon then the driver makes a Drive (or Pilot) skill
check to oppose the attack.
If the attacker equals or exceeds the number of
successes rolled by the defender then they have
successfully hit their target and then roll damage. If
they fail then the defender has successfully dodged
the attack and takes no damage.
Both attackers and defenders can gain a number
of Attack Modifiers (bonus dice to their skill check)
depending on the situation (aiming, attacking in
darkness, etc.). See below for details.
RANGED WEAPONS IN CLOSE COMBAT
Attempting to use a pistol or rifle in close combat can
be done, but is not as useful as some might think.
If a character attempts to fire a ranged weapon in
close combat (as opposed to using it as a club, which
would count as an improvised weapon) they make an
opposed skill check against their target using their
Firearms skill, opposed by the opponent’s Melee or
Unarmed skill. The defender gains a 1d6 bonus to
their defence skill check. Character using a firearm in
close combat do not get bonus dice being at
close range.
ATTACK MODIFIERS
In certain situations attacking an opponent will either
be easier (due to taking aim for example) or more
difficult (due to fighting in darkness for example). In
these situations a character may gain a number of
bonus dice to their skill check to attack or defend.
Some example Attack Modifiers are listed below
but Gamemasters are encouraged to add their own
Attack Modifiers if they believe situation calls for it.
CLOSE RANGE
If an attacker is using a ranged weapon at less than
half the listed range then they get a bonus 1d6 to their
attack check. Weapons with the Automatic quality
gain 2d6, rather than 1d6 (not in addition to).
COVER
If a defender is in cover (after using the Cover combat
action) they gain a bonus to their defence check
based on the cover they are in. Soft cover (wooden
tables, tree trunks, thin metal) grants a bonus of 1d6
to their defence check. Hard cover (stone pillars, thick
metal) grants a bonus of 2d6 to their defence check.
DARKNESS
Any combat occurring in darkness without any form of
light source grants the defender a bonus 2d6 to their
defence check.
MIST, FOG, SMOKE OR LOW LIGHT
Fighting in mist, fog, smoke or in low light grants the
defender a bonus 1d6 to their defence check.
HELPLESS TARGET
Attacking a helpless target (one that cannot fight
back, dodge or move) grants the attacker a 2d6 bonus
to their attack check.
HIGHER GROUND
Attacking a target from higher ground grants the
attacker a 1d6 bonus to attack check.
LEFT- AND RIGHT-HANDEDNESS
Your character can be either left- or right-handed
if you choose, it makes no difference, unless you
attempt to use your off-hand to make an attack or
Combat
perform a complex action, at which point the DV of
that action is increased by 1.
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 As long as a character still has Grit Points they can
TWO WEAPON FIGHTING
continue to function. Once a character runs out of
Some characters might want to go into combat with
Grit they lose 1 Wound for every attack that inflicts at
a weapon in each hand. While this is not a bad idea, it
least 1 damage, regardless of how much damage the
doesn’t give them the ability to make two attacks.
attack does.
A character with two one-handed weapons (such
as two pistols or a knife and a pistol) may choose to
Once a character runs out of Wounds they begin
attack with one weapon each turn, but must choose
dying. During this time they are referred to as
which weapon at the beginning of their Initiative.
Bleeding Out. If a character who is Bleeding Out has
However they must declare which weapon is in their
not recovered at least 1 Wound or received successful
off-hand and take a penalty as above if they use
medical attention by the end of the current scene,
that weapon.
they will die.

DAMAGE If a character loses all their Wounds AND Grit then

Once an attack has hit its target the attacker has to
work out how much damage they’ve done.
Damage is dealt in d6s; you roll a number of d6
indicated in the weapon entry and add the resulting
numbers together to determine how much damage is
inflicted.
When using a melee weapon a character gains a
bonus to the roll equal to the character’s Physique
stat divided by three (rounding up).
For example; Flint has a Physique of 5, he gains a +2
bonus to melee damage (5/3 = 1.6, rounded to 2).
Unarmed attacks (fists, feet, head, etc) deal damage
based on the character’s Physique stat (see below).
Unarmed attacks do not benefit from the Physique
bonus as melee weapons do.
Physique Unarmed Damage
they are rendered unconscious and start Bleeding
Out. They can be revived to consciousness, but must
be treated separately for Bleeding Out.
For example: Gerhart is hit by an attack and takes
20 damage. He is wearing armour that gives him an
AV of 8 so takes 12 damage (20 - 8 = 12). He loses 12
Grit points, leaving him on 28. As he took more than
10 damage in a single hit Gerhart’s player makes a
Wound check, rolling a number of d6 equal to his
Physique. He gets no successes, so also takes 1 Wound.
The next round Gerhart takes a massive 36 damage;
after reducing it by his AV, Gerhart takes 28 damage,
reducing him to 0 Grit! Luckily he passes the Wound
save and takes no more wounds. In the next round
Gerhart is hit again for a 10 damage; after reducing this
by his AV Gerhart only takes 2 damage. However as he
is out of Grit, this means Gerhart takes a Wound.

1-2 1d6
BLEEDING OUT
3-4 2d6 When a character has lost all of their Wounds they
5 3d6 begin Bleeding Out; they are dying and without aid
will die at the end of the current scene.
Once damage has been calculated the target
As long as a Bleeding Out character still has any Grit
subtracts their Armour Value (if they are wearing
Points they can continue to act, but in this state the
armour). If this reduces the damage to zero or less
DV of all skill checks is increased by 1 and they can
then the target shrugs off the attack. The remaining
only move half as far as usual in combat.
damage is applied to the target; the character loses a
number of Grit Points equal to the remaining damage.
Characters can only recover from Bleeding Out
If an attack does more than 10 damage in a single
through the use of the Medical Skill. To do so another
hit (after being reduced by armour) then the
character must succeed a Average (DV2) Medical skill
character must make a Wound Save, which is a
check. Success means the character is stabilised,
Trained Physique check (a number of d6 equal to the
regains 1 Wound and is no longer Bleeding Out.
character’s Physique, counting any result of a 4,5 or 6).
Combat

Failure means the character regains no Wounds and is

If the character gets 1 or more successes then nothing
still Bleeding Out.
happens; they continue to function as normal. If they
fail the check (rolling no successes) then they take 1
Wound in addition to losing Grit Points.

92
DRAMATIC INJURIES
When a character loses all their wounds but
somehow survives they do not do so unscathed; a
character who recovers from Bleeding Out will gain a
Dramatic Injury. Dramatic Injuries are permanent scars
and injuries that add to the character; a way of saying
“I’ve been through some stuff”. Dramatic Injuries are
chosen by the player but are purely descriptive in
nature; they do not have mechanical effects and are
intended to further roleplay (as opposed to reducing a
character’s abilities).
Some Dramatic Injuries can be a way of justifying
changes in play style (such as a previously combat
oriented character taking more of an intellectual
role) or taking mechaugmetics (such as a character
replacing a crippled arm with a mechaugmetic
replacement).
Be aware, however; once you choose a Dramatic
Injury it can never be removed, although it can be
negated in some cases (by mechaugmetics,
for example).
Players are encouraged to come up with a suitable
Dramatic Injury based on the attack and situation
that resulted in the character Bleeding Out. Dramatic
Injuries should be significant and lasting but not
something that prevents the player from enjoying
their character.
Some examples are listed below:
Jake Flint is hit by an explosion and begins Bleeding
Out. His player decides that the blast has blinded him
on one eye. Despite the fact that he could replace his
eye with a mechaugmetic, Jake wears an eyepatch out
of bloody-minded refusal to forget his comrades killed
in the blast.
Eleanor Greywood begins Bleeding Out while fighting
an opponent armed with a sword. Her player decides
that Eleanor receivedm a nasty blow to the face which
results in a long scar running from her lip up to her left
cheekbone. Although she acts like she doesn’t care,
Eleanor is secretly deeply self-conscious about the scar.
Pieter Vasilievich falls from a car during a high-speed
chase and is run over by a truck. His player decides
that his arm is crippled by the accident and shortly
afterwards Pieter elects to have it replaced with
a mechaugmetic.
HEALING
If your character has been injured and you’ve lost Grit
Points or Wounds, how do you regain them?
There are a number of ways of regaining both Grit
Points and Wounds available to players; either using
the Medical Skill, using the healing drug Elixir or by
letting injuries slowly heal naturally over time.
An injured character doesn’t need to seek medical
aid if they don’t want to (or can’t); their wounds will not
hamper them or increase without aid.
It is important to note that all Grit Points are instantly
recovered at the end of a scene.
USING THE MEDICAL SKILL
The Medical skill can be used to regain Grit Points and
Wounds and prevent a character from dying at the
end of a scene.
Grit Point recovery
The Medical skill can be be used to recover Grit
Points; a successful Medical skill check will restore 5
Grit Points per success rolled on a Medical skill check.
A character can aid any other character in this way.
A character can attempt to help themself, as long as
they are able to do so (for example not unconscious
or tied up).
Wound Recovery
The Medical skill can also be used to restore a single
Wound to a character once per scene. A successful
DV 2 Medical skill check will restore 1 Wound to
a character. If a character is Bleeding Out this will
stabilise them and stop them from dying at the end of
the scene.
Saving Dying characters
If a character is dying and has already received
Medical attention to restore a Wound that scene, a
successful Medical skill check can be used to stabilise
them but it will not restore any more Wounds.
HEALING OVER TIME
Wounds are regained with either long-term care or
healing over time.
Long-term care
Long-term care must be administered by another
character; a character cannot perform Long-term care
on themself. Each day a character administers Long-
Combat
term Care they must make a Medical skill check. Each
success rolled will restore 1 Wound to the character
being treated.
This healing is in addition to healing over time (see
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 below). During Long-term Care the character being
treated must not exert themselves and is limited to
bed rest and recovery.
Healing over time
All characters will naturally heal over time, although
slowly. A character heals 1 Wound per day without
having to roll any skill checks.
USING ELIXIR
Using a vial of Elixir will restore a number of Grit points
and Wounds as described in the Elixir entry of the
Equipment chapter.
For example: During a combat Pieter takes a number
of hits and loses 4 Wounds. Pieter has 4 Wounds
naturally, leaving him with 0 Wounds and Bleeding Out.
Immediately after he is shot Eleanor uses her Medical
skill on Pieter and succeeds: Pieter is stabilised and as
he hasn’t received medical aid in the scene, also regains
1 Wound.
The pair escape and Pieter is laid up while Eleanor
administers Long-term Care. The first day Eleanor
makes a Medical skill check and gets 1 success; Pieter
heals 1 Wound plus an additional 1 Wound for healing
over time. Pieter is now on 3 Wounds.
The next day Eleanor could leave Pieter to heal
naturally, but decides she wants to help him and makes
another Medical check, getting 1 successes. Pieter
regains 1 more Wound and is now fully healed.
DEATH
There are a few ways a character can end up dead in
Age of Steel. The most common way is to reduced to
0 Wounds (Bleeding Out) and fail to receive medical
attention by the end of the scene. Characters can also
die through failing a skill check and taking damage
(although this is uncommon) or through negligent
action by their player. Negligent action is when a
player insists on attempting a dangerous action
despite Gamemaster warning, such as jumping into
moving machinery or standing next to a bomb that
is about to detonate. In such situations is it advisable
that the Gamemaster give the player an Impossible
(DV6) skill check to save their character, but the player
should be aware the price of failure is the loss of their
character. Even if the player passes the check their
character should suffer extensive damage.
Combat
Another way a character can die is through conscious
sacrifice. A player may choose that their character
willingly goes to their death, usually to save another
94
character. In such situations no rolls are necessary;
the character is dead.
Even when a character is dead it is not necessarily the
end of them. If a character still has any Moxie Points
remaining they may spend a point to avoid death (at
the cost of receiving a Dramatic Injury). Characters
saved in this manner are instantly healed to 1 Wound.
A dead character can also be revived by another
character by passing an Heroic (DV5) Medical check,
as long as the reviving character reaches them within
a few minutes of their death.
Science can also be used to revive a dead character,
although characters revived in such a manner often
come back changed in some manner (either mentally,
physically or both). Reviving a character in this manner
requires a Heroic (DV5) Science check, but can be
attempted at any point following their death as long
as their body remains in a usable form.
DAMAGE FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
There are a number of other ways a character can
take damage apart from gunfire and close combat.
FIRE
Fires do damage to characters each round they are in
contact with them. The damage inflicted is based on
the size of the fire. When taking damage from a fire
a character’s armour is halved (rounding up) before
calculating damage taken.
Size of fire Damage per round
Small fire (camp fire) 1d6
Medium fire (bonfire) 2d6
Large fire (burning building) 3d6
Inferno 4d6
Characters can also be set on fire by contact with
a fire or by being hit with a weapon such as a
flamethrower. Any flammable target that comes
into contact with a fire must make an Average (DV
2) Reflexes check or catch fire. Burning characters
automatically take 2d6 damage each round unless
they extinguish themselves by passing a DV2 Reflexes
check. Other characters can attempt to extinguish a
burning character by making a DV2 Athletics check.
ELECTRICITY
Coming into contact with electricity (from a broken
generator or an Ansler Coil) will result in a number
of D6 damage based on the strength of the charge
(decided by the Gamemaster). This damage will
usually ignore armour. Additionally the character will
be Stunned for a round.
COLD & HEAT
A character exposed to extreme cold or extreme heat
without adequate protective clothing must make a
Survival skill check every hour with the DV based on
how extreme the heat/ cold is. Failure results in 1d6
damage which ignores armour.
FALLING
Falling from a height onto an unyielding surface
inflicts 1d6 for every 10 feet fallen. Landing on a
softer surface or somehow breaking your fall (such
as making a Reflexes check to grab a rope, etc) may
reduce damage.
SUFFOCATION
A character denied air through either drowning,
strangulation or exposure to vacuum must make
a Hard (DV3) Athletics check every minute. Failure
results in 1d6 damage which ignores armour.
POISONS AND GASES
Poisons and toxic gases are sometimes encountered
on adventures, from poisonous snakes and spiders in
ancient tombs to mustard gas used during the war.
When exposed to a poison or gas a character must
make roll a number of dice equal to their Physique
and count the number of dice resulting in a 4, 5 or 6
(as if they were making a Trained skill check). If they
get a number of successes equal to or greater than
the poison’s strength (as listed below) then they resist
the effect. If not they suffer the listed effect. Other
poisons can be created using the examples below as
a guide.
Poison Stength Effect
Jungle frog venom 2 Paralysis (2d6 minutes)
Black tarantula venom 1 2d6 damage
Cyanide (liquid) 2 3d6 damage
Mustard gas 4 3d6 damage
VEHICLE COMBAT
Combat involving one or more vehicles runs slightly
differently to combat between characters on foot. If a
player character or an NPC is controlling a vehicle in a
combat situation, apply the rules below.
VEHICLE COMBAT ACTIONS
Characters controlling a vehicle may choose from
appropriate combat actions as normal. Some actions
will not be suitable, depending on the vehicle in
question. For example a character driving a car could
not use the Charge combat action, but a character
piloting a Rig could.
There are also a number of combat actions only
available to vehicles, shown below. Some of these
combat actions are limited to certain vehicle types.
Ram (primary action)
If a character is driving a vehicle they may choose
to use the Ram action. The attacker attempts to
slam their vehicle into their target (either a character,
another vehicle or any other suitable target). To
make a Ram attack the attacker makes a Drive or
Pilot check, opposed by the target’s Reflexes (if they
are on foot) or Drive or Pilot check (if they are in a
vehicle). If the attacker equals or exceeds the target’s
roll then they hit and deal damage damage based
on their vehicle’s current combat speed (see Vehicle
Movement below) and the vehicle’s ram value. If they
fail the check then the Ram misses.
Accelerate/ Decelerate (secondary action)
Accelerate moves the vehicle into the next Combat
speed category (assuming the vehicle is capable of
doing that speed). Decelerate moves the vehicle into
the previous Combat speed category. If a vehicle
Decelerates enough it will come to a stop.
Emergency Brake (primary action)
Emergency Brake allows a vehicle to come to a
complete stop in a single round, provided the driver
can pass a Drive or Pilot skill check based on their
current combat speed (see the table below). If the
check is passed the vehicle successfully comes to a
complete stop at the end of the combat round. If the
check is failed then the vehicle remains moving and
goes out of control (see Going out of control).
If an aeroplane in flight uses this action then they
Combat
immediately count as Out of Control. Airships are not
affected by this rule as they can hover in place.
95
 unless it has slowed to a stop. Each round a moving
vehicle travels a number of yards based on its current
Combat Speed. This movement is in addition to
any combat actions the driver wishes to make and
is essentially a free action. During this compulsory
movement the vehicle can make a single turn of up to
90 degrees either left or right.

Air vehicles such as planes, airships and rocketpacks

can choose to gain or lose altitude instead of moving.
When gaining or losing altitude the vehicle does not
move forwards but instead increases or decreases
their altitude by one level for each round spent
increasing/decreasing altitude (see below for
altitude rules).

Maneuver (primary action)
There are a great number of maneuvers a driver or
pilot can attempt depending on the vehicle they
are controlling. A driver of a car may want to pull
a handbrake turn while being chased by another
vehicle; a pilot flying a plane may try to evade an
enemy by performing a barrel roll; a Rig pilot may
want to long-jump an obstacle.
When a character wants to perform a maneuver they
tell the Gamemaster what they are trying to achieve
with the maneuver and the Gamemaster assigns a
DV based on the complexity of the maneuver, the
vehicle’s current speed (see Vehicle Movement
below) and any other circumstantial factors. The
player then makes a Drive or Pilot skill check; if they
succeed they perform the maneuver as intended,
if they fail then the vehicle goes out of control (see
Going out of control).
VEHICLE MOVEMENT
If a vehicle is moving during combat it cannot simply
stop and start like a character on foot; a vehicle must
move every round if it was moving the round before,
OUT OF CONTROL
Sometimes a character or NPC driving or piloting a
vehicle loses control, usually because of a failed skill
check. When this happens the vehicle is considered
Out of Control.
Each round a vehicle is Out of Control the driver must
make a DV3 drive or pilot skill check. If they succeed
then they have successfully regained control, the
vehicle is no longer Out of Control and they can act
as normal in the next round. If they fail the check then
the vehicle is still Out of Control and they must roll on
the respective table below.
Land or water vehicle out of control
1d6 Event
1 The vehicle continues moving forwards and
decelerates by one speed category
2 The vehicle continues moving forwards at its
current speed
3 The vehicle continues moving forwards and gently
drifts 45 degrees either left or right
4 The vehicle continues moving forwards and
accelerates by one speed category
5 The vehicle continues moving forwards and
abruptly swerves 90 degrees either left or right
6 The vehicle engine stalls. It will lose one speed
category each round until completely stopped

Combat Speed Movement Additional Ram Damage Emergency Break DV Maneuver modifier
Slow 10 yards +0 1 +0
Combat

Medium 20 yards +0 2 +0
Fast 30 yards +1d6 3 +1
Very Fast 40 yards +2d6 4 +1

96
Air vehicle out of control
1d6 Event
1 The vehicle gains altitude and decelerates by one
speed category
2 The vehicle continues moving forwards at its
current speed
3 The vehicle continues moving forwards and gently
drifts 45 degrees either left or right
4 The vehicle loses altitude and accelerates by one
speed category
5 The vehicle continues moving forwards and
abruptly banks 90 degrees either left or right
6 The vehicle engine stalls. It will lose altitude at its
current speed each round until restarted
ALTITUDE IN AERIAL COMBAT
In Age of Steel a flying vehicle can occupy one of four
altitude levels; High, Medium, Low and Ground Level.
A vehicle or character can only attack a target at the
same altitude or the next adjacent level(s), regardless
of the range of the weapons they are using.
High Medium Low Ground
High    
Medium    
Low    
Ground    
This is also relevant to characters on the ground
attacking airborne vehicles or characters; they can
only attack targets at Low Altitude regardless of the
range of their weapons.
As mentioned in the movement section, gaining or
losing altitude takes a full round of movement.
Characters in vehicles attacking a target in a lower
altitude level (i.e. from above) gain a bonus +1d6 to hit.
DAMAGE TO VEHICLES
Damage to vehicles is handled in the same way as
damage to characters except that instead of Grit
Points vehicles have Structure Points. If a vehicle is
successfully hit by an attack then damage is rolled
and then reduced by the vehicle’s armour. If this
reduces the damage to zero or less then the attack
ricochets off the vehicle’s hull. The remaining damage
is applied to the target; the vehicle loses a number of
Structure Points equal to the remaining damage.
If a vehicle is reduced to zero Structure Points then it
is Disabled.
If a vehicle is moving when it becomes Disabled then
it begins decelerating at a rate of one speed category
per round until it comes to a halt. Once it has stopped
a Disabled vehicle cannot start moving again unless it
is repaired to 1 or more Structure Points. If a Disabled
vehicle strikes an obstacle or another vehicle while
moving it will take damage based on its own Ram
Value and its current speed.
If an flying vehicle is in the air when it becomes
Disabled then it begins losing altitude and
accelerating until it reaches its maximum speed or
impacts with the ground (whichever comes first).
Impacting with the ground will inflict damage on the
vehicle based on its own Ram Value and its current
speed. It the vehicle survives the impact it cannot
start moving again unless it is repaired to 1 or more
Structure Points.
If a Disabled vehicle takes further damage then there
is a chance it will either become wrecked beyond
repair or even explode. Every time a Disabled vehicle
takes damage roll on the chart below:
1d6 Result
1-2 No effect. Vehicle is still Disabled
3-4 The vehicle is destroyed beyond repair. It is now
little more than a glorified lump of metal.
3-4 The vehicle explodes! The resulting explosion
does 1d6 damage per 10 Structure Points the
vehicle had when fully repaired (rounding up).
REPAIRING VEHICLES
Structure Points can be restored to a damaged
vehicle with the Mechanics skill. To repair a vehicle a
character needs suitable tools and time to work. The
character makes a Mechanics skill check; if successful
then the vehicle regains a number of Structure Points
equal to 10 times the number of successes rolled.
For example: Pieter is repairing his much-loved Battle
Rig ‘Sasha’. He makes his Mechanics skill check and
gets 3 successes; Sasha regains 30 Structure Points.
Combat
97
 FEAR
There are strange and terrifying forces at work in
Neres. Agents of the Coiled Ones can summon up
strange otherworldly entities and ancient tombs can
contain disturbing murals and artefacts.
Sometimes a character will be confronted with
something so strange, so otherworldly that they may
flee in terror. When this occurs the player needs to
make a Fear check.
Fear checks should be rare; one or two in an entire
Adventure. They are to illustrate that there are eldritch
forces at work in Neres; that some things are beyond
a character’s comprehension.
A Fear check is a standard Willpower skill check, with
the DV determined by the nature and scale of the
disturbing occurrence the character is exposed to.
Event
Strange event: a shadow moves at the corner of
your eye; the wind seems to whisper your name
Disturbing sight: discovering a gruesome murder;
a painting shows human sacrifice in lurid detail
Certifiable strangeness: someone you know to
be dead appears and talks to you; you witness an
eldritch ritual
Horrific sight: watching a ritual sacrifice;
discovering a shrine covered in severed heads
Occult event: someone uses magic to hurl bolts of
darkness; a statue moves and talks
Indescribable sight: being confronted with the
inescapable reality of the occult; watching reality
tear open and seeing the Void Beyond
Combat
98
When confronted with a disturbing event a character
must make a Fear check. If they succeed then they
shrug off any mental trauma and act as normal. What
they’ve seen is weird, but they can deal with it.
Should the character fail the Fear check then the
number of successes by which they missed the DV
of the Fear check determines how they react (see the
table below). Gamemasters can substitute the result
for one of their own, as long as it is a similar severity.
Margin Event
1-2 No effect. Although disturbing the sight does
not affect the character.
3-4 The character is shaken by what they’ve seen;
the next action or skill check they make counts
as 1 DV higher.
5-6 The character is shocked. They lose their next
action if in combat or are unable to act for 1
minute if not in combat.
DV
7+ The character faints. They will remain
1 unconscious for 5 minutes or until woken by a
successful DV2 Medical check.
2
For Example: While on a case Jake Flint sneaks into
3 the back room of the Jade Lotus club and witnesses
a strange occult ritual. The Gamemaster tells Jake’s
player that the scene requires a DV4 Fear check.
4 The player makes a Willpower skill check and gets 1
success. As the DV was 4, Jake has failed the check by
5
3 successes. The Gamemaster tells Jake’s player that
Jake is shaken by the strange and eldritch scene and
suffers a penalty to his next action. As the cultists finish
6
their ritual, Jake prepares to make a Stealth check; will
the penalty be his undoing?
 GERHART’S STORY
The backroom of the Down and Out had, over the
last few months, become Gerhart’s workshop. It
had started with Jake letting him keep a few tools
there, then progressed to Gerhart using it to fix the
clank when it broke down, then slowly transformed
into his own space after that. Now it was barely
recognisable as the old box room it had once been;
tables scattered with disassembled devices ran
down one wall, while the others were covered in tool
racks and cabinets containing spare parts. A chain
hoist hung from the ceiling, supporting the engine
Gerhart was currently working on. Flipping down his
goggles, Gerhart thumbed the magnification up to
it’s maximum, inspecting the weld he’d just made for
imperfections. He didn’t want it to come apart under
the strain again; the last time had been embarrassing
enough. Not to mention, almost fatal. But no one who
dabbled in Anslertech ever made a breakthrough
without breaking some bones, as his old professor
always said.
Jake had said something similar, when Gerhart
had crashed his first rocket pack, but slightly more
disparaging.
With an approving nod Gerhart flipped the googles
back to normal vision and picked up his welding torch
once more. The welds looked good.
Something slammed into the wall behind him with a
titanic crash, causing several of the tools hung on the
wall to fall off onto the bench below in a cacophony
of noise. Another crash followed, and then the
unmistakable sound of a gunshot.
Muttering an oath, Gerhart dropped the welding torch
and ran to the door, peeking through into the bar.
Half a dozen men and women in white suits were
involved in a brawl with the patrons of the bar.
As he watched a large man with an impressive
mechaugmetic arm lifted one of the white-clad goons
and threw him into a table with a crash.
“Spirits damn it, Pieter, not the tables!” yelled Jake
from where he was grappling with a woman in white.
It looked like the Jake and the regulars were holding
their own, however the thugs in white all had guns.
Jake had one rule in the Down and Out; no guns, so in
a matter of time things would go south for them.
Gerhart quickly closed the door and crossed the
workshop to where his suit of Anslertech armour
stood in one corner, opened up and waiting for him
to step into it. With a few deft motions Gerhart closed
the suit around him, powering it up and feeling the
inhuman strength it granted him thrum through his
limbs.
He strode back across the room, raised a foot to kick
the door off its hinges and then remembered where
he was. With care he gently opened the door and
stepped through into the brawl.
Jake had the woman he had been fighting in a
headlock now, and was trying to take her out of
the fight by the expedient method of bashing her
head against the bar. Because of his eyepatch the
older barman hadn’t noticed another goon in white
drawing a bead on him with a pistol. With a shout
Gerhart dashed across the room and ploughed into
the gunman, hurling him back with a blow from his
forearm that sent the thug slamming into the wall.
Turning, Gerhart punched another thug square in the
chest, dropping her to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
A shot rang out and a bullet ricocheted off Gerhart’s
shoulder. As the shooter raised his pistol to fire
another shot Gerhart raised his hand, pointed a finger
and squeezed the button built into that gauntlet. The
rocket-propelled grapnel shot out of it’s housing on
the back of his arm, catching the shooter in the chest
and sending him flying back through the window of
the bar in a shower of broken glass.
The gunshot seemed to kick the fight up a notch;
anyone who had a gun promptly pulled it out and in
seconds bullets began flying everywhere. Jake, the
big man he’d called Pieter and two women dived over
the bar and after a moment of consideration Gerhart
joined them.
“Jake, who the hell are these guys?” he yelled over the
sound of gunfire.
“I don’t know,” growled Jake, pulling out the sawn-off
shotgun he kept behind the bar, “But they’re going to
pay for this.”
The taller woman, who was dressed Haldoran-style,
pulled out a long-nosed automatic and the dark-
skinned girl produced a large revolver from within her
Gerhart's Story
jacket.
“On three,” Said Jake, raising his shotgun. “One. Two.”
“Three!”
99
 RUNNING THE GAME
Running a roleplaying game can be the most
enjoyable part of the roleplaying experience. As the
Gamemaster you can create an adventure, watch as
the players interact with your plot and help them to
create a dynamic and exciting story.
However, Gamemastering is also a lot of responsibility
and it isn’t easy. This chapter will hopefully help
prospective Gamemasters understand how Age of
Steel adventures should run and how to help the
players enjoy the game.
CAPTURING THE AGE OF
STEEL FEEL
So what kind of game is Age of Steel meant to be, and
how do you capture the feeling of the setting in your
games?
Age of Steel was written to emulate the kind of action
adventure found in Indiana Jones, the Mummy or
Uncharted. Not every situation should be solved by
combat, but when the chips are down, the heroes will
fall back on their own abilities to solve the problem,
not go running to the authorities. It is intended to be
a game of heroic deeds and shady secrets. The plots
the players encounter can range from small and
personal to huge and world threatening.
The game world contains elements of action, horror
and investigation but any of these elements can be
dropped if they do not suit the story you want to tell or
suit the kind of game you want to run.
It is important when running Age of Steel to try and
capture the feeling of the setting. To help you do
this, here are some suggested elements to possibly
incorporate into your games:
DON’T FOCUS ON MINUTIAE
You don’t need to narrate every single action. Think
about how scenes occur in movies. Travelling is often
Running the Game
a montage. Similarly gearing up for a mission (buying
weapons, obtaining equipment) can be handled
similarly. There are parts of a game where you want
to focus on characters interacting with each other
and the world around them, similarly there are times
you can skip the boring stuff. Learning this balance is
important to good game flow and pacing.
100
A WORLD OF CONTRASTS
Following the Great War Neres is a world of contrasts.
New technology and societal upheaval are the order
of the day and the old world, mired in tradition, is
struggling to adapt.
To capture this you can send the characters to exotic
locales but show the gritty side of those locations.
Dar-el Bida is a beautiful coastal city but filled with
vice and danger. The jungles of Kijani are verdant and
lush but often home to betrayal and foul deeds.
In a similar vein you can use your games to show the
growing divide between the haves and the have nots
in post-war Neres. Because of the post-war boom
in technology and trade some people have become
stupendously rich while others are wretchedly poor.
As adventurers the players can dip in and out of both
aspects of society. One minute they can be attending
a lavish party and the next be meeting contacts in a
seedy diner in the poorest part of town.
TECHNOLOGY VERSUS SOCIETY
Technology is an important part of Age of Steel Even
before the Great War technology was in the middle of
a period of expansion and the wartime quest for new
weapons only increased the thirst for advancement.
But while technology is advancing rapidly, society is
often left struggling to catch up.
To many people the technology that is plentiful
following the war such as radios, automobiles and
Rigs are a strange but welcome facet of their new
lives. Some people are reverent to technology, others
have become numbed by its use and some have
become addicts, seeking out as much technology as
they can find.
There are also parts of Neres where the rise of
technology has yet to reach. In these places, such as
the prairie farms of Haldora and the back woods of
Riland, life still proceeds at an almost medieval pace,
almost blissfully ignorant of the technological marvels
taken for granted elsewhere.
GREY VS BLACK
An element of Age of Steel that partially relies on the
players as well as the Gamemaster is the idea that the
heroes might not be the most moral of individuals.
Vigilantes, dissidents and outsiders, they are
frequently the people who get drawn into adventures
because they have no warm, comfortable life to
otherwise occupy them. They are also the people who
will take the necessary (but not entirely legal) action
to oppose those threats. They are lead by their own
moral compass.
However, no matter how morally ambiguous the
player characters are, the bad guys in Age of Steel
should be truly bad.
In some media there is the idea that villains should
be redeemable, relatable or even pitiable. Although
realistic, this philosophy can be unsatisfying; players
want a hero to celebrate and a villain to vilify. If you
feel sorry for him, how do you feel satisfied when you
defeat the bad guy?
Simple; you make the bad guys truly, irredeemably
evil. The player characters are a bunch of sour
tempered anti-heroes but by fighting truly black-
hearted monsters they show that deep down they are
good people.
ACTION SEQUENCES
An iconic element of action movies and games are
the action sequences in which the heroes run through
collapsing temples, escape burning buildings or
engage in break-neck car chases. While not every
Age of Steel adventure needs such sequences,
having them can help add to the action-adventure
theme.
When adding such sequences there must be a
balance between spectacle and difficulty. If a player
must make too many skill checks then the sequence
will quickly become an exercise in rolling dice and
will be boring. The trick is to make the player look
like he or she has achieved something impressive
while setting them a relatively easy task. Done well, a
gameplay-affecting set piece can make a player feel
like they’re taking part in a movie without interrupting
the flow of the game.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF
GAMEMASTERING
The psychology of being a Gamemaster is sometimes
hard to achieve. As the Gamemaster you are not trying
to ‘beat’ the players; you are not opposing teams, you
are both working together to tell stories of derring-do.
Too many Gamemasters forget this cardinal rule and
see their role as the wall the players have to beat
down. They write a story and then get frustrated
when the players act outside of the planned route.
They throw bad guys at the players in waves to try to
wound or kill their characters, so they can feel justified
that they ‘made the game hard enough’.
The best way to Gamemaster Age of Steel (or any
roleplay game I would argue) is to remember that
it is not the Gamemaster’s job to tell a story. It their
job to create a setting; what the player characters
do in that setting is what creates the story. The best
Gamemaster sets the stage, guides the players and
helps make an awesome experience for everyone
involved.
That said, while it’s sometimes good to let characters
show off how amazing they are, you must also
present them with real challenges and real threats.
Without struggle and risk, there is no sense of
accomplishment. It is a very fine balance between
allowing characters to breeze through an adventure
with no opposition and challenging them enough that
they feel like they really earned the ending.
Another key rule to remember is pacing. Like a good
film, a good adventure builds tension and releases it.
A film with all action sequences is dull because after
a while we become oversaturated by all the action
and lose interest. A slow-paced film where nothing
happens is boring for obvious reasons. By mixing
social challenges, mental challenges and good
old-fashioned action in succession you can make a
balanced and entertaining campaign.
Also remember that a simple thing done well is better
than an elaborate thing done poorly. Plots do not
need to be complex webs of intrigue; sometimes the
simplest plot can yield the most memorable games.
Lasty, don’t be afraid to pause the action if you need
to calculate or plan. This is not a video game, and
you are not a computer. It’s better to tell a good story
slowly than a dull one quickly. If the players come up
with a plan you have not anticipated it’s fine to tell
them “Coffee break guys” and quickly brainstorm a
resolution.
Running the Game
THE ‘YES BUT’ RULE
Gamemasters should be mindful that Age of Steel
is a game about heroes. When a player asks if their
character can do something, the Gamemaster should
usually respond “Yes, but...”.
The ‘but’ can include a skill check (such as “Yes but
you’ll have to make a DV5 skill check”) or a condition
101
 (“Yes but the bad guy will get to shoot at you first”).
This is a better solution than the Gamemaster
constantly telling players no because it helps both
sides build the story.
However, there are some instances where ‘no’ is the
right answer. If the Gamemaster says no, then their
word is final.
THEMES
There are four key themes in Age of Steel. These
themes can be explored as much or as little as you
want in your games.
ADVENTURE
Adventure is probably the most important theme of
Age of Steel. The game is set in perhaps the twilight
years of adventure in Neres. Technology such as the
radio, telegram and aeroplane are making the world
a rapidly-shrinking place. Whereas before it was
possible to find places uncharted and undiscovered,
now the world is mapped and understood.
Communication has improved so that news spreads
across the globe in a matter of hours rather than days
and weeks.
In this world adventure is a rare commodity, but can
still be found. Ruins are uncovered in the depths of
the Kijani jungle, forays are lead into the forbidden
lands of Chath’Zhan. Deals are made in shady back
alleys and in brightly-lit gin-joints alike.
Age of Steel games that explore the adventure theme
should play out like an Indiana Jones movie.
The Thorncroft Foundation is a good source of
Adventure based games. As members of the
Thorncroft Foundation the players are sent to find
members of the Ansler Institute, lost technology or
even Johann Ansler himself. En route they can come
up against government agents after the same goals
or perhaps even become involved in the Silent War.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology is the second most important theme
in Age of Steel. Neres features strange technology
Running the Game
not found in our world; rigs, Anslertech, Neogenic
serums. It also has technology that once appeared in
our world but is no longer common such as airships,
telegrams and biplanes.
Central to the theme of technology is the concept
that Neres has undergone massive technological
advancement because of the Great War and society
is still trying to catch up with the marvels now at
102
their disposal. Because of the surge of discoveries
sometimes humanity becomes lost to advancement.
Cities sprawl and fumes choke the sky, while the
factory labourers are forced to endure
terrible conditions.
INTRIGUE
Intrigue is everywhere in Age of Steel, however most
people are not aware of it. The Great War may have
ended but the Silent War still rages. Agents of every
nation duel both mentally and physically all over
Neres. Proxy wars are fought in isolated city states
and on remote islands as research facilities are
destroyed and experimental aircraft are sabotaged.
Spies hunt each other through the midnight streets
of cities and adventurers are drawn into the sinister
dance of espionage whether they realise it or not.
Games that explore the Intrigue theme can be
modeled on classic noir movies such as the Maltese
Falcon or more modern tales such as the Sin
City series.
HORROR
Horror, like Intrigue, is everywhere in Neres but
the majority of people are blissfully unaware of it.
The Coiled Ones threaten to destroy the world by
sinking it into another cataclysmic global conflict.
Scientists also threaten the world with their hubris;
either someone will discover a scientific method of
unleashing the Coiled Ones on Neres or someone will
crack the secret of Ansler’s Peace Ray.
Science-based horror could also involve the terrible
hubris of creating or rekindling life. Armies of
cybernetically-reanimated zombies for example.
Although the Silent War is primarily the struggle
between great nations, there is a much greater threat;
the Coiled Ones. Only a few people truly know of this
threat (such as the Thorncroft Foundation); perhaps
the characters are drawn into the war against the
Coiled Ones accidentally or by design. Either way,
once they catch the attention of the dwellers in the
darkness, they will never know peace again.
MEASURES OF TIME
From a gameplay point of view there are three
measures of time in Age of Steel (outside of minutes,
hours, days, etc.). These are Scenes, Adventures and
Campaigns.
SCENE
A scene encompasses a number of events in the
same location that occur within a short time of each
AWARDING EXPERIENCE
other. Think of it from the point of view of a movie;
Through their adventures characters will grow in
a scene encompasses the events that take place
knowledge and skills as they have to face new threats
between a fade-in and a fade-out.
and work they way out of tricky situations. By the end
Generally speaking a scene is quite short; lasting a
of a Campaign, the party will have gone from naïve,
few hours of in-game time at the most. For example,
young greenhorns to world-wise, competent heroes!
a scene could begin when the characters arrive at
How do they do this?
a mysterious ruin, include their search for clues and
Experience.
conclude when they discover a hidden trapdoor and
descend into the vaults below. The next scene would
At the end of an Adventure you should aware every
begin as they enter the vaults.
character with a number of Experience Points (Exp)
A scene can cover a much longer period of narrative
based on their performance during the Adventure.
time when the Gamemaster and players want to skip
over mundane and boring events as the characters
A guide to how to determine Experience Awards
move from one key event to another.
is shown below. As always, Gamemasters are
For example: after the players explore the hidden vault
encouraged to adapt these rules and award more or
they find an ancient map directing them to a lost temple
less Exp if they see fit. On average a character should
deep in the jungles of Kijani. The next scene spans
typically gain 2-5 Experience Points per Adventure.
several days as they head back to civilisation, board a
plane, fly south, charter a boat and head up river. The
scene ends when the party arrive at the temple complex
and the next scene then begins. Condition Exp Awarded

Completed the Adventure 2

ADVENTURE
An adventure comprises an entire story. Generally
speaking the Adventure starts when the characters
become involved (voluntarily or not) in the plot and
ends when they have resolved the story one way or
another. Another less positive ending to an adventure
can come when the party are defeated; the villains
are successful in their plans and the world is worse
for it. Worse still, an adventure can end because the
characters lose their lives in the struggle and there is
no one else to continue the fight.
An adventure is over when, from a movie sense, the
words THE END appear. Some plot hooks might be
left unresolved, but these will hopefully be dealt with
in future adventures.
Completed the Adventure with style +2
Roleplayed the character well +1
Defeated a major adversary +2
Solved a difficult puzzle/ dilemma +1
Learned something new +1
Note that these awards suggestions are per Adventure.
Experience Points could be awarded at the end of
each gaming session, but the Gamemaster should
ensure that the points are reduced accordingly.
At the end of an average length, average difficulty
Campaign (containing 2-4 adventures) a character
should have earned between 10 and 30
Experience Points.

CAMPAIGN
Experience Points can be spent on Stats and Skills in
A campaign is the largest measure of time and
the exact same way as Character Points are during
comprises a huge story spanning many adventures,
character generation. Experience Points can be spent
usually involving the same characters and an
at the end of the Adventure, before the start of the
overarching plot line that links all the action together.
next Adventure. The costs are exactly the same as
For example: a party of characters may become aware
during character generation and 1 experience point is
Running the Game

of a sinister secret society that seems to be behind a

equal to 1 character point.
number of plots and adventures they have become
involved in over the years. These adventures are all
Backgrounds cannot be bought with Experience
part of the greater campaign in which the party will
Points, although they can be awarded by
eventually go on to battle the masters of the secret
the Gamemaster.
society and thwart their plans to restart the Great War.

103
 AWARDING MOXIE POINTS
Moxie points can be awarded at the end of a
Adventure as an additional reward. If the character
acted daringly or heroically during the Adventure they
should earn 1 or 2 Moxie points (encouraging such
actions in the future). However, Gamemasters should
be mindful of the economy of Moxie.
A character begins an Adventure with a finite number
of Moxie points. Generally most players will hoard
their Moxie points for moments they feel are the
most important. Sometimes this can result in players
not spending Moxie points at all in a campaign. To
counter this, Gamemasters should be generous
when awarding Moxie at the end of an Adventure.
If a character has spent a point of Moxie during the
Adventure, they should regain at least 1 Moxie to
encourage such actions in the future. As a campaign
progresses and the players reach the conclusion,
some Gamemasters may think the rate of Moxie
awards should decrease, thereby making the
remaining points players have more valuable. While
this is a legitimate strategy, the end of the campaign
is perhaps when the most derring-do should occur. As
such, do not be too stingy when awarding Moxie.
OTHER REWARDS
In addition to awarding Moxie points and Experience
a Gamemaster can award players with other rewards
at the end of an Adventure. Suggested rewards
are money, favours from important or influential
individuals or expensive or otherwise hard-to-get
equipment. These rewards can be simulated by
awarding bonus levels of Backgrounds or by giving
the character a set amount of cash.
BRINGING AN EXPERIENCED
CHARACTER INTO A
NEW ADVENTURE
More often than not if a player has a character they’ve
played in one adventure, they will want to continue
their story in the next game. But what does this mean
when that character has racked up a number of
Experience Points?
Running the Game
Players should record on their character sheets how
many Character Points and Experience Points have
been spent in total on a character. This way when
starting a new campaign a Gamemaster can work out
if the character is equal to the level of the adventure.
104
When starting a new adventure Gamemasters may
award existing characters additional Character Points
if their combined Character Points and Experience
Points are not equal to the recommended level.
When starting a new adventure the Moxie points of
an experienced character are reset to the number
dictated by the Adventure level.
SCIENCE
Science is a big part of Age of Steel. Professor Ansler
opened the eyes of the world to the power of science
and since the end of the Great War a great many have
begun following the professor’s example, despite the
stigma now attached to such studies.
But what can science do? This section does not
specifically relate to the skill Science (although it
does include it), but to the broader concept within
the game.
Science in Neres is a little different to science in
our world. Age of Steel is a game about weird and
wonderful things, but also about the darkness that
can be unwittingly unleashed by the careless.
Generally science can, with enough time and
resources, be used to do or create almost anything.
However, Gamemasters should be wary of letting
players have too much freedom. Power and hubris
walk hand-in-hand; if a player creates something
that seems powerful, it is perfectly within the
Gamemaster’s rights to use that device to add drama
to the character’s life.
One of the uses of Science is to return a previously
dead character to life.
This can be done at any point after the character’s
death, but generally the sooner the better. The exact
method of returning a dead character to life varies
depending on the scientist working on them. Some
might revive the dead with experimental drugs
and hormone injections. Others may transplant the
dead brain into a new body and reanimate it with
electrical shocks. Another option is to place the
head and organs of the dead character in a full-body
mechaugmetic resembling a simulacra.
Science can also be used to create superweapons.
Like Ansler’s Peace Ray, these super weapons are vast
and almost unlimited in destructive power. Generally
if player characters create such a device it will take
months of in-game time and consume hundreds
of thousands of Marks in resources. Creating such
weapons makes the players a significant threat and
the world of Neres will react accordingly.
Science could also feasibly be used to tear open a
hole into the Void Beyond and release the Coiled
Ones. This is something that has occurred to only
a handful of people to date and those who have
realised the potential have hidden their research
carefully. Should any worshipers of the Coiled Ones
stumble on these theories, Neres will be in
serious trouble.
THE COILED ONES
The Dwellers in the Darkness -the Coiled Ones- are
the major antagonists in Age of Steel games. Vast
and incomprehensibly alien in their psychology, they
exist outside of reality and plot to destroy the world in
a way that no human can truly understand. But how
exactly should they be used in a game?
The short answer is; sparingly. The Coiled Ones
cannot manifest in the real world for long, but when
they do they bring with them the all-consuming
ravening darkness. To face them is to die an
unthinkable death.
As such the actual Coiled Ones should only appear
as the ‘final boss’ of a high level campaign and even
then they should be used with caution. Beating an
unknowable god-monster once is a miracle; beating it
every week makes you wonder why they’re so scary.
Far more common are the minions of the Coiled
Ones; those poor humans duped into worshipping
the Dwellers in the misguided belief that they will
somehow be granted safety from the apocalypse, or
even somehow profit from it.
These cultists range from robe-wearing lunatics
who gather in ancient tombs to smartly-dressed
industrialists who make sacrifices atop towering
skyscrapers. No matter how they appear, their goals
are always the same; chaos, death and destruction.
Sometimes the plans of the Coiled Ones -and by
extension their minions- can be simple; other times
they can be confusingly elaborate. The minds of
the Coiled Ones are truly alien; no human can really
understand them. They are as strange and alien to us
as we are to them.
MAGIC
Magic is a rare and powerful ability wielded by only
the upper echelon of the servants of the Coiled Ones.
By channelling the raw essence of the Dwellers
through themselves, these servants can create
all manner of strange effects. By doing this these
individuals become conduits for the Coiled Ones,
simultaneously corrupting their minds and poisoning
their bodies. Such individuals rarely last very long. The
more powerful a spell, the more damage it inflicts on
the Sorcerer.
Without exception player characters should never
have access to magic. To use magic requires a person
to give themselves over fully to the Coiled Ones, at
which point they cease to be player characters and
become antagonists.
The only way in which a player character could gain
access to magic is a part of a retirement plot; in
which a character falls to the Coiled Ones and then
becomes the antagonist of a new campaign. Even
then, the player would have to give up playing that
character and create a new one.
CASTING A SPELL
To cast spells a character must have learned the
skill Sorcerery. This is a ‘hidden skill’ that cannot be
used Untrained and can only be learned through
being taught by either another Sorcerer, access to a
sorcerous tome or by contact with the Coiled Ones.
Sorcery is an Intellect skill.
To cast a spell the sorcerer makes a Sorcery
skill check based on the DV of the spell they are
attempting. Success means they have cast the spell
as intended, failure means the spell fails. Regardless
of success or failure, the sorcerer loses a number of
Grit Points equal to the cost of the spell; this is the
price of magic.
There is no limit on the number of spells a sorcerer
can cast per day (as long as they have the Grit Points
to cast them). In combat they can cast one spell
per turn.
SPELLS
There are several spells available to sorcerers.
Sorcerers have access to all spells once they learn
Running the Game
the Sorcery skill. Sorcerers can create other effects as
the Gamemaster wishes, but these should exist within
the scope of manipulating darkness and channelling
the essence of the Coiled Ones.
Ruinous Spear (DV2, cost 5)
The sorcerer hurls a blast of rending darkness at
105
 their target. This darkness cuts like broken glass and
freezes flesh.
This spell counts as a ranged attack with a range of
50 yards and inflicting 3d6 damage. If the sorcerer
passes the Sorcery check then the attack hits, with no
Reflexes check by the target to dodge.
Rending claw (DV1, cost 3)
This spell surrounds the sorcerer’s hands with claws
of icy darkness. This spell can only be used in close
combat. If the sorcerer passes the Sorcery check
then the attack hits, dealing 3d6 damage. The target
cannot make a Melee/ Unarmed check to dodge.
Tenebrous shield (DV2, cost 4)
The sorcerer surrounds himself, or another individual
within line-of-sight, with a shield of tenebrous dark
energy that absorb blows and bullets. The target of
the spell gains an AV of 10 for the next round. The
shield vanishes at the beginning of the next round.
Walk the shade (DV1, cost 2)
Sorcerers can travel vast distances by stepping into
one shadow and stepping out of another. Using this
spell a sorcerer can travel up to 100 miles instantly,
although it can only be used where there are deep
shadows at least large enough to step into and out of.
The target destination must be known to the sorcerer
and he must have a decent mental image of it before
casting the spell.
Snuff light (DV1, cost 1)
Upon casting this spell all sources of light in an area
are extinguished. The spell affects an area the size of
a medium room (20ft x 20ft x 10ft). Small flames such
as candles and lanterns are instantly extinguished
while larger flames dim for a few minutes. Electrical
lights fade and stutter for a few minutes.
Using this spell will lower the DV of Stealth checks
and raise the DV of Awareness checks for the duration
of the darkness.
Shadow puppet (DV2, cost 3)
The sorcerer summons forth a puppet composed
of pure darkness. The puppet can resemble any
human or animal but is solid black, intangible and
completely silent. It follows the sorcerer’s commands
Running the Game
and appears marginally sentient, but particularly
complex instructions may confuse it. A puppet can
be destroyed by exposing it to bright light. Shadow
puppets cannot physically harm an individual, but
they can be used to scare or lure. The puppet can
travel up to half a mile from the Sorcerer; travelling
further than that causes it to dissipate.
106
Chill of Night (DV3, cost 5)
This spell drains heat from an area. The spell affects
an area the size of a medium room (20ft x 20ft x 10ft).
Any living creatures in the area must immediately
make a DV3 Survival skill check or lose 1d6 damage
as per extreme cold. Plants may die from the cold and
water will freeze solid.
The area remains cold for an hour, after which it will
slowly return to normal temperature.
MAGIC? REALLY?
Magic might seem an odd thing to have in a
Dieselpunk RPG. To many people Dieselpunk
is set firmly in the realm of science fiction, with
magic as something of an anathema to the genre.
However, a lot of classic Dieselpunk draws on
mysticism and the occult; pitting heroes against
the unknowable forces of darkness. As such
magic has been included in Age of Steel as
another weapon in the arsenal of the servants of
the Coiled Ones. However, do not feel that you
have to include magic in your campaign.
So should every Age of Steel game incorporate
magic? No, definitely not.
Magic -if you choose to include it- is best saved
for the end-of-campaign badguy, rather than a
run-of-the-mill mook. It is the unpleasant surprise
that the party’s arch-nemesis can reveal. It can
also be the extra layer of horror to motivate the
party to oppose their nemesis. Being bad to earn
a little extra money is one thing; sacrificing people
to dark gods in exchange for otherworldly power
is another.
So do the everyday people of Neres know about
magic? Of course not!
Magic is as incomprehensible and outlandish to
them as it is to us in our day and age, which is
where a lot of the horror can come from when the
party suddenly realise that what they thought of as
real and concrete is shown to be flimsy and small.
Lastly magic in Age of Steel does not necessarily
mean long robes and occult symbols. Sorcerers
can dress in suits and carry guns, just like any
other bad guy. Some of them may even dress
magic up as science, disguising (or perhaps
genuinely believing) that magic is just an as-
yet unknown branch of physics. It should be
noted, however, that as yet no one in Neres has
managed to truly combine science and magic.
When they do, the Silent War will become a lot
less silent.
 ALLIES AND ANTAGONISTS
The dieselpunk subculture is often a small world;
there are a number of important people player
characters may meet and interact with over the
course of their adventures.
PROFESSOR JOHANN ANSLER
The most famous and hated man in the world.
Professor Ansler’s whereabouts is unknown since
he enacted his Solution four years ago and the Third
Kingdom, The Litvian Empire and the Theocracy all
offer sizeable rewards for information that leads to his
capture. Countless other organisations, both legal and
underworld, are constantly on the hunt for the elusive
professor.
Rumours persist that Ansler is hiding in hidden
research stations in the jungles of Kijani; in the frozen
wastes of the south pole and even deep under the
Median Ocean. Whether there is any truth to these
rumours, there certainly are reports of individuals
matching Ansler’s description appearing in the
strangest of places, only to vanish without a trace
when pursued.
It is possible that Ansler has drawn a network of
agents and allies around him and continues to wage
his own private war against the Coiled Ones and their
minions. If this is true, anyone who does manage to
track him down may end up as one of those agents.
Either that, or dead.
Professor Ansler is a man of average height and build
in his early 50s. He has grey hair that is often left
wild and bushy and wears dark glasses at all times.
When he last appeared in public during the Great
War Ansler sported several unique mechaugmetic
augmentations of his own design; devices to
apparently increase his cognitive powers and speed
of thought.
Ansler had a reputation for being a warm, caring
individual always willing to share a few words
regardless of whom he was talking to. What he is like
since enacting his terrible Solution is unknown, but
those who were with him shortly beforehand describe
him as haunted and traumatised by the truth he had
learned about the Coiled Ones.
LORD NICHOLAS THORNCROFT
Lord Nicholas Thorncroft is a member of the Haldoran
noble class, a decorated war hero and the founder of
the Thorncroft Foundation: a world-famous club for
adventurers and explorers.
For much of his life Lord Thorncroft was
indistinguishable from the majority of the landed
nobles of the Third Kingdom; he attended a good
school, managed family holdings and attend parties
and soirees as any young dilettante should.
When the Great War was declared Thorncroft
enlisted in the Third Kingdom Royal Guard and was
quickly promoted to Major. He led a number of
notable engagements, including the famous Battle of
Dichenez Hill.
Following the War Lord Thorncroft has led a more
sedate life; after creating the Thorncroft Foundation
he has largely vanished from the public eye, only
appearing at the occasional opera or gallery opening.
To most people he appears to be just one more of the
hundreds of retired former heroes of the war.
The truth, however, is much different. What most
people are unaware of is that during the 1260s
Thorncroft travelled Neres, eventually arriving at the
Ansler Institute. He immediately became close friends
with Ansler who saw a kindred spirit of discovery
in the Haldoran Lord. For several years Nicholas
lived in the Institute; although he had no real skills
as a scientist or inventor he contributed a lot of his
personal wealth to the more intellectual members
of the group and had a great love of invention and
discovery. During this time he and Ansler were almost
always found in each other’s company, and were
nearly inseparable.
When the Great War was declared Thorncroft’s noble
birth obligated him to return to the Third Kingdom
and enlist as an officer, however Nicholas refused due
to his devotion to Ansler and his ideals. Thorncroft’s
family placed him under increasing pressure to leave
Allies and Antagonists
the Institute, causing the young noble considerable
torment as he struggled with both his sense of duty
and his loyalty to Ansler. Finally it was Ansler himself
who convinced Thorncroft to leave Mowena and
return home, promising that once the war was over
they would see each other again.
After Ansler enacted his Solution and ended the
107
 War, Nicholas devoted a lot of money to locating
the professor. Before he disappeared Ansler sent
Thorncroft all the information he had on the Coiled
Ones; the Thorncroft Foundation was founded using
this knowledge. As such, Lord Thorncroft and the
members of his Foundation are perhaps one of the
only groups knowingly opposing to the Coiled Ones
and their plans.
Lord Nicholas is a tall, thin man in his early 50s with
salt-and-pepper hair, a goatee and piercing blue eyes.
He dresses impeccably and is most often found in the
Thorncroft Foundation head office in Queensport. He
is quiet and thoughtful but can become animated and
passionate when discussing subjects that matter to
him.
DOCTOR JULIA WEISMAN
Julia Weismann is a famous Litvian doctor and
former member of the Ansler Institute. Specialising
in pharmacology, bioaugmentation and surgical
experimentation, Weismann developed both
mechaugmetics and neogenic serum, as well as a
number of other drugs and surgical procedures.
During her time at the Institute Weismann was a close
friend of Anlser but their relationship soured when
the doctor decided to return to Litvic and help her
country during the war. Cold and logical, Weismann
was responsible for a number of the more inhumane
experiments carried out by the Institute. In recent
years the doctor has largely vanished from the public
eye; rumours abound that she has begun to regret
her past actions and may even be financing secret
expeditions to find her former mentor, Ansler.
Dr Wiesman is a woman in her mid 40s with short
auburn hair and dark brown eyes. She dresses in well-
cut suits and speaks in a precise, clipped manner.
Those who have met her often describe her as having
an aura of sadness and regret, especially when she
talks about Professor Ansler.
PIETER ‘THE BEAR’ VASILIEVICH
Pieter Vasilievich, known to many as ‘Pieter the Bear’
is a Theocracy Rig pilot and decorated war hero. Born
Allies and Antagonists
in the rural town of Dhovach, Pieter spent his youth
as a farm labourer until Prynne became embroiled
in the Great War. Enlisting in the army with a number
of his friends, Pieter discovered he had a knack for
engineering and was quickly earmarked for the
Theocratic Mechanical Corps.
Eventually Pieter found himself training as a Rig pilot
and fought in several key Alliance battles, becoming
highly decorated as a result.
108
Following the war Pieter returned to his homeland
but grew increasingly jaded with the growing control
the Midnight Order exerted over his people. When a
squad of Order special police attempted to lynch a
member of his village for refusing to pay a fictitious
fine Pieter used a labour rig to stop them, killing
one of officers in the process. Realising he would
become a wanted man and that his presence would
only endanger his friends and family, Pieter fled his
homeland.
Pieter now works as a soldier of fortune, often taking
contracts that involve sticking up for the ‘little guy’. He
has worked with Red Molly on a number of occasions
and sees her as a little sister. Recently, and much
to Molly’s disgust, Pieter has joined the Thorncroft
Foundation.
Pieter lost his left arm on one such adventure and has
replaced it with a powerful mechaugmetic limb. He is
also never very far from his favourite Rig, ‘Sasha’.
Pieter is a tall, very muscular man in his mid 40s. He
has a round, friendly face, a broad chest and a bit of
a belly. He has a nearly permanent grin on his face,
like nothing can ruin his mood. He’s a gentle giant
although if anyone threatens his friends, or abuses
helpless people, he will quickly use his formidable
strength to show them the error of their ways.
‘RED’ MOLLY BUCHANAN
Molly Buchanan was born in Kijani, her father a
disgraced Haldoran diplomat and her mother an
officer in a mercenary company. All her life Molly
wanted to become a soldier like her mother and
when the war was declared and Kijani mercenary
companies began recruiting she ran away from home,
lied about her age and signed up.
Although barely 15 Molly had a natural skill at flying
and quickly became an ace biplane pilot. She became
feared in the west of the Median Ocean, shooting
down numerous Haldoran airships and biplanes for
her Litvian employers. It was at this time she earned
the moniker ‘Red Molly’ for the colour she painted
her biplane. After the initial contract with Litvic ended
Molly surprised a number of people by selling her
allegiance to Haldora and flying against many people
she had previously called allies.
Following the war Molly discovered her wartime
reputation did little to help her. There was no call for
biplane pilots, especially ones who had killed so many
people on both sides. Falling lower and lower, Molly
eventually found herself in Vulture City where she
became an agent of Khulman Saede. For a number of
years she smuggled for the crime lord until she met
Pieter Vasilievich who showed her that she could use
her skills for so much more.

While still working as a smuggler, Molly is now self-

employed. She still works with Pieter, who she treats
more like an older brother than a business partner.
She harbours a deep distrust of the Thorncroft
Foundation, who she (correctly) believes know a lot
more than they let on.
She also has a long-standing feud with Khulman
Saede, who to this day has a sizable price on
Molly’s head.
Molly is incredibly hot-blooded and always looking
for a fight. She is a pint-sized powerhouse, barely
over five feet tall, with dusky skin and a riot of wiry
black hair she often binds up in a colourful scarf. She
dresses in an aviator jacket and usually has a scowl on
her face. Most people would call her looks childlike or
even ‘elfin’, although they’d quickly regret doing so to
her face.

JAKE FLINT
Jake Flint is a grizzled former soldier and now retired
adventurer. Little is known about his past except that
he was born in Queensport in Haldora to a family in
the Noble Class. He enlisted in the army several years
before the war but with which regiment and what he
did during the War, Jake is evasive about.
Jake evidently lost his right eye during the war and
now wears an eyepatch out of sheer defiance of Jake Flint, former soldier and owner of the Down and Out
getting it replaced with a mechaugmetic.

Jake owns and runs a bar in Dar-el Bida called the
Down and Out. It is a well-known watering hole for
adventurers, smugglers and other shady types. Jake
runs the bar with a watchful eye; any troublemakers
are quickly shown the door and anyone who thinks
they can argue quickly discovers that although Jake is
old he is definitely still a capable fighter.
In his early 50s, Jake is handsome (if rather scarred)
and although his brown hair is grey at the temples it
makes him look distinguished rather than old.
Jake has worked for the Thorncroft Foundation in
the past but is keen to stay out of the Silent War.
He has worked with both Pieter and Molly but more
ELEANOR GREYWOOD
A former soldier turned private eye and a member
of the Thorncroft foundation. Eleanor is one of the
Foundation’s top agents in the Silent War and has
worked with both Jake Flint and Pieter Vasilievich on
more than one occasion. She spends most of her time
in Queensport in Haldora, where she runs Greywood
Investigations; a private investigation firm with a single
employee: herself.
Eleanor is an incredibly tough woman who brooks no
nonsense and is good in a fight. She has a very bleak
outlook on life; she believes that the world is doomed
and that ultimately the Thorncroft Foundation will fail
in their battle against the Coiled Ones. However she
Allies and Antagonists

commonly partners with Eleanor Greywood. Recently
he has taken Gerhart under his wing and is teaching
the young gadgeteer everything he knows about
adventuring.
Jake is an excellent source of information and
employment; he often acts as something of a hiring
agent for adventurers, connecting them to
would-be employers.
continues to fight and help others; not because it will
change anything but because it is the right thing
to do.
A tall, statuesque woman in her mid 30s with
shoulder-length blonde hair and hard grey eyes,
Eleanor is a striking woman. An old wound has left
a jagged scar running from her top lip up to her left
cheekbone but it only highlights her features rather

109
 than looking ugly.
Eleanor smokes a lot, drinks a lot and generally has
a sour outlook on life. She dresses in nicely-cut suits
but lets them get rumpled and stained to show she
doesn’t really care.
GERHART ZWEIFLER
An 18-year old mechanical genius, Gerhart was
born in the Litvian Empire to well-to-do parents who
despaired at his idolisation of Ansler. Gerhart ran away
from home in search of adventure at 16, making his
way to Dar-el Bida. Initially getting himself deep in
trouble in the local underworld, Gerhart was saved by
Jake Flint who took the youngster under his wing and
began teaching him about adventuring.
Initially smitten, Gerhart attempted to pursue Jake
until the former soldier gently rebuffed him and
instead gave him a job working at the bar in the
Down and Out, coupled with the occasional bit of
adventuring Jake is too old for.
With two years adventuring under his belt, Zweifler
is now a more seasoned adventurer and even leads
some missions into the jungles of Kijani himself.
Whenever he does go adventuring, Gerhart is never
without his custom suit of Anslertech armour. He has
a reputation for being able to build incredible devices
and oftens sells them out of one of the back rooms in
the Down and Out.
KHULMAN SAEDE
Khulman Saede is the most powerful crimelord in
Vulture City; some people call him the King of Thieves
(a title he enjoys) or the Vulture King (a title he is less
enamoured with).
Khulman rose to power from the very lowest positions
in the Keshi underworld, born on the streets and
clawing his way up the ranks until he now wields more
power than most politicians.
Saede is also one of the few people who knows of
the existence of the Coiled Ones. Although morally
corrupt, Saede despises the worshippers of the Coiled
Ones and has worked with Thorncroft more than once
to oppose them. He believes that Vulture City belongs
Allies and Antagonists
to him and that anyone -mortal or otherwise- who
opposes his dominion should be destroyed.
Khulman is a tall, muscular man in his late 40s with
an immaculate beard and cold, calculating eyes. He
dresses impeccably in white linen suits and a red fez
and is usually disarmingly polite, even to his enemies.
110
MEI-WEN ZAIZHI
One of the most powerful and influential Domei in all
of Alashambra, Mei-Wen Zaizhi is both politician and
crimelord. Based in Shangon City, Mei-Wen leads
her criminal empire openly, fearing little in terms of
punishment or retribution from either the fledgling
government or other crime families.
For years Madam Zaizhi operated a small criminal
family under the noses of the Haldoran colonial
police; running whorehouses and gambling dens,
and smuggling opium. Frequent brushes with the law
made her a hard woman, and she gained a reputation
for the brutality with which she enforced the loyalty of
her gang members and punished her enemies.
When the Alashambran Uprising began in 1268FK
Mei-Wen lent her support to the separatists,
supplying them with weapons, supplies, and
safehouses. Her gang also fought for the separatists,
as did Mei-Wen herself, much to the surprise of the
Alashambran people.
When the Haldorans handed the colony back to the
Alashambrans, Mei-Wen found herself celebrated
as a hero of the people, a title she did not want nor
believe she deserved. However the new government
were keen to capitalise on her fame and made her a
Domei of her own clan, and a minor politician to boot.
However, Mei-Wen soon returned to her life of crime,
using her newfound power and fame to swell her
criminal empire, decimating rival gangs and gaining a
monopoly on drugs and racketeering in Shangon.
Now Mei-Wen engages in crime with almost
reckless abandon, convinced that there is little the
Alashambran government can do about her. Whether
this is true or not, many Alashambrans are beginning
to mutter that perhaps it is time something was done
about Madam Zaizhi.
Mei-Wen is a short, slight woman in her mid 40s, with
short black hair that she wears cut in a fashionable
bob and soft brown eyes that belie her true nature.
Despite her petite frame Madam Zaizhi is a fearsome
hand-to-hand fighter and a veteran of both the
Alashambran Uprising and the Great War.
Mei-Wen frequently dresses in traditional
Alashambran dresses decorated with intricate
scrollwork, but has been known to wear Haldoran
gowns and even Litvian-style suits when the occasion
requires. She is a woman of few words and hard
glares, but when she speaks it is with the manner of
one who is never questioned or disobeyed.
 STOCK NPCS
Stock Non-Player Characters (NPCs) are disposable Weapons:
mooks for the characters to interact with; when you Light Revolver (roll 2d6, success on 4+, 2d6 damage,
need faceless goons, go for a stock NPC. You can also range 80, clip 6)
use them as the basis for more developed characters. Brass Knuckles (roll 2d6, success on 4+, 2d6 damage)
Most Stock NPCs do not have Backgrounds or Knacks
and only a few trained skills, although these can be Other Equipment:
expanded as required by Gamemasters. Trench coat, Fedora, Cigarettes

NPCS AND WOUNDS HEAVY

Most NPCs do not have Wounds, only Grit Points. Heavies are exceptionally well-trained or just
This is to represent the action adventure feel of downright huge examples of the underworld. These
Age of Steel, where mooks are never as tough as men and women act as bodyguards for higher ups or
the heroes. leaders for smaller groups of thugs.
Unlike player characters, NPCs have variable Physique 3 Grit Points 20
amounts of Grit Points, ranging between 10 Intellect 2 Armour Value 2
and 40 points for most run-of-the-mill mooks Presence 2
(although some large animals and supernatural
creatures may have in excess of 50 Grit to Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
represent their toughness). Athletics Unarmed
Regardless of their Grit, the first attack to inflict Brawn
a Wound on an NPC (whether by inflicting 10 or Firearms
more damage in a single hit and failing a Wound Intimidate
Save, or through removing all their Grit) kills the Streetwise
NPC. High-level NPCs such as Crime Lords,
Commanders and similar key characters can have Weapons:
Wounds at the Gamemaster’s discretion, in which Submachine Gun (roll 3d6, success on 4+, 3d6 damage,
case they suffer damage and death the same as range 150, mag 20, Automatic (5), Two-handed)
Player Characters. Brass Knuckles (roll 3d6, success on 3+, 3d6 damage)

Other Equipment:
THUG Thick Leather Jacket, Fedora, Cigarettes
Thugs are run-of-the-mill enforcers for the countless
gangs, organisations and companies adventurers will
encounter. Thugs are typically short on brainpower
but heavy on the muscle.

Physique 2 Grit Points 10

Intellect 2 Armour Value 0
Presence 2

Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:

Athletics None
Firearms
Intimidate
Stock NPCs

Streetwise
Unarmed

111
 CRIMELORD
A leader of a criminal gang, crimelords are powerful
individuals who can form the primary antagonist of
an adventure. The true power of crimelords lies in
the number of thugs, fences, informants and spies
they control. Most crimelords are highly charismatic,
commanding their followers with a mixture of
intimidation and coercion.
Weapons:
Combat Rifle (roll 3d6, success on 3+, 5d6 damage,
range 500, mag 10, Two-handed)
Bayonet (roll 3d6, success on 4+, 1d6+1 damage/
3d6+1 damage when fixed to rifle)
Other Equipment:
Flak Armour, Uniform

Physique 3 Grit Points 40 COMMANDER

Intellect 3 Armour Value 4 An officer, usually found leading a group of soldiers.
Presence 4 Commanders were traditionally drawn from the
nobles of a country but in recent years many
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills: commanders are drawn from the rank and file.
Athletics Intimidation Commanders are not proof against corruption; more
Awareness Leadership than one military leader has set themselves up as a
Bluff warlord, or taken their troops AWOL in search
Diplomacy of treasure.
Firearms
Streetwise Physique 3 Grit Points 40
Willpower Intellect 3 Wounds 3
Presence 3 Armour Value 6
Weapons:
Self-loading Pistol (roll 3d6, success on 4+, 2d6 Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
damage, range 100, mag 10) Athletics Firearms
Knife (roll 3d6, success on 5+, 1d6+1 damage, Throwing) Awareness
Diplomacy
Other Equipment: Leadership
Silk Vest, Expensive Clothing, Cigars, Army of thugs Melee
Reflexes
Unarmed
SOLDIER
Weapons:
Each of the Great Nations maintains a standing army
Heavy Revolver (roll 3d6, success on 3+, 3d6 damage,
following the Great War; thousands of men and
range 100, mag 6)
women trained with the latest weapons and tactics
Sword (roll 3d6, success on 4+, 3d6+1 damage)
developed during the war.
Adventurers will sometimes encounter soldiers in the
Other Equipment:
course of their travels, either because they are in the
Flak Armour
wrong (or right) place or because those soldiers are
under the command of an enemy.
STORMTROOPER
Physique 3 Grit Points 20 Every nation has elite soldiers. In the Third Kingdom
Intellect 2 Armour Value 6 they are the King’s Guard; the Litvian Empire calls
Presence 2 them Stormtroopers; the Theocracy has the Imperial
Cadre. No matter the name, Stormtroopers are highly
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills: trained, dedicated soldiers who are more than a
Athletics Firearms match for a dozen regular soldiers.
Awareness Most Stormtroopers are armed with Anslertech
Melee
Stock NPCs

weapons, or pilot Rigs.

Reflexes
Unarmed

112
Physique 4 Grit Points 30
TRADER
Intellect 2 Armour Value 10
Honest traders can be found across Neres, carrying
Presence 2
goods from city to city in airships or sometimes in
seaplanes. Such individuals often offer passenger
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
space in their airships, carrying adventurers around for
Athletics Firearms
a reasonable price.
Awareness Reflexes
Leadership Physique 2 Grit Points 10
Melee Intellect 3 Armour Value 0
Rig Handling Presence 2
Unarmed
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Weapons:
Awareness None
Submachine Gun (roll 4d6, success on 3+, 3d6 damage,
Diplomacy
range 150, mag 20, Automatic (5), Two-handed)
Education
Trench Knife (roll 4d6, success on 4+, 2d6+1 damage)
Mechanics
Grenade (roll 4d6, success on 4+, 5d6 damage, Blast(5),
Pilot
Throwing)
Streetwise

Other Equipment: Weapons:

Storm Armour None

Other Equipment:
Freighter-class Airship, Legal Goods

SMUGGLER
A trader who engages in less-than-legal transport
of goods. Smuggling is rife in post-war Neres; the
years immediately following the war saw many trade
restrictions between the Great Nations and severe
rationing and rarity of goods within nations. In these
conditions smugglers discovered they were in high
demand and it became a lucrative career.

Physique 2 Grit Points 10

Intellect 2 Armour Value 0
Presence 3

Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:

Bluff None
Diplomacy
Education
Linguistics
Pilot
Streetwise

Weapons:
Light Revolver (roll 2d6, success on 5+, 2d6 damage,
Stock NPCs

range 80, mag 6)

Other Equipment:
Freighter-class Airship, Illegal Goods

113

CULTIST
Unlike thugs, cultists tend to have more brain power
and less muscle; they make up for it in zealous
fanaticism. Cultists often worship the Coiled Ones in
one form or another, whether they know it or not. Such
individuals are drawn from all walks of life, but they
are typically encountered in one of their blasphemous
temples or secret lodges. While they sometimes
dress in sinister robes and hoods, much of the time
they look like regular people, making them dangerous
opponents.
Physique 1 Grit Points 10
Intellect 3 Armour Value 0
Presence 2
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Awareness None
Linguistics
Melee
Stealth
Willpower
Tulley stood in the quiet warmth of Lord Thorncroft’s
study, listening to the steady scratch of pen across
paper. Through the huge arched window at the back
of the room he could see the city of Queensport
sprawling away towards the ocean, airships drifting
lazily above the timeworn tiled roofs.
“Excuse me, Tulley,” said Lord Thorncroft, finally
looking up from the letter he’d been writing. “Thank
you for waiting. Are those the reports from the
Alashambran office?”
“Yes, sir.” Tulley handed the manilla folders across
to Thorncroft, who placed them on his desk and
flipped open the first. “Three individuals, picked
up by one of our agents in the Tai’keo police
department.”
Thorncroft raised an elegant grey eyebrow, licked
a finger and turned a page. A black and white
photograph of a young woman glared up at him
from the folder.
“Juliet Class?” He asked.
“A private investigator, sir. She stumbled onto
a group of cultists who were kidnapping and
sacrificing locals. She seems to have disrupted their
operation quite successfully, although the resulting
Stock NPCs
fire landed her an arson conviction.”
“I see. And this one, Jei-tan?”
“A native Alashambran scavenger. It seems he came
across a Litvian wreck containing experimental
wartime revivification technology. Reports are
114
Weapons:
Machete (roll 1d6, success on 4+, 3d6 damage)
Other Equipment:
Robes
CULT LEADER
Cult leaders are charismatic and insidious individuals,
often driven half-mad by their communion with the
Coiled Ones. Whereas many cultists are unknowing
pawns of the Coiled Ones, their leaders know exactly
what they serve and have readily thrown their lot in
with the Dwellers in the Darkness in exchange for
power or wealth. Many cult leaders masquerade as
upstanding members of society such as industrialists,
religious leaders, and military officers. One of their
most dangerous attributes is the undying loyalty of
their followers, who would gladly die for them. Cult
leaders are prime adversaries for Adventurers.
unclear but the wreck was destroyed in a large
explosion. He was sent to a local sanatorium due to
the subsequent shock and injuries resulting from
the blast.”
“Hmm.” Hummed Thorncroft, “I had been hoping
we could track down that ship, a shame it was
destroyed. Perhaps it’s for the best, though. And
the last?” He picked up the last folder and flipped it
open to reveal a photograph of a lantern-jawed and
heavy-bruised man grimacing at the camera.
“One Hayden Grant. Haldoran, former soldier turned
mercenary. It seems he was hired by an unknown
employer to take action against one of the various
Alashambran criminal organisations. He was caught
and they tried to execute him, but he fought his
way out, causing significant damage in the process.
Apparently quite a… resourceful… chap all-in-all.”
Thorncroft leaned back in his chair, his long fingers
steepled in front of his face as he surveyed the three
folders spread across the desk in front of him.
“Good work Tulley. These all seem very promising.
Have them transferred to the Alashambran office
and offered the usual introduction package. I think
these three would be excellent candidates for the
assignment we spoke about yesterday.”
Tulley nodded solemnly. “Yes, your lordship, I would
agree. I’ll see to it then.”
The quiet scratch of pen across paper resumed
once more as Tulley let himself out of the office.
Physique 2 Grit Points 40
COILED ONE POSSESSED
Intellect 3 Wounds 2
While they cannot enter the real world, the Coiled
Presence 4 Armour Value 0
Ones can conduct their essence into a willing (or
sometimes unwilling) living vessel. Doing so allows
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
them to control the host, overseeing their plans or
Awareness Leadership
just wreaking havoc. The vessels of the Coiled Ones
Intimidation
never last very long, often only a few days or even
Linguistics
hours. Such individuals look human at a distance, but
Melee
up close are often covered in black veins and move in
Stealth
erratic, jerky motions. While intelligent, such possessed
Willpower
cannot use firearms or complex technology, preferring
Firearms
to tear victims apart with their unnatural strength.

Weapons: Physique 4 Grit Points 50

Self-loading Pistol (roll 2d6, success on 4+, 2d6 damage, Intellect 2 Armour Value 2
range 100, mag 10) Presence 1
Machete (roll 2d6, success on 4+, 3d6+1 damage)
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Other Equipment: Athletics Melee
Expensive Robes, Cult of loyal followers Awareness Unarmed
Brawn
Reflexes

CHATH’ZHAN WARRIOR CASTE Weapons:

Rumours and legends among explorers and Punch (roll 4d6, success on 3+, 3d6+1 damage)
freebooters tell of the vicious and merciless warrior
caste of the Chath’Zhan. These men and women are Other Equipment:
Tattered clothing, Thick skin (2 AV)
the protectors of the secret lands beyond the Great
Wall, and any outsiders who stray into the lands of the
Chath’Zhan are hunted and killed without exception. COILED ONE AVATAR
Stories describe the warrior caste with tattooed and The Coiled Ones cannot truly emerge into reality,
pierced skin, dressed in elaborate armour made from although there are places where reality is ‘thin’
leather and bone and wearing carved totem masks. enough that the Coiled Ones can exert their will. It
is in these places you will find the terrifying Avatars;
Physique 3 Grit Points 20
projections of the Dwellers essence that appear as
Intellect 2 Armour Value 0
vast coiling pillars of undulating squamous tentacles.
Presence 2
These avatars are terrible nightmares of destruction,
snatching up anything within reach and pulling it into
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
the center of its horrific, squirming mass. Anyone so
Athletics None
consumed is never seen again.
Awareness
Firearms
Physique 5 Grit Points 80
Melee
Intellect 1 Wounds 5
Stealth
Presence 1 Armour Value 10
Unarmed
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Weapons: Awareness Unarmed
Two-handed Sword (roll 3d6, success on 4+, 4d6+1
damage, Two-handed) Weapons:
Stock NPCs

Bow (roll 3d6, success on 4+, 2d6 damage, range 200, Thrashing Tentacles (roll 5d6, success on 3+, 4d6+2
mag 1) damage, range 10)

Other Equipment: Other Equipment:

Primitive armour (3 AV), Totem mask Rugose Hide (10 AV)

115
 ANIMALS
More often than not adventurers will encounter
wild animals on their travels. These creatures are
sometimes friendly but, more often than not, see
mankind as just another source of food.
BIG CAT (JAGUAR, TIGER, LION)
Big cats exist on almost every continent in Neres.
Cougars are common in the lowlands of Haldora;
Tigers and Leopards stalk the jungles of Kijani; Lions
dominate the savannas of Kesh and Jaguars make
their home in the jungles of Zhan.

Physique 4 Grit Points 30

DOG/ WOLF
Intellect 1 Armour Value 2
Dogs have been man’s loyal best friend for millennia
Presence 1
and adventurers often take a dog along with them
when exploring the wilderness.
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Wolves, dog’s wild ancestors, are often a threat in
Athletics Stealth
northern Haldora, Prynne and the forests of
Awareness Unarmed
northern Vulkovia.
Reflexes
Survival
Physique 2 Grit Points 10
Intellect 1 Armour Value 0 Weapons:
Presence 1 Claws (roll 4d6, success on 3+, 1d6+1 damage)
Teeth (roll 4d6, success on 3+, 2d6+1 damage)
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Athletics None
Other Equipment:
Awareness
Thick fur (2 AV)
Survival
Unarmed
ELEPHANT
Weapons: Elephants are found in both Kijani and Kesh, with
Teeth (roll 2d6, success on 4+, 2d6+1 damage) slight differences between the two species. Keshi
Elephants are smaller than Kijani elephants.
They have been hunted and used as beasts of burden
HORSE for centuries.
Horses have been used as mounts and beasts of
burden for millennia and continue to be popular into Physique 6 Grit Points 50
the modern age. Cavalry remained the elite troops Intellect 2 Armour Value 2
in every nation’s army until the invention of the Presence 1
machinegun during the Great War; it is only in the last
few years that Battle Rigs have replaced horses. Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Awareness Brawn
Physique 3 Grit Points 30 Survival
Intellect 1 Armour Value 0 Unarmed
Presence 1
Weapons:
Tusk (roll 6d6, success on 4+, 3d6+2 damage)
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Trample (roll 6d6, success on 4+, 4d6+2 damage)
Athletics None
Brawn
Other Equipment:
Weapons: Thick hide (2 AV)
Hooves (roll 2d6, success on 5+, 2d6+1 damage)
Stock NPCs

BEAR
Black and brown bears can be found in the forests of
both Haldora and Vulkovia. The deadly polar bear can
be encountered in the far north of Prynne, where it is
greatly feared.

116
Physique 5 Grit Points 40
GREAT APE (CHIMPANZEE,
Intellect 1 Armour Value 2
Presence 1 GORILLA)
Gorillas, orangs and chimpanzees are found in the
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills: jungles of Kijani. They have fascinated naturalists
Awareness Brawn for years with their similarity to humans. Some
Survival Unarmed adventurers tell stories of carnivorous apes that inhabit
the vine-covered ruins of the Ombombwian Kingdom.
Weapons: The truth of these tales has not yet been verified.
Huge claws (roll 5d6, success on 3+, 2d6+2 damage)
Massive jaws (roll 5d6, success on 3+, 3d6+2 damage) Physique 4 Grit Points 20
Intellect 2 Armour Value 2
Other Equipment: Presence 1
Thick fur (2 AV)
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Athletics None
Brawn
Survival
Unarmed

Weapons:
Fist (roll 4d6, success on 4+, 2d6+1 damage)
Teeth (roll 4d6, success on 4+, 1d6+1 damage)

Other Equipment:
Thick fur (2 AV)

SHARK
Sharks can be found in the seas off the coast of
Kijani, Kesh, Zhan and throughout the Alashambran
archipelago. They come in a range of shapes and
MONKEY (MACAQUE, BABOON) sizes, but many are capable of killing an unwary
Small, mischievous and sometimes surprisingly swimmer.
dangerous, monkeys are encountered in the jungles
Physique 3 Grit Points 20
of Kijani and Zhan and also found on some islands in
Intellect 1 Armour Value 0
Alashambra. They can be trained and are sometimes
Presence 1
used by entertainers in Kesh to attract crowds,
dancing and performing tricks. They can also be Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
taught to pick pockets, a skill that has been used by Awareness Unarmed
more than one criminal. Reflexes
Stealth
Physique 1 Grit Points 10
Intellect 2 Armour Value 0 Weapons:
Presence 1 Jaws (roll 3d6, success on 3+, 3d6+1 damage)

Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:

Athletics None
Awareness CROCODILE/ ALLIGATOR
Stock NPCs

Reflexes Crocodiles can be found in both Kijani and Kesh, while

Stealth alligators are found in the Haldoran lowlands and
the Alashambran archipelago. Both can be deadly to
Weapons: unwary adventurers.
Teeth (roll 1d6, success on 5+, 1d6 damage)

117
 Physique 4 Grit Points 30 Weapons:
Intellect 1 Armour Value 4 Massive Fist (roll 6d6, success on 3+, 3d6+2 damage)
Presence 1 Fangs (roll 6d6, success on 3+, 2d6+2 damage)

Trained Skills: Mastered Skills: Other Equipment:

Awareness None Thick fur (4 AV)
Stealth
Unarmed

Weapons: TERRORBIRD
Jaws (roll 4d6, success on 4+, 3d6+1 damage) Rumours of strange birds persist in the Alashambran
archipelago. These rumours tell of birds that stand
Other Equipment: taller than a labour rig, walking on long legs and with
Thick scales (4 AV) viciously curved beaks like axe blades. These birds
apparently hunt anything smaller than them, running
it down and hacking their prey to death.
GIANT SNAKE
Giant snakes can be found in the rainforests at the
Physique 4 Grit Points 40
heart of Kijani and in the jungles of Zhan. Some of
Intellect 1 Armour Value 0
these creatures can reach truly titanic size, easily
Presence 1
capable of crushing a person to death and swallowing
them whole. Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
Stealth Athletics
Physique 5 Grit Points 30
Survival
Intellect 1 Armour Value 4
Unarmed
Presence 1

Trained Skills: Mastered Skills: Weapons:

Awareness Unarmed Beak (roll 4d6, success on 4+, 3d6+1 damage)
Stealth Kick (roll 4d6, success on 4+, 2d6+1 damage)

Weapons:
Fangs (roll 5d6, success on 3+, 2d6+2 damage)
SAURIAN HUNTER
Fossils of great lizards have been found for centuries,
Constrict (roll 5d6, success on 3+, 4d6+2 damage)
but rumours tell of living specimens in the jungles of
Kijani, the deep deserts of Kesh and the jungles of
Other Equipment:
Zhan. These creatures are described as huge bipedal
Thick scales (4 AV)
reptiles with massive jaws, long tails and terrible
appetites. If true, these beasts would make handsome
GIANT APE trophy for any big-game hunter.
Legends of giant apes -gorillas the size of small
buildings or even larger- have been told for centuries. Physique 6 Grit Points 50
Rumour has it these giant beasts can be found Intellect 1 Wounds 6
deep in the uncharted jungles of south Kijani, where Presence 1 Armour Value 6
they rule over tribes of lesser apes. More than one
expedition has gone in search of one; most return Trained Skills: Mastered Skills:
empty-handed, some vanish never to be seen again. Athletics Unarmed
Awareness Survival
Reflexes
Physique 6 Grit Points 50
Intellect 2 Wounds 6
Weapons:
Stock NPCs

Presence 1 Armour Value 4

Jaws (roll 6d6, success on 3+, 4d6+2 damage)
Trained Skills: Mastered Skills: Talons (roll 6d6, success on 3+, 3d6+2 damage)
Athletics Brawn
Awareness Unarmed Other Equipment:
Survival Scaly Hide (6 AV)

118
 The Northern Icecap
The White Sea The White Sea
Ivograd
Station 701
Ch
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nes Vulkovian
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M
ts Straits
Theocratic Empire
of Prynne Xocha
Zavian Sivosk
Highlands Sea
Wexbury Kostek
Zavia
Sun Empire
Nidec Astmark Yalgir of Chath’Zhan
om

Ansler Institute Holbatz

gd

Queensport Sodenburg
Li
Kin

Durapol Median tv Achan

ia
n Litvic
hird

Ocean Enebra
Em
Eisenstadt
nT

pi
Salia re Sea of Zhan
ora

Mirhast
Mahua
ld

Driftport Riland
Ha

Dar-el Bida Shangon

Timpali Sha Punjal
Lowlands City
Oakhaven Kitakuba Yalqut Jiutai
Barston Sea Mandit Al-juran
Tai’keo
Indaba N
ih
y El-Kandria
at
Free Nations of Kijani Republic M
ts
Shino’houwe
of Kesh Tlachal
Vulture City
Alashambra
National border
Internal border Great Southern Great Southern
Ocean Ocean
Ansler Station (abandoned)
Major city
Last Hope
Capital 0 500 1000 1500 2000
Ruin The Southern Icecap Miles
 Name Marco Luchano di Palma

Player

Nationality Litvian Empire - Rilander

Concept Happy-go-lucky tomb robber

Character Points 25

Experience (total/spent)

Stats
Physique Intellect Presence
Moxie Points 6

4 2 3 Grit

Wounds
40

Armour Value (AV) 4

Skills Untrained: success on 5+; Trained: success on 4+; Mastered: success on 3+; Knack: additional 2d6 on skill check

Physique Intellect Presence

Untrained

Untrained

Untrained
Mastered

Mastered

Mastered
Trained

Trained

Trained
Skills Skills Skills
Knack

Knack

Knack
Athletics  Awareness  Animal Handling
Brawn Demolitions Bluff  
Firearms  Drive Diplomacy
Melee Education  Intimidation
Reflexes Mechanics Leadership
Rig Handling Medical Linguistics 
Security   Pilot  Perform
Stealth  Science Streetwise 
Unarmed Survival Willpower

Weapons
Damage Range Mag Qualities
Light Revolver 2d6 80 6
Backgrounds
Personal vehicle 2 - Freighter-class airship (The Osprey)

Reputation 1 - known in his hometown’s underworld

Favour 1

Equipment
Simple clothing

Light revolver & 60 bullets

Silk vest

Hot weather gear

Rope

Survival gear

Lock picks

Backpack

$334

Notes
 Name

Player

Nationality

Concept

Character Points

Experience (total/spent)

Stats
Physique Intellect Presence
Moxie Points

Grit

Wounds

Armour Value (AV)

Skills Untrained: success on 5+; Trained: success on 4+; Mastered: success on 3+; Knack: additional 2d6 on skill check

Physique Intellect Presence

Untrained

Untrained

Untrained
Mastered

Mastered

Mastered
Trained

Trained

Trained
Skills Skills Skills
Knack

Knack

Knack
Athletics Awareness Animal Handling
Brawn Demolitions Bluff
Firearms Drive Diplomacy
Melee Education Intimidation
Reflexes Mechanics Leadership
Rig Handling Medical Linguistics
Security Pilot Perform
Stealth Science Streetwise
Unarmed Survival Willpower

Weapons
Damage Range Mag Qualities
Backgrounds

Equipment

Notes
 IT IS AN AGE OF INNOVATION AND ADVANCEMENT
AN AGE OF CHAOS AND CONSPIRACY
AN AGE IN WHICH HEROES MUST BE AS HARD AS STEEL
Age of Steel is a dieselpunk roleplaying game set in the world of Neres;
a world not unlike our own in the first few decades of the 20th century.

Neres has just emerged from its first global conflict; the ‘Great War’ in which hundreds of
thousands of men and women died in the mud and horror of the trenches.
Technology in Neres has taken a slightly different route to our own world; personal mecha
powered by diesel engines are used for numerous applications from war to common labour;
huge airships ply the airways; bipedal automata act as servants for the rich and gadgeteer
inventors construct homemade ray-guns in their basement laboratories.

In the wake of the Great War, Neres is a hotbed of political scheming and economic growth.
Industry and commerce have come to rule the world which, thanks to the airship,
aeroplane and radio is rapidly becoming smaller.

Little do the majority of people know but an ancient evil is at the heart of the conflict in their
world. Eldritch monstrosities from before the dawn of time seek to unmake reality,
aided by cults of insane worshipers.

Into this world come the heroes -the players- who are the only thing standing
between the cosmic evil and all that they hold dear.

Age of Steel is a complete, self-contained roleplaying game. All you need beside this book
is a handful of 6-sided dice, some friends and an imagination.

www.isolation-games.co.uk