Fate: Age of Scions
A Scion courts Lady Fate by Saint Heun
The world is on the brink of war.
To the south, the last great human kingdom is under siege by the marauding armies of the new vampire nation. To the west, the savage black orcs make their final preparations to assault both the half-giants of the north and the underground empire of their shorter cousins. And to the east, a long forgotten demon gate has now come back to life, flooding a vulnerable world with unspeakable horrors and nightmares.
This is the dawn of a new age. An age where the fate of nations will be decided by the blade's edge of heroes and villains -- this is the age of the Scions of Fate.
The Plot
Spoiler
The darkness has always been here. Watching jealousy. Waiting for the time to rise.
A thousand years ago, the last scion did battle with the endless shadow -- and lost. With her dying breathe, she was able to push back the tide of horrors but sank a continent to do so, forever cursing her children.
We have not learned from that defeat.
I love this world and every day I see it sinking further into madness. The time soon comes when my song will end. A song I have heard countless times play across the lips of friends and allies.
And with each song's end, I die. With every roaring note and verse that comes to an end, I die a little more each time. And the more I die, the harder I fight.
This world may be doomed to fail and it's people corrupt to their core, but I won't let it all end without blood and tears.
I have sat wondering in ash, rotting and hungry. Wondering how it is that my beloved friends could so easily betray me for shallow promises of wealth and riches.
They should have killed me when they had the chance. And then cut off my head just to be sure.
Now with spell, sword and bow, I will cover their world in eternal darkness. They call me the Black Queen, the Grey Witch. They say I am mad because I have burned down their villages and warmed my hands in the fires.
I merely seek justice for the wrongs committed against me so long ago.
They say the gods will curse me but I fear no judgement, and feel no shame or regret. I am death who rides upon the pale horse.
And I will not stop until everyone knows my pain.
You are a Scion of Fate, a child of destiny! Within you flows the power to change the world. Whether that be for good or ill, only you can decide. Your life in this world is one of the few without a predetermined end. This power also allows you to alter the fate of others, turning simple NPCs into powerful companions and more.
Kal'Avto.
The darkness has always been here. Watching jealousy. Waiting for the time to rise.
A thousand years ago, the last scion did battle with the endless shadow -- and lost. With her dying breathe, she was able to push back the tide of horrors but sank a continent to do so, forever cursing her children.
We have not learned from that defeat.
I love this world and every day I see it sinking further into madness. The time soon comes when my song will end. A song I have heard countless times play across the lips of friends and allies.
And with each song's end, I die. With every roaring note and verse that comes to an end, I die a little more each time. And the more I die, the harder I fight.
This world may be doomed to fail and it's people corrupt to their core, but I won't let it all end without blood and tears.
-- Scion Thora, The Paragon of Salvation
I have sat wondering in ash, rotting and hungry. Wondering how it is that my beloved friends could so easily betray me for shallow promises of wealth and riches.
They should have killed me when they had the chance. And then cut off my head just to be sure.
Now with spell, sword and bow, I will cover their world in eternal darkness. They call me the Black Queen, the Grey Witch. They say I am mad because I have burned down their villages and warmed my hands in the fires.
I merely seek justice for the wrongs committed against me so long ago.
They say the gods will curse me but I fear no judgement, and feel no shame or regret. I am death who rides upon the pale horse.
And I will not stop until everyone knows my pain.
-- Scion Theresa, The Witch Queen
You are a Scion of Fate, a child of destiny! Within you flows the power to change the world. Whether that be for good or ill, only you can decide. Your life in this world is one of the few without a predetermined end. This power also allows you to alter the fate of others, turning simple NPCs into powerful companions and more.
The Character Sheet
Spoiler
Each scion begins their story by first filling in a character sheet. A character sheet contains everything we need to know about your character such as their skills, personality, significant background elements, and any other resources your character has at their disposal.
Picture: A picture of your character.
Name: A word or a combination of words by which your character is known within the world.
Description: A short sentence describing your character.
Personality: A few words describing your character's personality.
Age: How old your character is.
Gender: The sex of your character.
Height: How tall your character is.
Level: The current level of your character. For the prologue, all players will start at level one.
Fate Points: The OOC currency scions spend to help their character overcome challenges, or to buy Stunts.
Refresh Rating: Your default fate point total. Increases with your character's level.
Species: One of the playable “races” in the game.
Profession: Your character's class and their armor grade (heavy, medium or light armor).
Aspects: Five phrases picked from your character's biography that you can spend fate points on in the game for a small bonus.
Biography: Your journey/history up until this point.
Skills: Your character’s basic capabilities, picked ftom the Skill List.
Stunts: Special moves that your character can use.
Extras: Anything that’s technically part of your character (or controlled by your character) but gets special treatment in the rules.
Stress: One of the two options you have to avoid getting killed in AoS (death is permanent). Stress represents temporary fatigue, getting winded, superficial injuries, and so on.
Injury: Injuries are the other option but unlike Stress, they have a
more lasting impact. After challenges or battles, stress can quickly fade away after one or two posts (also called turns). An injury on the other hand may last until the next story arc, depending in the severity of the injury.
Relationships: The name of your friends/enemies and a short description of your relationship with them.
The Character Sheets in Action.
Picture: A picture of your character.
Name: A word or a combination of words by which your character is known within the world.
Description: A short sentence describing your character.
Personality: A few words describing your character's personality.
Age: How old your character is.
Gender: The sex of your character.
Height: How tall your character is.
Level: The current level of your character. For the prologue, all players will start at level one.
Fate Points: The OOC currency scions spend to help their character overcome challenges, or to buy Stunts.
Refresh Rating: Your default fate point total. Increases with your character's level.
Species: One of the playable “races” in the game.
Profession: Your character's class and their armor grade (heavy, medium or light armor).
Aspects: Five phrases picked from your character's biography that you can spend fate points on in the game for a small bonus.
Biography: Your journey/history up until this point.
Skills: Your character’s basic capabilities, picked ftom the Skill List.
Stunts: Special moves that your character can use.
Extras: Anything that’s technically part of your character (or controlled by your character) but gets special treatment in the rules.
Stress: One of the two options you have to avoid getting killed in AoS (death is permanent). Stress represents temporary fatigue, getting winded, superficial injuries, and so on.
Injury: Injuries are the other option but unlike Stress, they have a
more lasting impact. After challenges or battles, stress can quickly fade away after one or two posts (also called turns). An injury on the other hand may last until the next story arc, depending in the severity of the injury.
Relationships: The name of your friends/enemies and a short description of your relationship with them.
The Character Sheets in Action.
Spoiler
Landon, The Blade
Cynere Shadowpaw
Zird, The Arcane
Spoiler
Name & Description
Landon, The Blade. A rough-mannered swordsman covered in scars and ragged-looking clothing.
Personality
Landon is the very model of the grizzled badass, with an overclocked killer instinct and a genuine taste for deadly violence. He thrives on being challenged and surviving difficult odds to the point that he has difficulty adjusting to situations that can’t be summed up as “kill or be killed”.
His favourite memories are of situations so tense and deadly that he was the only thing left standing on the battlefield, with foes and friends all having died in the fighting. He’s actually interested in quasi-suicidal and impossible-looking missions as ways to push himself and his skills.
Age: 89 yrs., Gender: Male, Height: 5'1 ft., Level: ???
Fate Points: 3, Refresh Rating: 3, Species: Maymoon
Profession
Ronin (light armor): A blademaster who has discarded his armor and his honour, seeing them only as weaknesses that limit his true potential as a warrior.
Aspects
- "Disciple of the Red Fang."
- "The Manners of a Goat."
- "I Owe Elder Qu'Finn Everything."
- "Smashing Is Always an Option."
- "An Eye for an Eye."
Biography
Little is know about this wild man and his aspects remain a mystery to discover as the story progresses.
Skills
+5 Fighter
+4 Duelist, +4 Brawler
+3 Shadow
+2 Renegade, +2 Entertainer
+1 Blacksmith, +1 Marksman, +1 Con Artist, +1 Prodigy
Stunts
I Have Stories to Tell. Gain a bonus to your Entertainer, starting at +2, if your drinking with someone in a tavern.
Backup Weapon. Once per battle, whenever someone succeeds at disarming you, you can switch to your backup weapon. Your opponent gains an advantage, starting at +2, that represents the momentary distraction you suffer for having to switch.
Total Badass. Once per story arc you can reduce the severity of a moderate physical injury to a mild physical injury, or erase a mild physical injury entirely at the cost of a fate point.
Extras
Twin Katanas.
Physical Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
0/3 Severe
Mental Stress
0/1 Mild
Injuries
0/2 Mild
0/4 Moderate
0/6 Severe
Relationships
Cynere Shadowpaw. "She's a good time with a lousy taste in men."
Zird, The Arcane. "Never trust a man with soft hands."
"Life is a dark forest where beasts must kill to live. In such a world, it is better to be a tiger than a man." -- Landon
Name & Description
Landon, The Blade. A rough-mannered swordsman covered in scars and ragged-looking clothing.
Personality
Landon is the very model of the grizzled badass, with an overclocked killer instinct and a genuine taste for deadly violence. He thrives on being challenged and surviving difficult odds to the point that he has difficulty adjusting to situations that can’t be summed up as “kill or be killed”.
His favourite memories are of situations so tense and deadly that he was the only thing left standing on the battlefield, with foes and friends all having died in the fighting. He’s actually interested in quasi-suicidal and impossible-looking missions as ways to push himself and his skills.
Age: 89 yrs., Gender: Male, Height: 5'1 ft., Level: ???
Fate Points: 3, Refresh Rating: 3, Species: Maymoon
Profession
Ronin (light armor): A blademaster who has discarded his armor and his honour, seeing them only as weaknesses that limit his true potential as a warrior.
Aspects
- "Disciple of the Red Fang."
- "The Manners of a Goat."
- "I Owe Elder Qu'Finn Everything."
- "Smashing Is Always an Option."
- "An Eye for an Eye."
Biography
Little is know about this wild man and his aspects remain a mystery to discover as the story progresses.
Skills
+5 Fighter
+4 Duelist, +4 Brawler
+3 Shadow
+2 Renegade, +2 Entertainer
+1 Blacksmith, +1 Marksman, +1 Con Artist, +1 Prodigy
Stunts
I Have Stories to Tell. Gain a bonus to your Entertainer, starting at +2, if your drinking with someone in a tavern.
Backup Weapon. Once per battle, whenever someone succeeds at disarming you, you can switch to your backup weapon. Your opponent gains an advantage, starting at +2, that represents the momentary distraction you suffer for having to switch.
Total Badass. Once per story arc you can reduce the severity of a moderate physical injury to a mild physical injury, or erase a mild physical injury entirely at the cost of a fate point.
Extras
Twin Katanas.
Physical Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
0/3 Severe
Mental Stress
0/1 Mild
Injuries
0/2 Mild
0/4 Moderate
0/6 Severe
Relationships
Cynere Shadowpaw. "She's a good time with a lousy taste in men."
Zird, The Arcane. "Never trust a man with soft hands."
Cynere Shadowpaw
Spoiler
Name & Description
Cynere Shadowpaw. An honorable assassin with fast blades.
Personality
Assassination is her business. At the age of only 10 yrs., Cynere made her first kill. And at the age of 12, she had her first solo kill. To her way of thinking however, she's never murdered anyone. She kills only to defend herself or her friends, or to fulfill a licensed contract -- none of which she considers to be murder. Other than her love for weapons and jewellery, Cynere is only obsessed with two things: efficiency, and avenging her mother's murder.
Age: 23 yrs., Gender: Female, Height: 6'3 ft., Level: ???
Fate Points: 3, Refresh Rating: 3, Species: Aslandi
Profession
Assassin (medium armor): Swift and deadly, an Assassin protects the balance in society by taking out justice against those who view themselves as above the law. Because of this, many Assassins take their job very seriously.
Aspects
- "Infamous Girl with Sword Troubles."
- "Tempted by Shiny Things."
- "I’ve Got Zird’s Back."
- "A Sucker for a Sob Story."
- "Secret Sister of Barathar."
Biography
An assassin for hire with a past shrouded in lies and half truthes. The only thing that we know for sure is that she is the leader of her little group.
Skills
+5 Duelist
+4 Keen Eyes, +4 Fighter
+3 Con Artist
+2 Investigative Mind, +2 Brawler
+1 Smuggler, +1 Alchemist, +1 Burglar, +1 Paragon
Stunts
Warmaster. Gain a bonus to your Fighter rolls, starting at +2, to create an advantage against your opponent -- provided the opponent has a fighting style or a weakness you previously observed with your skill, Keen Eyes.
The Catwoman. You can use your Duelist skill in place of your Burglar skill for all overcome actions that have to do with stealing, provided you don’t have to bypass a lock or interact with any other security measures.
Danger Sense. You have an almost preternatural capacity for detecting danger. Your Keen Eyes skill works unimpeded by conditions like total concealment, darkness, or other sensory impairments in situations where someone or something intends to harm you.
Extras
????
Physical Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
Mental Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
Injuries
0/2 Mild
0/4 Moderate
0/6 Severe
Relationships
Landon, The Blade. "A typical maymoon if there ever was one -- loud, drunk most days, and only good for killing things weaker than himself."
Zird, The Arcane. "A coward at best but creative where it counts."
"Die with honor and you will be given a place of honor in the afterlife." -- Cynere
Name & Description
Cynere Shadowpaw. An honorable assassin with fast blades.
Personality
Assassination is her business. At the age of only 10 yrs., Cynere made her first kill. And at the age of 12, she had her first solo kill. To her way of thinking however, she's never murdered anyone. She kills only to defend herself or her friends, or to fulfill a licensed contract -- none of which she considers to be murder. Other than her love for weapons and jewellery, Cynere is only obsessed with two things: efficiency, and avenging her mother's murder.
Age: 23 yrs., Gender: Female, Height: 6'3 ft., Level: ???
Fate Points: 3, Refresh Rating: 3, Species: Aslandi
Profession
Assassin (medium armor): Swift and deadly, an Assassin protects the balance in society by taking out justice against those who view themselves as above the law. Because of this, many Assassins take their job very seriously.
Aspects
- "Infamous Girl with Sword Troubles."
- "Tempted by Shiny Things."
- "I’ve Got Zird’s Back."
- "A Sucker for a Sob Story."
- "Secret Sister of Barathar."
Biography
An assassin for hire with a past shrouded in lies and half truthes. The only thing that we know for sure is that she is the leader of her little group.
Skills
+5 Duelist
+4 Keen Eyes, +4 Fighter
+3 Con Artist
+2 Investigative Mind, +2 Brawler
+1 Smuggler, +1 Alchemist, +1 Burglar, +1 Paragon
Stunts
Warmaster. Gain a bonus to your Fighter rolls, starting at +2, to create an advantage against your opponent -- provided the opponent has a fighting style or a weakness you previously observed with your skill, Keen Eyes.
The Catwoman. You can use your Duelist skill in place of your Burglar skill for all overcome actions that have to do with stealing, provided you don’t have to bypass a lock or interact with any other security measures.
Danger Sense. You have an almost preternatural capacity for detecting danger. Your Keen Eyes skill works unimpeded by conditions like total concealment, darkness, or other sensory impairments in situations where someone or something intends to harm you.
Extras
????
Physical Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
Mental Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
Injuries
0/2 Mild
0/4 Moderate
0/6 Severe
Relationships
Landon, The Blade. "A typical maymoon if there ever was one -- loud, drunk most days, and only good for killing things weaker than himself."
Zird, The Arcane. "A coward at best but creative where it counts."
Zird, The Arcane
Spoiler
Name & Description
Zird, The Arcane. Wizard for Hire.
Personality
Despite his imposing and dark appearance, Zird is a half-loyal friend and semi-honest ally who enjoys studying ancient tomes as much as he enjoys exotic partners and rare alcohols.
As a supposed master of seduction (and the arcane), Zird blatantly flirts with most males or females despite his 'relationship' with Cynere. He is typically undeterred by anything short of a firm and clear rejection of his advances, or a very large husband suddenly returning home unexpectedly. Overall, he enjoys playful innuendo and being asked about his many exploits.
Age: 113 yrs., Gender: Male, Height: 6'6 ft., Level: ???
Fate Points: 3, Refresh Rating: 3, Species: Unducdecim
Profession
Wizard (light armor): A magical duelist who wields the elements and deception as a weapon. They have a spell for every occasion and excel at making sure that every fight is balanced in their favor.
Aspects
- "Former Member of the Collegia Arcana."
- "If I Haven’t Been There, I’ve Read About It."
- "Not the Face!"
- "Doesn’t Suffer Fools Gladly."
- "Where's the Nearest Brothel?"
Biography
Zird loves to talk and tells many tales, but spend enough time around him and you'll realize - if you're smart enough - that most of what he says are untrue.
Skills
+5 Sage
+4 Con Artist, +4 Enchanter
+3 Duelist, +3 Prodigy, +3 Investigative Mind
+2 Fighter, +2 Merchant, +2 Smuggler, +2 Keen Eyes
Stunts
A Scholar and A Healer. Can make physical recovery attempts using the Sage skill.
The Power of Deduction. Once per story arc you can spend a fate point (and two posts dedicated to making observations) to make a special Investigative Mind roll representing your potent deductive faculties. After that, you may discover or create an aspect for each bonus you received on that roll, on either the scene or the target of your observations, though you may only activate one of them for free. The rest will require a fate point.
"I’ve Read about That!" You’ve read hundreds - if not thousands - of books on a wide variety of topics. You can spend a fate point to use the Sage skill in place of any other skill for one roll or exchange, provided you can justify having read about the action you’re attempting.
Extras
????
Physical Stress
0/1 Mild
Mental Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
0/3 Severe
Injuries
0/2 Mild
0/4 Moderate
0/6 Severe
Relationships
Landon, The Blade. "I'd be angry all the time too, if I were that short."
Cynere Shadowpaw. "Who needs a fur blanket with her around."
"I think that plant just licked it's lips at me." -- Zird
Name & Description
Zird, The Arcane. Wizard for Hire.
Personality
Despite his imposing and dark appearance, Zird is a half-loyal friend and semi-honest ally who enjoys studying ancient tomes as much as he enjoys exotic partners and rare alcohols.
As a supposed master of seduction (and the arcane), Zird blatantly flirts with most males or females despite his 'relationship' with Cynere. He is typically undeterred by anything short of a firm and clear rejection of his advances, or a very large husband suddenly returning home unexpectedly. Overall, he enjoys playful innuendo and being asked about his many exploits.
Age: 113 yrs., Gender: Male, Height: 6'6 ft., Level: ???
Fate Points: 3, Refresh Rating: 3, Species: Unducdecim
Profession
Wizard (light armor): A magical duelist who wields the elements and deception as a weapon. They have a spell for every occasion and excel at making sure that every fight is balanced in their favor.
Aspects
- "Former Member of the Collegia Arcana."
- "If I Haven’t Been There, I’ve Read About It."
- "Not the Face!"
- "Doesn’t Suffer Fools Gladly."
- "Where's the Nearest Brothel?"
Biography
Zird loves to talk and tells many tales, but spend enough time around him and you'll realize - if you're smart enough - that most of what he says are untrue.
Skills
+5 Sage
+4 Con Artist, +4 Enchanter
+3 Duelist, +3 Prodigy, +3 Investigative Mind
+2 Fighter, +2 Merchant, +2 Smuggler, +2 Keen Eyes
Stunts
A Scholar and A Healer. Can make physical recovery attempts using the Sage skill.
The Power of Deduction. Once per story arc you can spend a fate point (and two posts dedicated to making observations) to make a special Investigative Mind roll representing your potent deductive faculties. After that, you may discover or create an aspect for each bonus you received on that roll, on either the scene or the target of your observations, though you may only activate one of them for free. The rest will require a fate point.
"I’ve Read about That!" You’ve read hundreds - if not thousands - of books on a wide variety of topics. You can spend a fate point to use the Sage skill in place of any other skill for one roll or exchange, provided you can justify having read about the action you’re attempting.
Extras
????
Physical Stress
0/1 Mild
Mental Stress
0/1 Mild
0/2 Moderate
0/3 Severe
Injuries
0/2 Mild
0/4 Moderate
0/6 Severe
Relationships
Landon, The Blade. "I'd be angry all the time too, if I were that short."
Cynere Shadowpaw. "Who needs a fur blanket with her around."
Edited by Obsession, 23 February 2015 - 11:34 PM.