Cairn System Reference Document (v.1.0)

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Cairn is an adventure game for one facilitator (the Warden) and at least one other player. Players act as hardened adventurers exploring a dark & mysterious Wood filled with strange folk, hidden treasure, and unspeakable monstrosities.

Table of contents

Overview

Cairn was written with the following design philosophies in mind:

Neutrality

The Warden’s role is to portray the rules, situations, NPCs, and narrative clearly, while acting as a neutral arbiter.

Classless

A character’s role or skills are not limited by a single class. Instead, the equipment they carry and their experiences define their specialty.

Death

Characters may be powerful, but they are also vulnerable to harm in its many forms. Death is always around the corner, but it is never random or without warning.

Fiction First

Dice do not always reflect an obstacle’s difficulty or its outcome. Instead, success and failure are arbitrated by the Warden in dialogue with the players, based on in-world elements.

Growth

Characters are changed through in-world advancement, gaining new skills and abilities by surviving dangerous events and overcoming obstacles.

Player Choice

Players should always understand the reasons behind the choices they’ve made, and information about potential risks should be provided freely and frequently.

Principles

The Warden and the players each have guidelines that help foster a specific play experience defined by critical thinking, exploration, and an emergent narrative.

Shared Objectives

Players trust one another to engage with the shared setting, character goals, and party challenges. Therefore, the party is typically working together towards a common goal, as a team.

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Principles for Wardens

Information

  • Provide useful information about the game world as the characters explore it.
  • Players do not need to roll dice to learn about their circumstances.
  • Be helpful and direct with your answers to their questions.
  • Respond honestly, describe consistently, and always let them know they can keep asking questions.

Difficulty

  • Default to context and realism rather than numbers and mechanics.
  • If something the players want to do is sincerely impossible, no roll will allow them to do it.
  • Is what the player describes and how they leverage the situation sensible? Let it happen.
  • Saves cover a great deal of uncertain situations and are often all that is necessary for risky actions.

Preparation

  • The game world is organic, malleable and random. It intuits and makes sharp turns.
  • Use random tables and generators to develop situations, not stories or plots.
  • NPCs remember what the PCs say and do, and how they affect the world.
  • NPCs don’t want to die. Infuse their own self-interest and will to live into every personality.

Narrative Focus

  • Emergent experience of play is what matters, not math or character abilities. Give the players weapon trainers and personal quests to facilitate improvement and specialization.
  • Pay attention to the needs and wants of the players, then put realistic opportunities in their path.
  • A dagger to your throat will kill you, regardless of your expensive armor and impressive training.

Danger

  • The game world produces real risk of pain and death for the player characters.
  • Telegraph serious danger to players when it is present. The more dangerous, the more obvious.
  • Put traps in plain sight and let the players take time to figure out a solution.
  • Give players opportunities to solve problems and interact with the world.

Treasure

  • A Treasure is specific to the environment from where it is recovered. It tells a story.
  • Treasure is highly valuable, almost always bulky, and rarely useful beyond its worth and prestige.
  • Relics are not Treasure, though they are useful and interesting.
  • Use Treasure as a lure to exotic locations under the protection of intimidating foes.

Choice

  • Give players a solid choice to force outcomes when the situation lulls.
  • Use binary “so, A or B?” responses when their intentions are vague.
  • Work together using this conversational method to keep the game moving.
  • Ensure that the player character’s actions leave their mark on the game world.

Die of Fate

  • Occasionally you will want an element of randomness (e.g. the weather, unique character knowledge, etc.).
  • In these situations, roll 1d6. A roll of 4 or more generally favors the players.
  • A roll of 3 or under tends to mean bad luck for the PCs or their allies.

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Principles for Players

Agency

  • Attributes and related saves do not define your character. They are tools.
  • Don’t ask only what your character would do, ask what you would do, too.
  • Be creative with your intuition, items, and connections.

Teamwork

  • Seek consensus from the other players before barreling forward.
  • Stay on the same page about goals and limits, respecting each other and accomplishing more as a group than alone.

Exploration

  • Asking questions and listening to detail is more useful than any stats, items, or skills you have.
  • Take the Warden’s description without suspicion, but don’t shy away from seeking more information.
  • There is no single correct way forward.

Talking

  • Treat NPCs as if they were real people, and rely on your curiosity to safely gain information and solve problems.
  • You’ll find that most people are interesting and will want to talk things through before getting violent.

Caution

  • Fighting is a choice and rarely a wise one; consider whether violence is the best way to achieve your goals.
  • Try to stack the odds in your favor and retreat when things seem unfavorable.

Planning

  • Think of ways to avoid your obstacles through reconnaissance, subtlety, and fact-finding.
  • Do some research and ask around about your objectives.

Ambition

  • Set goals and use your meager means to take steps forward.
  • Expect nothing. Earn your reputation.
  • Keep things moving forward and play to see what happens.

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Character Creation

Name, Background & Traits

First, choose or roll your PC’s name and background from their respective tables. A PC’s background informs their potential knowledge and skills.

Next, roll for the rest of your character’s traits (appearance, speech, mannerisms, beliefs, reputation, etc.) on the Character Traits tables.

Finally, roll for their age (2d20+10).

Ability Scores

Player Characters (PCs) have just three attributes:
Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), and Willpower (WIL). When creating a PC, the player should roll 3d6 for each of their character’s ability scores, in order. They may then swap any two of the results.

Expand For Example

Ines rolls for her character’s STR, resulting in a 2, a 4, and a 6, totaling 12. The next two ability rolls result in a 9 for DEX and a 13 for WIL. She decides to swap the 12 and the 9, for a character with 9 STR, 12 DEX and 13 WIL.

Hit Protection

Roll 1d6 to determine your PC’s starting Hit Protection (HP), which reflects their ability to avoid damage in combat. HP does not indicate a character’s health or fortitude; nor do they lose it for very long (see Healing). If an attack takes a PC’s HP exactly to 0, the player must roll on the Scars table.

Inventory

Characters have a total of 10 inventory slots: a backpack with six slots, one slot for each hand, and two slots for their upper body (such as the belt, chest, or head). The backpack can also double as an emergency sleeping bag but only if emptied of its contents.

Most items take up one slot, and small items can be bundled together. Slots are abstract and can be rearranged per the Warden’s discretion.

Bulky items take up two slots and are typically two-handed or awkward to carry. Anyone carrying a full inventory (i.e. filling all 10 slots) is reduced to 0 HP.

A PC cannot carry more items than their inventory allows. Carts (which must be pulled with both hands), horses, or mules can increase inventory. Hirelings can also be paid to carry equipment.

Starting Gear

All PCs begin with:

  • Three days’ rations (one slot)
  • A torch (one slot)
  • 3d6 gold pieces

Roll once on each of the Starting Gear tables to determine your PC’s armor, weapons, tools, and equipment. If indicated, roll on the Spellbooks table with a d100 (or roll 2d10, using one die as the ones place, and the other as the tens place). Pick only one item for each result.

See the Equipment List for related armor, damage, and slot values. Smaller items can sometimes be bundled together into one slot.

If you would like something closer to traditional classes, refer to the list of Optional Gear Packages.

Name & Background (d20)

Female Names

               
1 Agune 6 Drelil 11 Lirann 16 Sybil
2 Beatrice 7 Elgile 12 Lirathil 17 Theune
3 Breagan 8 Esme 13 Lisabeth 18 Wenain
4 Bronwyn 9 Griya 14 Moralil 19 Ygwal
5 Cannora 10 Henaine 15 Morgwen 20 Yslen

Male Names

               
1 Arwel 6 Breglor 11 Grinwit 16 Melnax
2 Bevan 7 Canhoreal 12 Gruwid 17 Orthax
3 Boroth 8 Emrys 13 Gruwth 18 Triunein
4 Borrid 9 Ethex 14 Gwestin 19 Wenlan
5 Breagle 10 Gringle 15 Mannog 20 Yirmeor

Surnames

               
1 Abernathy 6 Crumwaller 11 Harper 16 Swinney
2 Addercap 7 Dunswallow 12 Loomer 17 Thatcher
3 Burl 8 Getri 13 Malksmilk 18 Tolmen
4 Candlewick 9 Glass 14 Smythe 19 Weaver
5 Cormick 10 Harkness 15 Sunderman 20 Wolder

Background

               
1 Alchemist 6 Cleric 11 Magician 16 Performer
2 Blacksmith 7 Gambler 12 Mercenary 17 Pickpocket
3 Burglar 8 Gravedigger 13 Merchant 18 Smuggler
4 Butcher 9 Herbalist 14 Miner 19 Servant
5 Carpenter 10 Hunter 15 Outlaw 20 Ranger

Character Traits (d10)

Physique

       
1 Athletic 6 Scrawny
2 Brawny 7 Short
3 Flabby 8 Statuesque
4 Lanky 9 Stout
5 Rugged 10 Towering

Skin

       
1 Birthmark 6 Round
2 Dark 7 Soft
3 Elongated 8 Tanned
4 Pockmarked 9 Tattooed
5 Rosy 10 Weathered

Hair

       
1 Bald 6 Long
2 Braided 7 Luxurious
3 Curly 8 Oily
4 Filthy 9 Wavy
5 Frizzy 10 Wispy

Face

       
1 Bony 6 Perfect
2 Broken 7 Rat-like
3 Chiseled 8 Sharp
4 Elongated 9 Square
5 Pale 10 Sunken

Speech

       
1 Blunt 6 Gravelly
2 Booming 7 Precise
3 Cryptic 8 Squeaky
4 Droning 9 Stuttering
5 Formal 10 Whispery

Clothing

       
1 Antique 6 Frayed
2 Bloody 7 Frumpy
3 Elegant 8 Livery
4 Filthy 9 Rancid
5 Foreign 10 Soiled

Virtue

       
1 Ambitious 6 Honorable
2 Cautious 7 Humble
3 Courageous 8 Merciful
4 Disciplined 9 Serene
5 Gregarious 10 Tolerant

Vice

       
1 Aggressive 6 Lazy
2 Bitter 7 Nervous
3 Craven 8 Rude
4 Deceitful 9 Vain
5 Greedy 10 Vengeful

Reputation

       
1 Ambitious 6 Loafer
2 Boor 7 Oddball
3 Dangerous 8 Repulsive
4 Entertainer 9 Respected
5 Honest 10 Wise

Misfortunes

       
1 Abandoned 6 Defrauded
2 Addicted 7 Demoted
3 Blackmailed 8 Discredited
4 Condemned 9 Disowned
5 Cursed 10 Exiled

Starting Gear (d20)

Armor

       
1-3 4-14 15-19 20
None Brigandine Chainmail Plate

Helmets & Shields

       
1-13 14-16 17-19 20
None Helmet Shield Helmet & Shield

Weapons

       
1-5 6-14 15-19 20
Dagger, Cudgel, Staff Sword, Mace, Axe Bow, Crossbow, Sling Halberd, War Hammer, Battleaxe

Expeditionary Gear

               
1 Air Bladder 6 Fire Oil 11 Manacles 16 Rope (25ft)
2 Antitoxin 7 Grappling Hook 12 Pick 17 Spirit Ward
3 Cart (+4 slots, bulky) 8 Large Sack 13 Pole (10ft) 18 Spyglass
4 Chain (10ft) 9 Large Trap 14 Pulley 19 Tinderbox
5 Dowsing Rod 10 Lockpicks 15 Repellent 20 Wolfsbane

Tools

               
1 Bellows 6 Cook Pots 11 Grease 16 Net
2 Bucket 7 Crowbar 12 Hammer 17 Saw
3 Caltrops 8 Drill (Manual) 13 Hour Glass 18 Sealant
4 Chalk 9 Fishing Rod 14 Metal File 19 Shovel
5 Chisel 10 Glue 15 Nails 20 Tongs

Trinkets

               
1 Bottle 6 Horn 11 Mirror 16 Soap
2 Card Deck 7 Incense 12 Perfume 17 Sponge
3 Dice Set 8 Instrument 13 Quill & Ink 18 Tar Pot
4 Face Paint 9 Lens 14 Salt Pack 19 Twine
5 Fake Jewels 10 Marbles 15 Small Bell 20 Whistle

Bonus Item (roll on table indicated)

       
1-5 6-13 14-17 18-20
Tool or Trinket Expeditionary Gear Armor or Weapon Spellbook

Spellbooks (d100)

               
1 Adhere 26 Earthquake 51 Masquerade 76 Smoke Form
2 Anchor 27 Elasticity 52 Miniaturize 77 Sniff
3 Animate Object 28 Elemental Wall 53 Mirror Image 78 Snuff
4 Anthropomorphize 29 Filch 54 Mirrorwalk 79 Sort
5 Arcane Eye 30 Flare 55 Multiarm 80 Spectacle
6 Astral Prison 31 Fog Cloud 56 Night Sphere 81 Spellsaw
7 Attract 32 Frenzy 57 Objectify 82 Spider Climb
8 Auditory Illusion 33 Gate 58 Ooze Form 83 Summon Cube
9 Babble 34 Gravity Shift 59 Pacify 84 Swarm
10 Bait Flower 35 Greed 60 Phobia 85 Telekinesis
11 Beast Form 36 Haste 61 Pit 86 Telepathy
12 Befuddle 37 Hatred 62 Primal Surge 87 Teleport
13 Body Swap 38 Hear Whispers 63 Push/Pull 88 Target Lure
14 Charm 39 Hover 64 Raise Dead 89 Thicket
15 Command 40 Hypnotize 65 Raise Spirit 90 Summon Idol
16 Comprehend 41 Icy Touch 66 Read Mind 91 Time Control
17 Cone of Foam 42 Identify Owner 67 Repel 92 True Sight
18 Control Plants 43 Illuminate 68 Scry 93 Upwell
19 Control Weather 44 Invisible Tether 69 Sculpt Elements 94 Vision
20 Cure Wounds 45 Knock 70 Sense 95 Visual Illusion
21 Deafen 46 Leap 71 Shield 96 Ward
22 Detect Magic 47 Liquid Air 72 Shroud 97 Web
23 Disassemble 48 Magic Dampener 73 Shuffle 98 Widget
24 Disguise 49 Manse 74 Sleep 99 Wizard Mark
25 Displace 50 Marble Craze 75 Slick 100 X-Ray Vision

Equipment List (Prices in Gold Pieces)

Armor

   
Shield (+1 Armor) 10
Helmet (+1 Armor) 10
Gambeson (+1 Armor) 15
Brigandine (1 Armor, bulky) 20
Chainmail (2 Armor, bulky) 40
Plate (3 Armor, bulky) 60

Weapons

   
Dagger, Cudgel, Sickle, Staff, etc. (d6 damage) 5
Spear, Sword, Mace, Axe, Flail, etc. (d8 damage) 10
Halberd, War Hammer, Long Sword, etc. (d10 damage, bulky) 20
Sling (d4 damage) 5
Bow (d6 damage, bulky) 20
Crossbow (d8 damage, bulky) 30

Gear & Tools

       
Air Bladder 5 Large Trap 20
Bellows 10 Large Sponge 5
Bedroll 5 Lens 10
Book 50 Lockpicks 25
Bucket 5 Manacles 10
Caltrops 10 Metal File 5
Cart (+4 slots, bulky) 30 Mirror 5
Chain (10ft) 10 Mule (+6 slots, slow) 30
Chalk 1 Net 10
Chisel 5 Oilskin Bag 5
Cook Pots 10 Pick 10
Crowbar 10 Pulley 10
Drill (Manual) 10 Pole (10ft) 5
Face Paint 10 Quill & Ink 10
Fire Oil 10 Rations (three day’s worth) 10
Fishing Rod 10 Rope (25ft) 5
Glass Marbles 5 Saw 5
Glue 5 Sack 5
Grease 10 Shovel 5
Grappling Hook 25 Soap 1
Hammer 5 Spike 1
Holy Water 25 Spiked Boots 5
Horn 10 Spyglass 40
Horse (+4 slots) 75 Tar 10
Hourglass 50 Tent (fits 2 people, bulky) 20
Incense 10 Torch 1
Ladder (bulky, 10ft) 10 Wagon (+8 slots, slow) 200
Lantern & Oil 10 Wolfsbane 10

Optional Gear Packages

Cleric

 
War Hammer (d10, bulky)
Chainmail (2 Armor, bulky)
Gauntlets (+1 Armor)
Cleansing Blade (d6)
Holy Symbol (Ward once per day)
Cloak of the Order

Dowser

 
Sickle (d6)
Patchwork Doublet (+1 Armor)
Dowsing Rod
Eyestone (Sense if placed in fresh water)
Worn Map
Spyglass

Dwarf

 
Prickly Root (d6)
Pinecone Lattice (1 Armor)
Trowel
Jar of Forest Ants
Poisonous mushroom
Hand Drill

Elf

 
Elegant Sword (d8)
Recurve Bow (d8)
Gilt Clothing (1 Armor)
Spellbook (Charm or Detect Magic)
Golden Flute
Air Bladder

Fighter

 
Glaive (d10, bulky)
Scimitar (d8)
Shortsword (d6)
Shortsword (d6)
Tobacco Pouch & Pipe
Dice Set

Friar

 
Scepter (d6)
Deceptive Robes (+1 Armor)
Censer & Holy Water
Jug of Honey Wine
Folk Songbook
Cart (+4 slots, bulky)

Knight

 
Longsword (d10, bulky)
Chainmail (2 Armor, bulky)
Helmet (+1 Armor)
Heraldic Cape
Manacles
Fine Rope

Magic User

 
Fizzled Staff (d8, bulky)
Dagger (d6)
Spellbook (random spell)
Spellbook (random spell)
Ragged Clothing (hidden pockets)
Leycap (x2, see Relics)

Thief

 
Two daggers (d6+d6)
Hooded Jerkin (1 Armor)
Lockpicks
Caltrops
Grappling Hook
Metal File

Ranger

 
Longbow (d8, bulky)
Hatchet (d6)
Padded Leathers (1 Armor)
Large Trap
Bloodhound | 2 HP, 12 DEX, bite (d6)
Thundering Horn

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Rules

Abilities

Each of the three abilities are used in different circumstances (see saves, below).

Strength (STR): Used for saves requiring physical power, like lifting gates, bending bars, resisting poison, etc.

Dexterity (DEX): Used for saves requiring poise, speed, and reflexes like dodging, climbing, sneaking, balancing, etc.

Willpower (WIL): Used for saves to persuade, deceive, interrogate, intimidate, charm, provoke, manipulate spells, etc.

Saves

A save is a roll to avoid bad outcomes from risky choices and circumstances. PCs roll a d20 for an appropriate ability score. If they roll equal to or under that ability score, they pass. Otherwise, they fail. A 1 is always a success, and a 20 is always a failure.

Expand For Example

Bea encounters a group of heavily-armed Goblins standing guard before a tunnel entrance. Her player carefully plots a course, recognizing that her 13 DEX makes sneaking past the guards the best option. She rolls a d20, and resulting in a 10 – a success!

Healing

Resting for a few moments and having a drink of water restores lost HP but leaves the party exposed. Ability loss (see Critical Damage) can usually be restored with a week’s rest facilitated by a healer or other appropriate source of expertise. Some of these services are free, while magical or more expedient means of recovery may come at a cost.

Deprivation & Fatigue

A PC deprived of a crucial need (such as food or rest) is unable to recover HP or ability scores. Anyone deprived for more than a day adds Fatigue to their inventory, one for each day. Each Fatigue occupies one slot and lasts until they are able to recuperate (such as a full night’s rest in a safe spot). PCs can also gain Fatigue by casting spells or through events in the fiction.

Armor

Before calculating damage to HP, subtract the target’s Armor value from the result of damage rolls. Shields and similar armor provide a bonus defense (e.g. +1 Armor), but only while the item is held or worn.
No one can have more than 3 Armor.
Shields, gauntlets, and helms may provide additional benefits according to their use.

Reactions

When the PCs encounter an NPC whose reaction to the party is not obvious, the Warden may roll 2d6 and consult the following table:

         
2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12
Hostile Wary Curious Kind Helpful

Morale

Enemies must pass a WIL save to avoid fleeing when they take their first casualty and again when they lose half their number. Some groups may use their leader’s WIL in place of their own. Lone foes must save when they’re reduced to 0 HP. Morale does not affect PCs.

Hirelings

PCs can hire hirelings to aid them in their expeditions. To create a hireling, roll 3d6 for each ability score, then give them 1d6 HP and a simple weapon (d6), then roll on the Character Creation tables to further flesh them out. Hirelings cost between 1-3gp per day, or a share of whatever treasure the party obtains.

Wealth & Treasure

The most common coin is the gold piece (gp), which is equal to 10 silver pieces (sp) and 100 copper pieces (cp).

Treasure is highly valuable, usually bulky, and rarely useful beyond its value. It can be a lure, taking PCs to exotic and even dangerous locations, and is often under the protection of intimidating foes.

Villages, strongholds, and ports of call barter and trade based on the local rarity and value of an item or commodity.

Magic

Spellbooks contain a single spell and take up one slot. They cannot be transcribed or created; instead they are recovered from places like tombs, dungeons, and manors.

Spellbooks sometimes display unusual properties or limitations, such as producing a foul or unearthly smell when opened, possessing an innate intelligence, or being legible only when held in moonlight.

Spellbooks will attract the attention of those who seek the arcane power within, and it is considered dangerous to display them openly.

Scrolls are similar to Spellbooks, however:

  • They do not take up an inventory slot.
  • They do not cause fatigue.
  • They disappear after one use.

Casting Spells

Anyone can cast a spell by holding a Spellbook in both hands and reading its contents aloud. They must then add a Fatigue to inventory, occupying one slot. Given time and safety, PCs can enhance a spell’s impact (e.g., affecting multiple targets, increasing its power, etc.) without any additional cost. If the PC is deprived or in danger, the Warden may require a PC to make a WIL save to avoid any ill-effects from casting the spell. Consequences of failure are on par with the intended effect, and may result in added Fatigue, the destruction of the Spellbook, injury, and even death.

Relics

Relics are items imbued with a magical spell or power. They do not cause Fatigue. Relics usually have a limited use, as well as a recharge condition. A few examples:

Honeyclasp , 3 charges. A rusted ring that shrinks the bearer to 6” tall. Recharge: place in a thimble-sized cup of royal jelly.

Falconer’s Friend , 1 charge. A bolt-shaped wand carrying the Haste spell. Recharge: fire from a crossbow and recover.

Staff of Silence , 1 charge. This blackened rod temporarily disables all magic within 50ft. Recharge: bathe in the light of a full moon.

Leycap , 1 use. Anyone ingesting this green-flecked mushroom loses a Fatigue, but is then required to make a WIL save to avoid its addictive properties. A fail leaves the PC deprived and unable to focus until they can eat another leycap, providing only a brief reprieve from the addiction.

Combat

Rounds

The game typically plays without strict time accounting. In a fight or circumstance where timing is helpful, use rounds to keep track of when something occurs. A round is roughly ten seconds of in-game time and is comprised of turns.

Actions

On their turn, a character may move up to 40ft and take up to one action. This may be casting a spell, attacking, making a second move, or some other reasonable action.

Each round, the PCs declare what they are doing before dice are rolled. If a character attempts something risky, the Warden calls for a save for appropriate players or NPCs.

Turns

The Warden will telegraph the most likely actions taken by NPCs or monsters. At the start of combat, each PC must make a DEX save to act before their opponents.

Expand For Example

Bea has accidentally stumbled onto the stomping grounds of a massive Wood Troll. In order to make a move before the Troll, she makes a DEX save. She fails, and the Troll gets to attack first.

Attacking & Damage

The attacker rolls their weapon die and subtracts the target’s armor, then deals the remaining total to their opponent’s HP. Unarmed attacks always do 1d4 damage.

Expand For Example

The Wood Troll roars, swinging its club at Bea, who has 5 HP. The club does 1d10 damage and the Warden rolls a 4. They subtract 1 to account for Bea’s leather armor, leaving Bea with 2 HP remaining.

Multiple Attackers

If multiple attackers target the same foe, roll all damage dice and keep the single highest result.

Attack Modifiers

If fighting from a position of weakness (such as through cover or with bound hands), the attack is impaired and the attacker must roll 1d4 damage regardless of the attacks damage die.

If fighting from a position of advantage (such as against a helpless foe or through a daring maneuver), the attack is enhanced, allowing the attacker to roll 1d12 damage instead of their normal die.

Dual Weapons

If attacking with two weapons at the same time, roll both damage dice and keep the single highest result.

Blast

Attacks with the blast quality affect all targets in the noted area, rolling separately for each affected character. Blast refers to anything from explosions to huge cleaving onslaughts to the impact of a meteorite. If unsure how many targets can be affected, roll the related damage die for a result.

Critical Damage

Damage that reduces a target’s HP below zero decreases a target’s STR by the amount remaining. They must then make a STR save to avoid critical damage. Additionally, some enemies will have special abilities or effects that are triggered when their target fails a critical damage save.

Any PC that suffers critical damage cannot do anything but crawl weakly, grasping for life. If given aid and rest, they will stabilize. If left untreated, they die within the hour.

Ability Score Loss

If a PC’s STR is reduced to 0, they die. If their DEX is reduced to 0, they are paralyzed. If their WIL is reduced to 0, they are delirious. Complete DEX and WIL loss renders the character unable to act until they are restored through extended rest or by extraordinary means.

Scars

When damage to a PC reduces their HP to exactly 0, they are sometimes changed irrevocably. See the Scars table for more.

Unconsciousness & Death

When a character dies, the player is free to create a new character or take control of a hireling. They immediately join the party in order to reduce downtime.

Detachments

Large groups of similar combatants fighting together are treated as a single detachment. When a detachment takes critical damage, it is routed or significantly weakened. When it reaches 0 STR, it is destroyed.

Attacks against detachments by individuals are impaired (excluding blast damage).
Attacks against individuals by detachments are enhanced and deal blast damage.

Retreat

Running away from a dire situation always requires a successful DEX save, as well as a safe destination to run to.

Scars

When an attack reduces a PC’s HP to exactly 0, they are uniquely impacted. Look up the result on the table below based on the total damage taken:

   
1 Lasting Scar: Roll 1d6 | 1: Neck, 2: Hands, 3: Eye, 4: Chest, 5: Legs, 6: Ear. Roll 1d6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.
2 Rattling Blow: You’re disoriented and shaken. Describe how you refocus. Roll 1d6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.
3 Walloped: You’re sent flying and land flat on your face, winded. You are deprived until you rest for a few hours. Then, roll 1d6. Add that amount to your max HP.
4 Broken Limb: Roll 1d6 | 1-2: Leg, 3-4: Arm, 5: Rib, 6: Skull. Once mended, roll 2d6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.
5 Diseased: You’re afflicted with a gross, uncomfortable infection. When you get over it, roll 2d6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.
6 Reorienting Head Wound: Roll 1d6 | 1-2: STR, 3-4: DEX, 5-6: WIL. Roll 3d6. If the total is higher than your current ability score, take the new result.
7 Hamstrung: You can barely move until you get serious help and rest. After recovery, roll 3d6. If the total is higher than your max DEX, take the new result.
8 Deafened: You cannot hear anything until you find extraordinary aid. Regardless, make a WIL save. If you pass, increase your max WIL by 1d4.
9 Re-brained: Some hidden part of your psyche is knocked loose. Roll 3d6. If the total is higher than your max WIL, take the new result.
10 Sundered: An appendage is torn off, crippled or useless. The Warden will tell you which. Then, make a WIL save. If you pass, increase your max WIL by 1d6.
11 Mortal Wound: You are deprived and out of action. You die in one hour unless healed. Upon recovery, roll 2d6. Take the new result as your max HP.
12 Doomed: Death seemed ever so close, but somehow you survived. If your next save against critical damage is a fail, you die horribly. If you pass, roll 3d6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.

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Bestiary

Root Goblin
4 HP, 8 STR, 14 DEX, 8 WIL, spear (d6)

  • Avoid combat unless they have the advantage (such as greater numbers).
  • Guard their stolen goods to the death.
  • Prize Spellbooks; willing to trade.

Hooded Men
12 HP, 9 STR, 12 DEX, 14 WIL, leystaff (d8), a Spellbook (Choose one: Charm, Hypnotize, Push/Pull, Shield_)

  • The Watchers of the Wood; a cult that derive their power from leylines, rune stones, and the like.
  • Critical damage: leech a part of the victim’s soul (1d4 WIL damage).

Cobblehounds
12 HP, 2 Armor, 14 STR, 1 DEX, 8 WIL, bite (d10)

  • Immobile constructs typically used as guardians to great tombs or artifacts.
  • Unaffected by mundane persuasion techniques - but do love a good bone.

Wood Troll
12 HP, 15 STR, 12 DEX, 7 WIL, claws and bite (d8+d8 blast)

  • As an action, can recover lost HP.
  • Critical damage: moss and twigs begin growing out of target’s wounds.

Frost Elf
14 HP, 1 Armor, 8 STR, 13 DEX, 14 WIL, icicle dagger (d6), a Spellbook (Choose one: Sleep, Teleport, Detect Magic)

  • Beautiful, amoral, and long-lived.
  • Resistant to most forms of magic.

Boggart
3 HP, 4 STR, 17 DEX, 13 WIL

  • A wild, hairy trickster that takes pleasure in being a minor nuisance.
  • Prizes relics and shiny trinkets above all else but unwilling to trade for coin.
  • Boggarts have names that describe their true nature. Knowing their true name allows one to control a Boggart.

Creating Monsters

Use the following template to model any more sophisticated Monster or NPC:

Name
X HP, X Armor, X STR, X DEX, X WIL, Weapon (dX, special items, qualities)

  • Engaging descriptor of appearance or demeanor
  • Quirk, tactic, or peculiarity making this NPC unique
  • Special effect or critical damage consequence

General Principles
Ability Scores: 3 is deficient, 6 is weak, 10 is average, 14 is noteworthy, and 18 is legendary. Adjust as necessary.

  • Give average creatures 3 HP, give hardy ones 6 HP, and serious threats get 10+ HP.
  • Use flavor and style to help them stand out. Players will remember a pig-faced humanoid looking for his missing sheep more easily than a generic goblin archer.
  • Use critical damage to lean into the threat or strangeness of any aggressive NPC.
  • Remember that HP is Hit Protection , not Hit Points. It’s a measure of resilience, luck, and gumption - not health.

Converting from OSR Games

  • Give 1 HP per HD for most creatures.
  • Most humanoids have at least 4HP.
  • Morale can also be used as a baseline.

Some pointers:

  • Is it good at avoiding a hit? Give it HP.
  • Does it soak up damage? Give it Armor.
  • Is it strong? Give it a high STR.
  • Is it nimble? Give it high DEX.
  • Is it charismatic? Give it high WIL.

Damage die are roughly the same, though armed attacks do at least 1d6 damage.

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100 Spells

     
1 Adhere An object is covered in extremely sticky slime.
2 Anchor A strong wire sprouts from your arms, affixing itself to two points within 50ft on each side.
3 Animate Object An object obeys your commands as best it can.
4 Anthropomorphize An animal either gains human intelligence or human appearance for one day.
5 Arcane Eye You can see through a magical floating eyeball that flies around at your command.
6 Astral Prison An object is frozen in time and space within an invulnerable crystal shell.
7 Attract Two objects are strongly magnetically attracted to each other if they come within 10 feet.
8 Auditory Illusion You create illusory sounds that seem to come from a direction of your choice.
9 Babble A creature must loudly and clearly repeat everything you think. It is otherwise mute.
10 Bait Flower A plant sprouts from the ground that emanates the smell of decaying flesh.
11 Beast Form You and your possessions transform into a mundane animal.
12 Befuddle A creature of your choice is unable to form new short-term memories for the duration of the spell.
13 Body Swap You switch bodies with a creature you touch. If one body dies, the other dies as well.
14 Charm A creature you can see treats you as a friend.
15 Command A target obeys a single three-word command that does not cause it harm.
16 Comprehend You become fluent in all languages for a short while.
17 Cone of Foam Dense foam sprays from your hand, coating the target.
18 Control Plants Nearby plants and trees obey you and gain the ability to move at a slow pace.
19 Control Weather You may alter the type of weather at will, but you do not otherwise control it.
20 Cure Wounds Restore 1d4 STR per day to a creature you can touch.
21 Deafen All nearby creatures are deafened.
22 Detect Magic You can see or hear nearby magical auras.
23 Disassemble Any of your body parts may be detached and reattached at will, without causing pain or damage. You can still control them.
24 Disguise You may alter the appearance of one character at will as long as they remain humanoid. Attempts to duplicate other characters will seem uncanny.
25 Displace An object appears to be up to 15ft from its actual position.
26 Earthquake The ground begins shaking violently. Structures may be damaged or collapse.
27 Elasticity Your body can stretch up to 10ft.
28 Elemental Wall A straight wall of ice or fire 50ft long and 10ft high rises from the ground.
29 Filch A visible item teleports to your hands.
30 Flare A bright ball of energy fires a trail of light into the sky, revealing your location to friend or foe.
31 Fog Cloud A dense fog spreads out from you.
32 Frenzy A nearby creature erupts in a frenzy of violence.
33 Gate A portal to a random plane opens.
34 Gravity Shift You can change the direction of gravity, but only for yourself.
35 Greed A creature develops the overwhelming urge to possess a visible item of your choice.
36 Haste Your movement speed is tripled.
37 Hatred A creature develops a deep hatred of another creature or group and wishes to destroy them.
38 Hear Whispers You can hear faint sounds clearly.
39 Hover An object hovers, frictionless, 2ft above the ground. It can hold up to one humanoid.
40 Hypnotize A creature enters a trance and will truthfully answer one yes or no question you ask it.
41 Icy Touch A thick ice layer spreads across a touched surface, up to 10ft in radius.
42 Identify Owner Letters appear over the object you touch, spelling out the name of the object’s owners, if there are any.
43 Illuminate A floating light moves as you command.
44 Invisible Tether Two objects within 10ft of each other cannot be moved more than 10ft apart.
45 Knock A nearby mundane or magical lock unlocks loudly.
46 Leap You jump up to 10ft high, once.
47 Liquid Air The air around you becomes swimmable .
48 Magic Dampener All nearby magical effects have their effectiveness halved.
49 Manse A sturdy, furnished cottage appears for 12 hours. You can permit and forbid entry to it at will.
50 Marble Craze Your pockets are full of marbles, and will refill every 30 seconds.
51 Masquerade A character’s appearance and voice becomes identical to those of a character you touch.
52 Miniaturize A creature you touch is shrunk down to the size of a mouse.
53 Mirror Image An illusory duplicate of yourself appears and is under your control.
54 Mirrorwalk A mirror becomes a gateway to another mirror that you looked into today.
55 Multiarm You temporarily gain an extra arm.
56 Night Sphere A 50ft wide sphere of darkness displaying the night sky appears before you.
57 Objectify You become any inanimate object between the size of a grand piano and an apple.
58 Ooze Form You become a living jelly.
59 Pacify A creature near you has an aversion to violence.
60 Phobia A nearby creature becomes terrified of an object of your choice.
61 Pit A pit 10ft wide and 10ft deep opens in the ground.
62 Primal Surge A creature rapidly evolves into a future version of its species.
63 Push/Pull An object of any size is pulled directly towards you or pushed directly away from you with the strength of one man.
64 Raise Dead A skeleton rises from the ground to serve you. They are incredibly stupid and can only obey simple orders.
65 Raise Spirit The spirit of a nearby corpse manifests and will answer 1 question.
66 Read Mind You can hear the surface thoughts of nearby creatures.
67 Repel Two objects are strongly magnetically repelled from each other within 10 feet.
68 Scry You can see through the eyes of a creature you touched earlier today.
69 Sculpt Elements Inanimate material behaves like clay in your hands.
70 Sense Choose one kind of object (key, gold, arrow, jug, etc). You can sense the nearest example.
71 Shield A creature you touch is protected from mundane attacks for one minute.
72 Shroud A creature you touch is invisible until they move.
73 Shuffle Two creatures you can see instantly switch places.
74 Sleep A creature you can see falls into a light sleep.
75 Slick Every surface in a 30ft radius becomes extremely slippery.
76 Smoke Form Your body becomes a living smoke that you can control.
77 Sniff You can smell even the faintest traces of scents.
78 Snuff The source of any mundane light you can see is instantly snuffed out.
79 Sort Inanimate items sort themselves according to categories you set.
80 Spectacle A clearly false but impressive illusion of your choice appears, under your control. It may be up to the size of a palace and has full motion and sound.
81 Spellsaw A whirling blade flies from your chest, clearing any plant material in its way. It is otherwise harmless.
82 Spider Climb You can climb surfaces like a spider.
83 Summon Cube Once per second you may summon or banish a 3-foot-wide cube of earth. New cubes must be affixed to the earth or to other cubes.
84 Swarm You become a swarm of crows, rats, or piranhas. You can only be harmed by blast attacks.
85 Telekinesis You may mentally 1 move item under 60lbs.
86 Telepathy Two creatures can hear each other’s thoughts, no matter how far apart.
87 Teleport An object or person you can see is transported from one place to another in a 50ft radius.
88 Target Lure An object you touch becomes the target of any nearby spell.
89 Thicket A thicket of trees and dense brush up to 50ft wide suddenly sprouts up.
90 Summon Idol A carved stone statue the size of a mule rises from the ground.
91 Time Control Time in a 50ft bubble slows down or increases by 10% for 30 seconds.
92 True Sight You see through all nearby illusions.
93 Upwell A spring of seawater appears.
94 Vision You completely control what a creature sees.
95 Visual Illusion A silent, immobile, room-sized illusion of your choice appears.
96 Ward A silver circle 50ft across appears on the ground. Choose one species that cannot cross it.
97 Web Your wrists shoot thick webbing.
98 Widget A primitive version of a drawn tool or item appears before you and disappears after a short time.
99 Wizard Mark Your finger can shoot a stream of ulfire-colored paint. This paint is only visible to you and can be seen at any distance, even through solid objects.
100 X-Ray Vision You can see through walls, dirt, clothing, etc.

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Rules Summary

ACTIONS
On their turn, a character may move up to 40ft and take up to one action. Actions may include casting a spell, attacking, making a second move, or other reasonable activities. Actions, attacks, and movements take place simultaneously. Whenever turn order is uncertain, the PCs should make a DEX save to see if they go before their enemies.

Retreating from a dangerous situation always requires a successful DEX save, as well as a safe destination to run to.

ABILITIES
STR: Brawn, prowess & resistance.
DEX: Dodging, sneaking & reflexes.
WIL: Persuasion, intimidation & magic.

SAVES

  • Roll a d20 equal to or under an ability.
  • 1 is always a success, 20 is always a failure.

HIT PROTECTION
HP indicates a PC’s ability to avoid getting hurt. It is lost during combat & recovered after a few moment’s rest.

INVENTORY
PCs have 10 inventory slots: four on their body and six in their backpack (which acts as a sleeping bag if emptied). Most items take up a one slot, but smaller items can be bundled. Bulky items take up two slots and are awkward or difficult to carry.

Filling all ten item slots reduces a PC to 0 HP. PCs cannot carry more than their inventory allows, though carts & horses may provide an increase in slots.

DEPRIVATION
Deprived PCs cannot recover HP. If deprived for more than a day,they add a Fatigue to inventory. Fatigue occupies one slot and lasts until they can recover in safety. This effect is cumulative.

HEALING
A moment’s rest and a swig of water will restore lost HP, but may leave the party vulnerable. Ability loss requires a week’s rest and the aid of a skilled healer.

SPELLBOOKS
Spellbooks contain a single spell and take up one item slot. Anyone can cast a spell by holding a Spellbook in both hands and reading its contents aloud. Casting a spell adds Fatigue to the PC’s inventory.

Given time and safety, PCs can enhance a spell without any additional cost. If they are deprived or in danger, a WIL save may be required to avoid terrible consequences.

COMBAT
The attacker rolls their weapon die and subtracts the target’s Armor, then deals the remaining total to their opponent’s HP.

Before calculating damage to HP, subtract the target’s Armor value from the result of damage rolls. Shields and similar armor provides a bonus defense (e.g. +1 Armor), but only while the item is held or worn.

No one can have more than 3 Armor.

Unarmed attacks always do 1d4 damage. If multiple attackers target the same foe, roll all damage dice and keep the single highest result. If attacking with two weapons at the same time, roll both damage dice and keep the highest.

If an attack is impaired , the damage die is reduced to 1d4, regardless of weapon. If the attack is enhanced, the attacker rolls 1d12. Attacks with the blast quality affect all area targets, rolling separately for each.

DAMAGE
If an attack reduces a PC’s HP exactly to 0, refer to the Scars table.

Damage that reduces a target’s HP below 0 decreases their STR by the remainder. They must then make a STR save to avoid critical damage. Failure takes them out of combat, dying if left untreated.

Having STR 0 means death; having DEX 0 is paralysis; having WIL 0 is delirium.