the failing character receives a Consolation.
This is a minor
benefit that doesn’t exactly give the character what she
wants, but advances the group’s interests somehow.
CONSOLATION
A Consolation is a helpful, but minor, side effect of fail-
ure, which the Storyguide can use to keep the game moving.
The simplest type of Consolation is Momentum, a resource
which players can later spend for a variety of effects. Other
Consolations are listed below:
• Fateful Encounter. Failure reveals another approach
to the character’s goals, through new information or
sheer coincidence. For example, a failed lockpicker
might overhear gossip about the new ventilation
system.
• Chance Meeting. Failure introduces a new character
who can offer help or information, though perhaps
at a price. For example, a character fails to endure
the ravages of poison, but wakes in the care of a sew-
er-dwelling hag with her own agenda.
• Unlooked-for Advantage. Failure results in a level 1
Enhancement to a future challenge, though it can’t ben-
efit a second attempt at the same goal. For example, a
character fails to land a vicious strike, but their dazzling
form wins the admiration of a watching asura prince.
MOMENTUM
The force of destiny gathers behind heroes, and is
represented by Momentum. This is a resource that players
can spend to affect the game on a dramatic level. The char-
acters themselves aren’t normally aware of Momentum, but
instead put its effects down to Fate or good luck. Momentum
is stored in a single pool shared by all players (called the
Momentum pool), which can hold up to (twice the number
of players) at a time. Whenever a player receives Momentum
as a Consolation, she adds 1 Momentum to this pool.
Momentum can activate Knacks (cool, epic things
characters can do that make other people drop their jaws),
add dice equal to Momentum used to a dice pool, or enable
additional attempts at complex actions (p. XX).
All players can spend Momentum in the following ways:
WHAT GRANTS
MOMENTUM
• Consolation from a failed roll: 1
• Failed Specialty: +1
• Botch: +2
Certain Knacks, divine relics, or Purviews
can additionally grant Momentum to the pool.
See Scion: Hero for details.
70 CHAPTER TWO: STORYPATH SYSTEM
MOMENTUM
AND VIRTUES
Scions and mortals known as saints possess
a trait called Virtue, powerful polar forces of
attitude that suffuse and define the pantheons.
The Æsir, for example, are defined by their
Audacity and their Fatalism; every Æsir is
doomed to die, yet is not the greatest heroism to
be found in the darkest of moments? The Netjer,
by contrast, are consumed with Balance and
Justice; they are concerned with the proper and
orderly flow of the world, yet all things demand
an accounting.
Virtues are represented mechanically by a
track with a trait on either side. When a Scion,
God, or other being with the track takes an
action in line with one of their Virtues, they
slide on the track closer to that trait, and any
Momentum spent out of the Momentum pool to
add dice to that roll results in bonus dice added.
Example: Vera is playing Sigrun, a Scion
of Loki. As an Æsir Scion, she possesses the
Virtues of Audacity and Fatalism. Vera decides
to add Momentum to a roll to defiantly attack
some support beams in defiance of a witch’s
curse on her destiny, collapsing a flaming
temple on her ice giant opponent; she receives
bonus dice to the roll.
Saints and Origin Virtues are covered
elsewhere; see p. XX. For more on Virtues, see
Scion: Hero, p. XX.
• Add Dice. A player can spend 1 Momentum per die
to add a single die to a dice pool, before it is rolled.
This dice pool can belong to any player, or even a
Storyguide character. This is with the agreement of
the table; if a player wants to spend Momentum, they
must share their idea with the table. If every player
agrees, the Momentum is spent.
• Add Interval. A player can spend 3 Momentum to
add another interval to a complex action, giving the
characters more time in which to work.
• Activate Knacks. If a player has a Knack that re-
quires spending Momentum, they may spend it. They
don’t need another player’s say-so.
BOTCH
An especially bad failure is called a botch. This occurs
when a character rolls no successes at all, and at least one
of their dice shows a 1. When a character botches, they
fail to achieve their goal, and they also suffer an additional
setback. A botched attack not only misses, it slips the char-
acter’s weapon from her grip. A botched escape gets her
both captured and injured. The only Consolation players