Professional Documents
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Champion 5th Edition
Champion 5th Edition
Champion 5th Edition
Dean Shomshak
The Mystic World
The Mystic World
A Setting Book for Champions
Author: Dean Shomshak
Editing & Development: Steven S. Long
Layout & Graphic Design: Andy
Mathews
Cover Illustration: Jonathan Davenport
Interior Illustration: Nate Barnes,
Warren Beckford, Jefferson Cram, Robert
Cram, Keith Curtis, Newt Ewell, Jeff
Hebert, Jason Ingel, Nick Ingeneri, Eric
Radamaker, Barry Winston
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks to the Digital Hero playtesters,
who’ve worked their own particular form of
magic helping us keep our books as error-free
and useful as possible.
Special thanks also to Allen Varney, whose
Mystic Masters sourcebook inspired much
of what you’ll find herein, and who was kind
enough to offer his input on Tyrannon, the Van-
daleurs, and other aspects of the mystic side of
the Champions Universe.
DEDICATION
Dedicated to my players, who let me build a
Mystic World through the Seattle Sentinels and
Keystone Konjurors campaigns. Big thanks to
Kurt Dingler, Greg Ewing, James Ganong, Scott
Haley, Terje Locklingholm, Corey Ovendale, Jeff
Skagen, and Wade Yamauchi. This book could
not exist without them (or at least it wouldn’t
be as good).
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Fantasy Hero © 2003 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Publisher: DOJ, Inc., 1 Haight Street, Suite A, San Francisco, California 94102.
The Mystic World © 2004 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. First printing June 2004
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ................................ 4 TIPHERETH: VEIL OF THE TEMPLE ... 43 CHAPTER THREE:
TIPHERETH: DEATH’S DOMINION .... 45 THE BOOK OF WISDOM
CHAPTER ONE: PACHAD: THE GARDEN OF
WORLDS UPON WORLDS EARTHLY DELIGHTS ..................... 46 HEROIC AND SUPERHEROIC MAGIC ..72
CHESED: REALMS OF THE THAUMATURGY .............................. 73
THE FOUR WORLDS .......................... 6 FOUR ZOAS ................................ 46 ATTACK SPELLS ............................ 73
THE SEPHIROTHIC TREE OF LIFE....... 6 Ulro .......................................... 47 DEFENSE SPELLS .......................... 79
Assiah .......................................... 6 Beulah...................................... 47 SENSORY, MOVEMENT, AND
Yetzirah......................................... 7 Generation ................................ 47 MISCELLANEOUS ........................ 80
Briah ............................................ 8 Golgonooza ............................... 47
Atziluth ......................................... 9 ESPECIALLY POWERFUL SPELLS .... 84
QLIPHOTHIC: THE SHINING
The Qliphothic World...................... 9 MAGIC ITEMS AND ARTIFACTS ....... 87
DARKNESS ................................. 48
SPECIAL DIMENSIONS ................... 10 PERSONAL MAGIC ITEMS .............. 87
MAGIC ARTIFACTS ......................... 88
THE ASTRAL PLANE ....................... 11 CHAPTER TWO: Personal Artifacts ........................ 88
GENERAL NATURE ......................... 11 THE SHADOW WORLD
DIVISIONS OF THE LOWER ASTRAL . 13 CHARACTER CREATION .................. 92
Sample Regions .......................... 14 MYSTIC PEOPLE ............................. 50 SKILLS .......................................... 92
ASTRAL INHABITANTS ................... 15 MYSTICS AND SUPER-MYSTICS ..... 50 PERKS .......................................... 92
TRAVEL ON THE ASTRAL PLANE ..... 16 FACTIONS ..................................... 51 POWERS ....................................... 92
ADVENTURE USE ........................... 18 Occult Dynasties ......................... 51 POWER ADVANTAGES .................... 96
The Circle of the Scarlet Moon ..... 51
FAERIE: THE LAND OF LEGENDS.... 19
GEOGRAPHY ................................. 19
The Trismegistus Council ............. 52 CHAPTER FOUR:
Sample Regions .......................... 20
Shamballah And Agharti ............... 53 MYSTIC MASTER VILLAINS
Cults........................................... 53
INHABITANTS ................................ 21 SKARN THE SHAPER ...................... 98
DEMON ...................................... 53
SPECIAL CONDITIONS .................... 22 The Dark Renaissance ................. 54 Skarn the Shaper ...................... 101
ADVENTURE USE ........................... 24 IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS............... 54 THE ROYAL FAMILY ...................... 103
THE NETHERWORLD....................... 25 Archimago .................................. 54 Arthon ...................................... 104
GEOGRAPHY ................................. 25 Dark Seraph ................................ 54 Torvost ..................................... 107
Sample Regions .......................... 25 The Iron Imam ............................. 54 Brell ......................................... 109
INHABITANTS ................................ 27 Nyssa Tarchaniotes ...................... 55 SOLDIERS OF THE CONGERIES ..... 111
SPECIAL CONDITIONS .................... 27 Takofanes The Archlich ................ 55 Hussar ...................................... 111
ADVENTURE USE ........................... 29 The Eternal Tulku ......................... 56 THE CONGERIES .......................... 112
ELYSIUM ......................................... 30 Zarrindokht ................................. 56 Region Generator ...................... 113
GEOGRAPHY ................................. 30 THE ARCHMAGE ............................ 57 Skarn’s Hunting Preserves ......... 113
Sample Regions .......................... 31 Leading Candidates ..................... 58 Skarn’s Palace .......................... 114
INHABITANTS ................................ 32 OTHER MYSTICAL CREATURES ....... 59 TYRANNON THE CONQUEROR ...... 115
SPECIAL CONDITIONS .................... 33 GODS ........................................... 61 The Tree Throne ........................ 119
ADVENTURE USE ........................... 34 The Ban ...................................... 61 Lesser Throne ........................... 122
BEYOND EARTH ............................. 63 Viceroy ..................................... 125
BABYLON: THE CITY OF MAN.......... 35
MYSTIC PLACES ............................. 65 Emissary ................................... 127
GEOGRAPHY ................................. 35
MAGICAL POWER SITES................. 65 TYRANNON’S VARIED POWERS .... 128
Sample Locations ........................ 36
Natural Sites ............................... 66 MINIONS ..................................... 133
INHABITANTS ................................ 37
Death Sites ................................. 66 Signifer ..................................... 134
SPECIAL CONDITIONS .................... 38
Calendar Sites ............................. 66 THULKOS .................................... 135
ADVENTURE USE ........................... 40
History Of A Power Site: FIGHTING TYRANNON .................. 137
MISCELLANEOUS DIMENSIONS ...... 41 The Roche Building ................... 67 THE DRAGON AND THE NAGAS ..... 138
MALKUTH: LOEZEN....................... 41 LEY LINES ..................................... 68 The Dragon Bound .................... 141
YESOD: YGGDRASIL, REALM NEXUS POINTS .............................. 68 The Dragon Incarnate ................ 143
OF PLANT LIFE ............................ 42 WEIRDNESS MAGNETS AND The Tiamat Brazier .................... 146
HOD: THE CITY-STATES OF YONG .. 42 DESTINED LANDS........................ 69 Ophite ...................................... 148
NETZACH: THE MILLWORKS Washington, D. C And The The Nagas ................................ 149
OF BROMION .............................. 43 American Occult Republic .......... 69 Glossary ...................................... 153
The Valley Of The Nagas ............ 70 Index .......................................... 155
4 Hero System 5th Edition Revised
INTRODUCTION
C HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
THE GM’S VAULT omic books have included magical and
mystical characters from their earliest days
Unlike most other set- as a medium. While all superheroes are Players and GMs can find inspiration for char-
ting-related books pub- special in their own ways, mystic charac- acters, villains, settings, and stories in The Mystic
lished by Hero Games, ters have always seemed particularly unusual and World. For GMs, this book provides a complete
The Mystic World does intriguing because of the aura of mystery which mystical Multiverse for their campaign. Want to
not include a “GM’s surrounds the arcane arts... and those who practice bounce characters through a series of weird dimen-
Vault” of information them. The Champions Universe reflects this tradi-
that only the GM should sions? This book supplies more than a dozen. Need
tion with heroes like Witchcraft (from Champions) a cosmic villain to threaten the world? Take your
know, for two reasons.
and villains like Takofanes, the Crowns of Krim, pick from three intriguing ones.
First, given the nature
of the book’s contents, and Zorran the Artificer (all found in Conquerors, The Mystic World isn’t just for GMs, though
separating the “secret” Killers, And Crooks). — players want to know about the secret world
information would make But mystical characters do not exist without their mystical characters inhabit. A PC might come
the text much less enjoy- a context. Super-sorcerers must learn their magic from an occult dynasty like the Vandaleurs, or fight
able to read. Second, somewhere; demons, gods, and spirits come from an arcane conspiracy like the Circle of the Scarlet
in most campaigns the realms of their own; ancient relics need someone to Moon. He could even come from one of the dimen-
sort of mystic characters make them. The Mystic World offers that context for sions described here: mythic races from Faerie,
whose players are likely Champions. It’s a guide to the realm of the mystic
to read this book closely tall-tale heroes from Babylon, and exiled rebels
and arcane in the Champions Universe and other against transdimensional tyrants are only a few
either know the “secret”
Champions campaigns. It provides resources for possibilities.
information, or can find
out about it with the right players who want to make mystical characters, and The Mystic World ties these characters and fac-
spells, Skills, or Contacts; GMs who want to make the supernatural an impor- tions together through several ongoing conflicts.
therefore it makes sense tant part of their game. The plots and counter-plots range from a conspira-
to keep it all together. Chapter One, Worlds Upon Worlds, describes the torial battle over Washington, D.C. to a billion-year
dimensions beyond Earth. Mystics frequently inter- struggle by malign elder gods trying to free them-
As always, the GM can act with these supernatural realms: they visit other selves. What looks like a simple robbery or murder
forbid players to read dimensions, or encounter beings who come from might actually be a move in a conflict centuries
sections of the book old. Gamemasters can build their own adventures
them. This chapter explains the structure of the
he doesn’t want them
Multiverse, and details the five dimensions most around these ongoing conflicts; PCs may be moti-
to know about. In par-
ticular, players should closely associated with Earth. vated by their allegiance or opposition to one side
not read Chapter Four, or another of a supernatural struggle. The deeds
Chapter Two, The Shadow World, explores the mys-
which contains descrip- and choices of the heroes may well decide the out-
tical subculture on Earth. Mystics gather in factions
tions and character come of these conflicts.
and occult conspiracies; this chapter describes the
sheets for many villains. Gamemasters and players can also find this
most important groups and individuals, and how
book useful simply as a resource for designing their
they interact with each other. It also describes loca-
ARCANE tions of occult power that mystics exploit.
own characters. The Mystic World describes dozens
ADVERSARIES of spells, of various power levels, you can use for
Chapter Three, The Book Of Wisdom, covers magic your own characters. You may even want to rewrite
The Mystic World refers itself from a superheroic perspective. In addition one of the sample villains as a hero instead: just
to many villainous super- to a distinctive style of comic-book sorcery, this change the character’s personality and you can use
mages, occult threats chapter describes several potent magic items heroes his character sheet with only a few modifications
from other dimensions, or villains might own or seek. It also has a few notes (assuming he fits into the campaign’s parameters, of
and other mystically- about game elements frequently used to create course!).
powered enemies the mystic characters or their powers. As always with HERO System sourcebooks,
PCs may face. Three of
the most powerful are Chapter Four, Mystic Master Villains, describes The Mystic World is meant to inspire your creativ-
described in Chapter three of the greatest evils to confront mysti- ity, not replace it. Its dimensions, factions, mystical
Four. You can find many cal heroes: Tyrannon the Conqueror; Skarn the places and secret struggles are frameworks to help
others in Arcane Adver- Shaper; and the enigmatic Dragon. Each master you design your own adventures. You can use them
saries, a companion villain comes with an assortment of henchmen… as-is, or adapt them as you see fit.
volume to The Mystic or hench-creatures.
World which contains
more than 50 villains
with mystic abilities.
Continued on page 6
chapter one:
THE FOUR
WORLDS
T
Continued from page 4 he Champions Universe extends beyond Atziluth contains the ultimate aspects of
Earth’s space-time continuum into countless Reality, beyond time, space and even separation
OTHER BOOKS other spaces, realms, and dimensions. As a into distinct entities. Only the most powerful and
whole, these form the Multiverse — the total- enlightened mystics can even perceive Atziluthic
Besides Arcane Adver- ity of existence. Mystics interact a great deal with the planes in visions, let along travel there physically.
saries, several other realms beyond Earth. Priests and cultists worship
Hero Games books
gods who dwell on other planes of existence. Sorcer-
provide details about the
Mystic World, or offer ers summon demons and other minions from a vari- THE SEPHIROTHIC
resources for GMs and
players with mystical
ety of spirit-realms. Heroic mystics battle invaders
from other dimensions, while evil mystics ally with TREE OF LIFE
characters. Champions such invaders in hopes of gaining power. Mystics superimpose a more detailed scheme
Universe and Conquer- This chapter describes what Champions Uni- called the Tree of Life over the general plan of the
ors, Killers, And Crooks verse mystics know about their Multiverse... or Four Worlds. The Tree of Life consists of the ten
mention or describe sev- think they know. The bulk of the chapter describes “Sephiroth” (emanations from God) cascading
eral mystic characters the “Imaginal Realms,” or spirit-realms tied to
and organizations. This
down from Kether (“the Crown”) through various
Earth. Naturally, mystics interact most with these concepts to Malkuth (“the Kingdom”). Western
book does not repeat the
information from those
local dimensions. The chapter concludes with brief occultists use the Sephiroth to subdivide the planes
other publications in descriptions of several more exotic planes GMs can into various groupings of “related” dimensions.
detail, but neither work develop as they choose. Mystics endlessly argue details about which planes
is necessary to read and THE BASICS OF THE MULTIVERSE belong in which sephiroth, but they agree on the
use The Mystic World. general classification scheme. The layers of Atziluth,
The Multiverse contains more dimensions Briah, and Yetzirah each contain three of the sephi-
Similarly, in many ways than anyone can count. Mystics try to make sense roth; Assiah receives just one.
The Ultimate Mystic is a of it all by classifying dimensions into some sort of
companion book to this structure. The structures imposed by these schools
publication, but you do of thought often differ based on culture, species, or Assiah
not need it, either. The other factors.
Mystic World and The Western mystics use the language of Kabbal- The bottom of the Tree of Life holds MAL-
Ultimate Mystic look at ism to describe the general arrangement of the KUTH, the Kingdom or material world. Earth’s
supernatural adventure Multiverse as they perceive it (many other human universe is a Malkuth dimension, but this sephira con-
and magical characters tains many other worlds as well. If a world resembles
from quite different per-
occultists have adopted this scheme as well, but some
use other methods, or perceive the dimensional Earth in important ways, mystics describe it as a Mal-
spectives — the former kuth-world. Assiah also includes dimensions whose
covers only superheroic structure differently). They divide reality into four
levels of being, which they call the Four Worlds. At systems of natural law make them very unlike Earth
mysticism, while the
latter examines arcane the bottom comes ASSIAH, the Material World. Next and its cosmos. Every Malkuth-world is in Assiah, but
powers and characters comes YETZIRAH, the Formative or Astral World; not every Assiatic realm is in Malkuth. Careless mys-
in any genre. BRIAH, the Creative or Mental World; and finally tics sometimes mix up these divisions, though.
ATZILUTH, the Archetypal World. The myriad Some mystics also confuse the Hebrew Assiah
dimensions fit within these four layers. with the Greek Asia (from Askia, “Place With-
Assiah contains the universes that run by the out Shadows,” originally a reference to southern
purely material principles of natural law. Earth’s Turkey). Mystics’ narratives of “travels in Asia” may
cosmos is a typical example. Inhabitants of Assi- have caused those old stories about India and Cen-
atic planes may use magic, but their worlds don’t tral Asia being inhabited by cyclopses, dog-headed
run by magic. men, and other strange creatures.
The planes of Yetzirah do run by magic. On Because Assiatic realms don’t run by magic, or
these dimensions, symbols and beliefs control usually feature common or widespread use of magic,
matter and energy. An ASTRAL PLANE links the they’re rarely the home of dimension lords like Tyran-
myriad dimensions of Assiah and Yetzirah. (That’s non the Conqueror or Skarn the Shaper. The closest
why mystics call Yetzirah the “Astral World.”) equivalent is Istvatha V’han, Empress of a Billion
The worlds of Briah are completely spiritual. Dimensions, who can travel through the dimensions
They embody concepts, states of mind, and abstract by non-mystical means, and whose territory is mostly
aspects of Reality such as Time, Death, or Number. Assiatic. However, some Assiatic planes possess great
They aren’t made of matter at all. Conceptual enti- power or potential for power, making them desireable
ties — the truly cosmic beings — dwell on these acquisitions for dimension lords; Earth’s plane seems
dimensions. particularly valuable to many such beings.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 7
Yetzirah
The Yetziratic World holds most of the dimen-
sions mystics visit. First come the Imaginal Realms
(or Inner Planes) that accompany the Earth.
Beyond them lie the Outer Planes, whose variety The Sephirothic Tree Of Life
has no end.
The Astral Plane contains several sections of
its own. Most importantly, mystics divide it into a
Lower, Middle, and Upper Astral Plane. The Lower
Astral Plane connects the Imaginal Realms to Earth
and each other. The Lower Astral also contains the
Dreamzone, a psychic realm composed of all the
dreams being dreamed at any given moment.
YESOD: THE IMAGINAL REALMS
YESOD, the Foundation, is the first divi-
sion of Yetzirah. Yesod holds the Astral Plane and
Earth’s psychic “Imaginal Realms,” so called because
human imagination creates them from the Astral
Plane. Mystics also call these realms the Parterres
(the “Lands To The Side”). The chief Imaginal
Realms are Faerie, also called the Land of Legends;
Babylon, the City of Man; the Netherworld; and
Elysium. Some mystics refer to the Parterres and
the Astral Plane as the “Inner Planes” because they
are easily reached from Earth.
Faerie embodies the myths and legends of the
ancient world — and some modern myths, too.
Elves, nature spirits, mythological beasts, and pagan
gods dwell in this Land of Legends. Such creatures
tend to act amorally, following codes that pay little
attention to good or evil. See page 19.
Babylon, on the other hand, embodies the
social settings humanity builds for itself. For better
or worse, it is the epitome of cities. See page 35.
The Netherworld contains all the Hells ever
imagined. It’s dismayingly easy to enter... but much
harder to leave. See page 25.
The syncretic Heaven of Elysium, in contrast,
is the most difficult Parterre to reach. This dimen-
sion of self-proclaimed pure Good can be as dan-
gerous to visit as the Netherworld, for many lords
of Elysium do not tolerate mortal imperfection. See
page 30.
Humanity is not the only species to shape the
Astral Plane. Animal life on Earth creates its own
Parterre called the Blood Tide. Even plants get into
the act, creating the astral realm of Yggdrasil (page
42). Humans find these dimensions extremely alien,
dangerous, and hard to enter, even though they
count as Inner Planes.
HOD AND NETZACH: THE OUTER PLANES
From Yesod, the Tree of Life ascends to the
sephiroth HOD (Glory/Splendor/Fame) and NET-
ZACH (Conquest/Victory/Permanence). These
divisions of Yetzirah contain magical worlds with
no connection to Earth or humanity. To reach
them, mystics must pass through the Middle Astral
Plane. Because of their greater “distance” from
Earth, astrally speaking, mystics call these dimen-
sions the Outer Planes.
Mystics generally assign to Hod planes that
run by magic but still run by themselves. In Hod-
8 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
THE ASTRAL
PLANE
O
f all dimensions, the Astral Plane has the The Lower Astral Plane
closest connection to Earth. Every point The Lower Astral Plane impinges directly on
on Earth touches part of the Astral Plane. Earth and its dimension (or any other Malkuth
Human souls touch the Astral Plane as realm). It includes various divisions of its own,
well, and may travel to that dimension in dreams, such as the realm of dreams. Dimensions in other
or sojourn there after death. Mystics consider “levels” of the Multiverse have their own Lower
the ability to see the Astral Plane one of the most Astral zones, but these tend to be rudimentary:
important occult arts. Advanced mages may even Outer Planes realms conserve their innate magic,
learn to leave their bodies and travel through the instead of spilling it out to form astral shadow-
Astral Plane as “living ghosts.” The Astral Plane realms. Only the fully material worlds of Malkuth
provides access to all the other Inner Planes, too. seem to generate complex Lower Astral Planes.
Mystics who visit the Astral Plane soon learn, how- When mystics speak of the “Lower Astral” without
ever, that it can be an interesting — and dangerous other qualifiers, however, they mean the Lower
— place in its own right. Astral Plane of Earth.
The Lower Astral Plane has several “divisions,”
discussed below.
GENERAL NATURE The Middle Astral Plane
The Astral Plane doesn’t have geography. It The Middle Astral Plane (a.k.a. Limbo)
has various divisions, each with its own distinctive enables mystics to move between all the worlds
nature and appearance, but they’re not arranged within Assiah and Yetzirah. An astral voyager
according to north or south, up or down, or other moves from Earth’s Lower Astral, to the Middle
normal conceptions of space. “Here” may connect Astral, to the Lower Astral of the other plane, and
to “there” because they look like each other, or from there perhaps to the dimension itself.
because they have a similar emotional aura. The Middle Astral Plane connects the Outer
The ability to reach one section of the Astral Planes. Travel through the Middle Astral looks like
Plane by Extra-Dimensional Movement does not flying though a kaleidoscope. Glittering, rainbow-
automatically grant a character the ability to reach hued circles, ellipses, and other shapes swirl in
the other divisions: in some ways, the Astral Plane an endless, multi-dimensional vortex. Countless
actually consists of several loosely-connected smaller gyres spin within Limbo; a traveler who
dimensions. Each section contains access routes to enters one of these vortices finds it explodes out-
other divisions, though. ward, revealing another level of whirling motion
Mystics divide the Astral Plane into the Lower, with its own smaller gyres.
Middle, and Upper Astral. From close up, each colorful fleck within the
Middle Astral provides a view into another dimen-
sion. An astral traveler seeks the proper gyre for
VISITING AND PERCEIVING his target plane, then selects a portal for a specific
region. The portals to a plane share a similar shape
THE ASTRAL PLANE and color. Finding the right portal in the ever-
changing swirl is entirely a matter of intuition and
If a character wants to travel to any part of the Astral force of will, like any astral journey. A portal grows
Plane, he needs to buy Extra-Dimensional Movement large enough to accommodate any creature who
to “a related group of dimensions”; travel to a single
wants to pass through it. Astral voyagers constantly
dimension has to be defined as taking him to either the
Lower, Middle, or Upper Astral. From there they may see strange denizens of other planes pop out of dis-
be able to go elsewhere, as described in the text. tant portals or dive into them again.
Most mystics don’t spend much time in Limbo.
On the other hand, if a character just wants to per-
Whenever a mystic uses Extra-Dimensional Move-
ceive the Astral Plane, it counts as a “single dimen-
sion” for purposes of the Dimensional Sense Modi- ment to go to or from an Outer Plane, however, he
fier and the like. glimpses the fractal swirl of the Middle Astral.
See page 96 for suggested rules for using Transdimen- The Upper Astral Plane
sional attacks against or within the Astral Plane. The Upper Astral Plane grants access to the
higher, spiritual dimensions of Briah, but mortals
do not easily make the passage to the Upper Planes.
12 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
a stereotypical ghost, and speak with a thin, hollow the sky of Astral Earth, or down below the surface.
voice. People with Astral Awareness also see “ghost” An unwary traveler might stray in the trackless
buildings that no longer exist in the material world, silver glow, and end up in another division of the
and other such “objects.” Lower Astral.
The other Inner Planes impinge on Earth Mystics call this zone of interface “Astral
in a few places. A person with the appropriate Earth.” Astral projectors begin on Astral Earth.
Dimensional Sense Modifier could see through From there, they can travel to other divisions of the
these nexus points to the various Inner Planes, Astral Plane — all the way to Briah, if they possess
but few mystics bother to develop such talents. enough skill and courage.
Nexus points leak onto the Lower Astral as well, so
IMAGINARY PLACES
a person with Astral Awareness can spot a nexus
anyway, and probably guess where it leads: Neth- The Lower Astral includes locations with no
erworld portals reek of evil and dread, while Faerie physical counterpart at all — they grow from the
portals carry an aura of mystery and allure. Nexi to imagination. To locate most of these places, charac-
Babylon feel exciting, while portals to Elysium radi- ters must abandon the guide of Earthly geography.
ate peace and holiness. Some imaginary places are archetypes, generalized
examples of locations. The ghost city of Windyburg,
for instance, grows from memories and stories about
DIVISIONS OF the “age of gangsters.” Windyburg doesn’t correspond
to any particular city in 1920s America, but it con-
THE LOWER ASTRAL tains the classic elements of any city from a tale of
Travel between the various divisions of the cops, gangsters, speakeasies, and bootleggers. Other
Lower Astral sometimes may be difficult, but it imaginary places grow from common dreams, such
requires no special powers once a character gets to as the Spooky Empty House, the High School Where
the Lower Astral. In other words, in the Champions You’re Naked, or the Sky Where You Fly.
Universe setting, Extra-Dimensional Movement to THE DREAMZONE
the Lower Astral provides a character with access
Most of the time, people’s astral selves stay
to various other dimensions “for free,” due to the
safely connected to their bodies. When humans
fact that the Lower Astral “links” to so many other
dream, however, their spirits enter a special section
planes. These include: the “astral realms” described
of the Lower Astral called the Dreamzone.
below; and the Quaternion Planes (Faerie, the
An astral traveler can enter the Dreamzone
Netherworld, Elysium, and Babylon).
just by finding a person who sleeps and dreams.
Reaching the appropriate nexus point or “link”
That person’s astral self now exists in the Dream-
in the Lower Astral to a plane the character wants
zone. A skilled astral traveler can follow the link
to visit may entail some travel within the Lower
from body to spirit, and so enter the person’s
Astral itself. This may be dangerous — the fact that
dream. (In game terms, this typically requires the
characters can use these nexi without paying Char-
Navigation (Astral) Skill.) Mystics enter dreams to
acter Points for the privilege doesn’t mean they’re
learn about people, to deliver messages, or some-
exempt from what goes on in the Lower Astral as
times to torment sleeping victims.
they travel it. That’s why some mystics (and other
Similar dreams tend to overlap, enabling
characters) buy better forms of Extra-Dimensional
a mystic to move from one person’s dream to
Movement that allow them to travel to such planes
another. In fact, ordinary dreamers sometimes stray
directly, bypassing the Lower Astral in game terms.
into other people’s dreams without knowing it.
(In setting terms, they still pass through the Lower
A mystic can leave a dream and return to
Astral; they’re just guaranteed to do so safely.) See
Astral Earth, but other destinations are possible,
Travel On The Astral Plane, page 16, for general
too. If a dreamer wakes up suddenly, astral intrud-
rules about this “free” astral travel.
ers are cast into a dark space studded with count-
This list is not meant to be exclusive. The GM
less transparent, silver-glowing sacs of various sizes.
can add other astral territories as desired.
Each womblike sac holds a transparent human
ASTRAL EARTH form, curled in fetal position — the astral selves of
An astral traveler can merely skim the edge, everyone on Earth. The tiny sacs of unborn chil-
as it were, of the Astral Plane. He exists astrally, but dren glow with fierce brilliance. As people grow
can still see and hear the material world, and move up, their sacs enlarge but most of them dim. When
through material objects like a ghost. (In game a person is awake in the material world, his astral
terms, this means buying an Astral Form power form sleeps and becomes faint almost to invisibil-
such as the one on page 80, which has Desolidifica- ity. When the person dreams, his astral form’s eyes
tion and other powers.) open and the dream plays out in a soap-bubble
Places that no one thinks about “thin out” or shimmer across the shining surface of the sac.
compress in the Astral Plane. The Lower Astral Astral projectors do not have such a Dream-
oceans, for instance, fade into grey limbo a few zone womb; they birthed themselves into the
miles from shore, because nobody pays much atten- wider Astral Plane. Either they keep their astral
tion to any particular part of, say, the mid-Atlantic. bodies safely locked within their bodies when they
Antarctica hardly exists at all on the Astral Plane. dream, or they wander the dreams of all humanity.
The same fading occurs if a traveler moves up into That’s not entirely a good thing for astral travelers,
14 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
ASTRAL INHABITANTS
Many sorts of beings visit the Astral Plane.
Some creatures dwell there permanently. Normally,
everyone on the Astral Plane is visible and solid to
everyone else, though astral beings may be harder
to damage than physical creatures.
GHOSTS
Large numbers of ghosts dwell on the Lower
Astral Plane. Most ghosts spend only a short time
(if any) on the Lower Astral before they evapo-
rate and the person’s soul moves on to its eternal Cutthroat Carl cannot leave his bar in Puerto
reward, but Earth’s vast population ensures a steady Muerto, while characters can never persuade New
supply of new ghosts. A few ghosts endure for Golgotha’s Men In Black to stop pursuing the para-
decades or even centuries. Ghosts usually stay in noid who dreamed them into existence.
Astral Earth, but some of them move to imaginary ATAVISMS
places or other astral regions.
When humans experience strong, visceral
DREAMERS emotions such as rage, pain, ecstasy, or terror, they
Dreamers stay within the Dreamzone, but create a grotesque little spirit on the Lower Astral
occasionally they venture into the general Lower — an atavism. These spirits might evaporate in a
Astral without realizing it, as spontaneous astral few days, or hang around for centuries. Most ata-
projectors. Dreamers can also enter the Lower visms are not actually evil, but they embody raw
Astral through dreams that become so common emotions and drives most good magicians prefer
they achieve independent existence and generate to restrain. Some evil magicians deliberately create
locations in the Astral Plane. Common nightmares and control atavisms.
like the Spooky Empty House, for instance, can act A creature who kills and eats an atavism
as portals from the Dreamzone to the rest of the experiences the sensation or emotion that created
Astral Plane. the spirit. Since most atavisms owe their creation
People who die while dreaming may endure as to very unpleasant feelings, spirits leave most ata-
ghosts. Some move from the Dreamzone to Astral visms alone. On the other hand, atavisms from sex
Earth, while others remain caught in a dream that and other strong pleasures seldom survive long
never ends. before someone eats them. The massed thought
of religious ceremonies can create strong positive
IMAGINARY PEOPLE atavisms. In particular, spirits flock to ceremonies
Many of the imaginary locations come with in which an animal is killed, cooked, and eaten,
imaginary people to complete the scene. The because that lets the ghosts smell and taste food
Spooky Empty House has its elusive monsters, again. Demons, on the other hand, feast on the
while Puerto Muerto boasts a complete popula- most negative atavisms.
tion of imaginary fishermen, sailors, and trades-
men. Most of these imaginary people seem like VISITORS FROM OTHER PLANES
ordinary humans except they never really die and Spirits from Elysium and the Netherworld
they cannot leave their assigned roles. For instance, enter the Lower Astral to observe human affairs
16 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
ASTRAL VERSUS
DESOLIDIFICATION
Normally, everyone on
the Astral Plane is solid
to each other, whether
they dwell permanently
in that dimension, reach
it through Extra-Dimen-
sional Movement, or have
Desolidification defined
as “astral form.” Charac-
ters with suitable special
effects for Desolidifica-
tion may interact with
astral entities, too, but
they cannot leave Astral
Earth or employ short-
cuts or instant travel:
they remain too bound to
the material world.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 19
INHABITANTS
Faerie’s inhabitants are as diverse as mythology
itself. In some parts of Faerie, legendary creatures
now live all mixed together, without regard to their
mythology of origin. Visitors might encounter
North European elves, Greek satyrs, the Russian
Baba Yaga, and Japanese tengu in the same forest.
In other parts, beings remain strictly segregated by
culture and the like. Fortunately, in Faerie every-
body (including visitors) speaks the same language.
The inhabitants fall into six general categories.
FAIRY-FOLK
Cultures around the world believe in a human-
oid but supernatural race. Europeans called them
Sidhe, Tylwyth Teg, or Fays (among many other
names). The Persians call them Peris. Cherokee Air-spirit Sylphs dwell in the clouds. Naiads live in
legend describes the Nunnehi — and that’s only the rivers, lakes and fountains.
beginning of the roster. For convenience, they can Nature spirits wield great magical control
all be called by their most familiar name: elves. over their own home, and some count as low-
Some traditions divide the elves into “good” and powered gods. For instance, the Wild Huntsman
“bad” tribes, such as the Gaelic Seelie and Unseelie or the supernatural hag Baba Yaga are powerful
Courts or the Norse Light Elves and Dark Elves. None enough to fight whole superhero teams with a
of the fairy-folk, however, are truly “good” in a human good chance of winning.
sense. Some races of elves simply do not actively seek
MYTHOLOGICAL MONSTERS
to harm humanity. The careless immortals of folklore
are capricious, deceptive, and dangerous. Elves are Many cultures tell tales about monsters. All of
amazingly generous when it suits them, but they can them now live in Faerie. Listing all the mythologi-
just as easily wreck a mortal’s life for sport. cal monsters possible would take a very large book,
Elves live in forests, grottoes, or palaces under but The HERO System Bestiary and Monsters, Min-
hills. Variant races live in other environments. ions, And Marauders are good information sources
Undines, for instance, reside in lakes or beneath the about such creatures.
sea; the sinister svartalfar, the Dark Elves, dwell in GODS
caverns deep underground and fear the Sun.
The ranks of the faerie-folk also include Not every godling or tribal spirit survives.
numerous intelligent but distinctly nonhuman Lots of people must believe in a god for hundreds
races, such as Greek centaurs and satyrs, Norse of years before it coalesces out of the Astral Plane
giants and dwarves, and Japanese tengu. As with and takes up residence in Faerie. The gods of small
the elves, these are flesh and blood creatures like tribes are usually just different names for the same
humans, rather than spirits. Some of these races spirits held in common by a wider culture.
have magical powers; others do not. Some pantheons command more power than
others. The old European and Middle Eastern gods
TRUE NATURE SPIRITS barely scrimp by after two millennia of Christianity
The fairy-folk often show strong connections and Islam. Still-worshipped pantheons such as the
to the powers of Nature, but the Land of Legends Japanese and West African gods remain power-
also holds spirits who embody specific natural ful and active. The gods of weakened pantheons,
phenomena. Dryads, for instance, are the spirits of however, still wield much greater power than
the trees; they wield magic powers over vegetation. most superhumans — at least within their own
22 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Faerie is not just Earth with magic — its
fundamental laws of reality change in far-rang-
ing ways. Representing these differences in terms
of game mechanics is often difficult, and usually
pointless. Fortunately, GMs can simply treat them
as plot devices, as much a natural part of the world
as air or gravity on Earth.
FLEXIBLE TIME
The passage of time in Faerie bears little rela-
tion to time on Earth. A person can spend months
in Faerie, yet return to Earth mere hours after he left
— or he can return from a night’s revels in Faerie
and find that decades passed back home. The differ-
ence between Earth time and Faerie time is usually
less extreme (in game terms, only 1 step difference
on the Time Chart either way) — but you never
know. Time remains consistent only within a group
of visitors. If anyone leaves the group for more than
demesnes. The mightiest mythological gods can a few minutes, time might go funny for him.
overpower even the most formidable mortal. The GM should not impose severe time differ-
The different cultural pantheons don’t like entials arbitrarily or often. Minor time differentials
each other, any more than different human cultures simply emphasize how the heroes passed “beyond
like each other. The common threat posed by the the fields we know.” The threat of more severe
“ethical religions,” however, prompted an indefinite time distortion gives heroes an added reason to
truce between most pantheons. The unprecedented stay together in Faerie: characters will think twice
contact between pantheons results in inter-cultural about striking off on their own if they know they
amours, and even a few children — new godlings could come back a day later and find the rest of the
unknown to mythology.These nascent demigods group gave them up for lost and returned to Earth
have power comparable to powerful superhumans. weeks ago.
TALKING ANIMALS On the other hand, if circumstances sepa-
rate one hero from the group, a time differential
Faerie includes Earthly wildlife. Some animals
can create mind-blowing effects. The separated
can talk or display other remarkable powers. In
PC might experience an adventure lasting weeks
fairy tales and legends, talking animals help the
or even years (narrated in summary by the GM)
hero in return for some favor the hero did for them.
— then rejoin the other PCs and find he was gone
But talking animals seldom fight — they’re advi-
only a few minutes! In short, the GM should use
sors, wish-granters, and givers of gifts, not another
time differentials to enhance a story, not just to
notch on the sword.
make the characters’ lives more difficult.
HUMANS Gods and the greater faerie lords can control
Humans still slip into Fairyland now and the time differential. For instance, if the heroes
then. Not all of them get out again. Mortals who please the elf-king Oberon, he might make their
live in the Land of Legends must find roles for two-week quest through Faerie take only two hours
themselves suitable for a myth or fairy tale. Faerie on Earth. Conversely, if the PCs visit an elf-mound
accepts humans who become hermits, consorts and give offense, their host might make their night
to elfin lords or ladies, peddlers, knights, poor but in Faerie last a century on Earth... but only if the
honest woodcutters, and the like. Some regions, like GM wants to do a time travel adventure next.
the Even Wilder West, come with their own set of The time distortions become especially severe
archetypal roles. A human who finds a place among in the Australian section of Faerie, called the
the mythic races — with the satyrs, centaurs, Dreamtime. Here, time hardly exists at all. Events
replay themselves, and even death is not perma-
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 23
nent. Mortal visitors to the Dreamtime soon feel ends speak of gods or elf-lords storing the deferred
like they were always there, and always will be. Per- aging in a small box they give to a returning mortal,
haps, in some sense, they are. Even other faerie-folk with instructions never to open it. Unfortunately,
find the Dreamtime uncanny. the human never receives an explanation of why
the box should remain closed... so eventually some-
RETARDED AGING
one opens it, and the person instantly grows old.
The natives of Faerie remain one age forever.
Human residents and visitors may gain the same FIXED PATHS
benefit in some regions, or if a powerful spirit or The Land of Legends tries to ramrod visitors
faerie lord wills it. In most realms, humans age into its ancient story motifs, and sometimes it isn’t
slowly but consistently, equal to 1 to 4 points of at all subtle. A danger foreshadowed becomes a
Longevity. The exact amount depends on the gods danger unavoidable: if the PCs learn the route to
or creatures who dominate a demesne. In Achaea, their goal holds certain hazards, Faerie might not
the district of the Greek gods, mortals receive two let them bypass those hazards. For instance, if a
points of Longevity. The Egyptian gods’ demesne hermit says you must face a monster to get through
grants 4 points of Longevity: the Egyptians placed a mountain pass, it’s no good trying to fly, teleport,
great store on an immortal afterlife. The Even or tunnel past the monster. The pass just goes on
Wilder West grants just one point of Longevity. forever, and when you finally stop, there’s the mon-
The Sullen Country makes all residents completely ster again, waiting to ask its riddle, demand its trib-
immortal... but Faerie’s agelessness carries a curse ute, or issue its challenge.
as well as a blessing. This doesn’t mean a whole adventure in
In the Land of Legends, mortal fertility drops Faerie must run on rails. Characters can always
as lifespans lengthen. Mortals completely exempt choose how they deal with a foreordained situ-
from time cannot have children. Any children who ation. The Land of Legends even adjusts itself
enter Faerie remain children forever, like Peter Pan. to reflect the characters’ choices. For instance, if
Gods or elf-lords can suspend this effect if they visitors insist on fighting every adversary, Faerie
choose, at least long enough for a child to be born reacts by casting them as warrior-heroes like
or grow up. Pantheon leaders typically extend this Beowulf, and supplying more monsters to battle.
benefit to their realms, so that their mortal subjects If the characters try to outwit opponents, Faerie
can breed more of themselves. offers riddles, illusions, and other chances for
Sometimes aging is merely deferred, not heroes to show off their cleverness.
avoided completely. On returning to Earth, a GMs can reflect this “story reality” by applying
person might gain back lost aging — based on the bonuses to Skill Rolls if the characters actively try
passage of time on Earth rather than Faerie. If the to play out legendary roles and storylines. In Faerie,
deferred aging amounts to decades, returning home what Champions refers to as “appropriate unlikely
can be a shock, as Rip Van Winkle found out! Leg- actions” (i.e., dramatically, if not realistically, proper
24 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
THE
NETHERWORLD
T
he Netherworld is the Imaginal Realm built demon’s jurisdiction. The tortures of the damned
from human ideas of evil. Here dwell the often show a certain rough justice... or would if
demons — incarnations of hate, fear, rage, they were not infinite punishment for finite crimes.
and all other negative emotions — in a cha-
PERSONAL HELLS
otic landscape as hostile as themselves. The Nether-
world isn’t just Hell: it’s every Hell ever imagined, The Netherworld also tucks in very personal
mashed together. Hells. Everyone has “personal demons” — pri-
vate fears, feelings of guilt, situations they dread
facing. A visitor to the Netherworld can turn a
GEOGRAPHY corner and step into his private Hell. Personal
Hells need not be confined to a single location:
The Netherworld has no consistent, large-scale they can take the form of a subplot or a sequence
geography. It can seem completely different from of characters threaded through other sections of
visit to visit. Particular regions are locally stable, but the Netherworld.
the connections between them remain fluid. Large The GM should design a “personal Hell”
sections of the Netherworld seem to follow some scene for at least one character on any adventure
overall plan, but different visitors can find com- to harrow the Netherworld, using the character’s
pletely different geographies. On one visit, heroes personality and history as a guide. Encountering
might land in the nine descending circles of Dante’s a personal Hell might be no more than a jab at a
Inferno. On a return visit, they might find the character’s Psychological Limitations, or it might
city of Pandemonium from Milton’s Paradise Lost put a hero in deadly peril.
instead. If a visitor travels long enough, though, Of course, everything that heroes hear and
eventually he can find any Hell he wants. see in their private Hells is a lie: all the characters
LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS they encounter who accuse them and play on their
guilts, fears, hatreds, and desires are demons in dis-
The Netherworld’s landscape varies widely
guise or illusions, and they’re lying their heads off.
but it is all unpleasant, composed of elements that
One seldom finds truth in the Netherworld.
people find ugly or frightening. There’s lots of tra-
ditional fire, smoke, lava, and barren stone. Most
of the Netherworld is dimly lit and the air reeks. Sample Regions
Other traditional features for Netherworld scen-
ery include: sandy desert; glaciers and plains of Here are a few regions characters might find in
ice; pits and trenches; swamps; rivers and lakes of the Netherworld.
fire, boiling blood, pitch, slime, or icy black water; PANDEMONIUM
garbage and offal; dark, trackless forests; reptiles;
The town-sized palace of Pandemonium
vicious beasts; insects, worms, and maggots.
is the seat of government for the Descending
CULTURAL HELLS Hierarchy. Here Mephistopheles, the Emperor of
The Netherworld includes more than the Judeo- Pride, files the pacts between devils and mortals
Christian-Islamic ideas of Hell. A Hindu visitor and coordinates the ceaseless war against God for
arrives in that religion’s demon-realm of Naraka. A human souls. All the demon lords of the Descend-
Taoist or Buddhist encounters the Chinese Hells. ing Hierarchy keep apartments at Pandemonium,
Even the Greek Hell of Tartarus and the Norse Hell and the palace forms the principle setting for their
of Niflheim survive, although visitors probably intrigues. Pandemonium is built entirely of gold
would not appear in them spontaneously. In fact, and jewels; mortal visitors describe it as gaudy and
no matter what Hell a character appears in, he can tasteless, but with a certain grotesque grandeur
enter other cultures’ Hells — for instance, he could from its sheer size. The palace-city is built on the
descend a crevasse in the icy ninth circle of Dante’s shore of a lake of all-destroying fire. According
Inferno and end up in equally chill Niflheim. to Milton’s Paradise Lost, the rebel angels fell into
this lake of fire and emerged as devils. According
DEMON LORD FIEFDOMS to the Book of Revelations in the Bible, at the Last
The more powerful demon lords shape stable, Judgment God will consign all the devils and the
personal desmesnes according to their tastes. damned to this lake. The fire shall destroy them
Here they torment the souls of former pacters and instantly and utterly, but the smoke of their burn-
people whose ruling passion placed them in the ing shall rise forever.
26 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Bu Jing Suo, in the first tribunal, punishes their torments. Depending on what punishment
lazy Buddhist priests, monks, and nuns who did they receive, the damned might be naked, dressed
not perform the prayers and devotions that other in tattered clothes they wore in life, or something
people paid them to, and so endangered their cli- more exotic. In Dante’s Inferno, people who sold
ents’ souls. These dishonest clerics must copy the holy offices had to walk in immensely heavy cowled
prayers and scriptures they neglected, over and robes of gilded lead. In some cases, the damned
over, in a cold and windy schoolroom, with no light might be altered in strange and horrible ways. In
except a tiny, flickering oil-lamp. Dante’s Wood of the Suicides, for instance, the
damned are turned into bleeding, speaking trees.
INHABITANTS
All the Netherworld’s inhabitants are spirits.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
They fall into two main groups: the demons and The Netherworld and its denizens follow a
the damned. number of special rules. The GM doesn’t have to
represent these special conditions in terms of game
DEMONS AND DEVILS
mechanics, any more than he needs to write up
The dominant inhabitants of the Netherworld, Earth’s gravitational field as Telekinesis — these
of course, are the demons. Gamemasters can get conditions are intrinsic features of the dimension
a lot of gaming mileage from demons based on itself.
Judeo-Christian-Islamic mythology, but a little
research in mythology and folklore can turn up INDESTRUCTIBLE SPIRITS
fascinating demons from other cultures, such as None of the Netherworld’s inhabitants can
Hindu Rakshasas or the plague-causing Maskim truly die or lose consciousness no matter what
from Mesopotamian myth. Several gods of evil or torture or mutilation they endure, because they’re
death from defunct mythologies remain active as already dead. Conditions that would spell death for
demon lords. In fact, famous demons like Beelze- a living person (sufficient negative BODY) merely
bub and Astaroth started as the gods of nations incapacitate a damned soul. Given time, the demon
competing with the ancient Hebrews (most notably or damned soul regenerates at a rate of 1 BODY
the Phoenicians and Syrians). per Turn. Likewise, negative STUN simply means
Mystics sometimes call the demons of the a damned soul cannot act. The person remains
Abrahamic traditions “devils,” to distinguish them aware of what happens around him, or to him, as if
from the evil spirits of other mythologies. The
lords of devilkind hold feudal ranks such as Earl,
Marquis, Prince, and King, in an infernal Descend-
ing Hierarchy. Some devils also claim titles such
as Chancellor or Knight Commander. Devils even
boast their own order of knighthood, the Order of
the Fly, whose members compete in deeds of awful-
ness. The Descending Hierarchy is not very orderly:
Devils may hold multiple ranks, and their intrigues
for power surpass the Borgias for ruthless treach-
ery. The mightiest archdevils call themselves the Sin
Emperors — supreme exemplars of one particular
brand of evil. Mephistopheles, Prince of Lies, claims
the title of Emperor of Pride; Baphomet styles
himself Emperor of Wrath; Beelzebub, leader of
the cohort of fallen Middle Eastern gods, became
Emperor of Envy through jealousy of the God who
supplanted him.
Demonic Animals
In some parts of the Netherworld, animals
assist the demons. Many demon lords ride some
sort of beast: the grimoires describe demons
riding horses, wolves and crocodiles. Infernal “hell
hounds” are traditional, too. (The HERO System
Bestiary describes both hell hounds and demon
steeds.) Dragons, vipers, and other vicious beasts
also help the demons torment their charges.
DAMNED SOULS
Damned human souls form the largest bloc
of the Netherworld’s inhabitants. The damned
usually look just as they did at their time of death
— aside from any damage inflicted on them by
28 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
The highest ranks of the Netherworld’s lords,
the true Arch-Devils and Demon Kings, wield
special power over their personal demesnes. This
is really a power of the demesne itself, to respond
to its master’s desires. A demon lord’s large Vari-
able Power Pool can generate these effects. In most
cases, though, GMs do not need exact numbers.
They are plot devices. None of these environment-
control effects cost any END.
Change Environment
A Netherworld demesne’s master can produce
any environmental condition that has no signifi-
cant combat effect (i.e., no more than a single -1
penalty) and is even remotely appropriate for the
master’s territory. This can cover as much of the
desmesne as the demon lord wants. Typical effects
include greater light, gloom, wind, rain, heat, cold,
or odors.
Topographic Control
A demon king can change its demesne’s land-
scape at will to create or destroy hills, valleys, rivers,
gorges, and other landforms. The demon cannot
use this by itself as an attack, though topographic
control may serve as the Special Effect of an attack
(see below). Changing the landscape can still
inconvenience intruders. For instance, a demon
king might fracture the land with a network of can-
yons to hinder someone who tries escaping on foot.
Illusions
A demon king can create wide-area, virtually
he were continually Stunned. This lets the demons undetectable illusions in its demesne. Archdevils
do truly horrible things to their charges... and the use illusions to deceive intruders about where they
damned stay conscious through it all. are, who they face, and what sort of danger they’re
On their home turf, demons share these in. Any combat automatically breaks the illusion.
immunities. They can’t be dispelled, and they ignore Illusions are especially popular with the subtler sort
pentagrams and magic circles. Certain special of demon lord, who would rather trick and seduce
methods can, however, truly destroy a demon or a the heroes.
damned soul. Being eaten is one method: demons Limited Omniscience
and devils feed upon damned souls. The more The master of a Netherworld demesne has
refined demon lords have their own version of great awareness of local events. The demon king
gourmet cooking. Lesser demons who fail in their effectively has Clairsentience with all its Senses,
assignments may end up on the dinner table, too. enabling it to look anywhere in its demesne that it
Some kinds of magic might permanently pleases. The demon king can also Mind Link with
destroy a soul or spirit. These should be fairly exotic any of its minions at will. Fortunately for heroes,
attacks, such as AVLD Killing Attacks or Adjust- archdevils don’t spend all their time spying on their
ment Powers. A Killing Attack whose only defense fiefdoms — they do so only if they have reason
is a Mental Defense Force Field, a Penetrating to suspect a threat, or once in a while just to keep
BODY Drain, or a strong enough Dispel once a their minions paranoid.
demon or soul is incapacitated by BODY loss might
suffice. Avarice demons Transform the damned into Environmental Attacks
metal and stone, then break them up for raw mate- Demon lords can evoke and control features of
rials for their craftsmanship; this is pretty final, too. the environment as attacks. In a volcanic demesne,
Any method chosen to kill a Netherworld for instance, a demon king can create small erup-
inhabitant should be somewhat difficult. Christian tions (RKA Explosion) and streams of lava (RKA
theologians call Hell “the Second Death.” Delivering with Area Of Effect [Line]). In a swamp, a ruling
a third and ultimate death to a spirit should be a spirit can lay down belts of quicksand (Entangle
momentous event that holds serious consequences with Area Of Effect and Limitations) and animate
— not something a character does lightly. the plant life to clutch and strangle (Nonselective
Area Telekinesis).
If the GM doesn’t want to create environmental
attacks through a Variable Power Pool, simply set the
Active Point cost of such attacks at about the same as
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 29
ELYSIUM
T
he realm of Elysium formed from human contact. A traveler from one set of demesnes to
ideals of Goodness; more specifically, the the other must find paths through small, marginal
ideals set by the so-called “ethical” religions. regions of Elysium.
Elysium coalesced out of the Astral Plane On the other hand, nexus points link Elysium
around the fifth century BC. The previous 400 to the other Imaginal Realms — even its enemy,
years saw a remarkable wave of religious reformers, the Netherworld. The Abrahamic Elysians care-
prophets and mystics. In China, Lao Tzu revealed fully guard all nexus points from the Netherworld
the mystic vision of Taoism; Confucius proposed and Babylon, but the zones of the Eastern religions
a more worldly philosophy of good conduct and maintain strong, even promiscuous, connections to
social contracts. In India, Siddhartha Gautama regions within the Netherworld and Faerie. Taoism,
became the Buddha — the Enlightened One — and for instance, is only half an ethical religion: popu-
set forth a path of inner peace and transcendence. lar Taoism retains its ties to older, animistic beliefs
Vardhamana, founder of Jainism, preached a doc- in gods, nature spirits, and ancestor worship. The
trine of total nonviolence and reverence for all life. Celestial Emperor’s court in Elysium rules the Chi-
In Persia, Zoroaster proclaimed the duty of every nese sections of Faerie and exchanges diplomatic
person to choose the right side in the eternal war of missions with the Yama-Kings in Chinese Hell.
Good and Evil. The Jews in Palestine reformed the
LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS
Torah after their captivity in Babylon, and so laid
the foundations for Christianity and Islam as well. Many cultures imagine Heaven in terms of
In Greece, philosophers like Thales and Pythagoras gardens and palaces. Even when the abode of the
explored rational inquiry and humanism. blessed features mountains and forests, these are
All these thinkers rejected the capricious, stylized, well-behaved landscapes, with terraces and
all-too-human gods of their time. They created pavilions from which characters can enjoy the view.
new moralities based on higher laws than mere All the symbols of ease and pleasure show up
tribal custom and the whims of fickle deities. They repeatedly in Elysium. Palaces, fountains, and even
intended their new laws for all people and all cir- trees are made of silver and gold. Jewels appear
cumstances. New beliefs created new spirits and as gravel in streambeds, or form the pavement of
new spirit-realms that gradually pulled away from halls. Fruit trees and flowers abound. The blessed
the Land of Legends, even as Faerie pulled away wear clothes of costly fabrics and dine on the finest
from Earth. food and drink, but no one has to do laundry or go
to the bathroom.
The regions where the Great Powers themselves
GEOGRAPHY dwell, however, go for grandeur instead of luxury.
Here the scenery runs to mammoth temple-palaces
Elysium is the most difficult Imaginal Realm of gold, marble, and jewels, with rivers of fire, blazing
to reach from the Astral Plane. Without an invita- light, and hosts of spirits singing praises.
tion from a resident or a total religious commit-
ment, all attempts to reach Elysium suffer a -5 RELIGIOUS HEAVENS
penalty on Navigation (Astral or Dimensional) Most regions of Elysium derive from the
rolls. The GM may even want to require a roll from Heavens or Paradises envisioned by a particular
characters whose Extra-Dimensional Movement religion. Here you find the luxurious Seven Heav-
powers normally work automatically. ens of Islam, the paradisaical island of P’eng-lai
It’s not easy to go from one section of Elysium from Chinese mythology (and many more — pop-
to another, either. In the other Parterres, connec- ular Taoism and Buddhism have invented dozens
tions between regions are easy and visible: it’s just of Heavens). Since human ideas of Paradise are
a matter of traveling the right path. In Elysium, often quite fuzzy, many regions in Elysium merely
however, the regions did not grow together tightly. echo general ideas of what a Heaven should be,
To pass from one region to another, a traveler without following specific myths too closely.
must locate hidden nexus points, or use Extra- The Jewish, Christian, and Muslim demesnes
Dimensional Movement powers. As a general rule, form the most isolated bloc of Elysian regions.
the Heavens of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, These regions communicate somewhat because
Christianity, and Islam) have pretty good access to the three religions share their God (even if they
each other. The Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist disagree on His message). The Abrahamic spirits,
Heavens also enjoy good connections, and even however, refuse to admit the existence of the other
admit each other’s existence. Between the Eastern Heavens. In fact, the angels are under orders not
and Western Heavens, however, there is no direct
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 31
Sample Regions
Here are some examples of Elysian demesnes.
Some come from “official” religious doctrines (with
descriptions drawn from various scriptures), while
others come from popular mythology.
THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM
“It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and never sees rain, but a mist periodically rises from
at the gates twelve angels... The wall was built of the ground to water the plants. All kinds of ani-
jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The mals dwell in peace within the Garden, except the
foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with accursed serpent.
every jewel... and the twelve gates were twelve pearls, Unlike most paradises, Eden looks relatively
each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the natural. The trees and plants bear flowers and fruit
street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass... continuously, and the animals are all vegetarians,
And the city had no need of sun or moon to shine but the plants are still just plants and the animals
upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp are just animals (they aren’t made of gold or any-
is the Lamb” (Revelations 21:12-23). thing like that). Even the Trees of Knowledge and
The Christian districts of Elysium all connect Life look like regular fruit trees — an apple and a
to the Heavenly Jerusalem. The most devout of the peach, as it happens.
blessed dwell within. The Book of Revelations says Although Eden connects to other Abrahamic
that after the final defeat of Satan, this divine city Heavens, access is forbidden. Angelic guards with
shall manifest on a transformed Earth. Until then, flaming swords stand at Eden’s access points with
anyone who seeks a face-to-face meeting with the orders not to let any human enter for any reason.
saints must dare the city’s golden streets. The truly
righteous and redeemed may enter in safety, but Pop Heaven
any mortal who is less than perfectly devout and Countless movies, cartoons, and TV commer-
penitent commits blasphemy just by passing the city cials portray Christian Heaven as a realm of puffy
gates. The Heavenly Jerusalem’s guards punish such clouds inhabited by white-robed men and women
blasphemy with death and consignment to Hell. with white wings and tinsel haloes. Some of them
carry little harps. Pop Heaven is entered through
The Garden Of Eden a gate of golden filigree. The gatekeeper, St. Peter
“And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, (or at least someone who says he’s St. Peter) owns a
in the east... And out of the ground the Lord God book listing who’s due to arrive.
made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight
and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst JANNAT
of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of The Koran describes Jannat (“Garden”), the
good and evil” (Genesis 2:8-9). Heaven of Islam, thus: “This is the similitude of
Four rivers spring from the hill where the Paradise which the godfearing have been promised;
Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge grow. Eden therein are rivers of water unstaling, rivers of milk
32 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
unchanging in flavor, and rivers of wine — a delight pagan bit of Paradise. Rock Candy Mountain is one
to the drinkers; rivers, too, of honey purified; and of the safest parts of Elysium to visit. It also con-
therein for them is every fruit, and forgiveness tains hidden nexus points to other folk Heavens,
from their Lord” (Sura 47:16). and the Land of Legends.
Other stanzas mention the houris, the beauti-
ful, dark-eyed and perpetually virginal maidens who
wait to pleasure the faithful Muslim man when he INHABITANTS
wants a change from drinking water, milk, honey,
The inhabitants of Elysium lack the diversity
and the wine that was forbidden to him in life. The
of Earth’s other Parterres, but they include some
Koran is a little fuzzy about any corresponding
of the most powerful of spirits. Billions of people
rewards for faithful Muslim women. Muslim theo-
actively worship the gods of Elysium, so they
logians say the rewards of Jannat are symbolic, and
receive abundant magical energy to share with their
therefore gender-neutral. As always, however, the
subordinates.
popular imagination stays firmly literal.
Some of the Elysian spirits have roles in
P’ENG-LAI SHAN more than one religion. The Archangel Gabriel,
These three islands form the Eastern Paradise for instance, is an important figure in Judaism,
of popular Taoism. Here life is all ease and pleasure. Christianity, and Islam. Gabriel must hop between
The houses are built of gold and silver, and the trees demesnes and pretend in each one that the other
bear coral and pearls. The snow-white birds and ani- Heavens don’t exist; he is not a happy archangel.
mals drink, like the inhabitants, from the Fountain All Elysians are good, by the standards of the
of Life. Flowers scent the breeze with delicious per- religions that spawned them. They are not neces-
fumes, and their seeds grant immortality to whoever sarily gentle, merciful, or in other ways “nice.” Most
eats them. P’eng-lai’s most famous inhabitants are a religious codes of morality place a strong emphasis
group of deathless sages called the Eight Immortals. on punishment... or at least most believers think so,
Legends claim that P’eng-lai is hard to reach even if the official doctrine centers on forgiveness
even for an Earthly paradise. The water around the or renunciation of violence.
islands has no buoyancy, so ships sink; the three ANGELIC SPIRITS
islands can only be reached by magic. Actually,
Each of the ethical religions defines its own
P’eng-lai never existed on Earth at all, but it’s still
classes of servitor spirits. The Abrahamic traditions
true that no one can sail or swim in the waters
call them angels. The amschaspands and yazatas
around these blessed isles.
of Zoroastrianism are very similar. Hinduism
AMITABHA and Buddhism share the devas. Popular Taoism
Amitabha is only the most well-known of the describes assorted fairies and genies called shen.
Buddha-land Heavens. Amitabha features lotus Confucianism propounds no spirits of its own, but
ponds, avenues of trees decorated with jewels, birds advises followers to revere their ancestors and the
that sing in tune with spirit musicians, perfumed gods of Taoism, because they are part of tradition.
air, and jewels strewn like gravel. Buddhas, bod- The Abrahamic angels are currently the most
dhisattvas (Buddhist “saints”), angelic spirits, and active and militant Elysian spirits. Most of them are
minor gods dwell in Amitabha along with other not warm and fuzzy benefactors of mankind. Only
blessed souls. the Angels of Mercy fit that modern, watered-down
Unlike most religions, the Heavens of Bud- conception. Older lore says that angels punish as
dhism are not places for permanent residence after often as they reward or assist.
death. They merely serve advanced souls as pleas- BLESSED SOULS
ant way-stations between incarnations. The real
Just as notably evil souls go to the Nether-
goal of Buddhism is nirvana — dissolving the self
world, the souls of notably good people go to
into the Cosmic Mind that is the only true reality.
Elysium when they die. Elysium’s population of
The wise inhabitants of Amitabha are just a few
former mortals is considerably smaller than the
steps from this goal, or have done so but resumed
Netherworld’s.
mortal limitations to teach the rest of humanity.
The blessed who attain Amitabha learn how to take Saints And Sages
those final steps, and the Buddha-land’s sages know The mightiest among the blessed are the saints.
many great secrets of the Multiverse. Their god delegates power to them. Some saints
developed magic powers of their own, before their
ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN
death; some even receive significant worship on
“Oh, the buzzing of the bees in the peppermint their own. The term “saint” here refers not just to
trees, and the soda water fountain....” The modern Christian figures, but also to Hebrew prophets such
version of the garden of luxury, as envisaged by a as Elijah and Isaiah, Muslim imams and Sufi mul-
hobo, features candy growing on trees and other lahs, great Hindu gurus and yogins, Buddhist bod-
tasty surprises. A fellow can loaf to his heart’s con- dhisattvas, and Taoist and Confucian sages. Even
tent, or tease the ineffectual, wooden-legged cops a few secular people whose virtues brought them
and the dogs with rubber teeth. Rock Candy Moun- reverence become saints in Elysium, including rare,
tain gets boring after a while, though. saintly wizards such as Apollonius of Tyana.
No supernatural powers have yet claimed this Having been mortal themselves, saints feel
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 33
BABYLON: THE
CITY OF MAN
B GEOGRAPHY
abylon completes the Great Quaternion
of the Inner Planes. This dimension was
once very small, but it exploded in size Characters can journey to Babylon directly, or
and power as the human race multiplied approach it from the Astral Plane. From the Astral
and bound the Earth in railroads, highways, and Plane, Babylon looks like a tightly bounded blur of
cities. The lords of Elysium and the Netherworld towers. Once you enter the city gates, however, Bab-
view Babylon’s rise with both hope and fear, for it ylon explodes outwards and you stand in the thick
tips the ancient balance of power. An alliance with of the city. From the inside, in fact, Babylon doesn’t
Babylon could give either realm a final victory... or seem to have an outside: whichever way a charac-
Babylon might conquer all the Parterres and make ter goes, he finds more city. Babylon’s main streets
Man truly the measure of all things. seem to go straight but actually form closed loops.
Babylon echoes all the great cities of the past You can find the city gates again and leave for the
and present, real and imagined — perhaps even Astral Plane, but you must know the proper route.
cities to come. Mere size does not confer greatness: The city contains many districts, each with its
a city must radiate its image into men’s thoughts, own character. The districts interpenetrate, appear-
so it became a thing of symbol as much as of wood ing and disappearing like overlaid mirages. A flight
and stone and steel, before Babylon reflects its of steps might connect imperial Beijing to a Middle
qualities. The London of Queen Victoria is more Eastern bazaar or a modern mall. Walking down a
real than the London of today — at least in Baby- single road, a character might see examples of the
lon. Hiroshima, whose famous cherry groves bloom architecture and customs of cultures separated by
a short walk from humanity’s most terrible feat of thousands of miles and thousands of years stand-
destruction, echoes more powerfully in Babylon ing side-by-side, or just across the street from each
than does Osaka, a sprawling megalopolis that other. Somewhere in Babylon — it’s not shown on
exists only because it is useful. any map — a subway leads to the city of Pandemo-
Babylon thus resembles every great city on nium in the Netherworld, and an elevator reaches
Earth, only more so. Its skyscrapers tower impossibly the New Jerusalem in Elysium.
high. Its freeways sprawl wider than football fields; Characters can buy guides to the mazy, shift-
its back alleys form a cramped and tangled maze. It ing streets of Babylon, but interpreting the multi-
is built on a bay, a river, a crossroads, and an oasis. dimensional maps is a task fit for an Einstein. Inex-
Like Rome and San Francisco, it has seven hills. In perienced visitors should hire expert help, such as a
its malls, department stores, arcades, and bazaars cabby or a street urchin.
you can buy anything possible to human art or fancy
— but some things cost more than money. HISTORICAL DISTRICTS
Babylon is, above all, the realm of secular Most districts of Babylon mimic the great
ambition. Power, money, and skill rule affairs in cities of the past and present, from ancient Athens
Babylon. True, the world’s great religions often to modern Los Angeles. Some of the oldest districts
place their hearts in cities: Jerusalem, Rome, are fading, though. Only fragments remain of cities
Mecca, Benares. Babylon holds many a temple, more than 2,000 years old.
cathedral, and mosque. But the cities find so much
more to occupy men’s minds; so many ways to IMAGINARY DISTRICTS
distract people from religion. St. Augustine advised Babylon also contains hints and fragments of
Christians to renounce the City of Man for the City imaginary cities such as the Emerald City of Oz or
of God. As fewer and fewer people take his advice, the sky-piercing spires of the traditional science
Babylon grows. What happens to the gods when fiction city, complete with monorails and hovercraft
humanity realizes it can build a new Heaven and pads. Visitors may see these districts in the distance,
new Earth all by itself? but it’s quite difficult to actually reach them.
ABSTRACT DISTRICTS
Some districts are based on abstract,
stripped-down aspects of cities. Babylon includes
a neighborhood where only the plumbing of the
buildings stands; a huge, tangled cloverleaf where
it’s always rush hour and the traffic is always
jammed; and a district entirely composed of
funeral parlors and tombs.
36 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Sample Locations objets d’art to divert the Emperor and his court.
In some ways, the Imperial Palace is a micro-
Here are a few of the unusual or important cosm of Babylon, just like Babylon is a microcosm
places within Babylon. of Earth. The Palace extends into several districts
of Babylon, where it takes the form of celebrated
FUTUROPOLIS palaces from history and legend. In the Old China
This classic sci-fi movie city features mile- districts, the Palace resembles the Forbidden City.
high, Art Deco skyscrapers and aircars flitting In Istanbul, you enter it through a copy of the Top-
about. Everyone is Caucasian and wears a silver kapi Palace. In Victorian London, the Palace looks
jumpsuit. Fins make buildings, vehicles, and and feels like the Tower of London.
machines look aseptically high-tech, in a quaint
and clunky sort of way. There’s no sign of plant or THE LIBRARY
animal life, wild or domesticated. The Library’s hushed chambers hold copies
of nearly every book or magazine ever formally
BYZANTIUM published on Earth, and a lot that weren’t. It is the
Artifice shows itself most beautifully in the greatest repository of information in the Parterres.
administrative district of Babylon. Byzantium A character with a borrower’s card can read news-
features broad streets and plazas lined with stately papers, novels, or magazines in languages he doesn’t
public buildings and villas, with lots of white actually know: everyone within the Library’s walls
marble, columns, domes, mosaic floors, and carved receives the Universal Translator Talent for pur-
friezes. Even the apartment buildings, shops and poses of reading the Library’s contents.
taverns on the district’s fringe show a crisp, Classi- The most amazing materials reside in the
cal dignity (regardless of what cultural or architec- closed stacks. The Library boasts extensive collec-
tural style they embody). tions of works lost to Earth, such as the plays of
In the middle of Byzantium stands the palace Sophocles that burned with the library of Alexan-
compound of the Emperor. The vast, labyrinthine dria, or the histories that the first emperor of China
place includes gardens and barracks. The huge burned so people would know nothing from before
throne room features a vaulted roof of dark blue his reign. Special vaults hold scrolls, tablets, and
lapis lazuli set with jeweled constellations. Abso- tomes from lost civilizations, all the way back to the
lutely everything in the palace is beautiful, or at Turakian Age and beyond, though these collections
least not ugly. The palace contains enough Greek are far less complete.
statues, Ming vases, Japanese scroll paintings, jew- The Library’s acquisitions program extends
eled Fabergé knicknacks, and Persian carpets to pay to books that might never exist. One endless
off the debts of every nation on Earth. Whole busi- room in the Library’s basement holds millions of
nesses in Byzantium work full time creating more automated printing presses churning out every
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 37
book that could ever be written. For centuries, the THE ROOKERIES
presses simply printed pages of random letters, on The name comes from Victorian London, but
the theory that eventually they would print out most major cities contain these noxious, violent,
everything. In 1973, however, the master wizard crowded slums — the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the
Archimago gave the Library a spirit of Artifice ghettoes of modern American cities, and more.
that sifts meaningful information out of random Babylon’s Rookeries are the worst of all. The slab-
processes. The spirit ensures that the presses print like public housing high-rises of concrete jostle
syntactically meaningful statements — real words smaller tenements of decaying red brick. Streets
in real languages, not gibberish. Archimago’s gift and alleys between buildings have been roofed
vastly accelerated the Library’s program, though the over and divided into rooms. Shanties perch on the
librarians still face the problem of finding out what rooftops; improvised bridges, tunnels, and ladders
stuff is actually true. The spirit knows nothing but connect the various structures. The chief industry is
grammar; it can’t sort truth from falsehood. crime; the inhabitants see all intruders as targets for
A borrower’s card for the Library of Babylon robbery and murder. If a criminal escapes into the
is a 1-point Fringe Benefit. This lets a character use Rookeries, nothing short of magic can locate him
the Library’s reference services at a low level. Effec- or drag him out again.
tively, the Library has at least an 11- rating in every
conceivable Knowledge Skill. Reference searches
take hours to days, at GM’s whim, with no benefits
for extra time. A card-holder cannot consult the
INHABITANTS
closed stacks, however, without special permission A city is made of people as much as streets and
from a librarian or various city officials. buildings. The people of Babylon are as remarkable
A privileged membership costs 5 Character as their home.
Points. This raises the Library’s effective knowl- HUMANS
edge rating to at least 13-, and lets the character
use the closed stacks (though he still cannot check Most inhabitants of Babylon are just ordinary
out these special books). No PC can start as a high humans, gathered from all the great urban civiliza-
priority user. The Library grants this Fringe Ben- tions. Most Babylonians live with their own kind
efit only in return for a bequest as magnificent as in their own districts, but they travel through the
Archimago’s information-spirit. city freely. Walking down a street in Babylon, visi-
tors see a Chinese rickshaw
dodge an elephant bearing a
sumptuous Indian howdah,
a medieval bishop arguing
theology with a Greek phi-
losopher, pinstriped Chicago
mobsters eyeing Los Angeles
gangbangers strutting in their
colors, a French courtier drip-
ping with lace and jewels,
Victorian streetwalkers, spac-
ers from future cities in the
asteroid belt, and merchants
of Timbuktu.
Every native of Babylon
speaks at least three lan-
guages fluently. This usually
includes English. More people
live on Earth now than in all
of history put together, so
the languages that are most
popular on modern Earth are
also the most common lan-
guages in Babylon.
CONURBITES
This magical race is anal-
ogous to the elves of Faerie.
The conurbites live TV-com-
mercial lives of glamor and
conspicuous consumption.
They look mostly human;
some of them sport “cyborg”
machine parts, and their skin
has a plastic sheen.
38 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Like the faerie-folk, conurbites possess innate in Babylon’s sewers, or the elementals of smog and
abilities. Conurbite powers usually deal with con- toxic waste. This is final proof, if any were needed,
trolling or reshaping matter. Each one also has a that Babylon has come of age as a dimension: it
special attack form based on an appliance, such as generates places, creatures, and images of its own,
“morphing” a hand into an electric carving knife instead of merely copying directly from human
(HKA) or a super-powerful blow dryer (EB with imagination.
Double Knockback). The conurbite race is very
new, and hasn’t found its final form yet.
POP ICONS
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
People, real or imagined, can materialize in Except for its geographic peculiarities, the
Babylon if enough people think about them. John dimension of Babylon has few physical conditions
F. Kennedy and Elvis live in Babylon. So do Sher- that could affect adventures. In many ways it is
lock Holmes, Bugs Bunny, and Ronald McDonald. the most Earthlike and “human” of the Parterres.
Watch out for Jack the Ripper: Babylon’s version Most of Babylon’s “special conditions” are social
is as lethal and unstoppable as people imagine Jack or economic. For instance, how does Babylon feed
to be, making him far nastier than the real Ripper. its population? It’s magic... and anyone who wants
Iconic real people never appear in Babylon until more of an explanation must discover the truth
they die. for himself.
than a person who simply walks: he moves faster, from Earth to the nearest bank, where they can
but passes through many more districts. exchange their cash or (in modern districts) with-
Teleportation does not work between dis- draw money from their Earthly checking accounts
tricts unless the destination is a Fixed Point or the in Babylon currency. Dishonest citizens accept the
character can actually see his target location. If a Earth money, but lie about how much it’s worth, or
character looks down a cross-street and see another do not offer the full exchange rate.
district, he can Teleport there. Characters who want Money from Earth has such value in Babylon
to travel instantly to locations in other districts because money is concentrated secular power — a
must use Extra-Dimensional Movement and suc- talisman carrying the power of the State, and that’s
ceed at a CK: Babylon roll, with the same modifiers big magic. The Netherworld takes power from
as normal movement. The character may use Navi- damned souls; Babylon takes power from money.
gation (Astral) as a Complementary Skill Roll. As more money from Earth lodges in Babylon,
the city-dimension becomes more real and gains a
LONG-RANGE SCANNING
tighter connection to Earth.
Babylon’s twisted, interwoven, many-folded
space makes it both easier and difficult to locate SECRET SOCIETIES
things at a distance (as by Mind Scan or Telescopic Politics turns bizarre in Babylon. The diverse
Enhanced Senses). For purposes of scanning, noth- population holds no consensus about how to rule
ing in Babylon is more than 1 kilometer (500”) the city. To make things worse, beings from other
away. After that, range modifiers stop. On the other dimensions — demons, gods, and dimension lords
hand, characters cannot register the direction of — lobby and conspire for influence. The result is a
anything more than 100 meters (50”) away. A scan plethora of scheming secret societies. A major frac-
beyond this range registers a shimmer of readings tion of Babylon’s population belongs to one society
from all directions, appearing and disappearing or another. Mystics often lead these societies, and
as the districts rearrange themselves. Babylon is a the Emperor personally infiltrates most groups.
great place to hide. Here are two of the largest conspiracies:
Mind Scan In Babylon The Shadow Cabinet
Characters can still use Mind Scan to form a The Shadow Cabinet serves the cause of Order.
mental link across districts of Babylon, or to target It seeks to subvert the government of Babylon and
Mental Powers. (Similarly, they can maintain a Mind create a regimented society, as prelude to taking
Link across districts, unless the GM rules otherwise over the Earth itself. Many rich and powerful
based on special effects, dramatic sense, or other
considerations.) To target other characters across
districts, however, requires that the Power used have
the Advantages Indirect (at least +½) and Transdi-
mensional (to or within Babylon; +½). The character
still doesn’t know his target’s actual location, no
matter how good a Mind Scan lock-on he obtains.
Most districts have a population in the thou-
sands. Mind Scanning such districts suffer a penalty
from -6 to -8. If a character does not know what
district his Mind Scan target occupies, he must
scan the entire dimension at a -14 OECV penalty
— equal to scanning the largest cities on contem-
porary Earth.
MONEY
Babylon accepts all forms of currency, from all
periods in history. You may have trouble finding a
shop that accepts stone disk money from Yap, but
the banks can handle it. You can pay for something
in florins and receive change in a mixture of dollars
and denarii.
None of the money in Babylon, however, is
quite like any on Earth. Archaic money looks new.
An Earthly numismatist might pronounce it a fair
copy of an old coin, but worthless except for the
metal it contains. Contemporary paper money
isn’t even a convincing fake. A Babylon dollar, for
instance, looks like “Monopoly” money.
You can spend Earth money in Babylon. In
fact, it’s worth more in Babylon than on Earth —
about five times as much! The Babylon government,
however, frowns on people tossing Earth money
around freely. Any honest citizen directs visitors
40 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
people in Babylon belong to the Shadow Cabinet. wear a silly outfit. A few people even join for seri-
The supreme leaders, however, all serve various ous philosophical reasons.
Lords of Order, such as Bromion (see Arcane The Parliament’s greatest weapon is Carni-
Adversaries). The Shadow Cabinet offers group soli- val. By declaring Carnival, the Fools can paralyze
darity and protection, a religious experience of the whole districts of Babylon as revelry draws people
Great Unity, and the promise of power and influ- from work to jam the streets. Carnival can force
ence in the New World Order. business leaders to take the Parliaments’s demands
The Shadow Cabinet controls an array of seriously. The Fools can also cause or provoke sab-
spirits with strange powers and even stranger otage, walkouts, and other labor actions. Against
appearances. These include the War Pigs, large hogs politicians, they prefer weirder methods such as
with self-working machine guns mounted on their guerilla home redecoration.
backs; the Futures Traders, two-faced men in suits The Fool’s Parliament controls its own strange
who talk backwards and forwards and remember creatures and agents. These include living toys, the
the future as well as the past; and the Young Pio- insidious Men In Plaid with their hypnotic googly-
neers, truculent boys in coonskin caps, armed with eye glasses, and the enigmatic Balloon Man.
oversized hatchets and paralyzing squirt-guns.
The Fool’s Parliament
The Shadow Cabinet’s chief enemy promotes
ADVENTURE USE
Chaos through a program that outsiders describe as Babylon’s merchants can obtain just about
“political surrealism” but which the leaders describe anything (if the price is right). Its library infinitely
as “Jell-O wrestling with penguins.” Order-lovers surpasses anything on Earth. Finding an object or
often deride individuality and impulse as foolish. consultant in Babylon, however, can be an adven-
The Fool’s Parliament replies that if freedom is folly, ture in itself — especially if someone else doesn’t
they are glad to be fools — and dress the part, too. want the PCs to succeed. Of course, mystic villains
Membership in the Fool’s Parliament offers can exploit Babylon, too. Villains find Babylon
some practical benefits. The secret society acts as especially useful as a hideout, since location spells
a labor union of sorts, helping workers deal with and powers are nigh-useless in the City of Man.
management injustice or financial problems. Those Both real and imaginary celebrities manifest
who want a pietistic religious experience can find in Babylon. The City of Man gives PCs a chance
one with a Lord of Chaos. Some people join for a to team up with Sherlock Holmes or superheroes
chance to strike back at society, or for a chance to from their favorite comic books. On the other
hand, heroes might have to fight Al Capone’s gang
or Jack the Ripper — or both!
Heroes and villains themselves could come
from Babylon. The City of Man could produce
urban analogs to “tall tale” characters like Paul
Bunyan or Pecos Bill. Such characters could have
adventures both in Babylon and on Earth. Babylon
also permits characters who seem to come from
other periods in history, without the need for actual
time travel. On the other hand, urban legends could
inspire some very grim villains, too.
You could even create campaigns set in Baby-
lon. For instance, a “Cops in Babylon” campaign
could combine the police of all ages, from Roman
city guards to futuristic “science police” — with
equally diverse perps. For a lighter campaign, “Be
Prepared” takes on new meaning for the young
heroes of a Babylon boy scout troop.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 41
MISCELLANEOUS
DIMENSIONS
N
ot all dimensions call for the detailed civilized folk of Loezen dwell near the megaliths.
treatment suggested for the Astral Plane Beyond the areas of full effect, the light gradually
and the Parterres. These brief sketches dims and the land becomes colder and wilder.
illustrate the sorts of worlds found in the Humans, or beings much like humans, form a
various divisions of the Multiverse. If a dimension majority in the civilized regions. Loezen also holds
isn’t meant to become an important setting within human-animal hybrids, such as the pterodactyl-like
a campaign, you don’t need more than a few strik- rhamphors, and wholly alien intelligences. About
ing images and important characters. If the players half a million years ago, Loezenian mages explored
enjoy their characters’ visit to a dimension, or want other planes and imported numerous species from
to create PCs from that world, you can invent more them, including some that were sentient. Other
details. Some dimensions could become the settings things came too, unbidden — subtle forces that the
for major story arcs or whole miniature campaigns. wizards did not detect until it was too late to con-
trol or dispel them. One of these caused the sun’s
decline: a Qliphothic entity entered the heart of
MALKUTH: LOEZEN Loezen’s sun and has grown larger for hundreds of
millennia, draining away the sun’s energy.
A dying green star gives this ancient world a
Long ago, Loezen’s mages created the megalith
tenth as much light as Earth receives from its sun.
network to delay planetary death and hold back the
Bright stars remain visible even during the day. Life
monsters. Since the Time of the Blazing Star, how-
persists on Loezen thanks to magical megaliths that
ever, the greatest magical knowledge has been lost.
boost the sun’s light for miles around them, giving
As the emerald sun weakens and erosion and mis-
light equal to a heavily overcast day on Earth. The
chance take their toll, a megalith falls every few cen-
turies; less often, a Loezenian
mage repairs one. The wild
regions grow, and the monsters
become bolder and more pow-
erful. By now, some former set-
tlements couldn’t be restored
even if someone drove away
the monsters. Ancient spells
mixed and decayed there,
producing perils to the soul as
well as the body.
The perils of the wild-
lands include many terrifying
monsters: “They Who Laugh
and Leap,” degenerate hyena-
like humanoids; Spidertrap
Vines, which telepathically
lure victims to the deadly
heart of their nets of tendrils;
the three-headed Slow Howl-
ers; and the Specter Groves,
where bizarre mutilations of
the spirit take place. Some
of Loezen’s more prominent
sorcerers include: the Sacred
One, who wields incred-
ible telekinetic powers from
within the sarcophagus that
holds his aged body in sus-
pended animation; Norom
Barcaldine, the Prince Who
Never Was, who erased
his kingdom from history
42 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
through an ill-considered experiment with time macy known to every master gardener. Parasitic
magic; and Queen Charsadda of the city of Olm, plants slowly, vampirically feed upon their hosts.
whose eternal youth and beauty may have some Forests and fields are places of silent, ruthless war.
connection to the Talisman of Invulnerability she Yggdrasil reflects this war. Human visitors
inherited from her late husband, Olm’s last king. to Yggdrasil encounter the psychic equivalent of
Loezen stands out from most worlds in having chemical warfare, parasites burrowing into their
almost no astral extension. The planet’s Lower bodies, and even less comprehensible attacks, all
Astral Plane is dark and wracked with fierce spiri- driven by passionless, relentless hunger. Yggdrasil
tual winds. Anything caught in the wind blows doesn’t ignore animal intruders: to the spirits of
further and further from Loezen until the astral Yggdrasil, animals are fertilizer that needs to stop
storm carries it into the sun. Loezen’s gods all tie moving. Visitors must leave quickly or go mad... or
their spirit realms to the planet as pocket worlds so maybe not leave at all.
they don’t blow away. No ghosts haunt this ancient
world: the astral storm takes any deceased spirit
who lacks a god to offer refuge. HOD: THE CITY-
Clearly, Loezen is a doomed world. The
ancient wizards understood this. They intended STATES OF YONG
the megaliths as a stopgap measure. In time, they On the plane its inhabitants call Yong, the larg-
folded Loezen’s god-realms into the Blazing Star est bodies of matter are no more than a few miles
and most Loezenians departed for another world, in diameter. These planetoids have surface gravities
leaving the planet with its maimed Astral Plane. comparable to Earth, but the gravity fades quickly
Some people, however, stayed behind. Rescuing with altitude. Yongese animal life looks reasonably
Loezen from its slow doom would be an impres- Earthlike as well, though the plants resemble giant
sive quest for Earthly super-mages. Many powerful mushrooms and fungi. The inhabitants look like
mystics still live on Loezen, but they are all too jeal- Caucasian humans, except for catlike eyes and hair
ous of their own power and independence to work colored black, green, blue, or purple, fading to grey
together. Most of them would rather flee to another or white as they age. Orbiting rings of glowing,
world, such as Earth, and leave the rest of their yellow-white rocks illuminate these small worlds.
world to die. Meteor streams of such rocks occur naturally.
Groups of these planetoids form the City-
States. A cluster has just one city. Notable city-states
YESOD: YGGDRASIL, include Yelbock in Pinchwell cluster, Vimpstead in
REALM OF PLANT LIFE Skartaven, and Pelferlost (cluster and city have the
same name).
Yggdrasil is most simply defined as the A council of each cluster’s leading merchants
Astral Plane created by plant consciousness, but elects an Autocrat. To cement the election, the new
this requires some explanation. Plants possess no Autocrat receives superhuman magical powers. The
consciousness in any human sense, but they react Autocrats are all intense rivals, though the physical
to their environment and to each other. An indi- nature of the plane makes real war and conquest
vidual plant’s “mental” field is much weaker than a impractical. Espionage is an accepted part of inter-
human’s, or even an animal’s, but there are an awful city relations, and has a code of professional ethics
lot more plants in the world than there are sessile of its own. Most of the Yongese are farmers, but a
creatures! Yggdrasil, the ash tree supporting the sizable minority lives in the cities as tradesmen and
world in Norse myth, supplies the most popular artisans. Pirates raid the remote clusters.
name for the dimension created by these massed The entire plane is filled with air. Pterodactyl-
“mental” fields. like riding beasts and magical flying boats carry
Unlike Faerie, which grew from human ideas people and goods between planetoids. The little
about Nature, Yggdrasil is truly a realm apart from worlds within a cluster are only a day or so apart,
humanity. A wizard who enters Yggdrasil — physi- whereas travel between clusters can take up to a
cally, astrally, or clairvoyantly — finds nothing month. Of course, Yong doesn’t actually have “days”
comprehensible in human terms. Sight and sound or “months.” Instead, Yongese tell time by “oscilla-
do not exist in Yggdrasil. Something like touch, tions” of the rings, which last from 16 to 48 hours.
taste, and smell exist in this dimension, since plants The Yongese accept magic as a normal part of
react to tissue damage and chemicals, but even life. Yongese magic always requires lengthy rituals,
these senses register in ways alien to human minds. so sorcerers prefer to craft magic items for ready
Just learning to interpret the sensations of Yggdra- use. All magic items incorporate yongspar, the
sil can take years. glowing mineral that makes up the rings.
Yggdrasil is deadly. Humans who think plants Autocrats gain their powers through a some-
are placid and gentle don’t know much about the what risky magic ritual, but few are themselves sor-
vegetable kingdom. Plants compete with each other, cerers. No two Autocrats receive exactly the same
as individuals and as species. The trees in a forest powers, but physical enhancement and energy
strive to overspread each other and claim a greater projection are common results. The ritual is kept a
share of precious light. Different species secrete great secret, because it strains the fabric of Yong’s
chemicals to attract or repel insects, or to boost or reality and can have unpredictable side effects. For
inhibit another species’ growth, a vegetable diplo- instance, the ring around Pelverlost City is pale
The Mystic World ■ Chapter One 43
Ulro Generation
Ulro is the realm of Urizen the Prince of Light, The realm of Tharmas, Prime Avatar of Nature,
Prime Avatar of Order. Ulro shows four faces to the has no proper name. Names do not exist in Nature.
visitor. First a visitor sees the Forest of Entuthon “Generation” describes what Tharmas does: he
Benython. The entire forest grew, banyan-like, from creates and maintains the blind cycles of birth, life,
the Tree of Mystery that sprang up under Urizen’s and death.
heel as he sat writing his books of laws. The tree Under the influence of Tharmas, Entuthon
trunks rise like pillars; the leafy branches interlace Benython becomes wild and tangled, almost a jungle,
in a dense web, creating dark, vaulted spaces like with spirits resembling wild animals. The forest can
caves, the second image of Ulro. change without warning to other images, such as a
In this view, Ulro becomes a labyrinth of cav- forest-like kelp bed (but visitors can breathe under-
erns, with the peculiar property that every path, water), or the tangled jungle of veins, nerves, and
from every point, leads downhill. You cannot back- tissues inside a vastly magnified living body.
track, because the caves change behind you. Crys- The central image of Generation, however, is a
tals in the walls and ceilings glitter with points of wild and rocky shore. Entuthon Benython surrounds
light like stars in the night sky, the third image. a dark and bitter lake called Udan Adan. This lake
Ulro becomes a huge void holding layer on can expand in a moment to a seashore, with Thar-
layer of slowly turning, concentric rings bearing stars mas rising from the water like a tidal wave.
and planets, like an old armillary sphere model of
the Solar System. The rings themselves are made of
crystal, only visible by an occasional glint of reflected Golgonooza
light. The sky of Ulro is full of clockwork. Golgonooza is the city of Urthona, Prime
Each star or planet is an entrance to a shining, Avatar of Art. The forest of Entuthon Benython
crystalline space, the fourth face of Ulro, where completely surrounds the city, with the farmlands
dwell the spirits who serve Urizen. The “sun” in of Allamanda as a buffer zone. Golgonooza is a
the center of the starry wheels is Urizen’s palace square, fortified city with castellated, golden walls,
of marble and crystal, blazing with light to illumi- four gates in each wall, and four massive statues by
nate all the space around it. Around the palace are each gate. Golgonooza’s walls are low but the inter-
Urizen’s garden and orchard, including the Tree connected buildings within tower thousands of feet
of Mystery, which easily expands and darkens to into the air.
become the Forest of Entuthon Benython again. Golgonooza lacks most of the features of a real
Urizen is not always found in his palace. city, like shops or vehicles. This architectural fantasy
Sometimes he explores the cave and forest with a of towers, terraces, streets, and courtyards is more
globe of fire in his hands, seeking he knows not an idea of city-ness than a city itself.
what. Sometimes he makes adjustments to his In the middle of Golgonooza stand the twin
starry wheels. He often goes to the Tree of Mystery citadels of Luban and Cathedron. Luban holds the
to argue fruitlessly with Orc — one of the forms great forge of Los the Smith, one aspect of Urthona.
taken by the Prime Avatar of Chaos. Cathedron holds the looms of Enitharmon the
Weaver, Los’s wife and another aspect of Urthona.
Beulah There do Los, Enitharmon, and their children
create spaces and times for other beings to inhabit.
The demesne of Luvah, Prime Avatar of Anyone can see that Luban and Cathedron have a
Chaos and emotion, is a moonlit realm of top, but no one can ever reach it, no matter how far
summer nights and perfumed bowers. It also or how fast they travel.
manifests as the wilderness of Entuthon Beny- The character of Golgonooza changes to suit
thon in its fiercest aspect. Beulah changes to the visitor’s mood. The buildings of Golgonooza
echo the mood of visitors. The Realm of Chaos can be made of gold like the walls, or silver, iron, or
can become a maudlin romance-land, a garden brick and stone. The city may hold crisp, Art Deco
for play, a hellish waste of hate and violence, or spires like something from an old science fiction
anything in between — but the moonlit, summer illustration; or lush palaces with carved walls, onion
garden of love and the wilderness of tortured, domes, and minarets; or the grim, forbidding sky-
twisted passions are its most common forms. In scrapers of an urban nightmare. Golgonooza shows
the latter form, Luvah takes the form of Orc, a all the faces of Artifice, from the best to the worst.
young giant wrapped in flames, chained to the
Tree of Mystery. In the romance-land version
of Beulah, Luvah and his feminine aspect Vala
appear as young lovers. Luvah and Vala take
many other forms as well, one for every passion
ever felt by mortals.
48 ■ Worlds Upon Worlds Hero System 5th Edition Revised
MYSTIC
PEOPLE
T MYSTICS AND
OTHER OCCULT he Mystic World has its own values and
DYNASTIES conflicts. Its arcane geography extends from
their power through amazing coincidences, lucky much like Europe’s old royal families. Now and Continued from last page
breaks, or tragic accidents. Instead of a nuclear then, their leaders seek a truce through marriage
accident or a glowing meteor, though, they find a alliances; these never last very long. Occult dynas- The Magambo: This
family or cult came to
grimoire, an artifact, or merely a rumor that leads ties are far from monolithic, though. Without an
the attention of the rest
them to a teacher. external threat to draw them together, the Sylvestris of the Mystic World only
Whatever their “origin,” most mystics study and Vandaleurs indulge in petty vendettas against recently, but it appears
just one arcane tradition, such as Hermetic ritual each other. to have spread through-
magic or Taoist alchemy. Not uncommonly, how- The Sylvestris and Vandaleurs are deeply out Central Africa, espe-
ever, super-mages studied two or more mystic tra- inbred. The patriarchs of both lineages interbreed cially the eastern Congo
ditions. The cross-fertilization of ideas and magic with their descendants, for reasons of their own. region. The local people
styles seems to confer greater power. Unions between cousins frequently occur, whether fear the Magambo as
from snobbery about “lesser blood” or just because witches who foster the
it’s hard to find a spouse who accepts the weirder horrific warfare and
FACTIONS family customs.
brigandage afflicting
the region, and gain
Scions of an occult dynasty enjoy great advan- power from it. Outside
Super-mages probably cannot avoid the petty
tages in studying magic. Sheer propinquity mat- investigators do not yet
politics and vendettas of the Mystic World. Mystics
ters just as much as hereditary talent: it’s easier to know if the Magambo
love to gather in little secret societies with gran-
become a mystic if your relatives already own gri- are demon-worshippers,
diose names. Few mystic cabals grow very large
moires and can provide training. A mystical career necromancers, vampires,
or last very long, though. Intellectual vanity and or some combination,
also looks more feasible when you have living
jealousy tends to splinter mystical groups, as mem- but their power seems
examples before you.
bers jockey for leadership or take offense at each to grow at an alarming
other. The truly enlightened try to drop out of the rate. Their name gives
Mystic World’s squabbling, but other mystics may The Circle of the no clue: it’s an ordinary
not leave them a choice. Super-mage characters Central African family
may find other mystics assuming they support one Scarlet Moon name, with no ominous
side or another in a conflict, based on their deeds meaning.
The largest and most powerful occult society
or past associations, and treating them as friends or in the Western world finds a degree of stability
enemies based on that presumption. through the simplicity of its goals. The Circle of
Mystic societies that achieve significant size, the Scarlet Moon exists to gain and wield power.
longevity, or power tend to have strong and stable Even the perpetual infighting between the Circle’s
leadership, or a clear and definite goal. Cults, for leaders serves this goal: the High Coven holds the
instance, can last for centuries: the god supplies most skilled and seasoned mystic conspirators in
both the leadership and the goal. Most mystic the world, and they know it. They also know that if
societies, however, don’t exist for more than a few they carry their rivalries too far, their enemies will
decades before they schism or dissolve. destroy them all. The Circle has aspects of an occult
dynasty, in that members tend to marry other
Occult Dynasties members and induct their offspring in turn.
The Scarlet Moon dates back two centuries.
Family connections hold some mystical fac- It accumulated vast financial and political power,
tions together. The Vandaleur and Sylvestri lineages, as well as mystic acumen — too much to remain
for instance, have spawned many learned occult- completely hidden from the everyday world. People
ists and powerful sorcerers over the centuries. No who hear rumors about the Circle usually dismiss
one penetrates very deeply into the Mystic World it as a crazy conspiracy theory. The few who take it
without learning about these two great families seriously think the Circle is a cult of Satanists. The
and their immortal founders. Giacomo Sylvestri, truth is a bit more complex; see page 108 Cham-
perhaps the Dragon’s most powerful servant in the pions Universe for how outsiders view the Scarlet
Western world, rules his clan of Satanists with an Moon, and Arcane Adversaries and page 140 of
iron hand. Adrian Vandaleur makes few demands Champions Universe for the inside story.
on his descendants and spends most of his time
incognito, but inspires great fear and obedience
when he chooses to exercise his authority. (See The Trismegistus Council
Arcane Adversaries for details about these two rival The Mystic World knows the Trismegistus
aristocracies of the Mystic World.) Council as the leading group of “good” mystics. For
The Vandaleurs and Sylvestris are not the almost two centuries, the Council has fought to
only occult dynasties in world history. In medieval contain the Circle of the Scarlet Moon and destroy
France, for instance, the Faussesflammes and the de other occult menaces. The Council survived so
Morphants both earned powerful and evil reputa- long because it kept its goals simple and it chose
tions for sorcery. The Sylvestris and Vandaleurs its members with great care. No one becomes a
absorbed most of Europe’s older or smaller lineages, member of the Council before proving his compe-
however, and no more recent Western dynasty has tence and devotion to protecting the world from
become so prolific, or shown such potential for supernatural evil. Council members practice any
power. Other parts of the world boast their own sort of magic, or simply know a great deal of arcane
mystic lineages (see sidebar). lore. The rivalries between members seldom esca-
The occult dynasties squabble and scheme late too far because most members possess unusual
52 ■ The Shadow World Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Cults DEMON
Cults play an important role in the Mystic Most people think DEMON is a Satanic cult
World and may form part of a character’s back- turned to high-profile crime. That’s just what
ground. Many gods and other supernatural beings DEMON’s leaders want the world to think, and the
recruit mortal worshippers to work their will. In deception worked for several decades. DEMON
addition to pagan gods from Faerie, known cults even fooled the Descending Hierarchy into help-
serve arch-devils from the Netherworld, dimen- ing it gain power. In the last ten years, however,
sion lords from the Outer Planes, and the Kings of DEMON’s true secret escaped to the rest of the
Edom. Some cults split off from public religions Mystic World. DEMON actually serves the Kings
such as Christianity or Hinduism, but they strive of Edom. Even those mystics who never heard of
as hard as any other cult to hide from the everyday the Edomites know that DEMON serves something
world. Cults range from groups of benign mystics worse than demonic — something so monstrous
who seek enlightenment through meditation, to and alien that Hell itself recoils.
gangs of murderous mages who commit crimes as When they can avoid doing so, devils no
sacrifices. Any sort of cult might help empower a longer repay DEMON’s sacrifices: the cult’s Mor-
superpowered avatar to further their god’s interests bane leaders must wrest power and aid from the
on Earth, or hunt the servants of rival gods. Netherworld by raw force (including, simply, sum-
The Dragon boasts the largest single fraction moning spells that devils cannot resist, regardless
of humanity’s cultist population. The Cult of the of their personal opinions). Other evil cults and
Red Banner is the biggest Draconic cult in the mystical villains have generally cut their ties to
East, and possibly in the world. This cult empha- DEMON. Increasingly, the cult must create its
sizes martial arts as well as dark magic. Some own superpowered agents, such as the supervillain
mystics fear that the crime syndicate VIPER Morningstar (see Conquerors, Killers, And Crooks),
might be the front for a powerful and secret cult or call upon the Kings’ monstrous minions when
of the Dragon. (See VIPER: Coils Of The Serpent they can.
for the inner mysteries of the global crime cartel, Rumors have spread that other mystic factions
and decide for yourself.) plan a grand assault on DEMON to destroy these
servants of cosmic madness.
Some mystics say the Tris-
megistus Council leads the
harrowing, others suspect the
Circle of the Scarlet Moon,
and a few whisper that both
societies have set aside their
differences for a joint assault.
Just about every other power-
ful faction or individual has
also been nominated as the
leader of this hypothetical
war. Less excitable mystics
suggest that any grand alli-
ance is more likely to pursue
Takofanes as the more imme-
diate threat to the Mystic
World.
For more informa-
tion about DEMON, see the
DEMON: Servants Of Dark-
ness sourcebook.
54 ■ The Shadow World Hero System 5th Edition Revised
DIABOLICAL The Dark Renaissance Archimago’s notebooks and tools as sources of easy
power, guaranteeing that the master wizard remains
RIVALRY
A few mystics always reject the secrecy of the an active player in the Mystic World.
“Dork Seraph? A cheap- Mystic World and try to go public. Not only do
they flaunt their magical powers, they try to make
jack charlatan wielding
borrowed power. With- sorcery more common. The super-mage Demon- Dark Seraph
out the Iron Crown, ologist recently gave voice to this dissenting view Sir Dennis Walthingham once enjoyed a cer-
he’s nothing. A true and named it the Dark Renaissance. With entities tain respect from other evil mystics. He knew a
master needs only his like Dark Seraph and Takofanes rampaging in full great deal about the occult for one who came to
own knowledge and will public view, he says, what’s the point of staying
— and he doesn’t submit mysticism so recently. Then he summoned the Iron
secret? But the Demonologist wants more: he sees Crown of Krim in an awful rite of murder and
to demons or gods, they
submit to him! Work the current surge in magic as a chance for sorcery betrayal, and transformed himself into the mighty
with me, and I will show to overthrow the reign of science and technology. Dark Seraph (as described in Conquerors, Killers,
you true magic and true The Demonologist has gathered a number of And Crooks).
power.” like-minded discontents into a supervillain team Sir Dennis actually lost prestige from that deed.
called the Devil’s Advocates (described in Arcane As many mystics like to say, Dark Seraph doesn’t
—The Demonologist, to Adversaries). Few mystics openly support his have real power — just an artifact. So what if he
a group of Satanists he call for a Dark Renaissance, but more may agree can wreck a skyscraper? Ordinary mortals do that
recruited for a scheme with him than admit it to their peers. DEMON, without magic. Sir Dennis only dazzles the sicker
of course, seeks its own sort of Dark Renaissance wannabe-wizards; the masters scorn him... though in
“This self-styled Demo- based on freeing the Kings of Edom to ravage the the case of other evil mystics, this disdain sometimes
nologist whom you world, while Takofanes apparently wants to enslave comes from envy. It isn’t fair, either. Dark Seraph
served? A rash and all humanity, living or dead. So far, at least, these still knows a great deal about dark magic, and works
deluded fool. He seeks three sides do not work together. Each of them has
to wield the darkness. impressive feats using the power locked in artifacts,
come terribly close to seizing global power, how- relics, mystically-charged places, and secret rituals.
I am the darkness, and
he shall feel the same ever, and other mystics fear the result if any two of Were he to develop true spellcasting abilities, the
torment and despair as these factions should team up. Mystic World would tremble in fear.
the rest of you mortal
cattle when the world
becomes my abat- IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS The Iron Imam
toir! Now worship me
— worship me! And I Mystics themselves have difficulty identifying Among the servants of Light, few on Earth
will let you live to tell the movers and shakers in their esoteric subculture, equal the mystic called the Iron Imam. This
the tale of what hap- since secrecy is, after all, part of their stock in trade. Muslim sorcerer dwells in Mogadishu, Somalia, and
pened here.” All the characters listed here, however, have achieved remains vigorous despite being over 80 years old.
some degree of fame or notoriety for their power or He practices a form of theurgy that calls on angels
—Dark Seraph, to the knowledge. This section describes how other mystics and the secret names of God. From Morocco to
lone survivor of the regard these characters, whether the public knows of Pakistan, the Iron Imam hunts the minions of Hell
cultists them at all. See also Chapter Four and Arcane Adver- and guards the world against supernatural invasion.
saries for descriptions of several evil mystic masters The Iron Imam seldom looks beyond his
and how their fellows view them. chosen bailiwick, however, and he does not work
with infidels. Muslim mystics call him the Iron
Imam in admiration of his unyielding war against
Archimago evil. Other mystics wish he would yield a little on
When the mystical villain John Fulten dared other matters. The Iron Imam particularly insists
take the name of Archimago, many mystics feared that mystics must never interfere with mundane
his assumed title was no idle boast. In 1950, Fulten problems. For instance, when a group of low-pow-
was already one of the mightiest mystics in the ered mystical heroes tried to succor the starving
world. He kept getting more powerful as he escaped people of Somalia, the Iron Imam told them civil
each pact by pledging himself to even fouler entities, war and famine were Man’s choice and God’s will,
until he served the Solipsist itself. When Archimago and drove them out. Heroes are glad to see the Iron
died of a simple heart attack, the Mystic World Imam rain holy fire on demons while he shouts, “In
breathed a collective sigh of relief. A group of mystic the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassion-
masters burned his body and cast every spell and ate!” — but few mystics like him.
rite they knew to bind and exorcise his soul, to make
sure he wouldn’t come back in any form.
When Takofanes erupted into the world a few
Nyssa
years later, many mystics feared Archimago had Tarchaniotes
returned. They soon learned their double mistake.
Not everyone in the Mystic World is alive.
Takofanes is not Archimago... but John Fulten
Nyssa Tarchaniotes claims that in life, she was an
remains active beyond death. Through books,
oracle at Delphi — and although Apollo withdrew
magic items, and enchanted minions, Archimago
his gift of prophecy when a vampire raped her
still works to fulfill his many debts and destroy the
into undeath, Hecate replaced it. Nyssa’s diary, the
world — and many mystics fear he may succeed.
Chronicles Of Antioch, became a standard reference
Unwary mystics and would-be sorcerers treasure
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Two 55
PROFESSIONAL
REGARD
Lamasery of the Silver Hand, a secret temple once
located in Tibet, where the mystics cared for him
Zarrindokht
and helped him become lucid when a worthy pupil This daughter of ancient Persia has a repu-
“The latest stories? I arrived. Tulku did not teach novices: his precious tation as the world’s greatest living alchemist.
heard one that movie hours of clarity were saved for thaumaturges who Romantic legend calls her the daughter of a shah.
stars enslave themselves already proved their skill and were ready for greater More prosaic stories say her father was an apoth-
to Zarrindokht in return mastery. ecary in twelfth-century Qum. At that time, Persia
for renewed youth and When the last Archmage died, the Trismegis- was a center of scholarship, including sorcery and
beauty. I remember that
tus Council hoped the Eternal Tulku could tell alchemy. The apothecary’s daughter studied with
movie and do not think
the story is true. them how to appoint a new one. His answer was the greatest alchemists of the age and surpassed
apparently not helpful. The Mystic World thought it them all by making the Philosopher’s Stone and the
“I also heard a claim lost Tulku in 1959, when the Lamasery of the Silver Elixir of Life. For this she gained the name of Zar-
that Zarrindokht uses Hand vanished during Communist China’s violent rindokht, “Daughter of Gold.”
her potions to give suppression of Tibetan Buddhism. The next year, Over the centuries, Zarrindokht is said to have
people superpowers... however, the lamas restored contact with Eastern devised potions for every purpose, raised the dead,
but she hides this from mystics. As the Chinese army closed in, the lamas taught Paracelsus and Pasteur, inspired Shake-
them, so the people finally roused Tulku and he moved the entire lama- speare’s sonnets to a “Dark Lady,” seduced and
think their powers come sery onto the Astral Plane. Since then, the Lama- borne children to kings of men, faeries, and djinn,
from lightning bolts, sery of the Silver Hand has wandered through the and generally lived as an immortal, mystical femme
glowing meteors, and Inner Planes, appearing in Faerie, Babylon, Nepal, fatale. Rumor says she now lives in Babylon, but
such, or that they are
Switzerland, the Scottish Highlands, and Eveleth, keeps residences in Ispahan, Monte Carlo, and Los
simply mutants. These
heroes and villains Minnesota. The lamas sometimes take sabbaticals Angeles (where her alchemically-enhanced beauty
serve as her dupes in to train mystics who are not yet ready for Tulku’s bewitches every man who sees her). More skepti-
secret plans. This story I lessons. cal mystics suspect these stories owe far more to
cannot dismiss so easily. overheated imagination than to reality: How could
such a flamboyant figure avoid the public eye, even
“I would like to meet in Babylon? Every year, though, inquiring mystics
this remarkable woman, find people who believe they encountered a power-
yes. Whatever she asked ful and attractive woman with seemingly magical
for the secret of the powders, pills, or potions.
Elixir of Life, I would be
glad to pay.”
—Overheard conversa-
tion between Corne-
lius Liefeld and Bocal
McFarlane
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Two 57
OTHER MYSTICAL ing in number now that more than half of human-
ity lives in cities and Babylon gains stronger ties
CREATURES to Earth. Angels and other Elysian spirits seldom
become genius loci, though the angels called
Not all the Mystic World’s denizens are living Ophanim specializes in guarding holy locations.
humans, or fit neatly in the roles of hero or villain. A genius loci can exert some degree of control
The Mystic World also includes ghosts, vampires, over its home ground. For example, it may be able
and other formerly-living persons; werewolves and to cause the vines and plants in its grove to reach
other shapeshifters; spirits and mythic creatures out and grab people who threaten it, or change the
who dare live on Earth permanently, or at least color and coolness of local water.
make regular visits; and occasional oddities such as
mummies, stray cars from Babylon, or people rein- GHOSTS
carnated as talking animals. Every serious mystic encounters ghosts. Most
See The HERO System Bestiary for HERO System spirits of the dead haunt fixed locations, but the few
character sheets for many typical mystic creatures. ghosts who travel often become closely involved
with local mystics wherever they “visit.” Interaction
GENIUS LOCI with the living helps the dead retain their memory
Elementals, demons, and other spirits cannot and sanity, but few ghosts can manifest at will to
easily exist on Earth. They belong in the Parterres, ordinary mortals. They prize those living souls who
not the material world. Nevertheless, some loca- see and hear the spirit world, whether because of
tions — usually the sorts of mystic power sites inborn talent or occult training.
described later in this chapter — can sustain a spirit Large or old urban areas may accumulate
so that it doesn’t slip back to its home dimension. enough ghosts to form a community of their own.
Spirits who dwell in such locations are called genius Every “ghost town” is a unique case, since they
loci, a Latin phrase that simply means “the spirit form in isolation and seldom communicate with
of a place.” (Mystics use the term as both singular each other.
and plural.) Mystics value genius loci as Contacts
for their powers, knowledge, and help in learning THERIANTHROPES
magic related to the spirit’s special field of expertise. Werewolves, weretigers, and other shapeshift-
Elementals and other spirits of natural phe- ers are collectively called therianthropes. They tend
nomena form the most common sort of genius to remain solitary or gather in small, insular packs.
loci. Such a spirit may haunt a patch of woodland, a Beyond that, shapeshifters vary widely in their cus-
lake, a mountain, or some other landscape feature. toms and attitudes — before the twentieth century,
Demonic genius loci are more rare, and may be few therianthropes ever met more than a few others
trapped by magic. Urban genius loci — elementals of their kind. The Chunhu family of China hopes to
of smog and plastic, metal and glass — are increas- change this.
60 ■ The Shadow World Hero System 5th Edition Revised
GODS
The gods are the most powerful inhabitants
of the Mystic World. To mystics, a “god” can be any
powerful spirit dwelling in the Parterres. Zeus is a
god under this nomenclature; so are the archdevil
Mephistopheles, the Emperor of Babylon, and the
Buddha of Compassion. These “gods” did not create
the world, much less the Multiverse, and have no
power beyond Greater Earth. (They also differ from
“space gods,” a term for certain cosmically-power-
ful beings such as the Galaxars or the Corelords;
see Galactic Champions.)
The gods of Earth possess plenty of power by
mortal standards, though. A god’s power waxes
and wanes based on the worship he receives,
but even the weakest, most forgotten god wields
more power than most mortal superbeings. Gods
who receives the active worship of hundreds of
millions of people, such as the Afro-Caribbean,
Indian, or Chinese pantheons, can overpower the
mightiest mortals.
Mystics typically encounter gods only if they
travel into the spirit realms. Gods suffer a super-
natural Ban against entering the mortal world.
Gods can evade the Ban in a few very specific ways,
for short times. Overall, though, gods cannot work
their will on Earth through raw power.
Earth’s gods suffer a more terrible restriction
against creatures from the Outer Planes. Human
belief sustains the gods, and so their supernatural
power does not directly affect anyone or anything
beyond the Inner Planes. The gods cannot protect
the Earth from dimensional conquerors such as
Skarn or Tyrannon. The Irish supermage Dweo-
mer, for instance, reports that when Skarn invaded
Faerie in 2001, he handily defeated the war-gods of
six pantheons: Skarn’s magic worked against them,
but they could fight him only with raw strength.
The Ban
Long ago, gods and spirits walked the Earth
freely. That started to change around 700 B.C.
Prophets like Zoroaster and the Buddha taught
mortals to worship truth, virtue, and law instead of
parochial gods with all-too-human failings. As the
new “ethical religions” spread and multiplied, the
gods found it harder to manifest on Earth. When
a preacher in Judea declared that men need not
sacrifice to gods because God would sacrifice him-
self for Man, the Ban locked shut completely. No
god walked the Earth for almost 2,000 years. Gods
recruited mortal worshippers through persuasion
instead of displays of power. Even the lesser spirits
found the mortal world turned deadly, and they
kept their visits brief.
The Ban weakened in 1938, with the start of
the Superheroic Age, but gods still cannot visit the
mortal world with ease. Most gods continue to
guide or command their followers through dreams,
the inner voices of conscience and temptation, or
other subtle means. Gods who want to act more
directly have several options.
62 ■ The Shadow World Hero System 5th Edition Revised
MYSTIC
PLACES
M
ystic sites vary widely in form and particularly if the deaths are especially sadistic.
power; this discussion can describe only The Trismegistus Council and a number of heroic
the more common types of mystic sites, super-mages and holy orders work to exorcise
and how sorcerers use them. See Cham- death sites, but locations such as Auschwitz and the
pions Universe for more examples of Earth’s most killing fields of Cambodia are so deeply corrupted
magically potent locations, and Vibora Bay for a they defy cleansing. The Circle of the Scarlet Moon
detailed look at one of them. favors death sites as the easiest sort of mystic power
site to create — it just takes murder and cruelty,
repeated long enough.
MAGICAL POWER SITES Geology: Natural power sites most often occur at
Some locations become important to mystics unusual geological formations, such as geysers, bal-
because their arcane power assists spellcasters in ancing rocks, limestone caves, and meteor craters.
some way. The weakest mystic sites do not carry Geography: Natural alignments of mountains, val-
intrinsic power for sorcerers to tap — they merely leys, rivers, tors, and other landscape features may
satisfy a precondition for certain feats of ritual create zones with mystic potential. Volcanoes are
magic. For example, mages can cast some spells often slightly magical.
only on holy ground, a gravesite, or at a natural
Magic Spills: Large, uncontrolled discharges of
spring. Other sites actually enhance a mystic’s
magic may taint a region with supernatural power.
spells, or provide raw magical energy anyone can
Magical battles can leave such “magic spills”; so
tap through rituals, special tools, and sufficient
may the death of a powerful supernatural creature,
occult knowledge. Some locations even give access
such as a demon prince or a dragon, or shedding
to other planes, for the wise who know how to open
the blood of a god.
such portals. Although some power sites appear
naturally, most exist because mystics created them.
POWER SITE ORIGINS
Not all mystic power sites exist for an obvi-
ous reason: Some places carry magic and no one
knows why. Many mystics suspect these “enigmatic”
sites mark unrecorded magic spills, or sites con-
structed by lost civilizations.
These examples merely describe the more
familiar sorts of power sites. GMs may define other
sorts, too.
Architecture: The geometry and materials of a
building may concentrate mystical forces. An entire
field of mystical study, called sacred geometry,
deals with using architecture to shape supernatu-
ral power. Most ancient monuments incorporate
sacred geometry; so do most mystical sanctums.
Edomite cultists employ a weirdly twisted, non-
Euclidean geometry in some of their magic.
Astronomy: Structures aligned to the cardinal
directions and significant astronomical phenom-
ena attract supernatural power. Mystics call these
“calendar sites” because many cultures used special
monuments to tell the seasons. For example, on the
spring equinox the sun rises over a certain megalith
at Stonehenge, perhaps the world’s most famous
calendar site. Calendar sites often incorporate
sacred geometry as well.
Death: Mass death may charge a location with dark
power suitable for necromancy or demonology,
66 ■ The Shadow World Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Trees: Very old trees may draw power from Ygg- Magic Enhancement: Variable Power Pool
drasil. Mystics sometimes transplant trees from (Magic Pool), 22 base + 11 control cost; Only
Faerie or Elysium to draw power from those To Augment Existing Spells (-1), Independent
realms. Trees also tend to absorb and preserve (-2), Requires A Magic Skill Roll (-½), Vari-
magic spills. able Limitations (requires -2 worth of Limi-
tations suitable for a mystic ritual; -1). Total
cost: 24 points.
Natural Sites
Ley Line Travel: Teleportation 10”, MegaScale
Cheiron’s Oak: Country folk around Mount Pelion,
(1” = 1,000 km; +1) (40 Active Points); Only
in Greece, say that the mythic centaur Cheiron
Between Fixed Locations (-1), Independent (-
planted a certain immensely large and aged oak.
2), Requires A Magic Skill Roll (-½) (total cost:
The legend is in fact true. Cheiron’s Oak grew from
9 points) plus two Fixed Locations (Mt. Fuji,
an acorn brought from Faerie, and it augments any
Mt. Rainier). Total cost: 11 points.
magic related to fertility or vegetation.
Cheiron’s Oak: Aid Magic 3d6, any fertility or Yellowstone Park: America’s first national park
vegetation-related Magic spell one at a time occupies the maw of an immense volcano called
(+¼), Trigger (any such spell use; +¼) (45 a caldera. The park’s geysers and hot springs draw
Active Points); Independent (-2). Total cost: mystic energy from deep underground. None of
15 points. Yellowstone’s mystic sites are very powerful, but
the park contains more than a dozen of them.
Mount Fuji and Mount Rainier: Mount Fuji is one Sometimes the air veritably hums with arcane
of Japan’s most famous sights. Mount Rainier, power — the eerily musical “Yellowstone Lake
another snow-capped volcano, similarly domi- Whispers,” which scientists explain as steam
nates the horizon of western Washington state. whistling from geysers, groans from bending rock
Japanese immigrants arranged a marriage between strata, or wind blowing over the valley like the
the ruggedly masculine Rainier and the goddess mouth of a giant soda bottle. The early hero
of Mount Fuji — and linked two powerful mystic MeteorMan, of course, found his power-granting
sites across the Pacific. The Circle of the Scarlet stone in Yellowstone Park.
Moon and the Trismegistus Council both suspect
a plan by Shamballah.
Death Sites
Manaos: Rubber tycoons built this city deep in the
Amazon basin. African and Native American slaves
did the work and died in droves. One particular
rubber tycoon lit his garden parties by dipping
Indians in rubber latex, tying them to stakes, and
burning them alive as torches. That garden is now
the vilest mystic site in Brazil.
The House of Xander O’Riordan: One of the most
horrific serial killers of modern times, Xander
O’Riordan kidnapped nearly fifty young women
between 1995 and 2002 and ritually butchered them
at his home in the wilds of Pennsylvania, hiding or
burying the remains of the corpses at various places
around his property. No one knows why he did this,
since he was killed resisting arrest. Even after the
authorities located and removed all the bodies, the
death-energy of the place remains strong.
Calendar Sites
Literally hundreds of these sites dot the world,
some of them older than recorded history. Mystic
legend says a lost civilization — perhaps Atlantis,
perhaps someone else — built the first calendar
sites. Some modern mystics build calendar sites of
their own, but none can equal the power of mighty
monuments like Stonehenge or the Great Pyramid
of Giza.
Chaco Canyon: The lost Anasazi culture built the
world’s most powerful collection of calendar sites
in the American Southwest, in Chaco Canyon.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Two 67
These “cities” and “fortresses” were not built so Forest Swastika: During the 1930s, a Nazi mystic in
people could actually live in them. They existed the RSvKg planted trees in a swastika shape in the
only to concentrate cosmic energy through their middle of an East German forest. This giant swas-
alignments to the sun, moon, and each other. The tika is only visible from the air in the fall, since the
Anasazi priests and rulers used the celestial power leaves turn a different color than the surrounding
to control the weather and fertilize the land, and trees. The swastika was originally a solar symbol,
their civilization flourished for centuries. When and the forest swastika’s alignment to the cardinal
the priest-magicians strove to master time and points makes it a weak calendar site. The Circle of
death and turn themselves into gods, the rebellious the Scarlet Moon now controls this place.
population wrecked the mighty calendar-cities as
best they could, ending Anasazi civilization. The
ruins remain powerful but erratic. Mystics who History Of A Power Site:
tap the power of Chaco Canyon risk their lives by
doing so; surviving observers report involuntary
The Roche Building
journeys through time, loved ones erased from Special care and repeated use can increase
history, aging nigh unto death (or infancy), and the power of a mystic site. The Roche Building, an
even stranger or more horrible effects. At present, office tower the GM can locate in any city he wants,
the main factions in the Mystic World leave Chaco illustrates the origin and growth of a site devoted to
Canyon well alone. dark magic.
On October 3, 1924, an ambitious young
Chaco Canyon Sites: Variable Power Pool mobster named Joey Sisto murdered his boss, the
(Magic Pool), 40 base + 20 control cost; Only capo Leo Corone. He did this at a restaurant called
To Augment Existing Spells (-1), Independent Marco’s, in the presence of Corone’s mother, wife,
(-2), Requires A Magic Skill Roll (-½), Side and daughter. A low-ranking member of the Scarlet
Effects (if the Magic Roll fails, the GM inflicts Moon noticed the maiden-mother-crone element
the most sadistic effect he can imagine on the in the murder. This suggested the ritual killing of
magician and anyone nearby, Active Point a vegetation king as the year turned from summer
value unlimited; -1¼), Variable Limitations to winter. The Circle member also noted that “Leo”
(requires -2 worth of Limitations suitable for a means “lion,” and the lion is one of the traditional
mystic ritual; -1). Total cost: 43 points. symbols for St. Mark the
Apostle. He reported a pos-
sible power site in the making.
Six months later, the
local coven arranged for
Leo’s younger brother Berto
to murder Joey Sisto in the
same restaurant, complet-
ing the cycle of king-killing.
Additional props at the scene
reinforced the connections to
lions, astrological signs (Scor-
pio for Leo’s murder, Aries for
Joey’s) and the Triple God-
dess. The restaurant became a
weak mystical site.
In 1936, a Circle member
with Nazi sympathies turned
the restaurant’s basement into
a Satanic chapel. Here he sum-
moned demons (well, imps)
to assist his Bundist allies. The
mystery-man Black Mask dis-
rupted one ceremony and shot
their demon. The restaurant
caught fire in the brawl and
burned to the ground, but the
Bundists’ sacrifices and spilled
demon blood strengthened the
site’s power.
After World War Two,
a block of shops and apart-
ments covered the loca-
tion and the power site lay
fallow for decades. The block
retained an uncanny aura,
68 ■ The Shadow World Hero System 5th Edition Revised
limited range of spirits and supernatural creatures. Do some of these structures hold more than
Djinn visit the deserts of the Middle East and Cen- memories? Do the souls, or even the bodies, of
tral Asia — not Australia. Satyrs stalk the forests of long-forgotten heroes sleep amid the ancient apple-
Greece — not Japan. Rakshasas stay in India; were- trees, until the nagas shall rouse them for a final
leopards stick to Africa. But any and all of them battle? Perhaps. Only the nagas know.
can appear in the USA (or nearby parts of Canada One thing is for sure: the Dragon’s servants
and Mexico), and some of them take up permanent seek this valley. They have sought it for tens of
residence. The Occult Republic attracted mortals thousands of years. Once, they sent waves of fierce
from every culture in the world, and their spirits, nomads through the apple-mountains, seek-
gods, demons, and monsters came with them. ing knowledge of the nagas’ lair. Now they pore
through satellite photos. The nagas hide their valley
well, however, and the Dragon is denied.
The Valley But for how long? The nagas know nothing
Of The Nagas lasts forever. The rise of Takofanes, fresh gambits
by the Dragon, the powers of magic unexpectedly
Most of the time, the nagas (see page 149) surging to create a new generation of heroes and
dwell in a valley hidden in the mountains of demigods — these herald a great change in the
Central Asia. The most obscure lore of the nagas world. This could be the start of a new age, when
calls this valley Avalon. It inspired the legend of the nature of reality itself shall change. Perhaps a
an otherworldly island for dead heroes. “Avalon” Dark Renaissance of sorcery is truly at hand, when
means “Apple-Land,” for wild apple-forests cover the Ban falls and everyone shall dwell in a Mystic
these mountains. The nagas’ valley also holds hun- World. Or perhaps the Superheroic Age is just the
dreds of monuments to great mystics and heroes, last gasp of magic before the end, and the forces of
all the way back to the Turakian Age and beyond. science and the Machine shall reign unchallenged...
Each memorial holds an account of that hero’s life. at least until the next turning of an age.
When ancient evils rise again, the nagas consult the Only time will tell.
records of the heroes who defeated them — or the
ones who failed, to learn what won’t work. A few
times in a millennium, human champions are privi-
leged to visit the First Avalon as well.
chapter three:
HEROIC AND
SUPERHEROIC
MAGIC
T
A LITTLE his chapter describes the sort of magic used to the level of the campaign. You can also place
KNOWLEDGE... by mystical superheroes and villains in the spells in Power Frameworks — super-sorcerers
Champions Universe (and which you can routinely know lots of different spells. Multipowers
“Mystical power is not use in other settings if you like). It includes with many slots and Variable Power Pools are par-
impersonal or ethically many examples of super-spells mystics can cast, ticularly common for such characters.
neutral. A gun does and also provides several magic items, ranging
MAGIC STYLES
not care who pulls the from magic weapons to cosmic artifacts of high
trigger. The gods and wizardry. Of course, the spells and items described In the Champions Universe, mystics practice
spirits who dominate here are just a few of the ones developed by mystics several forms of magic besides Thaumaturgy (see
the supernatural world, during recorded history (and sometimes before), so below). These many forms of magic group into a
however, care a great you can easily make up more if you like. few broad categories, though:
deal who uses their Theurgy emphasizes complex occult theories
power. Those who SUPERHEROIC AND HEROIC MYSTICS and rituals. Theurgists often invoke gods, but as
attempt sorcery without Heroic-level and Superheroic-level mystics symbols of power instead of objects of real wor-
proper training and dis-
differ in more than the Active Points of their spells. ship. Most civilizations develop their own style of
cipline become unwit-
ting puppets —con- Other HERO System products describe Heroic-level theurgy. European ceremonial magic, for instance,
trolled by forces with magic in depth. (See especially The Ultimate Mystic, is called Hermetic Theurgy. It draws upon Hebrew
their own passions and Fantasy Hero, and The Fantasy Hero Grimoire.) In kabbalism and demonology, astrology, and the
goals, that do not care brief, however, Heroic-level spells tend to carry Hermetic and Neoplatonist magic of late antiquity.
about human life, happi- lots of Limitations, such as Charges, Concentra- Hermetic mystics often work their magic using
ness, or freedom. tion, Extra Time, Focus, Gestures, Incantations, talismans consecrated in occult rituals. The Taoist
or a Required Skill Roll. Different styles of magic Theurgy of China uses the I Ching and the Five
“I would sooner hand (called “arcana”) may favor particular Advantages Elements as its mystical theory. Tantric Theurgy,
out loaded pistols on a and Limitations. For example, an alchemist’s magic from India, uses meditation, repetition of mantras,
playground than pub- always carries the Focus Limitation, in the form of and other ascetic practices to confer magic powers
lish the true secrets of various potions (and similar items). on a mystic. Many other forms of theurgy exist.
magic. The results would
Super-mages, on the other hand, apply few, if Alchemy exploits the magical properties of
be less bloody.”
any, Limitations to their spells. In terms of game minerals, plants, animals, and other substances. The
mechanics, at least, very little separates a super- laboratory processes of alchemy serve as mystic rites
—Alajos Veszprem,
Trismegistus Council shaman from a super-kabbalist — or a mutant, to concentrate and direct the inherent magic of the
member for that matter. The differences between mystic ingredients, and store them so they can be used later.
traditions become mere details of special effects Alchemical products are often called “potions,” but
or visual style. For instance, perhaps an image of alchemists also package their magic as powders, pills,
the Thunderbird flashes around the shaman when crystal, and other forms. Europe, India, and China all
he casts a lightning bolt, while the sigil of an angel have ancient traditions of alchemy.
briefly glows before the kabbalist. Mechanically, Witchcraft blends together a little of every-
though, their lightning bolts differ not a whit from thing. “Witches” craft talismans like theurgists, but
that of any other superhero. Similarly, even though invoke gods and spirits in a more overtly religious
they may gesture and incant when they cast spells, fashion, and draw upon folk traditions more than
that’s just done for effect — it’s not necessary, so it the abstract symbolism of theurgy. They also use
entails no Limitation. herbs, potions, and other mystical substances, such
The distinction between Heroic-level and that their art overlaps with alchemy.
Superheroic-level magic is not absolute. Novice Most schools of magic fall into one of these
super-mages, in particular, may apply significant categories. For instance, a necromancer like Dr.
Limitations to their spells. But even in such cases, Teneber (see Arcane Adversaries) practices a form
magic remains as quick and easy to use as any other of witchcraft, while the Demonologist (also found
superpower. A super-mage defines his Focus as a in Arcane Adversaries) uses Hermetic theurgy to
wand, while a Heroic-level mystic might need a extort power from devils.
wand, a magic circle, and a brazier of incense. See The Ultimate Mystic for a more in-depth
To create Superheroic-level versions of spells discussion of the various styles of magic.
described in other HERO System products, just
strip away Limitations and adjust the Active Points
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Three 73
THAUMATURGY
M ATTACK SPELLS
ystics in the Champions Universe refer
to the stripped-down, flashy, combat-
oriented style of magic used by super- Sorcerer heroes often fight mystical villains.
mages as thaumaturgy. To cast a spell, They possess a wide range of spells with which
a super-mage just waves his hands. He might pro- to attack each other. Thaumaturgy may employ
nounce the name of the spell, such as, “I call on the unusual combinations of Powers and Modifiers, but
Scintillant Suns of Saravane!” or “Let the Baleful even a simple Energy Blast or Entangle becomes
Bonds of Balthus ensnare you!” Balls and beams of wondrous if you give it a suitably mystical special
light appear from the mystic’s hands to strike at his effect.
foes, deflect attacks, and do whatever else he wants.
The alliterative names often refer to powerful mys- THE BALEFUL BONDS OF BALTHUS
tics or dimension lords who invented the spells. Effect: Entangle 4d6, 4 DEF, Stops A
Hog-tying and gagging a super-mage may pre- Given Sense (Sight and Hear-
vent him from casting spells, but nothing less will ing Groups)
do. Despite appearances, super-mages do not actu- Target/Area Affected: One character
ally use Gestures and Incantations: a super-mage Duration: Instant
can fire off spells while being slammed with attacks Range: 300”
that would ruin any Gestures, and he doesn’t have END Cost: 6
to call out the spell’s name. Restrainable, at -¼, may
be appropriate to represent how an enemy could Description: This spell materializes a horde of black,
prevent a captured super-mage from casting spells, sticky, sluglike creatures, each about a foot long.
but even it’s not worth taking in most cases. The These viscous creatures wrap around the target’s
greatest masters, including dimension lords, per- limbs, eyes, and ears so that he cannot see, hear, or
form magic with no Limitations at all. move. Although the slugs seem quite tough, they
Thaumaturgical spells tend to come in many dissolve into stinking, black vapor if they take any
variations. A super-mage might cast a mystic bolt damage. Any Light Of Luathon instantly destroys
to strike one target, or an area; one time, the spell the Bonds, so experienced sorcerers prefer to use
might blast apart brick walls, yet leave not a mark other spells of restraint. (See page 64 for a brief
on another occasion. Shared special effects, or a description of Balthus.)
common origin, link other spells. Therefore, many Game Information: Entangle 4d6, 4 DEF, Stops
spells are represented as Multipowers instead of A Given Sense (Sight and Hearing Groups) (60
single Powers. Active Points); Entangle Has 1 BODY (-½),
A character doesn’t need to buy every varia- Cannot Form Barriers (-¼), Susceptible (to
tion of a spell, or place every spell within its own any of the Lights Of Luathon; -¼). Total cost:
Multipower. A Multipower or Variable Power Pool 30 points.
with many seemingly “unrelated” spells is perfectly
appropriate. For example, a mystic might buy a Options:
Multipower with two slots of Koriol’s Crimson
Crystals, three Sorcerer’s Stars, and a Hypnotic 1) Strong Bonds I: Increase to Entangle 6d6, 6 DEF.
Helix. A second Multipower or Elemental Control 80 Active Points; total cost 40 points.
could hold spells for defense, movement, or other 2) Strong Bonds II: Remove Entangle Has 1 BODY
purposes — or you could simply give the character (-½). Total cost: 40 points.
a Multipower reserve large enough for him to use
two slots at once. See below, and the characters in
Chapter Four, for some examples.
74 ■ Book Of Wisdom Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Effect:
WIZARD WALLS
Force Wall (various
SENSORY, MOVEMENT,
configurations) AND MISCELLANEOUS
Target/Area Affected: Varies
Duration: Constant Mystics require more than attack and defense.
Range: Varies Much of their power depends on sources of infor-
END Cost: 0 mation denied to other mortals. They also often
possess special means of travel, and a wide range of
Description: Sorcerers use these spells to defend spells for strange and unexpected effects that help
an area, or for all-out defense with their other them work their will without a fight.
defensive powers. These barriers of force look like
vertical disks of pastel light hanging in the air, con- AKASHIC EYE
nected by arcs of light; attacks are drawn to strike Effect: Telepathy 12d6
the disks. Wizard Walls that are transparent to some Target/Area Affected: One character
forms of damage also allow for tactical flexibility if Duration: Constant
a mystic has an attack that bypasses the wall, and Range: 4”
his enemy does not. Mystics have invented many END Cost: 0
other sorts of Wizard Walls besides the versions
listed here. Description: Eastern mysticism holds that humans
can develop a “third eye” for psychic perception.
Game Information: This spell creates an eye of glowing light on the
Cost Power mystic’s forehead that enables him to probe a
68 Wizard Walls: Multipower, 68-point reserve person’s thoughts and memories. The Akashic Eye
7u 1) Corporeal Wall: Force Wall (10 PD/ works only on nearby targets, though.
10 ED, 3” long), Reduced Endurance (½
END; +¼) Game Information: Telepathy 12d6 (60 Active
7u 2) Arcane Wall: Force Wall (10 Mental Points); Limited Normal Range (4”; -½). Total
Defense/10 Power Defense, 3” long), cost: 40 points.
Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼)
7u 3) Energy Wall: Force Wall (0 PD/14 ED, 3” Options:
long), Transparent (physical; +½), Reduced 1) Strong Spell: Remove Limited Normal Range
Endurance (½ END; +¼) (-½). Total cost: 60 points.
7u 4) Psychic Wall: Force Wall (20 Mental
Defense, 3” long), Reduced Endurance (½ ASTRAL FORM
END; +¼) Effect: Duplication (create one 350-
Total cost: 96 points. point Duplicate), Altered Dupli-
cate (100%)
Target/Area Affected: Self
Duration: Persistent
Range: Self
END Cost: 14 to activate
Description: The character can create an “astral
form,” a second self composed of pure mystic
energy that leaves his body and can act on its own.
While the astral form exists, the character’s physical
body remains helpless, incapacitated, and unable to
act, with 0 DCV (comatose, essentially). However,
because the two are both just aspects of the same
being, any damage inflicted upon one is inflicted
on the other as well (thus, killing either form kills
both). Additionally, the two can only remain sepa-
rate for up to 24 hours; if they do not recombine
within that time, they both die.
The astral form possesses all the character’s
mystical powers, all of his Intellect and Interaction
Skills, and all of his memories (similarly, the char-
acter retains the astral form’s memories after the
two rejoin). It may or may not possess his physical
abilities, but typically does not. Even if it does, it
can only use them on other astral forms and like
characters, for it is intangible (it must buy Desolidi-
fication, Reduced Endurance (0 END), Persistent,
Inherent, Always On, and thus must apply the
Affects Physical World Advantage to any powers,
magical or otherwise, it wishes to use to affect the
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Three 81
solid world). Most astral forms can fly (they buy FADA’S FAR SEEKINGS
Flight); many can cross the world in the blink of an Effect: Mind Scan and Clairsentience
eye (MegaScaled Flight or Teleportation). in various configurations
The write-up below assumes the character is Target/Area Affected: Varies
built on at least 350 Character Points and that he Duration: Constant
builds his astral form on exactly that many points. Range: Varies
It further assumes that at least 51% of the points in END Cost: Varies
the astral form are spent on abilities different from
those of the original character. Description: These classic spells enable a mystic
See Chapter One for more information about to locate people far away, or even on other planes.
the Astral Plane in the Champions Universe. Once a mage knows a target’s general location
through the Mind Scan, and travels to that region,
Game Information: Duplication (creates 350- he can use the Clairsentience to pinpoint the tar-
point astral form), Altered Duplicate (100%; get’s location. Typically the Transdimensional Mind
+1) (140 Active Points); Costs Endurance (to Scan slot only reveals which dimension the target
activate; -¼), Original Character Is Incapaci- occupies (at best). The Clairsentience with the
tated And Helpless While Duplicate Exists (-1), Dimensional Sense Modifier views a swath of that
Extra Time (must enter trance and meditate dimension so the caster knows what environment
to allow astral self to leave its fleshy prison, 1 he can expect when he goes there. The standard
Hour; -1½), Feedback (-1), Both Characters version used on Earth scans the Quaternion. Other
Die If They Do Not Recombine Within 24 versions scan groups of Outer Planes.
Hours (-½). Total cost: 27 points. The spell creates a spinning disk of iridescent
light. Threads of light radiate out to infinity from
Options: the disk; only the caster and mentally aware people
1) Recombination Mastery: The astral form can can see these threads as they sweep through the
recombine with the character easily and from a world or beyond, seeking their target. When the
distance. Add Easy Recombination (Half Phase caster uses the Clairsentience options, the center
Action at half DCV), Ranged Recombination (+½). of the disk opens into a view of the desired region.
187 Active Points; total cost 36 points. Fada’s Far Seekings demand most of the user’s atten-
tion, so mystics prefer to use the spell only when
2) Astral Projection: The character can quickly and they know they’re safe.
easily unleash his astral form. Remove Extra Time
(-1½). Total cost: 37 points. Game Information:
Cost Power
3) Astral Brother: The character remains awake, 60 Fada’s Far Seekings: Multipower, 90-point
alert, and able to act while his astral form exists. reserve; all slots Concentration (½ DCV
Remove Incapacitated (-1). Total cost: 33 points. throughout; -½)
4) Astral Form Variant: The character can only use 6u 1) Search The World: Mind Scan 18d6; Con-
his astral form for reconnaissance and spying; it centration (½ DCV throughout; -½)
cannot attack others, move things, or perform any 6u 2) Search The Planes: Mind Scan 10d6,
other actions but observation. Change to: Transdimensional (Inner Planes; +¾); Con-
Cost Power centration (½ DCV throughout; -½)
33 Astral Form (Variant): Multipower, 67-point 6u 3) View The Region: Clairsentience (Sight
reserve, all Character Is Incapacitated And Group), 16,000x Range (1,600,000”, or
Helpless While Using Power (-1) about 2,000 miles); Concentration (½ DCV
2u 1) Local Remote Viewing: Clairsentience throughout; -½)
(Sight and Hearing Groups), 16x Range 6u 4) View The Planes: Clairsentience (Sight
(2,400”); Character Is Incapacitated And Group), Dimensional (Inner Planes), 1,000x
Helpless While Using Power (-1) Range (200,000”, or about 250 miles); Con-
3u 2) Distant Remote Viewing: Clairsentience centration (½ DCV throughout; -½)
(Sight and Hearing Groups), MegaScale (1” = Total cost: 84 points
1,000 km, can scale back to 1” = 1 km; +1¼);
Character Is Incapacitated And Helpless
While Using Power (-1)
Total cost: 38 points.
82 ■ Book Of Wisdom Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Effect:
WINDS OF THE ZEPHIRIM
Flight 10-15” in various con-
ESPECIALLY
figurations POWERFUL SPELLS
Target/Area Affected: Self or up to eight characters
simultaneously Mystics may encounter spells with sig-
Duration: Constant nificantly higher Active Points than usual for the
Range: Self/Touch campaign, and effects that stagger the mind. These
END Cost: 4/4/4 aren’t just spells with extra dice of damage: the
greatest of them trespass on the powers of gods.
Description: This spell of transportation calls on the A GM could build an entire story arc around one
spirits who dwell in a dimension of clouds, winds, world-shaking spell, and make learning it a high
and storms. Swirls of light lift the magician, and per- point of the campaign.
haps other people, and carry them through the air or Characters cannot buy or use any of these
around the world. Many mystics only learn the Tire- spells unless they have the GM’s permission. Not
less Wind form of this spell (perhaps buying it in an only are they expensive and unbalancing, they have
Elemental Control with other spells). the potential to completely disrupt the campaign.
Game Information: Additionally, some of them use NND defenses or
Cost Power the like which require the GM’s approval.
45 Winds Of The Zephirim: Multipower, THE QUATERNION BANISHMENT
45 point reserve
4u 1) Tireless Wind: Flight 15”, Reduced The gods cannot defend against dimensional
Endurance (0 END; +½) conquerors, but mortal mystics can if they know
4u 2) Shared Wind: Flight 10”, Usable Simul- this spell. The Quaternion Banishment hurls the
taneously (up to 8 people at once; +1), life-force of all humanity against an Outer Planes
Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼) intruder. A flaming symbol, the Quaternion Seal,
4u 3) World-Spanning Wind: Flight 15”, appears around the target. The target suffers a
MegaScale (1” = 1 km; +¼), Reduced Transform that only affects beings from the Outer
Endurance (½ END; +¼) Planes; conversely, those beings cannot defend
Total cost: 57 points. against it. When the Transform completes itself,
Earth and its whole panoply of Imaginal Realms
Options: become deadly poison to the invader. Henceforth,
1) Strong Spells: Increase reserve to 60 points, Slot the target suffers a Susceptibility (3d6 STUN per
1 to Flight 20”, Slot 2 to Flight 13”, and Slot 3 to Phase) from being in any dimension of the Quater-
Flight 20”. Total cost: 78 points. nion. A mystic can cast the spell only once per day.
The spell’s effects cease at the end of the Phase if the
2) Weak Spells: Decrease reserve to 30 points, caster is Stunned, Knocked Out, or flees the Inner
Slot 1 to Flight 10”, Slot 2 to Flight 6”, and Slot 3 to Planes; they end immediately if the target volun-
Flight 10”. Total cost: 39 points. tarily leaves the Inner Planes before the Transform
completes itself. (However, the Transform “damage”
remains in effect until healed as specified; if the
invader returns before being healed, it’s easier for
the caster to complete the Transformation.)
The Quaternion Banishment has reversal
conditions. First, the curse lifts if a spirit from any
of the Inner Planes of its own free will invites the
target to return. The target can also evade the curse
by possessing the body of a human, elf, or other
creature from a Quaternion plane. Finally, the
caster’s death ends the banishment.
Before a mystic can learn the Quaternion
Banishment, he must receive power from spirits of
all four Parterres. For instance, the caster might at
some point be healed by an angel, extort a magic
power from a devil, have a curse removed by the
Emperor of Babylon, and wield the magic weapon
of a pagan god. Only someone who meets this con-
dition may invoke the power of the entire human
race. For centuries, the Banishment was handed
down from Archmage to Archmage. Unfortunately,
since the death of the last Archmage, no one in the
Champions Universe knows how to cast the spell or
has fulfilled its preconditions.
The Quaternion Banishment also carries a
terrible cost. All the Imaginal Realms draw their
power from humanity... so the curse’s power ulti-
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Three 85
large targets, such as planets or dimensions, this can people would remember the change, and all sorts of
take some time). The second and third are enor- weird disruptions of time and matter could occur.
mous Transforms that remake Reality to erase the Some mystics think that careless use of the Word
traces of the target (it’s assumed that a +10 value unmade whole civilizations, or pushed them into
for MegaScale is enough to encompass an entire the prehistoric past. Perhaps Atlantis was contem-
dimension). The Transforms (which also keep porary with Athens, like Plato said... in a history
working until they complete their task) do not start now erased.
working until the RKA has “slain” the target. Once the Word is spoken, it runs until it anni-
Most sorcerers regard the Word Of Unmak- hilates its target. Only the Loom Of Space can stop a
ing as a crime against reality. Even many villainous Word Of Unmaking. The Loom is cast as if it were a
mages would seek to destroy a user of the Word Dispel being used to “interrupt” an attack, but cast-
— as self-preservation, if for no other reason. The ing the Loom automatically succeeds in stopping
Word Of Unmaking requires great precision, as the effect — though it doesn’t heal or reverse effects
well. Any disruption of the spell’s casting turns its that have already occurred.
effects against the magician. Cost Power
Unmaking things can have far-reaching con- 400 Word Of Unmaking (Destroy Target): RKA
sequences. Reality tries to accommodate, but the 20d6, NND (defense is the protection of the
greater the causal ties between a target and the rest Solipsist; +1), Continuous (+1), Reduced
of the world, the more seriously the spell wrenches Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent (+½)
reality. Unmaking an ordinary person or a patch (1,200 Active Points); No Range (-½), Side
of desert probably won’t affect the rest of the world Effects (any disruption of the spell automati-
much. Unmaking a world leader or the Empire cally turns the spell’s full force against the
State Building would severely twist reality: many caster; -1), Loom Of Space Automatically
Stops Effect (-½)
1,264 Word Of Unmaking (Erase Physical Traces):
Major Transform 20d6 (Reality into Reality
with no physical traces of target, heals back
through intervention of the Solipsist), NND
(defense is the protection of the Solipsist;
+1), Continuous (+1), Area Of Effect (One
Hex; +½), MegaScale (1” = Reality; +10), Per-
sonal Immunity (+¼), Reduced Endurance
(0 END; +½), Persistent (+½) (4,425 Active
Points); No Range (-½), Side Effects (any dis-
ruption of the spell automatically turns the
spell’s full force against the caster; -1), Loom
Of Space Automatically Stops Effect (-½),
Linked (to RKA; -¼), Only Starts Working
After RKA “Slays” Target (-¼)
1,371 Word Of Unmaking (Erase Memories): Major
Transform 20d6 (Reality into Reality where
no one has memories of target, heals back
through intervention of the Solipsist), NND
(defense is the protection of the Solipsist;
+1), BOECV (Mental Defense applies; +1),
Works Against EGO, Not BODY (+¼),
Continuous (+1), Area Of Effect (One Hex;
+½), MegaScale (1” = Reality; +10), Personal
Immunity (+¼), Reduced Endurance (0
END; +½), Persistent (+½) (4,800 Active
Points); No Range (-½), Side Effects (any dis-
ruption of the spell automatically turns the
spell’s full force against the caster; -1), Loom
Of Space Automatically Stops Effect (-½),
Linked (to RKA; -¼), Only Starts Working
After RKA “Slays” Target (-¼)
Total cost: 3,035 points.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Three 87
MAGIC ITEMS
AND ARTIFACTS
E
nchanted items vary widely in power. The Well, not quite. Maybe God’s own Blasting Rod
least of them supply some modest, low- can do all this, but mere mortals must settle for a
key power, such as a few points of Power less awesome instrument. The Blasting Rod remains
Defense. The mightiest mystic artifacts can a formidable weapon, though. It raises or calms
shape the destiny of worlds. Artifacts are further storm winds in areas small by natural standards
distinguished from ordinary magic items in that but big enough to humans, throws lightning bolts
they always have the Independent Limitation. and bolts of supernatural force, and both compels
In the great ages of sorcery before recorded and dispels spirits. The Grand Grimoire describes a
history, perhaps magic items were common enough Blasting Rod made of hazelwood with caps of mag-
that one could speak of a magic sword or a blasting netized steel. The procedures to enchant a Blasting
rod. But by the Superheroic Age, every significant Rod are so convoluted, however, that no one has
magic item has a name and a body of legends. The made one in centuries.
most powerful artifacts also tend to be the oldest. Cost Power
In the last two millennia, few mystics wielded 32 Blasting Rod: Multipower, 65-point reserve;
enough power to enchant truly powerful items. all slots OAF (-1), 16 Charges for entire
Since the unblocking of magic, however, many of Multipower (-0)
the old items seem to have gained power. Owning 3u 1) Lightning: Energy Blast 13d6; OAF (-1)
a single magic item may suffice to qualify a person 3u 2) Concussive Force: Energy Blast 7d6,
as a superbeing; and indeed, items of power now Double Knockback (+¾); OAF (-1)
seem to carry a subtle enchantment that raises their 3u 3) Mystic Force: Energy Blast 5d6, AVLD
wielder’s reflexes and stamina to the level of other (defense is Power Defense; +1½); OAF (-1)
heroes and villains. It certainly worked for the 3u 4) Raise/Disperse Tempest: Change
members of the Crowns of Krim. Environment 1” radius, +/-4 Temperature
Levels, Multiple Combat Effects, Varying
Combat Effects, Varying Effect (alter the
PERSONAL MAGIC ITEMS weather; +1), MegaArea (1” = 1 km broad
and wide; +¼); No Range (-½); OAF (-1)
BELT OF STRENGTH 2u 5) Chastise Spirits: Dispel Summon 21d6;
OAF (-1), Only Affects Spirits (-1)
Many gods and heroes of legend possessed 2u 6) Command Spirits: Mind Control 13d6;
items — typically pieces of clothing — that aug- OAF (-1), Only Affects Spirits (-1)
mented their strength. The most famous of these is Total cost: 48 points.
Megingjord, the belt worn by the Norse god Thor,
and it’s on that belt that this item is based. It affects THE TARNKAPPE
not only the wearer’s STR but Figured Character-
The dwarf Alberich and his brother Mim
istics derived from STR, since the OIF Limitation
created the original Tarnkappe. The giant Fafnir
applies to all of them.
used it to turn himself into a dragon. Later, the
Belt Of Strength: +40 STR (40 Active Points); amnesiac Siegfried used the Tarnkappe to imper-
OIF (-½). Total cost: 27 points. sonate a fellow called Gunter. (See The Ring Of The
Nibelungs for the full sordid tale, although Wagner
changed the cape into a helmet — the Tarnhelm.)
BLASTING ROD
Alberich’s Tarnkappe is lost, but the dwarves
The Blasting Rod comes from the Western of Faerie created an inferior copy for the giantish
tradition of ceremonial magic. The Grand Grimoire sorcerer Jormunrek in the eighth century, who was
promises to tell how to make “the dreadful Blast- not long after defeated and slain by the Archmage
ing Rod, which causes the spirits to tremble; which of that time when he (Jormunrek) made a mystic
God also used to arm his Angel when Adam and bid to rule Scandinavia. Jormunrek’s Tarnkappe
Eve were driven out of the Earthly Paradise; where- changes size to fit the wearer. Its wearer can turn
with finally, he smote the rebellious Angels, pre- invisible or adopt the superficial form of any living
cipitating their ambitions into the most appalling creature with the same mass. A human could
gulfs by the power of this very Rod — of this Rod use the Tarnkappe to take the shape of a dragon,
which collects the clouds, disperses tempests, averts but would not gain a dragon’s size, bite, flight, or
the lightning, or precipitates each and all upon any flaming breath. The Tarnkappe itself disappears
portion of the Earth at the pleasure of its director.” when the wearer changes shape, but a person who
88 ■ Book Of Wisdom Hero System 5th Edition Revised
grappled with the character could feel the magic The primary magics of the Krypticon (i.e., the
cloth and pull it off. The more powerful, original ones bought as Multipower slots, and the Cloud
Tarnkappe could form the basis of a formidable Memory power) are so powerful a character’s mind
character all by itself. cannot encompass them all at once. A character
Cost Power must spend 1 Hour studying and “memorizing” a
35 Tarnkappe: Multipower, 52-point reserve; all spell he wants to use. Once he’s done that, he can
IAF (-½) keep the spell in his mind until he casts it. Once
2u 1) Change Form: Shape Shift (Sight, Hear- it’s cast, it fades from his memory; he cannot cast
ing, and Touch Groups, any living creature), it again unless he spends another hour studying it.
Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼); IAF (-½) (In game terms, this is represented as 1 Recoverable
3u 2) Walk Unseen: Invisibility to Sight Group Charge for the Multipower.)
and Detect Magic (including targeting ver- None of the book’s primary magics are really
sions), No Fringe, Reduced Endurance (0 intended for combat use; they all take time and other
END; +½); IAF (-½) requirements to cast. Furthermore, they generate
Total cost: 40 points. such magical energy that anyone with the appro-
priate mystic senses near the caster (“near” being
defined as “within one planetary diameter of”) can
MAGIC ARTIFACTS perceive their use. That may cause trouble for the
possessor, for the Krypticon is valuable — too valu-
The greatest artifacts often pose dangers to
able. Other wizards and mystic entities will try to
their users. Their magic might be too powerful for
take the Book Of Secrets, by force or stealth. In effect,
humans to use safely. Worse, black magic artifacts
the possessor becomes Hunted by many beings of
often enslave their wielders — a very deliberate
great power.
curse built into the artifact by its evil creator.
The Krypticon also enables the book’s owner
Earth’s last Archmage owned all these artifacts.
to contact entities on other planes. The Mind Scan
Some he used; one, the Scepter of Night, he owned
component of this spell is not strong enough to force
to keep it from evil hands. Neither the Trismegistus
contact with most cosmic entities, but dimension
Council nor the Circle of the Scarlet Moon found
lords will notice and probably allow contact anyway:
any of them in the area where the Archmage’s
everyone who’s anyone in the Multiverse recognizes
sanctum once stood. While they may have been
a call from the Krypticon.
destroyed, rumors of at least some of them (not to
In fact, dimension lords and cosmic entities
mention many other artifacts the Archmage once
keep their eyes on whoever uses the Krypticon.
owned) have surfaced in many parts of the world in
Whether he wants it or not, the book’s owner
the century since Bohdan Stanislavski’s murder.
becomes entangled in the intrigues of the Great
Powers, all the way up to the Zoas themselves.
Personal Artifacts The Book Of Secrets is unique: no one ever suc-
ceeds in hand-copying Thestor’s text. Copy machines
These are examples of artifacts that a magus short out. Photographic film burns if it catches the
might use out in the field. They are small enough to image of a Krypticon page. Mystic scribing-spells fail
be portable, so a mystic might carry them into battle. to work if used to copy its words and diagrams.
Cost Power
THE KRYPTICON 12 The Krypticon: Multipower, 150-point
The Krypticon is Earth’s greatest tome of thau- reserve; all slots OAF (-1), Independent (-2),
maturgy. The ancient Greek magus Thestor wrote Concentration (0 DCV throughout casting
the book tome based on what he learned from the time; -1), Extra Time (1 Hour to prepare; -3),
cosmic entity Kryptos, god of secrets. The Kryp- Extra Time (1 Turn to cast; -1¼), Gestures
ticon tells fabulous secrets of magic dealing with (throughout casting time; -½), Incanta-
space, time, and dimension. tions (throughout casting time; -½),Visible
Subsequent owners added their own magical (noticed by anyone with mystic senses, see
discoveries to the Book Of Secrets, making the Kryp- text; -¼), 1 Recoverable Charge for entire
ticon very long but also an excellent research aid. The reserve, (-1¼), Costs Endurance (-½)
Krypticon not only raises its owner’s effective rating 1u 1) Open Dimensional Gate: Extra-Dimen-
in all magic-related Knowledge Skills, it greatly sional Movement (any location in any
increases the chances of successful Spell Research. dimension), Area Of Effect (One Hex; +½),
A sorcerer must be able to read Greek to use Continuous (+1), Usable By Other (+¼);
the Krypticon. In game terms, the book is defined OAF (-1), Independent (-2), Concentration
as a Multipower; each slot represents some power (0 DCV throughout casting time; -1), Extra
or ability the book confers due to the wisdom its Time (1 Hour to prepare; -3), Extra Time (1
pages contain. To learn to use a slot, a character must Turn to cast; -1¼), Extra Time (Extra Phase
study the book for a week, then succeed with a Spell to close; -½), Gate (-½), Gestures (through-
Research roll at a penalty of -1 per 10 Active Points out casting time; -½), Incantations (through-
in the slot. Once he makes this roll, he can use the out casting time; -½), Visible (noticed by
slot whenever he wants without having to make anyone with mystic senses, see text; -¼)
more Spell Research rolls, subject to the rules below. 1u 2) Banish I: Extra-Dimensional Movement
If he fails, he can try again after another week’s study. (any physical location in a related group of
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Three 89
OAF (-1), Independent (-2), Requires An THE STAR OF URIZEN Continued from last page
EGO Roll (assumes an EGO Roll of 14-; -½), The Prime Avatar of Order created this talis-
Side Effects (involuntary, nigh-unbreakable man for his favored servants. Many such talismans the Holy Lance. They
Psychic Bond to a King of Edom; -1) believe that since the
exist, but Urizen assigns only one Star per dimen-
1u 10) Gate Between Dimensions: Extra- Spear already tasted the
sion. Not only does a Star Of Urizen provide several blood of a god, it can
Dimensional Movement (any physical loca- useful powers to its wielder, it can enhance the deliver true and total
tion in the Qliphothic planes), x2 Increased power of any spell its wielder already knows. death to other gods.
Weight; OAF (-1), Independent (-2), Urizen does not permit a Star to stay long in
Requires An EGO Roll (assumes an EGO the hands of a mystic who does not serve his cause. The Rhinegold: The
Roll of 14-; -½), Side Effects (involuntary, As long as a Star’s owner uses it to seek out and Ring of the Nibelungs,
nigh-unbreakable Psychic Bond to a King of destroy the minions of Chaos, Urizen asks no more, from Norse/Germanic
Edom; -1) but if a Star’s owner uses it too much for personal myth, was forged from
2 Gate Within Dimension: 2 Floating Fixed causes, eventually the Prime Avatar sends one of his magic gold guarded by
Points for Teleportation (defined by each spirit minions to take the artifact away. Such min- spirits of the Rhine. That
possessor when he takes possession of the ions can deactivate the Star or even make it attack gold is nothing less than
Scepter); OAF (-1), Independent (-2) the sparkle of the sun
its owner.
2 Creeping Madness: Mental Defense on the river... an echo
A Star Of Urizen is a golden disk about four of the cosmic light of
(8 points plus EGO/5); OAF (-1), Indepen- inches in diameter, with a band of geometric Form shining on the
dent (-2), Does Not Work Against Edomites’ engraving around the rim, and a spiky, multifaceted dark sea of Substance,
Attacks (-1) crystal about two inches wide in the center. in the Atziluthic realm.
Total cost: 45 points. The crystal glitters with white light when the Whoever takes the Rhi-
Star is in use. A character could wear a Star Of negold and forges it into
Urizen as a necklace or a brooch (for instance, as a ring gains mastery of
the clasp for a cloak). the world, but he must
A Star Of Urizen does not take the Focus renounce love to do so,
and can only become a
Limitation so its possessor can use it while in astral
villain.
form: a Star does its own astral projection along
with its wearer. Since the Star is Independent, how-
The Tablet of Destiny:
ever, it can still be stolen or lost. The primal chaos-
Cost Power dragon Tiamat was the
18 Star Of Urizen: Multipower, 54-point first owner of this tablet
reserve; Independent (-2) that ordains the laws
1u 1) Appeal To The Servants Of Order: Mind of the universe and the
Scan 7d6, Transdimensional (to Ulro; +½); social order. When the
Independent (-2) Mesopotamian gods
1u 2) Augment Spell: Aid Magic 4d6, any one defeated Tiamat’s army
Magic spell or power at a time (+¼); Inde- of monsters, they took
the Tablet as well. When
pendent (-2)
the storm-bird Anzu
1u 3) Command To Depart: Dispel Summon stole the Tablet, the gods
18d6; Independent (-2) lost their power. Perhaps
1u 4) Demand Obedience: Mind Control 10d6; the Tablet controls the
Independent (-2) relations between gods
1u 5) Inquisition: Telepathy 10d6; and the mortal world,
Independent (-2) in which case it could
4 Commune With The Servants Of Order: overthrow the Ban at
Mind Link to any one minion of Order, any a stroke. The tablet’s
distance, any dimension; Independent (-2), power comes from
the Dragon, however,
Costs Endurance (-½), Concentration (0
making it perilous in the
DCV throughout use; -1) 2 extreme for mortals to
5 Sense Chaos: Detect Chaos Magic (Sight wield.
Group), Sense; Independent (-2) plus
Telescopic (+10 versus Range Modifier for
Sense); Independent (-2), Costs Endurance
(-½), Visible (beam of white light shines
from the Star to the source of magic; -¼)
Total cost: 32 points.
92 ■ Book Of Wisdom Hero System 5th Edition Revised
CHARACTER
CREATION
F PERKS
or the most part, building a character who’s
a super-mage, a divine avatar, a therian-
thrope, or any other denizen of the Mystic
World is no different than designing any ACCESS
other Champions superhero. Mystic characters With the GM’s permission, characters can use
often tend to favor unusual Power-Advantage this Perk to represent the fact that they have the
combinations, and rely on Power Frameworks, a right and/or power to enter certain dimensions
bit more than other character types, but the same (such as the Brialic planes) that most characters
basic character creation rules apply. Here are a few cannot. The cost depends upon the difficulty of
additional or expanded rules addressing matters of entering the dimension, and how useful or impor-
interest to mystics. tant it is to the character to be able to enter that
dimension.
affect them (it’s considered a Targeting Sense Group, EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENT ASTRAL
since so many mystics buy Targeting for their Detect Type: Movement Power AWARENESS
Magic spells and the like). Duration: Instant
Target: Self Only One of the most
The Dimensional Sense Modifier
Range: Self common uses for the
Mystics sometimes need to perceive into Dimensional Sense
other dimensions. One way to do this is by buying Costs END: Yes
Modifier is to create
Clairsentience with its own Dimensional modifier Cost: See Extra-Dimensional
Astral Awareness, the
— but it’s also possible to expand Dimensional into a Movement Table ability to perceive astral
general Sense Modifier that can apply to any Sense. A character with this Movement Power can beings and things:
A Sense with Dimensional can perceive into travel from one dimension to another, or can travel
one or more dimensions in addition to the one the through time. Some examples of Extra-Dimen- Dimensional for Sight
character’s currently occupying. It doesn’t grant sional Movement include wizards who can open and Hearing Groups: 20
any extra range to the Sense; the character merely gates to other planes, starships capable of breaching Character Points.
perceives whatever he can at the point in the other dimensional barriers, and time travel machines.
dimension that physically corresponds to his loca- Extra-Dimensional Movement costs END to use.
tion in his current dimension. If appropriate, the When buying Extra-Dimensional Movement,
GM may apply the “Dimensional Range Modifier” a character must first pay a base cost of 20 points.
described under Transdimensional, below, so that That allows him to travel to a single physical loca-
it’s much harder for characters on Earth to perceive tion in a single other dimension — for example,
into the Brialic or Atziluthic dimensions than into only to Odin’s Hall in Valhalla, or only to the Infer-
Assiatic or Yetziratic ones. nal Gates in Hell. (The character may, of course,
also return to his native dimension.) If a charac-
Cost: To perceive into a single other dimension: 5 ter wants to travel to more locations in that one
Character Points for a single Sense; 10 Character dimension, or to more than a single dimension, he
Points for a single Sense Group. has to pay Character Points for additional modi-
To perceive into a related group of dimensions: 10 fiers to the power (see text below, and the Extra-
Character Points for a single Sense; 20 Character Dimensional Movement Table).
Points for a single Sense Group. Using Extra-Dimensional Movement takes a
To perceive into any dimension: 15 Character Full Phase. It does not involve acceleration, deceler-
Points for a single Sense; 25 Character Points for a ation, or a Turn Mode. Traveling to another dimen-
single Sense Group. sion, or through time, breaks Line Of Sight for the
purposes of maintaining Constant Powers, Usable
EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENT By Others powers, Mental Powers, and the like.
This Power is extremely important for super- Normally, a character with Extra-Dimensional
mages; they’re more likely to use it than just about Movement can only move himself, his clothing,
any other type of character. However, there are and his personal equipment (including any Foci).
some gaps in the existing version of it in the HERO To move more weight, the character must buy an
System 5th Edition rulebook, and these may cause Adder (see below) for his Power.
problems. The GM should consider using this DIMENSIONAL TRAVEL
expanded version of the Power:
The standard use of Extra-Dimensional Move-
ment is to travel to other planes and dimensions.
This is a separate ability from traveling through
time (see below). See Chapter One for descrip-
tions of many dimensions characters can travel to
(though that “list” is far from exhaustive).
Number Of Dimensions The Character Can
Travel To
To travel to a related group of dimensions
(such as the Nine Hells or the Four Elemental
Planes) costs +5 Character Points. The GM deter-
mines what constitutes “a related group”; there’s no
specific numerical limit.
The ability to travel to any dimension costs
+10 Character Points.
Regardless of how many dimensions a char-
acter can travel to, he can only travel to a single
physical location in each one, and he must define
the specific location in each dimension when he
buys the power.
Physical Locations The Character Can Reach
As noted above, the default with Extra-Dimen-
sional Movement is that a character can only travel
to a single physical location in any dimension he
94 ■ Book Of Wisdom Hero System 5th Edition Revised
can travel to, and he has to define that location sponding to the physical location he occupies in the
when he buys the power. (Once he reaches that dimension he’s currently in, that costs -3 points.
single location he can, of course, travel freely under Generally speaking, Extra-Dimensional Move-
his own power, unless some outside force or circum- ment does not give a character any enhanced
stance prevents him from doing so.) A character movement in his home dimension; a character in
may expand the number of locations he can travel New York cannot transport himself to Valhalla
to with additional modifiers. and then back to Tokyo. A character either returns
If the character can only travel to a single to his home dimension in the same location from
dimension, the ability to travel to any location in which he left it, or he only travels as far as he
that dimension costs +5 Character Points. travelled in the alternate dimension. At the GM’s
If the character can travel to a related group of option, if the character has paid the points to be
dimensions, the ability to travel to any location in able to travel to any location in any of the dimen-
any of those dimensions costs +10 Character Points. sions he can travel to, he can likewise return to any
If the character can travel to any dimension, location in his home dimension.
the ability to travel to any location in any of those
TIME TRAVEL
dimensions costs +15 Character Points.
If a character can travel to “any location” in a “Time” counts as a single dimension for pur-
target dimension, but is restricted to only traveling poses of Extra-Dimensional Movement, but it’s
to physical locations in other dimensions corre- separate from all the other dimensions — a char-
EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL
MOVEMENT TABLE MOVEMENT SUMMARY TABLE
Cost Effect Cost Travel To A Single Dimension
20 Travel to a single location in a single 20 A single location
dimension 25 Any physical location
Number Of Dimensions Modifiers 22 Any physical location corresponding to
+5 Travel to a single location in a related group his physical location in the dimension he’s
of dimensions currently in
+10 Travel to a single location in any dimension Travel To A Related Group Of Dimensions
Dimensional Location Modifiers 25 A single location in each dimension
+5 Any physical location in a single dimension 35 Any physical location in each dimension
+10 Any physical location in a related group of 32 Any physical location in each dimension,
dimensions corresponding to his physical location in the
+15 Any physical location in any dimension dimension he’s currently in
-3 Character can only travel to the physical Travel To Any Dimension
location in the other dimension correspond- 30 A single location in any dimension
ing to his physical location in the dimension 45 Any physical location in any dimension
he’s currently in 42 Any physical location in any dimension,
Time Travel Modifiers corresponding to his physical location in the
+20 Travel through time to a single moment in dimension he’s currently in
time Travel In Time: Physical Location Same As
+5 Travel to a related group of discrete Starting Location
moments in time 40 Travel to a single moment in time
+1 Travel forward or back in time by up to 1 45 Travel to a related group of moments in time
Turn in either direction; +1 point for each 67 Travel to any moment in time within 50 Bil-
additional increment on the Time Chart; if lion Years, future or past
character can only travel to the past or to the Travel In Time: Single Physical Location Other
future, halve this cost Than Starting Location
Time Travel Location Modifiers 42 Travel to a single moment in time
+0 No change in physical location; character 47 Travel to a related group of moments in time
remains in the physical location he occupies 69 Travel to any moment in time within 50 Bil-
when he activates the power lion Years, future or past
+2 Any single physical location in the same Travel In Time: Limited Group Of Physical Locations
dimension the character occupies when he 45 Travel to a single moment in time
uses the power, defined when the power is 50 Travel to a related group of moments in time
bought, regardless of where the character is 72 Travel to any moment in time within 50 Bil-
when he activates the power lion Years, future or past
+5 A limited group of physical locations, in
the same dimension the character occupies Travel In Time: Any Physical Location
when he uses the power, in the moments in 50 Travel to a single moment in time
time the character can travel to 55 Travel to a related group of moments in time
+10 Any physical location, in the same dimen- 77 Travel to any moment in time within 50 Bil-
sion the character occupies when he uses the lion Years, future or past
power, in the moments in time the character
can travel to
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Three 95
acter cannot travel through time by buying Extra- in the same dimension. However, characters cannot TIME CHART
Dimensional Movement to travel to “all dimen- use this as a cheap form of worldwide Teleporta- (EXPANDED)
sions,” he has to buy time travel separately. tion (e.g., “I’ll travel to two seconds from now in Time Period/Duration
To travel in time, a character must pay +20 Tokyo!”) — they must engage in what the GM con-
1 Segment
Character Points (in addition to the base cost of siders legitimate time travel.
20 Character Points for Extra-Dimensional Move- 1 Phase
Caveat 1 Turn
ment). For that total base cost of 40 Character
Extra-Dimensional Movement is a “stop (Post-Segment 12)
Points, the character can travel to a single moment
sign” power, and time travel doubly so. The time
in time, defined when the power is bought. Time 1 Minute
travel method outlined above is not intended as a
travel occurs only in the physical dimension 5 Minutes
combat ability, or a way for a character to go back
the character is in when he uses the power. For 20 Minutes
and “re-do” the actions of the past few Segments
example, a character on Earth cannot time travel to
or Turns just because they didn’t turn out the way 1 Hour
Hell or Valhalla (though he could have two Extra-
the character wanted. If a character wants to have 6 Hours
Dimensional Powers, one physical and one tempo-
time-manipulation powers that work in combat, 1 Day
ral, that in combination allowed him to do that).
he should buy those as specific Powers with a “time
If a character wants to travel to more than 1 Week
manipulation” effect. Gamemasters should carefully
a single moment in time, he must pay more 1 Month
monitor all uses of Extra-Dimensional Movement
Character Points. The ability to travel to a related
in general, and time travel in particular, to prevent 1 Season (3 months)
group of moments in time, in the past or the
abuse or loss of game balance; as always, the GM 1 Year
future, no matter how far removed in time from
should forbid any use of a power he considers 5 Years
the present moment, costs +5 Character Points.
improper or harmful to the game.
The GM determines what constitutes a “related 25 Years
group”; examples typically include all instances OTHER USES 1 Century
of a particular date (e.g., any July 4 in any year), Characters can create “gates” to other dimen- 5 Centuries
or any date within a specific, limited span of time sions or times by applying the rules for Gates under 2,500 Years
(e.g., one specific year). Teleportation (see page 149 of the HERO System 5th
Some characters may want to travel to any 10,000 Years
Edition) to Extra-Dimensional Movement.
moment in time within a particular timeframe, 50,000 Years
You can also use Extra-Dimensional Move-
such as “within my lifetime” or “within 500 years, ment to simulate any situation in which a character 250,000 Years
past or future, from the present moment.” To do is in a different state of being, cannot interact with 1 Million Years
this, they spend points to buy the range across the “real world,” or is any place which is inaccessible 5 Million Years
which they may travel. For +1 Character Point, the to others. For example, a character with Shrinking
character may travel forward or backward in time 25 Million Years
could, theoretically, buy enough Shrinking to get
by up to 1 Turn (12 seconds). Thus, if he were in 100 Million Years
inside molecules (the “microverse,” so to speak).
Segment 6 of Turn 2 of a combat, he could travel However, it’s easier to buy this ability as Extra- 500 Million Years
to any Segment up to Segment 6 of Turn 3 (but no Dimensional Movement to the microverse “dimen- 2.5 Billion Years
further into the future), or to any Segment back to sion.” Other such uses include stopping time (the 10 Billion Years
Segment 6 of Turn 1 (but no further into the past). character “travels to the dimension” where he is the 50 Billion Years
For each additional +1 point, he may expand his only thing in the world not frozen in time); grant-
range of travel by one step down the Time Chart ing wishes (the character “travels to the dimension
(see the accompanying Expanded Time Chart). where he has received whatever he wished for”);
Thus, to travel to any point in time within 50 Bil- MEETING YOURSELF
the “virtual dimension” of cyberspace; creating IN THE PAST
lion Years in the future or 50 Billion Years in the an “impenetrable ward” to protect some place or
past costs +27 Character Points (for a total cost of object (the place or object is in another dimension,
67 points for the power). If the character can only The HERO System rules
and thus generally cannot be affected by characters do not offer or suggest
travel one direction in time (backward to the past, in this dimension); and the like. It may be necessary any particular theory
or forward to the future), halve this cost. for a character to purchase special Senses or other as to how time travel
Regardless of how many moments in time a Powers for use only in the dimension(s) he travels works, what effects char-
character can travel to, he can only time travel to to; if so, he can usually purchase these with a -1 (or acters traveling to the
a single physical location in the dimension he’s in greater) Limitation. past can have on their
when he uses the power. By default, this location This Power is extremely tricky, and can be dif- present (or future), or
is defined as the location he’s in when he activates ficult to use in a campaign setting. The GM should any of the many other
the Power — if he starts in Chicago in 2002, he can thorny issues related to
consider regulating Extra-Dimensional Movement
travel back to 1636 or forward to 3312, but he’ll the subject. Each GM
in some fashion; otherwise characters will use it must determine for
still be in Chicago (or whatever it used to be/will every time they get into trouble. For example, per-
become — which may prove hazardous for him!). himself how time travel
haps characters have to buy it in such a way as to works in his game. There
For +2 Character Points, he may define his time make it unreliable — if the character misses a Skill are plenty of books and
travel as always taking him to the same location, or Activation Roll, he goes off course, to another science fiction stories
no matter where he is when he uses Extra-Dimen- dimension (or time). This Power is best used by the about the subject for
sional Movement — he always time travels to GM when it fits into his plans; otherwise it should readers interested in
London, no matter where he is when he activates be strictly controlled. doing some research.
the Power. For +5 Character Points, he can go to
a related group of physical locations in the same
dimension (say, any place in England). For +10
Character Points, he can go to any physical location
96 ■ Book Of Wisdom Hero System 5th Edition Revised
SKARN THE
MYSTIC MASTER
SHAPER
Background/History: Many mystics acknowledge crashed together into Skarn — and merged. Skarn
VILLAINS the sinister Skarn, Shaper of Worlds, as one of the became more than mortal, a living paradox of con-
most dangerous dimension lords. Skarn has existed trary cosmic forces. Worse, the three minds shat-
This chapter describes for over two thousand years. In that time, he’s con- tered as they came together. A new mind coalesced
three beings whose quered hundreds of dimensions and added them to from the fragments of memory and passion, a mind
incredible power is his insane, patchwork realm — the Congeries. that called itself Skarn but certainly was not the
equalled only by their Superficially, Skarn does not seem to occupy sorcerer who risked everything to save his world.
evil. These mystic From Nomarch Phase came a passion to
the apex of power. The Shaper is stronger than
master villains want to
any would-be conqueror who’s smarter than him, change the world. From the Beast came an equally
conquer the Earth and
enslave humanity. But however, and smarter than anyone who’s stronger strong will to force people to live in harmony with
unlike Dr. Destroyer and than him. Whereas other dimensional conquerors their environment. The original Skarn provided a
his ilk, these master vil- rely on their own power, or on hordes of soldiers, messianic streak. All three had an iron determina-
lains are not human and Skarn combines raw power, abundant minions, and tion to see their will done, no matter what the cost.
do not act from human a large cadre of lieutenants who wield considerable The new Skarn quickly conquered Orom; the
motivations. They seek power in their own right. Chief among these min- war-exhausted populace had little will to resist.
to conquer or corrupt ions are his two sons, the cunning sorcerer Arthon Many people welcomed a return to order at any
humanity because they and the brutal warrior Torvost; most people forget price. Once Skarn reshaped Orom to his satisfac-
must; they are incarnate tion, he turned his attention to nearby dimensions.
about Skarn’s comparatively weak daughter Brell.
forces of will.
The Shaper became a dimensional conqueror Rallying his power, Skarn merged the smaller
by accident. Originally, he was merely a sorcerer dimensions with Orom so he could “improve” them
The master villains
from a little dimension called Orom. The Oromians in turn. Over the centuries, Skarn spliced dozens of
described here are:
ruled themselves through a collective presidency little dimensions together with Orom, producing a
Skarn the Shaper composite universe called the Congeries. Now he’s
of sorcerers called the Triumvirate. Skarn was a
Tyrannon the Triumvir. ready to tackle bigger game. Earth, with its billions
Conqueror The other two Triumvirs hated each other of inhabitants, sets Skarn drooling with anticipa-
The Dragon beyond party rivalry — indeed, beyond sanity. tion. Ultimately, Skarn wants to merge the entire
Their hatred led them to invite possession by Multiverse into the Congeries, with himself as
cosmic entities. Each Triumvir hoped to crush “benevolent” despot leading everyone to universal
his rival and make his own party supreme. One Utopia — no matter how much death and destruc-
became a Lord of Nature called the Beast, devoted tion he must cause along the way.
to razing Orom’s cities and making its people live Personality/Motivation: Skarn is a fanatical Utopian
simple lives in harmony with their environment. reformer as well as a megalomaniac. He wants to
The other became the Lord of Art called Nomarch create a perfect universe full of perfect people.
Phase, equally determined to let everyone shape Skarn’s notions of perfection, however, have little
their part of the world however they wanted. to do with what anyone else wants. If he thinks
The battles between the Beast, Nomarch Phase, a region needs rains of acid every Thursday, he
and their followers devastated Orom. Skarn vowed reshapes the region to fit. If the people are lucky, he
to save his world by destroying both cosmic enti- remembers to reshape them to withstand the acid.
ties. After great effort, he learned a spell that could Skarn’s subjects know him as a capricious god who
link their life-forces into a vicious circle of mutual sends blessings and curses almost at random.
destruction. Skarn had no idea if he himself would Since Skarn firmly believes he does everything
survive. for the best, he’s very hard to turn aside from any
Skarn tricked the Beast and Nomarch Phase course of action. Nothing is too vicious for him,
into casting bolts of destruction at him at the same because “the end justifies the means.” Anyone
instant. He caught both attacks and bounced the who disagrees with him proves himself an enemy
power back, changed into spells of life-draining. of reality (or at least a victim of false thinking)
The Beast sucked the life out of Nomarch Phase; whom he must destroy for the good of the Multi-
Nomarch Phase drained the Beast, with Skarn in verse. Even if a hero can out-fight Skarn, the hero
the middle. Both cosmic entities struggled against wins only a brief reprieve. Skarn can, however, be
the curse, but neither would let the other one go. tricked into renouncing his claim on a world — at
They dragged each other into death, evaporating least for a while.
like an evil dream. Skarn takes godhood very seriously, in his fash-
But what of Skarn? He served as the conduit ion. He justifies his conquests through his own sup-
for the life forces of two gods as opposite as night posed perfection, and refuses to show any sign he is
and day. When they died, their power and souls less than perfect. Thus, he must keep any promise he
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 99
makes because as a god, he can’t show such “merely Quote: “Rejoice, puny mortals! I, Skarn, have come CHARACTER SHEET
mortal” failings as lying or treachery — though he to transform your worthless, insignificant lives!” NOTATION
can split hairs and twist meanings to find a way Powers/Tactics: Even without magic, Skarn is a
around inconvenient promises, given time. strong and skillful brawler (part of his heritage Generally, the text of
The Shaper also shows godlike generosity from the Beast). He can make himself nearly the character sheets
in repaying his debts or rewarding “offerings.” impossible to damage by transforming himself in this book should be
To place Skarn in your debt; however, requires into a living hole in space (part of his heritage pretty straightforward
doing him an extraordinary favor that comes as a and easy to understand.
from Nomarch Phase) — if he wishes, things can
complete surprise. For instance, Skarn would not Consult the Glossary
fall through him into endless Limbo. In this state, in the HERO System
offer to spare the Earth in return for the heroes Skarn gains the powers listed under the Living Hole
fetching a powerful magic artifact. Haggling is 5th Edition, and the
In Space heading, plus Hardened defenses, and his example powers in
not very divine. On the other hand, if someone claw or bite attacks become Armor Piercing and that book, if you have
surprised Skarn with something he greatly desired Penetrating. Skarn keeps his Living Hole In Space any questions about
or enjoyed — a powerful artifact, the life of an active most of the time, but he drops it for non- abbreviations, terms, or
enemy, or the best laugh he’s had in centuries — magical duels. He (temporarily) loses these Powers notations. The Writer’s
the Shaper might offer to grant that person any- if Stunned or Knocked Out. Guidelines, available on
thing within his power. (Abdication is not within Skarn is also a sorcerer of nearly limitless the Hero Games website
Skarn’s power, because the fundamental nature of (www.herogames.com),
flexibility. He was quite skilled even before his
reality is to be ruled by Skarn.) also provide some infor-
apotheosis. Becoming a god, and the cosmic knowl- mation about character
The Shaper also likes a good fight. His love of edge gained from Nomarch Phase, raised his power
sport can temporarily override his messianic com- sheet formatting.
even more. As long as Skarn stays in the Congeries,
plex. Skarn especially loves to hunt sentient prey his link to its manifold mystic energies lets him
(such as PCs) through special “game preserves” In a Multipower, a “u”
cast whatever spell he wants, instantly. On other next to the cost indicates
in the Congeries, using only his physical powers. planes, where he doesn’t know the mystical condi- a Fixed (or “ultra”) slot,
Skarn always expects to win, and so he may rashly tions so well, Skarn must spend a brief period (a and an “m” a Flexible (or
accept side bets... such as relinquishing his claim Phase) changing the roster of spells in his Power “multi”) slot.
to the Earth. If he loses, he also asks for a rematch: Pool. Unlike some mega-sorcerers, Skarn can apply
“Same thing next year?” his Cosmic Thaumaturgy to Under the END column,
augment his other Powers, a number in brack-
or to increase his physi- ets indicates Charges
cal prowess. He usually (however, the bracketed
number next to STR is
produces a 100-Active
an END cost).
Point attack spell, and then
assigns the remaining 20
points of the VPP to a
movement, defensive, or
sensory power. If he must,
Skarn uses further Limita-
tions (such as a Focus; his
crown serves as an OAF) to
reduce the final cost of his
spells so he can pull more
of them from the Pool. But
Skarn prefers not to rely on
tools in a brawl, since that
impugns his omnipotence.
Skarn fights fair, at
least in formal combat. One
on one, he restricts him-
self to his opponent’s SPD
unless he’s clearly losing;
then he goes one SPD
higher. If Skarn still loses
— why, he meant to lose, as
a reward for a gallant foe.
At the start of a combat,
Skarn doesn’t use tacti-
cal subtleties such as Held
Actions.
The Shaper would
rather lose than violate the
conditions of a duel, but
woe betide any outsider
who intrudes on a fight,
100 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
even to help him! The Shaper can devise quite hor- Campaign Use: The Shaper shows neither the
SKARN PLOT SEEDS
rible punishments. If an enemy insulted him, or impenetrable malevolence of Takofanes, nor the
did not negotiate any formal rules, Skarn uses all blind megalomania of Tyrannon — multiple pas-
The heroes find them-
selves in a horribly his power to annihilate his opponents as quickly as sions drive the mercurial Shaper. Victory over
disastrous situation. possible, with whatever backup he has available. Skarn may depend less on raw power than on
Skarn opens a portal Resources: As the god-king of a fairly large dimen- exploiting his personality, such as leading Skarn
and offers to solve their sion (as magical dimensions go, anyway), Skarn can to accept a challenge the heroes can win. On the
problem if they release muster thousands of magical warriors, hundreds other hand, Skarn plans with considerable strategic
him from a promise not subtlety once he realizes raw power cannot achieve
of thousands of relatively mundane soldiers, and
to attack the Earth. By his objectives. He can practice deeper deceits than
accepting Skarn’s offer, whatever magical Vehicles and superweapons he
can imagine. A large and diverse cadre of super- his chief rivals, or try to subvert heroes instead of
the heroes can save destroying them. Skarn’s cadre also enables him to
many lives — at cost of powered officers also serves the Shaper. (Use
characters from this book, Conquerors, Killers, pursue more than one scheme at a time, and attack
endangering the future
of all humanity. And Crooks, or other Champions supplements, but from more than one angle.
change their names and appearance to give them a If Skarn needs to be more powerful for your
A female hero impresses “magical” style.) Skarn’s chief restriction is that he campaign, increase his Characteristics, give him
Skarn during a confron- cannot bring all his forces to bear at once: most a few more Innate Magic attacks better suited
tation, so he decides to of his military stays on guard against Tyrannon to counter the PCs’ defenses, or increase Skarn’s
marry her. Skarn’s idea (and, to a lesser extent, Istvatha V’han). Thus, Skarn defenses. Keep in mind, however, that although
of courtship is to send attempts quick conquests using limited numbers of Skarn is meant as a powerful foe, he is not meant to
“gifts” such as a dozen swat PCs without effort: heroes of normal power
elite troops (including his cadre). If Skarn secures a
slaves to serve the hero- can defeat Skarn in a straight-up fight, if they
ine, or the severed heads strong beachhead on a world or dimension, he can
open a massive Gate to bring in reinforcements, manipulate him into accepting certain limits on his
of her enemies. He also own power. To make Skarn less powerful, reduce
conquers a dimension and finally merge the world with the Congeries.
Once Skarn brings a world into the Congeries, he his SPD and VPP, and decrease the damage of his
in her name. Eventu-
ally Skarn abducts the can devote his military to a full-scale conquest. Energy Blasts.
heroine to the Conge- Skarn is quick to Hunt heroes who thwart him,
Relations With Others: Now and then, sorcerers and but not to the extent he would violate the letter of
ries... and he won’t take
no for an answer to his lesser dimension lords hear of Skarn’s power but a promise. He may let other dimension lords and
proposal. not his madness, and ask for his help. Sometimes it mystic mercenaries know how much the PCs’ death
pleases Skarn to grant the request, if his petitioner would please him, without baldly putting out a con-
Skarn sets up an interdi- grovels well and offers him a great gift of magic, tract on them. On the other hand, if Skarn believes
mensional Great Tour- lore, or lives. Sometimes Skarn solves the petition- he lost honorably, he may “Hunt” the heroes by
nament for sorcerers. er’s problem by annexing his world. trying to recruit them. For instance, he might place
The winners of the early The Shaper loathes any spirit, sorcerer, or heroes in difficult positions and then offer to rescue
heats receive impres- mystic entity who rivals his power. He and “that them in return for their fealty, or solve some vexing
sive magical gifts. A foe upstart” Tyrannon constantly scheme to under- problem for a hero (such as Aunt Mary’s medical
of the PCs wins one of cut each other, and each one hopes to destroy the
these prizes and uses it problems), and then demand a “favor” in return
other and absorb his realm and power. Skarn might — or he withdraws his “gift.”
to defeat them, drawing
oppose Takofanes the Archlich or other power-
the heroes into the con- Appearance: Skarn is a 7’ tall, bearlike humanoid.
test. Skarn promises the ful villains from a similar desire to prove his own
superiority and thin the competition. When his Living Hole In Space power is active, he
tournament’s victor a seems to be made of star-flecked space, with indigo
prize greater than all his Skarn has a tempestuous relationship with
Istvatha V’han, the self-proclaimed “Empress of a reflections off body contours. He still shows his
other gifts put together.
Only once someone Billion Dimensions.” On the one hand, she rules a luminous, yellow-orange eyes and his short, ivory
wins the tournament lot more than he does. On the other hand, she also horns, claws, and teeth. If Skarn wishes, he can
(a PC, perhaps?) does opposes Tyrannon, and she shows little interest in return to physical form, in which case he has a sleek
Skarn reveal that the conquering magic-rich dimensions. Their encoun- auburn pelt over a formidably muscular body. He
great “prize” is a chance ters range from skirmishes over dimensions they wears a golden loincloth and a spiky golden diadem
to fight Skarn himself, that hooks over his horns, with a glittering jewel in
both covet to romantic trysts when one of them
for no reward but the the center. Skarn’s spells look like typical thaumatur-
glory of the battle. hopes to manipulate the other.
gical globes, beams, and other shapes of light.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 101
masters they fear better than masters they love. power to defense by putting up both of his Mystic
Arthon loathes his half-brother Torvost, whom Shields, adding Dimensional Contraction to raise his
he considers a stupid, vulgar brute. Arthon isn’t DCV, then using his Power Pool to craft a pair of
ready to murder Torvost as long as Skarn lives, but devastating 75 Active Point attacks. The remaining
he won’t miss a chance to make his brother look 25 points of his VPP go into miscellaneous defenses
bad. or Invisibility. Even if Arthon lacks time to adjust
Quote: “One would think that even outworlders his Power Pool for this, his VPP “default setting”
would have better manners when meeting royalty; should include a number of defensive spells and at
but no. It seems one will have to deliver a lesson.” least one full-power attack.
Powers/Tactics: Arthon has dimensional powers Campaign Use: If the PCs lack the power to face
like his father’s. He is also tremendously learned in Skarn, Arthon serves as a substitute. The heroes
Thaumaturgy, but his technique is less than perfect. can gain practice and experience by fighting him
He still needs the “crutches” of ritual procedures before they face the Shaper himself. The treacher-
for maximum effect; thus, he cannot easily muster ous Arthon also serves as a foil to Skarn’s odd sense
his full power in combat. Most of his spells remain of honor. Arthon doesn’t keep promises, and heroes
slightly unreliable (he must make a Thaumaturgy can count on him to betray any allies. Clever PCs
Skill Roll not only to change his VPP, but usu- can probably lure Arthon into a trap baited with
ally applies it as a Limitation to Powers produced an opportunity to gain greater personal power, or a
through his VPP). Without applying any Limita- chance to discredit Torvost.
tions, Arthon cannot produce Powers exceeding If you need to make Arthon more powerful,
25 Active Points from his VPP. He can increase increase the strength of many of his Multipower
the power of his spells by using Limitations such slots (which only have about 60 Active Points in
as Focus (he always keeps several OAF talismans their powers), increase the size of his VPP, and/or
stashed in his belt), Gestures, and Incantations. If apply Advantages to let him change his VPP more
necessary, Arthon accepts Increased Endurance quickly and easily. If Arthon is too powerful for the
Cost. He uses Extra Time or Concentration for PCs, reduce his VPP and possibly his SPD as well.
non-combat spellcasting; only dire need would Arthon readily Hunts heroes who defeated
make him accept Side Effects on a spell. To produce him, and may even Hunt heroes who won a prom-
a 75 Active Point spell, Arthon needs -2 worth of ise of safety from Skarn. But Arthon conducts his
Limitations; usually he can employ such power- attacks through proxies because he’s a coward (and
ful spells only at the start of a fight. The magic he to maintain plausible deniability if he breaks one of
improvises later is less powerful, as he exhausts his his father’s vows).
Foci and falls back on other Limitations. Changing Appearance: Arthon looks like a slender bear-man
the VPP also requires a Thaumaturgy Skill Roll and standing 6’6” tall, with small horns and delicate
a full Phase. claws. He wears a long, belted tabard with a high
Since Arthon isn’t especially brave and dislikes collar and a large, talismanic brooch on his chest.
bruises, he prefers to fight from behind a screen of When not using his dimensional powers, he has
expendable soldiers. He never goes to all-out attack; short, light brown fur. When his dimensional shield
he prefers to Hold his Action and maintain good is up, his body seems made of black, starry space.
defenses. Arthon often dedicates his entire Multi-
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 107
BRELL 22 Blend In: Persistent (+½) for Shape Shift, BRELL PLOT SEEDS
Val Char Cost Roll Notes Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½); Only
20 STR 10 13- Lift 400 kg; 4d6 [2] When Assumes A Humanoid Form (-¼) 0 Skarn decides Brell
20 DEX 30 13- OCV: 7/DCV: 7 37 Bigger Forms: Growth (+30 STR, ought to do her part
20 CON 20 13- +6 BODY, +6 STUN, -6” KB, 6,400 kg, -4 to expand his rule. He
DCV, +4 PER Rolls to perceive character, sends her to Earth to
10 BODY 0 11-
8 m tall, 4 m wide), Costs END Only To acquire certain mystic
18 INT 8 13- PER Roll 13- artifacts. She uses her
20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7 Activate (+¼) 1
shapeshifting and
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 75 Smaller Forms: Shrinking (0.124 m tall,
modest magic to steal
18 COM 4 13- 0.062 m wide, 0.0240 kg mass, +12” KB, +8 the artifacts. Although
DCV, -8 PER Rolls to perceive character), the heroes surely want
15 PD 11 Total: 15 PD (5 rPD) Costs END Only To Activate (+¼) 5 to stop Brell’s thefts,
15 ED 11 Total: 15 ED (5 rED) 25 Function Follows Form: Multipower, they cannot help notic-
4 SPD 10 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 25-point reserve ing that this mysteri-
8 REC 0 1u 1) Protected Eyes: Sight Group Flash ous new supervillain
Defense (5 points) 0 seems remarkably soft-
40 END 0
1u 2) Extra Arms: Extra Limbs 0 hearted: Brell leaves a
30 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 134 trail of magical healings
1u 3) Suckers/Insectile Legs: Clinging
and rescues as well as
Movement: Running: 16”/32” (normal STR) 0
burglaries. She could
Leaping: 14”/28” 1u 4) Fins: Swimming +5” (7” total) 1 easily fall in with a “nice
Flight: 10”/20” 2u 5) Long Legs: Running +10” (16” total) 2 villain” team such as
2u 6) Wings: Flight 10”, x4 Noncombat; GRAB.
Cost Powers END Restrainable (-½) 2
48 Thaumaturgy: Multipower, 60-point 1u 7) Leaping: Leaping +10” (14” forward, A magical villain (such
reserve; all slots Only When In 7” upward) 1 as Dark Seraph) kid-
Humanoid Form (-¼) 22 Function Follows Form: Variable Power naps Brell in hopes of
4u 1) Sixth Light of Luathon: Dispel Magic Pool (Biological Pool), 16 base + 8 control extorting a ransom from
cost; Only For Powers Suitable To Shape Skarn. Wild with rage,
Powers 12d6, any Magic spell or power
Shift Forms (-¼) var the Shaper nullifies any
one at a time (+¼); Only When In previous pledges to
Humanoid Form (-¼) 4 5 Divine Resilience: Damage Resistance
leave Earth alone and
4u 2) Cerulean Spear: Ego Attack 4½d6; (5 PD/5 ED) 0
invades Earth in force
Only When In Humanoid Form (-¼) 4 6 Divine Heritage: Mental Defense to recover his daughter.
4u 3) Koriol’s Crimson Crystals: Entangle (10 points total) 0 The heroes must rescue
3d6, 3 DEF, Takes No Damage From 5 Divine Heritage: Life Support: Immortality 0 Brell before Skarn con-
Attacks (all attacks; +½); Only When In quers the Earth. But did
Perks
Humanoid Form (-¼) 4 an Earthly villain really
5 Fringe Benefit: Upper Nobility of the kidnap Brell... or did
3u 4) Mystic Mirror: Missile Deflection (all Congeries Tyrannon frame some-
Ranged Attacks), Ranged (+1); Only 9 Reputation: Skarn’s Mercy (throughout one for the deed?
When In Humanoid Form (-¼) 0 the Congeries), +3/+3d6
4u 5) First Sorcerer’s Star: Energy Blast 9d6;
Talents After the heroes meet
Only When In Humanoid Form (-¼) 4 Brell a few times and
2u 6) Third Saffron Sphere: Sight Group 3 Bump of Direction
both help and receive
Images, +4 to PER Rolls, Increased Size 20 Universal Translator 13- help from her, she pro-
(4” radius; +½), Reduced Endurance Skills fesses her love for one of
(0 END; +½); Only When In Humanoid 2 AK: The Congeries 11- the characters — though
Form (-¼), Only To Create Light (-1) 0 she’s not yet ready to
3 Stealth 13-
2u 7) Shield Of Skarn: Force Field move to Earth. How
3 Scholar does the hero respond
(8 PD/8 ED), Hardened (+¼); Only 2 1) KS: Body Alterations 13-
When In Humanoid Form (-¼) 2 to this declaration?
2 2) KS: Congeries Geography 13-
2u 8) Change The Living: Major Transform 2 3) KS: Congeries Races 13-
2d6 (any change to a living creature’s 1 4) KS: Thaumaturgy 11-
body), Improved Results Group (any
physical alteration; +1); Only When In Total Powers & Skills Cost: 388
Humanoid Form (-¼), Concentration Total Cost: 522
(0 DCV; -½), Extra Time (Full Phase; -½),
Limited Target (living beings; -¼) 6 200+ Disadvantages
3u 9) Augmentation: Aid Characteristics 5 Distinctive Features: Alien Magical Aura
3d6, affects STR, CON, BODY, and STUN (Not Concealable; Always Noticed; Detect-
at once (+1); Only When In Humanoid able Only With Unusual Senses)
Form (-¼), Concentration (0 DCV; -½), 20 Psychological Limitation: Abhors All
Extra Time (Full Phase; -½) 6 Combat (Very Common, Strong)
54 Mutable Form: Shape Shift (Sight, 20 Psychological Limitation: Protective Of Con-
Hearing, and Touch Groups; any shape), geries Population (Very Common, Strong)
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½) 0 15 Psychological Limitation: Loyalty To Skarn
110 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
(Common, Strong) Mirror Beast Form: The Mirror Beasts of the Con-
10 Psychological Limitation: Swayed By Noble geries — which look something like huge, silver-
Hearts (Common, Moderate) plated horses with tusks like a warthog — dwell in
10 Reputation: Skarn’s daughter 8- (Extreme) a region of deadly light and heat. Brell can take the
10 Susceptibility: to being gated/Teleported form of a Mirror Beast to defend herself against
by surprise, takes 2d6 damage instantly similar conditions. (She must also use Growth,
(Uncommon) since Mirror Beasts are quite large.)
10 Susceptibility: to being forced into her true
form, takes 2d6 damage instantly (Uncom- Armor (8 ED) (12 Active Points); Only Works
mon) Against Limited Type Of Attack (light and
222 Experience Points heat; -¼) (total cost: 10 points) plus Sight
Group Flash Defense (6 points) (total cost: 6
Total Disadvantage Points: 522 points). Total cost: 16 points.
50+ Disadvantages the targets, the lasso him, then blast him as he dangles
20 Psychological Limitation: Devotion To from the rope. The Hussar holding the lasso steadily
Skarn And Mission (Common, Total) ascends with his captive so that even if the victim can
5 Rivalry: Professional (with other Congeries work his way loose, he faces a lethal fall.
soldiers, for glory) Most Hussars look essentially human (though
20 Social Limitation: Subject To Orders (Very perhaps with odd hair and skin colors), but they wear
Frequently, Major) sword-and-sorcery outfits of leather straps, metal
116 Experience Points or Disadvantages specific plates enameled with mystic glyphs, helmets, cloaks,
to the individual Hussar rune-engraved arm bracers, and swash-topped boots.
Total Disadvantage Points: 211
ALL-PURPOSE PETTY OBSTACLE WARRIORS
Description: The Hussars are an elite cavalry unit The Hussars are Skarn’s elite cavalry troops. He’s
noted for their religious devotion to Skarn. Hussars got countless other soldiers and guards who aren’t
never surrender, and only overwhelming opposition as skilled and powerful as they are. To create one of
can make them accept the shame of aborting a mis- those characters, simply change the Hussar. Get rid of
sion and retreating. the Harridan Follower and the Lasso, reduce Char-
Hussars carry a nonmagical lasso and a magi- acteristics as appropriate, and change the Glaive to a
cal polearm called a glaive, and ride harpy-like flying more appropriate, less powerful weapon, and so on.
creatures called Harridans which are specially trained (Sometimes each one has a single major attack power,
to serve a specific Hussar (for these, use the Medium one strong enough that most PCs cannot ignore it.)
Warhorse from page 170 of The HERO System Besti- Petty Obstacle Warriors range in appearance from
ary, but give the creature Flight 10” in addition to its oddly-garbed humans to weird, alien thingies.
other abilities). The glaive shoots a variety of magical Their leaders may send Petty Obstacle Warriors
blasts from its jeweled tip, while its blade can chop on many different missions, but they all fulfill one
through a brick wall. Standard tactics have one Hussar role: token opposition for the heroes. Petty Obstacle
paralyze a target, then other Hussars immediately Warriors lack the power to win an open fight with a
attack with force-rays or life-draining blasts, Phase superhero, but defeating a small group of them should
after Phase. Once they incapacitate an opponent, the take a few Phases. An attack by Petty Obstacle War-
Hussars either carry him off with their lassoes or land riors has little chance of success, but it lets the PCs
and hack the enemy to bits with the blades of their know someone wants to stop them. Similarly, these
glaives. In a mass battle, Hussars target opposing offi- mystical soldiers can’t truly defend anything against
cers. In such a case, they alter the routine to paralyzing superheroes, but their presence indicates the existence
of something worth defending. The GM can also use
Petty Obstacles early in an adventure to show the
heroes that dirty work’s afoot; for instance, a hero
encounters a group of Petty Obstacle Warriors sent to
kidnap someone or steal something.
Skarn uses Petty Obstacle Warriors for several
purposes. His palace guards, for instance, are Petty
Obstacle Warriors with secondary spells or items
geared to detecting concealed intruders. He may send
a platoon of various Petty Obstacle Warriors to attack
the PCs and watch the fight via scrying as a way to
gauge the PCs’ power and look for weaknesses. These
soldiers carry more lethal attacks and have stronger
defenses.
THE CONGERIES
The Congeries began as a small realm called
Orom. After Skarn ascended to godhood, he
merged Orom with hundreds of other little dimen-
sions, each with its own wildly different environ-
ment. Then Skarn capriciously altered local envi-
ronments still further. By now the Congeries has
literally thousands of different environments. Some
look like strangely altered Earthly landscapes: a
brass and crystal forest; a hill of quivering flesh; a
lake of fluid darkness. Other regions fuse or trans-
pose objects in unearthly ways: a garden where
flowers walk and humans grow rooted to the soil;
a river of dust inhabited by stone fish; a field of
boulders where every rock is a lump of solid flame.
Much of the Congeries, however, looks like noth-
ing recognizable at all — just abstract shapes and
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 113
SAMPLE PALACE that leap from trees to impale their victims; giant
STRANGENESS insects; and something that shoots huge, grasping THE ALL-SEEING EYE
tentacles out of the ground.
A door labeled “Sand- Farseeing: +10 versus Range Modifier for Sight
Group (15 Active Points); OAF Immobile (-2).
box.” It opens to a sandy
beach on a sea of green Skarn’s Palace Total cost: 5 points.
champagne. The beach One of the warp-portals in the center of the See In Darkness: Nightvision (5 Active Points);
and sea are in a vaulted Congeries leads down a hallway to the massive OAF Immobile (-2). Total cost: 2 points.
room at least half a mile
doors of Skarn’s palace. A pair of living statues of Sense Magic: Detect Magic 12- (no Sense
square, lit by a huge,
glowing banana hung sphinx-like beasts guards the doors, but skillful Group), Discriminatory, Analyze, Ranged, Sense
from the ceiling. sorcerers can sneak past or deceive them without (22 Active Points); OAF Immobile (-2). Total
much trouble. (Skarn is so sure of his power that cost: 7 points.
A concert hall with a he never bothered to install locks on the doors or
Displacement Sense: Spatial Awareness (no
rack of disembodied, really paranoid and perceptive doorkeepers.) Sense Group), Ranged (27 Active Points); OAF
still-living heads on The doors open on the central courtyard of Immobile (-2). Total cost: 9 points.
stage. Skarn gathered the palace. The courtyard is actually a large, hollow
the best singers of the space surrounded by the palace — an Escher- Search The Congeries: Clairsentience (Sight
Congeries and gave like labyrinth of warped perspectives, staircases, Group, Detect Magic, Spatial Awareness),
them dubious immortal- 1,000,000x Range (entire Congeries), Reduced
arcades, towers and intersecting planes of gravity.
ity and “freedom from Endurance Cost (0 END; +½) (195 Active
Skarn’s palace is virtually a self-contained Points); OAF Immobile (-2). Total cost: 65
distractions,” then forgot
town. The palace has all the normal fixtures of a points.
about them.
royal residence: throne room, ballroom, council
chamber, kitchen, bedrooms, servants’ quarters, Dispelling Beam: Dispel Magic 30d6, all Magic
Rooms with no walls spells and powers simultaneously (+2), Reduced
or ceiling and nothing storerooms, administrative offices and so on. Very
Endurance Cost (0 END; +½) (315 Active
under the floor. They are little else about this palace is normal, though. The
Points); OAF Immobile (-2). Total cost: 105
just platforms hanging GM should try to keep a visit to Skarn’s palace points.
in a psychedelic void, constantly disorienting through a constant stream
with doorways in and of funny, macabre, and just plain strange sights and Not Truly Intelligent: Computer (50 points) to
out. encounters (see sidebar). represent the Eye’s “brain”
TYRANNON THE
CONQUEROR
Background/History: Throughout the Outer non had even greater power, and a will strengthened
Planes, mages and spirits fear the name of Tyran- by the subsumed spirit of his victim — and he
non. The Thousand-Headed God, mystics call wanted still more. He attacked a second weak mage-
him, and Sunmaker — or the Cosmic Cancer, god and subsumed him as well. The more Tyrannon
or the Eater of Souls. Tyrannon’s most common defeated and devoured, the more he hungered, until
epithet, however, is the title he chose for himself: Tyrannon devoured most of the incarnate gods.
the Conqueror. Tyrannon inspires such terror Each spirit he consumed, however, eroded a bit more
because he does not merely exile, enslave, or kill of Tyrannon’s own personality. Tyrannon the mage
mystical foes. He eats them, and resurrects them became Tyrannon the Conqueror.
as new incarnations of himself. The newest Great The nations of Thulkos had prepared for several
Power to arise in the Multiverse lives in hundreds hundred man-gods with their own varied interests
of bodies at once. and loyalties. They were not ready for one crea-
The trillions who suffer under Tyrannon’s ture with the power of several hundred gods. The
rule do not know this, but Tyrannon began as a Thulkosians and the remaining man-gods united
mortal mage, just five centuries ago. He was born to destroy Tyrannon... and failed. The Conqueror
on a world called Thulkos. Mystics now use that slaughtered billions in his conquest; he forced the
name for the entire plane. Although matter in this survivors to worship him through more death and
dimension collected in circular loops rather than blood. The gods whom Tyrannon could not devour,
spheres, Thulkos resembled Earth in many ways. he imprisoned, exiled to other planes, or drove into
Life appeared on Thulkos billions of years ago and the far reaches of the Thulkosian universe.
eventually evolved into a sentient race very much Worship and sacrifice gave Tyrannon enough
like Earth-humans. Unlike Earth, however, this power to change reality itself. One world did not
dimension’s supernatural energies could act only satisfy Tyrannon any more than one god’s power
through matter. Mystics practiced various sorts of had. He warped Thulkos’s dimension to bring
alchemy or crafted magic items. other inhabited worlds within his reach. The
The supernatural energies spontaneously gen- Conqueror spent a century reshaping and master-
erated a thousand or so “gods.” These elemental ing his universe. He broke Thulkos’s ring-shaped
spirits remained formless and mindless, though star and reshaped the fragments into a new shape
they showed affinities for different types of matter — spheres — that he used as shining prisons for
or living creatures. Sometimes a god infused itself eight defeated gods.
into matter for a brief incarnation. The Thulko- When Tyrannon ran out of worlds to con-
sians regarded their mindless “gods” as natural quer in his own universe, he turned his gaze on
disasters. Only the most powerful mystics could other dimensions. He learned to open gates to
influence them. other planes and sent some of his bodies to con-
Tyrannon became a spell-smith in an age of quer their inhabitants. Once he ruled another
industrial magic. (Old Thulkosian technomagic dimension, Tyrannon gathered all his many
bore similarities to the forge-alchemy of the Lemu- bodies into one form of incredible power. He
rians; the resemblance is probably coincidental.) ripped wide the barriers between realities and
He was not the most brilliant or powerful magus merged the other plane with Thulkos. The laws
of his time, but he had enough skill to participate of Thulkos overwhelmed the natural laws of the
in his civilization’s most ambitious project. Dozens other spaces, and their environments became
of spell-smiths, and hundreds of followers, set copies of Thulkos’s own.
out to merge themselves with Thulkos’s elemental Eventually, Tyrannon encountered beings
gods. They hoped to free their world from mindless comparable to himself, who could fight back.
divine rampages. They expected to become power- Some were other conquerors and would-be con-
ful, but not so mighty that Thulkosian spell-weap- querors. Others were merely powerful mystics
ons could not defeat them. The spell-smiths crafted determined to protect their homeworlds. No one,
mighty talismans and rituals. Each participant however, can block Tyrannon from every possible
fused with a god: spirits of fire and water, wood universe. The Conqueror seeks dimensions with
and earth, light and life, and many more. high populations to worship him, but few power-
Tyrannon merged with one of the most pow- ful mystics to oppose him. In his endless search
erful gods. His strong will enabled him to master through the Multiverse, Tyrannon recently discov-
his powers quickly. Tyrannon liked his power, and ered a plane that seems ideal:
wanted more. He attacked a weaker mage-god, killed Earth’s.
him, and stole his power and his soul. Now Tyran-
116 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
TYRANNON Personality/Motivation: The Conqueror wants more Each Viceroy, in turn, creates ten Emissaries,
PLOT SEEDS power, so he can conquer even more of the Multi- the least powerful of Tyrannon’s forms. Emissaries
verse and gain still more power. He seeks to merge scout new worlds for conquest and police the Con-
An Emissary comes all the dimensions into one, and make himself the queror’s far-flung demesnes. When an Emissary
to Earth and enslaves sole ruler — indeed, to absorb the Multiverse into sees something Tyrannon doesn’t like, he sends a
a remote community. himself so that nothing exists but him. Viceroy to deliver the appropriate correction. Emis-
Psychically sensitive Tyrannon possesses the knowledge of every saries wield power comparable to a typical super-
people around the world soul he conquered and devoured. In theory, this mystic. A team of heroes can defeat an Emissary
start having nightmares. makes Tyrannon extremely knowledgeable. In with ease — but as soon as one of Tyrannon’s forms
The heroes must follow practice, Tyrannon has a bad memory. None of comes under attack, his other bodies know in sec-
the slender clues from Tyrannon’s forms carries all his knowledge, and onds. Other Emissaries... or a Viceroy... or maybe
these dreams to find only his greatest forms have significant access to even a Throne soon appear to join the fight.
the Emissary. By then,
the memories of devoured victims. Tyrannon’s KS: Each of Tyrannon’s forms has a psychic link
however, the people
have finished building Knowledge From Consumed Spirits is a plot device to several other Duplicates. Emissaries are linked
the pylons to stabilize a for him to know whatever he needs for the sake of only to their parent Viceroy. Each Viceroy has
dimensional bridge. Just an adventure, without giving Tyrannon any broader a link to all ten of its subject Emissaries, to its
as the heroes defeat the information about a subject. parent Throne, and to five other Viceroys from that
Emissary and think that The Conqueror lacks the patience for devi- Throne. Thrones have links to all ten of their Vice-
Tyrannon’s not so tough, ous scheming. His deceptions seldom become roys, to the other seven Thrones, and to fifteen of
the Emissary’s control- more complex than disguising a Viceroy as some their subject Emissaries. Information rapidly passes
ling Viceroy appears. other creature, handing a magical superweapon up and down the chains of psychic links, with the
to an ambitious but gullible mystic, or promising Thrones as coordinators.
When Tyrannon invades someone that he can rule the world in Tyrannon’s Fortunately for everyone else, Tyrannon
a dimension in force, name if he helps the Conqueror. Such promises are cannot concentrate many of his forms in one place
war refugees scatter to
worthless: the Conqueror never shares power, and — especially the Viceroys and Thrones. If more
other worlds, including
Earth. Some refugees an erstwhile ally merely becomes a slightly more than 2,000 Character Points’ worth of Duplicates
have magic powers and favored slave. Tyrannon considers his directness spend more than a Turn within 8” of each other, the
turn to banditry. The a sign of his superiority: “Knowledge? Cunning? less powerful Duplicates merge with the more pow-
heroes must defeat this Tyrannon does not need such things. Tyrannon erful forms. For instance, Tyrannon might commit
secondary invasion. rules by power alone!” a Viceroy and three Emissaries to a fight. Let a
They could drive away fourth Emissary join the crew, however, and the
Quote: “Understand, mortals: Tyrannon is no crea-
the refugees, find them Viceroy must absorb one Emissary. If six Emissar-
a new home, or even ture like yourselves. Tyrannon is an incarnation of the
infinite and ultimate. In Tyrannon do all things reach ies gather in one place, they fuse and are replaced
try to save their home by one Viceroy, summoned from elsewhere in
dimension from Tyran- their completion. The storm, the sea, the circling suns
of your galaxy — they are nothing in comparison. the Multiverse. Likewise, three Viceroys would
non.
Now see the power of Tyrannon... and tremble.” merge and be replaced by one Throne. Necessarily,
Thrones never associate or fight alongside Viceroys
Tyrannon’s agents find Powers/Tactics: Tyrannon’s greatest power consists
a clue to an awesomely — the Throne would absorb the Viceroy, or one
of his legion of Duplicates. The Conqueror nor- Throne would absorb the other. Tyrannon does
powerful magic artifact,
mally lives in 888 bodies at once, scattered through not want to reduce the number of his Duplicates
which he believes would
place the entire Multi- multiple dimensions, in constant communication in this way. On the other hand, Tyrannon can cycle
verse at his command. through psychic links. This makes it nearly impos- through Duplicates, bringing new bodies to a fight
The heroes learn that sible to kill or imprison Tyrannon: as long as while others retreat and recover.
Tyrannon seeks the arti- one Duplicate remains free, the Conqueror might Sometimes, however, the Conqueror delib-
fact. The race is on to see regain his power. erately merges his many selves to work his most
who finds it first! The Conqueror’s bodies vary in power. The eight awesome feats of magic, such as fusing dimensions.
Throne forms wield the power of whole armies. Each Tyrannon can do this safely only at special align-
Throne represents a class of life or matter: elemental ments of Thulkos’s eight suns, because only then
earth, fire, and fluid, plus tree-like, insectoid, octo- can Tyrannon emanate his Duplicates again. When
poid, reptilian, and avian Throne forms. The most Tyrannon occupies just one body, he becomes far
powerful form, the Tree Throne, rules the densely- more vulnerable to attack despite the vast power
populated core of Thulkos itself. The seven lesser of his combined self. These crucial alignments do
Thrones oversee provinces of Thulkos’s dimension or not happen very often, and they last for less than
conquered planes not yet merged with Thulkos. Each an hour; they impose significant restrictions on the
Throne personally guards some location of great stra- Conqueror’s plans.
tegic importance, such as concentrations of magical Each of Tyrannon’s 888 forms can cast a
energy Tyrannon can exploit. variety of mystic bolts and evoke magical shields.
Each Throne controls ten Viceroys, who serve These spells remain nearly the same for all of
as principle enforcers of Tyrannon’s will. Some Tyrannon’s forms, except for their power level,
Viceroys make war upon other dimensions. Tyran- though Thrones and Viceroys know a few more
non posts others to guard strategic resources and spells than Emissaries. Tyrannon’s forms are also
locations, or to teach obedience to conquered physically strong and tough.
populations. Still other Viceroys serve as roving Tyrannon’s eight “elemental” classes of forms
troubleshooters who punish those who fail to serve possess a few special powers based on their
Tyrannon to his satisfaction. physical forms or a particular sort of magical or
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 117
Duplicates to the attack. for all. At most, the Sunmaker gives Earth a respite
Resources: Tyrannon rules multiple dimensions, while he conquers other worlds. Months, years, or
with a total population in the hundreds of trillions. decades later, the Conqueror will try again. Heroes
Some of the worlds in his empire are larger and who want to stop Tyrannon for good must engage
more populous than Earth. Tyrannon commands in a long campaign to destroy his Duplicates one by
an army of more than a billion soldiers, though one, or seek magical powers as dark and deadly as
most of this force is tied up fighting the Conquer- Tyrannon himself.
or’s rivals or pacifying newly-conquered regions. To make Tyrannon more powerful, increase
Tyrannon commits his armies only after he person- the number of Duplicates he can bring to a fight, or
ally destroys a world’s most powerful defenders. increase the power of his innate magic. Reduce his
Not all of Tyrannon’s resources are magical. power by reducing his innate magic, his defenses,
Some conquered worlds retain technology com- or his SPD. An Emissary’s attacks and defenses
parable to Earth’s, though technology stops work- should fall in the same range as a starting super-
ing once a dimension fully merges with Thulkos. hero, with Viceroys’ attacks about 20 Active Points
Tyrannon dislikes nuclear weapons and other greater and Thrones’ attacks 10 to 15 Active Points
technological devices, but his satraps may use such beyond that.
weapons in attempts to please him. In his own mind, at least, Tyrannon Hunts
anyone who thwarts his plans — no exceptions.
Relations With Others: Tyrannon has no allies, Tyrannon seldom Hunts anyone at more than 8-
only dupes and slaves. Dupes do not stay dupes frequency, though. He has so many enemies that
very long: Tyrannon destroys them if they fail, or even with 888 bodies, he can’t find time to Hunt
enslaves them if they succeed. them all at once. Tyrannon may increase his Hunt-
The Conqueror counts Istvatha V’han as his ing to 11- if a character emerges as his most deter-
greatest enemy; Skarn the Shaper is his second- mined foe.
most-powerful foe. The Multiverse’s more mysteri-
ous cosmic evils, such as the Kings of Edom, either Appearance: None of Tyrannon’s forms looks
do not know about Tyrannon or view him as a rival exactly alike. Thrones look partly humanoid; at
who could interfere with their own plans. Tyran- least some Viceroys look humanoid; and Emissar-
non, for his part, thinks he can conquer or exploit ies look like smaller versions of their controlling
any other cosmic power, and this may lead him to Viceroy. See the character sheets for further details
free a King or unleash other powers he cannot con- about Tyrannon’s forms.
trol. Tyrannon does not know about Takofanes, the All of Tyrannon’s bodies bear his sigil, a sort
Dragon, or any of Earth’s other powerful entities of three-pointed arrowhead crossed by a cres-
(and so far, they seem to know nothing of him). cent, unless they Shape Shift to conceal this mark.
Tyrannon’s sigil usually appears on the forehead (if
Campaign Use: Tyrannon is the definitive dimen- a form has a recognizable head, of course).
sional conqueror. He works well as the main vil- Tyrannon’s Duplicates also share a “distinc-
lain of a campaign devoted to defending Earth tive feature” not visible to the eye. The Conqueror’s
against invaders from beyond. He can bully power is so vast that magical senses become Mega-
lesser dimension lords and tempt evil mystics Scaled for detecting his presence. The range incre-
with greater power, offering further story options ments for sensing an Emissary increase from hexes
while keeping Tyrannon as the prime mover of to kilometers; to tens of kilometers for Viceroys;
most adventures. and to hundreds of kilometers for Thrones. Psychi-
In all his forms, Tyrannon is a blowhard’s cally sensitive people also dream about Tyrannon
blowhard. He cannot actually hold a conversation. when one of his bodies enters a world, while actual
Sometimes Tyrannon’s pompous, bragging solilo- precognitives suffer horrifying nightmares about
quy has something to do with what another person the devastation he will inflict. Such dreams may
said; sometimes not. provide clues to Tyrannon’s location and plans, but
The GM can play Tyrannon as campy, but you they are always vague, symbolic, and uncontrollable
can easily present him as a deadly serious, terrify- — a way for the GM to alert PCs that a menace
ing threat to humanity and reality itself. Heroes needs stopping, not provide instructions about how
have almost no way to remove his menace once and to do it.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 119
EXAMPLE POWERS FOR TYRANNON’S FULL Background/History: The Tree Throne is Tyrannon’s
GODLY MIGHT POWER POOL most powerful form. It is the “real” Tyrannon, inso-
far as Tyrannon’s other forms converge on the Tree
Reshape Galaxies: At his full power, Tyrannon Throne when he gathers his power for his mighti-
can change the architecture of an entire galaxy, est feats of magic. The Tree Throne has to be the
or at least a major portion of one. The Sunmaker focus of Tyrannon’s power because it cannot move.
reshaped most of Thulkos’s cosmos using powers If someone destroyed the Tree Throne, another
like this, collapsing it to a fraction of its former size. Throne form would eventually take its place as
Keep in mind that the BODY of stars and planets is Tyrannon’s center.
divided among millions of hexes. By Transforming The Tree Throne dwells at the center of
the matter in every hex at once, Tyrannon can alter Thulkos. Tyrannon’s subjects worship the Tree
such enormous masses in hours or days rather than Throne as the god of agriculture and the cycle of
centuries. If Tyrannon annexes a world like Earth, life and death.
he uses a variation on this Power to spin it into a
ring-shaped world like Thulkos. Personality/Motivation: Tyrannon takes special care
to protect the Tree Throne because of its role as his
Major Transform 1d6 (change location and central form and executor of his greatest magic.
form of stars, planets, and space itself; heals Here, alone, Tyrannon might bargain with enemies
back if Tree Throne destroyed within 1 month to save one of his lives. By the same token, the Tree
of change), Area Of Effect (12” Radius; +1), Throne is least likely to accept self-defeating condi-
Continuous (+1), Difficult to Dispel (x2 tions on a fight.
Active Points; +¼), Indirect (affects interior of
buildings, stellar bodies, and the like without Quote: “You have found the heart of Tyrannon. You
diminishment of effect; +¾), MegaScale (1” have found your doom!”
= 10,000 light-years wide and deep; +4½), Powers/Tactics: The Tree Throne possesses the
Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼). Total cost: greatest physical strength and toughness of any of
131 points. Tyrannon’s forms. Tyrannon can crush just about
anything, matter or spirit, that comes within reach
Cosmic Fusion: Tyrannon establishes his rule using of the Tree Throne’s enormous arms. He can also
Dimensional Bridges no larger than a small office clutch at opponents with the smaller branches and
building. Once he controls a world and secures roots that radiate from his body. Although the roots
the worship of its people, he creates a world-sized and branches are defined as Extra Limbs, Tyrannon
dimensional bridge to fuse the other plane to has so many of them that breaking one limb inflicts
Thulkos. The natural and magical laws of Thulkos no meaningful harm on him. (And of course, he
eventually overwhelm and reshape the other can always use his spells to Heal himself.)
dimension, if Tyrannon himself does not speed the Tyrannon can gather all his Duplicates into
process using his own power. the Tree Throne at any time (this is represented by
Like all Tyrannon’s Gates, Cosmic Fusion the Gathering Of The Forms power). When Tyran-
requires a Focus to stabilize it. In this case, the non does this, the Tree Throne doubles in size and
Focus consists of hollow statues represent- its Variable Power Pool increases in power. (See
ing Tyrannon’s eight Throne forms, cast in pure the Lesser Throne character sheet for feats using
diamond and filled with the blood of sacrificed the basic Variable Power Pool. The Tree Throne
mortals. Tyrannon sets the eight statues spinning examples all use the augmented VPP.) But while
in a ring and creates the vast Gate between them. the Conqueror can gather his forms at any time, he
The spell consumes the statues, however; a Cosmic can Duplicate himself, only when the eight suns of
Fusion can be broken only by creating another Gate Thulkos form certain conjunctions or alignments.
within it (or, at the GM’s option, attacking it with Even then, restoring his multiplicity takes Tyran-
other dimension-warping powers). The collapsing non twelve seconds. During this time, the Dupli-
of a Gate is a great excuse to send heroes into some cates grow like fruit on the Tree Throne’s branches.
weird dimension. Once the Duplicates grow and separate themselves,
they must immediately move away from the Tree
Extra-Dimensional Movement (to a single loca-
Throne or be absorbed again.
tion in any conquered dimension), Increased
Tyrannon’s mightiest form can consume
Mass (400 kg), Area Of Effect (One Hex; +½),
and reincarnate other souls or spirits, the fate of
Continuous (+1), MegaScale (1” = 10,000 km
defeated dimension lords or mystics (this is mostly
wide and deep; +1¼), Reduced Endurance (0
a “plot device” ability, so it’s not represented in
END; +½), Uncontrolled (lasts until another
HERO System terms). Devoured souls can fuel the
Gate is created within it, or some similar form
re-creation of destroyed Duplicates, or Tyrannon
of dimension-warping attack is used against
can resurrect slain foes as fanatically loyal slaves.
it; +½), Usable By Other (+¼) (175 Active
Indeed, Tyrannon could turn a consumed spirit
Points); OAF Immobile Expendable (Very Dif-
into a new Duplicate outside the eight normal
ficult to replace; -2¾), Extra Time (5 Minutes
classes of Thrones, Viceroys, and Emissaries by
to activate; -1). Total cost: 37 points.
paying points to add more Duplicates. The GM can
use these “extra” Duplicates to surprise heroes who
think they know the Conqueror’s limits.
122 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Infantilized Population: The Reptile Throne can use know someone has displeased their god and they
its mastery of time to reverse aging, rapidly Trans- shall soon face his awful and inescapable wrath.
forming everyone within hundreds of miles into Personality/Motivation: The Lesser Thrones show
small children. They shall grow up again learning to Tyrannon’s arrogance and will to power in full
worship Tyrannon as their terrible Divine Father. measure. Unfortunately, they also have the power
Major Transform 1d6+1 (adult sentients to to back up the boasts. Tyrannon expects his Throne
children; reversed by killing/dispelling the forms to crush any opposition.
Reptile Throne), Area Of Effect (6” Radius; Quote: “Know, insolent worms, that at last you
+1), Continuous (+1), MegaScale (1” = 100 face the full power of Tyrannon. Take pride in this
km wide, broad, and deep; +¾). Total cost: 75 honor... in the few moments before you die.”
points.
Powers/Tactics: Lesser Thrones combine awesome
Tailored Attack: If Tyrannon recognizes that a par- physical power with nigh-limitless magical ability.
ticular enemy lacks a particular defense, he can In addition to innate spells of formidable power,
design an attack to exploit that deficiency. He could each Lesser Throne has a hefty Variable Power Pool.
also tailor attacks to exploit known Vulnerabilities When a Throne assaults a world, it often generates
or Susceptibilities. (Is this fair or game balanced? MegaScaled attacks to devastate wide regions and
Of course not. Tyrannon is a cosmic entity who incapacitate or kill entire populations.
doesn’t have to play by the same rules as the PCs.) Their Variable Power Pools give Thrones diverse
options in personal combat, and they are smart
Energy Blast 6d6, Area Of Effect (One Hex; enough to use their powers efficiently. For instance,
+½), NND (defense is something he knows the a Throne could make itself Invisible to almost every
target doesn’t have; +1). Total cost: 75 points. sense imaginable, fly in, start Entangling enemies,
and then reveal itself to gloat a while. If Tyrannon
Background/History: Each lesser Throne claims juris- discovers a foe’s weakness, he will certainly tailor
diction over an area and population larger than the an attack to exploit it. On the other hand, the Con-
Earth. They are Tyrannon’s ultimate weapon: when queror enjoys making a Throne invulnerable to
he sends one of his greatest selves into war, he intends anything the heroes can throw at it, then laughing as
death and destruction on a scale of nations, if not he blasts away with his innate spells... though heroes
continents. Tyrannon’s subjects know the power of may surprise Tyrannon with a power he didn’t antic-
his Thrones very well indeed. When a Throne appears ipate and can’t defend against right away.
in a region apart from a scheduled state visit, they
Campaign Use: When heroes encounter a Lesser
Throne, either they went looking for trouble, or
they made Tyrannon very angry. Tyrannon does
not send Thrones into action for any mission less
important than conquering a world, defeating an
army — or destroying his most persistent foes. PCs
should encounter a Lesser Throne only after clashes
with Emissaries and Viceroys, so they appreciate
the menace of Tyrannon’s greatest incarnations.
See the introductory section for details about
making Tyrannon’s various forms more or less
powerful. Tyrannon commits a Lesser Throne to
Hunting characters only if they blocked several of
his attempts at conquest.
Appearance: Lesser Thrones are each about the
size of an elephant (unless a Throne uses its Vari-
able Power Pool to change its size). Each Throne
combines different aspects of its class of creature
or matter in an ever-changing fusion. For instance,
the Reptilian Throne might have the body of a huge
turtle, a long, snakey tail, scaled but humanoid arms
and legs, and the head of a crocodile, while the
Earth Throne is veined and layered with different
metals and minerals. A Throne’s appearance changes
from hour to hour, or Turn to Turn in combat, as
body parts change their form or substance. A Lesser
Throne always includes some humanoid element,
and its head always bears the three crests typical of a
Thulkosian. A Lesser Throne may Shape Shift to look
like anything it wants, but Tyrannon always resumes
his true form in combat so his enemies will know
who destroyed them.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 125
EMISSARY Skills
Val Char Cost Roll Notes 3 Interrogation 13-
35 STR 25 16- Lift 3,200 kg; 7d6 [3] 2 KS: The Plans of Tyrannon 11-
20 DEX 30 13- OCV: 7/DCV: 7 3 Oratory 13-
23 CON 26 14-
10 BODY 0 11- Total Powers & Skills Cost: 228
10 INT 0 11- PER Roll 11- Total Cost: 400
20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 200+ Disadvantages
4 COM -3 10- 35 Enraged: Berserk when “betrayed”
(Common), go 14-, recover 11-
25 PD 18 Total: 25 PD (10 rPD) 10 Hunted: Istvatha V’han 8- (As Pow)
25 ED 20 Total: 25 ED (10 rED) 10 Hunted: Skarn the Shaper 8- (As Pow)
5 SPD 20 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 5 Hunted: assorted cosmic entities and dimen-
15 REC 6 sion lords 11- (As Pow, Watching)
46 END 0 20 Physical Limitation: Dispelled When
40 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 172 Knocked Out (Frequently, Fully Limiting)
10 Physical Limitation: Others’ Magic Senses
Movement: Running: 6”/12” are MegaScaled to Detect Tyrannon (Fre-
Flight: 10”/20” quently; Slightly Limiting)
25 Psychological Limitation: Driven to Domi-
Cost Powers END nate All the Multiverse (Very Common,
94 Tyrannon’s Mighty Magic: Multipower, Total)
94-point reserve 25 Psychological Limitation: Convinced of His
6u 1) Power Of Tyrannon: Energy Blast 12d6 6 Utter Superiority (Very Common, Total)
6u 2) Ire Of Tyrannon: Ego Attack 5d6, 15 Unluck: 3d6
Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼) 2 20 Susceptibility and/or Vulnerability based
6u 3) Hand Of Tyrannon: Telekinesis on Emissary form (see pages 128-32)
(18 STR), BOECV (+1), Reduced 25 Experience Points
Endurance (½ END; +¼) 3
6u 4) Deadly Wrath Of Tyrannon: RKA Total Disadvantage Points: 400
1d6, BOECV (+1), Does BODY (+1),
Continuous (+1) 6 Background/History: Each Viceroy of Tyrannon
6u 5) Banishment Of Tyrannon: Dispel emanates ten Emissaries, the weakest of the Con-
Magic 16d6, any Magic spell or power queror’s forms. They form Tyrannon’s heavy infan-
one at a time (+¼) 6 try as well as his messengers and recruiters. As the
6u 6) Tyrannon Goes Where He Wills: most numerous class of Tyrannon’s forms, they are
Extra-Dimensional Movement (any also the aspect of the Conqueror that his enemies
physical location, any dimension), x16 encounter most often.
Increased Mass 6 Note that Emissaries are not immortal, nor
3u 7) First Shield Of Tyrannon: Force Field resistant to environmental effects. Of all Tyrannon’s
(8 PD/8 ED/5 Power Defense), Hardened forms, they are most often absorbed and re-created;
Defense (+¼), Reduced Endurance none of them exist long enough for natural aging to
(½ END; +¼) 1 become an issue. Normally, Duplicates would age
3u 8) Second Shield Of Tyrannon: Missile (or not) along with the original character. In this
Deflection (all Ranged attacks), +5 OCV 0 case, however, the GM can ignore such details in
3u 9) Astral Leap: Teleport 10”, Armor the interest of dramatic sense.
Piercing (+½) 3
Personality/Motivation: Emissaries are just as over-
10 Spiritual Substance: Damage Resistance
bearing as Tyrannon’s greater forms. They are also
(10 PD/10 ED) 0
less intelligent than the Conqueror’s other forms.
11 Mighty Will: Mental Defense
An Emissary can carry out complex tasks under the
(15 points total) 0
guidance of a Viceroy or Throne, but Tyrannon’s
5 Mystic Defense: Power Defense (5 points) 0
Emissaries don’t adapt to suprises very well. When
5 Mystic Awareness: Detect Magic 11-
an Emissary encounters something it finds con-
(Touch Group) 0
fusing or surprising, it calls its parent Viceroy to
10 One Will In Many Bodies: Mind Link
investigate.
to parent Viceroy, any distance, any
dimension, Psychic Bond; Only With Quote: “Fools! You face but the tiniest fraction of
Others Who Have Mind Link (-1) 0 Tyrannon’s power. Surrender now, and spare your-
30 Special Powers based on the Emissary’s selves the pain and humiliation of defeat!”
form (see pages 128-32) Powers/Tactics: Tyrannon’s weakest forms are not
Perks much more powerful than a typical starting super-
10 Fringe Benefit: Head of State hero. Emissaries have a limited selection of spells,
but are physically tougher than the average mystic.
128 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
TYRANNON’S
VARIED POWERS
Avian Forms
Deadly Wrath Of Tyrannon Special Effect: Victim
shakes and vibrates, tearing himself apart.
Cost Throne Powers and Skills END
45 Wings: Flight +20” (25” total), x4 Non-
combat, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½);
Restrainable (-½) 0
Additional Multipower Slots:
11u 1) Tornado: Energy Blast 14d6, Area Of
Effect (7” Radius; +1); Does Not Work
Their greatest strength is that they lack the greater Underwater Or In A Vacuum (-¼),
forms’ Dependence on planes where people wor- Random Knockback (see Champions,
ship Tyrannon: Emissaries can go to any dimen- page 153; -0) 13
sion and stay as long as they want. 10u 2) Wind Blast: Energy Blast 14d6,
Instead, Emissaries suffer a more ambiguous Double Knockback (+¾); Does Not
weakness. An unconscious Emissary vanishes and Work Underwater Or In A Vacuum (-¼) 12
returns to Thulkos, just as many spirits are dis- 12u 3) Suffocation: Energy Blast 8d6, No
pelled by “killing” or knocking out their corporeal Normal Defense (defense is Life Support
form. On the one hand, Emissaries seldom truly die [Self-Contained Breathing]; +1),
in combat. On the other hand, once an Emissary Continuous (+1) 12
drops to negative STUN, it’s gone from the fight 11u 4) Airborne Supremacy: Suppress Flight
and has no chance to recover. or Gliding 8d6, one Power at a time (+¼),
Emissaries often scout a world before Tyrannon Area Of Effect (7” Radius; +1), Personal
invades in force. They learn about the people and Immunity (+¼), Reduced Endurance
the world’s defenses, and may enlist fifth columnists (½ END; +¼) 5
through promises of favor under Tyrannon’s rule. 9u 5) Weather Control: Change Environment
Most importantly, Emissaries can prepare the disks 8” radius, +/-10 Temperature Levels,
and pylons needed to stabilize a Dimensional Bridge. Multiple Combat Effects, Varying Combat
This requires the use of local artisans, since Tyran- Effects, Varying Effect (+1), MegaArea
non lacks the skills to build anything himself. An (1” = 1 km broad and wide; +¼); No
Emissary simply bullies or bribes local people into Range (-½) 14
making the basic Foci, then consecrates the disks 3 Bump of Direction
and pylons through human sacrifice. 17 Power: Wind/Weather Tricks 20-
3 KS: Air Magic 13-
Campaign Use: A group of Emissaries can function 2 KS: Dimensional Magic 13-
like a supervillain team. Emissaries can also act as 1 Navigation (Air; adds to Dimensional) 14-
field agents for a Viceroy that fills the role of a mas- Total Cost: +124 points
termind villain — though of course, Viceroy and
Emissaries are really all the same character. That Cost Viceroy Powers and Skills END
may not be obvious the first time heroes encoun- 41 Wings: Flight +18” (25” total), x4
ter Tyrannon, if the Viceroy and Emissaries come Noncombat, Reduced Endurance
from different classes of Tyrannon’s bodies. The (0 END; +½); Restrainable (-½) 0
Conqueror may also use Emissaries for relatively
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 129
Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent (+½); Cost Viceroy Powers and Skills END
Always On (-½), No STR Bonus (-½) 0 40 Fluid Body: Desolidification (affected by
20 Flaming Flight: Flight +10” (15” total) 2 cold, heat, or fire attacks); Reduced Endur-
Added Multipower Slot: ance (0 END; +½), Cannot Pass Through
9u 1) Fire Blast: RKA 4½6, Reduced Solid Objects (-½) 0
Endurance (½ END; +¼) 4 3 At Home In The Water: Environmental
3 Power: Flame Tricks 12- Movement: Aquatic Movement (no
Total Cost: +75 points penalties in water) 0
Additional Multipower Slots:
Cost Emissary Powers and Skills END 6u 1) Dehydrate: Energy Blast 4d6, NND
26 Flaming Body: HKA 1d6, Continuous (defense is Power Defense or a body that
(+1), Damage Shield (+½), Reduced lacks liquids; +1), Affects Physical World
Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent (+½); (+2), Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼);
Always On (-½), No STR Bonus (-½) 0 Victims At Least 50% Immersed In Water
Additional Multipower Slot: Get A Free Recovery Of This Damage
4u 1) Fire Blast: RKA 3d6 4 Each Phase (-½) 4
Total Cost: +30 points 5u 2) Fluid Shaping: Telekinesis (18 STR),
Affects Porous, Area Of Effect (5” Any
Val Fire Form Disadvantage Area; +1), Reduced Endurance (½ END;
5 Vulnerability: 1½ x STUN from Water +¼); Only Affects Fluids (-½) 3
Attacks (Uncommon) 4u 3) Fluid Movement: Swimming +27”
5 Vulnerability: 1½ x BODY from Water (29” total), x4 Noncombat, Reduced
Attacks (Uncommon) Endurance (½ END; +¼) 1
10 Susceptibility: to being in vacuum, under- 12u 4) Fluid Blast: Energy Blast 7d6, Affects
water, or in other fire-suppressant environ- Physical World (+2), Reduced Endurance
ments, 1d6 damage per Turn character is in (0 END; +½) 0
such an environment (Uncommon) 3 AK: Thulkosian Seas And Oceans 13-
2 KS: Physical Transformations 11-
Total Cost: +75 points
Fluid Forms
Cost Emissary Powers and Skills END
Deadly Wrath Of Tyrannon Special Effect: Victim’s 27 Fluid Body: Desolidification (affected by
body dissolves into water or some other fluid. cold, heat, or fire attacks); Cannot Pass
Cost Throne Powers and Skills END Through Solid Objects (-½) 4
40 Fluid Body: Desolidification (affected by Additional Multipower Slot:
cold, heat, or fire attacks); Reduced Endur- 3u 1) Fluid Movement: Swimming +20”
ance (0 END; +½), Cannot Pass Through (22” total), x4 Noncombat Reduced
Solid Objects (-½) 0 Endurance (½ END; +¼) 2
40 Fluid Movement: Swimming +27” Total Cost: +30 points
(29” total), x4 Noncombat, Reduced
Endurance (½ END; +¼) 1 Val Fluid Form Disadvantage
3 At Home In The Water: Environmental 10 Vulnerability: 1½ x STUN from Heat/Fire
Movement: Aquatic Movement (no Attacks (Common)
penalties in water) 0 10 Vulnerability: 1½ x BODY from Heat/Fire
5 Watery Tentacles: Extra Limbs (as many Attacks (Common)
as Throne wants) 0
Additional Multipower Slots:
8u 1) Dehydrate: Energy Blast 6d6, NND Insect Forms
(defense is Power Defense or a body that
lacks liquids; +1), Affects Physical World Deadly Wrath Of Tyrannon Special Effect: Victim
(+2), Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼); glows and gradually dissolves into luminous vapor.
Victims At Least 50% Immersed In Water
Get A Free Recovery Of This Damage Cost Throne Powers and Skills END
Each Phase (-½) 6 60 Wings: Flight +20” (25” total), Reduced
9u 2) Fluid Shaping: Telekinesis (20 STR), Endurance (0 END; +½) 0
Affects Porous, Area Of Effect (96” Any 10 Sticky Feet: Clinging (normal STR) 0
Area; +2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; 5 Light-Adjusted Eyes: Sight Group Flash
+½); Only Affects Fluids (-½) 0 Defense (+5 points; 15 points total) 0
14u 3) Fluid Blast: Energy Blast 8d6, Affects 5 Master Of Mystic Defense: Power Defense
Physical World (+2), Reduced Endurance (+5 points; 20 points total) 0
(0 END; +½) 0 Additional Multipower Slots:
3 AK: Thulkosian Seas And Oceans 13- 9u 1) Wizardbane Web: Major Transform
3 KS: Physical Transformations 13- 7d6 (remove ability to cast one spell,
Total Cost: +125 points heals through another application of this
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 131
spell or the death of the Throne); 22 Mental Sense: Detect Minds 13- (no Sense
Improved Results Group (remove any Group), Discriminatory, Targeting, Sense 0
one spell; +¼); Limited Target Additional Multipower Slots:
(spellcasters; -½) 13 9u 1) Enslaving Touch: Major Transform
9u 2) Ward-Crushing Blast: Energy Blast 4d6 (target gains the Psychological
9d6, NND (defense is Power Defense; +1) 9 Limitation Believes He’s Part Of Tyrannon
9u 3) Solar Burst: Sight Group Flash 8d6, [Very Common, Total], heals back when
Area Of Effect (5” Radius; +1), Reduced Tyrannon so wills), BOECV (+1),
Endurance (½ END; +¼) 4 Works Against EGO, Not BODY (+¼);
8 +4 Levels with Flight No Range (-½) 13
3 Analyze Magic 13- 14u 2) Psionic Surgery: Minor Transform
4 KS: Magic Item Enchantment 14- 5½d6 (remove or change a target’s
3 KS: Metamagic 13- memories of events within the past year,
Total Cost: +125 points heals back normally), Improved Results
Group (any type of memory alteration;
Cost Viceroy Powers and Skills END +¼), BOECV (+1), Works Against EGO,
25 Wings: Flight +10” (15” total), Reduced Not BODY (+¼) 14
Endurance (½ END; +¼) 1 9u 2) Tyrannon Commands The Senses:
10 Sticky Feet: Clinging (normal STR) 0 Mental Illusions 18d6 9
5 Light-Adjusted Eyes: Sight Group Flash 9u 3) Tyrannon Commands The Will:
Defense (+5 points; 10 points total) 0 Mind Control 18d6 9
5 Master Of Mystic Defense: Power Defense 9u 4) Tyrannon Knows Your Inmost
(+5 points; 20 points total) 0 Thoughts: Telepathy 18d6 9
Additional Multipower Slots: 3 KS: Mental Magic 13-
11u 1) Enchantment: Major Transform 5d6 3 PS: Psionic Surgeon 13-
(give item magical powers, heals through Total Cost: 125 points
any successful application of a Dispel, the
death of the Viceroy, or another application Cost Viceroy Powers and Skills END
of this power), Improved Results Group 5 Many Tentacles: Extra Limbs (6) 0
(any powers; +¼), Reduced Endurance 20 Many Tentacles: +2 SPD 0
(½ END; +¼) 4 7 Long Tentacles: Stretching 1”, Reduced
8u 2) Ward-Crushing Blast: Energy Blast Endurance (0 END; +½) 0
8d6, NND (defense is Power Defense; +1) 8 2 Fast Swimmer: Swimming +2” (4” total) 1
8u 3) Solar Burst: Sight Group Flash 7d6, 3 At Home In The Water: Environmental
Area Of Effect (4” Radius; +1), Reduced Movement: Aquatic Movement (no
Endurance (½ END; +¼) 3 penalties in water) 0
3 KS: Enchantment 12- 5 Mental Monitor: Mind Link increased to
Total Cost: +75 points any mind 0
Additional Multipower Slots:
Cost Emissary Powers and Skills END 8u 1) Enslaving Touch: Major Transform
20 Wings: Flight +10” (15” total) 2 3½d6 (target gains the Psychological
10 Sticky Feet: Clinging (normal STR) 0 Limitation Believes He’s Part Of Tyrannon
Total Cost: +30 points [Very Common, Total], heals back when
Tyrannon so wills), BOECV (+1),
Val Insect Form Disadvantage Works Against EGO, Not BODY (+¼);
20 Susceptibility: to Sight Group Darkness No Range (-½) 12
fields, 1d6 STUN per Phase Viceroy is within 8u 2) Tyrannon Commands The Senses:
such area (Common) Mental Illusions 16d6 8
8u 3) Tyrannon Commands The Will:
Octopoid Forms 8u
Mind Control 16d6
4) Tyrannon Knows Your Inmost
8
MINIONS
Tyrannon doesn’t rely exclusively on his own
power to conquer and rule other dimensions. His
demesnes spread so far that even the Thousand-
Headed God can’t oversee them all. Reluctantly,
Tyrannon must delegate authority and recruit
minions.
The Sunmaker’s army consists of Competent
Normal or Heroic-level people armed with minor
magical weapons or innate mystical abilities.
Tyrannon recruits his armies from throughout his
demesnes, so his soldiers possess a wide range of
abilities. The GM can use Skarn’s All-Purpose Petty
Obstacle Warrior (page 112) to represent the war-
riors in the Legions of Tyrannon.
Tyrannon foists the administration of con-
quered territories onto satraps brought from
Thulkos or elevated from the native population.
Satraps seldom wield significant personal powers
— Tyrannon permits no potential rivals — but
they can command large military forces in the
Conqueror’s name, build their own superweapons,
and launch their own assaults.
Satraps gain little joy from their positions.
Tyrannon permits them any personal luxury or
abuse of the subject population... but a satrap must
fulfill any command the Conqueror places upon
them, no matter how unreasonable or impossible.
Failure means death, unless a satrap can persuade Satraps, soldiers, and priests retain their free
Tyrannon that someone else caused the failure (and will, but only because they lack real power of their
even this does not work all the time). own. Captured mystics or spirits face a more hor-
As a god, Tyrannon has priests. The Conquer- rible fate: Tyrannon turns them into puppets. The
or’s priests remind his subjects of their absolute Tree Throne can resurrect as a servant anyone
submission to their god, make sacrifices to him, and whose soul Tyrannon devoured. Any Throne can
perform other priestly duties. Priests may possess brainwash a captured mystic or spirit so the victim
minor magic based on invoking Tyrannon’s various becomes fanatically loyal to Tyrannon; the Octo-
forms (see accompanying text box). poid Throne does this by touch. Tyrannon’s sigil
appears on the victim’s forehead as a visible token
TYRANNIST MAGIC of subjugation, even when the Transform is entirely
mental in game terms.
Just as Western sorcery uses the elements, the planets, Tyrannon makes his slaves believe they are
or the sephiroth of Kabbalism to classify and control part of his collective identity, and a Throne may
all phenomena, Tyrannon’s sorcerer-priests use his monitor a slave through a Psychic Link. Mystics
throne forms as the categories of existence. Each who encounter the Slaves of Tyrannon do not
throne represents a collection of concepts and powers, always realize they face a brainwashed victim
as well as a type of life or matter: instead of an actual Duplicate. Since the Conqueror
Form Concepts And Powers has thousands of brainwashed slaves, some mystics
Avian Air, Space, Motion, Sound believe the Conqueror lives in thousands of bodies
Earth Minerals, Permanence, Restraint, Darkness at once, instead of hundreds.
Fire Fire, Destruction, Mastery, Order A telepath can free a Slave of Tyrannon by
Fluid Water, Matter, Transformation, Artifice reaching into the victim’s memory and remind-
Insectoid Energy, Light, Spirit, Metamagic ing the victim of his connection to humanity (or
Octopoid Mind, Emotion, Sensation, Illusion, Chaos whatever species he comes from). If the telepath
Reptile Time, Destiny, Chance, Luck
can access the victim’s unconscious mind, he may
Tree Life, Death, Fertility, Nature
find stray thoughts Tyrannon left by accident. These
Priests buy magic from Tyrannon through their sac- may offer clues to the Conqueror’s schemes.
rifices. A Tyrannist sorcerer carries finger-sized idols When Tyrannon invades a world, however, his
of the thrones. When he invokes that throne’s power
favorite minions are the Signifers. These jabbering
in a spell, he pierces his own flesh with a needle and
smears a drop of blood on the appropriate figurine. The runts are one of the Conqueror’s weaker sorts of
disks and pylons that stabilize Dimensional Bridges slave — but they make more of themselves.
carry stylized representations of Tyrannon, and are
enchanted by bathing them in the blood of victims,
with appropriate rituals in praise of the Conqueror.
134 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
THULKOS
Thulkos began as an Assiatic
dimension. Like Earth’s cosmos,
Thulkos started with a Big Bang. In
Thulkos, however, matter gathered Dozens of Thulkosian world-loops form a
into circular loops rather than spheres. Thulkos filigree cage around Tyrankos. The smallest world-
itself was a slender ring of rock, metal, water, and loop is about 60,000 miles in diameter, while the
air 500 miles thick but more than 160,000 miles largest is 150,000 miles wide. The world-loops hold
in diameter. This noodle-shaped world spun along bands of land and ocean, with mountains, deserts,
a threadlike “star” 2,000 miles wide but forming a rivers, and other landscapes like those on Earth,
loop hundreds of millions of miles long. Thulkos though many plants and animals look somewhat
shared its star-thread with several other worlds of different. In all, the world-loops have a surface area
various sizes. Some worlds were themselves ringed twenty times that of Earth.
by doughnut-shaped moons. Millions of other stars Air extends from Tyrankos all the way to the
circled in a ring-shaped galaxy over a hundred outermost world-loop. Huge, magical sky-galleons
thousand light-years wide, the only galaxy in this fly from world to world. Their sails, painted in blood
Reality. with the sign of the Avian Throne, catch astral winds
After he conquered Thulkos, Tyrannon created by Tyrannon for this purpose. For more rapid
reshaped his home dimension into a series of shells transportation, Tyrannon created Gates between
centered on himself. In the process, he drastically worlds. A hundred billion people — humanoid
shrank Thulkos. This concentrated the dimension’s Thulkosians and several other species — live in this,
ambient magic, permitting a cosmic structure that the heartland of the Conqueror’s empire.
would never work under previous natural laws. By
imposing his will on such a scale, however, Tyran- THE KAE LINN
non also bound himself to Thulkos’s reality. Only Around this shell of world-loops orbit the eight
his weakest forms can survive without some con- globes called the Kae Linn. These eight magical
nection to Thulkos. suns orbit between one to two million miles from
The very center of the dimension holds Tyrankos. Thulkosians receive day when their part of
Tyrankos, the Conqueror’s capital. Tyrankos is a a world-ring faces outward, toward the nearest Kae
disk 100 miles wide and seven miles thick. One Linn, and night when they face inward to Tyrankos.
side is landscaped with farmland, towns, temples On Tyrankos itself, at least half the distant Kae Linn
to Tyrannon, and concentration camps for sac- are in the sky at all times, so Tyrannon’s capital
rificial victims. The Tree Throne lives at the very receives a dim but constant daylight.
center of Tyrankos, so the entire dimension orbits Tyrannon created the Kae Linn by magic
around Tyrannon’s mightiest form. The underside — and each orb imprisons a god of sunlight, fertil-
of Tyrankos is bare, jagged rock. Tyrannon didn’t ity, and healing. Releasing these gods, who are also
bother giving Tyrankos’ underside gravity. Ironi- called the Kae Linn, would snuff the eight suns and
cally, the very heart of Tyrannon’s empire holds a doom billions of Thulkosians to freezing death.
place the Conqueror ignores.
136 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
THE DRAGON
AND THE NAGAS
HIS VOICE IS HEARD Background/History: Cultures around the world Dragon goes too. The Dragon does, however, have
IN THE HURRICANE describe snakes or part-snake creatures as bestowers a focus of awareness and action, an astral form
of magical knowledge and power. Some of them work chained beneath Faerie, glaring down on the Void
Hidden in the caverns of for good; others, for evil. Here are a few examples: of Dreamless Sleep. Its vast mouth is a portal to the
inaccessible mountains, Netherworld, which is why medieval artists repre-
SUMERIA: The primal dragon Tiamat owns the sented Hell within the jaws of a monster. As long as
or coiled in the unfath-
omed depths of the sea, magical Tablet of Destiny that gives rulership that astral form remains bound, the Dragon cannot
he awaits the time when of the Universe. use its full power against humanity.
he slowly arouses himself EGYPT: The solar serpent called the Uraeus The titanic chains binding the Dragon only
into activity. He unfolds seem to be made of steel — nothing physical can
shows the king’s divine right to rule, granted by
himself in the storm- bind the very idea of evil. Ancient magic forged the
cloud, he washes his Ra, the King of the Gods.
Dragon’s chains out of the noblest aspects of human-
mane in the darkness of CHINA: Dragons are mostly benevolent crea-
the seething whirlpools. ity, such as courage, altruism, faith, and honor. Tra-
tures who control rivers and the weather and dition says a thousand chains restrain the Dragon.
His claws are in the fork
have many magical powers. The trigrams of When humanity follows its higher instincts, the
of lightning, his scales
begin to glisten in the the I Ching appear on the back of a “dragon chains tighten. In times of cowardice or surrender to
bark of rain-swept pine horse.” evil, chains break, and the Dragon’s power grows. If
trees. His voice is heard GREECE: The semi-divine snake-man Cecrops, the Dragon broke free, humanity would cease to be
in the hurricane, which, human — if anyone survived at all.
an early king of Athens, teaches humans how to
scattering the withered For countless millennia, the Dragon has tried
leaves of the forest, quick- build in stone. One story of Teiresias, Greece’s
most famous seer, says he gained his prophetic to escape into the physical world — to become real.
ens a new spring. The
powers when a serpent sent by Athena licked In every age, various cults and sorcerers fall under
dragon reveals himself
only to vanish. his ears. A serpent led the healer-god Asclepius its sway and try to help it. The Dragon taught black
to a magic herb. On the other hand, evil giants magic to mankind and spawned demons; its min-
—Okakoro Kakuzo, like Typhon have serpents for legs. ions created the curses of lycanthropy and vam-
Book Of Tea pirism; it taught the first empires how to rule by
INDIA: The Nagas of India, like the Chinese armed terror and religious mystery. It still broods
dragons, control rivers. Some legends paint and schemes to corrupt mankind, slipping its mon-
them as malevolent, but in other stories, they strous dreams into the minds of humans too much
guard Heaven and teach heroes. ruled by hate, fear, greed, and ambition.
SEMITES: The Serpent, “subtlest of beasts,” Where did the Dragon come from? How did
persuades Adam and Eve to eat the fruit from it lodge in the human soul? The few entities that
the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The might know refuse to divulge the secret. Mystics
name of the Seraphim, one of the highest offer many theories, though. Christian mystics
orders of angels, translates as “Fiery Serpents.” believe the Dragon is Satan himself: just as the
Yahweh in Elysium is a mask for the true Supreme
CENTRAL AMERICA: The Aztec Quetzalcoatl and God of the Multiverse, so the Dragon is a mask
Mayan Kukulkan taught the civilized arts to for His adversary. Other mystics think the Dragon
Man when they ruled as wise and good kings. might be a degenerate shadow of one of the Four
Wizards know that all this is more than coin- Zoas, or a spirit from the Outer Planes that some-
cidence. The Mystic World includes two reptilian how became trapped in the Astral Plane. A theory
powers. The Dragon is Earth’s supreme Power of that the Dragon personifies the reptilian hindbrain
Evil. It wants to corrupt and rule mankind. The — the ancient part of the human brain responsible
mystic race of Nagas opposes the Dragon; they for territoriality, aggression, and the will to power
seem to care about human welfare, although the — has become popular with mystics interested in
details of their motives remain inscrutable. the new discoveries of science. Most mystics think
Mythology remembers the Dragon under the remaining theories, like one occultist’s sug-
many names: Tiamat, Apep, the Midgard Serpent, gestion that the Dragon is a fusion of malevolent
and many others. But these legends omit the great- ghosts from a prehistoric civilization of sentient
est and most terrible truth about this primal power dinosaurs, are too wacky or stupid to need refuting.
of evil: the Dragon exists within us, in the collec- Regardless of the Dragon’s origin, how can
tive unconscious of humanity. humanity get rid of this cancer on its collective
Strictly speaking, the Dragon does not occupy soul? So far, the only known way to destroy the
a physical location. Wherever any human goes, the Dragon is to exterminate mankind. No one cares
much for that solution.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 139
Even if humanity found some other way to controlling a set of powers (and that’s how he’s writ- THE DRAGON
kill or expel the Dragon, psychic adepts warn of ten up, though it also has PRE and Interaction Skills). PLOT SEEDS
appalling consequences. The Dragon is too much Face to face, the Dragon attacks through its
part of us. Losing it, and the Netherworld in its unbelievable Presence. Seeing a monster whose One of the world’s most
belly, would be the psychic equivalent of hack- eye is the size of a city can be rather overwhelm- famous heroes, whose
ing off a limb. Faerie would fall apart without the ing! The Dragon’s voice alone can terrify or compel courage and honor
Dragon’s support as well, and that’s another hefty attention, and only persons of exceptional will- inspire millions (per-
haps including the PCs),
chunk of the collective unconscious. The psychic power can resist its hypnotic gaze. A character
starts acting erratically.
maiming would surely drive all humanity insane. who uses mental powers on the Dragon, however, It could be because of
The Dragon, then, cannot be destroyed. Humanity encounters something far worse. The Dragon a string of bad luck,
can only work to contain the Dragon and mitigate readily opens its mind to the character... and lets from villains who make
its influence. him feel its infinite foulness, the evil that he car- unexpected getaways
Some mystics even suggest the coming of ries within himself. This usually overwhelms even to an embezzlement
the Dragon — the loss of humanity’s innocence, the strongest-willed mortal. However, the Dragon scandal in the hero’s fan
however it happened — was a fortunate fall. The cannot really control the long-term effect of this club. Concerned PCs
Dragon, they say, links humanity to the spirit world. mammoth Presence Attack. Some maddened vic- find the situation is far
Without it, humans could not work magic. As so tims might worship the Dragon (which the Dragon worse than it seems:
the Dragon torments
often happens with mysticism, however, no one can likes), but enduring terror is more likely.
the hero in his dreams,
prove or disprove such claims. The Dragon possesses equally formidable advises the villains he
Will this battle ever end? Will humanity never psychic powers based on its connection to every fights, wrecks his mar-
escape this blight on its soul? The mystics offer one human mind. It can find any human’s mind, any- riage, and makes him
faint and distant hope. A few adepts — a very few where. This may take a while, in the case of people suspect betrayal from
— break free of the Dragon’s influence by rising to with very high EGOs or who go to an Outer Plane, everyone close to him. If
the ultimate heights of mental self-mastery. They but the Dragon can find them eventually. No one, the heroes cannot help
completely wall off or excise the part of their mind either the target or any mentalist nearby, can detect him break the Dragon’s
that holds the Dragon; in a sense, their minds are this Mind Scan, and no amount of Mental Defense grip on his life, the hero
no longer human. Such masters progress beyond can block it, because the scan comes from inside will spectacularly self-
destruct. Even if the
even the Archmages. They usually lose all emo- the target’s own mind. On the other hand, the
hero doesn’t become a
tional commitment to humanity and depart for Dragon cannot locate nonhuman minds. supervillain, his disgrace
other planes. Once every several hundred years, Once the Dragon locates its target, it can would disillusion mil-
though, a Master retains human compassion and read the target’s mind. The Dragon must assign 20 lions of people... and
stays a while to help the rest of humanity through points of the effect rolled to making the Telepathy break a chain on the
his teachings. If all humanity can reach Enlighten- unnoticeable. The Dragon’s Telepathy also accesses Dragon, for the hero is
ment — not abandoning human nature but tran- minds from the bottom up — the reverse of the himself a living chain.
scending it — the Dragon will be exorcised forever. way normal telepaths do. By rolling more than
the target’s EGO on its Telepathy roll, the Dragon If the heroes fail to stop
Personality/Motivation: The Dragon doesn’t have a
accesses the target’s unconscious mind. Through a major villain’s plan,
reason. It is evil, like water is wet. It has two great thousands of people
desires: to break free, and to conquer humanity. this, it can tap into people’s dreams, neuroses,
and drives. At EGO +10 effect, the Dragon reads might die. Only then
If it ever succeeded in ruling the Earth, it would do the heroes discover
plunge the world into ultimate misery, until Earth memories. Only at EGO + 30 can the Dragon read
(because the GM
and the Netherworld merged and even death would surface thoughts, and it cannot reliably achieve just decided) that the
not bring escape. such a good result. Dragon put the plan
Heroes cannot maneuver the Dragon into Since Mental Defense counters the Dragon’s in the villain’s head,
helping them fight other cosmic evils. The Dragon Telepathy, a strong-willed character seldom needs as part of a scheme to
would enjoy seeing most of the human race die fear the Dragon getting anywhere close to his invade the material
conscious thoughts. The Dragon can watch his world. Draconic cultists
horribly, as long as some of its worshippers survive.
dreams, however, and these may reveal a great deal and sorcerers such as
It doesn’t care if Skarn, Tyrannon, or anyone else Giacomo Sylvestri were
conquers humanity: these cosmic evils might even about the character. Eventually, the Dragon can
probably access the character’s memories. Unless nearby, ready to chan-
give it a chance to escape its bondage. In that case, nel the mystic power
it would not need its minions any more and would the Dragon’s target has an EGO + Mental Defense
of the deaths into a
gladly destroy them as well. total of at least 50, the Dragon can learn the char- spell to Summon the
acter’s Secret Identity, loved one, and major weak- Dragon Incarnate. Now
Quote: “You would try to deceive Me? I know you nesses in a matter of weeks. The Dragon cannot the heroes face a much
better than you know yourself: your dreams, your act on this information — but it may relay the worse threat.
terrors, your darkest desires....” (Here the Dragon data to minions who can.
tells the PC about something he thought was Anyone willing to crawl between the Dragon’s A Draconic cult or
utterly secret.) mighty teeth and down its throat finds himself sorcerer creates the
Powers/Tactics: While bound on the Astral Plane, plummeting into the Netherworld. The Dragon Tiamat Brazier. Mystics
the Dragon is indestructible. Only mind-based can deactivate this Power if it wants, but why might notice the wave
attacks — Mental Powers, BOECV powers, Mental would it want to keep anyone out of Hell? With of malignant psychic
the Dragon’s jaws chained, only a few people at force sweep over the city
Transforms, and the like — can possibly affect the
at the next new moon.
Dragon (and its high Mental Defense makes that once can enter the Netherworld this way. Fortu-
Detective heroes and
unlikely). On the other hand, the Dragon has very nately, only a few demons at a time can leave the
Continued on next page
little power to affect its surroundings. For all practi- Netherworld this way, too. The Gate in the Drag-
cal purposes, GMs can treat the Dragon as an AI on’s gullet opens both ways.
140 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Finally, the Dragon has a Variable Power Pool a physical danger (though the Dragon’s minions
Continued from last page it cannot use — at least, not very much. The GM provide plenty of menace to heroes’ lives). While
the police notice the decides how many powers the Dragon can produce bound on the Astral Plane, the Dragon cannot fight
monthly spikes in crime. through its VPP, but the number should not be characters directly — but it can tempt them, threaten
Can the heroes find the large. Whenever the Dragon breaks a chain, it gains them through its minions, or try to drive them to
cult’s secret temple and another power through its VPP. When a new chain despair. The heroes can never hope to defeat the
destroy the Tiamat Bra- is forged, the Dragon loses a slot. Dragon through raw force, because it exists as an
zier before the city sinks The Dragon can certainly use its Variable idea in every human mind rather than as a corporeal
into a mire of crime Power Pool to force telepathic contact on anyone entity. To fight the Dragon is to fight Evil itself, in the
and corruption? “On
who comes within its Line of Sight on the Astral persons of its many mortal servants.
the edge” heroes with
Enrageds or strong Psy- Plane. It can also Summon a few demons to attack The Dragon wants to become a physical crea-
chological Limitations astral voyagers. Most Netherworld creatures obey ture so it can work its malice against humanity
might themselves have the Dragon without question and are happy to without the need for minions. Occasionally its ser-
committed crimes under murder some poor fool caught in the Dragon’s vants magically create a body on Earth as a conduit
the Dragon’s influence. mental snares or its overwhelming Presence. Other for the Dragon’s mind and power. Bodies for the
powers should be based on mental effects or the Dragon vary widely, according to the power and
Dragon’s close connection to the Netherworld. skill of their makers — they might be golems, crea-
The Dragon can use its Variable Power Pool tures of magically-altered flesh and blood, or con-
freely under one circumstance: if some mortal structs of ectoplasm. The Dragon prefers to possess
contacts the Dragon’s mind, the Dragon can create bodies that resemble its base form, and its minions
any mental effect it wants. The Dragon can only try to satisfy it, but it may have a body that doesn’t
affect that character, however, on that Phase, and look at all draconic. Naturally, the Dragon’s ser-
the power cannot cost END. vants try to give it as powerful a body as they can
Resources: The Dragon retains influence despite manage. When the Dragon incarnates itself, heroes
being bound — after all, it’s part of every human can fight it directly. Destroying one of the Dragon’s
soul. Normally, the Dragon cannot access peoples’ bodies merely thwarts one of its plans, though. The
conscious minds, but it reads or influences dreams. real Dragon still exists.
Sometimes its promptings slip through as a whis- The Dragon is not the forgiving sort. It Hunts
per in the back of one’s mind. One whisper led anyone who thwarts its plans. If the Dragon cannot
an arrogant explorer to a strange serpent’s cave in locate an enemy’s mind directly, it searches other
Africa. Another prompted a geneticist to invent the people’s minds for memories of its target. The
COIL gene and become King Cobra. No one could pursuit could take months, even years — but the
say how much of the dark side of history was due Dragon has plenty of time. By itself, the Dragon can
to the Dragon. send horrific nightmares. Its minions can arrange
Many people serve the Dragon directly. painful deaths. The Dragon relents only if its enemy
Some are human cultists who deliberately open submits and accepts miserable, degrading servitude
themselves to the Dragon. Satanic cults further of body and soul.
the dragon’s goals, too. The entire Sylvestri clan of If the Dragon is too powerful a foe, even while
sorcerers and Satanists (see Arcane Adversaries) chained in the Astral Plane, reduce or eliminate its
works for the Dragon. Variable Power Pool. The Dragon Bound cannot
The Dragon also has inhuman servants. It fight heroes anyway, unless they deliberately con-
and its human servants create whole races of front it; the GM decides how much time and effort
monsters such as the Ophites. The greatest wave the Dragon allocates to Hunting the characters
of monster creation took place millennia ago, in a through its proxies, and how much information
conflict later mythologized as the battle between about them it passes to its minions. To make the
Marduk and Tiamat. The Dragon’s servants strive Dragon more powerful, remove Limitations on its
to locate surviving monsters from that battle, VPP so it has more ways to directly affect charac-
sleeping in long-lost crypts or hidden places ters who confront it.
of this and other worlds. They also create new Appearance: Bound on the Astral Plane, the
“Dragon Warriors” when they can. Dragon looks about 400 miles long. Its stony scales
The Dragon’s greatest resource, however, are the size of football fields; its eyes seem like lakes
is its counsel. The Dragon is the ultimate secret of swirling, dark fire. Mammoth iron chains wrap
mastermind. It gathers vast amounts of informa- about it, each link the size of a supertanker. Its back
tion through peoples’ dreams and memories and sinks into the underside of the Land of Legends. A
shares what it learns with its minions. Game- few of the chains have broken, their ends trailing
masters can assume that if any human knows into the void beneath.
something, the Dragon can discover it in a month
or so. It can tell its minions about Mr. Big’s secret
escape tunnel, or a hero’s Secret Identity, or the Ancient Serpent
launch code for a nuclear missile.... ‘And he seized the dragon, that ancient
serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and
Campaign Use: Skarn and Tyrannon are relatively bound him for a thousand years...’
straightforward, in-your-face villains. The Dragon —Revelations 20:2
is an example of a more metaphysical sort of master
villain, one who presents a spiritual threat more than
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 141
EXAMPLE POWERS FOR POTENTIALLY Entangle 4d6, 5 DEF, BOECV (+1), Takes No
INFINITE POWER POWER POOL Damage From Physical Attacks (+¼), Works
Against EGO, Not STR (+¼), Invisible To Sight
Dreamscape: The Dragon forces a group of people And Hearing Groups (+¾), Reduced Endur-
into a shared hallucination. It may use this dreams- ance (0 END; +½). Total cost: 169 points.
cape to tempt the characters, threaten them, reveal
damaging secrets, or delude them with subtle lies. Killing Thought: The Dragon can hurl its malevolent
Mental Illusions 14d6, Area Of Effect (11” will against someone who contacts its mind, caus-
Radius; +1); Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½). ing a brain stroke through sheer overload of terror.
Total cost: 175 points. RKA 3d6+1, BOECV (+1), Does BODY (+1),
Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½). Total cost:
Forced Mental Contact: The Dragon forces a tele- 175 points.
pathic communion on a group... whether the
people want it or not. Everyone learns the worst Master The Mad: Anyone driven insane by contact
about each other. Characters can resist the effect with the Dragon’s mind might become the Dragon’s
with an EGO Roll, but suffer a -3 penalty if they slave. The Dragon can ensure this happens by strik-
have any Strong Psychological Limitations, or -5 ing directly at the foolhardy mentalist’s will.
for Total Psychological Limitations or Enrageds.
This power works on all sentient creatures, human Major Transform 4d6 (normal human to
or not. human with the Psychological Limitation
Worships The Dragon [Very Common, Total],
Telepathy 10d6, Area Of Effect (13” Radius; heals back through psychoanalysis or the like),
+1), Usable As Attack (defense is EGO Roll to BOECV (+1), Works Against EGO, Not BODY
hide one’s thoughts and resist peeping on others, (+¼), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½) (165
see text; +1), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½). Active Points); Limited Target (only people who
Total cost: 175 points. suffer an EGO + 40 effect from the Dragon’s
Presence Damage Shield; -1). Total cost: 82
Horrific Hypnosis: If the Dragon snares someone with points.
its hypnotic gaze, it can paralyze the victim with sheer
terror and despair. This also works well on foolish Usurp The Will: The Dragon can take over the body
mentalists who try to attack the Dragon’s mind. of anyone who meets its dreadful gaze or opens his
mind to it, turning the person into a puppet.
Telekinesis (30 STR), Fine Manipulation,
BOECV (+1), Reduced Endurance (0 END;
+½). Total cost: 137 points.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 143
Continued from last page 3 Spell Research (Inventor) 15- 5 Vulnerability: 1½ x BODY from attacks with
as divine souls makes 3 Scholar Affects Desolidified (Uncommon)
them no longer bound 2 1) KS: Black Magic Horrors 15- 1,105 Experience Points
by conventional notions 2 2) KS: Current Events 15-
of good and evil — they 2 3) KS: Human Evil 15- Total Disadvantage Points: 1,555
can do what they want, 2 4) KS: Magic 15-
or whatever Abraxas EXAMPLE POWERS FOR POTENTIALLY
2 5) KS: Mystic World 15-
commands, because the INFINITE POWER POWER POOL
2 6) KS: Secret Things 15-
deeds of the body do
not affect the enlight- 2 7) KS: Subcultures 15- Entropic Fire: The Dragon growls, its eyes shine
ened soul. 2 8) KS: Who Does What 15- with dark fire, and a wide area shimmers with the
2 9) KS: World History 15- dark iridescence. Flesh and wood rots, girders rust,
The Sons Of Kingu: 2 0) KS: World Politics 15- glass cracks, and stone and concrete crumble into
This small Middle 3 Traveler sand. People die and buildings collapse after just a
Eastern cult worships 1 1) AK: Astral Plane 11- few uses of this attack.
Tiamat, the primal 1 2) AK: Babylon 11-
power of chaos from 2 3) AK: Earth 15- RKA 2d6, Area Of Effect (24” Radius; +1½),
Mesopotamian mythol- 1 4) AK: Elysium 11- Indirect (ignores barriers to act throughout an
ogy. According to myth, 2 5) AK: Dreamzone 15- area; +¾), Penetrating (+½). Total cost: 112
after the gods defeated 1 6) AK: Land of Legends 11- points.
Tiamat and her army
2 7) AK: Netherworld 15-
of monsters, they Hell Gate: The Dragon can call open Gates to the
made humanity from Netherworld, so demons can invade. The Hell Gate
the blood of Kingu, Total Powers & Skills Cost: 1,176
Total Cost: 1,555 manifests as a circle of black stone flickering with
the chief lieutenant of
sulfurous flames.
Tiamat. The Sons of
Kingu try to awaken the 200+ Disadvantages Extra-Dimensional Movement (any physical
divine-diabolic power of 30 Enraged: Berserk when defied or insulted location in the Netherworld), x2 Increased
Kingu’s blood in them- (Very Common), go 11-, recover 14- Mass, Area Of Effect (One Hex; +½), Con-
selves, gaining minor 15 Dependence: must receive 100 human tinuous (+1), Usable By Other (+¼), Reduced
mystical powers such sacrifices every day or suffer 3d6 damage
as unnatural strength, Endurance (0 END; +½). Total cost: 97 points.
(Uncommon)
toughness, and endur-
ance. The cult seeks an 15 Distinctive Features: Every sensitive on Earth Horrific Hypnosis: If the Dragon snares someone
artifact called the Milk knows it’s loose (Not Concealable; Cause with its hypnotic gaze, it can paralyze the victim
of Tiamat, which they Horror; Detectable Only By Unusual Senses) with sheer terror and despair.
believe will transform 10 Hunted: Nagas and their allies 14- (Less Pow,
them into monsters — a Capture) Entangle 4d6, 4 DEF, BOECV (+1), Takes No
new army for Tiamat. 10 Hunted: Great Powers of Babylon, Elysium, Damage From Physical Attacks (+¼), Works
and Faerie 8- (As Pow, Destroy/Capture) Against EGO, Not STR (+¼), Reduced Endur-
Vritrasangha: This cult 20 Physical Limitation: Colossal (about 60” ance (½ END; +¼). Total cost: 110 points.
in India worships the long and weighs 6 ktons; suffers -12 DCV
Dragon under the name Killing Thought: The Dragon can hurl its malevolent
and +12 on PER Rolls to perceive him) (All
of Vritra, the serpent- will against someone who contacts its mind, caus-
The Time, Greatly Impairing)
demon of drought and ing a brain stroke through sheer overload of terror.
15 Physical Limitation: Very Limited Manipula-
death who threatens the
gods in the Hindu Vedas. tion (Frequently, Greatly Impairing) RKA 2d6, BOECV (+1), Does BODY (+1), +2
Vritrasangha members 25 Psychological Limitation: Lusts To Rule And Increased STUN Multiplier (+½). Total cost:
gain their magic through Corrupt Humanity (Very Common, Total) 105 points.
extreme asceticism that 15 Psychological Limitation: Vengeful
would kill anyone who (Common, Strong) Description: This is an extremely strong ectoplas-
didn’t spend years train- 15 Psychological Limitation: Relishes Fear And mic body for the Dragon — one powerful enough
ing to endure such self- Pain (Common, Strong) to devastate armies and defeat whole teams of
torture. Like the Circle 10 Psychological Limitation: Hates/Fears Non- heroes. Creating such a body for the Dragon would
of the Scarlet Moon (see human Or Transcendant Minds (Uncom- require the use of a high-powered artifact like the
Arcane Adversaries), the
mon, Strong) Tablet of Destinies and the sacrifice of hundreds, if
cultists can combine
their powers in group 15 Reputation: supreme power of evil, 14- not thousands, of mortal victims. More likely, the
rituals, but most of (Extreme, Limited Group [Mystic World]) Dragon’s minions would incarnate it in a less pow-
their spells take a week 15 Unluck: 3d6 erful body and increase its power through further
or more to cast. Vritra- 10 Vulnerability: 2 x STUN from attacks with rituals of mass human sacrifice.
sangha is particularly BOECV and Does BODY (Uncommon) Thus incarnate, the Dragon loses much of
skilled at death-curses 10 Vulnerability: 2 x BODY from attacks with its contact with the minds of all humanity, but it
and materializing coun- BOECV and Does BODY (Uncommon) gains tremendous destructive power. Its gigantic
terfeit people called 5 Vulnerability: 1½ x STUN from attacks with body can crush a tank in one bite, knock over a
tulpas. Transdimensional (Uncommon) skyscraper with a swat of its paw, or send a whole
5 Vulnerability: 1½ x BODY from attacks with convoy flying with a sweep of its wing or tail. Nor
Any of these cults might Transdimensional (Uncommon) need the Dragon fear most mundane weapons.
work together, if the
5 Vulnerability: 1½ x STUN from attacks with On top of that, the Dragon still wields
Dragon ordered it.
Affects Desolidified (Uncommon) immense magical power. Some are physical (for
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 145
THE NAGAS 15 Immortality And Perfect Health: Life NAGA PLOT SEEDS
Val Char Cost Roll Notes Support (Longevity: Immortality;
10 STR 0 11- Lift 100 kg; 2d6 [1] Immunity: all terrestrial diseases and bio- The basic naga plot: a
18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 warfare agents) 0 mysterious stranger
20 CON 20 13- 29 Assume Human Form: Shape Shift offers a hero a cryptic
10 BODY 0 11- (Sight and Touch Groups, any humanoid warning of some evil
28 INT 18 15- PER Roll 15- form), Costs Endurance Only To Change brewing. A more subtle
Shape (+¼) naga can arrange for a
18 EGO 16 13- ECV: 6
17 Mystic Perception: Detect Magic 15- clue to reach a hero by
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 seeming coincidence,
10 COM 0 11- (no Sense Group), Discriminatory, Range,
such as posing as a
Sense 0
concerned citizen who
10 PD 8 Total: 23 PD (13 rPD) 20 Astral Awareness: Dimensional (Astral saw an evil cult’s ritual,
10 ED 6 Total: 23 ED (13 rED) Plane) for Sight and Hearing Groups 0 or planting a clue at the
4 SPD 12 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 4 Tail: Extra Limb (1), Inherent (+¼); scene of a mystic villain’s
8 REC 4 Limited Manipulation (-¼), OIHID (-¼) 0 crime. A naga might
40 END 0 5 Tail Reach: Stretching 1”, Reduced keep this up for a long
25 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 118 Endurance (0 END; +½); OIHID (-¼), time before the heroes
No Noncombat Stretching (-¼) 0 realize their witnesses
don’t exist and their
Movement: Running: 6”/12” Perks enemies are more care-
Flight: 13”/104” 5 Reputation: legendary fount of magic (in ful than they thought.
Mystic World) 11-, +5/+5d6
Cost Powers END A naga comes to trust
120 Master Of All Mystic Arts: Variable Power Talents a group of mystic
Pool (Magic Pool), 60 base + 30 control 5 Eidetic Memory heroes enough that it
cost, Cosmic (+2); OIHID (-¼), Only 20 Universal Translator 15- becomes their mentor.
Magic (-¼) var After a while, though,
Skills
50 Seraphic Mastery: Variable Power Pool the characters realize
20 +2 Overall their mentor has other
(Magic Pool), +30 base + 15 control cost,
Cosmic (+2); OIHID (when in Seraph irons in the fire. In
3 Analyze Magic 15- fact, the naga also uses
form; -¼), Side Effects (character suffers 3 Conversation 13- several false identities
Drain CON 1d6 each Turn spent in 5 Cramming to manipulate supervil-
Seraph form, points return at a rate of 5 3 Cryptography 15- lains, positioning them
per Hour, always occurs; -½), Only 3 Deduction 15- for a massive battle
Thaumaturgy (-½) var 3 AK: Inner Planes 15- that will surely destroy
17 Seraphic Aura: Elemental Control, 3 AK: Shamballah 15- the evil and dangerous
60-point powers; OIHID (when in regime of a small nation
2 AK: Agharti 11-
Seraph form; -¼), Side Effects (character (such as Awad or Lur-
2 AK: Mystic Power Sites 11- ranga, from Champions
suffers Drain CON 1d6 each Turn spent 13 Power: Magic 20-
in Seraph form, points return at a rate of Universe). Do the heroes
2 PS: Personal Choice 11- permit this, regardless of
5 per Hour, always occurs; -½) 3 Spell Research (Inventor) 15- the loss of civilian lives
18 1) Shining Shield: Force Field 6 Individual Skills specific to a particular naga that will surely happen?
(13 PD/13 ED/9 Power Defense), (GM’s choice) Do they stop the plan,
Hardened (+¼), Reduced Endurance 3 Scholar despite their mentor’s
(0 END; +½); OIHID (-¼), Side Effects 2 1) KS: Gods and Spirits 15- assurance that the
(as above; -½) 0 2 2) KS: Legends 15- regime is about to cause
21 2) Radiate Flames: RKA 2d6, immensely greater harm
2 3) KS: Lost Civilizations 15-
Continuous (+1), Damage Shield (+½), to the world? Do they
2 4) KS: Magic Styles 15- try to find some other
Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼); 2 5) KS: Magical Beings 15-
OIHID (-¼), Side Effects (as above; -½) 2 way to stop the regime?
2 6) KS: Mystic History15-
17 3) Rainbow Wings: Flight 14”, x32 2 7) KS: Mystic World 15-
Noncombat, Reduced Endurance (½ The nagas themselves
2 8) KS: Thaumaturgy 15- need help when a mysti-
END; +¼); OIHID (-¼), Side Effects 2 9) KS: Theurgy 15- cal master villain like
(as above; -½) 2 2 10) KS: World History 15- Takofanes, or a group
18 4) Energized Self: Aid Characteristics 2 11) KS: Personal Area of Expertise 15- like the Crowns of Krim,
2d6, all Characteristics except CON, INT, penetrates their hidden
and COM simultaneously (+2), Delayed Total Powers & Skills Cost: 496 valley. They call in the
Return Rate (points fade at the rate of 5 Total Cost: 614 PCs, since they have
per 5 Minutes; +½; OIHID (-¼), Side worked together in the
Effects (as above; -½), Self Only (-½) 4 past (even if the heroes
200+ Disadvantages didn’t know it).
12 Tough Scales: Armor (5 PD/5 ED), 20 Accidental Change: to Naga form when
OIHID (-¼) 0 struck by magical attack 14- (Common)
12 Invincible Will: Mental Defense 15 Distinctive Features: aura of vast mystical
(14 points total), Hardened (+¼) 0 power (Concealable With Effort; Causes
5 Innate Mystic Defense: Power Defense Major Reaction [awe or intimidation])
(5 points) 0
150 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
25 Hunted: the Dragon and its minions 14- Invisibility to Mental and Mystic Sense Groups,
(Mo Pow, Kill) Usable Simultaneously (up to two people at
10 Hunted: assorted evil mystics 8- (As Pow, once; +½), Reduced Endurance (½ END; +¼).
Capture/Kill) Total cost: 44 points.
25 Psychological Limitation: Always Uses Mini-
mum Force (Very Common, Total) Invulnerable Serenity: If a hero intends to confront
20 Psychological Limitation: Committed To the Dragon, a naga can at least protect him from
The Welfare Of Humanity (Common, Total) the Dragon’s overwhelming Presence. This spell
15 Psychological Limitation: Secretive (Very calms the subject’s mind and quells his passions
Common) so he more easily resists attempts at intimidation,
10 Susceptibility: to the Dragon, its avatars, or persuasion, or other forms to influence his think-
its creations, suffers 1d6 damage per Turn ing, though it doesn’t protect against actual mental
spent within 5” of them (Uncommon) attacks.
274 Experience Points
+30 PRE, Usable By Other (+¼), Uncontrolled
(one hour, or until person acts on a Strong Psy-
Total Disadvantage Points: 614
chological Limitation; +½) (52 Active Points);
EXAMPLE POWERS FOR MASTER OF ALL Only To Protect Against Presence Attacks (-1).
MYSTIC ARTS POWER POOL Total cost: 26 points.
Most of the spells from Chapter Three scale
Psychic Healing: Mystics sometimes suffer damage
down to 50-some Active Points without much trou-
to their brains, or even their souls, because of their
ble. These examples are of magic a naga might use
battles. A naga can heal the psychic damage that
in the course of guiding or assisting a hero.
defies mundane medicine and even powers of cor-
Evade The Dragon: The Dragon’s servants Hunt the poreal healing. The example uses Intelligence, but a
nagas whenever the Dragon suspects their inter- naga can also heal damage to Ego or Presence.
ference. This spell helps a naga and an ally escape
psychic and mystical attempts to find them, or Healing INT 4d6. Total cost: 40 points.
infiltrate a Draconic stronghold with less chance of
being noticed. See Possible Destinies: To influence history, the
nagas need to find people who can do what they
need, where and when
they need it. They prefer
people who would serve
their goals willingly,
but don’t consider this
essential. Nagas can look
forward along a person’s
timeline to find points
when he might make
decisions that benefit or
hinder their plans. When
they find such people, the
nagas can subtly create
situations that encourage
the person to make the
decision they want. Find-
ing a suitable moment of
decision in the manifold
possibilities of the future
requires a successful PER
Roll.
Clairsentience (Sight
Group and Normal
Hearing), Precognition
(45 Active Points); Pre-
cognition Only (-1), No
Range (only works on a
person with whom the
naga has contact; -½).
Total cost: 18 points.
The Mystic World ■ Chapter Four 151
EXAMPLE POWERS FOR SERAPHIC Dragon. But even then, they give only the informa-
MASTERY POWER POOL tion a hero absolutely needs to stop the plot.
See Chapter Three for typical thaumaturgy What are the nagas? From whence did they
spells. In Seraph form, a naga typically uses the come? Why do they oppose the Dragon? Masters
VPP to create a 60-point attack, a 30-point defen- of occult lore agree that solving the mystery of the
sive or movement power, and allocates any remain- nagas would also solve the mystery of the Dragon,
ing points to an Enhanced Sense or special defense or vice-versa. No one seems to know the answers
such as Flash Defense or Life Support (all this but the nagas themselves, and they won’t tell. They
assumes, of course, that the GM allows it to create say only that until humanity can master the Dragon
Special Powers with its Power Pool). Under special on its own, they must follow their duty.
circumstances, a naga might instead cast exception- Personality/Motivation: Despite their commitment
ally powerful spells using the full Active Points of to human destiny, the nagas are pacifists. Only
the VPP. a truly desperate situation prompts them to act
Banishment: At full power, a naga can force extra- directly, and even then, the nagas avoid violence.
planar creatures to return from whence they came, They may help humanity’s champions, but they
wherever that may be. insist that humanity must solve its own problems
and fight its own battles.
Extra-Dimensional Movement (a single physi-
Quote: “My identity is unimportant. I believe you
cal location in a related group of dimensions
should know that a threat to Humanity is growing
[the home dimensions of the target of the
on Sakhalin Island — I must say no more. Here are
spell]), Usable As Attack (defense is having
plane tickets, if you need them.”
Extra-Dimensional Movement or dimension-
manipulating powers; +1), Ranged (+½) (62 Powers/Tactics: All nagas are masters of both thau-
Active Points); Only Works Against Beings Not maturgy and various sorts of theurgy drawn from
Native To The Dimension They’re Currently In many different human cultures. Their encyclopedic
(-½). Total cost: 41 points. knowledge of the mystic arts enables nagas to per-
form any sort of magic.
Close Gate: A naga can destroy Gates, even very Nagas have three forms: one with a human-
powerful ones such as Tyrannon’s Dimensional oid torso and serpent tail (their standard form); a
Bridges. This may take several Phases, though. form that looks like a human being; and a “Seraph”
During this time, the naga may need protection form in which the basic naga body becomes white
from heroes. and translucent, surrounded by a swirling aura of
iridescent light, with rainbow wings. The OIHID
Dispel Extra-Dimensional Movement 15d6,
Limitation represents powers a naga can only use
Cumulative (+½), Increased Cumulative
when in its basic form.
Points (180 points; +¼) (79 Active Points);
In its basic “humanoid torso, serpent tail” form,
Only Works Versus “Gate” Forms Of Extra-
a naga has a 60-point Magic Pool. When in human
Dimensional Movement (-½). Total cost: 53
form, a naga must take a Phase and succeed at a
points.
Thaumaturgy Skill Roll to shift the Power Pool. In
a crisis, a naga can assume its full-power, “Seraph”
Background/History: Humanity never stood alone
form in which its Cosmic Power Pool increases to
against the Dragon. For countless millennia, the
90 points and it gains several other powers besides.
nagas have served as helpers and advisors. Curi-
However, a naga can use the extra Magic Pool
ously, the Dragon’s eternal foes are also reptilian.
points only for thaumaturgy. Nagas can use their
Mythology speaks of serpents, dragons, and snake-
full power for only a short time; taking Seraph form
men as bringers of wisdom, prosperity, and civiliza-
tires them greatly. (This gives them a practical as
tion as often as it portrays them as corruptors and
well as a philosophical reason for making humanity
destroyers.
look after itself.)
The nagas refuse to disclose their own origins,
Until someone directly attacks a naga, it
but they have existed as long as the Dragon. Cer-
employs its magic to prevent confrontation. A naga
tain secret traditions say the nagas and the Dragon
uses illusions to keep potential menaces distracted,
founded the first civilizations and used them to
at least long enough for innocent bystanders to get
make war on each other — a war for the future of
away; then it vanishes.
humanity. That war continues to this day.
Nowadays, the nagas stay in the background. Campaign Use: The nagas function as teachers,
They seem bound by an inscrutable code of con- advisors, and sometimes manipulators. The GM
science: they raise empires and cast them down, can use a naga to bring a hero team together
but never meet force with force. Unlike the Dragon, (especially a team of super-mystics). Their naga
the nagas do not compel people to do anything. mentor might appear now and then to warn the
Instead, they create situations where the right characters about threats to humanity, teach new
person is in the right place, at the right time, to do spells, and perhaps even help them obtain a Base.
what the nagas want... and pay the personal cost. He will not, however, solve their problems for
The nagas are a bit more straightforward with them. Nagas seldom become Contacts because
mystics who show concern for humanity — they they appear when it suits their purposes — not
often warn super-mages about major plots by the the heroes’.
152 ■ Mystic Master Villains Hero System 5th Edition Revised
GLOSSARY
Here’s a quick summary of important terms Chesed: “Greatness,” a Brialic sephiroth that con-
and concepts relating to the Multiverse of the Hero tains the realms of the four Prime Avatars.
Universe. See the Index for page references to these Chokmah: “Wisdom,” an Atziluthic sephiroth
subjects. that contains every possible archetype of objects,
Abyss, the: The barrier between Briah and Atziluth. actions, ideas, structures, and so on.
Achaea: The realm of the Greek gods in Faerie. Circle of the Scarlet Moon, the: An evil cabal that
Aleph: Another term for Kether (q.v.). uses its mystic powers to try to obtain power and
wealth.
Allamanda: The farmlands around Golgonooza.
City Of Man, the: Babylon (q.v.).
Archetypal World: Atziluth (q.v.).
Creative World: Briah (q.v.).
Archmage: An office held by the most powerful
mystic on Earth, who’s charged with protecting Cysts: Pockets of Astral Space with strange properties.
Humanity from occult threats. Earth has not had Da’ath: The lost sephiroth, the link between
an Archmage since 1908. Wisdom and Understanding, from where a mystic
Assiah: The Material World, the lowest level of the could call on the power of Binah and shape it via
Multiverse, containing the sephiroth Malkuth. Chokmah.
Astral Plane: A Yetziratic realm in the sephiroth Dark Sea of Being: Binah (q.v.).
Yesod that connects Earth’s dimension to countless Death’s Dominion: The realm of Death in the sephi-
other realms. It’s divided into the Lower, Middle, roth of Tiphereth.
and Upper Astral, each with its own properties. DEMON: An evil occult organization that worships
Astral World: Yetzirah (q.v.). the Kings Of Edom.
Atziluth: The highest level of the Multiverse, con- Descending Hierarchy: The rulers of the Neth-
taining the sephira Binah, Chokmah, and Kether. erworld, including Mephistopheles, Baphomet,
Azoic, Thanoro: The first Archmage of Earth. Beelzebub, Astaroth, and other demon princes and
arch-devils.
Babylon: The City of Man, one of the four main
Imaginal Realms. It embodies the achievements Dominions: Dimensions in the sephiroth Netzach,
and powers of Man. It resembles every city on each ruled by a controlling intelligence.
Earth, but moreso. Dragon, the: A being who embodies the primal
Balthus: A dimension lord who feeds on fear. power of evil within the human mind and soul.
Ban, the: A mystical phenomena that prevents the Dreamtime, the: A dangerous region of Faerie (q.v.)
gods and their chief servants from coming bodily where flexible time becomes even more flexible and
to Earth except in limited ways. distorted than ever.
Beulah: The realm of Luvah, Prime Avatar of Dreamzone: A division of the Lower Astral Plane
Chaos. composed of all the dreams being dreamed by
humans at any given moment.
Binah: “Understanding,” an Atziluthic sephiroth, an
infinite reservoir of power. Elysium: The Imaginal Realm formed from human
ideas of goodness, Heaven, and so forth as defined
Briah: The Creative World, the second-highest level by the “ethical religions.”
of the Multiverse, containing the sephira Tiphereth,
Pachad, and Chesed. Enitharmon the Weaver: One aspect of Urthona,
Prime Avatar of Art; wife of Los.
Bright Sea Of Forms: Chokmah (q.v.).
Entuthon Benython: A dark forest that exists in the
Bromion: A dimension lord and Lord of Order who realms of all four Prime Avatars.
serves Urizen. He controls the Millworks, a dimen-
sion in Netzach. Faerie: The Imaginal Realm that’s home to fairies,
nature spirits, and pagan gods. In part it derives
Cassai: A dimension lord, known as one of the from human ideas about, and anthropomorphiza-
Multiverse’s best crafters of enchanted items. He’s at tion of, nature.
once hungry for power and paranoid about others
stealing his power. Formative World: Yetzirah (q.v.).
Cathedron: The citadel in Golgonooza that holds Four Worlds: The Multiverse, so called because mys-
the loom of Enitharmon the Weaver. tics typically organize it into four “levels”: Assiah,
154 Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Yetzirah, Briah, and Atziluth. Luvah, the cosmic entities who embody the con-
Fuzon: A dimension lord and Lord of Nature who cepts of Order, Art, Nature, and Chaos, respectively.
rules a dimension called the Burning Sky. Also called the Zoas.
Generation: The realm of Tharmas, Prime Avatar of Primum Mobile: Kether (q.v.).
Nature. Qliphothic Realms: The dimensions “below” or
Golgonooza: The city of Urthona, Prime Avatar of “behind” the Tree Of Life — realms of decay, dark-
Art. ness, and evil.
Hod: “Glory/Splendor/Fame,” a sephiroth in Yetzi- Quaternion: The four primary Imaginal Realms of
rah, containing dimensions that run by magic but Babylon, Elysium, Faerie, and the Netherworld.
still run by themselves (i.e., where magic follows Sephirothic Tree Of Life: The organizational scheme
rational, quasi-scientific rules). used by Western mystics to describe the Multiverse,
Imaginal Realms: Dimensions created from the consisting of sephiroth (“emanations from God”)
Astral Plane by the human imagination, including that cascade down from Kether to Malkuth in a
Faerie, the Netherworld, Babylon, and Elysium. series of Four Worlds (Atziluth, Briah, Yetzirah, and
Assiah).
Inner Planes: The Imaginal Realms (q.v.).
Skarn the Shaper: A powerful dimension lord who
Kether: “The Crown,” the highest and most inacces- rules the Congeries and wants to merge all other
sible of the planes — the ultimate realm of indivis- dimensions with his own.
ible being.
Solipsist, the: The Decreator, the Anti-God, the
Kings Of Edom, the: Malevolent, or at least uncar- absolute limit of negative existence who dwells in
ingly powerful, beings from the Qliphothic Realms. the Qliphothic Realms.
Koriol: A dimension lord, once the Archmage of Tharmas: The Prime Avatar of Nature.
Loezen.
Thaumaturgy: The style of magic used by super-
Kryptos: The Lord of Secrets, an Archetype who mages and their ilk.
dwells in Briah.
Thiralatha: “The Lady of the Dreamful Caves,” a
Land Of Legends, the: Faerie (q.v.). dimension lord and Lady of Artifice who possesses
Loezen: A dying dimension in the sephiroth Mal- vast transmutative powers.
kuth. Tiphereth: “Beauty,” a sephiroth in Briah, contain-
Los the Smith: One aspect of Urthona, Prime ing the Veil Of The Temple and Death’s Dominion,
Avatar of Art; husband of Enitharmon. among other dimensions.
Luban: The citadel in Golgonooza that holds the Trismegistus Council, the: A cabal of “good” mys-
forge of Los the Smith. tics opposed to the Circle of the Scarlet Moon,
Luvah: The Prime Avatar of Chaos. DEMON, and other evil occult organizations.
Malkuth: “The Kingdom,” the lowest sephira of the Tyrannon the Conqueror: A powerful dimension
Multiverse. lord, ruler of Thulkos, whose self exists in 888
forms. He wants to merge other dimensions with
Material World: Assiah (q.v.). his own to increase his power.
Mental World: Briah (q.v.). Udan Adan: A dark and bitter lake in Generation.
Mundane Shell: Kether (q.v.). Ulro: The realm of Urizen, Prime Avatar of Order.
Nagas: Mysterious serpentine beings who protect Upper Planes: The Brialic dimensions.
humanity from the Dragon.
Urizen: The Prime Avatar of Order.
Netherworld, the: The Imaginal Realm formed from
human ideas of evil. It’s the home of demons, devils, Urthona: The Prime Avatar of Art.
and other foul beings. Vala: The feminine aspect of Luvah.
Netzach: “Conquest/Victory/Permanence,” a sephi- Veil Of The Temple, the: The Upper Astral Plane,
roth in Yetzirah, containing dimensions ruled by a which forms a barrier between the Yetziratic and
controlling intelligence (a.k.a. Dominions). Brialic planes.
Orc: A form taken by Luvah, Prime Avatar of Yesod: “The Foundation,” the lowest sephiroth in
Chaos. Yetzirah. It contains the Astral Plane and the Ima-
Outer Planes: Dimensions in Hod and Netzach. ginal Realms.
Pachad: “Strength/Justice,” a sephiroth in Briah, Yetzirah: The Formative World, the second-lowest
containing, among other dimensions, the Garden level of the Multiverse, containing the sephira
Of Earthly Delights. Yesod, Hod, and Netzach, as well as various demi-
planes and the like.
Pandemonium: The seat of government for the
Descending Hierarchy (q.v.). Yggdrasil: The Yetziratic dimension of plant life.
Parterres: The Imaginal Realms (q.v.). Zoas: The Prime Avatars (q.v.).
INDEX
Abyss, the .......................................9 Balthus .........................................74 Corelords .....................................61 EDM ........................................... see
Access (Perk) ...............................92 Balthus (dimension lord)...........64 Cosmic Cancer......................... 115 “Extra-Dimensional Movement”
Access To Briah Ban, the ..................................33, 61 Coyote ............................................8 Elvis ..............................................38
(Fringe Benefit).........................44 Baphomet ....................................26 Coyote ..........................................63 Elysium ..............................7, 30-34
Achaea ..........................................20 Beast, the ......................................98 Creative World ..............................6 Emerald City ...............................35
Achilles.........................................24 Beelzebub.....................................27 Crowns of Krim ..........................54 Emissaries
Advantages ..................................96 Belt Of Strength ..........................87 Cult of the Red Banner ..... 53, 143 (Tyrannon forms) .......... 116, 127
Agharti .........................................53 Benares .........................................35 Cults, generally............................53 Emperor of Babylon ...................38
Aging in Faerie............................23 Beulah ......................................8, 47 Cultural Hells Enhanced Senses (Power) .........92
Akashic Eye (spell) .....................80 Beyond Earth ..............................63 Curses in Faerie ..........................24 Enitharmon the Weaver .......47, 82
Alberich .................................24, 87 Bierce, Ambrose ..........................21 Cutthroat Carl’s ...........................14 Entuthon Benython, Forest of ...47
Alchemy .......................................72 Binah (Understanding) ................9 Cyberspace ..................................10 Environmental control of
Aleph ..............................................9 Bindings Of Bromion, The Cysts, Astral .................................14 Netherworld or Elysium ....28, 33
Alexander’s Gate .........................69 (spell) .........................................74 Da’ath .............................................9 Especially Powerful Spells .........84
All-Purpose Petty Obstacle Blasting Rod ................................87 Damned souls .............................27 Eternal Tulku, the .......................56
Warriors .................................. 112 Blessed souls ................................33 Dante’s Inferno ............................25 Ethical religions ........19, 22, 30, 61
All-Seeing Eye Of Blood Tide .....................................7 Dark Elves....................................20 Even Wilder West, the ................20
Skarn, The ............................... 114 Bone Children .......................... 143 Dark Renaissance .......................54 Extra-Dimensional
Allah .............................................33 Book Of Thoth ............................90 Dark Sea of Being .........................9 Movement (Power) ..................93
Allamanda ...................................47 Borrower’s Card Dark Seraph ................................54 Factions, in the Mystic World ...51
Alternate histories or Earths .....10 (Fringe Benefit).........................37 Death (Archetype/Avatar) ...........8 Fada’s Far Seeings (spell) ...........81
American occult republic ..........69 Botswana .....................................69 Death sites ...................................66 Faerie ..................................7, 19-24
Amitabha .....................................32 Brell ........................................... 109 Death’s Dominion ...................8, 45 Fairies ...........................................21
Amschaspands ............................32 Briah ...............................................8 Decreator .......................................9 Fairy stones and wells ................68
Angelic spirits .............................32 Bright Sea of Forms ......................9 Defense Spells .............................79 Faussesflames ..............................51
Anti-God, the ................................9 Bromion .................................43, 75 Deflecting Disk (spell) ...............79 Fighting Tyrannon .................. 137
Anubis ..........................................63 Bu Jing Suo ..................................26 Deity (Fringe Benefit) ................92 Fire Forms of Tyrannon ......... 129
Apep .......................................... 138 Buddha ...................................30, 33 Delth, Exalted ........................... 103 Flexible time in Faerie................22
Arcane Adversaries ........................4 Bugs Bunny .................................38 Demi-Planes ..................................8 Fluid Forms of Tyrannon ....... 130
Archetypal World .........................6 Burning Sky .................................74 Demigods ..............................33, 62 Fool’s Parliament, the .................40
Archetypes .....................................8 Byzanitum ...................................36 DEMON ................................53, 68 Forest of Entuthon Benython ...47
Archimago .................37, 54, 57, 68 Calendar Sites .............................66 Demonic animals........................27 Forest Swastika............................67
Archmage, the .............................57 Caliburn, Robert .........................58 Demonologist, the ................54, 58 Formative World ...........................6
Art, Prime Avatar of ...................47 Cambodia ....................................65 Demons, generally ......................27 Four Worlds ...................................6
Arthon....................................... 104 Carl ...............................................14 deMorphants .........................50-51 Four Zoas ......................................8
Artifacts .................................87-91 Carnival, in Babylon ...................40 Desceding Hierarchy............25, 27 Frask, Major-Domo ................. 103
Assiah .............................................6 Cassai (dimension lord) ............64 Devas ............................................33 Fringe Benefit: Deity .................92
Astaroth .......................................27 Cathedron ....................................47 Devil’s Advocates ..................54, 58 Fulten, John (Archimago)..........54
Astral Awareness.............11, 12, 93 Celestial Emperor .................30, 33 Devils, generally ..........................27 Futures Traders ...........................40
Astral Cysts..................................14 Cerulean Spells, The (spell) .......74 Dimensional (Sense Modifier) ..92 Futuropolis ..................................36
Astral Earth .................................13 Chaco Canyon.............................66 Dionysus ......................................63 Fuzon (dimension lord) .......64, 74
Astral Form (spell) .....................80 Chaos ...........................................19 Divine relics.................................62 Fuzonic Flames, The (spell) .......74
Astral Inhabitants .......................15 Chaos, Prime Avatar of ..............47 Divisions of the Lower Astral ...13 Gabriel..........................................32
Astral Plane .............................6, 11 Character Creation .....................92 Doctor’s Heaven..........................31 Galaxars .......................................61
Astral Travel ................................16 Charsadda, Queen ......................42 Dominions.....................................8 Gand, Herald ............................ 103
Astral World ..................................6 Cheiron’s Oak ..............................66 Dr. Saturn (Iranian superhero) .50 Garden of Eden ...........................31
Atavisms ......................................15 Chesed..........................................46 Dr. Scarab (Vibora Bay Garden Of Earthly Delights ..8, 46
Athens ..........................................35 Chesed (Greatness) ......................8 superhero) .................................60 Garm ............................................26
Attack Spells ................................73 Chinese hells ...............................29 Dragon Bound ......................... 141 General Nature............................11
Atziluth ..........................................9 Chokmah (Wisdom) ....................9 Dragon Incarnate..................... 143 Generation ...............................8, 47
Auschwitz ....................................65 Christ ...........................................33 Dragon, the ..............16, 23, 138-48 Genius Loci .................................59
Autocrats of Yong .......................42 Chronicls Of Antioch...................55 Dreamers .....................................15 Gentry, Lt. Mark ..........................60
Avalon ..........................................70 Chunhu, the ...........................50, 59 Dreamtime ..................................23 Ghost House ................................14
Avatars .....................................8, 61 Circle of the Scarlet Dreamzone, the ...........................13 Ghosts ....................................15, 59
Avian Forms of Tyrannon ...... 128 Moon, the ................51, 57, 67, 69 Dweomer .....................................58 Gilgamesh ....................................63
Azoic, Thanoro ......................57, 76 City of Man ............. see “Babylon” Dynasties, occult ...................50-51 Glaive ........................................ 112
Babylon, the City City of Pyramids ...........................8 Earth, Astral.................................13 Glossary .................................... 153
of Man..............................7, 35-40 City-States of Yong, the ..............42 Earth Forms of Tyrannon....... 129 GM’s Vault .....................................4
Bach, Dion ...................................63 Clan Ectol ....................................20 Earth, perceiving from the Gods .................................21, 33, 61
Baleful Bonds Of Balthus, Clavarn, Exalted ....................... 103 Astral Plane ...............................12 Gog ...............................................69
The (spell) ..................................73 Confucius ....................................30 Earths, alternate ..........................10 Golgonooza .............................8, 47
Balkans .........................................69 Congeries ............................ 98, 112 Eater Of Souls .......................... 115 Gourmet Heaven ........................31
Balloon Man ................................40 Conurbites ...................................37 Ectoplasm ....................................12 Great Powers ...............................30
156 ■ Index Hero System 5th Edition Revised
Grimoire of super-spells ......71-86 Larethian......................................76 Mount Olympus .........................20 Perceiving Earth from the
Halfbreed gods ............................62 Lawyer’s Heaven .........................31 Mount Ranier ..............................66 Astral Plane ...............................12
Harridans .................................. 112 Leading Candidates ....................58 Mulciber.......................................26 Perceiving the Astral Plane........11
Haunted Hero campaigns ..........18 Lesser Throne ........................... 122 Multiverse ................................6-10 Perks .............................................92
Heavenly Hosts ........................ 145 Ley lines .......................................68 Mundane Shell ..............................9 Personal Artifacts .......................88
Heavenly Jerusalem ....................31 Library of Babylon .....................36 Mystic people ..............................50 Personal hells ..............................25
Hecate ..........................................63 Liefeld, Cornelius ........................56 Mystic places ...............................65 Personal Magic Items .................87
Hela ..............................................26 Lightnings Of Larethian, Mystic Sense Group ...................92 Petty Obstacle Warriors .......... 112
Hell ................... see “Netherworld” The (spell) ..................................76 Mystic World, the..................49-70 Pinchwell cluster .........................42
Heroic and Superheroic Magic .72 Lights Of Luathon, The (spell) ..76 Mystics and super-mystics ........50 Places, mystic ..............................65
Hezbollah.....................................50 Limbo ...........................................11 Mystics, generally .................50, 72 Plane Of Numbers ..................8, 10
High Coven .................................51 Living art, in Babylon .................38 Mythological creatures...............21 Pocket Worlds .............................10
Hiroshima ....................................35 Living machines, in Babylon .....38 Nagas, the.................................. 149 Pop Heaven .................................31
Histories, alternate ......................10 Loezen ..............................41, 69, 75 Native Americans .......................20 Pop icons, in Babylon .................38
Hod (Glory/Splendor/ Loki...............................................26 Natural Sites ................................66 Popular heavens ..........................31
Fame) .....................................7, 42 London .........................................35 Nature, Prime Avatar of .............47 Power (Skill) ................................92
Holy Lance...................................90 Longevity in Faerie .....................23 Nature spirits ...............................21 Power Advantages.......................96
Humans Loom Of Space (spell) ...............85 Navigation (Skill) Powers ..........................................92
in Babylon .................................37 Lord of Secrets .......see “Kryptos” Generally ...................................92 Presley, Elvis ................................38
in Faerie .....................................22 Lords of Order, Nature, etc. .........8 Astral ....................................13, 16 Prime Avatars ................................8
Hunting Preserves, Skarn’s ..... 113 Lorelei ..........................................14 Dimensional ..............................12 Primum Mobile ............................9
Hussar ....................................... 111 Los Angeles..................................35 Necheshiron ................................78 Prince of Light ............................47
Hypnotic Helix (spell)................75 Los the Smith ..............................47 Netherworld, the ...............7, 25-29 Prose Edda ...................................26
Image-Projecting Mirror, Lower Astral Plane ...............11, 13 Netzach (Conquest/Victory/ Puerto Muerto ............................14
The ........................................... 114 Luathon ........................................76 Permanence) .........................7, 43 Pythagoras ...................................30
Imaginal Realms ...........................6 Luban ...........................................47 New Golgotha .............................15 Qliphothic Realms ..................9, 48
Imaginary People ........................15 Lucifuge Rofocale .......................26 New Jerusalem ............................35 Quantum Casino ........................10
Imaginary Places, on the Astral Lurly .............................................14 Nexus points..........................62, 68 Quaternion Banishment
Plane...........................................13 Luvah........................................8, 47 Niflheim .................................25, 26 (spell) .....................57, 84-85, 137
Imperial Palace ...........................36 Maeldun .......................................20 Nomarch Phase ...........................98 Quaternion Planes ..........................
Inferno, Dante’s ...........................25 Magambo, the..............................50 Noose Of Nioko, The (spell)... 105 see “Imaginal Realms”
Inhabitants of the Astral Plane .15 Magic items and artifacts ....87-91 Norom Barcaldine, the Quemetiel ......................................9
Inner Planes...................................7 Magic styles .................................72 Prince Who Never Was ............41 Quetzalcoatl ............................. 138
Insect Forms of Tyrannon ...... 130 Magical Power Sites ....................65 Numbers, Plane of ..................8, 10 Rakshasas.....................................27
Intelligent animals, in Bablyon .38 Magog ..........................................69 Nyssa Tarchaniotes .....................55 Rashindar ....................................58
Introduction ..................................4 Malkuth (the Kingdom) ........6, 41 O’Riordan, Xander .....................66 Realms of the Four Zoas ............46
Iron Imam ...................................54 Manaos.........................................66 Oberon .........................................22 Red Banner, Cult of the..... 53, 143
Iskari.............................................75 Manitous ......................................21 Occult dynasties....................50-51 Region Generator .................... 113
Iskarine Colors, The (spell) .......75 Mantle Of Mastery (spell) .........79 Octopoid Forms of Tyrannon 131 Relics, divine................................62
Istvatha V’han .............. 6, 100, 118 Mara .............................................63 Ogun ............................................63 Reptile Forms of Tyrannon .... 132
Jack the Ripper ............................38 Marduk ........................................63 Olm...............................................42 Rhinegold ..............................24, 91
Jainism .........................................30 Maskim ........................................27 Olympians ...................................20 Roche Building ...........................67
Jannat ...........................................31 Material World ..............................6 Onyx Kingdom ...........................20 Rock Candy Mountain...............32
Jehovah ........................................33 McFarlane, Bocal ........................56 Ophite ....................................... 148 Rome ............................................35
Jerusalem .....................................35 Mecca ...........................................35 Orc ................................................47 Ronald McDonald ......................38
Jormunrek ...................................87 Megingjord ..................................87 Order of the Fly ..........................27 Rookeries .....................................37
Kae Linn, the .......................135-37 Men In Plaid ................................40 Order, Prime Avatar of ...............47 Sacred One, the ...........................41
Kayvan .........................................50 Mental World ................................6 Orom ................................... 98, 113 Sacrifices ......................................62
Kayvanzadi, the ...........................50 Mephistopheles .....................27, 63 Osaka............................................35 Saffron Spheres, The (spell) .......76
Kennedy, John F. .........................38 MeteorMan ..................................66 Other Mystical Creatures ..........59 Sages .............................................33
Kether (the Crown) ......................9 Microverses .................................10 Ouroboros ................................ 143 Saints ............................................33
Khalseran, Dr...............................60 Middle Astral Plane ....................11 Outer Planes ............................7, 11 San Francisco ..............................35
King Cobra ............................... 140 Midgard Serpent .............. 138, 141 Oz .................................................35 Saturn-Born, the .........................50
Kings of Edom ..........53-54, 68, 90 Millworks of Bromion ...............43 P’eng-lai..................................30, 32 Scarlet Moon, Circle of the ........51
Klek-T-Kak, Commander....... 103 Mim ..............................................87 Pachad (Strength/Justice) ......8, 46 Scepter Of Night, the..................90
Koriol (dimension lord) ......64, 75 Mind Scan, in Babylon ...............39 Palace, Skarn’s ........................... 114 Scintallant Suns Of Saravane, The
Koriol’s Crimson Crystals Minds, as dimensions .................10 Pandemonium ............................25 (spell) .........................................77
(spell) .........................................75 Minions of Tyrannon .............. 133 Pantheon realms .........................19 Secret societies, in Babylon .......39
Krim .............................................55 Miscellaneous Dimensions .......41 Paper Lady ...................................60 Sensory, Movement, and Miscella-
Krypticon..........................57, 88-89 Money, in Bablyon ......................39 Paradise Lost ................................25 neous ..........................................80
Kryptos (Archetype/Avatar) .......8 Monsters ......................................21 Parterres .... see “Imaginal Realms” Sephirothic Tree of Life ...............6
Labyrinth of Greed .....................26 Morningstar ................................53 Parthenon, the .............................12 Set .................................................63
Lady of the Dreamful Caves......64 Mother Gothel ............................24 Pax Arcana (spell).......................82 Seven Heavens ............................30
Land Of Legends ........ see “Faerie” Mount Fuji ...................................66 Pelferlost ......................................42 Shadow Cabinet, the ...................39
Lao Tzu ..................................30, 33 Mount Mulciber ................... XX People, mystic ..............................50
The Mystic World 157