Chasing

Adventure
A Fast-Paced Fantasy Game
Powered By The Apocalypse
Table of Contents
1 About 24 Ranger

1 Get Started 26 Thief

2 How to Play 28 Wizard

3 Basic Moves 31 Game Master

3 Chase Moves 32 Play Order

4 Peripheral Moves 33 Adventures

7 Assets 33 Outlines

8 Tags 33 Friends

8 Followers 34 Locations

9 Barbarian 35 Enemies

11 Bard 36 Treasures

13 Cleric 36 Magic Items

16 Druid 37 Ominous Forces

18 Fighter 38 NPC Creation

20 Immolator 39 Artifacts

22 Paladin 39 Credits
About
Chasing Adventure is a fast-paced action-
focused tabletop roleplaying game about
daring adventurers in a fantasy setting.
This game started as a refinement of Dungeon
World but has since evolved into its own
game, inspired by Apocalypse World, Worlds of
Adventure, One Shot World, Blades in the Dark,
and many more.
Action and drama, tension and payoff, victory
and tragedy are what this game is about. It is
designed to hit the ground running and only
stop when you need to catch your breath. This
game is not about resource management,
survivalism, or mundane tasks.
If this is your first time playing a tabletop
roleplaying game, here is how this one works:
One person plays as the Game Master (GM).
Their role is to describe and portray the world
and characters (NPCs) in it, how they act and
react to the other players. They have access to
the GM Section to help them.
The others take the role as a Player, each
playing a single adventurer, or Player Character
(PC). Their role is to face down dangers and
drive the story forward with their pursuits. They
have access to the Basic, Chase and Peripheral
moves, and they each choose a Playbook for
their character (eg. Barbarian) that gives them
access to new moves.
The GM and Players work together to tell an
exciting story. Like a conversation the GM
and Players go back and forth, with the GM
describing a situation and asking what one
or more PCs do. The Player then describes
their PCs action. Sometimes a PC might do
something that triggers a Move. Do what the
move says, rolling if called for, and continue the
conversation based on what that move directs.
If you’re used to games like Dungeons and
Dragons or Pathfinder, here is what’s different
about this kind of system:
Start and end with the fiction. Focus on the
narrative, describe what your character does
cinematically as if they were in an adventure
movie. Sometimes it will be very clear as to
‘what happens next’ without needing to roll
dice or do anything else. That’s great! Keep
pushing the fiction forward. Sometimes, it
won’t be clear, or maybe you’ll have a gut
feeling to roll. That probably means there is a
Move being triggered. Follow the procedure
of the move, rolling if necessary, and let that
move inform the narrative going forward.
Whenever a roll is made, it will always have an
effect on the fiction.
The GM doesn’t roll dice, they simply describe
what happens in the world, what the NPCs
do, what changes in the environment, and so
on. When the players take damage, they roll it
themselves.
There is no specified turn order, and distance
isn’t measured or numbered. Abstract
maps and pictures are perfectly fine to use
supplementally, but the game is primarily
meant to be played through shared
imagination, even during a fight.
If you’ve played Dungeon World before, here
is a summary of what has changed:
• Advantage/Disadvantage has replaced
most instances of +1/-1 modifiers
• No Load, Rations, or (mostly) Ammo
• CON has been removed
• Background replaces Race and Alignment
• Playbooks have been overhauled
• Debilities have been improved
• Last Breath has been altered significantly
• Wealth is an abstract replacement for coins
Get Started
You Need:
• Copies of the Playbooks and GM Sheet
• Two Six-Sided Dice (called ‘d6’)
• Writing Utensils (Pencils Recommended)
• Some Paper (Optional)
Talk About The Game
What ideas do you have for the game? What
do you want to see in the game? What don’t
you want to see? What Safety Tools do you
want to use?
Make Characters Together
Everyone chooses a playbook and starts
filling it in. Meanwhile, the GM reviews and
familiarizes themselves with the GM Playbook
and Tools, and comes up with any ideas they’d
like to include.
Ask and Answer
During character creation, players talk about
their characters and the world. Each player
asks the group some or all of the questions on
their Ask section, as well as telling them some
of the Answer questions. These don’t have be
done in any specific order, perhaps one player’s
Ask is related to another’s Answer.
Create the Adventure
The GM will choose an Adventure Starter
from the table, or roll, or make one up. They
fill in the blanks using answers provided by
the Players, and can ask for more answers or
details as needed. Then the create any NPCs
needed following the NPC Creator.
GM Describes the Opening Scene
Start the first scene in the middle of the action.
Describe something exciting and/or dangerous
happening, focus part of that danger on one
of the PCs specifically, ask them what they do,
and start playing!
1
How to Play
Most of the time, the Players and GM go back
and forth in a conversation, describing actions,
reactions, consequences and emotions of their
characters and (for the GM) the world. The
GM presents the fictional situation the player
character(s) find themselves in, they respond,
sometimes moves are triggered, and repeat.
When a PC does something that triggers
a move (act despite an imminent threat or
obstacle, engage an enemy in open combat,
etc.) follow the procedure of the move. Once
the move has resolved, then resume building
the narrative as informed by the move.
When you roll, you do so with two six-sided
dice (2d6), add them together with a stat.
Roll+STR means you add your STR to the result
of the roll.
When your total result is a 6 or lower, gain
1 XP. If the move says what happens on a 6-
then do that. If it says ‘in addition to whatever
the GM says’ or doesn’t say anything, then the
GM will say what happens. This often includes
negative consequences, see the GM Section for
more details.
When you have Advantage or Disadvantage
on a roll, you roll an extra d6 and take the two
highest (Advantage) or lowest (Disadvantage)
as the result. Advantage and Disadvantage
cancel each other out, and multiple sources of
Advantage and Disadvantage can stack (roll an
extra d6 per source, always keep two).
Some effects let you gain Advantage/
Disadvantage Forward, this means that it only
affects your next roll. Similarly, Advantage/
Disadvantage Ongoing means it affects all of
your future rolls until the situation causing it
changes.
When you deal damage, roll what is listed on
your playbook (d6, d6+1, d6+2) and tell the GM
the result. They will reduce the NPCs HP by
that amount.
When you take damage, roll what the GM says
(based on their guidelines in the GM Section)
and reduce your HP by that amount.
Armor reduces damage taken by the amount,
(1-Armor reduces 6 Damage to 5). Some
weapons and attacks can pierce armor or
ignore it entirely.
You can also potentially reduce damage by
taking a Condition. See ‘Tis But a Flesh Wound
under Basic Moves.
When you have a Condition or Debility, the
stat it is associated with is treated as 1 lower
than normal when rolling. Each stat may only
have one condition or debility at a time.
Conditions are only ever gained from moves
like ‘Tis But A Flesh Wound. They can be
removed when you Settle In or by drinking a
Healing Potion.
Debilities are only ever gained from Last
Breath, and can only be removed through the
Level Up move.
Example Conditions or Debilities:
STR - Weakened, Nauseous
DEX - Dizzy, Shaky, Stunned
WIS - Confused, Exhausted
INT - Dazed, Forgetful, Concussed
CHA - Scarred, Grumpy
The Spotlight is a term referring to who the
fiction is focusing on at the moment. Whoever
‘has the spotlight’ is the person/are the people
whose actions we are following and seeing the
consequences of. In a typical scene, the GM
guides the spotlight and switches it between
PCs frequently. It’s everyone’s job at the table
to share the spotlight generously with each
other.
Consequences described by the GM can
be any number of things, damage taken,
destroyed equipment, a difficult choice, a
tough situation. Make sure to describe the
consequences dynamically; the ogre doesn’t
just deal damage, he slams you into the
ground with an earthshaking roar and starts
grasping for the nearest boulder to throw.
Coming up with vivid descriptions, especially
on the fly, can be difficult. Feel free to ask each
other for ideas and input. The Players have final
say over describing their PCs actions, and the
GM has final say over the world and NPCs.
Example of Play and Spotlight Change:
Player: I charge immediately, drawing my
sword and hoping to get in close before the
ogre can act.
GM: The ogre starts turning towards you,
roaring in territorial rage. Let’s see if you reach
it first, roll to Defy Danger with DEX.
Player: (rolls) a four, oh no. At least I get 1 XP.
GM: The ogre grabs you with one hand, picking
you up and throwing you into a tree to the side.
You take 2d6 damage, and are momentarily
stunned.
Player: (rolls damage taken) Eleven damage?!
No way, I’m going to take the Stunned
condition to DEX in order to reroll that. (Rolls
again) five damage, three after armor, that’s
better. I think the stun from the tree will last
for a while.
GM: Sounds good. Meanwhile, the Ogre turns,
fixes its bloodshot eyes on the Wizard in the
distance, and starts stomping forward, picking
up speed quickly. Wizard, what do you do?
2
Basic Moves
Defy Danger
When you act despite an imminent threat or obstacle,
tell us how you do it. Then roll....
• +STR if you endure or power through it
• +DEX if you act with speed or finesse
• +INT if you employ quick or out-of-the-box thinking
• +WIS if you rely on mental fortitude or sharp senses
• +CHA if you use charm, subterfuge or social grace
On a 10+ you do what you set out to do, and the threat
doesn’t come to bear. On a 7-9 the GM will offer you a
worse outcome, hard bargain, or ugly choice.
Hack & Slash
When you engage an enemy in open combat, roll+STR.
On a 7+ you trade blows, deal your damage, take damage,
and impact the fiction accordingly. On a 10+ you also
choose to either avoid their blows or deal +1d6 damage.
Volley
When you attack from afar, roll+DEX. On a 10+ you have
a clear shot, deal your damage and impact the fiction
accordingly. On a 7-9 you deal your damage but are either
exposed/vulnerable or deal half damage (rounded up).
Spout Lore
When you consider what you know about a subject, ask
the GM one question about it and roll+INT. On a 10+ the
GM will tell you detailed useful information and you or an
ally rolls with advantage the first time it’s acted on. On a
7-9 the GM will tell you something, but may reveal a twist
or greater truth at the appropriate time.
Discern Realities
When you closely investigate a charged situation, ask
the GM one question about it and roll+WIS. On a 7-9, the
GM answers your question truthfully. On a 10+ the GM will
also answer related followup questions. You and your allies
gain advantage the first time you act on the answers.
Scrutinize Someone
When you have an intimate or prying conversation with
someone, roll+WIS. On a 10+ hold 2 and on a 7-9 hold 1.
During this conversation you can spend hold 1-for-1 to ask
the GM any question about this person’s thoughts, feelings
or motivations. You and your allies gain advantage when
acting on the answers.
Parley
When you press or entice someone into a course of
action, say what you want them to do (or not to do), give
them a reason (leverage), and roll+CHA.
For NPCs, on a 10+ they’ll do what you want until some fact
or action betrays the reason you gave them. On a 7-9 they’ll
do it, but they’ll need some extra incentive first.
For PCs, on a 10+ they mark XP if they do as you ask. On a
6-, they can ask you any one question about your thoughts,
feelings or motivations as if they rolled Scrutinized
Someone on you (they don’t get Advantage when acting
on it), and you must answer truthfully. On a 7-9, both.
Work In Tandem
When you act alongside one of your companions, they
roll with Advantage but you are both exposed to any costs
or consequences associated with their move. One person
can be assisted by multiple allies, gaining a new source of
Advantage for each person.
Coup De Grace
When you attack a target who is unaware, helpless or
otherwise completely at your mercy, ask the GM if you
could miss. If you could, treat it as a Hack & Slash or Volley.
if not, just deal your damage to them (or, at the GM’s
discretion, kill or subdue them outright). Either way you
deal +2 Damage and cripple them in a way of your choice.
‘Tis But A Flesh Wound
When you take damage, you may choose to take a
condition of your choice. If you do so, tell the group how
the attack debilitates you, then roll the damage again and
take the lowest result.
Last Breath
When your HP reaches 0, your life is untenable.
When your life is untenable, be it from your HP reaching
0 or any other reason, choose one from the list below and
cross it off:
• Take a Debility of your Choice
• Change to a new playbook
• Die
Chase Moves
Start the Chase
When you enter a chase, either in pursuit or escape, you
and the GM each start with 0 Hold. If multiple PCs are
participating in the chase, they all share Hold.
Gain the Edge
When you try to gain the momentum in a chase, say
how much Hold you want and roll...
• +STR if you create or destroy physical obstacles
• +DEX if you run, hide or maneuver
• +INT if you distract or lure them
• +WIS if you keep your eyes and ears peeled
• +CHA if you disguise yourself or try to talk them down
On a 7+ you gain that number of Hold. On a 7-9, so does
the GM. On a 6- the GM gains that Hold, in addition
whatever else they say. Until someone has 3 or more hold,
the GM will describe the chase continuing onwards.
It’s Over
When either party in a chase has 3+ Hold , the chase
comes to an end. Whoever has the most Hold succeeds in
escaping or catching the other party. If both parties have
the same amount, the PCs win the chase (just barely). The
losing party can spend Hold 1-for-1 to:
• Learn something about the other party (where they
will go, who leads them, how to escape them now)
• Have the chase end somewhere advantageous for
them (reinforcements, a trap or lair, etc.)
• Gain Advantage Forward (PCs only)
• Inflict Disadvantage Forward on the PCs (GM only)
3
Peripheral Moves
Settle In
When you settle in to rest, the GM advances the Ominous
Forces, then as a group answer the following:
• Did we discover something new and important about
the world?
• Did we visit a new and memorable location?
• Did we overcome a notable obstacle or enemy?
For any “yes” answer, everyone marks 1 XP. Additionally,
mark 1 XP if you accomplished your Drive. If anyone has 5
or more XP, they Level Up. When you’ve finished resting
and resume your adventuring, remove a Debility or heal an
amount of HP equal to half of your maximum.
Level Up
When you have 5 or more XP after Settling In, reduce
your XP by 5 and choose one of the following:
You can always take these options:
• Increase a stat of your choice from +0 to +1.
• Take an Advanced Move from your class.
• Acquire an Asset of your choice.
• Heal a Debility
You can take these options only once each:
• Increase a stat of your choice from +1 to +2.
• Increase a stat of your choice from +1 to +2.
• Gain a move from another class.
• Gain a move from another class.
Once you reach level 10, you can also take these options:
• Take an Advanced Move (Level 10+) from your class
• Increase a stat of your choice from +2 to +3.
• Change playbooks.
• Retire to safety.
Epiphany
When you have a change of heart, say what is behind it
and write a new Drive.
Pursue a Goal
When you want to accomplish a complex task or long-
term project, tell the GM what you hope to achieve. They’ll
tell you the steps you’ll need to take to achieve your goal.
Player Note: You can represent goals through clocks
- circles divided into segments, with each segment
corresponding to a step.
GM Note: Each step is a requirement, cost, or risk between
the player and their goal. For simple goals, give them up
to 4 steps; for complex goals, give them up to 8 steps.
Undertake a Journey
When you venture out in pursuit of someone or
something, roll+Nothing. On a 10+ you get the jump on
them, on a 7-9 choose one.
• Your route is stealthy but tiring, the next move rolled
has disadvantage
• Your route is quick and easy, but they noticed you
coming
On a 6- there is no good route, so both happen.
Seek Out
When you declare you know an NPC who could help and
go looking for them, roll+CHA. On a 10+, they could do
what you need and they aren’t hard to find. On a 7-9, they
could do what you need, but the GM will choose one.
• They still have a grudge against you or aren’t entirely
willing to trust you.
• They’re already caught up in some sort of trouble.
• They’re far away, in hiding, trapped, or similar.
I’m Back!
When you explain your absence from the last session,
say what happened and roll …
• +STR if you fought a monster or escaped
imprisonment.
• +DEX if you did something secret, stole something, or
evaded something.
• +INT if you learned ancient knowledge or invented
something.
• +WIS if you discovered a secret or had a divine
encounter.
• +CHA if you made an ally, learned about a culture, or
purchased something of interest or value.
On a 10+, you had a prosperous leave; take Advantage
Forward and mark XP. On a 7-9, you attracted trouble
during your absence or your actions had some unintended
consequences, the GM will say. On a 6-, in addition to
whatever the GM says, take Disadvantage Forward.
Penny For Your Thoughts
When you Discern Realities by asking around for rumors
and information, you may spend 1 Wealth to roll with
Advantage.
The Briefcase
When you attempt to Parley with someone accepting of
bribes, Offering 1 Wealth count as leverage, and offering 2
Wealth lets you automatically succeed as if you had rolled
a 10+.
4
Responsibility and Safety
Safety Means Fun
Chasing Adventure can be a very fast-paced
game, and it can be difficult or awkward to
stop in the middle of an action scene. That’s
why it’s very important to talk abut what
content is and isn’t fun beforehand, and to
use tools that make it easier to deal with
issues that may arise during play. Safety is
always more important than any move or dice
roll. Visit this link for more tools: http://bit.ly/
ttrpgsafetytoolkit
The GM is Responsible For:
• Managing Game Flow and Spotlight
• Describing the World to the Players
• Unleashing Consequences
• Following the Principles and Moves
• Knowing the GM Section
The PCs are Responsible For:
• Knowing the Basic, Chase, Peripheral and
Playbook moves
• Taking Exciting Risks
• Engaging With the World and Each Other
• Being Generous With the Spotlight
Everyone Is Equally Responsible For:
• Having Fun
• Speaking Up When There is an Issue
• Respecting and Understanding Each Other
• Ensuring a Safe Space
• Organizing and Scheduling
• Asking Each Other Interesting Questions
No One Is Solely Responsible For the Story
The story is created when the PCs actions, the
GM’s descriptions and consequences, and dice
all collide together in a radiant explosion.
You are all players, and you are all finding out
the story together.
Lines and Veils are used to set boundaries
on content in a game. Lines are hard limits
on content, things that the GM or the players
don’t want to engage in. Setting up a line
means that content won’t show up in the
game at all. Veils are soft limits, things that are
okay ‘behind a curtain’ or when they ‘cut to
black’. Setting up a veil means that the content
might be in the game, but not spotlighted or
described in great detail. Lines and Veils can be
adjusted as needed throughout the game.
Script Change Ratings are used to set tone
and boundaries for your game. Using film
ratings (or your own), you can outline what
audience you’re playing for (e.g. PG-13 vs R). The
rating also addresses what content players do
and don’t want to see. Make sure to balance
and respect everyone’s wishes. Ratings can be
adjusted as needed throughout the game.
The Open Door is the assurance that someone
can leave or take a break from the game
for their own safety and well-being without
being judged. State this at the beginning and
periodically throughout the game.
Emotions and stress from the game can Bleed
over into post-game life. This can affect the
enjoyment of the game, as well as out-of-
game relationships between players if not
worked through. Being open and honest
about where the game beings and ends, and
being conscious of which feelings belong to
the player and which are just bleed, helps to
mitigate the effects.
Debriefing as a group is a great way to reflect
on the game, identify possible issues, highlight
the fun things to continue, and work through
potential bleed. Debriefing can happen right
after the game or in the days following it.
X, N, and O Cards are check-in tools. They can
be used by tapping physical cards, typing the
letter into chat, or using hand signals. Before
the game beings, remind everyone that they
are available and how to use them.
The X Card can be used at any point if a
participant is uncomfortable with the content
happening in-game. When the X Card is used,
the group can change, rewind or skip the
content.
The N Card can be used at any point if a
participant feels like they are headed towards
an X. When the N card is used, the group can
change the content or have the scene ‘fade to
black’.
The O Card can be used at any point if a
participant wants to continue with the
content. They can also regularly be prompted
by asking ‘O?’ out loud or in chat to check-in if
everyone is still okay.
Script Change Toolbox is a set of cinema-
themed tool words that can be used to adjust
play and content. They can be used by tapping
cards, typing the letter in chat, or by using
hand signals.
Rewind can be used when something
happened in play that makes a participant
uncomfortable. When Rewind is used, be clear
about what content is being adjusted, rewind
to a point before it happened, and play starts
again.
Fast Forward can be used when a participant
would like to skip past uncomfortable content
or to the next part of the fiction. When it is
used, skip forward to a new spot in the fiction
that everyone agrees upon.
Pause can be used when things are too
intense, but you still want to continue playing
the scene. When used, you can take a break
and/or discuss the content as needed. After
that, you can Resume, Rewind or Fast Forward.
5
Items
Here are a few common pieces of weaponry, gear,
hirelings, and services. These lists aren’t exhaustive or
compulsory, and variants upon these items are likely to
exist. Their prices may also vary depending on location,
haggling, and similar factors. For example, you might have
a Rusty Sword which deals -1 damage or might easily
break on a 6- in combat. Or you might have a Masterwork
Bow which has 1-Piercing or +1 Damage in addition to its
other tags.
Common Weapons
Sling: Near, Awkward, Reload, 0 Wealth
Ragged Bow: Near, Reload, 1 Wealth
Fine Bow: Near/Far, Reload, 2 Wealth
Crossbow: Near, Distinctive, Reload, 1 Wealth
Unarmed: Close
Dagger/Shiv/Knife: Close/Near, 1 Wealth
Baselard/Kris/Kikri/Dirk: Close, 1-Piercing, 1 Wealth
Many/Hidden Knives: Close/Near, Infinite, 2 Wealth
Club/Shillelagh: Melee, 0 Wealth
Staff/Pike: Melee, Hefty, 0 Wealth
Sword/Axe/Mace: Close/Melee, 1 Wealth
Warhammer/Flail: Melee, Forceful, 1 Wealth
Greatsword/Glaive/Halberd: Melee, +1 Damage, Hefty, 2
Wealth
Bastard Sword / Chain Whip: Melee, Messy, Awkward, 1
Wealth
Rapier: Melee, 2-Piercing, 2 Wealth
Spear: Melee/Near, 1 Wealth
Common Armor
Leather/Chainmail/Gambeson: 1-Armor, 2 Wealth
Scale/Plate: 2-Armor, Clumsy, 3 Wealth
Shield: +1 Armor, 1 Wealth
Common Equipment Example Poisons
Adventuring Gear: 5 Uses, 2 Wealth) Oil of Taggit: Dangerous, 2 Wealth
A collection of useful mundane items such as chalk, poles, Must be consumed. The target falls into a light sleep.
spikes, ropes, etc. When you rummage through your
adventuring gear for some useful mundane item and mark
Bloodweed: Dangerous, 2 Wealth
off a use, you find what you need.
Requires contact. The target deals -2 Damage with attacks
until they are cured.
Bandages: 3 Uses, Slow, 1 Wealth
When you have a few minutes to bandage someone else’s
Goldenroot: Dangerous, 2 Wealth
wounds and mark off a use, you heal them of 4 damage
and staunch their bleeding. Must be consumed. The target treats the next person they
see as a trusted ally, until proved otherwise.
Poultices and Herbs: 2 Uses, Slow, 2 Wealth
Serpent’s Tears: Dangerous, 2 Wealth
When you carefully treat someone’s wounds with poultices
and herbs and mark off a use, you either heal them of 7 Requires contact. The target takes +2 Damage from attacks
until they are cured.
damage or cure them of a poison.
Healing Potion: 3 Wealth
When you drink an entire potion, heal yourself of 10 Services And Expenses
damage.
1 Wealth: Most services and expenditures. Healing from
a chirurgeon. A week’s stay at a peasant’s inn. A night of
Bag of Books: 5 Uses, 1 Wealth song, dance, and companionship. A custom item from a
When your bag of books contains just the right book for blacksmith or other professional (in addition to its base
the subject you’re Spouting Lore on, consult the book and price). A hired killer. A guide through perilous terrain. Most
mark off a use to roll with Advantage. hirelings.
Pipeleaf: 6 Uses, 1 Wealth 2 Wealth: Exceptional and exotic services and
When you share pipeleaf with someone, mark off two uses expenditures. Magical healing from a priest or alchemist. A
to roll with Advantage to Parley with them. week’s stay at a noble’s inn. A small festival. A professional
assassin. A guide through dangerous, life-threatening
lands.
Flask of Whiskey: 2 Uses, 1 Wealth
When you down a draught, mark off a use to roll with
Advantage to act boldly or face down terror. Anything of greater cost or value is typically a long-term
investment, such as ownership of a house, caravan,
business, or ship.
Trap Kit: Dangerous, Slow, 1 Wealth
A bear trap, tripwire rig, bag of caltrops or marbles, or
similar. When you take the time to set it up in advance, it
becomes a hazard you’ll want to steer clear of.
Enchanted Arrows (3 Uses, 2 Wealth)
While heroes are assumed to have as many ordinary
arrows as they need, these arrows are expensive and
exceptionally accurate.
When you Volley using Enchanted Arrows, on a 7-9 you
may spend 1 Use instead of either of the other options.
6
Assets
Assets are special things your character has - a trusted
companion, a gang, a hideout, a unique weapon. Here are
the ways you could go about acquiring an Asset:
Through Play
Assets are prescriptive; you can get them because the
fiction demands it. A mere hireling might become a
trusted Follower, for example, or you might work to restore
an old Keep.
Through Advancement
Assets are also descriptive; when you Level Up and choose
to get an Asset, it happens - maybe not now, but soon, at
the next opportunity.
Asking the GM
Talk with the GM at the start of the game; they might be
interested in giving you an Asset or two to start with, or
they might tell you to Pursue a Goal first.
Example Assets
Storied Past
You have a complex history; take an additional
Background of your choice from your Playbook. You gain
its equipment, abilities and drive. If you have multiple
drives, you may choose one to be ‘active’ and primary at
the end of each Settle In.
Reputation
You have a reputation - positive or negative - that precedes
you, for good or for ill. Tell us what you’ve done to deserve
it. Fame and infamy are a double-edged sword; you
can never predict if it will bring you positive or negative
attention, but it counts as leverage to Parley for anyone
who respects it.
When you meet someone for the first time who’s heard
of you, tell the GM something they’ve heard of you. Then
the GM will tell you something else they’ve heard of you.
Connections
Be it amongst street urchins, traveling merchants, or
wealthy nobles, you know people, and people know you.
When you put out word to your old friends and
associates about something you want or need, roll+CHA.
On a 10+, someone has it, just for you. On a 7-9, you’ll have
to settle for something close or it comes with strings
attached, your call.
Assistant Follower
A faithful butler, snide secretary, or reluctant-yet-helpful You have a trusted companion - humanoid, beast,
family member assists you. Unlike an Apprentice or or monster - that travels with you. See the Follower
Follower, they don’t normally go where you go. Instead, document.
Assistants work off-screen to accomplish goals in multiple
places at once. Assistants don’t have stats and don’t make Signature Weapon
moves, but they can carry out orders on the behalf of the
You have a weapon or other piece of equipment that has
character using the character’s stats.
been custom-tailored for you. Work with the GM to create
it.
Aptitude First choose the most appropriate base for your weapon.
You’re especially practiced or talented at something that is
• Small and personal: Close.
not reflected in your stats. Pick a skill, profession, academic
subject, or area of expertise; when rolling for this skill, you • Medium and handy: Melee.
are always treated as having the appropriate stat at +3. • Large or two-handed: Melee, Hefty.
• Ranged: Near, Reload or Near, Reload, Distinctive.
Wealthy Then choose two enhancements it has.
You’re incredibly rich. You reduce the cost of everything by • It deals +1 Damage.
1 Wealth (things that cost 0 Wealth are free). • It has 2-Piercing.
• It is Unbreakable.
Organization • It has an extra range.
You have a membership with a guild, clan, religion, or
similar organisation. This membership will often allow
you access to people, services, and locations that would
• It’s Messy.
• It’s Vicious.
normally be off-limits. • It’s Forceful (replaces Hefty).
• It loses Reload or Distinctive.
Occupied • It glows in the presence of ___________ (a specific
You have a business or some other reliable source of type of creature; goblins, mages, etc.).
income. At the start of each session, gain 1 Wealth
Location
You have an arcane sanctum, secret hideout, or similar
base of operations that is all your own.
Apprentice
Your Apprentice is a secondary character - a plucky sibling,
perhaps, or an orphan kid you caught picking your pocket.
Like a regular character they have a Playbook and can
use all the Basic and Peripheral moves, but they don’t
start with a Background, only get one move from their
playbook, and their stats are +1, +0, +0, +0, -1.
When you Level Up, you can choose to have your
Apprentice level up instead.
When you die, you can choose to have your Apprentice
take your place; if so, their stats and moves automatically
improve to that of a fully fledged adventurer.
7
Tags
Tags are short descriptors of an item that help define
what it can and can’t do. Like with items, this list is not
exhaustive or cumpulsory, and can be easily modified.
Area: It hits or effects everything in an area.
Armour: Reduces damage taken by n. n-Armour doesn’t
stack, while +n Armour does.
Awkward: It’s unwieldy and tough to use. The GM might
invoke the consequences on a 6- roll or when appropriate.
Brutal: When dealing damage roll twice and take the
better result.
Clumsy: It’s incredibly unwieldy to use. The GM might
invoke the consequences on a 6- roll or when appropriate.
Additonally, you have Disadvantage on DEX rolls while
using it.
Dangerous: Unsafe; take the proper precautions when
using it or the GM may freely invoke the consequences.
Fiery: It painfully burns, sears, and causes things to catch
fire. Hot to the touch.
Forceful: It inflicts powerful, crushing blows that knock
targets back and down.
Hefty: It inflicts powerful, crushing blows, knocks targets
back and down, and requires two hands to wield properly.
Infinite: Too many to keep count. Throw one away, and you
have another one.
Distinctive: It has an obvious and unique sound,
appearance or impression when used.
Messy: It does damage in a particularly destructive way,
ripping people and things apart.
n-Piercing: It ignores n armour.
Reload: You have to take time to reload it between uses.
Slow: It takes a while to use - at least a minute, if not more.
Unbreakable: It can’t be broken or destroyed by normal
means.
Valuable: It always counts as leverage to Parley.
Vicious: It does damage in a particularly cruel way,
inflicting agonising, bloody wounds.
Range Tags
Someone using a weapon outside of its normal range may
need to first use another move such as Defy Danger to do
so, or may not be able to at all.
Close: It’s only useful when you’re up close and personal, in
their face, intimate.
Melee: It’s useful at arm’s reach, or up to a few feet away.
Near: You need to be able to see the whites of their eyes.
Far: You need to be within shouting distance.
Followers Follower Moves
You have a trusted companion - humanoid, beast, or Helping Hand
monster - that travels with you. Give it a name , describe it, When your Companion works alongside you, it counts as
and work with the GM to create it. Working in Tandem; you roll with Advantage, but they are
also exposed to the costs or consequences of your move.
Each Follower has HP, Armour, Moves, and Instincts, just
like any other NPC. Leave this part to the GM; they’ll tell you Command
what you should know when the need arises.
When you order or expect your Follower to do something
dangerous, degrading, unreasonable, or contrary to
Choose one or two Qualities they have, or make a new one. their instincts, roll+CHA. On a 10+, they do it now, as well
• Meek: Accepts their lowly lot; will agree to do as one could expect. On a 7-9, the GM chooses one.
degrading and unreasonable tasks without the need • The experience tests them; the next time you
to Command. Command them, roll with Disadvantage.
• Warrior: They grant +1 damage when they help you • They complain loudly, now or later, and demand
fight, and you don’t have to Command them to fight compensation.
unless the opposition is terrifying or overwhelming. • It takes them longer than expected, is done shoddily,
• Organised: Follows plans well, works well in a or will cost you later.
group. Once they agree to a plan, you don’t need to
Command them as long as the plan doesn’t go awry.
• Healer: When they tend to wounds with Bandages or
Poultices and Herbs, they heal an additional +3 HP.
• Educated (___________): They’re learned about a
particular subject. When they help you Spout Lore
on it, they’ll also give you an interesting (but not
necessarily useful) piece of information.
• Cunning: Clever and observant. When they help you
Discern Realities, you can ask an additional question.
• Charming: They are desirable or have a way with
words. When they help you Parley, they can count as
leverage.
The GM will give them a few Descriptors, too, befitting of
who or what they are. Here are some examples
• Athletic: Good at running, climbing, jumping, and so
on.
• Cautious: Careful and methodical; avoids acting rashly.
• Devious: Deceitful, treacherous, thieving.
• Stealthy: Avoids detection; often gets the drop on foes.
• Beautiful: Draws admiration and attention; makes an
impression.
• Terrifying: Its presence and appearance invoke fear.
• Group: A team, gang, or mob, with all the strengths
and drawbacks of greater numbers.
• Ferocious: Merciless, violent, and aggressive.
• (In)Famous: They’re well-known, for good or for ill.
• Stubborn: Tough, hard-working, and willing to put up
with discomfort.
• Self-Sufficient: Can easily navigate and live off the
land.
• Faithful: Dedicated to a religion, belief, or cause.
8
Barbarian Background
Outsider (+2 STR, +1 INT)
Choose one Ask
Who Here...
You hail from the far reaches of the world in search of—what? Glory? ...has visited my homeland?
Treasure? Spilt blood? They call you barbarian. Uncivilized. You know better. You and your people are from a far off land and have
...has been harmed or endangered by my pursuits?
Their world of nobles and laws is fleeting. You will tread their jeweled thrones a fundamentally different way of life and of looking
under your boot, and you will show them what might and fear truly mean.
at things. ...am I distrustful or wary of?
For you know what is best in life, and you will take it.
...is trying to curb my reckless tendencies?
When you Spout Lore about knowledge rare in
...do I find puny and foolish?
Name Examples: Gorm, Fafnir, Haepha, Qua, Thra-raxes, Sillius,
these regions, roll with Advantage if you can say how
it might be known in your homeland. ...do I yearn to learn from?
The Glorious, The Foesmasher, The Gluttonous ...shares my hunger for glory?
Equipment: Trap Kit (Dangerous, Slow).

Look Answer
Drive: Teach someone about your culture or traditions.

As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc

What is the token of your homeland, and why did you
Savage (+2 STR, +1 CHA) bring it with you?

Drive You hail from stranger, more terrifying lands than What is the strangest thing about these lands?
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move most folk can imagine, and your time there made When did you first discover your appetites?
you strong. How do your appetites haunt you when they go unsated?

HP / 26 Armor When you Defy Danger against fear or hesitation,

roll with Advantage.
Equipment: 3 Throwing Axes (Near/Melee, 1-Piercing)
Damage: d6+1 Drive: Provoke danger to prove your prowess.
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order.
STR DEX Survivor (+2 STR, +1 WIS)
You weathered a great calamity, something that
resulted in the downfall of your family, your empire,
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
or your livelihood. Yet you have carried on.
When your life is untenable, in addition to the
normal Last Breath options you can choose to Look
INT WIS death in the eyes and spit in its face. If your HP was
0 you heal half of it (rounded up). If your life was
untenable through another circumstance, you avoid
or survive it through a superhuman feat. Once you
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
choose this option, you cannot choose it again until
you reach a level that is a multiple of 5 (5, 10, 15 etc).
What feat are you most known for?
Which strange tradition of your homeland do you keep,
how does it make people here uncomfortable?
In what ways do you eschew the laws of these lands?
How do the people of these lands treat you and your kind?
What treacherous obstacles lie on the path to and from
your homeland?
In what way is your home more beautiful than any other
land you’ve been to?
Equipment
You start with:
• Flask of Whiskey (2 Uses),
• A token of your homeland,
• The equipment from your Background
Choose one:
• Axe (Close/Melee) and Shield (+1 Armor)
• Greatsword (Melee, +1 damage, Hefty)

Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)

Choose two:
CHA LEVEL Starts at 1
Drive: Take back something you lost. • Chainmail Armor (1 Armor)
• 2 Wealth
• Poultices and Herbs (2 Uses, Slow)
Condition/Debility XP • Pipeweed (6 uses)
Starts at 0 • A Healing Potion

9
Starting Moves You get all of these
Rampage
When you Hack and Slash, on a 10+ if you choose to deal
additional damage, roll an additional d6 and take the
higher of the two.
Herculean Appetites
Others may content themselves with just a taste of wine, or
dominion over a servant or two, but you want more.
Choose two:
• Pure Destruction
• Power over others
• Mortal pleasures
• Conquest
• Riches and Property
• Fame and Glory
While pursuing one of your appetites, if you would roll
then do so with Advantage. If any of the dice you roll are
duplicates, the GM will also introduce a complication or
danger that comes about due to your heedless pursuits.
Formidable
You are best known for two terrible proficiencies. Choose:
• Unencumbered, Unharmed: Your body and clothes
count as 2-armour as long as you aren’t restrained,
wearing armor, or wielding a shield.
• Musclebound: When you wield a weapon, it becomes
forceful and messy.
• Immovable Object: The forceful and messy tags do
not work against you.
• Unstoppable Force: You have advantage when
Defying a moving Danger (traps, swinging weapons,
etc)
• Eye for Weakness: When you ask the GM ‘Who or
what here is weak or vulnerable?” roll Discern Realities
with Advantage.
• Walking Weapon: Your limbs and body are as
formidable as the sharpest sword or heaviest hammer.
You can fight any opponent unarmed.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
What Are You Waiting For?
When you cry out a challenge to your enemies,
roll+CHA. On a 7+, they treat you as the most obvious
threat to be dealt with and ignore your companions
for now. You gain +2 damage ongoing against them.
On a 7-9, choose one:
• Only a few (the weakest or most foolhardy among
them) fall prey to your taunting.
• They gain +2 damage against you as well.
Ugly Truth
When you smash through social etiquette to call
something what it really is, roll+CHA. On a 7+, name
someone here who now agrees with you. On a 10+ you
also have Advantage Forward when doing something
about it.
Berserker
When you deal damage, you can choose to ignore
armor. If you do so, the next attack against you will
ignore your armor. You cannot use this again until
after you have taken damage.
Is That All You’ve Got?
When you deliberately take the full brunt of an
attack, take the damage as normal and then roll+STR.
On a 7+, pick one. On a 10+, choose two.
• Your enemy leaves themselves open and exposed.
• You learn one of the enemy’s weaknesses;
describe it.
• Your reaction (or lack thereof) infuriates or terrifies
your enemy.
Samson
You may take a condition of your choice to
immediately break free of any physical or mental
restraint.
From Stories of Old
Gain another proficiency from Formidable.
Acquired Taste
Gain another Herculean Appetite.
Seasoned Wanderer
When you arrive someplace, ask the GM about any
important local traditions, rituals, and so on. They’ll tell
you what you need to know.
Khan of Khans
When you pay a follower’s cost with gratuitous
fulfillment of one of your appetites, you may roll with
Advantage the next time you Command them.
Usurper
When you have proven yourself superior to someone
in a position of power, you have Advantage Ongoing
towards their followers, underlings, and hangers-on.
My Love for You is Like a Truck
When you perform a feat of strength, name
someone present whom you have impressed; you gain
Advantage Forward with them.
Ancestral Visions
When you perform a sacrificial ritual to consult
your ancestral spirits (or gods, or your totem, etc),
roll+WIS. On a 10+, the GM will grant you a great and
useful insight into your current goals, or a boon to
help you on your way. On a 7-9, the sacrifice is not
enough and the gods take of your flesh as well, but
still grant you some insight or boon.
Basking In Victory
When you Settle In, if you have sated at least one of
your appetites since last rest, clear a condition.
A Good Day to Die
As long as your hit points are less than or equal to
your STR, you have Advantage Ongoing on all rolls.
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
More! Always More!
When you satiate an appetite to the extreme
(destroying something unique and significant, gaining
enormous fame, riches, power, etc), choose two.
• Mark 2 XP.
• Heal a condition immediately (separate from
Basking in Victory)
• You learn of an opportunity for wealth, power, or
similar.
• Rolling duplicates when pursuing that appetite
won’t cause any additional complications or
dangers until you next trigger More! Always More!
The Great Destroyer
When you Hack and Slash, on a 12+, choose
something physical your target has (a weapon, their
position, a limb); they lose it.
A Living Epic (requires From Stories of Old)
Gain another proficiency from the Formidable starting
move.
Towering Presence
Any intelligent, mortal creatures who sees you knows
instinctively that you are a force to be reckoned with
and treats you appropriately.
You Cannot Harm Me (requires Is That All You’ve Got?)
When you roll a 10+ on Is That All You’ve Got, you take
half damage. If you roll a 12+, you take no damage.
Limitless Pursuits
Gain another Herculean Appetite.
10
Bard Background Choose one

Historian (+2 INT, +1 WIS)

Ask
Who Here...
The songs to inspire peasantry and royals alike—to soothe the savage beast ...have I adventured with before?
or drive men to a frenzy—have to come from somewhere. Enter the bard. A You rarely leave your home; instead spending your
...have I heard stories of before?
mere minstrel can retell a thing, but it takes a true bard to live it. Someone’s time collecting obscure folk wisdom and songs from
got to be there, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the soon-to-be-heroes.
books. ...has entrusted me with a secret?
Who better than you to write the tale of your own heroism?
...am I writing a story about?
When you use Bardic Knowledge, after the GM tells
...doesn’t trust me, for good reason?
Name Examples: Baldric, Astrafel, Meredda, Kosil, Amaryllis, Lily,
you something interesting you can ask one follow-
up question which the GM will answer honestly. ...is most often the butt of my jokes?
a laughing name, a musical name, a catchy name Additionally, when you heal with arcane art, you ...thinks my songs and tales are of little value?
heal +4 damage.

Look As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc

Equipment: Bag of Books (5 Uses)
Answer
Drive: Expose someone else to a thing of beauty,
What kind of art do you specialize in?
majesty, or awe.
What is your instrument and how did you come by it?
Drive What’s the best thing about performing?
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move
Wandering Minstrel (+2 CHA, +1 DEX) Who trained you in the arts you know?
What are you running from?
HP Armor
You roam the land in search of stories of heroism to
/ 18 share, and earn your keep telling your stories and What are your favorite stories to tell?
singing your songs in taverns and inns. Where is the farthest you’ve been from here, and what
keeps you coming back here?
Damage: d6 Your Arcane Art has 4 uses instead of 3.
Additionally, when you curse a foe with Arcane Art
What event recently shook the status quo?
How are outsiders accepted here, and where might they
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order. you also reduce their damage done by 2 until the end come from?
of the scene.
STR DEX Where is the nearest settlement? How is it unique, and
how is it connected to this place?
Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)

Drive: Share a short poem, song or tale about an

Condition/Debility Condition/Debility adventure that you personally witnessed. Equipment
You start with:
• 1 Wealth
Folk Hero (+2 DEX, +1 STR)
• An artistic tool or instrument of significant value
INT WIS You’re a dashing rogue, adept at swordplay as well • The equipment from your Background
as magic. With a quick smile and an even quicker
blade, you’re one of the finest duelists in the land! Choose one:
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility • Leather Armor (1-Armor)
When you Hack & Slash with your rapier one-on-
• Ostentatious Clothes (Valuable)
one, you roll with +DEX instead of +STR.

Equipment: Rapier (Melee, 2-Piercing) Choose two:

CHA LEVEL Starts at 1
Drive: Share a passionate moment with another, and/
• A Sword (1 Wealth)
• A Pistol (Near, +1 Damage, Distinctive, Reload)
or provoke conflict with between two parties. • An Extra 1 Wealth to your Name

XP
• Bandages (3 Uses, Slow)
Condition/Debility • Pipeweed (6 uses)
Starts at 0

11
Starting Moves You get all of these
Speak Softly
When you Scrutinise Someone by speaking frankly
with them, you can roll+CHA instead of +WIS and ask an
additional question, even on a 6-. If you do, they will ask
you a question in return. You may lie, but if you do you
can’t use this move on them again and you’ll never regain
their trust
Arcane Art
You start with 3 Art. When you invoke your potent magical
effects through your artistry, spend 1 Art and choose from
below:
• Wield your art like a weapon (Near, Distinctive, Ignores
Armour) until the end of the scene.
• Curse a foe, reducing their Armour by -2 until the end
of the scene.
• Heal an ally for 1d6+1 Damage.
When you Volley using your art, you roll +CHA instead of
+DEX
When you Settle In, reset your Art to 3.
Bardic Knowledge
When you first encounter someone or something
that you’ve heard tales, songs, or legends about (your
call), tell the GM something interesting you’ve heard
about it. The GM will tell you what else you’ve heard that
complicates things.
Gracious Performance
When you perform your chosen art - any act of expression
or culture - or put its product before an Intelligent
audience, roll+CHA. On a 10+, spend 3. On a 7-9, spend 1.
Spend 1 to name an NPC in the audience and choose one.
• This person must see me.
• This person must give me a gift.
• This person admires me.
On a 6-, you suffer no harm or lost opportunity; you simply
perform very well.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Showstopper
When you make a showy, dramatic entrance into
a tense situation, describe your grand entrance and
roll+CHA. On a 7+, everyone stops to watch and listen
until you finish your opening speech. On a 10+, your
speech culminates into one bold, decisive action; you
roll with Advantage on that move. If it’s an attack, you
deal +2 Damage.
Scholarly Insight
Name a subject (Spells and Magicks, Unusual
Beasts, Gods and Their Servants, Grand Histories,
etc.); when you Spout Lore about this subject, you
treat any result of a 6- as a 7-9.
Elder Arts
When you weave magic into the shape of your
chosen art, choose one of the effects below.
• You instill in them a powerful emotion
• You lull them into a deep and infectious slumber.
• You stun and deafen them with the noise.
• They treat you as a friend or source of authority.
Then, roll+CHA. On a 7+, the effect manifests in full,
affecting any number of Intelligent creatures you wish
for as long as you continue to perform your chosen
art. On a 10+, it will linger even after your performance
ends, if only for a while.
Well-Traveled
When you return to a Steading you’ve visited before
(your call), tell the GM when you were last here; they’ll
tell you how it’s changed since then. When you next
Seek Out there, you treat any result of a 6- as a 7-9.
Cutting Words
When you Work in Tandem by offering a witty
remark or sharp criticism, you avoid the costs or
consequences associated with your ally’s move, but
you draw attention from any listening enemies.
Song of Rest
When you Settle In, those who listen to your soothing
songs and stories either heal an additional 2d6
damage or an extra condition.
Wide Audience
When you use Gracious Performance or Elder Arts,
you can have your magic affect undead, animals,
plants, constructs, and similar non-Intelligent
creatures instead of, or in addition to, Intelligent ones.
Wordsmith
When you first encounter a language, tell the GM
your level of proficiency with it and, if applicable, how
you came to learn it.
When you study a set mysterious marks or writings,
roll+INT. On a 10+, you decipher it in just a few minutes.
On a 7-9, you get the gist in a few minutes, but fully
deciphering them will take you an hour or so.
Slippery
When you Gain The Edge by being a dashing rogue
(swing on a chandelier, charm someone for help,
jump out of a window, etc), gain +1 Hold, even on a 6-.
Throw Down the Gauntlet
When you demand a formal duel in response to an
insult, your opponent may use a substitute or propose
conditions, but they cannot decline.
While you are in a formal duel, you have 2-Armour
against your opponent and your attacks deal +2
Damage to them.
Anything You Can Do, I can Do Better
When you spend some quality time with another PC,
erase any shared moves and choose to share a move
with them or they share a move with you. Whoever
gains the move can use it a number of times equal to
your CHA.
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
Eldritch Tones
When you use Gracious Performance, you spend +1,
even on a 6-.
When you use Elder Arts, on a 12+, the effects will
persist until your next performance.
Buckle Thy Swash
When you Defy Danger against your opponent in a
1-on-1 fight, on a 7+ choose one:
• You disarm, trip, or otherwise outmaneuver them.
• You take only half damage from them.
• You deal half your damage to them.
Music of the Spheres
When you perform the original art of creation and
imbue it with your own purpose, tell the GM what
you wish to create, change, or destroy and what
present force of nature you’ll use to do it, and they’ll
tell you what it costs you. If you accept, it happens.
Bachelor of Arts
When you Settle In, gain 2 additional Art.
Steeped in Lore
When you spend downtime (hours or days) sifting
through rumours and information in a library,
watering-hole, or other scholarly or social nexus,
choose as many as you like. For each one you choose,
the GM holds 1 they can spend later to twist the details
or complicate things.
• You learn of a valuable treasure.
• You learn of a dangerous enemy or group.
• You learn something useful about an area’s
history, layout, or politics.
For each one you choose, the GM might ask you “how
did you learn this?” Tell them the truth.
12
Cleric Background Choose one

Missionary (+2 WIS, +1 CHA)

Ask
Who Here...
These lands are a godless mess. They’re lousy with the walking dead, beasts ...is curious about my faith?
of all sorts, and the vast unnatural spaces between safe and temple-blessed You were sent out into the world to teach about your
civilizations. That’s why it falls to you to proselytize with sword and mace and ...has my deity marked as important? Why?
deity and guide people in following them.
spell, to cleave deep into the witless heart of the wilds and plant the seed of
...do i think needs my guidance?
divinity there. God lives at the edge of a blade. Show the world who is lord.
When you Parley with someone about your deity,
...doesn’t respect my faith or my deity?
you may ask the GM ‘What is their largest doubt or
...has consorted with an enemy of my deity?
Name Examples: Durga, Lenore, Penrose, Drummond, Freya, Sara,
fear?’ and they will answer truthfully. If you address
this as part of your Parley, roll with Advantage. ...worships my deity as well?
an old name, a sorrowful name, a common name
Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
Answer
Look As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc
Drive: Bring relief to a suffering creature, plant or
spirit. What kind of art do you specialize in?
What is your instrument and how did you come by it?
What’s the best thing about performing?
Drive Warpriest (+2 WIS, +1 STR)
Who trained you in the arts you know?
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move Your faith has been tempered on the battlefield and
What are you running from?
you are seasoned in fighting the enemies of your
What are your favorite stories to tell?
HP / 20 Armor domain.
Where is the farthest you’ve been from here, and what
keeps you coming back here?
When you Defy Danger in order to use an
Invocation, roll with Advantage. What event recently shook the status quo?
Damage: d6 Equipment: Healing Potion How are outsiders accepted here, and where might they
come from?
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order. Drive: Harm another to prove the superiority of your Where is the nearest settlement? How is it unique, and
faith. how is it connected to this place?
STR DEX

Acolyte (+2 WIS, +1 INT) Equipment

Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
You spent years studying the ancient histories of your You start with:
deity, as well as other religions and deities. • Chainmail (1-Armor)
• A symbol of your faith
When you Spout Lore about religions or deities, roll • The equipment from your Background
INT WIS with Advantage.

Equipment: Bag of Books (5 Uses) Choose one:

Condition/Debility
CHA
Condition/Debility
• Staff (Melee, Hefty)
Drive: Uncover a secret long forgotten, or endanger • Warhammer (Melee, Forceful)
Condition/Debility
yourself by prying for more information.
Choose two:
• A Shield (+1 Armor)
LEVEL
• Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
• 1 Wealth
Starts at 1
• Bandages (3 Uses, Slow)
• Pipeweed (6 uses)
XP Starts at 0

13
Starting Moves You get all of these
Divine Agent
You serve and worship a deity who grants you power. Give
your god a name (maybe Helferth, Sucellus or Zorica):
Then, define your deity’s domains by filling in each answer:
• What they Control (the sun, the seas, the skies, etc)
• What they Represent (love, death, war, wind, etc)
• Who their Worshippers are (nobles, dwarves, wizards,
etc)
• Who their Enemies are (demons, undead, heretics,
etc)
• What their Demands are (sacrifices, secrets, victory,
etc)
Commune
When you petition your deity for guidance on something
that pertains to their domains, you are granted some
useful knowledge or a boon; the GM will tell you what.
In return, your deity may impose on you a task; mark XP
when you complete it.
Invocation
When you call upon your deity’s power, choose an
invocation you know and roll+WIS. On a 7+, your deity’s
power flows through you and the effect comes to pass, but
you must choose a consequence from the list. On a 7-9, the
GM chooses another.
• The invocation’s Risk comes to pass.
• The effort is physically taxing. Mark a condition of your
choice.
• The power drains you. You take -1 Ongoing to Invoke
until you have some time to pray and clear your head.
You start with 2 invocations known.
When you Level Up, you can choose to Learn a New
Invocation instead of the other choices.
When one invocation is ongoing, you can’t use another.
You can end an ongoing invocation whenever you wish.
Thaumaturgy
When you petition your deity to perform a miracle that
pertains to their domains, tell the GM what you desire.
Miracles are always possible, but the GM will give you 1 to
4 of the following requirements (separated by “ANDs” and
“ORs”):
• It’s going to take days/weeks/months.
• First you must ________.
• You’ll need help from ________.
• It will require ________.
• The effect will be unreliable or limited.
• You and your allies will risk danger from ________.
• You’ll have to disenchant ________ to do it.
Miracle examples: Raise someone from the dead; call down an unnatural storm of acid rain and soul-clouds; restore someone’s missing limb; unravel the assorted dangers, threats, and grim portents of a front; summon a divine envoy.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Heaven’s Weaving
When you Parley or otherwise broker a deal with
someone, your faith grants you insight into them; you
Cloistered Wisdom gain 1 hold to spend during the conversation as if you
When you Spout Lore or Discern Realities about had used Scrutinize Someone.
something pertaining to your deity’s domains, you
may roll +WIS instead of +INT.
Peaceful
When you enter a hostile area openly, honestly, and
Haruspex alone, no one but who recognizes your position will
When you Commune with your deity after fulfilling attack you unprovoked unless they are an enemy of
their Demands, you also gain Advantage Forward to your deity.
do as they recommend.
Faithful
Thy Will Be Done When you Commune, you have Advantage Forward
When you use your divine authority to convince a
to accomplish a task imposed by your deity. You also
fellow worshipper of your deity to act in their name,
mark 2 XP instead of 1 when you complete it.
roll+CHA. On a 7+, they’ll do it to the best of their
abilities, but choose one. On a 7-9, the GM chooses
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
another.
• You’ll need to prove your divine authority to them
first.
• They’ll need you to come with them. Knowledge of the Faithful requires Cloistered Wisdom
• A terrible twist of fate will befall them in the
process. When you use Cloistered Wisdom, treat any result of
a 6- as a 7-9.
Lead the Flock
When you preach to a mob, roll+CHA. On a 10+, hold 3. Greatest Invocation (requires Greater Invocation)
On a 7-9, hold 1. At any time you may spend your hold, Gain the Greater benefit of two invocations you know.
1-for-1, to have the mob:
• Bring people forward and deliver them to you. Favored Soul
• Bring forward all their precious things. When you use Invocation, on a 12+ choose no
• Unite and fight for you. consequences.
• Work together in a collaborative act
• Go quietly back to their lives.
Apotheosis
When you take this move and spend some time
Greater Invocation establishing a unique and potent connection to
Gain the Greater benefit of an invocation you know. your deity, choose a feature associated with them
(rending claws, wings of sapphire feathers, an all-
My Faith is My Shield seeing third eye, etc). In recognition of your devotion
When you wear no armour and bear no shield, you and faith, your deity bestows this gift upon you.
get 2-armour.
Miracle Worker
Rebuke When you use Thaumaturgy, you may ignore or veto
When you issue a simple command to a creature one requirement of your choice.
or entity that pertains to your deity’s domains,
roll+WIS. On a 10+, they will act according to both the Anathema
letter and the spirit of your command. On a 7-9, only
You deal +2 damage (with both weapons and
one; the GM will say which.
invocations) against enemies of your deity.
Furthermore, when you slay those enemies their
Divine Intervention bodies are disintegrated by holy wrath.
When you or an ally would take damage, you may
call on your deity and have them intervene (a sudden
gust of wind, a lucky slip, a bust of light), negating that
damage. Once you use this ability, you must Settle In
before using it again.
14
Cleric Invocations
Cure Wounds
An ally you touch is either healed for 1d6+2 HP or cured
of a mortal poison or disease.
Risk: The benefit is halved or temporary; the GM will
say.
Greater: They either heal an extra 1d6 HP or recover
from a condition of your choice.
Divine Wrath
A foe takes 1d6+2 damage (Forceful, Distinctive)
Risk: They take only 1d6 damage and are not driven
back.
Greater: On a 12+, they are also left momentarily
stunned and helpless.
Divine Ward
An ally gains Advantage Forward to Defy Danger, or is
temporarily protected from something pertaining to
your deity’s domains.
Risk: It takes all your effort to grant them this
protection, afflicting you with a condition.
Greater: On a 12+, all your allies are affected.
Contact Spirits
You can speak with the recently departed, or with a
soul of your choosing; its spirit is pulled back through
the planes, just close enough to speak to you and
answer any one question you ask to the best of its
ability.
Risk: The spirit is not bound to tell the truth or aid you.
Greater: On a 12+, you can ask it any number of
questions you desire; it will answer them as best it can.
Dismissal
Choose an otherworldly entity or spirit you can see; it is
banished from this world or back to whatever tethers
it here.
Risk: It can choose to remain if it takes 2d6 damage
(ignores armour).
Greater: On a 12+, weaker entities are utterly destroyed.
Stronger spirits are permanently banished from this
place, with whatever tethers them here destroyed.
Bestow Curse
A foe you touch has their armour reduced to 0 or is
struck by some supernatural disease, by blindness, or
by some other affliction for a few minutes.
Risk: You also suffer the effects of the curse.
Greater: On a 12+, the effect is permanent.
Cause Fear (Ongoing)
Name an individual or a type of mortal creature. They
are filled with dread, causing them to recoil and back
away; the weak and cowardly among them must
outright flee.
Risk: Many more or fewer creatures than you expected
are affected.
Greater: On a 12+, even the mighty and strong-willed
must flee.
Illuminate (Ongoing)
A magical light is projected from a point you choose,
piercing darkness, illusions, and other falsehoods or
trickery.
Risk: The enemies of your deity can sense the
disturbance caused by your divine magic for miles
around.
Greater: The light is blinding to all who look upon
it, and it deals 1d6 damage (ignores armour) to the
enemies of your deity while the invocation lasts.
Sanctuary (Ongoing)
As you cast this spell, you walk the perimeter of an
area, consecrating it to your deity. As long as you stay
within this area, you are alerted whenever someone
acts with malice within it (including entering with
harmful intent).
Risk: The barrier is flawed; enemies of your deity
can still enter, undetected and unhindered by your
sanctuary.
Greater: On a 12+, none can enter the sanctuary
without your express knowledge and consent.
Bless
An ally takes +2 armor Forward and +3 damage
Forward.
Risk: The blessing weakens you, you suffer -2 armor
and -3 damage forward.
Greater: The effect either gains the Ongoing tag,
allowing it to last for as long as you maintain it (with
Forward replaced by Ongoing), or all your allies are
affected for a short time
Speak in Tongues (Ongoing)
You can clearly speak with and understand any
sentient creature.
Risk: Only one sentient creature can understand and
speak with you (that couldn’t normally).
Greater: Nearby allies can also affected.
Freedom of Movement (Ongoing)
A physical obstacle, hazard, or dangerous environment
of your choosing no longer poses any threat to you.
You don’t need to Defy Danger against this threat.
Risk: You do still need to Defy Danger to overcome this
obstacle, but you have Advantage Ongoing to do so.
Greater: The effect extends to nearby allies as well.
Empower (Ongoing)
Your deity has given you the ability to go beyond your
limitations. Choose one of your stats. While the spell is
ongoing, it is treated as +3, even if you have a Condition
or Debility.
Risk: Once the effect ends, you suffer a condition of
your choice from exhaustion.
Greater: You can use this invocation on others. The
person who is empowered is the one who may suffer
the effects of the Risk.
Messenger
A message you speak is delivered to a person of your
choosing, no matter where they are.
Risk: The message is delivered in a vague or difficult to
interpret way.
Greater: When they receive the message, they can also
respond in kind.
Provision
You miraculously have just the mundane item you
need, as if you had spent 1 use of Adventuring gear.
Risk: You don’t have exactly what you need, but
something similar.
Greater: The item is of superb quality, gain Advantage
Forward the first time you use it.
15
Druid Background
Earthbound (+2 WIS, +1 STR)
Choose one Answer
What nearby people do you regularly assist? How do they
treat you as a result?
You are of the sacred spaces; you are born of soil and wear the marks of her
spirits on your skin. You may have had a life before, maybe you were a city Your soul feels a close kinship with the deep places What significant natural features are nearby?
dweller, but not now. You’ve given up that static shape. Listen to your allies
of the world. Worms and mushrooms are your family, What spirits lingers near your location?
pray to their carved stone gods and polish their silver shells. Their gods are
children, their steel is false protection. You wear the pelts of the earth itself. and lightless tunnels your hallways.
Why is there unrest in the spirit world?
You can see clearly in pitch dark. Which animal form is your favorite, why?

Name Equipment: Poultices and Herbs (2 Uses, Slow) What aspect of civilization do you most respect?
Examples: Hycarax, Elana, Weylan, Rose, Rehgar, Sigrial, How is the wildlife here especially unusual?
an animal name, a elemental name, a nickname Drive: Hide or bury something
In what way does nature and civlization conflict?

Look As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc

Fangborn (+2 WIS, +1 DEX)
Equipment
You are bound to a specific animal above all others.
You start with:
Your Tell reflects this animal, and you always possess
Drive its Instinct even when not shapeshifted.
• Leather Armor (1-Armor)
• Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move
In addition to the three you start with, you can • The Equipment from your background
shapeshift into your bound animal and you roll with
HP / 20 Armor Advantage when attempting to do so. Choose one:
• Sling (Near, Awkward, Reload) and Knife (Close/Near
Equipment: Bandages (3 Uses, Slow)
• Shillelagh (Melee) and Shield (+1 Armor)

Damage: d6 Drive: Alienate or push someone away • Staff (Melee, Hefty)

Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order.
Choose one:
Spirit-touched (+2 WIS, +1 CHA) • Healing Potion
STR DEX • Bag of Books (5 Uses)
Once you were of the ‘civilized’ world, but that all
• Trap Kit (Dangerous, Slow)
changed when you were marked by the spirits as
nature’s servant and given her gifts.

Attuned Creatures
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
See the Shapeshifter
Natural creatures are friendly towards you by default, Starting Move

and this friendliness counts as leverage for Parley. Animal Instinct

Equipment: Pipeleaf (6 Uses)

INT WIS
Drive: Restore something to a healthy state

Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
Ask
Who Here...
...smells more like prey than hunter to me?
CHA LEVEL Starts at 1
...have the spirits told me is in grave danger?
...have I shared a secret rite with?

XP
...is familiar with the sickness in these lands?
Condition/Debility Instinct examples: To smash and tear, To fly free and without care, To prey
...holds the least respect for nature? upon the weak and isolated, To consume and devour, To skulk about and
Starts at 0
ambush the unsuspecting, To weave webs and victimise the foolish, To
...have I helped track dangerous beasts in the past? assault and challenge the brave or strong.
16
Starting Moves You get all of these
At One With The World
You can speak with and understand animals, as well as
closely study them and Parley with them as if they were
people. You also have no need to eat or drink; and can
maintain a Rudimentary lifestyle for 0 Wealth.
Communion
When you spend some time in a place, connecting with
nearby creatures and spirits, roll+WIS. You will be granted
a vision of significance to you, your allies, or the spirits
around you. On a 10+, the vision will be clear and helpful to
you. On a 7-9, the vision is unclear and murky. On a 6-, in
addition to whatever the GM says, the vision is upsetting,
frightening, or traumatic; take disadvantage forward.
Shapeshifter
When you call upon the wilds to change your shape,
choose one of your attuned creatures and roll+WIS. On a
10+, you transform quickly and without issue. On a 7-9, you
still transform, but you are put in a spot or draw unwanted
attention.
While in an animal shape, you gain any innate abilities
and weaknesses of the form; claws, wings, gills, and so on.
You also gain the Instinct of your new form; this primal
urge is something innate to each creature and becomes a
part of you while you are shifted.
When you try to change shape without having fulfilled
your Instinct (including shifting back to normal), roll+WIS.
On a 10+ you succeed and all is well. On a 7-9 you succeed,
but won’t be able to transform back into that creature
until you reattune with it by fulfilling its Instinct. On a 6-
the GM says what will happen, perhaps you lose yourself in
your animal form and run away or turn on your allies.
You begin play with two Attuned Creatures.
When you Level Up, in addition to the normal choices you
may choose to add two more Attuned Creatures to your
list.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Environmentalist
When you call upon nature to aid you against a foe,
name a suitable part of your surroundings (deep roots,
rocky cliffs, flowing wind, etc.) and roll+WIS. On a 7+
your foe is temporarily hampered or trapped. On a 10+
you also deal your damage.
Predator and Prey
Whenever you Discern Realities, in addition to your
normal question you may ask one of the following two
questions, even on a 6-.
• What is my quickest escape?
• Where should I set up an ambush?
Where The Wild Things Are
When you partake in Communion about someone
using a part of them in the ritual (hair, blood, toenail,
etc), you innately know their general direction and
well-being.
Rules of Nature
When you take the form of a creature both
dangerous and fearsome, your attacks pierce 2 armor.
Barkskin
While your feet touch the ground, you have 2-armor.
To Speak With the World Itself
When you use At One With The World, whatever the
result, you may ask any one question about the vision
you received. The spirits will answer you to the best of
their knowledge and ability.
Shed
When you revert to your normal form after
shapeshifting, heal for 1d6 damage.
The Bridge Between Worlds
You see the patterns that make up the fabric of the
world. You can now apply your Shapeshifter and
At One With the World moves to inanimate natural
objects (plants and rocks) as well as pure elements
(fire, water, air, and earth). You don’t add any new
transformations now, but may in future advances.
Work with the GM to define the qualities, limitations,
and Instinct of such forms.
Ironbark Will
When you try to Shapeshift back to normal without
having fulfilled your Instinct, roll with Advantage.
Call of the Wild
When you summon natural beasts to your presence
or to the presence of someone else, choose a type
of animal and roll+WIS. On a 7+, they congregate at a
location you choose. On a
7-9, choose 1:
• It takes time for them to gather.
• You are not precise about the location.
• You attract other animals in addition to or
instead of those you intended.
Balance
When you deal damage, gain 1 Balance.
When you touch someone and channel the spirits of
life, you may spend Balance. For each Balance spent,
heal 1d6 HP.
When you Settle In or otherwise rest, lose all Balance.
Earthly Disciple
When you use Spirit Tongue to Parley, you may roll
+WIS instead of +CHA.
When you Spout Lore about animals, nature, or the
balance of life, you may roll +WIS instead of +INT.
Eye of the Tiger
When you mark an animal with blood, mud, or dirt,
you can see through its eyes as if they were your own,
no matter what distance separates you. Only one
animal may be marked in this way at a time.
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
Elemental Mastery (requires Environmentalist)
When you call upon primal elemental spirits (fire,
water, air, etc) to perform a task for you, roll+WIS. On
a 7+, the effect you desire comes to pass. On a 7-9, you
also choose 1.
• The effort drains you, mark a condition
• You lose control and cause collateral damage.
Weather Weaver
When you call upon the spirits to create a strong
weather phenomenon, roll+WIS. On a 10+ choose two,
on a 7-9 choose one.
• The phenomenon appears immediately and lasts
as long as you desire
• Nearby land is not permanently altered
• None of your allies, wildlife or innocents are
directly harmed
More Beast Than Man
When you directly pursue your Instinct while
Shapeshifted, roll with Advantage.
When you resist or act against your instinct while
Shapeshifted, roll with Disadvantage.
Red of Tooth and Claw (requires Rules of Nature)
When you take the form of a creature both
dangerous and fearsome, your attacks are Brutal
and gain one of the following tags: Messy, Forceful or
Vicious.
17
Fighter Background Choose one

Champion (+2 STR, +1 CHA)

Ask
Who Here...
It’s a thankless job—living day to day by your armour and the skill of your arm. ...have I fought back-to-back with before?
While your traveling companions might moan about their wounds around a Gladiator, hero, warlord - you’ve been at least one of
campfire in the wilderness, you bear your scars with pride. Your friends may ...has heard stories of me?
these things, if not more, and it’s taught you where
carry blades of forged steel but, fighter, you are steel. Let every danger smash
the battle truly lies; in the hearts and eyes of the ...have I saved from certain doom?
itself to dust on you. In the end, you’ll be the last one standing.
crowd. ...do i think shouldn’t be here?
...am I suspicious of?
Name Examples: Hawk, Finnegan, Cadeus, Lenna, Brianne, Tas,
When you enter a fight or deliver a killing blow, you
become the center of attention. ...wants to learn from me?
a humble name, an ancient name, a royal name
Equipment: 2 Wealth
Answer
Look As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc
Drive: Ensure someone will never forget your power
You start with a Signature Weapon. What does it look like
and how did you acquire it?
Veteran (+2 STR, +1 WIS) What’s the toughest fight you’ve ever been in?

Drive Whether on the front lines or ‘peaceful’ patrols, you’ve How did you learn to fight so well?
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move learned to always trust your gut. Who died fighting alongside you before? Who still
begrudges you for that death?
Whenever you’d like, you may ask the GM “What What do you do for fun? What do you do when not
HP / 24 Armor gives me a bad feeling about this?” They will answer fighting?
truthfully, though not necessarily in full detail. Who or what do you most regret killing?
What important battle recently occured? Is a war brewing?
Damage: d6+2
Equipment: Bandages (3 uses)
Who did you leave behind?
Drive: Teach someone a lesson
Where is the nearest military force? What unique style
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order. or weaponry do its members use, and what is their
relationship to this place?
STR DEX Knight (+2 STR, +1 DEX)
Whether for a monarch, a cause or a principle, you
fought to uphold and protect others.
Equipment
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
You start with:
When you taunt or aggravate someone in a fight, • A Signature Weapon (see Assets page)
spend 1 Momentum to redirect harm from an ally to • Scale Armor (2-Armor, Clumsy)
yourself. • The equipment from your Background
INT WIS
Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
Choose two:
Drive: Go above and beyond for your ideals • Crossbow (Near, Distinctive, Reload)
Condition/Debility
• Hidden Knives (Close/Near, Infinite)
Condition/Debility
• Spear (Melee/Near)
• Shield (+1 Armor)
• A Healing Potion
CHA LEVEL
• Poultices and Herbs (2 Uses)
• Flask of WHisky (2 Uses)
Starts at 1
• Pipeleaf (6 Uses)

Condition/Debility XP Starts at 0

18
Starting Moves You get all of these Quarterback
When you forcefully grab or tackle a foe, roll + STR.
Battle Momentum On a 7+ you do it, if they’re small or weak enough
they’re disabled while you hold them. On a 7-9 they
You understand the back and forth rhythm of a fight
better than most.
struggle for a bit, dealing half their damage (rounded
down) to you in the process.
During a fight, you may spend Momentum to increase or
decrease a damage roll by the amount spent.
Riddle of Steel
When you take damage or deal damage unmodified by Crossing blades with someone counts as intimate
Momentum, gain 1 Momentum. and prying conversation for the purposes of Scrutinize
You can have a maximum of 5 Momentum, and at the end Someone.
of a fight it resets to 0. When you Scrutinize Someone while fighting them,
roll with Advantage.
Armed and Ready
You’re used to wearing heavy armor, and it doesn’t slow Knot Expert
you down or make you clumsy. You ignore the Clumsy tag When you tie up someone whom you have grappled,
on armor you’re wearing. using rope, chains, manacles or similar, it is always
quick and never dangerous.
Particular Set of Skills
When you Parley using threats of violence, roll with Amateur Smith
Advantage. When you rest, you can repair a single item of
damaged or destroyed equipment.
Demolitionist
Battleborn
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
When you want to destroy an object, be it a building,
When you Defy Danger in battle, you may spend 2
magical artifact, or obstacle, tell the GM what it is. It
is always possible, but the GM will give you 1 to 4 of the
Momentum to roll with advantage.
following requirements (separated by “ANDs” and “ORs”);
• It’s going to take hours/days/weeks.
Basic Training
You’ve gotten used to the tireless marches, late
• First you must ________. nights, early mornings and backbreaking labor. You
• You’ll need help from ________. are unaffected by all but the most extreme forms of
• You’ll need to use ________. exhaustion. When you Settle In, you may stay up all
• It will be easy/difficult to repair night on watch without feeling tired, but you won’t
heal any hit points.
• You and your allies will risk danger from ________.
• You’ll have to use up/wear out ________ to do it.
Eye For Danger
Whenever you’d like, ask the GM how much damage
something can do and they will tell you honestly.
Narsil
Your signature weapon gains 1 additional
enhancement, 3 in total.
Steel Gaze
When you enter combat, roll+CHA. On a 10+, hold 2.
On a 7-9, hold 1. Spend your hold, 1-for-1, to make eye
contact with an NPC present who freezes or flinches
and can’t act until you break it off. On a 6-, your
enemies immediately identify you as their biggest
threat
Percussive Counterspell
When you interrupt a spell or magical effect using
force, roll+STR. On a 10+ you successfully interrupt it.
On a 7-9 the spell is reduced or rebounded in some
way, the GM will say how.:
When you’re up close and personal with a wizard
or spellcaster, you automatically deal your damage
whenever they cast a spell.
Expert Smith (replaces Apprentice Smith)
When you rest, you can repair all damaged or
destroyed equipment, and change the assets of your
signature weapon from one to another.
Master Stroke
When you roll a 12+ on Hack and Slash, you can deal
+1d6 damage and avoid their attack.
I’ll Take That (requires Like Water Upon Rocks)
When you completely avoid a blow from a melee
weapon, you may spend 2 Momentum to steal that
weapon for yourself.

Advanced Moves When you level up you may

choose to learn one of these On No You Don’t
When you stop someone from leaving your reach,
Andúril (requires Narsil)
Your signature weapon gains 1 additional
roll with Advantage.
Like Water Upon Rocks enhancement, 4 in total.
When you deal damage, you may spend 2
Momentum to destroy a weapon or disable a form of Battle-Scarred Battle Master
attack. You do not gain Momentum from this damage. STR and DEX conditions or debilities don’t lower your When you enter a fight, gain 2 Momentum. Your
stats. maximum Momentum is now 7.
Field Medic
When you apply bandages or poultices and herbs, I Aim to Misbehave
heal twice as many hit points as normal. When you use Demolitionist, you may ignore or veto
one requirement of your choice.
Grudge Match
When you strike someone in public, such as in a
street or ballroom, no one will intervene as long as it’s
just you two until someone is killed.

Demolitionist examples: starting a cave-in, breaking a wall down, blowing up a building, shattering a renowned sword, dropping a magical ring into a volcano 19
Immolator Background Choose one

Chosen of the Sun (+2 CHA, +1 WIS)

Ask
Who Here...
You found power through a path wrought in fire and pain. You made a ...has been burned by my flames?
sacrifice, then and there, freely given, for powers beyond the ken of mere You received your fire when the great Sun chose you
mortals. And it feels so, so good. You’re the wildcard now. The uncaged flame, ...has shared a sacrifice with me?
to accomplish its shining will, and gave you a portion
burning with passion and leaving ruin in your wake. Live fast, die young, and
of its power. ...is afraid of me?
make sure you’re not the one who’s gotta pick up all the pieces.
...is enamored with me?
You have the Invocation move from the Cleric
...is trying to control me?
Name Examples: Omen, Leoric, Agar, Ignis, Prynne, Solomon, Isil,
playbook and know one invocation. You cannot learn
more invocations when you advance. ...am i sharing my flame with?
an unhinged name, a bold name, a weird name
When in direct sunlight, you can use your Invocation.
Answer
Look Equipment: Shield (+1 Armor)
What color are your flames? What do they look like when
As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc Drive: Bring to light a secret or scheme you channel them?
Who or what is trying to extinguish your flame?

Drive Heart of the Phoenix (+2 CHA, +1 STR) What happened the last time your flames truly got out of
control?
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move
You acquired your fire when you died and were What did you sacrifice to gain your fire?
reborn. You may have ‘died’ several times since then, What important secret did someone confide in you?
HP / 18 Armor but it doesn’t seem to stick with you.
What forboding vision did the flames show you?
When your life is untenable, replace ‘Die’ with ‘Die for Who or what does your heart truly burn for?

Damage: d6+1
now, but return to life in a few hours.’ Who knew you before you gained your fire?
Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order.

STR DEX
Drive: Reveal my deathless nature to someone. Equipment
You start with:
Practiced Enlightenment (+2 CHA, +1 DEX) • 1 Wealth
• A Bundle of Torches (5 Uses)
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility You connected with your fire through a long season • The equipment from your Background
of dangerous training and sweltering meditation,
and you have the scars to prove it. Choose one:
• Leather Armor (1-Armor)
You have +2 armor against fire, even if magical. This
INT WIS • Flame Resistant Clothes
armor cannot be ignored or bypassed.

Equipment: Pipeleaf (6 Uses) Choose two:

• Sword (Close/Melee)
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility Drive: Correct someone’s recklessness
• Dirk (Close, 1-Piercing)
• 1 Wealth
• Bandages (3 Uses, Slow)
• Flask of Whisky (2 Uses)
CHA LEVEL Starts at 1

Condition/Debility XP Starts at 0

20
Starting Moves You get all of these
Firebrand
You can manipulate fire in a variety of cosmetic ways
such as: dimming, flaring, sparking, changing color, and
creating shapes and images in the flames. You can also
use existing sources of fire as a weapon (near, vicious,
1-piercing). Choose one trait of your fire now:
• Conjured: You can create your own fire rather than
relying on something burning.
• Controlled: Whenever you deal collateral damage
with your fire, the unintended targets won’t be as
harmed (any damage has disadvantage).
• Malleable: Your fire gains the Close and Melee tags.
• Expansive: Your fire gains the Area tag.
• Long-Reaching: Your fire gains the Far tag.
When you fight using fire as a weapon, roll+CHA. On a 7+
deal your damage, on a 10+ choose one, on a 7-9 choose
two.
• You cause unintended collateral damage.
• You draw unwanted attention.
• Take -1 Ongoing to Firebrand until you next Settle In.
From The Ashes
When you burn a sacrifice and stare deeply into the
flames, ask the GM one question about it or that which
is associated with it (owners, loved ones, history, etc.)
and roll+CHA. On a 7+ you see a vision in the flames that
answers you question, the GM will describe it. On a 10+ the
vision is clear and obvious. On a 7-9 the vision is vague,
shadowy, or metaphorical.
Mesmeric
When you have time and privacy with someone and you
impose your fiery will upon them, roll+CHA. On a 10+, hold
2. On a 7-9, hold 1. They can spend your hold, 1-for-1, by:
• Giving you something they think you want.
• Doing something you tell them to do.
• Fighting to protect you.
If they’re an NPC, they can’t act out against you until your
Hold is spent. If they’re a PC, you can spend your Hold,
1-for-1, to:
• Distract them with the thought of you, forcing them
to Defy Danger.
• Inspire them with the thought of you, giving them +1
Forward.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Agni Kai
When you Defy Danger to protect yourself or another
from fire or heat, roll with Advantage.
Mushu
You have an animal companion (see the Followers
page). This companion has an additional descriptor:
Affinity for Fire: This follower cannot be harmed by
fire or heat, even of a magical nature.
Smokestep
When you obscure yourself with a cloud of smoke,
ash or cinders, you can instantly transport yourself
anywhere within the cloud, or to another nearby cloud.
Everburning
When you imbue an object with a portion of your
fire, it will burn with a dim, heatless flame without
being consumed. For each one you choose below, take
an ongoing -1 to Firebrand.
• The flame is not entirely heatless, the object deals
+2 damage when used as a weapon.
• The flame is bright, and will illuminate shadows,
uncover illusions and reveal invisibility.
• The flame is still connected to you, you can see
and hear everything near the object.
Objects do not need to be flammable to be imbued
this way. You may take your portion back at any time
by touching the object.
Signal Flare
When you shoot a burst of fire high into the air, you
do it. It hovers above you for minutes for everyone
within miles to see. Anyone who has seen you use your
fire knows that it is yours.
Infernal Weapon
Your fire gains an additional trait.
Burning Hearts
When you gaze intensely into someone’s eyes, you
may ask their player “what fuels the flames of your
desire?” They’ll answer with the truth, even if the
character does not know or would otherwise keep this
hidden.
Don’t Blink
When you stand your ground before a creature of
fire, such as an elemental or a dragon, roll+CHA. On a
10+ you have earned its begrudging respect and it will
not attack you (for now). On a 7-9 it won’t attack you
for now but it grows impatient. The GM will tell you
what to do to be spared its wrath.
From Hell’s Heart
Whenever you manipulate fire, you may bring forth
the black fires of hell itself. This hellfire gives off no
heat and ignores armour, scorching the soul itself.
Those creatures without souls are left unharmed.
Twice as Bright, Half as Long
While channeling your fire, you may treat one of your
missed rolls as a 7-9, or a 7-9 as a 10+. Tell the GM what
you’ve lost to make this come to pass; (an emotion, a
memory, etc). It’s gone forever, right now. The flames
will then make a request of you (the GM will say
exactly what). You may not use this ability again until
you have fulfilled their wishes, and refusing to do so
may have dire consequences
Eye for Destruction
At any time, ask the GM “What here is flammable?”
They will answer truthfully.
Impressive Scars
CHA conditions or debilities don’t lower your stat.
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
Blades of Chaos (requires Infernal Weapon)
Your fire gains an additional trait, and has the Messy
and Forceful tags when wielded as a weapon.
By Fire Be Purged
When you burn away a magical enchantment,
compulsion or curse, roll+CHA. On a 10+ it is destroyed.
On a 7-9 choose one:
• The effect is only cleaned partially or temporarily.
• The cleansing has left its mark on its subject (PCs
take a Condition)
• The cleansing draws unwanted attention from the
true source of the magic.
Watch the World Burn
When you channel the flames and call down a
firestorm, tell the GM what you’re sacrificing and
roll+CHA. The sky open ups and fire pours like rain
within an area proportionate to your sacrifice;
everyone and everything in the area takes damage
as appropriate. On a 10+, you can extinguish the
storm with a little effort. On a 7-9, the fires rage out
of control, spreading and dusting where they are
carried by wind and weather. On a 6-, something cruel,
intelligent, and hungry comes with the storm.
Dragon of the West (requires Agni Kai)
When you Defy Danger against fire or heat, on a 12+
choose one:
• You turn the attack back on itself (if applicable)
• You restore your own flame from theirs (any -1s to
Firebrand are removed)
21
Paladin Background
Pilgrim (+2 CHA, +1 WIS)
Choose one Ask
Who Here...
Hell awaits. An eternity of torment in fire or ice or whatever best suits the sins ...behaves in a way that I consider misguided or dangerous?
of the damned throngs of this world. All that stands between the pits of that You overcame incredible odds to find your strength,
grim torture and salvation is you. Only you. Yours is the gift of righteousness ...has stood by me in battle and has my complete trust?
but you still trust and treasure those you care for.
and virtue—of justice, of Vision, too. So guide these fools, paladin. Take up
...do I believe is the bravest of souls?
your holy cause and bring salvation to the wastrel world. Vae victis.
When you restore someone with Healing Hands, you
...do I respect the beliefs of, even if I don’t agree with them?
restore 2 additional HP.
...is keeping something from me?
Name Examples: Thaddeus, Augustine, Regulus, Octavia, Brom,
Equipment: Healing Potion ...have I healed before?
Kyra, an common name, a unusual name, a peasant name Drive: Endanger yourself to protect or help someone ...was once considered my enemy?

Look As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc

Hero (+2 STR, +1 CHA)
You are dauntless in your noble pursuits, and you will
stop at nothing to see them done.
Drive When you accomplish a notable deed in pursuit of
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move
a Virtue or Quest, gain Advantage Forward.
Answer
You start with a symbol of your authority. What is it and
how did you earn it?
What authority rules over these lands?
How have you lived up to your vows? How have you failed?
What great evil has this region faced before?

HP / 22 Armor Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses) Is there something particular in your past that drives you to
fight the good fight?
Drive: Lead another to act despite fear or doubt.
What are you looking to atone for?

Damage: d6+1 Judge (+2 WIS, +1 DEX)

Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order.
Whether through lawful appointment or public
STR DEX respect, you are the open hand of redemption, and
the clenched fist of punishment.
When a Paladin move asks you to roll +CHA or
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility when you Parley on honest terms, you may roll
+WIS instead.
Equipment: Crossbow (Near, Distinctive, Reload)
INT WIS Drive: Judge a helpless enemy, either denying them
mercy or setting them free.
Are any of the local authorities corrupt?
What was your first job here, and why do they want you
back?
What vow brings you here now? Why?
What enemies or rivals have you made in your pursuit of
virtues?
Equipment
You start with:
• A symbol of your authority
• Bandages (3 Uses, Slow)
• Scale Armor (2-Armor, Clumsy)
• The equipment from your Background

Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
Choose one:
• Halberd (Melee, Hefty, +1 Damage)
• Sword (Close/Melee)

CHA LEVEL Starts at 1

Choose two:
• Shield (+1 Armor)
• 1 Wealth
Condition/Debility XP • A Healing Potion
Starts at 0 • Some Pipeleaf (6 Uses)
• Flash of Whiskey (2 Uses)
22
Starting Moves You get all of these
Devout Virtue
You adhere to a strict moral code that grants you power
beyond that wielded by normal folk. Choose two of the
following vows:
• Justice: Suffer not a crime unpunished. When you
question a defeated, captured, or willing individual,
you can stare into their eyes to know if they are lying
or not.
• Mercy: Let no innocent creature suffer in your
presence. Whenever you heal someone else, you are
also healed for half the amount (rounded up).
• Courage: Refuse to let those who have power abuse
it. As long as you stand in defense of another, they
will not be targeted or harmed.
• Purity: Abstain from mortal pleasures and finery. You
are immune to all mortal poisons and diseases.
• Loyalty: Remain true to your word and to your allies.
When you speak the truth, none can doubt you. They
might deny what you say, but in their hearts they
recognise the truth and conviction of your words.
• Penitence: Do not needlessly kill intelligent
creatures. When trying to prevent a conflict, roll with
Advantage.
I Am The Law
When you give an NPC an order based on your authority,
roll+CHA. On a 7+ they either flee, attack, or follow your
order. On a 7-9 choose one, on a 10+ choose two:
• If they do anything other than follow your order, gain
Advantage Forward with them.
• They reveal a piece of relevant information to you
(unwittingly or otherwise) .
• They cannot flee.
Armed and Ready
You ignore the Clumsy tag on armor you’re wearing.
Healing Hands
When you treat someone with medicine, mark off a use
of the medicine as normal and choose one additional
effect:
• Ignore the Slow tag
• Temporarily ignore a condition until next rest
• Heal one disease (Poultices & Herbs only)
Chains of Faith
Whenever you fail to act in accordance to one of your
Devout Virtues, depending on the severity of your actions,
you may lose access to that vow and its associated benefits
until you atone for your misdeeds. The GM will tell you
what you must do.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Inspiring Bravery
When you charge headfirst into danger, you and
those who join you each gain Advantage forward.
Rotten Stench
Whenever you Discern Realities about outlaws or
evil creatures, roll with Advantage.
Quest
When you dedicate yourself to a mission through
prayer, meditation, ritual cleansing, etc., state what
you set out to do (such as discover the truth about
someone or something, or slay a blight on the land).
The GM will give you a blessing (a voice that transcends
language, an invulnerability to bladed weapons, etc);
stay true to your goal, and this blessing remains yours.
When you complete your Quest, mark XP.
Booming Timbre
When you raise your voice, it carries far and cuts
through even the cacaphony of battle. You also have
Advantage when Commanding a Follower militarily.
Back To The Abyss
You deal +2 damage to undead, demons and
similar foul horrors, and your attacks can fully affect
incorporeal creatures.
Divine Favor
Your virtuous acts have earned you favor by a deity.
Gain access to the Cleric’s Divine Agent and Invocation
moves. Learn 1 Invocation now. You cannot learn
Invocations when you regularly Level Up.
Ride For Ruin!
When you give an inspiring speech to your allies
before facing a dire threat, roll+CHA. On a 7+, each
ally takes 2 Inspiration. On a 7-9, the GM gains 2 Fear.
On a 6-, the GM gains 3 Fear. During the battle, your
allies can spend their Inspiration at any time, 1-for-1, to:
• Act fearlessly against terrifying foes or odds.
• Use ‘Tis Just a Flesh Wound without taking a
condition
• Make their attack ignore armour
During the battle, the GM can spend Fear at any time,
1-for-1, to:
• Have an ally roll with disadvantage
• Have an enemy inflict a condition
Divine Spirit (requires Divine Favor)
Learn another Cleric Invocation.
Judge, Jury
When you use I Am the Law, on a 12+, all three choices
occur.
Virtuous
Take another vow from Devout Virtue.
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
Absolute Authority (requires Booming Timbre)
When you roll a 12+ to Command, your follower
transcends their moment of fear and doubt and carry
out your order with particular effectiveness.
Hunting the Grail (requires Quest)
When you Quest, receive two Blessings instead of one.
Bloody Aegis
When you use ‘Tis But a Flesh Wound, you ignore the
damage entirely.
Smite Evil
When you condemn an outlaw or evil creature for
their misdeeds, your weapon is engulfed in a searing,
magical light. Your attacks against them and their
associates are Brutal.
Executioner (requires Judge, Jury)
When you use I Am The Law and your target chooses
to attack, you may immediately and automatically
deal your damage to them.
Healthy Distrust
Whenever the dark, corrupt, or chaotic magic
wielded by your foes causes you to Defy Danger,
treat any result of a 6- as a 7-9.
Divine Champion (requires Divine Favor)
Learn another Cleric Invocation.
There Are No Chains On Me
When you go out of your way to act against one of
your Devout Virtues, instead of losing access to its
ability you alter and change the virtue and ability to
a new one that fits how you acted. It is up to you how
‘virtuous’ this new ability is at all.
When you change playbooks, you can keep these
altered Virtues if you wish.
Once you have altered a virtue you may no longer
take any more paladin moves as Advancements.
23
Ranger Background Choose one

Raised By Wolves (+2 DEX, +1 CHA)

Guide. Hunter. Creature of the wilds. You are these things and more. Your
time in the wilderness may have been solitary until now, but the call of some
greater thing—call it fate if you like—has cast your lot with these folk. Brave,
they may be. But only you know the secrets of the spaces between. Without
you, they’d be lost. Blaze a trail through the blood and dark, strider.
Name Examples: Throndir, Jonah, Ysolt, Dianna, Celion, Eloise,
Ask
Who Here...
...have I guided through the wilderness before?
You’ve lived with the critters and creatures of nature
...has proven to be a friend of nature?
just as much, if not more, than your own kind.
...needs me to teach them about life in the wilds?
You can speak with and understand animals and
...has the least respect for nature?
other wild things, and you begin play with a trusted
...is being hunted?
animal companion (see the Follower Asset).

Equipment: Poultices & Herbs (2 Uses, Slow)

Gendrig, an animal name, a posh name, a nickname

Drive: Alienate someone by prioriting the natural

Answer
Look world What wild frontier is closest to this place?
(If applicable) How did you meet your animal companion?
As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc
What was the most dangerous thing you ever tracked or
Forester (+2 DEX, +1 WIS) hunted?

Drive You are a protector of the great wilderness, and have What is the nearest danger that lurks nearby? What signs
or impressions of its presence mark the land?
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move learned to always take precautions.
What lands do you range?
When you Flashback, spend 1 less Prep. When did you earn your weapon?
HP / 22 Armor Equipment: Trap Kit (Slow, Dangerous) What animal leathers or skins to you wear?

Drive: Reveal to someone the beauty of nature

Damage: d6+1 Equipment
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order. Warden (+2 WIS, +1 STR) You start with:
• Leather Armor (1-Armor)
STR DEX You have devoted yourself to hunting the unnatural
• Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
things that skulk around in the darkness of the wilds.
• The equipment from your Background
Your intuition helps you to track danger, from any
distance.
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility Choose one:
When you follow the track or trail of someone • A Pair of keen-edged Axes (Close/Melee), deadly when
used together (+1 Damage)
whose trail isn’t cold, you find them quickly and they
• A Spear (Melee/Near) and Shield (+1 Armor)
don’t know they were followed. Tracks or trails left by
• A Fine Bow (Near/Far, Reload)
INT WIS bleeding creatures never go cold to you.

Equipment: Flask of Whiskey (2 Uses) Choose two:

• Healing Potion
Drive: Put an end to a dangerous threat
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility • Bag of Books (5 Uses)
• Enchanted Arrows (3 Uses)
• Some Pipeleaf (6 Uses)
• Bandages (3 Uses, Slow)
CHA LEVEL Starts at 1

Condition/Debility XP Starts at 0

24
Starting Moves You get all of these
Bestiary Knowledge
You are learned about the natural world. When you
Spout Lore about the wilds and its creatures, or about
monsters, you roll with Advantage.
When you first encounter a beast or monster with which
you are familiar (your call), you may ask the GM any one
question about it, and they’ll tell you the truth.
Citizen of the Wild
When you Undertake a Journey and act as a guide,
roll+WIS instead of +nothing.
Ready For Anything
You are always prepared for the unexpected. Start with 4
Prep. You can spend Prep 1-for-1 to:
• Ignore armor on an attack
• Roll with Advantage when Defying Danger
When you Settle In, reset Prep to 4.
Flashback
When you declare how you prepared for something in
advance, spend Prep as determined by the GM using the
guideline below:
• 1 Prep - Ordinary action, easy opportunity, no rolls
required, a short time ago
• 2 Prep - Complex action, unlikely opportunity, one roll
required, some time ago
• 3 Prep - Elaborate action, special opportunity, several
rolls required, a long time ago
When you roll as part of a flashback, the GM may choose
to cost extra Prep as an alternative consequence. If you’re
already at 0 Prep, take an appropriate condition.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Living Off The Land
You are accustomed to the hunter’s way of life. Eating
wildberries, hunting for meat, trading furs, and so
forth. It costs 0 Wealth for you to lead a Rudimentary
lifestyle.
Keep Them Busy
When you assault and harass a foe to provoke, lure
or confuse them, roll+DEX. On a 10+, choose 2. On a
7-9, choose 1.
• An ally gains Advantage Forward against them
• You avoid their counterattack
• You force them to move where you want them
Scout Ahead
When you go off on your own to explore a dangerous
area, roll+DEX. On a 7+, you make it back safely; the
GM will describe what you encountered. On a 10+,
choose 3. On a 7-9, choose 2:
• Ask the GM one question as if you rolled a 7-9 on
Discerned Realities (can choose multiple times)
• You bring something interesting or useful back
• Gain 1 Prep due to preparations made there.
• You got away clean, rousing no suspicion.
On a 6-, you can still choose 1, but if you do choose one:
• You make it back, but trouble is hot on your heels.
• You’re missing in action; details to be revealed
Favored Quarry
When you declare a specific type of enemy (goblins,
mages, ghosts, etc) to be your Favored Quarry, say
how their kind wronged you and what revenge you
plan to unleash in return. Until you get your revenge in
full you cannot declare another Favored Quarry. Your
Favored Quarry:
• can never take you by surprise
• and is always treated as a creature and monster
for the purposes of moves
• takes +2 damage from all of your attacks
Big Game Hunter
There is always some creature or monster nearby that
needs to be dealt with. Whenever you like, tell the
GM there is a monster nearby. Then answer one of the
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
two questions on each point below. The GM will use
the other questions in secret.
• How big is it? / How many are there?
• Where is its lair? / What are its defenses?
• What can it do? / What valuables might it have?
When you show authorities proof that the monster is
dealt with, gain Wealth equal to your WIS.
Animal Whisperer
When you approach a dangerous animal carefully,
presenting yourself as no threat, roll+WIS. On a 10+
it watches you carefully, but will not attack unless
provoked. On a 7-9 you must offer it something it
wants (food, prey, territory).
You Activated My...
When you set up a Trap Kit into a trap, it is not
hazardous for you. You can maneuver within and
around it without any danger. Additionally, gain
Advantage against any target while it is caught in a
trap that you set.
Tools of the Trade
When you know of a specific weapon, tool, or
substance that will aid in the slaying of a creature,
you can carefully unpack your arsenal and start
searching. If it’s relatively cheap (1 Wealth) and
common, you have it; if it’s expensive, rare, or unique,
you must spend 2 Prep to have it on you.
Trackless Strider
You know the lay of the land. When you move with
care and calm, you make no noise and leave no trace
of your passage. You have Advantage when rolling for
Chase and Escape in the wilderness.
Athelas
When you search for makeshift or foraged medicine
and treat someone with it, roll+WIS. On a 7+, you are
able to heal them for 1d6 (Slow). On a 10+ you also gain
1 use of Poultices and Herbs from the surplus.
Know Your Enemy
When you Spout lore about creatures, monsters or
the wild, roll with WIS.
One Shot, One Kill
When you Coup De Gras an enemy from range, you
cannot miss.
Prepared For Battle
When you enter a battle, gain 1 Prep.
Knowledge Is Power
When you Spout Lore or Discern Realities about a
creature or monster, on a 12+ gain 1 Prep.
Ready For Everything
You may spend 1 Prep to gain Advantage on any roll,
not just Defy Danger.
Backup Plans
Your Prep resets to 6 instead of 4.
Grisly Trophy
When you slay a dangerous creature, you may
impart some of its power into a trophy (horn, claw,
skull, etc). The GM will give you one nonmagical move
the creature had; while you wear this trophy, you may
perform that move by Defying Danger first. You may
only wear and benefit from one trophy at a time, but
you can give them to your allies to use if you so wish.
25
Thief Background Choose one

Criminal (+2 DEX, +1 STR)

Ask
Who Here...
You count your coins and smile to yourself—this is the thrill above all. Without ...has my back when things go wrong?
you, every one of your companions would have been dissected by a flying You’ve lead what is easily described as a “colorful”
guillotine or poisoned straight to death by some ancient needle trap. So let ...have I worked with before?
life. And just when you think your past is truly behind
them complain about your misdeeds. When you’re done with all this you’ll
you, it regularly rears its ugly head. ...knows incriminating details about me?
toast their heroes’ graves. From your castle. Full of gold. You rogue.
...knows where I stashed some loot?
When you Spout Lore or Discern Realities about
...doesn’t trust me? Why?
Name Examples: Dominic, Kieran, Lila, Scars, Riley, Raven, Marlow,
criminal activities, roll with Advantage.
...do I not trust? Why?
Equipment: Two doses of your Poison (see Poisoner)
Felix, a sly name, a grimy name, a bitter name ...is planning a job with me?
Drive: Cause trouble by taking unnecessary risks

Look
As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc
Treasure Hunter (+2 DEX, +1 WIS)
You fancy yourself a delver of lost treasure. Usually,
Drive you come up empty-handed. But those other times
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move (rare as they might be) make it all worthwhile.
When you Defy Danger from Traps, roll with
HP / 18 Armor Advantage. Additionally, when you Discern
Realities, no matter the outcome you may also ask, “Is
there treasure here that I don’t know about?”
Damage: d6+1 Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order. Drive: Increase your wealth at someone else’s expense
Answer
You start with a valuable treasure. What is it, who did you
steal it from, and do they know about it?
Are you part of a thieves’ guild? If so, why?
What have you come here to steal?
What opportunity is there for excitement or treasure
nearby that most people are afraid of attempting?
Who do you know that might hold a grudge against the
people here? Why?
Who is someone that you are certain you can trust?
What’s the most valuable thing here, and where is it
hidden?

STR DEX
Equipment
Trickster (+2 CHA, +1 DEX)
You start with:
Deceptions, half-truths and scams are your speciality. • 2 Wealth
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility
You might be more comfortable in another’s skin • A Treasure (Valuable)
than your own. • Leather Armor (1-armor)
• The equipment from your Background
When Defying Danger to pass yourself off as
INT WIS someone else, roll with Advantage.
Choose one:
Equipment: A Disguise Kit (5 Uses, costs 2 Wealth) • Wicked Knife (Close, 1-Piercing)
• Rapier (Melee, 2-Piercing)
Drive: Get someone to act on false information
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility • Fine Bow (Near/Far, Reload)

Choose two:
• 1 Wealth
CHA LEVEL Starts at 1
• Flask of Whiskey (2 Uses)
• Pipeleaf (6 Uses)
• A Poison of Your Choice

Condition/Debility XP Starts at 0
• Hidden Knives (Close/Near, Infinite)
• Trap Kit (Dangerous, Slow)

26
Starting Moves You get all of these
Poisoner
You’ve mastered the care and use of a poison. Choose a
poison from the list below; that poison is not dangerous for
you to use, and when you have time, material, and safety to
brew, you can make more of it.
• Oil of Taggit: Must be consumed. The target falls into a
light sleep.
• Bloodweed: Requires contact. The target deals -2
Damage with attacks until they are cured.
• Goldenroot: Must be consumed. The target treats the
next person they see as a trusted ally, until proved
otherwise.
• Serpent’s Tears: Requires contact. The target takes +2
Damage from attacks until they are cured.
Danger Sense
When you’re certain something’s wrong and you scan
your surroundings, ask the GM “Is there a trap or ambush
here? If so, where would it come from?” They will answer
honestly, and you roll with Advantage to thwart the trap or
ambush before it can be brought to bear.
Tricks of the Trade
When you set about to steal something or break into
something locked and secure, roll+DEX. On a 7+, you do it.
On a 10+, choose 2. On a 7-9, choose 1.
• You work quickly, without much time or effort.
• You work quietly, discreetly, drawing little notice.
• You work cleanly, without cost or leaving a trail.
Dirty Fighting
When you have Advantage on a Hack and Slash, or
when you treat Coup De Gras as a Hack & Slash, you may
choose to roll+DEX instead of STR.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Impeccable Grace
When you Defy Danger using DEX, you can treat a 6-
as a 7-9. On a 7-9, you can choose to have something
or someone else, maybe your equipment but certainly
not you personally, suffer the consequences instead.
Smooth Criminal
You always look good. Even if you’re wet, dirty,
beat-up, or otherwise disheveled, you still manage
to look damn good. When Parley with someone
who admires your impeccable good-looks and
considerable charms, it counts as leverage and you
roll with Advantage.
Deep Pockets
Once per session, you can pull out something from
your pockets that you forgot about until just now, as if
you had used Adventuring Gear. When you conceal a
small object on your person, no one can find it unless
you are bound, stripped, and thoroughly searched. You
can conceal up to DEX items this way.
Poison Master
When you have time to gather materials and a safe
place to brew, you can create up to three doses of
any poison. Describe the effects you’d like your poison
to have, and the GM will give you one or more of the
following caveats:
• You’ll need ________ to make it.
• It will only work under specific circumstances.
• The best you can manage is a weaker version.
• It’ll take a while for the effects to manifest.
• It’ll have obvious or undesirable side effects.
• It’s Dangerous for anyone to handle - even you
Rooftop Routes
When you Escape, roll with Advantage.
Ace Up Your Sleeve
When you challenge someone to a game of chance
and they accept, roll+DEX. On a 7+, you decide the
outcome of the game. On a 7-9 the GM chooses one:
• Your opponent later realises that you cheated
• Your opponent challenges you to “double or
nothing” and watches you very closely
• Someone outside the game gets suspicious or
takes offense. You’re not welcome here anymore.
Upsell
When you try to make something appear Valuable
when it’s not, or exaggerate your own power to seem
Terrifying or Magical, roll+CHA. On a 10+, you do it, no
problem. On a 7-9, you do it, but the GM will offer you
two options between suspicion, danger, or cost.
Shoot First
You are never caught off-guard or surprised. You
always act first, even if someone gets the drop on you.
Case The Joint
When you scout out a location with the intention of
breaking in and stealing something, ask the GM as
many of the following questions as you like:
• What is my best way in and out?
• What’s the greatest danger here?
• What’s out of place here?
• Where do they keep the valuables?
You and your allies roll with Advantage when acting
on the answers.
Hideout
You have a headquarters, secret lair, or safe haven that
you call your own - a decrepit library, perhaps, or an
abandoned keep. Detail it, and choose 3 features:
• It is carefully hidden, concealed from prying eyes.
• It is laden with traps and secret passageways.
• It has secured walls, windows, and doors.
• A week’s worth of food and water.
• A workshop and tools.
• A library of old books and tomes.
• 5 uses each of Adventuring Gear and Bandages.
• A handful of skilled assistants or associates.
​When you utilise your Hideout’s features,​roll with
Advantage.
Poison Expert
Gain mastery over two more poisons from Poisoner.
Trust Me
As long as you show a friendly face, anyone not
already actively hostile towards you will treat you as
a friend, until proven otherwise. Anything you say will
be accepted as open honesty unless hard evidence is
given to the contrary.
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
Tall Tales
When you tell an outrageous or grandiose lie or
falsehood that nobody in their right mind would
believe, roll+CHA. On a 7+, everyone believes you
anyway, at least until they see or hear something that
convinces them otherwise. On a 7-9, they’ll be fooled,
but not for long.
You can’t Tell Tall Tales to people who are actively
hostile or suspicious towards you. Other players are
always suspicious of you, because you’re the Thief.
Lair (requires Hideout)
Your Hideout gains an additional three features.
Evasion (requires Impeccable Grace)
When you Defy Danger, on a 12+, you transcend the
danger. You not only do what you set out to do, but
the GM will offer you a better outcome, a moment of
true beauty, or a show of unearthly grace.
Lurker
You have Advantage when Defying Danger to move
or act quietly, and you’ll generally go unnoticed by
NPCs unless you are in a hostile area or draw attention
to yourself. Whenever you look around for a hiding
place, the GM will tell you where the best place is.
27
Wizard Background
Sage (+2 WIS, +1 STR)
Choose one Ask
Who Here...
You’ve spent so very long poring over those tomes of yours. For what? For ...have I forseen the destiny of?
power. What else is there? The power to boil a man’s blood in his veins. To call Whether it be due to birth, circumstance, or utter
the thundering sky and the churning earth. To shrug off the rules the world ...do I need to teach about how magic really works?
enigma, magic is as natural as breath to you.
holds so dear. Let them cast their fearful whispers and sidelong glances. Who
...is keeping an important secret from me?
among them can hurl fireballs from their eyes? Yeah. Didn’t think so.
Your SPELL stat is WIS.
...do I believe will play an important part in the future?
Whenever you’d like, ask the GM “what here is ...believes my powers are evil?
Name Examples: Starlight, Galadir, Mortimer, Xeno, Draft, Steburis,
magical?” They will tell you truth. ...trusts in my power completely?
an alliterative name, an alien name, a punny name Equipment: A Weapon Worth 1 Wealth (You Choose)

Drive: Alienate someone due to your clear superiority.

Look As much detail as you’d like, be it species, features, etc
Answer
Scholar (+2 INT, +1 WIS) What dire omen has been revealed to you?
What did you lose due to your magic?
Drive You’ve earned your power through sleepless years of
study, effort, and exploitation. What magical mystery have you been yearning to solve for
Based on Background, see the Epiphany peripheral move years now?
Your SPELL stat is INT. What strange vision haunts your dreams?

HP / 16 Armor You get twice as many uses out of Bags of Books. Are you or anyone nearby in danger when you wield
magic? How? Is it avoidable?
When you Spout Lore using a Book or Bag of Books,
You begin with Spellcasting Tools or Oddments. What are
the GM will always give you a second interesting (but they? What do they look like?
Damage: d6 not necessarily useful) piece of information about the
subject of your interests.
Choose your Background, then in write the rest as +1, 0, -1 in any order.
Equipment: Adventuring Gear (5 Uses)
Equipment
STR DEX You start with:
Drive: Uncover mysterious, ancient or magical secrets.
• 1 Wealth
• Bag of Books (5 Uses)
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility Sorcerer (+2 CHA, +1 DEX) • Spellcasting Tools or Oddments
• The equipment from your Background
You learned your magic from something - or
someone - else. Who are they? What do you owe Choose one:
them? The GM will tell you their agenda.
INT WIS • Leather Amor (1-Armor)
• Peculiar Robes and a Healing Potion
Your SPELL stat is CHA.

When you break the token of your patron’s favor, Choose two:
Condition/Debility Condition/Debility your patron appears immediately before you to • Staff (Melee, Hefty)
bargain. Tell it what you want and it’ll tell you what • Poultices and Herbs (2 Uses)
it wants in return. If you give it what it wants in both • Firecrackers (Distinctive, 3 Uses)
word and spirit, then the token of your patron’s favor • Crossbow (Near, Distinctive, Reload)
CHA LEVEL Starts at 1
will be renewed. • 1 Wealth
• Pipeleaf (6 Uses)
Equipment: Flask of Whiskey (2 Uses) and a token of

XP
your patron’s favor (what does it look like?)
Condition/Debility
Starts at 0 Drive: Advance your patron’s agenda, or deflect or
evade an inquiry into your doings
28
Starting Moves You get all of these
Cast a Spell
When you harness your magical talents, ​choose a spell
you know and roll+SPELL. On a 10+, you successfully evoke
the spell and its effects come to pass. On a 7-9, the spell is
still successful, but choose one consequence from the list
below.
• The spell’s Risk comes to pass.
• The spell’s magic drains you. You take -1 Ongoing to
Cast a Spell for the rest of the session.
• Using it puts you in danger or draws unwanted
attention, the GM will say how.
While one spell is ongoing, you can’t use another. You can
end an ongoing spell whenever you wish.
You start with 2 spells known. When you Advance, you can
choose to Learn a New Spell instead of the other choices.
Prestidigitation
You have the power to easily invoke minor magical
cantrips without penalty. Slowly moving small objects,
creating minor obvious illusions, generating mild heat and
sources of light, and other similar feats are all easily within
your power without having to roll.
Ritual
When you want to achieve a powerful magical effect, ​
tell the GM what you’re trying to achieve. Ritual effects
are always possible, but the GM will give you 1 to 4 of the
Following conditions (separated by “ANDs” and “ORs”):
• It’s going to take days/weeks/months.
• First you must ________.
• You’ll need help from ________.
• It will require ________.
• The effect will be unreliable or limited.
• You and your allies will risk danger from ________.
• You’ll have to disenchant ________ to do it.
When you perform a Ritual while accessing a source of
great magical power​, you may ignore one requirement of
your choice.
Advanced Moves When you level up you may
choose to learn one of these
Dispel Magic
When you spend time unravelling an ongoing magical
effect, roll+SPELL. On a 10+ choose 2. On a 7-9 choose 1.
• The magic doesn’t return after a short time.
• A weaker version of the magic doesn’t linger.
• The unravelled magic doesn’t lash out harmfully
Ritual examples: Teleporting to a distant location; communicating between the planes; locating or viewing items, creatures, or places from afar, imbuing an object with magical power.
Counterspell
When you attempt to counter a spell as it is being
cast, roll+SPELL. On a 10+, the spell is successfully
countered. On a 7-9 choose one.
• The spell is countered, but you are left vulnerable.
• The spell is countered, but the unraveled magic
causes some collateral damage or side effects.
• The spell is only partially countered, a weaker
version manifests instead.
Wisdom of the Ages
When another PC comes to you for advice and you
honestly tell them what you think is best, they roll
with Advantage to do as you suggest.
When you give sound advice to a receptive NPC,
roll+CHA. On a 10+, they follow your advice to the
best of their ability. On a 7-9, they stumble or hesitate
unless you back them up or lead the way.
Showoff
When you attempt to wow an audience with a
display of your powers, roll+SPELL. On a 10+, choose 2.
On a 7-9, choose 1.
• You have their full and undivided attention.
• You draw a large and interested crowd.
• You instill fear, admiration, or both in those that
watch.
Logical Deduction
You can choose to roll Discern Realities and Scrutinize
Someone with INT instead of WIS. You can choose to
roll Spout Lore with WIS instead of INT.
Arcane Ward
You gain +2 armor against any magical attacks,
and allies within a few paces have +1 armor against
magical attacks.
Ritual Master
When trying to perform a ritual, after the GM tells you
the requirements you can choose one of them and
veto it.
Equivalent Exchange
When you use your own blood as part of casting a
spell, suffer 1d6-1 damage (ignoring armor) to roll with
Advantage.
Familiar
You have a magical companion (see the Followers
page). This companion has an additional descriptor:
Magical: You may use your familiar in place of yourself
for the purposes of spell effects and requiresments
(touch, sight, range, etc.)
Sanctum
When you have time, arcane materials, and a safe
space, you can create your own place of power for the
Ritual move. Describe to the GM what kind of power it
is and how you’re binding it to this place. In return, the
GM will tell you one kind of creature that will have an
interest in your workings.
Mastermind
Whenever you Discern Realities or Scrutinize
Someone, on a 7+ you can ask an additional question.
Floo Network
When you Seek Out someone of a magical nature,
roll with Advantage. Furthermore, on a 7-9 you choose
instead of the GM.
Advanced Moves (lvl 10+)
Even Further Beyond
Choose a single spell. It always has its Greater effect
by default. Furthermore, if the Greater effect would
be invoked on this spell then its effects increase even
more so, the GM will say how.
Classical Mastery (cannot learn Wild Mastery)
Whenever you Cast a Spell, on a 12+ the spell’s Greater
effect is invoked.
Wild Mastery (cannot learn Classical Mastery)
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10+ you may treat it as a
7-9 to invoke the spell’s Greater effect.
Assimilation (requires Dispel Magic or Counterspell)
When you Dispel Magic or Counterspell, on a 12+
you absorb and store the magical effect for later. The
magic can be released like Casting a Spell, after which
the stored magic dissipates.
When you release stored magic immediately after
absorbing it, such as at the one who tried to cast it
at you, roll with Advantage. You can only have one
magical effect stored at a time..
29
Wizard Spells
Sleep
Up to 3 foes you can see fall asleep. Only creatures
capable of sleeping are affected, and they will awake if
disturbed (loud noises, jostling, pain, etc).
Risk: The effect is fleeting and they will awaken soon.
Greater: The spell effects another 2 targets
Fireball
You evoke a mighty ball of flame that envelops your
target and everyone near it, inflicting 1d6+3 damage
(fiery, area).
Risk: The blast effects either much more or much less
than anticipated, the GM will say.
Greater: The fireball deals +1d6 damage.
Darkness (Ongoing)
An area you designate is blanketed by supernatural
darkness and shadow while the spell is ongoing.
Torches, lanterns, and other mundane lights within the
area are also snuffed out.
Risk: Something is summoned with the darkness; the
GM will say.
Greater: Even magical lights cannot pierce the
darkness.
Entangle (Ongoing)
You cause a close group of creatures to become
ensnared by roots, webs, or magical bindings. Until you
release them, they cannot move across distances.
Risk: The spell stops them, but only for a few moments.
Greater: The snare also deals 1d6 damage via thorns,
choking, poison, etc.
Conjure Guardian (Ongoing)
You conjure a being of magical force. By default it
is Reckless, has +1 to all stats, 5 HP, 1d6+1 damage,
access to only basic moves, and looks like a ghostly
humanoid. Choose two:
• Powerful: +2 Armor and +1 Damage
• Adaptable: Takes the form of a previously-
encountered creature
• Skilled: It has +2 to a specific stat (you can choose
this multiple times)
• Disciplined: It is not Reckless and will follow your
commands intelligently.
The construct persists until it is destroyed or dismissed,
or until you conjure another.
Risk: The construct is resisting you, and so only has 1
HP before it returns to its home.
Greater: You can make two additional choices.
Mirror Image
You conjure an illusory duplicate of yourself that
mimics your actions. The next time you are attacked,
the attack hits the illusion instead of you, and the
illusion has a 50% chance of being destroyed. You can
only have one mirror image at a time.
Risk: The illusion is flawed; it is guaranteed to be
destroyed after taking the first hit.
Greater: The Mirror Image has a 25% chance to be
destroyed instead of 50%.
Invisibility
You or an ally you touch becomes undetectable by
sight for the scene or until they attack.
Risk: Either one creature can still see them clear as
day, or anyone scrutinous enough can still pierce the
illusion; the GM will say.
Greater: The effect gains the Ongoing tag, lasting for as
long as you maintain it, even while attacking.
Immunity (Ongoing)
Name one specific source of harm, such as burning,
cutting, lightning, poisonous gas, or mundane
projectiles; for as long as this spell is ongoing, you are
immune to harm from that source (but not to any
secondary effects; choking smoke, etc).
Risk: The defense is only partial; instead of immunity,
you only take half damage/effect.
Greater: You are also immune to the secondary effects
of the source of harm you name.
Polymorph (Ongoing)
Your touch transforms a willing creature into another
mundane creature; work with the GM to determine
the stats, adaptations, and major weaknesses of the
creature’s new form.
Risk: Either the form is unstable, the creature’s mind
will be altered too, or the form has an unintended and
unforeseen quality - the GM will say.
Greater: The change can be made permanent,
although only one such permanent polymorph can
exist at a time.
Spellblade (Ongoing)
You conjure a weapon of pure magic, describe it. While
this spell is ongoing, your damage is increased to d6+2
and you ignore armor.
Risk: The weapon’s magic is unstable, and doesn’t
ignore armor.
Greater: The weapon also has 2 traits from the
Signature Weapon enhancements.
Magic Missile (Ongoing)
You shoot forth bolts of pure magical energy. (Near,
Distinctive, 2-Piercing). While this is Ongoing, you can
Volley by rolling+SPELL instead of +DEX.
Risk: The missiles don’t pierce armor.
Greater: Your missiles gain the Far and Forceful tags.
Charm
A creature you touch is bewitched into treating you
as a trusted friend for about an hour, and you have
Advantage Forward with them for as long as the spell
lasts. Once the spell ends, they know full well the
effects of your magic.
Risk: The entranced creature, though your friend,
still knows better than to trust you; you don’t take
Advantage Forward with them.
Greater: You may either take Advantage Ongoing with
them instead of Forward, or have them not remember
the effects of your magic when the spell ends.
Visions Through Time
As you cast this spell, you gaze into a reflective surface
to see into the depths of time. The GM will reveal the
details of an Ominous Force to you - a bleak event that
will come to pass without your intervention - as well as
something useful about how you could interfere with
the danger’s outcome.
Risk: You receive two pieces of information; one true,
the other false. The GM will not tell you which is which.
Greater: You also take 2 Preparation (spent to roll with
advantage) towards influencing the danger’s outcome.
Mind Meld
You form a telepathic bond with a creature you
touch, allowing you to share thoughts, emotions, and
memories. You can only maintain one suchconnection
at a time, and may dismiss it whenever you like.
Risk: When one of you takes damage so does the
other.
Greater: You can also share vision and other senses
through the link.
Forcecage (Ongoing)
A single foe is held in an unbreakable cage of
transparent magical force. While the spell is ongoing,
the caged creature can hear your thoughts and you
cannot leave sight of the cage.
Risk: You cannot take any other actions (besides
dismissing the forcecage) while the spell is ongoing.
Greater: The cage is large enough to encompass those
within a few paces of the target.
30
Game Master
The Game Master is an important role, and can
be a whole lot of fun! Most of your time will be
spent describing a situation to one or more
PCs, usually followed by “What do you do?”.
‘Fire!’ the Inquisitor shrieks, and a volley of arrows fly
towards you. What do you do?
The volcano explodes in fire as Mallum Bloodscale flies
out of it, trailing smoke from his scale wings. He’s heading
straight towards the village. What do you do?
Your head sears in pain as the Gilded Empress starts
sifting through your memories, searching for one in
particular. What do you do?
After the PC’s answer, and moves are resolved,
you describe how the situation has changed.
Sometimes that includes what bad things
happened as a result of a previous roll or
action. This culminates in you presenting
the new situation to your players and again
asking ‘What do you do?’ Sometimes it’s to the
same player, and sometimes you switch the
perspective (spotlight) to a different player.
The GM is encouraged to follow the Principles
and Moves as much as possible when playing
the game. The Principles describe the mindset
to aim for when GMing this game, while the
Moves are specific types of consequences and
situations that might happen to the PC’s.
GM Principles
When describing situations and consequences,
the GM is encouraged to follow these:
• Encourage Exciting Risks
• Bring NPCs To Life
• Think Dangerously
• Leave Things Open
• Ask, Then Gloss Over the Boring Stuff
Encourage Exciting Risks means gently
pushing your players to do things that aren’t
quite safe, but are awesome or important
enough to try anyways. Often the best time
to do this is when players ask you questions
about the world or what they can do.
“The Jade Goliath is only weak to its own beam attack.
You’ll have to provoke one and redirect it back.”
Portray a Lively World means describing your
characters, environments, and actions in vivid,
dynamic language. A yeti doesn’t just swing its
claws, it roars, grabs its victim, and drags them
towards its frozen lair. The Acid Fens don’t just
bubble corrosively, the air burns your nostrils as
a cloud of colorful insects dart away.
Think Dangerously means don’t be afraid of
hurting or breaking things. This could be your
characters, or an important treasure, or the
Adventurers themselves. If the PCs manage to
kill Darthoridan the Eternal in the first session,
then great! What happens next? How does
that ripple across future events? Similarly, if the
Ranger fails to dodge a troll’s club, then they
take damage and might be knocked down.
Leave Things Open means that if the PC’s ask
questions, offer ideas, or hope that something
is a certain way, always consider the idea
before deciding. When you prepare your ideas,
make sure they are mutable and easy to adapt
to future ideas. This could be for the PCs ideas,
or your own future ones.
Ask, Then Gloss Over the Boring Stuff means
don’t go minute-by-minute. If the players are
taking a weeklong journey, maybe say ‘a week
passes and you get there’. If they are spending
some time buying stuff in town, just have them
spend their Wealth and move on. Always check
with your players before skipping forwards, as
it might not be boring for them or they may
have something exciting planned.
GM Moves
• Hit the Ground Running
• Inflict Damage
• Throw Them Around
• Change the Environment
• Foreshadow an Ominous Force
• Set Up an Immediate Danger
• Make Them Choose
• Take Something Away
• Have It Backfire
• Sometimes, Give Them What They Want
• Introduce Something New
• Slow Down for a Bit
• Ask Them
As the GM, you ‘make a move’ to change the
situation when...
...the players look to you to see what happens
...the players ignore a clear threat
...the players roll a 6- on most moves
...a move results in being exposed, vulnerable,
or similar.
Often when in a scene you first make Soft
Moves. Describe the coming danger(s) to the
player and ask ‘What Do You Do?’ If the players
fail (or roll poorly when trying) to thrwart the
soft move, then you make a Hard Move.
Hard moves are the irrevocable consequences
from a situation - damage dealt, broken gear,
dead allies, etc. Bad stuff happens on a hard
move, sometimes more than one!
After making a Hard Move, you might use that
to pivot into another Soft Move for the next
‘What Do You Do?’ ‘Hardness’ and ‘Softness’ of
a move are hugely situational, make sure to do
what feels appropriate within the fiction and
soft moves you already made.
31

Hit The Ground Running means jump straight
into the action. It’s typically used when
everyone looks to you to describe a new scene,
after some time has passed, or if they are
about to start a chase. Often this is used in
tandem with another move.
Inflict Damage means just that, damaging
the Adventurers. This should never just be
numbers, always describe the damage in the
fiction as well. A poisoned blade might cause
nausea, or a dragon might rip someone’s arm
off. The damage should be appropriate to
the situation, and be sure to telegraph severe
damage in advance.
Throw Them Around means things like
knocking them down, tying them up, tossing
them through a window, or, when appropriate,
pitching them off a cliff.
Change The Environment could mean
collapsing the tunnel around them, setting
the building on fire, magically teleporting
them. Maybe this is moving them to a
new environment, maybe it is alterting or
destroying the existing one.
Foreshadow an Ominous Force means
describing the effect that an Ominous Force is
working towards, or has already accomplished.
Maybe it’s already happened, maybe the PCs
still have a chance to thwart it.
Set Up an Immediate Danger is often the most
common soft move. You describe something
about to happen right here and now, but
hasn’t happened yet. Can the PCs stop it?
Make Them Choose means putting your PC’s
desires in conflict. Do they want to save their
prized sword or protect their companion? Do
they attack the dragon’s lair or protect the king
from political assassination?
Take Something Away means it’s gone. Maybe
that something can be taken back, maybe it
can’t be. Either way, they’re going to miss it.
Have It Backfire means they did it in word and
deed, but not in spirit. The adventurers aren’t
incompetent, so this backfiring is likely due to
freak accident, unforeseeable consequence, or
the frightening power of an enemy.
Introduce Something New could be a new
challenger appearing, but it could also be
an ally, treasure, or new factor that changes
everything already going on.
Sometimes, Give Them What They Want
means that when you can’t think of any
interesting or appropriate consequences, or
when you feel they’ve earned it, just say yes.
Slow Down For a Bit means that sometimes
it’s nice to stop and smell the roses. Just
describe the area without threats, peaceful
towns, laughter-filled campfires, and friendly
faces. Maybe even give the PC’s the reigns for a
bit. These treasured times make the challenges
ahead more bearable.
Ask Them means asking a player a question
about the world and letting them answer it.
Surely the Druid can tell you about how treants
are born? Maybe the Thief knows about the
local thieves guild? This does not replace Spout
Lore or Discern Realities, but can let a player
answer the result of such a roll. Try not to use
this for immediate situations (‘What do you
see?’) but instead for general world (“What
does Leonoth’s wizard familiar look like?”)
Play Order
GM Makes a Move
Hard or Soft, Following Principles
End with ‘What Do You Do?’
Player(s) describe their response
What does it look like?
Is a move triggered? If so, is a roll involved?
If there is no move, go back to the top.
If there is no roll, follow the move then go back to the top.
If there is a roll, then roll what the move says
They can Work In Tandem if desired
Was a 10+ Rolled?
Follow the success results of the move, then return to top.
Was a 7-9 Rolled?
Follow the effect
Suffer choices or consequences given by the move
Return to top.
Was a 6- Rolled?
If the move says what happens, follow that.
If it doesn’t say anything, or says ‘In addition to what the
GM says’, then the GM makes a Hard Move
Players Mark XP
Was Damage Dealt?
Make sure to apply armor
Players can use ‘Tis But a Flesh Wound’
Check if Last Breath applies
Return to top
32
Adventures
Looking for ideas for an adventure? This is a
tool to generate one and jump right into it:
1. Choose or roll an Outline from below.
2. Fill in the details - ask the players questions,
use tables on the next few pages, or write
down your own ideas
3. Create any NPCs that might be necessary
4. Write down stakes
Outlines Choose from below, or roll 2d6
1-2
You’ve discovered that a long lost Treasure is rumored
1 to be hidden deep within a Location, but an Enemy is
trying to get there first.
A Friend is in love with someone forbidden by social
2 convention, and the two of them need help meeting
secretly at Location to elope.
The party is framed for a crime by an Enemy, and must
3 reach the sanctuary of a Location to find proof of their
innocence.
A Friend is threatened by a tragedy of sickness,
4 imprisonment, or public humiliation, and the only one
that seems able to save them is an Enemy.
A Friend has found and confirmed the location of a
5 valuable Treasure. They need you to help them reach
the Location where it is.
A Friend has stolen a Treasure from an Enemy and fled
6 into a dangerous Location. You must rescue them, and
decide what to do with the Treasure and the Enemy.
Friends Choose from below, or roll 2d6
1-2 3-4 5-6
Harris, a gullible blacksmith who Crawford, a haunted bounty hunter Niles, an innkeeper refusing to get
1 recently became a single parent. who owes debts to an Enemy. treatment for his worsening health.
Valentine, a town guard with a Nora, a calm diplomat who secretly Corline, a gracious town mayor who
2 cheery attitude and mysterious past undermines her unjust rulers. has recently been blackmailed.
Priscilla, a confident merchant who Emerson, a generous priest still Quentin, a paranoid cartographer
3 ran away from a restrictive family. struggling with his past life. with powerful family connections.
Ashby, a clumsy servant who knows Cynthia, a quiet, strange hunter who Helene, an obsessive, calculating spy
4 everything about their employer. was cast out by her community. trying to infiltrate an Enemy’s ranks.
Rust, a charming, criminal who loves Dalton, a fierce soldier who follows Pierre, a patient farmer with a family
5 food and hides a heart of gold. his commands with zealous loyalty. heirloom, who aspires to leadership.
Adelaide, a young, conniving artist Eleanor, a moody scholar pursuing a Nadine, a seasoned apothecary
6 seeking to be adored by the masses. dangerous, controversial field. followed by nodding assistants.
3-4 5-6
A magical chest has been discovered by a Friend, with An unstable Treasure causes a supernatural disaster in
directions to the key that will open it. The Location a panicking settlement. The Treasure must be reached
where the key is hidden is the territory of an Enemy. and disabled before it causes even greater calamity.
A disaster is engulfing a town, and it will be lost unless One of you is identified as a prophesied savior for an
the PCs can organize it to be dealt with. A Friend is oppressed people. The Enemy in charge is trying to kill
trapped somewhere in danger. you and a Friend wants to push you forward as a savior.
A Friend is bitten by a venomous creature in a remote A foreign ambassador Friend is targeted by hateful
Location. The only antidote is back at civilization, yet an Enemy assassins. Relations are so fragile that if the
Enemy tries to delay the group until it is too late. Friend learns about this targeting, there may be war.
A Friend is responsible for guarding a Treasure, which An Enemy is using illusions and mind-affecting magic
is revealed as fake. You must find the real treasure and to cover the theft of a Treasure. Most of the victims are
culprit or else the Friend will be punished as the thief. merely confused, but some become violent.
A freak storm stops the caravan that you are with in a A famine has struck, and most people won’t survive
remote Location. Then people start turning up dead; the the next winter. An Enemy can avert this disaster, but
storm has awoken a dangerous Enemy. demands a Treasure that a Friend refuses to part with.
A Friend needs frequent medical care to stay alive, but A Friend believes that you can solve any problem, and
their apothecary has vanished. An Enemy has snatched has blithely promised an Enemy your assistance in
the them for their own ends. exchange for a Treasure.
33
Locations Choose from below, or roll 2d6

11 Acid Fens 31 Reaper’s Tundra 51 Webwood Forest

Bubbling Emerald Pools, Hungry Creeping Oozes, Frequent Snowfall, Furious Winds, The Occasional Shadowy Brambles, Stalking Predators,
Vibrant Poisonous Flora, Air That Burns the Throat Frozen Corpse, Small Community of Devout Deniers Devouring Plants, Feral Cacaphony, Trapping Webs

12 The City of Apocalyptica 32 Moonsong Valley 52 The Bloodlands

Bustling Metropolis, Two Entities Frozen Mid-Fight, Bountiful Farming Villages, Jolly Mayor, Frequent Scarlet Grasses, Indigestable Food, Alien Wildlife,
Foretold Doom Should They Ever Resume Their Battle Festivals, Strange Traditions, Nightly Howling Brutal Adapted Locals, Spreading and Growing

13 The Pillars Below 33 Bastion Keep 53 Smokestack

Honeycomb Caverns, Vicious Swarming Insects, Shattered Crumbling Stone, Spirits Repeating Ancient Churning Cogs and Gears, Thick Black Smog,
Saccharine Nectar, Flexible Gravity, Enraged Queen Battles, Unfinished Monument to a Fallen Hero Beacon of Industry, Mutated Wildlife

14 The Wistwoods 34 Brushstroke 54 Abyssal Pits

Everburning Trees, Sprinkling Ash, Flametouched Village In a Painting, Inhabited By Ageless Children, Series of Pitch Black Caves, Prone to Collapsing,
Beasts, Evacuated Refugees, Whispers From the Smoke Many Toys and Games, Protective Parent-Warden, Poisonous Springs, Mad Carver of Idols,

15 Azure Wetlands 35 Hissing Springs 55 The Mouth of the World

Grasping Pools, Unnatural Fog, Observing Ravens, Relaxing Pools, Frequent Visitors, New Merchant Stalls, Impossibly Deep Pit, No One Has Reached the
Superstitious Village, Isolated Oathbreaker Mysterious Heat Source, Rapidly Growing Settlement Bottom and Returned, Relics in the Walls

16 Seadog Haven 36 The Foundry 56 Behemoth’s Rest

Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy, Many Ships Ruined Workshop, Shattered Tools, Half-Finished Gargantuan Hollowed Skull, Vague Rumors of
Affixed Together, Requires Constant Maintenance Projects, Vanished Artisans, Wandering Dangers Curses, Smuggling Den, Rest of Skeleton is Missing

21 Wretched Wastes 41 Cathedral of the Forgotten 61 Sailor’s Torch

Cursed Grey Crags, Supernatural Madness, Once the Towering Spires, Velvet Curtains, Traversable Rafters, Ruined Lighthouse, Site of a Horrific Murder,
Heart of an Empire, Desperate Town of Survivor-Heirs Frequently Visited Altars, Fanatical Bishop Sometimes Lights Up, Decades-Old Shipwrecks

22 Precipice 42 Cloud Palace 62 Everblooming Monastery

Ramshackle Huts, Mud Roads, Monstrous Inhabitants, Polished Gleaming Marble, Grand Fountains, Majestic Mountainous Stairways, Hierarchical Temple,
Junk Merchant, Wise Elder, Fearful Hate of Adventurers Knights, Meticulously Strict Laws, Floats High In The Air Meditative Waterfall, Isolated Inhabitants

23 Umakui Expanse 43 Twilight Academy 63 Lake Iota

Rolling Sand Dunes, Migrating Everstorm Leaving a Prestigious Institute of Learning, Hazardous Library, Crystalline Water, Intricate Coral Structures,
Trail of Greenery, Reverent Raiding Tribe Following It Automaton Servants, Still Reeling From a Scandal Delicate Sands, Dozens of WIllingly Drowned

24 Aurum Enclave 44 The Labyrinth 64 Undercity Catacombs

Volcanic Archipelago, Oversized Plants and Animals, Shifting Stone Walls, Relentlessly Hunted Prisoners, Dusty Sarcophagi, Faded Incense, Withered
Dinosaurs, Destroyed Villages, Hidden Survivors Ethereal Commentator, Traps and Riddles Offerings, Shadowy Rituals, Graverobbers

25 Crystal Glade 45 Blasphemy Rock 65 Quicksilver Canyons

Brilliant Prismatic Trees, Glowing Flowers, Gem-like Snowy Mountain Peak, Constantly Striking Lightning, Natural Sandstone Pillars, Twisting Paths, Famed
Fruit, Glittering Animals, Magical Anomalies Difficult to Breathe, Solitary Log Cabin Deadly Races, Obscured Veins of Precious Metals

26 Thicket of Spores 46 Cornerstone 66 Grimtide Manor

Towering Luminescent Mushrooms, Toxic Defenses, Spiraling Tower of Alien Metal, Induced Splitting Creaking Floorboards, Antique Portrait, Gaping
Carefully Carved Treehouses, Unhinged Apothecary Headaches, Surrounded by Peculiar Town Hole in Reality, Endless Stream of Monstrosities

34
Enemies Choose from below, or roll 2d6

11 Darthoridan The Eternal 31 Ygmun the Devourer 51 Sage Ibaya

Necromancer, Lich, Wields Seven Magical Bells Enormous Tunneling Worm, Senses Vibrations Leader of Fanatical Monks, Controls the Elements
What happens when all the bells ring in tandem? Who knows the rite to safely traverse its domain? What dark practice gives her power?

12 Kron Dragonsbane 32 Captain Caethm 52 Omnimic

Champion of Giants, Dragonbone Armaments of the Dread Raven Ghost Ship, Exceptional Duelist Shapeshifts to Any Object or Person, Stalks Victims
What else has he killed for glory? What can free him from his curse? What can force it to reveal its identity?

13 General Tallus 33 Inquisitor Celadrie 53 Spawn of Entropy

Imperialist Conquerer, Brilliant Strategist, Blind Faith Merciless Torturer, Cadre of Elite Witch Hunters Eldritch Horror, Rapidly Ages Its Surroundings
Why has he never been defeated? Why does she seek the Adventurers? What is it here to destroy?

14 Bog, Mog and Tog 34 Councillor Phara 54 Nevarre the Siren

Brutal Troll Brothers, Regenerating, Loyal Bickerers Ambitious Politician, Obfuscates and Blackmails Enchanting Song, Steals Voices, Born of the Sea
How did they become immune to the sun’s light? Who is standing in her way? What costly ritual can protect you from her?

15 Azemoth - Demon of Knowledge and Secrets 35 Withered Orranis - Walking Corpse of a Dead God 55 Gol the Minotaur
Bargains and Manipulates, Eyes Everywhere Bleeds with Raw Power, Worshipped by a Death Cult Short Temper, Absurd Strength, Walks Through Walls,
What dark secret does he know about a PC? What benevolent act did they make in life? Who or what can instantly quell its rage?

16 The Firstborn - Mysterious Deranged Knight 36 Lisa and Thomas Brelin 56 Chieftain Blotwick, Ruler Over Everything!
Mutated With Dark Magic, Revered By Secret Followers Twin Master Thieves, Steal for Sport, Secret Nobility Goblin Leader, Cunning and Cruel, Flair For Dramatic
What unearthly abilities do they possess? What is their next big heist? What misunderstood power does he wield?

21 Mallum Bloodscale - Fiery Dragon 41 The Gilded Empress 61 The Apathy

Collector of Rare Treasures, Demands Tribute Immortal Tyrant, Trapped on Throne, Psionic Powers Masses of Shambling People, Faceless, Hive Mind
Who serves him tribute-collector? How will she resurrect her twisted empire? In what horrifying way do they spread?

22 The Mistwalker 42 Apex Shiara 62 The Crow and The Rose

Whispering Silhouette, Consumes Memories Enormous Invisible Predator, Supernatural Cunning Powerful Sorcerors, Ancient Lovers, Separated Forever
Who did it used to be? What would it look like if one could see it? Why should they never be reunited?

23 Leonoth the Everpunctual 43 Guardian of the Glade 63 Kalatos The Graceful

Eccentric Wizard, Loves Riddles and Magical Traps Beautiful Spirit of Nature, Mischevious Trickster Freed Djinn, Offers Twisted Wishes, Hates Mortals
What influential event is he hosting? What has provoked their ire? Who has he recently granted a ‘wish’ to?

24 The Shroud 44 The Scarab Lord 64 Svadana the Huntress

Mysterious Master Assassin, Hired Via Profane Ritual Recently Awoken, Wields Insects and Ancient Curses Legendary Battle-Maiden, Returns From Death
Who sent them? What are they misguidedly protecting? What glorious end does she hope will stick?

25 Jade Goliath 45 Weaver of Time 65 Nullwave

Indestructible Golem, Secret Weapons Spider-like, Alters Time With Its Silk, Alien Priorities Floating Metal Orb, Fires Magical Rays From Crystal
What happened to the one who built it? How can one outsmart the future? Who secretly controls it?

26 Baron Krauss 46 The Amalgamation 66 Brickbeard

Aristocratic Vampire, Cruel and Bloody Experiments Possessed by Many Ghosts, Has Their Memories Rebel Bandit Lord, Inventor, Loves Explosives
Who is secretly under his hypnotic sway? What old grudges haunt them? What revolutionary project has he nearly completed?

35
Treasures
Sometimes inbetween saving worlds and
slaying dragons, adventurers may search for
treasure in vaults, caches or their enemies’
bodies. In order to determine what they find,
roll the damage of the NPC on the following
table. The Adventurers can only search once as
appropriate, if they are searching a bunch of
goblin bodies then roll once using the Group
or Horde damage.
As a general rule, don’t make treasure too
hidden from the players, and don’t require a
Discern Realities roll to find treasure unless it
has been carefully hidden away.
1 A map or clue that leads to...(reroll)
2 Valuables worth 1 Wealth
3 A piece of useful equipment
4 Important evidence or information
5 Valuables Worth 2 Wealth
6 Two pieces of useful equipment
7 A Healing Potion
8 Valuables Worth 3 Wealth
9 Deed to a Property worth 4 Wealth
10 A Magic Item
11 An Artifact
12 Valuables worth 4 Wealth and...(reroll)
13 A magic item and...(reroll)
14+ An Artifact and...(reroll)
Magic Items
Some items do more than what is believed
‘possible’. They might grant new abilities,
augment existing ones, or do something
specific to themselves. See some samples
below.
Ring of Temptation
A piece of seemingly simple jewellry, this metal ring
stokes the greed of all who see it.
When you intentionally show the ring off to someone
new, roll+CHA. On a 10+ choose two, on a 7-9 choose one:
• They’ll try to take it, now or later, and leave themself
vulnerable when doing so
• You read them as if you spent 1 Hold on Scrutinize
Someone
• You have leverage to Parley with them
When you part with the ring, willingly or not, roll+WIS.
On a 10+ you have managed to resist temptation. On a 9 or
lower you mark 1 XP if you get the ring back, another 1 XP
if it’s by force or subterfuge. On a 6- you also take a Debility
of your choice due to obsession. Most debilities can only be
removed through Leveling Up, but this one also goes away
if you get the ring back.
The Ghostlight
An old, fragile lantern that burns eternally with a pale
light. When held in the hand one can almost perceive
faint whispers in their mind enrapturing them with
promises of safety and guidance.
When you Undertake a Journey and lead the way with
the Ghostlight, roll with Advantage.
Archfiend Contract
Long ago a powerful wizard banished twelve demons into
the form of the contract. Once the demons have fulfilled
their duty to the contract they will be released, until then
just speak the demon’s name from the contract and say
what you wish for them to do.
When you read and demand a demon from the contract
take action, roll+WIS. On a 7+ the demon does what you
asked. On a 10+ choose one. On a 7-9 choose two:
• The demon demands something of you in return. Gain
Disadvantage Forward to invoke the contract until you
fulfill it.
• The demon is released from the contract after this.
• The demon follows the letter of your command, but
definitely not the spirit.
Frozen Lightning
A chunk of nevermelting ice, with brightly glowing spark
trapped inside it.
When you throw the Frozen Lightning at a target,
roll+DEX. on a 7+ a blast of electricity explodes from the ice,
dealing 2d6 damage, area, 2-piercing. On a 7-9 the chunk
is destroyed in the process.
Sneakers of Swiftness
These worn shoes have a strange striped checkmark
across them. They may smell of sweat, but they somehow
make you run faster. When you Start a Chase, you start
with 1 Hold instead of 0.
Child’s Play
A simple yellow scarf. “I can’t see you, you can’t see me!”
When you place the scarf over someone’s eyes as a
blindfold, they turn invisible until the blindfold is removed.
Judgement
This tower shield is a thick slab of black and white marble
inscribed with a symbol of death. Though appearing
heavy and awkward, it’s suprisingly easy to wield.
When you take the life of an innocent person, or save
the life of a wretched person, gain 1 Hold. When you gain
1 hold via one method, your next hold must be gained via
the other, switching each time.
You may spend hold 1 for 1 for any of the following effects.
• Ask the GM when an NPC in front of you will die
• Gain Advantage Forward against an enemy of death
• Ignore a condition or debility for a scene
Orb of Ley Resonance
A fist-sized cerulean orb with a swirling white mist within.
When you meditate on the orb’s energies, you can sense
the location of the nearest place of great magical power.
When you smash the orb, a magical cascade effect is
noticed by magically attuned entities. The energy that
lingers is sufficient to use as a place of great magical
power for about a week.
There are limitless potential magical items,
try creating some yourself. When doing so, try
not to give these items numerical bonuses,
but instead have them allow the players to do
new things or more interesting versions of old
things.
36
Ominous Forces
There are a great many entities, organizations,
and more that seek to change the world for
the worse, perhaps even end it altogether. They
are all represented by Ominous Forces.
Ominous Forces is how the GM organizes
threats, dangers, or unwanted change. They
advance only when the PCs Settle In. The PCs
will likely be running around trying to stop,
delay or otherwise deal with the Ominous
Forces happening.
Ominous Forces can be almost anything, from
a naturally-spreading plague, an invading
army, an important person changing for the
worse. Always make an Ominous Force about
something the PC’s care about, so they’ll care
about its outcome. If your Fighter is a patriotic
soldier for his kingdom, maybe there’s a force
about it falling apart.
To Create an Ominous Force, answer the
following:
What terrible thing will ultimately happen if
the Adventurers don’t intervene?
Write that down as the Culmination.
What notable events will happen leading to
the Culmination? Write those down in order
below.
How much time will pass between each
event? Use the guidelines below to write the
numbers down next to each event. When the
number is reached, the corresponding event
happens.
1. quick to unfold, a singular act, the only
possible result of the previous event
2. takes some time to happen, moderately
complex acts, fairly obvious based on
previous event
3. takes a lot of time, series of intricate acts,
implausible based on previous event
4. takes ages to occur, bafflingly complex
acts, absurdly unlikely based on previous
event
What notable characters does this relate to?
Write them down here. This includes both PCs
and NPCs.
What interesting questions can be explored
through this? Write the questions down
now. This could be how the PCs will act in a
situation, or information they might discover
through play.
Lastly, give it a snazzy title.
Managing Ominous Forces
Whenever the PC’s Settle In, advance each
Ominous Force by one. If the PC’s have
thwarted a force enough for its events to no
longer make sense, then do one of two things:
• Adapt the force. Rewrite future events to
take the PC’s actions into account. The
force does not advance this time.
• Remove the Force entirely. If it doesn’t
make sense for the Culmination to happen
again, or if it’s no longer interesting, then
remove it.
Between sessions, go through each Ominous
Force, make sure it’s still relevant, and add or
remove Characters or Questions as you see fit.
See an example Ominous Force on the right.
The Kingdom Crumbles
Culmination: The Kingdom Descends Into
Lawless Anarchy
(0/1) The Crown Prince dies in a tragic accident.
(0/1) Noble houses accuse each other even
during the funeral.
(0/2) The Queen’s heartbreak causes her
to become terribly sick. With no heir, the
kingdom is at risk.
(0/2) The Queen passes away. The noble houses
vye to take the throne.
(0/2) A house war breaks out. Old grudges are
unleashed and new ones are forged. Alliances
are frail as each house works against all others.
(0/3)The houses armies are now in tatters
due the fighting, and they can barely protect
their own borders. Bandits, monsters, and
worse now roam the kingdom openly. Each
settlement can only rely on itself.
(0/3) One by one the houses fall to infighting,
bandits, starvation, or each other. Most soldiers
abandon their posts and join the looting.
(0/1) The palace is burned to the ground, all
treasures stolen, and the last vestiges of order
dies with it.
Notable Characters:
Hawke the Fighter Dalton the Soldier
Queen Margaret Baron Krauss
General Tallus Lady Fren
Questions:
Was the Prince’s death really an accident? Was
the queen’s really a sickness?
Will the PC’s vye for power themselves?
Which houses will try to ally with the PCs?
37
NPC Creation
1. What’s Their Name?
If you’re not sure then come back to this
later, or ask the PCs.
2. Who Are They? What Do They Look Like?
Write this freeform summary down under
their name.
3. What do they want?
Write this down by starting with ‘Wants...’
4. What notable things can they do?
Write each thing down separately. In
play, refer to this if you’re not sure how to
describe a certain GM move.
5. Can they fight?
If not, you’re done. If so, continue.
6. Calculate HP. They...
- Fight Alone: 12 HP
- Fight as a Group (3-6): 6 HP (each)
- Fight as a Horde (7-20): 3 HP (each)
- Are as big as a cart: +3 HP
- Are much larger than a cart: +8 HP
- Are especially hardy or stubborn: +4 HP
- Have Favor of the Gods: +2 HP (optional)
- Are kept alive by something far beyond
simple biology: +4 HP
- Are amorphous or lack organs: +3 HP
7. Calculate Damage. They...
- Fight Alone: 2d6 Dmg
- Fight as a Small Group (2-5): 1d6+2 Dmg
- Fight as a Horde (6-20): 1d6 Dmg
- Are smaller than a house cat: -2 Dmg
- Are as big as a cart: +1 Dmg
- Are much larger than a cart: +3 Dmg
- Have unrelenting strength: +2 Dmg
- Have small or weak attacks: -1 Dmg
- Have obviously vicious weapons: +2 Dmg
- Are favored by the gods: +2 Dmg (optional)
- Are particularly ancient: +1
- Hate fighting: -1d6
8. Calculate Armor Piercing. They...
- Strike with particular accuracy: +1 Piercing
- Can slice or pierce metal: +1 Piercing
- Can just tear metal apart: +3 Piercing
- Can bypass armor entirely (due to magic,
size, etc): Ignores armor
9. Calculate Armor. They are protected by...
- Cloth or flesh: 0
- Leathers or a chainmail: 1
- Plate or Bone: 2
- Powerful Magic: 3
- Superb defensive skills: +1
- A shield or similar: +1
- Their amorphous form: +1
Combined NPCs (Optional)
When fighting a group of creatures, instead of
tracking each one individually, treat the whole
group as a single stronger monster. When
multiple NPCs fight together, treat them as
one monster with the following changes:
Group (3-6 foes)
• +5 HP
• Reduce all non-Area damage by 2
(unignorable armor)
• When taking Area damage, roll twice and
take highest result
.
Horde (7-20)
• +10 HP
• Reduce all non-Area damage by 3
(unignorable armor)
• When taking Area damage, roll twice and
add both results together.
When a group of different NPCs fight
together, count the highest stat among them
(HP, Armor, Piercing, etc) as the group’s stat.
Example NPCs
Wealthy Merchant
Used to letting her wealth do the talking for
her, she is nevertheless a skilled haggler and
can spot a good deal from a mile way.
Wants to grow her fortune.
• understand something’s value at a glance
• offer beneficial bribes or deals
• hire someone to handle something
Giant Bear
Filled with territorial rage, this enormous
beast will devour anyone it encounters.
Wants to kill and devour
20 HP, 1 Armor
2d6+5 Damage, 1 Piercing (teeth and claws)
• unleash a terrifying roar
• climb a large tree
• chase any who run
Death Knight
Once a champion of justice, this fallen warrior
now serves darker masters for selfish goals.
Wants to bring death and destruction
16 HP, 3 Armor
2d6 Damage, 1 Piercing (cursed greatsword)
• unleash dark magic
• raise an undead slave
Goblin Horde (Combined NPC)
Nasty creatures that hide in caves, attack
passersby, and pull vicious tricks.
Wants to cause pain and laugh at it
13 HP, 1 Armor (+3 Group Armor)
1d6+4 damage (rocks, knives, ragged bows)
• Steal or destroy things
• Rapidly retreat through tiny crevaces
38
Artifacts
Some exceptionally powerful magical items
need more than one or two moves to fully
describe them. These are known as Artifacts,
and they get stronger over time alongside
the Adventurers. These items should be given
out sparingly, if one is rolled on the treasure
generator and it doesn’t feel right, feel free
to use a regular magic item instead. When
making an Artifact, write down the answers to
these questions.
1. What is the general idea for the artifact?
For our example, let’s make a sword that has the
power to absorb and manipulate souls. Let’s call it
the Blade of the Soulstone.
2. Does it have any tags? Write those down.
It is a sword, so it should have Close and Melee.
3. How does one connect with the artifact?
Write that down as the move that ‘unlocks’
the rest of the artifact’s power.
The Blade of the Soulstone has souls in it, so it
probably already has minor sentience itself. Let’s
say it’s loyal to its wielders, so if another wielder is
still around then you have to deal with that before
become recognized by the sword.
4. What can it already do? Write that down
as a move.
Absorb souls of course. It probably shouldn’t be able
to do that on ‘every’ deathblow or a horde of kobolds
will fill it quickly. Maybe it only absorbs souls when it
kills a foe that fights alone. It probably also has some
kind of limit to how many souls it can hold.
5. How does it get stronger? Write that down
for it to gain XP separately from the PC.
Also write down how much XP it takes to
level up (usually 5).
Absorbing souls obviously makes the Blade Stronger
in the long term. Let’s go with that again.
6. What can it do when stronger? Write those
moves down for when the artifact levels up.
Manipulating or interacting with the absorbed souls
sounds fun. So does consuming them for temporary
power. Maybe also something about it’s loyalty.
Blade of the Soulstone Credits
Close/Melee Written by Spencer Moore
XP: / 5
Souls:
When you commune with the Blade of the Soulstone Thanks To
and it does not already have a wielder, you become its
new wielder and gain the Power of the Spirit ability. My amazing wife, Marisssa, without her
support and feedback this game would be half
Power of the Spirit of what it is.
When you land a deathblow on a powerful creature
using this sword, the Soulstone embedded in its pommel
absorbs the creature’s soul. Mark XP and write the creature
The original testers, Rick and Dominic. We
down under Souls. The Soulstone can hold up to five souls started with a hack and ended up here.
at once; it won’t absorb any once full.
When you consume a soul for knowledge, strength, or
otherworldly assistance, remove one of your stored souls
The Dungeon World Discord and Subreddit
and gain Advantage Forward. communities, whose feedback and insight has
been invaluable.
Advanced Moves
Reddit users lichkicker1, the_imagesmith and
Seance
DaftPrince for creating a few of the example
When you ask one of your stored souls a question, you
may converse with them as if they were in front of you. magic items.
Then their soul is consumed by the Soulstone forever.
Most importantly, thank you to Jesus Christ,
Spiritual Successor
my God and savior. Thank you for dying for my
When you consume a soul to use an ability it had in life,
the GM will tell you what new ability you gain for the rest sake, for forgiving my sins and saving my life.
of the scene. Thank you for making me a better person.
Solid Soul Drive Game Influences
You can now store up to nine souls. Stars Without Number by Kevin Crawford
Soulburn Blades in the Dark by John Harper
When you consume a soul to ignite the blade with Dungeon World by Adam Koebel and Sage
ghostfire, it ignores armor entirely for the next attack (it Latorra
can still block attacks). You can keep spending souls to
keep the fire going.
Apocalype World by D. Vincent Baker and
Meguey Baker
Guardian Spirit Worlds of Adventure by Yoghai Gal and
When you consume one or more souls from within the Cameron Burns
Blade to empower it to act and fight on its own, by default
Oneshot World by Yochai Gal
it has +1 to all stats, 5 HP, 1d6+1 damage, access to only
basic moves, and will only remain animated for the rest of Stonetop by Jeremy Strandberg
the scene. Choose one per soul consumed.
• It has +2 to a specific stat (can take multiple times)
• +2 Armor and +1 Damage
• +5 HP (can take multiple times)
• An ability of one of the consumed souls
• It will remain animated for the rest of the session
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