A Player»s Guide to the World of Do A Player»s ... - The Grey Elf's Lair

Chapter One: The World of Bloodlands 2
Cosmology and History 2
World Map 14
Gazeteer 15
Chapter Two: The People of Domaria 27
Character Classes 27
Bounty Hunter 27
Druidic Avenger 29
Duelist 31
Psionicist 33
Tavern Brawler 34
Totem Warrior 36
Races of Domaria 38
Dirdraug 38
Eru’el 39
Morellon 40
Goblins 41
Orcs 42
Rawdír 42
Saurian 43
Chapter Three: New Rules 45
Animal Handling 45
Fatigue and Exhaustion 47
Fighting Defensively 47
Literacy 47
Reputation 47
Psionic Powers 48
Backgrounds 55
Traits 57
Fate Points 65
High-Level Characters 67

In the Beginning, there was the Pleroma, which is the Divine Light of Creation at the center of all things. Within the Pleroma
resides the One, which is the consciousness upon which all reality depends. The One is perfect and all-seeing, but is not allknowing.
The One knows all paths a being may take, but may not know what path a being will take. Such is the price of Free
Will, that which is gifted to all creations of the One.
In those early days, the Pleroma was surrounded by a formless, blackened Void. The One looked into this Void and felt
alone. The One desired company and companionship. So it turned its thoughts to creation, and the fruit of its labor was
Sophia, the mother of Wisdom. The One loved Sophia with all its vast essence, but Sophia did not return its love: at least, not
to the same degree. Sophia, being created from the One, was less perfect than the One. While still vastly powerful in and of
herself, she had not the capacity to love as did the One. She in turn became lonely and seduced the One into joining with her.
The Seed of the One within Sophia produced seven more Archons, all as powerful as Sophia and more powerful than any god
we now know. But these Archons, being a generation removed and created of the joining of the One with a Mother Archon
rather than of the thoughts of the One, were less pure than Sophia. Within their breasts burned a hunger and lust for more
than their existence granted them.
At first, the One was angry with Sophia, but as the One looked upon these new children, it came to love them as it did its
consort. It saw within them the fires of creation and destruction, and marveled at the chaotic beauty of their souls. At first,
their mischief amused the One, and it looked on and laughed. Soon, however, this mischief brought darkness into the
Pleroma, and the One was displeased. It created laws that bound the Archons, to keep the wonder of the Pleroma intact. And
the Archons became jealous.
!"
It was the First of the second generation of Archons, Urizen, who rose to
prominence among his siblings, challenging the laws of The One. Why, he asked,
should the Archons not be allowed to remain free as their spirits demanded? The
One responded that the Pleroma was to be free from corruption, and the mischief
of the Archons risked destroying that purity.
So it was that Urizen turned his sights on the Void. “Why, then,” he said, “can we
not go into the Void to make our fun?”
“There is nothing in the Void,” replied the One. “It is naught but entropy. If you
go there, you risk bringing back decay, and this I cannot allow.”
“Then we shall go, and not return,” said Urizen.
The One was saddened by this declaration, and forbade its children to leave, but
their hearts were set. They stole from the Creator pieces of the Pleroma, so that
they might create their own realms in the Void, constructing a universe as grand
and chaotic as their own souls, and they departed.
So it was that Urizen took his siblings and departed the Pleroma, never to return.
And then the One turned to its consort, Sophia. “You, of all my creations, are the
most near and dear to my own nature,” it said. “Will you remain here, next to my
heart?”
A tear ran down Sophia’s cheek at this question, and her soul was split asunder.
To keep sadness from poisoning the Pleroma, she cast the tear into the Void, where it shattered as crystal, forming the stars
we now see in the sky. Then she turned to the One and said, “I cannot stay. My children are chaotic and dark. They will need
my wisdom to temper that which they form in the Void.”

With that, Sophia reached into her belly and pulled forth the Seeds of Creation. These she planted in the Pleroma, entreating
the One to let them grow and form on their own, that one day they might come forth to restore the balance that would be
upset.
And Sophia followed her children into the Void. And the One, overwhelmed with sorrow and grief, sealed the borders of the
Pleroma so that none who leave that place may ever return, and fell into a deep slumber, where it remains to this very day.
$%
And so the Archons came into the Void. They looked into the vast, formless nothing
and felt sorrow. Even with the beauty of Sophia’s teardrops scattered throughout the
heavens, it was still as the One had warned them: entropy incarnate. This, Urizen
declared, would not do. The Archons loved chaos, and change, and upheaval.
Entropy is a slow, ordered decline into nothingness. To balance this order, the
Archons brought chaos into the Void. They took many of the pieces of the Pleroma
they had stolen, and scattered them amongst the stars created by Sophia’s tears, and
as Creation met with Entropy, worlds sprang into existence, and life evolved on these
worlds and the heavens became wondrous.
Yet still Urizen was not satisfied. With the Archons in tow, he rampaged through the
Cosmos, driven mad with the feelings of emptiness, of incompleteness that he now
suffered. Together the Archons destroyed thousands of worlds and wiped countless
young species from existence. Still, they were not satisfied.
It was then Sophia came to her son and said, “My Son, might you not be more
satisfied creating than destroying? These creations you have made, none of them
share any part of you. They are random, generated by a scattering of Pleromic
essence. Why not put your thoughts to work, and use what tiny shard of the Pleroma
you have left, and create a world of your own?”
Urizen thought upon this suggestion and decided it was a good one. So it was that he called the rest of the Archons together
and said, “My brothers, I have had an idea. We are incomplete because we have not put any effort into these creations.
Together we shall create a world, and populate it, and use it to our own amusement. This world will be our Pleroma. It will be
our home.”
“What is it you wish?” Urizen said.
The other Archons thought this a good idea, and Urizen sent to work.
But try as he might, he could not deliberately fashion a world to his
liking, for worlds require laws and systems, and Urizen’s soul was
anarchy, the fire of creation without order. So again he turned to his
mother. “You,” he said, “Know the ways of creation. Why can I not
succeed in making a world of my own?”
“You have not the means within you to nurture such,” she said. “You
are anger and chaos. Worlds need caring, order, and systems. Worlds
are born, not made.”
“Then you must help me,” Urizen said. “You alone of all the Archons
have the ability to give birth. You must be the mother to my world.”
“If I do this for you,” Sophia said, “You will grant me something in
return.”
“Whatever you and your brothers set about to create upon this world,” Sophia said, “I am to be given half to mold in my own
image.”
“I agree,” Urizen agreed.
#

“Think on your decision before you agree,” Sophia said. “For you will be bound by this promise, else I will reveal your
treachery to your siblings, and it will be your unmaking.”
“And who, dear mother, would believe you? My siblings are loyal to me.”
“All would believe me, for I am Wisdom and I can not lie.”
Urizen thought upon this, and said, “So be it. I accept your terms.”
“Bring me all the pieces of the Pleroma that your siblings still have,” Sophia said. “and together we will make a world.”
And Urizen went unto other Archons, demanding that they turn over the pieces of the Pleroma that they had stolen. The
Archons were not pleased with this demand, and at first refused. They asked why Urizen wanted their pieces. “Because you
have squandered yours,” they said, “does not give you the right to take ours.”
&
“With your pieces,” Urizen said, “I will
make a world for us all to share. Mine alone
is not enough. It was I who guided you from
the thumb of the One. Without my bravery
and pride, we would still be enslaved within
that realm, rather than masters of the
universe. Go, and bring me your pieces of
Creation.”
But the Archons were treacherous, and in
secret they agreed that each would keep a
piece of a piece, enough to create beings to
serve them alone. Unaware of the agreement
between Urizen and Sophia, they presented
Urizen with the pieces that he asked for and
he in turn brought them to Sophia, who
recognized that the pieces were not
complete, but knew the wisdom in keeping
this information for herself.
Sophia then lay down and allowed Urizen to place the shards within her belly, where she had removed the Seeds of Creation
before leaving the Pleroma, and there they grew over eons and eons as mortals reckon years, but mere days by the reckoning
of the heavens, and during this time Urizen kept his mother hidden from the other Archons, that they never know the
subterfuge he had performed. In time, Sophia gave birth, and Domaria was her child.
And in the Pleroma, the One stirred in his fitful sleep, and from that stirring, the seeds Sophia had planted in the Pleroma
began to grow.
Thus was the world of Domaria created by the Demiurge Urizen and Sophia, mother of nature and Wisdom, in the days
before days. The earliest days of the world were dark ones, as Sophia set about teaching her child the means to shape the
world, to separate night from day and the growing season from that of death. In time, the world set into a pattern, one of
organized chaos. While the world worked upon reliable systems, within those systems were vast, uncounted random events
such as earthquakes, tidal waves, and other natural phenomena. The Archons were pleased, but knew that simply watching
such a world unfold would become boring in time.
'!(
!(
Thus, it came time to introduce life to the world. Alas, the shining shards from the realm of the One had been spent in the
creation of the world, and the Archons lamented, going to their mother Wisdom to ask, “What shall we do? We have nothing
of the Pleroma left with which to create life on this world.”
Sophia saw the lie in the declaration, for she knew each of the Archons had kept some tiny shard of Creation when they
turned it over to Urizen, but she smiled to herself and did not contest them. “Go unto the world,” she told her children.
“There you will find all the materials you need to build life from the world your brother has made.”

And each of the Archons went forth into the world and saw that Sophia was right. From the building blocks of life they began
to experiment with creation, building animals resembling their own faces. Thus the first creatures set foot in the world:
felines, serpents, reptiles, fish, equines and bovines, canines, and apes. And with each fierce and vicious creature the Archons
created, they marveled at the mysterious appearance of docile and beautiful creatures that bore resemblance of those creatures
they made, for they were still unaware of the price Sophia had demanded in exchange for birthing the world.
Of all the Archons, two failed at these early attempts to create. Try as he might, the flame-headed Sabaoth could not create a
creature to match his own visage, and succeeded only in introducing the purity and destruction of fire into the world.
Saddened and enraged at his failure to make life, he went to his mother, who had already claimed the warmth and lightness of
fire and began work on her own version of his efforts. She instructed him to use the air currents created by fire, its ability to
lighten the air and cause it to rise above the world. She instructed him to combine that power with the softness of the clouds
and the sharpness of shale, and go to work. Thus were the first birds introduced to the world.
Unlike his brother Sabaoth, the Archon called Eloeus found affinity only with decay and the realms of shadow, and, too
prideful to approach his mother for help, sat brooding in the dark places of the world, dreaming of the day when his own
powers might be useful in the corruption of the races of Domaria.
*+
As these animals were fruitful and multiplied, the Archons marveled at the ordered chaos below. But there was little longterm
enjoyment to be had in creatures ruled by instinct and survival. The Archons desired creatures they could manipulate
and use to their amusement. So they returned to the world and began again to dabble in creation. And with each idea they
tried, Sophia deftly claimed half of the material to form her own pure versions of the Archons corrupt vision. And since
Sophia was the mother of the world, her knowledge outstripped that of the Archons, enabling her often to create her own
children before the Archons completed theirs.
The first race, it is told, created by Sophia was the gnomes. An industrious race, who loved nature and beauty and who had
their mother’s lust for creation burning in their breasts, they exist to this day, a wise and cursed race who alone remember the
beginning of days. Alas, knowledge without true wisdom is the first of the gnomes’ curses. They know the truth of creation.
They know the secrets of making and unmaking life. But they have not the wisdom to apply these secrets, being not of the
celestial realms. If they could share this knowledge with a wiser race, like the elves or the dwarves, may hap mortals could
ascend to greater things than even the gods. Alas, the second curse of the gnomes prevents this from happening. It is said that
any gnome to this day who speaks the secrets of creation will immediately return to the stone from which he was crafted,
along with the one to whom he speaks this forbidden knowledge. Why this curse was
levied upon the gnomes, none know, but Sophia is Wisdom, and must have had a
reason.
From the gnomes, Sophia began experiments to amuse herself. She separated the
gnomes into their three aspects, creating a race from each. The love of nature and
beautiful things, Sophia combined with the spirit of the forest to craft the elves, to
whom she gifted her great wisdom and a lesser knowledge of creation, the secrets of
magic. From the industrious, hard working nature of the gnomes combined with the
rock of the mountains, Sophia crafted the stout and hardy dwarves, whose brews and
crafts are coveted the world over to this very day. And from the innocence and joy of
the gnomes, Sophia created halflings, gifting to these small folk an innocent wonder,
and the desire to experience the world, which is why halflings are possessed of such
wanderlust to this day.
The Archons, seeing these goodly races come into the world, began to suspect their
mother’s treachery, but Sophia, unable to lie, merely sat quietly and neither
acknowledged nor denied their accusations, pointing out merely that many of the
creations of the Archons had evolved on their own since the earliest days. And the
Archons returned to work. The first to be successful in his endeavors was Oreus, who
stole and corrupted the dwarves’ affinity with the halls of the underworld to twist and
corrupt them into the orcs. Next, Oreus stole from the elves their affinity with nature,
and a corruption of the halfling wanderlust, creating a mockery of their purity in the
goblins. He spread orcs and goblins across the world, where they became the scourge
of the elves, dwarves, and other goodly races, and proclaimed himself supreme among
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his brothers for his creations.
Urizen and Astaphaeus would not have such bold claims made; the two of them thought long and hard and decided to make a
contest of winning the race of creation. Each went to his own creation and raised them up on two legs. Urizen’s creatures
were the Rawdîr, who still roam the plains to this day. Sophia looked upon the Rawdîr and was touched that her son could
create something so beautiful, and so she gifted to them Free Will, to choose between light and darkness.
For his part, Astaphaeus created the gnolls, twisted, humanoid versions of his prize creation the hyena. This, Sophia did not
like and so she took half the gnolls and re-crafted them into the Dirdraug, to whom she also gave Free Will. As she looked
upon the Rawdîr and Dirdraug, she saw that Free Will was good, and gifted it to all the races of the world, even those created
by her sons to be evil and dark. She laughed quietly, knowing that she was using the very chaos her children loved so much
against them.
The other Archons, too, dabbled in creation, and each of their
creations Sophia gifted Free Will and created her own mirrors
that would share and compete for the fate of the world. From
Iao came the hydras and sea serpents, which Sophia turned
into all the great serpentine creatures of the world. From
Adoneus came the dragons, great creatures with the power to
rule the world, which Sophia forced balance through the split
into metallic and chromatic, and from whom she created the
Saurians.
Thus it was that The Archons gave life to all beings in the
world, and taught magic, art, and science, but also brought evil
into the world, to torment the goodly races for no other reason
than their masters’ cruel amusement. The two exceptions were
Sabaoth and Eloeus, who failed to create life like that of the
other Archons and turned their sights to darker pursuits.
Sabaoth went about teaching elves, dwarves, orcs, and others
more powerful and darker magic, strengthening their
connection with fire and darkness, until they rose above
mortals and became demons, tormenters and tempters of the
goodly races. In this manner, Sabaoth spread his influence
throughout the world. Taking a cue from his brother, Eloeus,
who also failed to create sentient life of his own, taught to the
races of the world the secrets of necromancy, that they might
live on beyond death and serve him for all eternity. Thus did
the first liches and zombies enter the world.
-
For eons, the Archons ruled over all sentient life on the world, taking worship and tribute as they desired, and accepted
sacrifices constantly. The sole exception to this is the lady Sophia, the matron of wisdom and sad virgin mother of Urizen.
Eventually, Sophia tired of this constant game of war and constantly changing rules, and tired of having to make her own
races in secret, never able to take open pride in her creations, and she came forward, challenging her children that she could
create a race that would come to rule over all others in the world. Laughing at her presumption, the Archons agreed, and
Sophia set to work. But this time Sophia did not begin with the blocks of creation contained within the world. This time she
began with what she considered her greatest accomplishment: these new creatures would be made from Free Will itself. From
Free Will Sophia molded the essence of what would be her masterpiece. But she needed a shell for this essence. So she
looked down onto the world and found a creature that was strong, agile, and adaptable, with a higher intelligence than many
of the lower animals. She looked to the apes, and began to mold them, raising them to stand on two legs, stripping their fur
and replacing it with skin that had the strength of dwarven skin and the supple softness of the elves, and altered their facial
features to look more like those of the First Races. Into this primate shell she placed her essence matrix, and humanity was
born.
To humanity, Sophia gave a shortened life span, so that mankind would always strive to better himself, having so few years
to leave his mark upon the world. She took fire from Sabaoth and placed it in the souls of man, that they would ever be
driven to greater conquests and victories, and so that the more adversity they faced, the hotter and faster they would burn,
,

until they consumed this adversity and stood above all other races. From every race, she took qualities, and placed them into
humanity. The dwarves’ skill, the elves’ wisdom and power, the gnomes’ diplomatic skill, and the halflings’ lust for
adventure; all of these were placed into man. Unlike the early races, though, Sophia did not give these to man as gifts, but as
potential. Each human was to find their own path in the world, which would guide them to spread across the world and
achieve greatness in their individual fields, becoming masters of the very tasks that were so innate to the other races.
The other Archons looked on in fear as Sophia accomplished exactly what she claimed she could, and then became enraged
when she did the one thing that the others could not abide. Sophia had been fashioned of the Pleroma, and so maintained a
connection with that place even in exile. Thus, she called out and those shards of Pleromic essence that the Archons had kept
back from Urizen flew to her. Sophia in turn placed a tiny spark from the purity of the Pleroma itself into the soul of every
man. Within mankind, this spark had the ability to propagate itself, passing from generation to generation. This meant that
every last member of humankind had the potential to not only conquer the world, but to transcend it. Within each human is
the potential to return to the Pleroma after death, and to join with the One at the perfect center of creation. No other creature
in the universe has this potential, not even the Archons.
In their rage and jealousy, the Archons turned on Sophia, who was weakened from her efforts, and bound and chained her in
a deep cavern in the highest mountain in the world. They then turned their fury on mankind, making humans slaves
subjugated to all other races, and issuing a decree that the races of the world were to treat humankind with cruelty and malice
for all eternity. It is said that many the dwarves and elves stood against the Archons in this decree, and were in turn
subjugated along with humankind. Others among the First Races, the remaining elves and dwarves, and the gnomes and
halflings, simply ignored the proclamation and took no human servants. But the dark races of the world, the orcs and goblins
.

and gnolls, and the saurians, who had long ago turned from their mother Sophia to worship Adoneus, took humans as work
animals, cattle, and tools of pleasure.
0
No one knows exactly how long humankind lived in suffering and squalor. For perhaps thousands of years they cried out to
their helpless mother, Sophia, to save them and deliver them from their pain. And while Sophia was bound and helpless in the
caves of the world, the cries of humans did not go unheard. In the Pleroma, the cries of humanity stirred the One once again,
and his disturbed sleep caused the seeds of Sophia to leap to glorious life. The first gods to come to the world were the twins,
Ormazd and Ahriman, who looked down on the suffering of humanity and puzzled. Ormazd was saddened by the plight of
mankind, while Ahriman simply desired rule of the world for himself. The two set to debating while their brothers and sisters
were born of the Pleroma, and as their debates continued, so did new gods and goddesses join the debate with each new
generation born from the light of creation. In the end, it was decided that the two polarized sides agreed on one thing: the
Archons had to be driven from the world, and to do that, one of the gods had to be elected as general. This duty fell to
Ormazd, for while Ahriman was just as powerful as his brother, he was less ordered of mind and thought, and less able to
lead an organized effort. Ahriman knew this, and for the time being subjugated himself to Ormazd.
Thus, the gods came from out of the light of the Pleroma, the divine ether to which all humans seek to enter when they depart
this world, and made war upon the Archons with powerful magic and weaponry. Still, the Archons with their vaunted might
were more powerful than the gods, and the war went badly. Just when it looked as though the gods were to be defeated and
banished to the heavens, it was Aka Manah, god of secrets and deceit, who learned of the solution. The god looked into the
hearts of the Archons and saw the truth of what they had done to their mother. He brought this knowledge to Saurva, and they
in turn recruited from amongst the races of the world a devious and stealthy party to go to Sophia and release her from
imprisonment.
The details of this quest are lost to the annals of history, but what is
known are the names of these heroes, and the reward bestowed upon
them by Sophia upon her release. The heroes who rescued Sophia
were Eleggua the elf, Orunmila the gnome, Babalu the dwarf,
Chango the half-orc, Oggun the Dirdraug, Yemaya the halfling, and
Oshun the Rawdîr. Their reward, bestowed upon them by the First
Archon was to be granted the powers of the gods, and a portfolio
over which each could preside. In exchange for this reward, Sophia
took from them their natural racial forms, and gave unto them the
forms of her favorite race: humans, though each retained the power
to assume whatever form they wished when they walked the world.
After granting this boon unto her rescuers, Sophia sent them into the
cosmos, to learn to use and harness their powers responsibly, and to
wait the time when they would be needed, as the other gods were
needed now.
After her escape, Sophia came to Ormazd and lay with him in his
tent. During their time together, she gave to Ormazd all the secrets
necessary to defeat her son and his lieutenants. Through the wisdom
of Sophia, the gods harnessed the magic of the world to call upon a
powerful incantation that imprisoned the Archons deep within the
earth, where they remain in enchanted slumber even to this day,
dreaming their revenge through the destruction of that which they
have wrought, the world of Domaria.
As part of the bargain, Sophia sacrificed herself to the incantation, knowing that her own power would be required to hold at
bay the rest of the Archons, and wise enough to know that the temptation to create another offspring would be too much for
her to bear, once her first child was defeated. She kept this knowledge to herself, however, aware that Ormazd would not
allow her to fall victim to this incantation. When she, too, was imprisoned with her children, Ormazd was heartbroken and
withdrew into his great mountain to mourn. It was during this time that Ahriman gathered unto him the Daevas, the gods of
darkness and they moved against the goodly gods for control of the world. The goodly gods fought back, but Ahriman was
strong, and beat them back time and again, for they were lost without Ormazd’s leadership.
/

But all was not lost: deep within the bowels of the world, Sophia’s duty was not done. The time she had spent laying with
Ormazd had borne fruit with in her, and her slumbering body gave birth to Vohu Manah, the god of enlightenment and
animals, who sprang fully grown from her loins. Vohu Manah clawed his way up through the earth to the surface and came to
his father in his tent.
“Father,” he said, “I am Vohu Manah, the fruits of your love for Sophia. I come to beg you on mother’s behalf to stand with
your brothers against the dark gods, who even now sow destruction throughout the world.”
Ormazd took his son into his arms and said, “My son, you have brought a piece of your mother back to me. I can now return
to the world.”
So it was that Ormazd returned and at the head of the Spentas, the gods of light, and stood against the Daevas. The two
pantheons of gods battled fiercely throughout the heavens, until at last they fought one another to a standstill, with neither
side emerging victorious. Ormazd and Ahriman met in treaty on the field of battle and agreed that this victory would not be
settled by contest of arms in the heavens, but through the acts of mortals. Until the end of days, the gods agreed to cease their
eternal war and allow the tides of light and darkness to play out among mortals. As part of the agreement, the gods were
forbidden to directly control the affairs of mortals, though they could influence them through certain individuals. Finally,
they agreed that humankind, Sophia’s favored of all the races, was to be free from the oppression of the other races, and was
to take its place alongside the great races of the world. To this end they chose a great man from the bowels of slavery named
Zarathustra, and to him they gave their message of light and darkness, and the battle between good and evil. Zarathustra was
to take neither side in the war, but to present both sides to all races, that each might choose his own path. Zarathustra was to
live a hard and short life, but his message would spread, and in reward for his service to the gods, their pantheon and faith
would be named for this great prophet.
Zarathustra went forth among the races of the world and told of the coming of the gods and the fall of the Archons. At first,
the races of the world welcomed the gods, who took a much more hands-off approach to governing the world, demanding
worship and tribute, but remaining largely in their otherworldly realms, supporting their followers through clerics and the
divinely-touched. It eventually became evident, however, that not all the gods were goodly. Some were as dark and power
mad as the Archons they’d usurped, and these were deadlocked in an eternal struggle with the gods of light. Human, elf, and
dwarfkind were invariably drawn into this struggle as well, and champions of both light and darkness have risen and fallen
throughout the ages, until the day comes when Ormazd faces and defeats Ahriman in the final battle.
For decades Zarathustra traveled the world, spreading his message of light and darkness, until one day, he simply
disappeared. No one knows what happened to the great prophet; some whisper that he ascended to godhood. Others believe
that he entered the Pleroma and resides with the One at the center of Creation. Still others believe that he sleeps, and will rise
again one day to pass final judgment on the gods when their battles at last reach their climax.
Known collectively as the Zarathustrian Pantheon, or simply Zarathustra, the gods of good are the Spentas, while the evil
gods are the Daevas. Zarathustra recognizes no neutral gods, save the spirit of Zarathustra himself. While Zarathustra has
never appeared or granted power to followers since his mysterious disappearance so many thousands of years ago, there still
exist nevertheless cults dedicated to his worship, to spreading the message of all the gods and to maintaining the balance
between light and dark, for all eternity.
Thus ended the First Age of the World.
+ (
The Second Age of Domaria was a period of enlightenment and progress for all the races of the world, lasting for tens of
thousands of years. Kingdoms and empires rose and fell, as did heroes and villains. These days were the stuff of legends;
there were no great ruins to explore in the early days, no underground dungeons or hidden treasures, for it was in these days
that the secrets of the Old World were made and lost. Wizards wielded great and powerful arcane magic rose in those days,
and some say that there were sorcerers who held sway over the very forces of life and death, and that the necromancers of
today are the shadowy mirrors that hearken back to these great men and women. Individuals took to the gods or goddesses
that best suited their own outlooks, though some became patrons of entire races. Vohu Manah and Armaiti became patrons of
the elves, while Asha and Ameretat took a liking to gnomes and halflings. Haurvatat became beloved of the dwarves, while
Khshathra Vairya was beloved of humankind. Ormazd watched over all the goodly gods.
1

The gods of darkness, on the other hand, were drawn to the darker races, with Aka Manah guiding the goblins, and Saurva
being worshipped widely by the orcs. Many of the evil gods found followers and entire cults among mankind, who are born
of free will and rebellion, and seek the power to better themselves by any means.
As is inevitable with such things, the great achievements of
the day were turned to instruments of war, and the day
arrived when the dwarves and elves banded together to make
war against the orcs and half-orcs. Humans, saurians, rawdîr
and dirdraug were widely divided among the battles, with
armies showing up on both sides, as best suited the
mercenary tendencies of these races, and the halflings and
gnomes went into hiding to await the outcome. This was
known as the Blood War, and nearly tore the world asunder.
In their eternal, fitful sleep, the Archons stirred, and mortals
first heard the seductive call of their evil dreams.
Of the great kingdoms that rose and were destroyed in those
days, only two names remain. The great dwarven paladin
Lord Dunnebar, and the Elven lord Azteroth both were
seduced by evil in those days, Dunnebar falling prey to the
temptations of the god Saurva, and Azteroth being seduced
by the calls of the Archon Eleous in his fitful sleep. The two
both became cursed with undeath through their black
worship, Dunnebar becoming the first of the dread knights,
and Azteroth finding immortality as a lich. The two
kingdoms turned on each other with a vengeance, Azteroth
seeking to conquer the world, and Dunnebar looking to crush
this manifestation of the Archons.
It was during this vast global conflict that the Orishas, the
mortals-turned-gods and beloved of Sophia, felt the stirring
of the Archons, and heard the sounds of destruction coming
from the world, and knew that the gods had overstepped their bounds. This Blood War would awaken the Archons if allowed
to continue unchecked, and Sophia’s sacrifice would be in vain. The time of the Orishas, as prophesied by Sophia, had come.
So they came to the world and intervened, stopping the conflict and wiping away much of the powerful and destructive magic
used in the wars. The gods of Zarathustra tried to destroy the Orishas, but since the Orishas were beloved of Sophia, the
Zarathustrans found they had no power over these newcomers.
So the end of days was delayed, and a new religion rose in the world. The Orishas represent a wild card faction in the
struggles of the gods. The dogma of Orisha says that mortals should not be tied up in the struggles of some great heavenly
war, and should use the free will and independence granted to them by Sophia to make their own path in the cosmos. To that
end the Orisha deities guide and help all mortals who wish to break free of the struggles of the Blood War between Ahriman
and Ormazd. The Orisha faith quickly spread among mortal kingdoms, and both the good and evil gods of Zarathustra
became concerned, for deities depend upon followers. If their followers turn from them, the gods will quickly find
themselves decreasing in power and exiled to the cosmos, deities without followers and without a home. And yet, the innate
neutrality of Orisha’s stance in the Blood War, and their status as beloved of Sophia has somehow held the Zarathustrian
gods at bay, rendering them mystically unable to move against the Orishan pantheon. The Orisha gods represent a strong
middle-ground and balancing force between the good of the Spentas and the evil of the Daevas.
As the Blood War came to a stalemate once again, the Orishas sent their followers forth to destroy the great and destructive
magic and technologies used, their existence to be wiped from the annals of history. This, they decreed, would restore the
balance between the races and allow the world a fresh start. The greatest of these artifacts, however, the Godslayer Sword,
could not be destroyed. This weapon, it is said, had the power to slay gods, and transfer their powers to the wielder, but
would drive the wielder mad in the process. Using this blade, a mad dwarven smith sought to wipe out the gods and take their
place as the One God. Legend has it that he succeeded in using the blade, once, and that the sword’s effect was so powerful
that the sword erased the god from existence. The Mad Dwarf, unable to cope with the sudden influx of the powers of the
god, went utterly mad and sat quietly gibbering in a cave, where the Purifiers of Orisha found him and simply removed the
sword from his lap.
2

So it came to pass that the greatest priest of the Orishas came to their temple and presented the Godslayer Sword on the altar
and the Orishas took notice. Then a thing happened that has never happened since: all three pantheons of gods came together
to debate what should be the fate of this artifact. All agreed that it could not be entrusted to any deity, for the power contained
in the blade was too dangerous to be entrusted to any one god, or group of gods, who would quickly fall to warring amongst
themselves for possession of the sword. Yet, for all their vaunted power, the gods could not destroy the sword. It was Vohu
Manah, the Son of Wisdom, who suggested the solution. The sword could not be destroyed, but it could be broken into its
four pieces, cast to the four winds, and a powerful enchantment cast so that even the gods would be unaware of the locations
of the blade. Thus it would remain hidden for all eternity. The gods agreed, and the sword was cast away.
Alas, the gibbering Mad Dwarf in his cave heard the council of deities, and the power dripping from him in his ravings
became a book, chronicling the early days of the Blood War and the breaking and hiding of the sword. This book had the
power to unmake the spell and reveal the blade to the world once again. The other gods, unaware of the book’s existence, cast
a spell to turn the Mad Dwarf to stone, and caused his cave to be sealed from the eyes of mortals. They then turned their
vengeance upon Dunneland and Azteroth, and caused these two great kingdoms to sink deep into the world, to be forever
hidden from mortals. Even Saurva could not protect his servant Dunnebar, but he promised the dread knight that one day the
kingdom of Dunneland would rise again and take its rightful place within the world.
And mortals began to pick up the pieces and rebuild the world. Thus ended the Second Age of Domaria.
(((( %34
The Third Age of Domaria, lasting from approximately 20,000 years ago until a single millennia ago, was an age of high
adventure, where intrepid members of every race banded together to delve into the lost ruins of the Second Age, uncovering
great treasures, lost magic, and ancient secrets. It is said that many an elf, dwarf, and human in those days became renowned
after venturing into lost temples and returning with riches and untold secrets. Alas, the great sins that brought about the
Scourge wiped the memory of much of the Third Age from the world, and even today adventurers seek lost books and scrolls
that will tell the tale of these days.
+3
1,000 years ago, legend has it that the Godslayer Sword resurfaced when a
halfling found the book of the Mad Dwarf, and a group of heroes undertook a
powerful quest to stop the Archons from awakening and devouring the world.
It is said that the finding of the book awoke the spirit of the Mad Dwarf, who
sent forth his mind to possess a mortal. Along with Druj, the goddess of deceit
and betrayal, the two built an army to recover the Dwarf’s lost blade, and so to
rule the world as King and Queen of the Heavens. The struggles half-awakened
the Archons, who sent forth their own cults to retrieve the blade first, that it
might be used to awaken the Dark Ones and bring forth the End of Days.
During the Godslayer Wars, agents of the Archons and Daevas were
everywhere, and corrupted the minds and hearts of many. It was during this
period that the North was re-shaped, and the kingdoms of Dunneland and
Azteroth leapt from beneath the Earth. The seeds of ancient enmities were
sown, and the elves became envious of the riches of the dwarves. A war
erupted between the dwarves and elves. It is said that the elves invoked
powerful and dark magic rediscovered in deep caverns in an attempt to
overcome their foes, just as the heroes completed their quest. No one knows
what the completion of this quest was, but some say the heroes destroyed the
artifact by sacrificing their own souls. Others say they merely succeeded in
breaking and hiding the blade once again, and that they, like the Orishas before
them, were rewarded with godhood for their efforts. No one knows for sure,
but there are small sects today that worship a mysterious pantheon known as
the Gods of the Blade, and claim these gods are the very heroes who saved
Domaria from destruction.
The magical energies released by these two forces altered the entire world, and the elves were forever corrupted by its
energies. This was the Scourge. Because of the Scourge, the energies of creation that infuse Domaria were unleashed and
corrupted, and undead roam freely over much of the world, a plague upon the living. Unfortunately, most of the records of
those days were destroyed in the chaos that followed, and none now live who remember the dark times before and just after

the Scourge. It was in those days that our fair continent was named Vérfold, which means “land of blood” in the ancient
tongue of the North, and the name seems apt. The Scourge marked the end of the Third Age, and a millennia-long darkness
that heralded the beginning of the Fourth Age of Domaria, in which we now live.
5+
5+
No one knows how long the Fourth Age will last, but it is prophesied that at
the end of this age, the gods of Zarathustra are destined to clash in a final
battle. On this day, some claim, Ormazd will finally defeat Ahriman once
and for all, but that their cosmic battle on the material plane will free the
Archons, who will rise up and renew their war upon the gods who defeated
them. How this final battle will end is uncertain. Some sages insist that it will
spell the end of the world; others say that great cataclysms have shaken the
world in the past, and humanity and her allies and enemies have always
survived. The world, these sages say, will be irrevocably altered as it has
been before, but that a new age of peace and prosperity will arise, where
men, elves, dwarves, and their allies will at last be free of the rule of the gods
for all eternity. The only thing that all agree upon is that a great reckoning
approaches, one which will in some way be the End of Days, at least as we
currently reckon them.
Until that day, the Archons speak to their followers in dreams, granting them power and corrupting their minds and souls in
ways that even Ahriman cannot comprehend. These cults of the Archons are perhaps the deadliest threat to the world today,
for if a worshipper of the Demiurge or one of his followers becomes corrupt enough, the Archon can create within the cultist
a near-godlike avatar to sow chaos and destruction throughout the world.
As the races of the world slowly crawl forth from the Millennia of Darkness and rebuild civilization once again, these
Archonic cults are perhaps the greatest threat to the world at large, made worse by the plots of the Daevas cults, who
occasionally are used as pawns of the Archons, and whose own selfish ends often threaten to reawaken the demiurge and his
lot.
673
In the early days of this new Fourth Age, several new and quite notable cults have been gaining prominence among the youth
of the world. These cults are dedicated to the Archon Sophia, and to the One, the Creator itself, at the center of all things.
Most cults choose to worship one or the other of these two powerful, divine figures, but there are those who worship the pair
as the King and Queen of Creation; hence, cults to Sophia, cults to the One, and cults of the Mother and Father exist
throughout the world. Followers of these religions claim that Sophia, the One, or both, have awakened from their eternal
slumber since the Millennium of Darkness and have decided to take a direct hand in the affairs of the world. For the most
part, members of these faiths thus far seem concerned with helping people, healing, justice, and the spreading of the good
word, and are viewed as mostly harmless by the majority of people in the world. However, their message is spreading
quickly, to the point where several of the larger cities in the world have allowed small temples to be erected to one or both of
these figures, and more than a few villages and hamlets have been dedicated to the Lady of Wisdom, or the Lord of the Earth,
Sea and Sky. The deities are referred to colloquially as the All-Mother and All-Father by their followers, denoting their
proper place as the two responsible for the creation of all things.
For the past several decades since these cults first appeared, they seemed harmless and ineffectual; their clerics were skilled
healers without real mystical power, who traveled from place to place, spreading their message of justice, faith, and order to
the world, and rarely causing any real sort of stir. Recently, however, reports have filtered in that clerics of the All-Father and
All-Mother have begun to exhibit magical power, akin to clerics of the other deities. This means that some force, be it the
real Sophia and One, or some other deity, has begun paying attention to these clerics. In addition, the cults of the All-Father
have revealed what they claim to be the name of the One: Panádar. Is this a clue to the true identity of the deity granting these
powers, or has the One truly taken on a name and a hand in the affairs of the world? Such questions are of great concern to
the clerics of the Great Faiths of the world, as either option is troubling to the gods. If this Panádar and his consort are in fact
the true Sophia and One, what does this mean for the behavior of the gods? Have they failed in their appointed task, or have
the All-Father and All-Mother simply decided to take delight in their creation? If they have failed, does that mean that terrible
retribution is on its way?
Perhaps most troubled by this development are clerics to Ormazd, who have for time immemorial presumed that one day
Sophia would return to the world, to be reunited with her true love, Ormazd. If Sophia has returned at the side of this

Panádar, what could that mean for their own beloved father? Will he,
heartbroken, again leave the world to the mercies of the Daevas?
Some clerics of Ormazd simply presume (and in fact preach) that
Ormazd and Panádar are one and the same deity, and that eventually
the followers of the All-Mother and All-Father will enter the fold of
Zarathustra, under the umbrella of the Spentas.
Regardless of the truth, this new faith clearly has a role to play in the
developments of the world. Time will tell exactly what that role is.
Besides these cults to Sophia and Panádar, a new faith that is gaining
fast prominence and acceptance among young adventurers are the
Gods of the Blade. Those who follow the tenets of this warriororiented
religion believe that the deities in the pantheon are none
other than the Seekers of the Blade, those great heroes whose many
exploits resulted in the Scourge, but saved the world from total
destruction in days past. As they tell it, there was another great
pantheon of gods involved in that war, gods of dragons raised to
deific status who were destroyed in the final battle to destroy the
Godslayer Sword, and that the Gods of the Blade were raised to the
heavens in the place of this noble pantheon. As with most histories of
the Third Age, the Faith of the Blade is unable to provide concrete
details, as these have been lost to history. They claim that the Gods
of the Blade speak to them in dreams and portents, and that they
represent the courage, pluck, ambition, and nobility of adventurers.
The Pantheon of the Blade contains no evil gods, and their followers claim that they stand against the Archons, and the evil
goddess Druj of the Daevas. More recently, in an effort to present a more balanced view of the cosmos, some sects of the
Faith of the Blade have incorporated Saurva and Aha Manah into their ranks. Without fail, all view the Archons (save
Sophia) and the goddess Druj as enemies of the faith, and seek to destroy their followers wherever they may be encountered.
Generally speaking, the Faith of the Blade has good relations with the Orishan faith, but views the Zarathustrian faith with
antipathy or even outright contempt; citing that the gods of these faiths simply use mortals as pawns, when the fate of the
universe will one day rest in the very hands of those pawns.
Table: The Spentas
Deity AL Portfolio
Ormazd LG Creator of all that is good and father of the gods
Vohu Manah NG Son of Ormazd and Sophia, god of enlightenment and
animals
Asha LG Spiritual wealth, healing, keeper of divine law
Khshathra Vairya CG Promoter of the Divine on earth, god of wealth
Armaiti CG Goddess of love, goodness, and reverence
Haurvatat NG Strength on earth and spiritual perfection
Ameretat NG Immortality in the afterlife, growth and wholeness
Table: The Daevas
Deity AL Portfolio
Ahriman CE Creator of death and all evil beings
Aka Manah NE God of secrets and decay
Druj CE Goddess of deceit, wickedness, betrayal
Saurva LE God of darkness, destruction, power, and inevitability
Taromaiti LE Goddess of heresy, hatred, intolerance, and cruelty
Taurvi NE God of plague, famine, and pestilence
Zairicha NE God of entropy, drought, despair
#

Table: The Orishas
Deity AL Portfolio
Eleggua LN God of Justice and Fate
Orunmila N God of Wisdom and Divination
Babalu N God of Disease and Healing
Chango CN God of Power, Glory, and Battle
Oggun LN God of work and warfare, strategy and tactics
Yemaya N Goddess of Life, Death, and the Sea
Oshun CN Goddess of Wealth, Love, and Ambition
Table: The Gods of the Blade
Deity AL Portfolio
Eibon LG God of dwarves, honor, strategy and paladins
Xaron CN God of fire, air, sorcery, and elves
Karlo NG God of warriors, sailors, the sea
Klieg LN God of minotaurs, gladiators, battle
Rasha N Goddess of nature, druids, earth
Trillian CN Goddess of rogues, shadow
Table: The Archons
Archon AL Portfolio
Urizen CE Lion-headed, Creator and King of Cats
Iao CE Seven serpent heads, Lord of Hydras
Sabaoth CE Flame-headed Father of Demons
Adoneus CN Dragon-faced Father of Dragons
Eloeus CE Mule-headed Lord of Undead
Oreus CN Ape-faced Father of orcs and goblinoids
Astaphaeus CE Hyena-faced Lord of carrion-eaters
Sophia LN Crowned with a halo, Mother of Nature and Wisdom
&

(08
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Description: This realm is one of volcanic ash and evil. Overrun by demons and
undead, and named for the powerful and ancient Lich who rules the land,
Azteroth’s armies are held at bay by the waters surrounding them and the tenacity
of their enemies. Most civilized beings avoid this place at all costs. Time and again
great heroes have ventured into Azteroth with the intent of assassinating its lord
and pacifying the region. Nobody has yet returned from such a mission intact.
In the Second Age of Domaria, the great elven wizard Azteroth fell pray to the
dream-whisperings of the Archon Eloeus and fell into darkness. He spent decades
in his dank laboratories, conducting the worst kinds of necromantic experiments on
orc and goblin slaves, under the guidance of his unholy master, until finally he
emerged, an immortal lich with the powers to call upon the legions of the Abyss to
bolster his vaunted might. With this massive army at his command, Azteroth made war upon the world. His forces swept over
much of the world, an earthly mirror to the Blood War in the heavens amongst the gods. In the end, the arrival of the Orishas
and the end of the Blood War saw Azteroth and his entire kingdom break away from the continent proper and sink beneath
the Blood Sea. Alas, during the Scourge, as the world was reshaped, Azteroth leapt forth from the oceans once again, but the
lich king found the world quite a different place than the one he had left behind. He has taken to his old ways again, sending
his forces in the West to batter the eastern coast of Vérfold in an effort to take the human kingdom of Lightwolfe and again
stage a campaign to conquer as much of the world as he can. To date Lightwolfe, bolstered by forces from Dwarfholme and
Dunneland, has held strong against these incursions.
Azteroth is inhabited and boasts a population of roughly 8 million humans, orcs, goblins, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings.
Most of these were prisoners taken in Azteroth’s many raids upon Lightwolfe, or foolhardy adventurers unable to escape the
island kingdom. The humans, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings in Azteroth generally live in squalor and misery, as Azteroth is
not a kind or benevolent ruler and in his corrupted state prefers the company of the less-civilized monster races and demons.
Alas, in a society with very little social mobility, few have the option to leave. Those that attempt to leave often find
themselves at the hands of Azteroth’s border guards, who do not tolerate emigration. After all, without subjects, Azteroth
becomes insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Even those who find a way to bypass Azteroth’s security forces face the
challenge of acquiring a ship to take them off the island.
Since the soil of Azteroth is less than suitable for extensive crops, the country turns its resources to industry, mining the
precious ores that exist within the volcanoes of the region. These resources Azteroth then trades with the various independent
city-states of the Coastland Collective in exchange for food, water, and other necessities. Added to this is a renowned
wizards’ college that is open to any who wish to attend. This college teaches courses on all schools of wizardry, and in
necromancy, with the latter being the most advanced, prized, and at the same time feared and despised school of study on
Domaria. The price of tuition is seven years’ service using magic to provide the necessities of life to the inhabitants of the
kingdom. Magi are the only folk ostensibly allowed to come and go in Azteroth as they please, for the lich has no desire to
propagate potential rivals to the throne; however, all magi in Azteroth are subject to wearing a special bracelet that allows the
lich king to remain continuously aware of their goings and dealings while within the borders. The penalty for failing to wear
one of these bracelets, or to obscuring its magic, is death by torture. There are, of course, rumors that many magi who risk
studying at the college on Azteroth never returning to the mainland.
As mentioned previously, for the last several decades, Azteroth has been engaged in a brutal war with the small human
kingdom of Lightwolfe, in an effort to invade the continent of Vérfold from the east, and most of its resources are geared
towards this conflict. For this reason, combined with the number of demons that Azteroth has running rampant in his land’s
borders and under his command, few nations have seriously contemplated any attempt to invade, conquer, or destroy the
country. Most feel it is best to leave Azteroth to his own devices, but to prepare defenses in case the day arrives when he
defeats or treats with Lightwolfe and turns his sights to the rest of the world. Recently, however, there have been secret talks
between the peoples of the Coastland Collective and dark mystics from the desert kingdom of Khem, which point to a
buildup of military along Azteroth’s own Eastern border. Rumor has it that Azteroth has decided it is no longer happy with
trade agreements between it and the Coastland Collective and seeks to conquer that land and add its resources to Azteroth’s
own. As of now, these rumors are unconfirmed speculation. What effect this redirecting of Azteroth’s military will have on
)

the world, from its attempts to send troops from its western border through Lightwolfe’s east, to massing troops along its own
eastern border facing the Coastland Collective, remains to be seen.
People of Azteroth
Population by Age:
0-14 years: 2 million
15-64 years: 5 million
65 years and over: 1 million
Racial Breakdown: 80% human, 1% Dwarf, 5% drow, 5% morellon, 1% gnome, 5% goblin/orc, 1% halfling, 2% other
Religions:
Spentas: less than 1%
Daevas: 20%
Orishas: 50%
Archon Cults: estimates are that at least 10% of the folk in Azteroth worship Eloeus, and an additional 5-10% worship
another Archon (including Sophia cults).
Other: 5-10%
Languages: Tradespeak 95%, Ancient Elven 6%, Elven 10%, Dwarven 10%, Infernal/Abyssal 30%, Orcish 20%, other 5%
Government Type: Tyrannical monarchy
Capitol: Azteroth
Holidays: Resurrection Day, a festival celebrating the raising of Azteroth from the bowels of the earth, occurs at Midautumn.
This holiday is celebrated with all manner of debaucheries, drunkenness, promiscuity, and human sacrifices (determined by
lottery) to Eloeus, the Lord of Undead at the darkest hour of the night. All citizens are required to participate in the revelry,
adding to the breakdown of moral compasses of the population.
Legal System: Criminals are brought before Azteroth himself, who it is said looks directly into the soul of the accused to
determine the truth of the claims. Azteroth then either releases the criminal (which is so rare as to be unheard of) or declares
him a threat to society, to be eliminated.
Crime and Punishment: The only crimes in Azteroth are treason, sedition, attempted flight from the country, and failure to
live up to civic duties (serving in the military, work the mines, provide food and necessities if a mage, participate in
Resurrection Day festivities). Those evils that are considered criminal in other countries, such as murder, theft, robbery, even
rape are tolerated and encouraged in Azteroth. Such encouraged behavior breeds the kinds of social misfits who remain
within the borders of Azteroth because they are incapable of existing in other societies. The only punishment for any crime in
Azteroth is death by slow torture.
Heraldry: A crimson flag with a scythe and black rose crossed, a medallion in the shape of a split heart wrapped around the
nexus of the scythe and rose crossing.
Military: All men aged 14 and over are pressed into service as part of Azteroth’s military. Most of the population that leaves
the country comes from military deserters, though any who attempt to desert and are captured face a long and torturous death.
On the other hand, soldiers who distinguish themselves with skill and cruelty in battle might well find themselves landed by
Azteroth, who rewards fealty as a means of keeping his most powerful supporters loyal. Women are not disdained, though
they are not required to serve. Any woman wishing to serve in Azteroth’s military (and who can withstand the abuse of her
fellow male soldiers) is welcome to join, and some of Azteroth’s most brutal and feared military commanders (and landed
gentry) are women. Azteroth holds drow and morellon in high regard, and many of his highest ranking warriors are from
these two races.
Similar in size to Lightwolfe, Bartalaith is an elven kingdom that occupies a small continent across the Goddessmeet Seas
from Dunneland, and a peninsula on the continent to the south of Bartalaith proper. It is a heavily forested area, and rumors
abound of vast crystalline cities hidden by powerful glamours and illusions. Few enter the kingdom of Bartalaith, and most
who do never find the legendary cities. The elves engage in trade relations with the humans of Lightwolfe, but always
,

arrange meetings on a tiny island in the middle of the strip of ocean known as the
Pertalaf. This island is so small it does not appear on a world map, being less than
a mile in diameter, but is a constantly open outdoor market and bazaar, where all
manner of entertainments, goods, and supplies can be found. It is, in many ways, a
deadly and violent no-man’s land; with no country claiming rulership of the island,
no country sees the need to defend or police it. Still, those who commit crimes
against Bartalaith can be brought up on charges by the elves, and those who
commit crimes against Dunneland can be brought on charges by Dunneland, so
generally folks endeavor to maintain some semblance of manners and behavior.
The reclusive elves of Bartalaith also engage in trade relations with tribes of
humans, centaurs, and other races who inhabit the coastal regions of the Celbeneru
continent. Such trade relations are held on the elves’ lands on the plateau known as Enurta’s hammer. Indeed, for those
wishing to visit a real elf city, there is an open city located on this plateau, though as any who have been fortunate enough to
spend time in the forests of Bartalaith and have been subject to the elves’ hospitality will testify, this city pales in comparison
to the true communities hidden in the forests. As with Vérfold, Dirdraug, Rawdîr, and other wilderness races also roam freely
through Bartalaith and act as dignitaries and intermediaries between the Morellon and human kingdoms. Alas, even those of
other races who emerge from Bartalaith to adventure in the outside world cannot claim to have visited one of the magnificent
elven cities that lay hidden within the forests, and those who have speak of wonders and splendor unimagined, but could not
find their way back no matter how hard they tried, for the cities are protected by glamours that allow only those of elven
blood to find their way home.
Population: Unknown. Anywhere from 100,000 to several million.
Racial Breakdown: It is estimated that the elven population of Bartalaith is roughly 60% high elf, 30% morellon, and 10%
other subraces of elf, but no one save the elves themselves know for certain.
Religion: Most known elves from Bartalaith claim to worship the Mardukkian gods, and these are as such assumed to be the
national patron religion of the kingdom, though there are persistent rumors that the morellon in particular may worship the
Daevas or even the Archons. The drow, for their part, are well-known to be in league with the Daevas and Archons.
In addition, elven druids have been known to worship mystery cults of Sophia and the One, to adopt earth and mother
goddess figures from all pantheons, and even to follow strange faiths no other country recognizes, with gods sporting names
such as Danna, Morrigan, Branwen, Brighd, and others, and collectively known as the Tuatha de Dannan. These mysterious
deities wouldn’t be much of a concern to the other races (and deities) of the world, except that their worship seems to be
spreading among druidic communities throughout the world like wildfire. Indeed, the simple fact that these mysterious deific
figures seem to be actually granting spells and power to their followers speaks to the suspicion that there might be more
going on than meets the eye with the elves of Bartalaith…
Languages: Tradespeak 70%, elven (various dialects) 100%, other 5%
Government Type: Unknown
Capitol: Unknown. Trade relations are conducted on Enurta’s Hammer (population 20,000) and on the Pertalaf island market
(Population approx. 2,500 at any given time).
Holidays: Unknown. The druids celebrate the four major holidays of the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, and the Summer
and Winter Solstices.
Legal System: Unknown.
Crime and Punishment: Unknown
Heraldry: No heraldry has been seen from the elves of Bartalaith
Military: Unknown. No one ever sees their attacks coming.
.

3
An arid bowl of little vegetation and less water, the
Celbeneru Desert is a harsh region nevertheless
populated by minotaurs, reptilian races, nomadic
humans and a savage breed of leathery-skinned,
deserrt-dwelling Elves called the Eru’el. It is
rumored that one or more Archons lie trapped
beneath this desert, and that the desert was created
when the Celebeneru Mountains sprang into
existence after the Scourge. The mountains
surrounding the Desert are the home of another,
smaller clan of dwarves, the Mountaincutter clan, a
large population of gnomes, and a roving tribe of
minotaurs, as well as various monsters.
As the Celbeneru continent is a wild and untamed
place, and difficult to enter and exit to boot, due to the mountain ranges forming a barrier enclosing the entire region, the vast
majority of its inhabitants are nomadic, and tribal conflicts and wars are continuous as the natives fight for food, water, and
other resources. It is impossible to give a clear picture of the population or culture of this region, as it houses every type of
nomadic society from those resembling Arabic nomads in the north, to Cossacks on the steppes of Russia in the frigid south.
The coastal areas are dotted by primitive fishing and hunter/gatherer communities which often engage in trade relations with
the elves that inhabit Enurta’s hammer.
+%
This is an arrangement of human, elvish, and even a few civilized orcish and goblin city-states who
maintain trade, diplomatic, and military relations, coming to one another in time of common need.
They defend each other from raids by “barbarians” from Khem (technically, an untamed area within
Khem’s borders called “the Empty Space”) and non-allied towns, and their navy is feared throughout
the world. Each city-state is independent, but decisions for the Collective are made by a council of
elders from the various city-states involved. Currently, the Collective, which is largely an
agricultural and fishing community, maintains important trade relations with Azteroth for industrial
goods, and with Khem for crafts, clothing, and other goods. Unfortunately, there have been signs
recently that Azteroth, whose war with Lightwolfe has reached a long-standing stalemate, has turned
its sights on the Collective. Azteroth has been diverting military forces, creating a buildup on its
eastern shores, facing the Collective, which is quickly outfitting large fishing vessels with weaponry,
as its engineers work on constructing powerful warships with advice from mysterious dark mystics
from Khem. There are also whispers of cults worshipping the Archons and the Daevas in secret
black rituals throughout the Collective; these cults may be in league with Azteroth, waiting to strike
at the Collective from within. As of yet, no witch hunts have resulted from these whisperings, but
tensions grow as the citizens of the collective trust one another less and less.
Population by Age (Human Standards):
0-14 years (infant to adolescent): 1 million
15-64 years (young adult through middle age): 4 million
65 years and over (elderly): 3 million
Racial Breakdown: 50% human, 20% elf, 20% orc/goblin, 10% various other races
Religions:*
Spentas: 58%
Daevas: 5%
Orishas: 30% (broken down: 10% Lucumi, 10% Annunaki, 5% Mardukkians, 5% Saiva)
Archon Cults: 5%
Other: The remaining 2% follow the Pantheon of the Blade, the Khemite pantheon, or a Mystery Cult
*The high percentage of Daevas and Archon worship is due to the proximity of Azteroth and the Misty Isles.
Languages: Tradespeak 98%, Westspeak 60%, Elven 40%, Orcish 40%, Goblin 30%
/

Government Type: Independent city-states with a representative council
Capitol: None.
Holidays: Planting and Harvest festivals take up a week in early spring and fall, respectively.
Legal System: Representative council
Crime and Punishment: Crime and punishment are simple and direct, with each town enforcing its laws individually, and
penalties for crimes range from restitution for petty theft, to the death penalty for murder, to exile in the deserts of Khem for
conspiracy and sedition.
Heraldry: The Coastland Collective has no identifiable heraldry
Military: Each town maintains a standing militia, which can be combined as an army in time of war. They also enjoy
peaceful relations and a defense agreement with Khem, though it is feared that should the Colletive ever need to call upon its
eastern neighbor for help, that Khem would quickly subjugate the city-states as part of its empire. Still, it would be a far more
preferable fate than subjugation by Azteroth, in the end.
-
9
For detailed information on Khem, please see Gary Gygax’s Necropolis, published by
Necromancer Games / Sword and Sorcery Studios. Khem is a renamed version of the society
presented in that work. For those unable or unwilling to acquire this book, Khem could be a
mirror of the Hyborean Age Stygia, as presented in Mongoose Publishing’s Conan roleplaying
game, or simply use ancient Egyptian history as a guide to developing this region. The only
accepted faith in Khem is the Khemite pantheon of Orishas, though Archon and Mystery Cults
exist. Most civilized societies in Khem are situated along the wide river that cuts through the
continent along the western edge of the desert. This river creates something of a fertile area,
where irrigated crops are possible, enabling civilized growth.
Perhaps the most mysterious area of Khem is a large, untamed area in the mid-west portion of
the desert, known as the Empty Space. This area is rumored to be the sleeping place and
prison of one of the Archons, and men who enter here seeking to learn its secrets often come
out quite mad, or not at all.
The rumored prison of yet another Archon, these islands are always shrouded
in thick mists. They are known to be overrun with undead and lycanthropes,
and ruled by a coven of powerful dragons. It is also suspected that a band of
pirates makes their cove in this region. As the Misty Isles has no civilized
society inhabiting it (at least, none that any have recorded) no demographic
information is needed. It is suggested that if information about this island
chain is needed, that the Archduchy of Spirosblaak as presented in Green
Ronin’s Spirosblaak be located here, though take caution with introducing
black powder weapons into a standard fantasy world.
:33
Thick rainforest populated by exotic animals, barbaric pygmy humans, and
savage goblins and orcs. Most civilized folk don’t venture here, though
rumors persist of a kingdom of yet another subrace of Elves lives within the forest, and indeed citizens of the small fertile
coast on Celbeneru’s eastern side insist that these jungle elves have come to their aid during minotaur, orcish and goblin raids
on more than one occasion, sailing forth from Quartoth in magnificent green ships that move with impossible speed across
the waters. Travelers in Quartoth have also insisted that these strange elves with long ears and greenish skin have saved them
from assaults by cannibalistic pygmies, jungle goblins, trolls and other jungle-dwelling menaces. Unfortunately, no real
contact has been established, because the elves always flee back across the ocean and/or into the jungle immediately after the
battle is won.
1

Population by Age: Unknown. The jungles are known to be densely populated
by various creatures both friendly and hostile.
Racial Breakdown: Unknown.
Religions: Unknown. An Archon is rumored to be imprisoned beneath the
jungles of this small continent.
Languages: Unknown
Government Type: Presumably varies among different societies, but likely
tribal.
Capitol: n/a
Heraldry: None.
Military: The jungle elves seem to use guerilla tactics when fighting.
;
The nations of Dunneland, Dwarfholme and Lightwolfe, and the
community of Hilldale are all positioned on the continent of
Vérfold. Vérfold is the largest continent on Domaria, and boasts
three of the most powerful nations in the world, as well as the
largest organized community of halflings and gnomes anywhere.
It is generally viewed by the rest of the world (sometimes with
disgust) as the continent that defines the benchmark against
which civilization is measured. The communities positioned on
this continent share very close ties, and for a thousand years no
nation on Vérfold has engaged in open warfare with another.
Certainly there are minor skirmishes between individual nobles
and landholders, but since the days of the Scourge, Vérfold has not known war within its borders. Even the constant assaults
by Azteroth on Vérfold’s eastern coast are resisted by the combined might of all four major communities that live here.
Money: Vérfold uses a universal monetary standard agreed upon by all the nations living here, though prices of items may
vary from place to place depending upon local economy. This standard of coin is equivalent to that found in the core
rulebook, where ten copper pieces (stamped with the image of a halfling or gnome) equals one silver piece (stamped with a
gnome or dwarven visage), and ten silver pieces equals one gold piece (stamped with the face of a human), and ten gold
pieces equals one platinum piece (stamped with the face of an elf). Higher denominations exist, these being small platinum
bars or mithral pieces, equaling ten standard platinum pieces and stamped with the faces of all the races of Vérfold, being
overseen by Ormazd, but such large denominations are rare and many places simply cannot make change for such an amount
of money.
Calendar: The calendar year of Domaria is based upon the Vérfold standard, as this standard simply makes the most logical
sense. The revolution of Domaria around its sun, and the revolution of its twin moons around the world, is regular. Thus, the
calendar year is one of twelve months, divided into four seasons with each season spanning three months, and each month
being divided into four weeks of seven days each, with each week representing a single phase of the moons. The months of
the calendar, as defined by its Dunneland founders, are as follows. While most of the world uses the same calendar standard,
many countries have varying names for the months, based on the dominant pantheon of gods in the region. In addition, the
seasons associated with varying months differ based on the hemisphere one currently occupies. Vérfold’s calendar remains
named for the Zarathustran gods, despite the rise in popularity of Orisha faiths.
2

Table: The Domarian Calendar
Month Season Holidays or Festivals (Country)
Ahura Spring Rebirth
Haurva Spring n/a
Asha Spring Founding Day (Dunneland)
Meret Summer Longday
Arma Summer n/a
Vohu Summer Proclamation Day (Dunneland)
Khsha Autumn Harvest
Manah Autumn n/a
Zairi Autumn n/a
Saurv Winter Longnight
Taur Winter n/a
Zair Winter Year’s End
3
Representing the largest human-dominated kingdom in the world,
Dunneland was forged from an alliance of many free cities and towns to
stand against the onslaught of orcs, goblins, and undead that ravaged the
world after the Scourge. Given its human population dominance, it is ironic
that the founder of Dunneland as a kingdom was a great dwarven knight
named Lord Dunnebar. As the community’s tradition holds, Dunnebar, once
a great and noble hero, fell to temptation and darkness through the
machinations of a succubus named Eliriel, who seduced the dwarf into deep
love for the demon. When this happened, Dunnebar became a Dread Knight,
an undead mockery of his former self. While his fall from grace was tragic,
it did not, however, cost Dunnebar his honor, and he ruled over his realm
for hundreds of years with an iron fist, his armies and police forces
bolstered by devils from the Nine Hells, but none can say that Dunnebar
was dishonorable or unfair. Indeed, his sense of justice was rigid and
unflinching, and those who obeyed his laws to the letter were left largely
alone. But torture and death at the hands of Eliriel and her infernal servants
awaited even the smallest infraction.
Eventually, Dunnebar’s rule waned and passed away, though none know for
certain what happened to Dunnebar himself. One day, his seneschal, a
herald demon from the seventh level of Hell, held a public address where he read to the people from Dunnebar’s will, which
officially renounced his lordship of the realm and passed it to the people, who were ordered to establish a democratic
monarchy, which would cycle every seven years, the new monarch to be elected by representatives from every free town and
city in the land. Following the reading of this will, all devils summarily departed Dunneland with no questions asked, and left
the town in the hands of its shocked and joyous citizens.
Elections were immediately called for, and a charismatic young paladin named Lord Falcor became the first ruler of the new
Free Kingdom of Dunneland. Dunnebar City was renamed Dunfalcon, to represent the combination of the founder of the
kingdom, and its new ruler who represented a bright and hopeful future. Immediately Lord Falcor established a High Council
made up of a single elected representative of every city within the kingdom’s borders that would both advise the monarch and
be required to ratify his proclamations. In this way, it was hoped, it would be a long time before corruption would rear its
ugly head and tear down the kingdom.
Dunneland boasts large populations of almost every race, and has trade agreements with the dwarves of Dwarfholme, and has
signed a mutual defense treaty with both Dwarfholme and the kingdom of Lightwolfe, ensuring that almost the entire
continent of Vérfold is united in friendship and free of war. Much of Dunneland and Dwarfholme’s military is currently
supporting Lightwolfe, as the small kingdom is engaged in a brutal war with the Lich-king Azteroth who seeks to invade the
continent from the East and expand his evil empire. Tribes of savage barbarians range through the wildernesses in the eastern
buffer between Dunneland and Dwarfholme, and have posed problems for Dunneland’s outlying settlements from time to
time.

Population by Age (Human age equivalency):
0-14 years (newborn through adolescent): 5 million
15-64 years (young adult through middle age): 10 million
65 years and over (elderly): 3 million
Racial Breakdown: 75% human, 5% elf, 5% dwarf, 5% gnome, 5% halfling, 5% other
Religions:
Spentas: 55%
Daevas: 2%
Orishas: 35%
Archon Cults: 1%
Other: 7% follow the Pantheon of the Blade or a Mystery Cult of Sophia and/or The One
Languages: Tradespeak 99% (closer to 85% in the outlying thorps and hamlets); Westspeak 99%; Dwarf 60%; Elf 60%;
Eastspeak 40%; other 20%
Government Type: Representative Democratic Monarchy
Capitol: Dunfalcon (Population 70,000)
Holidays: There are seven major holiday festivals in Dunneland, five consisting of standard one-day feasts celebrating the
changes of the seasons, held at the solstices and equinoxes and celebrating Rebirth, Harvest, Longday and Longnight; a
Year’s End celebration on the last day of the year; and two special week-long festivals celebrating the city itself. The first of
these days is the Founding Day Festival, celebrating the day when Lord Dunnebar drove out the monsters plaguing the
country during the Scourge and united the lands under one banner, and the second is the Proclamation Day Festival, which
celebrates both Dunnebar’s abdication and the election of the first Free Lord of Dunneland, Lord Falcor. Founding Day
Festival is held during the first week of the third month of the year, and Proclamation day during the last week of the sixth
month of the year.
Legal System: Each town (over 1,000 citizens) in Dunneland has magistrates elected by the town or city council, who hear
all claims of criminal activity or civil suits seeking damages. Each community keeps its own militia and town guard, charged
with keeping the peace and enforcing the laws and statutes of the region. For more on legal systems, crime and punishment,
see Castle Zagyg, Vol. 1, Appendix B: Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment: see Castle Zagyg, Vol. 1, Appendix B: Crime and Punishment
Heraldry: A gray phoenix rising from an anvil on a field of jewel blue
Military: Dunneland maintains a standing army of nearly 100,000 loyal cavalry, archers, infantry, and specialists, including
magi, spread throughout its various communities. This is in addition to local militia and guard patrols maintained by each
individual city-state. Currently, military service is voluntary, but carries excellent benefits and pay. In times of war, however,
conscriptions can be called in, requiring each community to contribute 10% of its able-bodied men to enter the armed service.
7
The expansive mountain range to the east of Dunneland, which ranges almost 1500
miles across, is home to the largest Dwarven kingdom in Domaria. Dwarfholme
traces its history back tens of thousands of years, to the Second Age of the world,
though most of the ancient historical records of the place were sadly lost during the
Scourge, when the vast majority of the original inhabitants were wiped out by the
dark elf magics that spawned the morellon. During the thousand years between the
Scourge and the dawning of the Fourth Age, representatives from the Stonegrinder
Clan of Dwarves came to the ruins of Dwarfholme and vowed to rebuild their race’s
ancient homeland. It was from this clan that Lord Dunnebar, the eventual founder of
Dunneland, emerged with his knights to explore and cleanse the western regions of Vérfold from goblinoid threats while the
majority of his kin cleared the tunnels beneath the mountains of orcs, demons, goblins, trolls, ogres, undead, and various
other threats arcane and mundane.

Clearing out the ruins of Dwarfholme took decades and cost thousands of dwarf lives; rebuilding the vast city beneath the
mountains took a generation, during which the doors of Dwarfholme were sealed tightly to the outside world. Many
presumed the dwarves had failed in their task to rebuild; others put forth the theory that the Stonegrinders had simply
withdrawn from society, being tired of the politics of other races and content in their dark tunnels. Eventually, however, the
gates of Dwarfholme were thrown wide, revealing a megalithic underground complex unparalleled in the history of the
world. The Stonegrinders wasted no time in establishing trade and mutual defense treaties with their neighbors both to the
west and east, and inviting emissaries from all lands to visit their fine kingdom, which spans nearly 1,000 of the 1,500 miles
of the mountain range. They have been staunch supporters and allies of the other kingdoms on Vérfold ever since that day,
and a dwarven face is a welcome one in any home on the continent. Unfortunately, the dwarves never were able to
completely drive their enemies from the mountains, and thus see their military resources taxed between support of Lightwolfe
in keeping with the defense treaty, and from a long-standing and bloody war for control of the undermountains with a vast
clan of savage orcs and goblinoids led by the orcish war chief Rothbau Ashkugrym. A wild card in this struggle is a clan of
minotaurs that range through the mountains above ground, and occasionally clash with both orcs and dwarves. Little contact
has been made with the minotaur clan, though it is rumored that they war with a society of centaurs that competes for their
resources much as the orcs do with the dwarves beneath the surface.
Population by Age (Dwarven standards):
0-80 years (infant through adolescent): 2 million
80-450 years (adult through middle age): 8 million
450 years and over (elderly): 5 million
Racial Breakdown (Dwarfholme proper): 94% dwarves, 5% gnomes, 1% humans and halflings
Racial Breakdown (Dwarfholme + entire undermountain): 45% dwarves, 50% orcs and goblins, 5% others
Racial Breakdown (overmountain): 20% minotaurs, 20% centaurs, 10% dwarves, 10% humans, 40% other demihumans
and monsters
Religions:
Spentas: 20%
Daevas: less than 1%
Orishas: 30% of Dwarves worship the Lucumi, and 30% worship the Saiva
Archon Cults: less than 1%
Other: 20% of Dwarves follow the Pantheon of the Blade or belong to Mystery Cults of the One and/or Sophia.
Languages: Tradespeak 100%, Dwarven 100%, Westspeak 50%, Eastspeak 50%, Goblinese 40%, Orcish 50%, Gnomish
50%, other 5%
Government Type: a Council of Elders made up of the oldest 10% of the population makes decisions for the community.
Capitol: Stonegrinder Hall (population 50,000)
Holidays: The dwarves celebrate Opening Day, the anniversary of the day when Dwarfholme was re-opened to the world,
on the 15 th day of Khsha. In addition, following this festival, many dwarves make their way into Dunneland or Lightwolfe to
participate in those communities’ Harvest festivals. Besides this very special day, however, the Dwarfholme residents need
no special holidays or excuses to celebrate life. Every day is a day of hard labor, and every night is a night of hard revelry.
Legal System: The dwarven legal system is swift and sure. When an alleged crime is committed, the perpetrator is arrested
by the guard and brought before representatives from the Council of Elders (the entire Council need not be present, but at
least three members must hear each case) along with all witnesses who can testify to the defense or prosecution of the
accused. Hearsay is not only accepted, but encouraged, as the dwarven code of honor and ethics forbids lying, and if a dwarf
is caught lying in court, he can be exiled from the halls of Dwarfholme forever. Fortunately, most dwarves are honorable, so
true crimes are rare here, and often involve outsiders. Most civil disputes are adjudicated with a good old-fashioned fist fight,
which is seen as fair and proper, so long as the arguing parties remove themselves from any area where monetary or physical
damage could occur from their scuffle. As such, every community in Dwarfholme has a number of “Debt Rings,” which are
little more than cordoned-off areas where dwarves may go to settle disputes. Weapons, naturally, are forbidden in these minor
disputes, and any duels of honor involving the possible loss of a life must be approved by the Council of Elders.
Crime and Punishment: The Council of Elders tailors every punishment to exactly fit the crime. That is to say, thieves often
find themselves stripped not only of the stolen property, but of an equal value of their own property or money, which is then
auctioned or sold to benefit the town coffers. Murderers are, of course, executed, and rapists castrated. In any given situation,
#

the Council makes its decision based on the accused and the circumstances. A poor beggar caught stealing a loaf of bread to
feed his family, for example, might find himself jailed for a month while the council seeks a means to get his family off the
streets so that such theft won’t be necessary in the future. Repeat offenses, as one might expect, carry escalating penalties,
and it is not unheard of for a habitual thief to have his hands removed as a final punishment.
Heraldry: A dwarven smith at an anvil, with a mug of ale in one hand and a hammer in the other, on a field of deep green.
Military: All dwarves in Dwarfholme undergo military training from the time they are able to hold a weapon, and the entire
kingdom can be mobilized in case of a great threat. The current standing, volunteer army numbers 150,000 sturdy dwarven
men and women, mostly infantry bolstered by clerics.
Hilldale really consists of the foothills at the south of Dwarfholme. It is the largest organized
community of gnomes and halflings in the entire world. Led by a governing council of nine
elected by the rest of the community, the gnomes herein are said to be fascinated with
mechanics and clockworks, and some stories claim that every so often, the lid blows off of a
foothill from a massive explosion deep within. Otherwise, it is a peaceful community. The
gnomes leave everyone alone, and ask only that they be left alone in return. They are hospitable and friendly to visitors, so
long as the visitors display common courtesy in return. Often, gnomes and halflings from Hilldale travel to the nearby
settlements of Dwarfholme and Lightwolfe to engage in trade and exchange news of the world outside.
Population by Age (gnomish standards):
0-50 years (birth to adolescence): 150,000
50-150 years (adult through middle age): 300,000
150 years and over (elderly): 100,000
Racial Breakdown: Roughly 50% gnomes and 50% halflings. Less than 1% of the inherent population of Hilldale is
comprised of other races, though dwarven and human visitors are fairly common.
Religions:
Spentas: 50%
Daevas: >1%
Orishas: 35%
Archon Cults: >1%
Other: 20% of the population (of this 15%, roughly 80% are halflings) worship Sophia, the lady of Wisdom, who is believed
to smile upon the halfling race.
Languages: Tradespeak 100%, Gnomish 90%, Halfling 90%, Dwarven 60%, Eastspeak 75%, other 10%
Government Type: Democratic Bureaucracy
Capitol: Hilldale is a single community.
Holidays: The residents of Hilldale celebrate the four standard holidays at the equinoxes and solstices, and also take any
opportunity for celebration and festivity. Birthdays, weddings, even wakes are cause for a party among the halflings in
particular.
Legal System/ Crime and Punishment: There is little crime in Hilldale; the town jail consists of a few drunk tanks and
holding cells, where miscreants can “cool their heels” until they’re ready to go home. Violent crimes are punished severely,
with a trial before the Council of Nine and death by hanging being the penalty for murder, or long-term jail sentences for
assault or varied other criminal activities. There hasn’t been a hanging in Hilldale in decades, and even if there were one,
hangings are conducted inside a small building and are private affairs, with only the affected parties being permitted to bear
witness.
Heraldry: An unidentifiable gadget with lots of gears and springs, with a smoking pipe laid overtop, this on a field of
yellow.
&

Military: The gnomes in particular in Hilldale are capable warriors, and the community demands that all able-bodied males
be trained in the military. Generally, gnomes train as infantry or cavalry warriors (the gnomish cavalry rides rams into battle),
while halfling members of the military often form special forces units that rely upon stealth attacks and reconnaissance,
though there are exceptions to both rules.
'7
The largest human kingdom in the world, Lightwolfe is a fairly standard medieval kingdom, though
very large by our historical standards. It is 500 miles across, and spanning approximately 1,000
miles north to south. The men of Lightwolfe enjoy good relations and fast friendship with the
dwarves, gnomes, and halflings of Dwarfholme and Hilldale, and as the dwarves supply troops and
supplies to assist Lightwolfe with the defense of its borders against Azteroth, so does Lightwolfe
lend what aid it can (mostly in conscripted magi) to assisting the dwarves in their struggle against
Ashkugrym.
Lightwolfe was founded only a few hundred years after Dunneland, when a group of humans,
refugees from a natural disaster whose exact origins are lost to time, found themselves hopelessly
lost in the wilderness, far from home. With the help of the kindly halflings and gnomes, and the
support of the local tribes of rawdîr and dirdraug, they managed to survive a harsh winter in the
wilderness and build a community under the leadership of one Philip Alexius, who named the
community Lightwolfe, and was proclaimed king. For nearly a thousand years the community has
not only thrived, but grown into a large and prosperous kingdom, and the Alexius dynasty continues to this day and the
current ruler, Steven Alexius. Dirdraug and rawdîr still roam the southern and western portions of Lightwolfe, but in honor of
their once helping the beleaguered founding fathers of the community, these tribes are left to their own devices and are not
considered subject to the laws of Lightwolfe, so long as they do not harass or harm any citizens of the kingdom. The tribes
have no problem with this arrangement, as the citizens of Lightwolfe have always been respectful and treated the rawdîr and
dirdraug with honor.
By far, the bulk of Lightwolfe’s current problems stem from the constant battering of their coastal regions by the forces of
Lord Azteroth. The beleaguered people of this kingdom have held out against these attacks by undead, demons, and mundane
troops for decades, but a war of attrition is going on behind the scenes, and Azteroth has a seemingly endless number of
demons to throw at his enemies. Something will have to give, and soon, or Lightwolfe may cease to exist, and Azteroth may
once again have a foothold on the mainland….
Population by Age (Human Standards):
0-14 years (birth to adolescence): 4 million
15-64 years (adult to middle age): 10 million
65 years and over (elderly): 3 million
Racial Breakdown: 85% human, 5% gnome, halfling, and dwarf, 4% rawdîr and dirdraug, 1% other
Religions:
Spentas: 80%
Daevas: 5%
Orishas: 3%
Archon Cults: 5%
Other: 2% of the population belong to Mystery Cults or follow the Pantheon of the Blade
Languages: Tradespeak 98%, Eastspeak 99%, Dwarvish 60%, Gnomish 60%, Rawdîr 40%, Dirdraug 40%, other 15%
Government Type: Feudal Monarchy
Capitol: Lightwolfe City (Population 46,000)
Holidays: Most people in Lightwolfe quietly celebrate the equinoxes and solstices, but times are tough these days, so there
isn’t a great deal of celebration going on.
Legal System: Local magistrates appointed by their feudal lords adjudicate disputes and enforce laws with the help of the
town guard.
)

Crime and Punishment: Penalties for various crimes are similar to those in Dunneland
Heraldry: Two crossed swords over a fleur-de-lis on a field of royal blue.
Military: Currently the country boasts a military of 150,000 strong, divided equally amongst archers, infantry, cavalry, and
magi, and has a strong navy. However, the war is taking its toll and numbers are dwindling daily.
,

67+
"
33
The bounty hunter is a specialist in tracking down
and capturing fugitives from the law. Part rogue, part
ranger, the bounty hunter is as attuned to the alleys
and shadows of the streets as the ranger is to the
wilds. Most bounty hunters tend to be lawful in
alignment, seeking to bring fugitives and anarchists
to justice. There are a few, however, who are neutral
or even chaotic, serving whoever pays the most and
just as easily being bought off by those they seek to
bring in as those who hire them to hunt criminals. For
this reason, and the fact that they often succeed
where the local law enforcement does not, these
freebooters are often looked upon with disdain and
sometimes outright contempt by legitimate legal
authorities.
Even still, the services of bounty hunters are in great
demand, for the lawless are few and rarely bound by
the restrictions that hamper legitimate authority.
Thus, someone who is able to work for the law, but
outside it, is often the only solution. In the end, if you
want someone found, nobody has the skills to help
like a bounty hunter. Just make sure you’re okay with
the prey being delivered dead or alive.
(
Adversary: At sixth level, the bounty hunter has
become famous (or infamous) enough to have drawn
the ire of a specific organization whose members or
affiliates he has plagued once too often. However,
this can work to the bounty hunter’s advantage, as he
becomes intimately familiar with the signs, tactics,
and operations of this organization. When combating
or dealing with members of this organization, the
bounty hunter gains a +2 bonus to hit and to AC in
combat. Further, all attribute checks related to
dealings with this organization are made at a +2
bonus. This includes all bounty hunter class abilities.
The organization should be specific, but need not be
world-spanning or infamous. For example, a bounty
hunter could have “the thieves’ guild in the small
town of lakeview,” just as easily as he has “the black
wizards of the International Shadow Guild.” Castle
Keepers should monitor this choice to ensure that the
Adversary is appropriate to both the character and the
campaign.
Climb (Dexterity): This ability allows a bounty
hunter to climb up, down, or across a slope, wall,
steep incline (even a ceiling with handholds) or
unusually angled natural or man-made slope or
incline that others might find it difficult or impossible
to climb. When doing so, the bounty hunter moves at
.
one half the character’s normal speed. A failed check
means the bounty hunter makes no progress this
round. A check that fails by 5 or more means that the
character falls and takes full falling damage. Nothing
can be carried in the hands while climbing. Unlike a
rogue, the bounty hunter must make climb checks
even when climbing typical natural slopes and manmade
inclines.
Combat Marauder: Bounty Hunters possess an
extraordinary ability to combat their most common
foes, humanoids and criminals, due to intense
training and study of the enemy’s fighting
techniques. When fighting humanoids, rogues, or
assassins, a bounty hunter inflicts extra damage. This
damage bonus is +1 at first level, with an additional
+1 gained at every level beyond first. For example, a
fifth level bounty hunter would inflict an additional
5hp of damage for each successful hit against
humanoids, rogues, or assassins.
Delay/Neutralize Poison (Wisdom): Bounty hunters
often pursue prey that does not wish to be captured,
sometimes to the point of committing suicide rather
than being brought in for questioning. For this
reason, bounty hunters find it useful to have a

working and thorough knowledge of toxins and how
to slow or stop their effects. Unlike rangers, bounty
hunters undergo years of study and training to learn
the signs, symptoms, and makeup of poisons used the
world over, and so may actually have knowledge of a
poison he has never seen before.
Using this ability requires two Wisdom checks. The
first check lets the bounty hunter divine what kind of
poison has been used. The CC of this check can
increase depending on how rare or foreign the
substance in question is, at the discretion of the CK.
The second check is to actually delay or neutralize
the toxin. The bounty hunter can, on a successful
delay poison roll, temporarily halt the effect of
poisons. This ability allows the bounty hunter to stop
the poison from working for one hour per level of the
bounty hunter. It does not cure any damage the
poison has already caused. The process takes one
round, and the bounty hunter must have an
appropriate first-aid kit and the proper herbs and
medicines to succeed at the attempt, which can be
made only once per individual.
If the delay poison roll exceeds the total needed for
success by 6 or more, the bounty hunter has
successfully neutralized the poison. The afflicted
creature suffers no additional damage or effect from
the poison, and any temporary effects end, but
damage or effects that have already occurred are not
reversed.
Dexterous Fighting: In order to combat their
deadliest foes, rogues and assassins, bounty hunters
have developed a technique of “finesse fighting” that
allows them to fend off some of the more deadly
attacks by the criminals they hunt. When using
knives, daggers, hand axes, cat-o-nine-tails, spiked
gauntlets, light hammers, sickles, short swords,
rapiers, or similar one-handed, light melee weapons,
bounty hunters may substitute their dexterity bonus
for their strength bonus when determining if a to hit
roll in combat is successful. The bounty hunter’s
strength still determines the character’s bonus to
damage, however.
Face in the Crowd (Charisma): Through quick
changes of clothing and posture, the bounty hunter
can disguise or impersonate to blend into a crowd.
This disguise is not nearly as complete as that of an
assassin or an illusionist; it is used to throw off a tail,
stalk prey without being noticed, or other similar
effects. Impersonating specific individuals is not
possible with this ability, though affecting a change
in gender, race, or even social class is possible. This
effort requires 1d4 rounds to complete and can
include an apparent change of height or weight no
more than one-tenth the original (generally through
standing straighter or on tip-toes, or slouching). The
Castle Keeper makes the character’s check secretly
so that the character is not sure if it is successful. The
following modifiers are applied to a disguise check
when appropriate.
Sex difference -2
Race difference -2
Age difference -2 per 10 years
Social class difference -2 to -10 (CK’s
(higher)
discretion)
Social class difference
(lower)
+2 (it’s easier to be a
pauper than a prince)
Success indicates a disguise good enough to fool
normal observers, though those actively looking for
such a disguise are entitled to an opposed Intelligence
check to spot the bounty hunter. As such, this ability
is generally used to remain discreet and
inconspicuous, rather than for any sort of actual
impersonation.
Hide (Dexterity): bounty hunters can conceal
themselves extremely well in urban environments.
With a successful dexterity check, bounty hunters can
conceal themselves so well as to be unnoticeable by
most passers-by. They cannot move and hide at the
same time.
Bounty hunters cannot hide themselves if being
observed, even casually, before the attempt is made.
If the observer is momentarily distracted, he can
attempt to use this ability. While the observer looks
away, the bounty hunter can attempt to get to a hiding
place of some kind. The attribute check, however, is
at a -10 penalty because the bounty hunter has mere
seconds to find a suitable hiding spot.
Move Silently (Dexterity): The bounty hunter is able
to move silently in urban areas with a successful
dexterity check. The bounty hunter can move up to
one-half the character’s normal speed at no penalty.
At more than one-half and up to the character’s full
speed, the character suffers a -5 penalty. It’s
practically impossible (-20 penalty) to move silently
while running or charging. Bounty hunters may
attempt to use this ability in wilderness environs, but
at a -10 penalty.
Urban Tracking (Wisdom): The bounty hunter can
track down the location of missing persons or wanted
individuals within a given community, or trail a mark
through a city. A successful urban tracking check
allows the bounty hunter to pick up a trail and follow
/

it for one hour through a combination of physical
evidence and asking the right questions of the right
people. The CC of this check generally depends upon
the size of the community in which the bounty hunter
is searching, and its disposition towards the missing
or wanted individual.
Condition
CC
modifier
Small village or thorp +0
Small or large town +2
Small or large city +4
Metropolis +6
Per three creatures in group -1
sought
Per 24 hours prey has been +1
missing
Prey laying low +4
Community friendly towards prey +3
or prey’s race, class, or affiliation
Community hostile towards prey -2
or prey’s race, class, or affiliation
The size of the community in which the bounty
hunter seeks the prey also determines the number of
checks required to track down his quarry. A small
village or thorp requires 1-2 checks. A small or large
town requires 1d4+1 checks before the bounty hunter
reaches the end of his search. A small or large city
increases the number of checks required to 2d4, and a
metropolis requires 2d6 checks. Even then, “coming
to the end of his search,” does not necessarily mean
that the bounty hunter has captured his prey. It could
possibly mean that the prey has fled to another
3+(%
In the world of Domaria, nature has been savaged by
the Scourge, and many druids no longer live in peace
and harmony with the land as they once did. Rather,
they have become a far more martial force, taking a
proactive stance against those who would intrude
upon their realms. Many Twilight Elves are of this
mindset and become druidic avengers.
The druidic avenger channels her inner fury to wreak
vengeance upon those who injure the natural world.
This comes at a price, however, since the druids have
given up some of her own sensitivity to nature.
Unlike standard druids, for example, Druidic
community, though following a lead to its logical
conclusion will always yield the most likely
community to which the prey has fled, thus initiating
a new round of checks when the bounty hunter
reaches the new area.
At sixth level, the bounty hunter becomes adept
enough at his tracking abilities that each check
requires only a half hour’s time, and at twelfth level,
each check requires only fifteen minutes.
Prime Attribute: Dexterity
Alignment: Any
Hit Dice: d8
Weapons: Any
Armor: Leather, leather coat, studded leather, hide,
padded, chain shirt
Abilities: Adversary, climb, combat marauder,
delay/neutralize poison, dexterous fighting, face in
the crowd, hide, move silently, urban tracking
Level HD BtH EPP
1 d8 +0 0
2 d8 +1 1901
3 d8 +2 3801
4 d8 +3 7601
5 d8 +4 15201
6 d8 +5 30401
7 d8 +6 60901
8 d8 +7 121801
9 d8 +8 243601
10 d8 +9 487201
11 +3 +10 974400
12 +3 +11 1948801
13+ +3 +1 +975000
Avengers never automatically succeed on a Nature
Lore check.
(
Bonus Languages: Druids have a secret language
used for communicating with one another. They are
forbidden from teaching this language to any but
another druid. Additionally, if a druid has a high
enough Intelligence to learn an additional language,
the following languages are available: aquan, auran,
elf, fey, giant, gnome, sylvan, terran, goblin, or orc.
Druids find it useful to learn the languages of
enemies of the forest as well as allies.
1

This identification allows the druid to determine the
species of plant or animal and the special qualities or
abilities of the species. The druid can also determine
whether water is safe to drink or dangerous, and find
shelter and food in the wild. Gathering enough food
for 2-8 people for 1-2 days, requires 5-8 hours of
hunting and gathering. This time doubles for a larger
group of up to 16 people. Druids can only forage for
a total of 12 hours per day.
Resist Elements: At 2 nd level, druidic avengers gain
a +2 bonus to saving throws against fire, earth, air,
cold, and lightning attacks. This bonus increases to
+3 at 6 th level, and +4 at 12 th level.
Spells: Druids cast divine spells. The spells available
and spells per day are as listed in the Player’s
Handbook for standard druids and clerics, except that
druidic avengers gain one less spell per day of each
level than do standard druids, and do not gain bonus
spells for high attributes.
Totem Shape: At 6 th level, druids gain the spell-like
ability to assume the shape of a small or medium-size
animal and back again once per day. This ability
operates like Polymorph Self. Upon attaining this
ability, a druid must choose a totem shape. The
selection is permanent, and cannot be changed. Each
time a druid uses this ability, he regains 1d4 hit
points.
Combat Marauder: Druidic Avengers gain the
combat marauder class ability, as Rangers (Player’s
Handbook, p. 11)
Conceal (Dexterity): Druidic avengers gain the
conceal class ability, as Rangers (Player’s Handbook,
p. 11)
Fast Movement: A druidic avenger's base land speed
is faster than the norm for her race by 10 feet.
Nature Lore (Wisdom): Druids are connected to the
forces of nature. They mystically coexist with their
environment, gradually becoming a larger part of it.
This imparts a specialized knowledge of the wilds to
them. A druid can identify plants and animals with
perfect accuracy. To use this ability, the druid must
succeed at a wisdom check.
At 7 th and 8 th levels, the druidic avenger gains a new
totem shape. Each shape can be assumed once per
day. At 12 th level, the druidic avenger gains the
ability to take the shape of a large version of one of
the previously chosen totem forms. This large form
can be assumed once per day and the druid can
decide between the three forms each time the ability
is used. When assuming the large version of a totem
form, the druid heals 5d8 hit points.
Level HD BtH EPP
1 d8 +0 0
2 d8 +1 2251
3 d8 +2 5001
4 d8 +3 9001
5 d8 +4 18001
6 d8 +5 35001
7 d8 +6 70001
8 d8 +7 140001
9 d8 +8 300001
10 d8 +9 600001
11 +3 +10 1200001
12 +3 +11 2400001
13+ +3 +1 +1200001
#2

Prime Attribute: Wisdom
Hit Dice: d8
Alignment: Any
Weapons: Club, dagger, dart, hand axe, hammer,
scimitar, sling, sickle, spear, sword, staff.
Armor: Padded, Leather, Hide, or Studded Leather
Special: bonus languages, combat marauder,
concealment, fast movement, nature lore, resist
elements, spells, totem shape
3
A swashbuckling fighter, a man whose wit is as quick as
the flash of his razor-sharp blade, the duelist is
somewhere between a rogue and a fighter.
Concentrating mostly on dexterity, the Duelist is a
master of the Florentine style of fighting, which is the
use of two blades simultaneously. Beyond that, the
Duelist is able to use his own sharp wit as a weapon.
They have a talent for getting their comrades into
trouble with their sharp tongue and reckless nature, but
are often just as good at getting their friends out of
trouble.
Typically, the duelist wields a rapier and long parrying
dagger called a poniard (in game terms, a short sword).
But there have been instances in fiction and history of
duelists using long swords and short swords, paired
small axes, paired short swords, even sets of daisho
(matched katana and wakizashi).
3(
Combat Expertise: The duelist is an expert at
fighting defensively. Beginning at sixth level,
he may choose to suffer a penalty of up to his
BtH bonus to his attack rolls, and gain an equal
bonus to his AC.
Taunt (Cha): The duelist can use his razor wit
and words to enrage an enemy. At first level,
through jibes and insults, the duelist can cause
enemies to focus their attacks upon him,
ignoring all other potential threats. To
accomplish this, the duelist insults his foe and
makes a Charisma check, opposed by his
victim’s Wisdom save. If the duelist wins, the
enemy must attack the duelist exclusively for a
number of rounds equal to the Duelist’s BtH
bonus. Using this ability requires an action.
At first level, this ability can be used against one
foe.
At fourth level, the ability can be used against
two enemies, or against one, and inflict a penalty
of -2 to hit against a single enemy attacking the
duelist.
At eighth level, the ability can be used against
four enemies, or against up to two enemies
inflicting a penalty of -3 to hit the duelist against
each.
At twelfth level, the ability can be used against
up to eight enemies, or against up to four,
inflicting a “to hit” penalty of -4 against each.
Tumbling (Dex): At ninth level, the Duelist can
use acrobatic maneuvers to confuse his enemies
and make him harder to hit. By suffering a -4
penalty to all his attacks in a given round, the
Duelist can replace his standard AC with a
Dexterity check (armor and two weapon bonuses
still apply). For example, Leon the Swift
decides to suffer -4 to his attack roll for a round
#

and makes a Dexterity check. The result of the
check comes up 18; adding his +3 bonus for
studded leather armor and his +1 for Two
Weapon Fighting (see below), his AC becomes
22 for that round.
Furthermore, the Duelist can use this ability to
reduce the damage from falls. By making a
Dexterity check with a CC equal to 1 per 10 feet
of falling distance, the Duelist suffers only half
damage from a fall.
Two Weapon Defense: At fourth level, the
Duelist, when fighting with two weapons, gains
a +1 to AC due to his improving ability to
coordinate the weapons in a defensive manner.
This bonus increases to +2 at seventh level, +3
at tenth level, and increases by +1 for every
three levels thereafter.
Two Weapon Fighting: At first level, the
duelist gains an improved ability to fight with
two weapons. This ability reduces the penalties
for fighting with two weapons (PHB, page. 119)
by two each, allowing the Duelist to fight at
penalties of -1/-3. Dexterity bonus can also
offset these penalties, but does not result in
bonuses (penalties can only be reduced to zero).
In order to use this ability, the Duelist must be
wearing padded, leather, studded leather, or no
armor at all. Any other armor negates the
ability. Also, the weapon in the duelist’s offhand
must be light and both weapons must be
able to be wielded one-handed.
At eleventh level, the Duelist gains an additional
(third) attack with his off-hand weapon, albeit at
a -5 penalty.
Weapon Finesse: The duelist is a flashy
fighter, using precise strikes and lightning speed
rather than brute force to inflict wounds. At
second level, the duelist may substitute his
dexterity bonus for his Strength bonus when
determining his “To hit” bonus in combat (thus
allowing Dexterity bonus to result in bonuses to
two-weapon fighting). At tenth level, the duelist
has become so precise in his combat that he may
substitute Dexterity bonus for Strength bonus
when determining damage.
Duelist
Prime Attribute: Dexterity
Hit Die: d6
Weapons and Armor Allowed: One-handed
melee weapons, light crossbows, padded,
leather, or studded leather armor.
Abilities: Combat Expertise, Taunt, Tumbling,
Two-Weapon Defense, Two-Weapon Fighting,
Weapon Finesse
Level Hd BtH EPP
1 d6 0 0
2 d6 +1 1401
3 d6 +1 3451
4 d6 +1 7801
5 d6 +2 14,801
6 d6 +2 29,801
7 d6 +2 59,601
8 d6 +3 119,201
9 d6 +3 238,501
10 d6 +3 477,101
11 +2 +4 954,201
12 +2 +4 1,908,401
13+ +2 +1/4 +500,000
#

"+
Not all mystical power arises from the gods or from the
arcane energies that permeate the lands. Some men and
women have the ability to call upon special inner
reserves of strength and ability, reserves that manifest
as a power commonly known as psionics.
With a colorful assortment of psychic abilities at his
disposal, the psychic leads the way in matters of the
occult, but this power comes with an exacting toll.
Mainstream magicians, both arcane and divine, distance
themselves from the psionicist, as they fear and mistrust
a type of power they neither have nor can understand.
Many psionicists revel in this image, using it to
reinforce their own mystique, while others seek to
break down these barriers and gain acceptance amongst
mainstream society. It is difficult, however; few are
likely to trust someone who can read your feelings or
thoughts, or even control the same.
Because of the fear and mistrust associated with their
abilities, and because of the more focused nature of
their power, psychic adventurers must learn certain
combat skills to survive in the wilds and dungeons of
the world. Thus, they gain better weapons than other
magic-using classes, and higher hit dice and a better
BtH progression than do wizards.
(
Meditation (Wis): Psychics can, with a successful
Wisdom check, enter a trancelike state that cleanses
the mind and rests the body. Entering this trance
requires 1d12 minutes, and the trance can be
maintained by a number of hours equal to the
character’s level plus her wisdom bonus. One hour of
uninterrupted meditation is as good as two hours of
sleep. Also, while meditating, the character does not
feel the effects of hunger, thirst, or discomfort,
though he still suffers any damage resulting from
these conditions. While meditating, the character’s
natural rate of healing doubles.
Mental Resistance: At level five, psychics gain an
extraordinary mental and emotional resilience. All
saving throws based on Intelligence, Wisdom, and
Charisma gain a +2 bonus. At level eight, this bonus
increases to +3, and at level twelve, to +4. Beyond
level twelve it increases by +1 per four levels of
experience.
Psionic Powers: At levels one, three, five, and seven,
the character may choose one new psychic power
from the “basic” list. Beginning at level nine, the
character may choose new powers from either the
“basic,” or “advanced” powers lists. Advanced
powers have prerequisites that must be met before
they can be chosen. After Level 12, psionicists may
continue to select new powers at every odd level.
Descriptions of psionic powers can be found in a
different file.
Psychic Senses (Wis): Psychic senses are also
known as “sixth sense” and “ESP.” The psychic can
sense a few seconds into the future, thereby detecting
potential dangers before they happen, can feel the
presence of other psychically or magically active
people, can sense taint in a place where atrocities
have been committed, etc. In practice, this ability
functions much like a magic user’s various “Detect”
spells, though not as specific. Rather than knowing
an item is magic, or that a person has malicious
intent, for example, the CK might inform the psychic
that she has an odd feeling about this place, person,
or thing. Psychic Senses can also lead a character to
discover clues or important items; with a successful
Wisdom Check, this ability functions exactly like an
Elf’s ability to spot secret or hidden doors, but grants
a +2 bonus on any active search or perception-related
task attempted by the psychic. Lastly, a psychic
character always gets to make a Wisdom check to
avoid surprise.
##

Level HD BtH EPP
1 d6 +0 0
2 d6 +1 1451
3 d6 +1 3201
4 d6 +2 6401
5 d6 +2 12801
6 d6 +3 25601
7 d6 +3 51201
8 d6 +4 102401
9 d6 +4 204801
10 d6 +5 409601
11 +3 +5 819201
12 +3 +6 1638401
13+ +3 * +820000
%7
A Monk Variant
Tavern brawlers are those rough-and-tumble men and
women who love to mix it up in bar fights. They
eventually become so adept at fisticuffs and hand-tohand
fighting that they naturally develop many of the
monk’s fighting abilities, though stylized somewhat
differently. While a monk may rely upon lightning-fast,
graceful movements, the tavern brawler is all about
“grab them, slam them down, and don’t let them get
back up.” Many tavern brawlers work as bouncers in
local bars, and even hold wrestling matches for the
entertainment of the locals, in small towns and villages
throughout the world.
* Continue BtH Progression
Prime Attribute: Wisdom
Hit Dice: d6
Alignment: Any
Weapons: club, dagger, dart, hand axe, hammer,
scimitar, short bow, sling, sickle, spear, sword, staff.
Armor: Cloth, padded, leather, Cuir Bouille, studded
leather, chain shirt
Special: Meditation, Psionic Powers, Psychic Senses
The tavern brawler uses the monk advancement table
and gets all monk abilities, except as follows:
Down and Dirty: The Tavern Brawler likes to get in
close, grab and pin. Thus, at level two he starts to
become quite adept at the process. At level 2, the tavern
brawler gains a +1 on all attempts to initiate or break
free from a grapple, as well as all opposed strength and
dexterity checks. This bonus improves to +2 at level 5,
to +3 at level 8, and to +4 at level 11.
Choke Hold: Starting at level six, the tavern brawler
can place a choke hold on an opponent, rendering them
unconscious. If the character is able to grapple the
opponent and maintain the hold for at least one round,
the opponent must make a Constitution Save each
round after the first (assuming he is unable to break
free) at a CL equal to the brawler’s grapple check.
Failure means the opponent is rendered unconscious for
1d4 rounds. This unconsciousness is normal, though
deep, and the opponent can be roused by vigorous
efforts (if an ally spends an entire round shaking,
slapping or otherwise stimulating the unconscious
character, allow a base Constitution Save to awaken) or
taking damage.
Death Choke: At level 12, the Tavern Brawler gains
the most fearsome ability in his repertoire. If he
succeeds in performing a successful choke hold on an
opponent (rendering his victim unconscious), the tavern
brawler can attempt to quite literally choke the life from
his victim. Starting on the third round after the victim
falls unconscious, and for each additional round that the
tavern brawler maintains the hold after that, the victim
must make an additional Constitution save with a CC
equal to ½ the tavern brawler’s level or die from
#&

suffocation or a broken neck. Each Constitution save
after the first suffers a cumulative -1 penalty.
In exchange for these new abilities, the Tavern Brawler
loses the standard Monk abilities of Stunning Attack,
Still Mind, and Quivering Palm.
*%03*3
Rather than making an attack against an AC 15 plus
modifiers, the grapple check is an opposed check
between the attacker’s Strength and the victim’s
Strength or Dexterity (the victim may choose which
attribute to use to resist the grapple). When making a
grappling check, if the attacker’s prime attribute is
Strength, he gains an automatic +6 to the check. When
resisting a grapple, if the defender has Strength or
Dexterity as a Prime, he gains an automatic +6 to the
check when using the Prime attribute.
*%3*3
Monks and variants are added to the list of classes
allowed to perform the Disarm combat maneuver.
A barbarian variant
In the less-civilized lands of the world, nomadic tribes
of warriors roam free over the plains and through the
forests. In such tribes, each warrior dedicates himself to
a different totem creature, such as the bear or the
jaguar. The choice of a totem must be taken at 1st level,
and cannot be changed later except under extreme
circumstances, and always at the discretion of the CK.
As a totem warrior, the barbarian loses one or more of
the standard barbarian class features. In place of these
abilities, the barbarian gains class features determined
by his totem. All totems do not necessarily grant
abilities at the same levels, nor do they all grant the
same number of abilities. These class features are
extraordinary abilities unless otherwise indicated. In
addition, the Prime Attribute for totem warriors varies
based on totem, rather than all having the standard
Barbarian Prime of Constitution. In all cases, these
variants use the Hit Die, BtH, and EPP progression of
standard barbarians.
The list of totems discussed here is by no means
exhaustive. If you prefer to use other totems, you can
either substitute the totem name for that of a similar
creature (such as changing the Lion Totem to the Tiger
Totem) or create a new set of totem abilities, using the
information here as a guide.
(!3
A barbarian dedicated to the ape totem does not gain
the standard Combat Sense, Primal Force, and Primal
Will barbarian class features, and instead gains the
following abilities.
Prime Attribute: Strength
Brachiation: At 1st level, an ape-totem warrior gains a
climb speed equal to one-half his base land speed
(round down to the nearest 5-foot interval). For
instance, a human, elf, half-elf, or half-orc ape-totem
warrior has a climb speed of 15 feet, while a dwarf,
gnome, or halfling ape-totem warrior has a climb speed
of 10 feet. At fifth level, the Totem Warrior’s climb
speed equals his base land speed.
Intimidation: With a successful Will Attribute Check,
an ape-totem warrior may attempt to use his presence to
weaken an opponent’s resolve in combat. This check is
resisted by the opponent’s Will check. If the Ape Totem
#)

Warrior wins, the target takes a -2 morale-based penalty
on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws for
one round. The Totem Warrior can intimidate only an
opponent that he threatens in melee combat and that can
see him. At fourth level, the Barbarian gains a +2 bonus
on Intimidate checks. At eighth level, this bonus
increases to +3, and at twelfth level the bonus increases
to +4
Primal Attack: A 3rd level ape-totem warrior may
voluntarily take a penalty on his attack rolls up to his
maximum BtH bonus, and add this same amount as a
bonus to damage. Thus, at third level the Totem
Warrior may choose to take up to -2 to hit and apply it
as a +2 to damage. A seventh-level Totem Warrior, by
comparison, could take up to -6 to hit and apply it as +6
to damage. Or he could take a -4 and gain a +4, or a -2
to gain +2, etc.
Bear’s Fortitude: A bear-totem warrior gains +1 to all
Constitution-based Saving Throws to resist disease,
poison, and fatigue. This bonus increases to +2 at level
four, to +3 at level eight, and to +4 at level twelve.
Fast Healing: Bear is a healing totem as well as a
warrior, and as such, beginning at 5th level, a beartotem
warrior’s body heals faster than normal. Each
day, the bear-totem warrior heals 1d4+1 hit points per
level as long as rest or sleep is possible. The bear-totem
warrior requires at least 12 hours of undisturbed rest or
sleep for this ability to function. At level 12, the Bear
Totem can impart this ability to others, but if he does
so, he loses its benefits so long as another enjoys them.
!3
A barbarian dedicated to the boar totem does not gain
the standard Combat Sense, Primal Might, and Primal
Force barbarian class features, and instead gains the
following abilities.
Prime Attribute: Strength
Diehard: A boar-totem warrior’s Primal Might
increases as the warrior does. At level eight, the boartotem
warrior may continue to fight up to -8 hit points.
At level twelve, he may continue to fight up to -10 hit
points or to a negative total equal to his constitution
score, whichever is greater. However, once he reaches
this level of damage, he dies immediately and
automatically.
Extended Fury: At 4th level and higher, a boar-totem
warrior's Primal Fury lasts for 2 rounds longer than
normal.
!3
A barbarian dedicated to the bear totem does not gain
the standard Combat Sense, Primal Force, and Pirmal
Will barbarian class features, and instead gains the
following abilities.
Prime Attribute: Constitution
Bear Hug: A bear-totem warrior gains +2 to all
attempts to grapple an opponent, or maintain a preexisting
grapple. This bonus increases to +3 at level
four, to +4 at level eight, and to +5 at level 12. So long
as the bear-totem warrior has an opponent grappled, he
may automatically deal 1d6 damage, plus his strength
bonus, each round as he squeezes the opponent.
Tenacious Will: Beginning at 8th level, a boar-totem
warrior's damage reduction is 1 point higher than the
normal value for the standard Primal Will Barbarian
ability. Thus, at 8th level, a boar-totem warrior's
damage reduction is 2, and it rises by 1 point every four
levels thereafter.
!3
A barbarian dedicated to the dragon totem does not gain
the standard Primal Force, Primal Fury, or Primal
Might class abilities, and instead gains the following
abilities.
Prime Attribute: Wisdom
Eyes of the Dragon: A dragon-totem warrior gains
Twilight Vision, even if his race does not normally
have this ability. If he already has Twilight Vision or
better, his vision increases by one step (from Twilight
to Dark, from Dark to Deep). At Sixth level the totem
#,

warrior’s vision increases by one step if possible, and at
twelfth level again increases one step, if possible.
Regardless, by twelfth level, all dragon-totem warriors
possess Deepvision.
Draconic Force: The dragon-totem warrior’s Primal
Force ability bonuses are 1 point higher than for a
normal barbarian.
Frightful Presence: This special quality makes a
creature’s very presence unsettling to foes. It takes
effect automatically when the totem warrior performs
some sort of dramatic action (such as charging,
attacking, or snarling). Opponents within range who
witness the action may become frightened, and must
flee if possible. If fleeing is not possible, the opponent
suffers -2 to all actions while in the presence of the
totem warrior. This ability functions with a range of 30
feet, and the duration is equal to 1d6 rounds, plus the
totem warrior’s barbarian class levels. This ability
affects only opponents with fewer Hit Dice or levels
than the creature has. An affected opponent can resist
the effects with a successful Wisdom check (CC = ½
the totem warrior’s level). An opponent that succeeds
on the saving throw is immune to that same totem
warrior’s frightful presence for 24 hours.
Natural Horseman (Dexterity): A horse-totem warrior
has a natural affinity with horses and may perform
Horsemanship abilities equal to those of the Knight
class, but only when riding bareback (no saddle).
Endurance: A horse-totem warrior gains an additional
+1 to all Constitution-based attribute checks. This
bonus increases to +2 at third level, +3 at sixth level,
and +4 at tenth level.
5!3
A barbarian dedicated to the eagle totem does not gain
the standard Primal Force and Primal Might barbarian
class features, and instead gains the following abilities.
Prime Attribute: Dexterity
Eyes of the Eagle: An eagle-totem warrior's keen
vision grants him dusk vision if he does not already
have it, and a +2 bonus on all attribute checks related to
sight. This bonus increases to +3 at fourth level, to +4
at eighth level, and +5 at twelfth level.
Grace of the Eagle: An eagle-totem warrior gains +1
to initiative and to all Dexterity-based saves. This
bonus increases to +2 at third level, +3 at sixth level,
and +4 at tenth level.
!3
A barbarian dedicated to the horse totem does not gain
the standard Primal Force, Primal Fury, and Primal Will
barbarian class features, and instead gains the following
abilities.
Prime Attribute: Constitution
Speed of the Horse: A horse-totem warrior’s base
speed increases by 10ft.
3!3
A barbarian dedicated to the jaguar totem does not gain
the standard fast movement, uncanny dodge, and
improved uncanny dodge barbarian class features, and
instead gains the following abilities.
Speed of the Jaguar: At 1st level, a jaguar-totem
warrior’s base speed increases by 10ft.
Stealth of the Jaguar: At 2nd-level, the jaguar-totem
warrior gains the ability to Hide and Move Silently, as a
Rogue of the same level.
Lightning Strike: At 3rd-level, the jaguar-totem
warrior gains a +2 bonus on damage rolls whenever he
charges. This bonus increases to +3 at seventh level,
and +4 at eleventh level.
#.

'!3
A barbarian dedicated to the lion totem represents the
"standard" barbarian and gains the standard barbarian
class features.
!3
A barbarian dedicated to the serpent totem does not
gain the standard Primal Force, Primal Might, or Primal
Will barbarian class features, and instead gains the
following abilities.
Prime Attribute: Dexterity
Poison Affinity: A serpent-totem warrior gains a +2
bonus on Constitution saves against poison. This bonus
increases to +3 at level 4, +4 at level eight, and +5 at
level 12.
Stealth of the Serpent: At 2nd-level a serpent-totem
warrior gains the ability to Hide and Move Silently as a
Rogue.
Serpent Strike: At 4th level, a serpent-totem warrior
gains an additional +4 to Initiative rolls, and +2 to
strike and damage on the first attack of any battle,
provided that he has initiative over his opponent and is
using a light, bladed weapon such as a knife, dagger,
poniard, or short sword. This bonus to strike and
damage increases to +3 at eighth level, and +4 at
twelfth level.
!3
A barbarian dedicated to the wolf totem does not gain
the standard Primal Fury and Primal Will barbarian
class features, and instead gains the following abilities.
Prime Attribute: Strength
Track (Wisdom): The wolf-totem warrior gains the
Track ability, as a Ranger.
Pack Tactics: At fourth level, the wolf-totem warrior
gains an additional attack per round whenever he and
an ally are fighting a single opponent together. The
wolf-totem warrior gains an additional attack in these
situations every four levels after fourth. So, at 8 th level,
the totem warrior is allowed a total of three attacks, and
at twelfth, four attacks.
*+
Excepting standard elves, which do not exist in Domaria, in addition to the standard races from the Player’s Handbook,
the following new races are available.
3
The Dirdraug are a canine race, standing anywhere from four to seven feet
in height, and with fur in shades of black, red, silver, or brown. Like more
common canines, the Dirdraug have a pack mentality and thrive on the
hunt, if not necessarily the kill. They are fiercely loyal to their pack, be it
the pack they grew up with, or an adopted “pack” of friends, and casting out
a Dirdraug from a social group is a sure way to destroy the creature’s selfesteem.
Their society resembles the society of wolves, a tribal huntergatherer
structure, led by the Alpha male who is advised by a council of
mostly female advisors. The Alpha reigns until overthrown by another male
in trial by combat. Rumors persist of “enlightened” tribes of Dirdraug who
have thrown off their primitive ways in favor of more democratic means of
governance, in which even female members of the race can rise to
leadership positions, but these rumors are as yet unconfirmed.
*+ (
Enhanced Senses: Dirdraug have exceedingly good hearing. They gain a
+2 bonus to all checks involving this sense.
Great Fortitude: Dirdraug are hardy creatures, and gain a +2 to all
constitution-related saving throws. This bonus stacks with any class abilities.
Twilight vision: a dirdraug can see exceedingly well even in torchlight, candle light, moonlight, and other areas of low
illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these circumstances.
+1 natural armor bonus.
Languages: Dirdraug, Draconic, Elven, Goblin, Orc, Tradespeak.
Size: Medium
#/

Movement: 30 feet.
Typical Classes: Barbarian, Bounty Hunter, Druidic Avenger, Ranger
Attribute Modifiers: Constitution +1, Wisdom –1
Druidic Avenger Modifier: +2 Nature Lore, +1 Resist Elements (Stacks with standard bonuses)
Ranger Modifier: +2 Track, +2 Survival.
5%?
When the Scourge swept over the world, the Celbeneru Mountains sprang up,
destroying the forests of the area and creating a vast, arid bowl region known
as the Celbeneru Desert. A kingdom of elves that lived in these forests were
cut off from the rest of the world and nearly perished in the disaster; however,
the creation of the desert also spared them from the Tainted energies that
created the Morellon. Those elves that survived the creation of the desert
region adapted to the changes in their environment, and now, 1000 years later,
they are the Eru’el.
While Eru’el are mostly found in the Celbeneru Desert, some of a more
adventurous bent have left the deserts and crossed the oceans to explore the
lands of the north and seek out their more common cousins. Many of these
find the moist, temperate climates to be ill-suited to their tastes and seek out
other arid climes to explore. Thus, while the majority of the race remains in
Celbeneru, there are small tribes of desert elves roaming the sands of Khem as
well.
In the desert, elves follow nomadic lifestyles. They herd horses, cattle, and
goats across the sands, sleeping during the day and working or traveling at
night. Their wandering takes them many places and puts them in contact with
many cultures. As a result, they are welcome everywhere for the news and
exotic trade goods they carry. Eru’el tend to have darkly tanned skin, black or brown hair, and brown, or black eyes.
They stand roughly 6.5 feet in height and weigh around 200 pounds.
*+ (
Eru’El have all the racial traits of standard Elves, except as follows:
Heat Endurance: Eru’el gain a +4 racial bonus on Constitution Saves made to resist the effects of non-magical heat.
Dowsing (Wisdom): By making a Wisdom check, an Eru’el can sense the distance and location of a supply of water. CC
for this check is equal to 5 per mile of distance from the water supply the Eru’el is. There is no guarantee that the water
will be unpolluted and drinkable when found. Outside of a desert environment, the Eru’el suffers a -4 circumstance
penalty to this check due to the fact that there is more water in the air in areas with higher precipitation.
Horsemanship: Desert elves are saddleborn, having an innate attachment to the mounts of the desert, these being horses
and camels. Thus, they gain Horsemanship, identical to the Knight class ability, except as follows. For purposes of
Horsemanship checks, Eru’el always treat their Dexterity as though it were a favored attribute, even if it was not.
However, they do not add their class level to this check unless they have levels in the Knight class.
No Secret Doors: Eru’el do not gain the standard elf ability to notice secret and hidden compartments.
Languages: Elven, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan, Tradespeak
Size: Medium
Movement: 30 feet
Typical Classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Ranger (Desert terrain)
Attribute Modifiers: -1 Strength, +1 Constitution. These replace the standard Elf modifiers.
Barbarian Modifiers: +2 to Primal Force rolls (stacks with normal bonuses)
Ranger Modifiers: +2 racial bonus on Handle Animal checks (see PHB Addendum PDF), +1 to Combat Marauder
bonuses (stacks with normal bonuses), does not gain Scale ability.
#1

5%

0
Legend has it that the Gnomes were the only race that had no part in the events leading up
to the Scourge that took place so long ago. Thus, as a blessing and a curse, the gods have
deemed them the keepers of all the lore and knowledge that has been lost. The day will
come, they believe that this knowledge will again be needed, and on that day the Gnomes
will come forth and share the fruits of that wisdom with the world. Until then, Gnomes
suffer a terrible curse: any Gnome that tries to share forbidden knowledge with any non-
Gnome immediately turns to stone and can never be turned back to flesh except by deific
intervention. Gnomes always know when a bit of knowledge they have is forbidden (the
GM should always inform Gnome characters when they have access to forbidden
knowledge). Gnomes generally despise goblins, which legend holds were once an offshoot
of the gnomish line that became Tainted due to some past sin. Gnomes stand 3 to 3-1/2 feet
tall and weigh 40 to 45 pounds. Their skin color ranges from dark tan to woody brown,
their hair is fair, and their eyes can be any shade of blue. Gnome males prefer short,
carefully trimmed beards. Gnomes generally wear leather or earth tones, though they
decorate their clothes with intricate stitching or fine jewelry. Gnomes reach adulthood at
about age 40, and they live about 350 years, though some can live almost 500 years.
Gnomes in Domaria share all the standard gnome racial traits, but gain an addition bonus if they take levels in the Bard
character class.
Bard Bonus: +2 to all Legend Lore checks.
0
Legend has it that goblins were once gnomes, who turned to darkness and in so doing,
became tainted and corrupted. Thus, these creatures that were once respected and adored
by the other races became sniveling, feral creatures who sulk in the shadows and beg for
coins in slums. Still, there are those goblins who have sought to return to a civilized way
of life, and heroes among the race are not unheard of. Many an adventuring party has
considered themselves lucky to have one of these natural rogues along during delves
into unknown ruins. A goblin stands 3 to 3-1/2 feet tall and weigh 40 to 45 pounds. Its
eyes are usually dull and glazed, varying in color from red to yellow. A goblin’s skin
color ranges from yellow through any shade of orange to a deep red; usually all
members of a single tribe are about the same color. Goblins wear clothing of dark
leather, tending toward drab, soiled-looking colors.
*+ (
Darkvision: As nocturnal creatures, goblins can see in absolute darkness out to 60 feet.
Darkvision produces images that are in shades of gray, but otherwise is like normal
sight. Bright lights such as lantern or other light sources spoil darkvision. A creature
requires one turn to shift from “normal” vision to darkvision, and vice-versa.
Enhanced Senses: Goblins have sharp eyes and ears. They gain a +2 racial bonus on all attribute checks related to vision
or listening.
Hide (Dexterity): Goblins are practiced at avoiding the prying eyes of others. A successful check hides the goblin in
most settings, making him or her almost invisible. If a goblin decides to move while attempting to remain concealed, he
can still hide, but suffers a penalty to his check. If moving up to one-half normal movement rate, the goblin suffers a -5
to the check. If moving one-half to full movement rate the goblin suffers a -10 to this check. If the goblin is being
observed, even casually, he cannot hide. If observers are momentarily distracted, however, the goblin can attempt to
hide, but at a -10 penalty because he must do so quickly.
Scrapper: As small creatures, goblins have learned to adapt to scrounging and living in the shadows. They gain an
additional +1 bonus to Armor Class, and +1 bonus on attack rolls, against characters of medium size or larger.
Languages: Goblin, Draconic, Elven, Giant, Gnoll, Orc, Tradespeak
Size: Small
Movement: 20 feet
Attribute Bonuses: –1 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -1 Constitution, –1 Charisma.
Typical Class: Assassin, Bounty Hunter, Rogue
Bounty Hunter Bonuses: +2 climb, face in the crowd, urban tracking
Rogue Bonuses: +2 climb, traps, move silently.
&

@+
Orcs were once the bane of the civilized races; barbaric creatures who
lived in caves and swarmed from their hideaways to sack villages, rape
and plunder. Since the Scourge, however, this has changed. While Orcs
are still crass and generally unpleasant creatures, they have recognized
the value of cohabitation with other races, and in the Coastland
Collective, a number of civilized orcish settlements have popped up,
which engage in trade relations with the human settlements thereabouts.
Most inhabitants of these civilized orc villages are orc paragons, and
their services as mercenaries and soldiers are in high demand. An orc’s
hair usually is black. It has lupine ears and reddish eyes. Orcs prefer
wearing vivid colors that many humans would consider unpleasant, such
as blood red, mustard yellow, yellow-green, and deep purple. Their
equipment is dirty and unkempt. An adult male orc is a little over 6 feet
tall and weighs about 210 pounds. Females are slightly smaller.
*+ (
Darkvision: Orcs can see in absolute darkness out to 60 feet.
Darkvision produces images that are in shades of gray, but otherwise is
like normal sight. Bright lights such as lantern or other light sources
spoil darkvision. A creature requires one turn to shift from “normal”
vision to darkvision, and vice-versa.
Orcish Toughness: Orc characters gain +3 hit points at first level, and
gain a +2 to all constitution-related saving throws. In addition, Orc characters gain Constitution or Strength (choose one)
as a bonus Prime Attribute, giving them a total of three Primes.
Light Sensitivity: Orcs are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell, suffering a -2 to all actions
so long as the remain in the lit area.
Languages: Orc, Dwarven, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Tradespeak, Undercommon.
Size: Medium
Movement: 30 feet
Attribute Bonuses: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution, –1 Intelligence, –1 Wisdom, –2 Charisma.
Typical Classes: Barbarian, Bounty Hunter, Fighter
Bounty Hunter Bonuses: +2 climb, urban tracking
Fighter Bonuses: +1 Weapon Specialization
*7 A
Rawdîr are a feline race that ranges from 4 feet (1.2m) to 7 feet (2.1m) in
height and are covered with thick fur, which appears in an infinite variety of
patterns and color combinations, made up from many of the same colors as
human hair. Rawdîr fur ranges from short to long, and some males sport
manes of soft hair. Rawdîr society is hedonistic and sensual; the Rawdîr love
art, music, and games of love. They consider themselves an enlightened
species, and many come to feel that they are superior to all other races in this
respect.
*+ (
Seduction (Charisma): Rawdîr are an extremely sensual and attractive race.
Thus, they can make a charisma roll to attempt to seduce or convince
another creature to do something they want. This is not a magical effect, and
thus the creature will never do something against its nature, but will behave
as though charmed by the Rawdîr. Unwilling targets of this ability resist
with a Wisdom check (assume difference of success to compare results).
Natural Weapons: At level two, Rawdîr characters gain access to their
race’s natural weapons, acquiring a claw attack dealing 1d6 damage.
Twilight Vision: A Rawdîr has exceptional vision and can see up to a mile
in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor
&

illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
Languages: Elven, Rawdîr, Dirdraug, Tradespeak
Size: Medium
Movement: 30 feet
Attribute Bonuses: +1 Dexterity, +1 Charisma, -1 Strength, -1 Wisdom
Typical Classes: Assassin, Bard, Monk, Rogue
Assassin/Rogue Bonuses: +2 climb, hide and move silently
Monk Bonuses: +1 mind over body, +1 unarmored defense, using claws with unarmed attack adds +2 to damage
starting at second level.
3
Saurians are an amphibious reptilian race said to be descended from the dragons of old. They are warlike and violent, but
loyal allies to those who gain their trust. Saurians are looked upon with disdain by many of the civilized races, as they
have in the past swept over the known world like a tempest, seeking to carve out a vast empire for the lizard men. A
Saurian’s entire life tends to be devoted to their war god Chango, though more recently it is rumored that an offshoot sect
of Saurians worshipping the Archon Adoneus begins to grow and fester in the shadows, and that they will overrun the
world in a night of shadow and fire. Saurians are usually 6 to 7 feet tall with green, gray, or brown scales. Their tail is
used for balance and is 3 to 4 feet long. A Saurian can weigh from 200 to 250 pounds.
*+ (
Balance (Dexterity): Saurians have impeccable
balance and can walk on precarious surfaces. A
successful check lets the Saurian move at half its
speed along the surface for 1 round. Moving faster,
up to the saurian’s full speed, imposes a –5 penalty
to the check. A failure by 4 or less means you can’t
move for 1 round. A failure by 5 or more means
you fall. The CC for this check is equal to 2 per 2
inches below ten inches wide the surface being
walked along is. Thus, a six-inch surface, which is
four inches shy of ten, would have a CC of 4. In
addition, obstructions or conditions increase the
difficulty as well, by two for an inclined surface, a
surface with light obstructions or a lightly slippery
surface, or by five for heavy obstructions or a
severely slippery surface.
If attacked while balancing, the Saurian can’t easily move to avoid a blow, and thus loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if
any). At fifth level, this penalty goes away, and the Saurian maintains his Dexterity bonus to AC while balancing. If the
character takes damage while balancing, he or she must make another Balance check against the same DC to remain
standing.
Hold breath: A Saurian can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to four times its Constitution score before it
risks drowning. This is an extraordinary ability.
Leap (Strength): Saurians are renowned for their ability to leap great distances from a standing position. Using their
tails to boost their leap, they can make a Strength check to jump farther than one might expect. The CC of this check
depends upon the distance of the long jump. For a long jump, the CC is equal to 5 per five feet of distance over ten.
Thus, a fifteen-foot long jump has a CC of 5. Distance moved by jumping is counted against the saurian’s normal
maximum movement in a round. If the saurian succeeds on a Jump check, he or she lands on their feet (when
appropriate). At the midpoint of the jump, the saurian attains a vertical height equal to one-quarter of the horizontal
distance. If the character fails the check by less than 5, he or she doesn’t clear the distance, but you make a Dexterity
save to grab the far edge of the gap, ending movement grasping the far edge. If that leaves the character dangling over a
chasm or gap, getting up requires a Climb check.
A high jump is a vertical leap made to reach a ledge high above or to grasp something overhead. In this case, the CC is
equal to the distance to be cleared. If the character jumps up to grab something, a successful check indicates that he or
she reaches the desired height. Climbing up requires a successful Climb check. If the Jump check fails, the character
does not reach the height, and lands on his or her feet in the same spot from which he or she jumped.
&#

If the character intentionally jumps down from a height, he takes less damage than if he just fell. The CC to jump down
from a height is 5. If the check succeeds, falling damage is determined as if the drop was 10 fewer feet than its actual
distance.
Languages: Draconic, Aquan, Goblin, Gnoll, Orc, Tradespeak
Size: Medium
Movement: 30 feet
Attribute Bonuses: +1 Strength, +1 Constitution, +1 Dexterity, –1 Intelligence, -1 Wisdom, -1 Charisma.
Typical Classes: Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue
Monk Bonuses: +1 unarmed defense, unarmed attack: at ninth level, saurians gain a third unarmed attack (tail swipe)
dealing 1d4 damage. All other unarmed attack restrictions apply as standard.
Ranger Bonuses: +1 favored enemy bonuses, +1 survival, +1 scale
&&

Animal Handling is added to the list of basic class
abilities for both Rangers and Druids, and both
classes gain it at first level. It allows the character
to get an animal to perform various tasks with a
Charisma Attribute Check. The CL for this check
depends on what you are trying to do.
Task
CL
Handle an animal 1
“Push” an animal 5
Teach an animal a 2 to 5 1
trick
Train an animal for a 3 to 10 1
general purpose
Rear a wild animal 5 + animal’s HD
1 See the specific trick or purpose below.
#67*3
67*3
(
Handle an Animal: This task involves
commanding an animal to perform a task or trick
that it knows. If the animal is wounded or has
taken any nonlethal damage or ability score
damage, the CL increases by 2. If your check
succeeds, the animal performs the task or trick on
its next action.
“Push” an Animal: To push an animal means to
get it to perform a task or trick that it doesn’t
know but is physically capable of performing. This
category also covers making an animal perform a
forced march or forcing it to hustle for more than 1
hour between sleep cycles. If the animal is
wounded or has taken any nonlethal damage or
ability score damage, the CL increases by 2. If
your check succeeds, the animal performs the task
or trick on its next action.
Teach an Animal a Trick: You can teach an
animal a specific trick with one week of work and
a successful Handle Animal check against the
indicated CL, which functions as a modifier to the
base difficulty (15) for the check. An animal with
an Intelligence score of 1 can learn a maximum of
three tricks, while an animal with an Intelligence
score of 2 can learn a maximum of six tricks.
Possible tricks (and their associated CLs) include,
but are not necessarily limited to, the following.
• Attack (CL 5): The animal attacks
apparent enemies. You may point to a
particular creature that you wish the
animal to attack, and it will comply if
able. Normally, an animal will attack only
humanoids, monstrous humanoids, giants,
or other animals. Teaching an animal to
attack all creatures (including such
unnatural creatures as undead and
aberrations) counts as two tricks.
• Come (CL 2): The animal comes to you,
even if it normally would not do so.
• Defend (CL 5): The animal defends you
(or is ready to defend you if no threat is
present), even without any command
being given. Alternatively, you can
command the animal to defend a specific
other character.
• Down (CL 2): The animal breaks off from
combat or otherwise backs down. An
animal that doesn’t know this trick
continues to fight until it must flee (due to
injury, a fear effect, or the like) or its
opponent is defeated.
• Fetch (CL 2): The animal goes and gets
something. If you do not point out a
specific item, the animal fetches some
random object.
• Guard (CL 5): The animal stays in place
and prevents others from approaching.
&)

• Heel (CL 2): The animal follows you
closely, even to places where it normally
wouldn’t go.
• Perform (CL 2): The animal performs a
variety of simple tricks, such as sitting up,
rolling over, roaring or barking, and so on.
• Seek (CL 2): The animal moves into an
area and looks around for anything that is
obviously alive or animate.
• Stay (CL 2): The animal stays in place,
waiting for you to return. It does not
challenge other creatures that come by,
• though it still defends itself if it needs to.
• Track (CL 5): The animal tracks the scent
presented to it. (This requires the animal
to have the scent ability)
• Work (CL 2): The animal pulls or pushes a
medium or heavy load.
Train an Animal for a Purpose: Rather than
teaching an animal individual tricks, you can
simply train it for a general purpose. Essentially,
an animal’s purpose represents a preselected set of
known tricks that fit into a common scheme, such
as guarding or heavy labor. The animal must meet
all the normal prerequisites for all tricks included
in the training package. If the package includes
more than three tricks, the animal must have an
Intelligence score of 2.
An animal can be trained for only one general
purpose, though if the creature is capable of
learning additional tricks (above and beyond those
included in its general purpose), it may do so.
Training an animal for a purpose requires fewer
checks than teaching individual tricks does, but no
less time.
• Combat Riding (CL 10): An animal
trained to bear a rider into combat knows
the tricks attack, come, defend, down,
guard, and heel. Training an animal for
combat riding takes six weeks. You may
also “upgrade” an animal trained for
riding to one trained for combat riding by
spending three weeks and making a
successful CL 5 Handle Animal check.
The new general purpose and tricks
completely replace the animal’s previous
purpose and any tricks it once knew.
Warhorses and riding dogs are already
trained to bear riders into combat, and
&,
they don’t require any additional training
for this purpose.
• Fighting (CL 5): An animal trained to
engage in combat knows the tricks attack,
down, and stay. Training an animal for
fighting takes three weeks.
• Guarding (CL 10): An animal trained to
guard knows the tricks attack, defend,
down, and guard. Training an animal for
guarding takes four weeks.
• Heavy Labor (CL 3): An animal trained
for heavy labor knows the tricks come and
work. Training an animal for heavy labor
takes two weeks.
• Hunting (CL 10): An animal trained for
hunting knows the tricks attack, down,
fetch, heel, seek, and track. Training an
animal for hunting takes six weeks.
• Performance (CL 5): An animal trained
for performance knows the tricks come,
fetch, heel, perform, and stay. Training an
animal for performance takes five weeks.
• Riding (CL 5): An animal trained to bear a
rider knows the tricks come, heel, and
stay. Training an animal for riding takes
three weeks.
Initial Attitude
CL
Friendly CL 1
Indifferent CL 2
Suspicious CL 5
Antagonistic CL 7
Hostile, Cornered, or Afraid CL 10
Rear a Wild Animal: To rear an animal means to
raise a wild creature from infancy so that it
becomes domesticated. A handler can rear as
many as three creatures of the same kind at once.
A successfully domesticated animal can be taught
tricks at the same time it’s being raised, or it can
be taught as a domesticated animal later.
Taming an Animal: A Ranger or Druid can
attempt, with a Charisma check, to calm or tame a
wild animal so that it can be handled, or so that it
does not feel threatened (i.e. stop it from
attacking). The CL for this check is dependent
upon the beast’s attitude when encountered. The
CL listed is for a check to improve the animal’s
attitude by one step; multiple Checks are allowed,
but a failure downgrades the animal’s attitude by
two steps. An animal downgraded beyond Hostile

immediately attacks and no further checks are
allowed.
In general, a character becomes fatigued if he
suffers 75% of his current hit points (round down)
in damage, or if he fails a Constitution check for
any reason related to pushing the body beyond its
normal limits. Many diseases (CK’s discretion)
and all Energy Drain attacks result in fatigue. The
exact effects of fatigue and exhaustion are
explained below.
Exhausted
An exhausted character moves at half speed and
takes a -4 penalty to Strength and Dexterity, and
must make a Constitution check at the end of each
round in which any sort of strenuous activity
occurs, with a cumulative penalty of -1 per
consecutive round of strenuous activity. Failure
means the character passes out. After 1 hour of
Fighting Defensively is a new combat maneuver
that allows a character to remain cautious while in
combat, keeping his guard up and taking only the
most well-considered attempts to injure his
opponent. Fighting Defensively normally provides
These rules assume that most player characters in
a campaign are assumed to be literate. If this is the
case, characters of the Barbarian class should be
As characters increase in level, their deeds tend to
precede them as storytellers and bards spread tales
of their exploits. Any time there is a chance of a
character being recognized, the CK makes a
Reputation Check using the Intelligence bonus of
the NPC, plus the level of the character being
recognized. A separate check should be made for
each character, unless the party is more important
(i.e. a legendary group such as the Knights of the
Round Table). In the case of a party Reputation
!3 5B3
!%
'+
*3
&.
complete rest, an exhausted character becomes
fatigued. A fatigued character becomes exhausted
by doing something else that would normally
cause fatigue.
Fatigued
A fatigued character can neither run nor charge
(can only move up to his base movement rate) and
takes a -2 penalty to Strength and Dexterity. Doing
anything that would normally result in fatigue
causes the fatigued character to become exhausted.
After 8 hours of complete rest, fatigued characters
are no longer fatigued. The only exception to this
is in the case of diseases that cause fatigue. In such
cases, diseased characters generally remain
fatigued until the disease is treated or cured.
+2 to the AC of the character, while inflicting a -4
penalty to attacks the defensive character makes
that round.
assumed to be illiterate, a drawback that can be
gotten rid of by multiclassing with any other class.
Check, use the average level of all characters in
the party, +1 per party member present.
This Reputation check has a CL based on how far
from their usual base of operations the party is,
and whether or not the character(s) are actively
trying to remain discreet. If the check succeeds,
the character(s) is recognized, providing a +2 to
efforts to be diplomatic, intimidating, or social, or
in the cases of infamy, may result in the immediate
notification of the proper authorities, or may cause

all manner of other troubles for the group, at the
CK’s discretion.
Castle Keepers may also assign bonuses to
reputation checks for characters who perform great
Table: CL Modifiers for Reputation
Circumstance
CL Mod.
Less than a mile from normal -5
base of operations
Less than 10 miles from normal -2
base of operations
10-15 miles away from normal +1
base of operations
16-30 miles away from normal +2
base of operations
31-50 miles away from normal +3
base of operations
50-100 miles away from normal +5
base of operations
Over 100 miles away from +10
normal base of operations
Over 500 miles away from +20
normal base of operations
Over 1000 miles away from +30
normal base of operations
Characters are trying to remain +1 to +5*
discreet
Characters are actively calling -1 to -10*
attention to themselves
*depends on exactly what the characters are doing, at the CK’s discretion.
or evil deeds. Players who receive these bonuses
should note them on their character sheet, keeping
track of bonuses for fame and bonuses for infamy.
Psionic powers are abilities that impart great and broad
power, but are far more focused than the magic
wielded by that of wizards and clerics. Psionicists
may have far more control over one or two areas of
power, but will never have the diversity of effects
available to them that their more traditional magicusing
counterparts have. Even still, psionics is a
gateway to vast power that creates suspicion and
jealousy in more traditional magic users.
Many games use psionics as not much more than
another form of magic; psionic power accomplishes
many of the same things that magic does, is broken
down into spell-like lists of effects, and psionicists
resemble little more than clerics or magi with a
different flavor. Worse, systems that do this fail to
present psychic powers that ring true of those we read
about in many science fiction novels, and those that
fall into the realm of what we grudgingly (and for lack
of a better term) call “believability.” We’ve all heard
"+"7
of clairvoyance, of E.S.P., of telekinesis, even of
pyrokinesis. Outside of systems that are trying to do
little more than simulate a different kind of magic,
whoever heard of psychic teleportation, or psychic
time travel? This system attempts to present a psychic
powers system that not only is very different from
magic, but that remains in the realm of “familiar”
insofar as what psychic power is and what it can do.
$"+"7
Like all abilities in the system, psionic powers work
off of an attribute check and have a Challenge Base of
12 if the attribute upon which they are based is Prime,
and a Base of 18 if it is a non-prime Attribute. For this
reason, Wisdom-based psionic powers are the most
commonly encountered ones (given that Wisdom is the
Prime for the Psionicist class), though human
psionicists often exhibit a range of powers dedicated
across their three mental attributes. Unless otherwise
noted, any psychic powers that can be used on others
have a range of “line of sight.”
&/

Since the range of effects possible with many psionic
powers is broad and varied, CK’s and players are
encouraged to invent new effects and manifestations of
their powers, using those listed as examples. The CC
to use these effects, as well as whether the power is
activated by a simple Attribute check or a Psychic
attack roll (see below) is always at the discretion of the
CK.
"+++C
Any time a psionicists attempts an ability beyond their
current expertise, there is a chance of suffering psychic
backlash, a sort of burnout for pushing their limits. If
at any time a psionicist fails her roll to activate a
psionic power, she suffers 1d4 points of subdual
damage per CC of the power, and may not access that
particular ability for 24 hours.
Example: Clara, a third-level psionicist with 18
Wisdom, attempts to activate her pyrokinesis power to
mimic a fireball spell. Since fireball is a damaging
spell, 3 rd -level for wizards, it has a CC of 6 (see
Psionics and Magic, below). Pyrokinesis is a
Wisdom-based ability (p. 6), a Prime for psionicists.
Hence, the CL for her to activate the power is 18. She
rolls and gets a 10. She adds her Wisdom modifier
(+3) and her level (3) and gets only a 16. The power
fizzles. Clara suffers 6d4 points of subdual damage
(CC 6 power; d4 per level) and may not use her
pyrokinetic abilities for another day. Perhaps she
would’ve been better off with Burning Hands…
"+ - +
Despite our earlier assertion that psionics and magic
should be distinct and separate, there are inevitably
areas where the two will overlap (pyrokinesis, for
example, will have the ability to create flame effects
similar to Burning Hands and Fireball.) In general, a
power that mimics an existing spell has a CC equal to
the spell level +2 for non-damaging spells, and spell
level +3 for combat-oriented spells. The power’s effect
then functions identically to the spell it is mimicking.
"++(+C*
In some cases, usually when an ability causes direct,
physical harm to an opponent (such as hurling an
object with Telekinesis, or using Pyrokinesis against a
living opponent) a power will indicate the necessity
for a psychic attack roll. In this case, rather than a
standard Attribute check, treat the power’s usage as an
attack roll, substituting the power’s associate attribute
for strength. Thus, if a power is based upon Wisdom,
a psychic attack roll for that power would be Wis
Bonus + BtH + d20.
The AC of the target of a psionic attack, for attacks
that create physical effects, such as telekinetic attacks,
is standard, unless the effect mimics a spell, in which
case the effect is subject to the same restrictions as the
spell it is mimicking (fireball, for example, doesn’t
require a roll vs. AC to activate; it goes off based on
the spell CC and is then subject to the same
restrictions and effects as the spell). For effects such
as Biokinetic Harm, which deals damage by
manipulating the victim’s biological processes, AC is
determined by adding the victim’s level and Wisdom
bonus to 10; armor bonuses do not apply. As always,
the CK is the final arbiter of the target’s AC.
*"+"7
In most cases, an unwilling victim of a psychic power
resists using a resisted Wisdom check against the
result of the psionic’s roll to use the power. Generally,
the CC for this save is equal to the psychic’s level +
the modifier for the attribute used to activate the
power.
In cases where a psionic power mimics a magic spell
effect, the power (once successfully activated via the
appropriate Attribute check or Psychic Attack Roll) is
subject to the same restrictions, limitations, and
resistances as the spell.
+"+"7
Listed below are descriptions of the Basic Psionic
Powers. These abilities have no prerequisite, and a
psionic character can select them any time a new
power is available.
Biokinetic Healing (Cha)
Biokinetic healing allows a psychic, with a successful
Charisma check, to heal injury or disease in another.
So long as the patient is conscious and mobile (i.e. hit
points are still above zero) this Charisma check is a
standard Attribute check. The amount of damage that
may be healed by this ability is 1d4 per every 2
psionicist levels.
For patients who have been reduced below zero hit
points, two Charisma checks must be made; the first,
modified by the number of hit points below zero the
patient is, stabilizes the patient. Thus, if the patient is
currently at -5 hit points, the psychic suffers -5 on her
Charisma check to stabilize. The second is a standard
roll that restores hit points as standard. Once a patient
&1

is stabilized, no further stabilization checks need be
made to heal additional hit points; all checks heal hit
points as standard.
In addition, this ability can restore 1d4 points of
attribute damage if the psychic makes a Charisma
check with a penalty equal to the attribute damage
suffered; if a patient has suffered 4 points of attribute
damage, the Charisma check to attempt to restore is at
-4.
Finally, Biokinetic Healing can cure diseases and
purge the body of poisons in the same manner as the
Cure Disease and Remove Poison cleric spells, though
the psionic version requires a Charisma check.
This ability requires a “laying on of hands”; in other
words, the psychic must touch the patient to be healed.
Note that Biokinetic healing only works on others, not
on the psychic. Also, unlike Clerical healing,
biokinetic healing has no appreciable effect on undead.
Clairaudience (Int)
Clairaudience is an ability that allows the psychic to
hear things far away. Unlike most psychic powers,
this ability and its cousin, clairvoyance, are designed
to transcend normal senses and step outside of “line of
sight.” To use this ability, the psychic must know
exactly where his target is, or be intimately familiar
with the target (family member, lover, very close
friend, etc.), or must have some personal item of the
target’s to use as a psychic focus. This ability is
focused upon a living creature, not upon a place,
unless used in conjunction with a successful
Clairvoyance attempt (see below). Using this ability
requires an Intelligence check with a CC equal to 1 per
5 miles of the target. If successful, the psychic can
hear as though she were in the room with the subject.
Clairvoyance (Int)
Also known as “remote viewing,” clairvoyance allows
the psychic to see people, places, and things far from
his current location. The Challenge Class to use this
ability is the same as Clairaudience (see above) but
Clairvoyance may be focused upon a location or object
as well as a person; the rules of familiarity still apply
just as with Clairaudience, however. If a psychic
makes a successful clairvoyance roll, he may use any
psychic powers he possesses as though his target were
in direct line of sight (including clairaudience, which
requires only a basic (CC 0) Intelligence check to
activate in this case).
)2
Clairvoyance has another use as well, however; the
psychic can use it to gain visions of the future. This
ability works exactly as a Cleric’s Divination or
Communion spell, but the answers come from within
the cleric, and require an Intelligence check to
activate; simulating a Divination spell is CC 5;
simulating a Communion spell is CC 8.
Combat Awareness (Int)
In many ways, Combat Awareness is an extension of
the psychic’s basic psionic senses, but geared
specifically towards the dangers involved in battle.
Activating the ability requires an Intelligence check
with a Challenge Class equal to the average of all
attackers currently threatening the psychic. While this
power is active, the psychic may substitute
Intelligence-based Psychic Attack rolls for normal
attack rolls during combat. The psychic must make
this check each round to maintain the power.
Further, while the power is active, the psychic gains a
bonus to AC equal to his Intelligence Bonus. Finally,
any time a Rogue attempts to Sneak Attack the psychic
while this power is active, the psychic may make an
Intelligence Check opposed by the Rogue’s Dexterity
Check; if the psychic wins, he is immune to the effects
of the Sneak Attack (but may still be struck as a
regular attack, if the Rogue’s attack is successful).
Empathic Transmission (Cha)
Empathic Transmission lets you project an emotion at
an opponent and cause them to feel it. For example,
you could cause someone to feel afraid or hopeless,
giving you an advantage in combat; alternately, you
could cause that hot bar maid to be consumed with
desire to guarantee a fun night (at least, until her father
finds out).
Use of this ability requires a full round; it cannot be
used while the psychic engages in combat, as it
requires focused concentration. Once successfully
invoked, the power lasts as long as the psychic
concentrates on the victim or for 1D4 rounds per level
of the psychic after concentration stops. The opponent
resists with a Wisdom check.
Emotions that can be invoked with this power are
divided into the groupings of Easy, Medium, and
Hard. Easy emotions have a CC of 1 to invoke;
medium emotions have a CC of 6, and hard emotions
have a CC of 12. Some possible emotions are listed
below; others may be devised by the player or CK as
the game goes on. Note that the CK should always
roll uses of this power in secret; unless he possesses

the Empathy power (see below) the psychic has no
way of knowing if he was successful in the use of this
power until he observes the target’s behavior.
55:
Antipathy: the target’s attitude is worsened by one
step.
Good Will: the target’s attitude is improved by one
step.
Trepidation: the target is shaken, suffering a -2 morale
penalty on attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving
throws.
- 35:
Amiability: the target’s attitude is improved by two
steps.
Discord: the target’s attitude is worsened by two steps.
Fright: the target is frightened, fleeing as well as it
can. If unable to flee, the target is shaken and will
attempt to flee at the first opportunity.
Love/Lust: the target is charmed.
Rage: The target enters a blind rage and attacks the
nearest creature immediately.
Weariness: the target feels fatigued.
5
Hopelessness: The target loses all hope and submits to
simple demands from opponents, sucha s to surrender
or get out. If no foes are present to make demands,
there is a 25% chance that the hopless creature is
unable to take any action except hold its ground. If the
creature remains free to act, there is a 25% chance that
it retreats at normal speed.
Nausea: The target is unable to attack, cast spells,
concentrate, or do anything else requiring attention or
concentration. The target can do nothing on his turn
except move at standard speed.
Panic: The target becomes panicked and suffers a -2
morale penalty on all attack rolls, damage rolls, and
saving throws, and must flee at the first opportunity.
If cornered, the victim will simply cower. Generally,
panic involves crying, screaming, begging, and other
noisy factors.
Empathy (Cha)
Empathy allows you to detect the emotional state of a
single creature, gaining insight into the target’s mood
and attitude. To perform this ability, you must spend
an entire round concentrating on the target and make a
Charisma Check with a CC equal to the target’s
Wisdom bonus. There is no way to actively resist this
ability. If the roll succeeds, you receive a general
description of the target’s emotional state. This ability
grants the user a +4 bonus on all attempts to bluff,
intimidate, charm, or otherwise non-psychically
influence the target (this bonus does not apply to the
use of Empathic Transmission.)
Mental Stun (Cha)
By making a Charisma-based psychic attack roll, the
character fires a blast of psychic energy at his
opponent, causing nonlethal damage and potentially
stunning his opponent. This ability deals 1d6 points of
nonlethal damage, and requires the opponent to make a
Wisdom-based save (CC 1) or be stunned, suffering a -
2 to AC, losing his dexterity bonus to AC, and being
unable to take any actions for 1d4 rounds. At the end
of this d4 rounds, the victim may attempt another save;
if successful, he shakes off the effects of the stun. If
unsuccessful, he remains shaken for an additional 1d6
minutes, suffering -2 to all attack rolls, ability checks,
and saving throws. Repeated uses of this ability
against the same victim deal extra nonlethal damage,
and require additional saving throws or the amount of
time the victim remains stunned increases.
Mesmerism (Cha)
Mesmerism requires a Charisma check resisted by the
target’s Wisdom check. If successful, the psychic can
create the effect of any of the following spells:
Command (CC 1), Sleep (CC 1 and affects one
creature only, but is not restricted by HD), Suggestion
(CC 5), or Confusion (CC 7). The difficulty for the
victim to resist this effect is equal to the result of the
psychic’s Wisdom Check, and the psychic must
declare which effect he is trying to invoke before using
this power.
Metabolic Control (Wis)
The basic use of Metabolic Control works in an
identical fashion to Biokinetic Heal, but works on the
psychic rather than on another.
A secondary, albeit just as important, use of this power
is the classic “mind over matter.” Any time a
character with Metabolic Control fails a Constitutionbased
Save, he may immediately roll a second,
Wisdom-based save against the same CC or target as
the failed Con-based save, though the Wisdom save
suffers a -4 penalty. If this second save is successful,
treat the situation as though the Constitution save had
succeeded.
)

Obfuscation (Cha)
Obfuscation is an ability that allows a psychic to move
undetected, even when in plain sight or in the middle
of a crowd. The psychic makes a Charisma check; this
check is opposed by the Wisdom check of any who
might spot the psychic. If the psychic wins the
opposed roll, he is able to move completely undetected
unless he does something to give himself away (such
as attacking an opponent, moving an object in plain
sight, etc.) It is possible to use this ability in combat,
providing the psychic cover similar to that granted by
an invisibility spell, though doing this after the first
attack is made requires a Psychic Attack Roll based on
Charisma each round in which the psychic remains in
combat, and any attacks made while the psychic is
obfuscated suffer a -4 penalty due to the concentration
required to maintain the effect. Note that the psychic
using this power is not actually invisible; she just
telepathically convinces anyone looking at her that she
isn’t, in fact, there. Thus, she still may cast a shadow
on a sunny day, giving herself away. On the other
hand, since this invisibility is based on a form of mind
control, successfully obfuscated psionicists are
invisible even to abilities that normally allow one to
see the invisible.
ways in which it has used, or even facts about its
previous owners. The CC for this test is 1 per five
years in the past the psionicist attempts to look. Thus,
attempting to divine information about someone who
owned the object a century ago is a CC 20 challenge.
Each successful psychometry check will divine 1d4
pieces of information about the item’s past or about a
past owner.
Pyrokinesis (Wis)
Pyrokinesis is the destructive ability to control heat
and fire. Using this ability requires a Wisdom check;
the CC depends upon the effect the psionicist is trying
to generate. Generally, an offensive use of this power
(causing direct damage to another in combat) uses a
Wisdom-based psychic attack roll and allows a
Dexterity save for half damage by the opponent; the
CC of this save is equal to the level (or hit dice, in the
case of monsters) of the psionicist.
Psychic Defense (Wis)
Psychic Defense is a powerful psionic ability that
builds a mental wall up to protect the psychic’s mind
and emotions from intrusion. With this power, the
psychic may substitute a Wisdom check for any
attribute saving throw that would normally require
Intelligence, Charisma, or Wisdom. Note this ability
only works for saving throws, not for other kinds of
attribute checks. This ability stacks with the standard
Mental Resistance ability granted by the Psionicist
character class.
Psychometry (Int)
Psychometry is also often known as Object Reading.
This ability allows a psionic to detect properties,
history, and abilities (if any) of any inanimate,
nonliving object she touches. In a fantasy game, its
most common use is to mimic the first-level Wizard
spell identify. Identifying the properties of a magic
item requires an Intelligence check at a CC of 3;
success indicates the psionicist divines 1d4 properties
of the object in question. The read can be repeated to
learn more, though each subsequent attempt adds 1 to
the CC of the test.
Another use of psychometry is to discover secrets
about the item’s past. With an Intelligence check, the
psionicist can divine where the item has been, the
)
The effects of any fire-based arcane magical spell can
be duplicated by this ability; the CC of these effects
are equal to the spell’s level plus 3. Thus, to mimic
Burning Hands, a first-level spell, has a CC of 4.
Mimicking Fireball, a third-level spell, has a CC of 6.

In addition, both of these effects, since they are
offensive in nature, would use a Wisdom-based
psychic attack roll instead of a standard Wisdom
check.
Controlling fire in other ways is also possible. Simple
effects, such as creating a spark to ignite kindling for a
campfire in dry conditions, or lighting a lamp or pipe,
have a CC of 0. Moderately difficult effects (the
kindling is soaked; a small bonfire needs to be
staunched) have a CC of 2. More difficult effects can
have a CC of anywhere from 10 (engulfing a carriage
in flames) to 50 (engulfing an entire building in
flames) or greater, at the CK’s discretion.
It gets worse; this power is as dangerous to the
psionicist as it is to the target. Any time a psionicist
fails a roll to activate a power, the ability turns back
upon him, dealing 1d6 damage per CC of the attempt
(CC 0 effects deal no damage; they just cause a minor,
small, but painful burn). The psionicist may make a
Constitution save against a CC equal to that of the
effect he tried to create, for half-damage.
Telekinesis (Int)
Telekinesis, as most everyone knows, is the ability to
move objects with the mind. The basic functionality
of TK is one of the simpler psionic manifestations.
The psionicist makes a standard Intelligence check; the
result is his telekinetic strength, functioning exactly as
though it were the character’s Strength attribute for
purposes of using his Telekinesis. Thus, a character
who rolls d20 + Int bonus + level and achieves a result
of 15 can with his TK move any object that could be
moved by a character with a strength of 15. It is
possible for a character to use Telekinesis to wield a
weapon in combat; however, use of this ability
requires constant concentration and doing so robs the
psionicist of his dexterity bonus to AC, as well as
imposing an additional -2 penalty to AC. For this
reason, telekinetic combat is generally performed from
a distance.
If the telekinetic character suffers damage or has his
concentration interrupted in any way, the ability ends.
Treat these conditions exactly as the interruption of a
wizard’s spell.
Telepathic Communication (Int)
This ability allows the psionicist to send messages via
telepathy. It does not allow the reception of return
messages. Sending a message requires nothing more
than an Intelligence check; unwilling recipients resist
with a Wisdom save having a CC equal to the
psionicist’s level (or hit dice, if a monster).
Telepathic Probe (Wis)
Telepathic Probe is, quite simply, mind reading. It is
this ability, in conjunction with Telepathic
Communication, that allows a psionicist to conduct
two-way psychic conversations; using this ability to
receive thoughts projected from friends requires
concentration and a Wisdom check with a CC of 1 per
willing mind.
It is also possible to read unwilling or unsuspecting
minds with this power, though this is a bit more
difficult. Gleaning immediate surface thoughts are the
easiest; this requires a Wisdom check with a CC equal
to the level (or hit dice, if a monster) of the target.
Attempting to go deeper is more difficult; attempting
to read the mind of a target in order to learn secrets
requires a Wisdom check as described above, but also
grants the target a saving throw with a CC equal to the
psionicist’s level (or hit dice, if a monster). Going
even deeper, to probe for the roots of phobias,
childhood trauma, or similarly blocked memories
might impose even greater CCs, at the CK’s
discretion.
( %+"+"7
The abilities below may not be selected before the
psionicist reaches ninth level. In addition, each ability
has prerequisite powers that must first be possessed
before the advanced version is selected.
Biokinetic Harm (Cha)
Prerequisites: Mental Stun, Biokinetic Heal
Biokinetic Harm is, quite simply, the ability to hurt
someone through manipulating their body. Heart
attacks, hemorrhages, lesions, contusions, all of these
can be accomplished by the psychic with this brutal
power. All uses of this ability are performed with a
Charisma-based psychic attack roll and resisted by the
target’s Constitution-based save. This psychic attack
roll bypasses AC granted by armor, and the victim’s
Dexterity is replaced with Wisdom. The basic game
effects of this power cause the victim to suffer 1d6
points of damage per level of the psionicist.
Another use of this power is to cause temporary ability
damage to a victim. In this case, the victim’s AC is
equal to 10 + level (or Hit Dice) + Wisdom bonus. A
successful attack deals 1d4 damage to an attribute of
the psychic’s choosing.
)#

More powerful effects may be possible, but the
consequences and CC of such uses are always at the
discretion of the CK.
Empathic Bond (Cha)
Prerequisites: Empathy, Empathic Transmission
This ability allows you to establish an empathic
rapport between yourself and another thinking
creature. Establishing this rapport requires ten minutes
of total concentration from both the psychic and the
recipient of the bond. At the end of ten minutes, the
psychic makes a Charisma check with a CC of 10. If
successful, the bond is created for a duration of 2d4 +
the psychic’s Charisma modifier in hours. It has no
maximum range; the shared bond can be felt across
opposite ends of the world.
It is possible to create a bond with more than one
person simultaneously; for each person after the first
added, the CC increases by 2.
While the bond is in effect, the joined parties can sense
each other’s emotional state, and general direction
towards one another, as well as perceive the general
distance separating you (very near, far, hundreds of
miles, thousands of miles, etc.).
It is also possible to establish a permanent rapport
between two individuals. This requires a full day’s
concentration, a successful Wisdom check with CC 15,
and the expenditure of 500 XP by both the psychic and
the target.
Mind Control (Cha)
Prerequisites: Mesmerism, Empathic Transmission
By making a Charisma-based Psychic Attack Roll, the
psionic can control the actions of any single
intelligent, humanoid creature through a telepathic link
that she establishes with the subject’s mind. If the
psionicist and the subject have a common language,
the psionicist can generally force the subject to
perform as the psionicist desires, within the limits of
its abilities. If no common language exists, the
psionicist can communicate only basic commands,
such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand
still.” The psionicist knows what the subject is
experiencing, but does not receive direct sensory input
from it, nor can it communicate with the psionicist
telepathically (unless an empathic or telepathic bond
has been established with the creature—see those
abilities for details).
Once the psionicist has given a dominated creature a
command, it continues to attempt to carry out that
)&
command to the exclusion of all other activities except
those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as
sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited
range of activity, an observer making a Wisdom check
at CC 5 can determine that the subject’s behavior is
being influenced by an enchantment effect.
This ability lasts for one day per level of the psionicist,
and is resisted by the creature’s Wisdom-based save.
If the creature is ever mistreated or is routinely placed
in danger or forced to do anything outside its nature, it
is entitled to a new save. An order to commit suicide
or engage in blatantly suicidal behavior entitles the
victim to a new save at +10.
Telepathic Bond (Wis)
Prerequisites: Telepathic Communication, Telepathic
Probe
As Empathic Bond is with emotions, this ability is
with thoughts. The requirements are identical, but all
rolls are based on Wisdom, rather than Charisma, and
as long as the characters are bound, they know
everything there is to know about one another,
including one’s deepest, darkest secrets. This is an
extremely personal ability, and most psionicists only
use it upon those they trust and care for the most.
Characters bound by this ability are constantly and
continually aware of what each other is thinking, no
matter how far apart they are, so they generally know
exactly what is going on with each other at any given
time; however, without a shared empathic bond (see
that power for details) they don’t experience the
emotions of one another.
Two characters bound in this manner can call upon the
knowledge and experience of one another, allowing
each other to mimic intuition-based class abilities
possessed by either, though any class abilities not
possessed by the user are performed at half usual
proficiency, using the level of the character who
knows the ability. Magical and spell knowledge is
never shared in this manner, however, as calling upon
the spells of a friend would deplete that friend’s
reserves for the day. In general, any abilities that are
based on physical attributes (Strength, Dexterity, or
Constitution) are not transferred, as these require
muscle memory as much as they do knowledge. Any
non-magical abilities based upon Intelligence,
Wisdom, or Charisma can be shared.
For example, James is joined to his ranger friend,
Alex, who is not currently with the party. The party
needs to attempt to track a bugbear through the
wilderness. James can call upon Alex’s Ranger

Tracking ability, using his own Wisdom, but adding
only half Alex’s class level to the roll.
A side effect of this ability, however, allows the
psionicist to use Telepathic Communication as a 2-
way power, both transmitting and receiving telepathic
communication with anyone within line of sight.
Telekinetic Defense (Int)
Prerequisites: Telekinesis, Psychic Defense
Telekinetic Defense allows the user to manipulate the
kinetic energy in the air surrounding himself or
another, to the end of making the target harder to hit in
combat. In effect, he creates an area of mild chaos in
the air surrounding his body, making weapons go
astray as they target him. In game terms, the character
declares the AC bonus he wishes to add to a target;
double this bonus to determine the CC of the
Intelligence roll. The ability isn’t quite as taxing as
other concentration-based psychic powers, but does
require a degree of attention, so all actions performed
while the psychic maintains the shield are at -2. If the
psychic creates more than one telekinetic defense
field, penalties are cumulative; -2 per shield being
maintained.
Another use of this power, albeit a far more difficult
one, is that of creating a telekinetic barrier. By
making an Intelligence Check at CC 10, the psychic
creates an immobile wall of force that covers a
10’x10’ area, providing 9/10 cover from attacks
coming from the direction of the wall. Any creatures
attempting to move through the wall must make a
Strength Check with a CC equal to the psychic’s level
+ Wisdom modifier. Failure indicates they have been
repulsed. This ability requires a full round to enact,
and constant concentration to maintain, meaning the
psychic loses all actions, loses Dex bonus to AC, and
suffers an additional -2 to AC.
Telemagry (Cha)
Prerequisites: Obfuscation, Mesmerism
This ability, an advanced form of Obfuscation, allows
the psionicist to create illusions in the minds of her
victims, so that she can appear as someone else, or
fool the senses of the onlooker in another way. In this
manner, the psychic can, with a Charisma-based
Psychic Attack Roll, mimic the effects of the spell
Alter Self. Alternately, she can choose to make the
victim believe something that isn’t quite true; i.e. a
copper piece is actually a gold piece. Obfuscation
allows most types of illusory powers to be used by the
psychic. In general, and at the CK’s option, any spell
with the “illusion” descriptor can be mimicked; the CC
for doing so is equal to the spell level (using the
Illusionist spell list) plus 3.
Table: Character Backgrounds
D20 roll Background
1 Blacksmith
2 Carpenter
3 Mason
4 Cobbler
5 Tailor
6 Tanner
7 Weaver
8 Merchant
9 Fisherman
10 Farmer
11 Miller
12 Brewer
13 Healer
14 Noble
15 Huntsman/Trapper
16 Soldier
17 Stable Hand
18 Rat Catcher
19 Innkeeper/Cook
20 Thatcher
++C3
Determining Backgrounds
To determine background randomly, all players
should roll 1D4 at character creation. The result
determines the number of medieval professions
to which the character was exposed before
beginning his life as an adventurer. Then, the
player rolls on the table below for each
profession. If a given profession comes up twice,
the player can re-roll or choose to have that
profession at an improved level (see “Using
Backgrounds,” below).
Alternately, for those who dislike random
determination of character backgrounds, each
player can script out his character’s back story
as he likes, and then work with the CK to choose
appropriate backgrounds from the list below.
CK’s should be careful to adjudicate this more
freeform method closely, to maintain balance in
))

the game, and in no case should a player ever
have more than 4 backgrounds.
Note that these professions do not necessarily
represent a station the character was born to; but
one he was exposed to enough to understand on
some level. A character with the Noble
background, for example, understands the
workings of castle and noble life, but this could
be from being a servant in a castle and not
necessarily a born noble. Under no
circumstances should these backgrounds replace
any class ability; the rules for mimicking crossclass
abilities still apply. Thus, a fighter with the
Hunter/Trapper background may attempt to
track using his attribute as though it was Prime,
but still does not add his level as a bonus to the
roll, since Tracking is a Ranger class ability.
Using Backgrounds
These 1 to 4 professions represent a character's
previous occupations or apprenticeships, those
careers the character tried or held before taking
up a life of adventuring. In these areas, the
character has had special training or experience
that provides bonuses in certain situations. Any
time a character is able to call upon his life's
training or experience, he adds a +5 to the
associated check. Situations in which these life
paths are appropriate to use
are at the discretion of the
CK, though players are
encouraged to be creative in
suggesting the use of such
abilities.
For example: a group comes
to a market place needing to
acquire new weapons and/or
repair their armor. As they
approach the blacksmith's
shop, several backgrounds
could be appropriate for use in
haggling with the artisan.
Blacksmith, obviously, is
appropriate here. Also
possible would be merchant,
since these men and women
are experts at haggling for
prices, or Noble, for whom
negotiation is of major
importance. Any time a player
can justify to the CK's
satisfaction that his
background could play an important role in an
Attribute Check, he gains +5 to his check.
Likewise, the character's background serves as
an (albeit minor) restriction on his abilities.
Some characters, for example, cannot perform
surgery no matter how high their Intelligence
score is. If an attempt is antithetical to a
character's background, the attempt probably
shouldn't be allowed, though as always this is at
the discretion of the CK.
Improving Backgrounds
Every 4 levels, a character can improve a single
background, which then sees its bonus increase
by +1. Likewise, characters who roll redundant
results on their initial background selection can
opt rather than re-rolling to increase the bonus to
the redundant result in this manner. For
example, Joe gets 2 rolls on the background
table; both come up “Noble.” He can choose to
re-roll the second result in hopes of getting a
different background, or may improve his Noble
background, granting +1 to Noble-related
Checks in addition to his normal +5 bonus when
accessing his knowledge of the ways of the
nobility. This +1 bonus would also stack when
using attributes with his Noble background that
are already Prime, granting a +3 bonus, rather
than the standard +2.
56

Table: Character Traits
d% Trait
01-03 Abrasive
04-06 Absent-minded
07-09 Aggressive
10-11 Brawler 1
12-13 Cautious 1
14-16 Detached
17-19 Dishonest
20-21 Distinctive 1
22-24 Easygoing
25-27 Farsighted
28-30 Focused
31-33 Hard of Hearing
34-36 Hardy
37-39 Honest
40-41 Illiterate)
42-43 Inattentive 1
44-46 Musclebound
47-49 Nearsighted
50-51 Nightsighted 1
52-54 Passionate
55-57 Plucky
58-60 Polite
61-62 Quick 1
63-65 Reckless
66-68 Relentless
69-70 Saddleborn
71-73 Skinny
74-76 Slippery
77-78 Slow 1
79-81 Specialized
82-84 Spellgifted
85-87 Stout
88-90 Suspicious
91-93 Torpid
94-96 Uncivilized
97-100 Roll again twice 2
1. Trait has special restrictions (see the text). If
you don't qualify, roll again.
2. No starting character may have more than two
traits. If a player rolls this result two or more
times, the player may choose which two traits to
keep.
Traits are aspects of a character's personality,
background, or physique that make him better at
some activities and worse at others. In many
ways, traits resemble feats: A character can have
only a limited number of traits, and each trait
+
provides some benefit. Unlike feats, however,
traits always carry a corresponding drawback. In
addition to their game effects, traits suggest
characteristics about the character's personality
that might lead to interesting roleplaying
opportunities. Together with a character's class
and feat selection, traits offer a way for game
mechanics to encourage deeper character
backgrounds and consistent roleplaying.
Traits serve as an interesting starting point for
roleplaying, reminding players of their
characters' most prominent strengths and
weaknesses.
However, roleplaying a certain aspect of a
character's personality does not require
possessing the trait. For example, a paladin can
be honest and forthright without the Honest trait.
The player should roleplay the character
consistently even though the character's honesty
57
has no effect on his skill checks.
A character can begin play with up to two traits,
chosen by the player at the time of character
creation. Alternatively, the CK can require
players to roll on Table: Character Traits to
determine the traits possessed by their
characters.
As characters advance in level and ability, they
might want to get rid of
the traits that they chose at the beginning of
play. This is not easy; changing one’s
personality requires a lot of work and discipline.
This costs a character experience points. Buying
off a Trait with XP costs 2,000 XP per level of
the character (the older you are, the harder it
becomes to effect change in your life). For
example, an abrasive character can work on
becoming more personable by spending XP to
buy off the Abrasive Trait; at first level, the cost
to do this is 2,000 XP. At fourth level, the cost
to buy off this Trait would be 8,000 XP. This
represents the character shifting focus from
advancing in her chosen career to making a
change in the core of who she is.

If the CK allows it, players may add traits to
their characters after 1st level. The CK might
allow a player to assign a trait to her character
after she has roleplayed the character in a
manner consistent with the trait in question, or
after a traumatic or life changing experience
(after dying, a character might develop the
Cautious trait or the Aggressive trait). If the CK
includes this option, a character should gain a
new trait no more frequently than
once every five levels. Since traits add both
bonuses and penalties, there is no cost for the
acquisition of a new trait, other than the
permission of the CK.
*
*
If a player creates a character with one or more
of the traits described here, she has three basic
choices for how that trait affects the character's
personality.
First, the character might view the trait as a
weakness. A character with this view might try
to hide the trait or make excuses for his
behavior. On the other hand, he might seek out
others with the trait to feel better about his own
idiosyncrasy.
Second, the character might view the trait as a
strength. A character might call attention to the
trait, encourage others to act in ways that mimic
the trait, or simply assume that those without the
trait are less worthy than those who possess it.
Finally, the character might not acknowledge the
trait at all. A character might adopt this attitude
toward a trait for several reasons, each
suggesting something different about the
character's background and personality:
• The character might not be aware of the
trait; for example, a nearsighted
character might not realize that others
see better at a distance because his
impairment is mild and the onset was so
gradual that he never noticed the
change.
• The character might be aware of the trait
but not want to admit that he possesses
it. For example, an abrasive character
might realize that his mannerisms affect
others, yet find more solace in putting
the blame on those whom he offends
rather than on himself.
• The character might know but simply
not care.
Although this section provides a large number
of character traits, a player who wants to create a
character with a distinctive personality may ask
the CK to design a new trait. If that happens, the
CK should keep in mind that the traits variant is
only effective if the benefits and the drawbacks
of the traits are related. If the drawback and
benefit of a trait apply to disparate or unrelated
aspects of the game, it becomes too easy for a
player to choose a trait for her character that
provides a bonus on a commonly attempted
ability check or skill check while the
corresponding penalty applies to a rarely used or
never used aspect of play. For example, a trait
that gave a bonus to Armor Class and a penalty
on attack rolls would be poor design because
spellcasters make very few attack rolls (making
the penalty far less severe) yet continuously gain
the benefit-of the increased Armor Class.
As long as the CK and player talk about a new
trait ahead of time and view it in light of what
skills and abilities the character uses most often,
this potential pitfall is easy to avoid.
+
Each trait in this section includes a benefit, a
drawback, any special limitations regarding its
selection by a character, and roleplaying ideas
for how to incorporate it into your character's
personality.
(%
You are difficult and demanding in
conversation, which tends to oppress those
around you.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Charisma checks to
intimidate others.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Charisma checks to be
diplomatic or bluff another.
58

Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be loud and
abrupt or quiet and sinister, but either way, most
find them disconcerting or irritating.
(-
You are fascinated by knowledge and learning
and are capable of pursuing complex trains of
thought quite quickly. However, your
preoccupation with such thoughts makes you a
little less aware of your surroundings.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Intelligence checks to
recall information about a subject, area, person,
culture, etc. This bonus stacks with the Bard
class’s Bardic Lore ability.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Wisdom checks to spot
or listen. This penalty applies even to the Rogue
and Assassin Listen class ability, and to the
Assassin Case Target ability.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might flit from idea to
idea, trailing off in mid-sentence or mumbling
their way through complex ideas. Conversely,
characters with this trait might be extremely
articulate but still allow their thoughts to move
faster than the pace of a conversation.
(%
You are quick to initiate combat, and you tend to
press the attack once battle is joined. Your
enthusiasm makes you a dangerous foe, but you
sometimes leave yourself open to blows that a
more cautious warrior would avoid.
Benefit
You gain a +2 bonus on initiative checks.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty to Armor Class.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait are often hotheaded
and quick to anger, or simply think that the best
defense is a quick offense.
7
You naturally move close to your opponents
when fighting, instinctively grabbing and
punching rather than striking with weapons.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on unarmed attack rolls
and grapple checks, and may inflict normal
damage (1d4) with unarmed attacks.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on all other attack rolls.
Special
The bonus from this trait doesn't apply to natural
weapons and does not stack with Monk class
abilities. Monks are already natural brawlers. If
a character with this Trait gains a level in the
Monk character class, he loses this trait. This is
an exception to the rule regarding the use of
experience points to buy off Traits (see p. 1).
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait often disdain the use of
weapons entirely, and some eventually learn
more refined martial arts based on their
instinctive fighting techniques. Many brawlers
might not even be consciously aware that they
fight differently from other characters; they
simply know that the best way to take someone
out of a fight is to grab him or punch him in the
face.
33
You are cautious in combat, even a bit cowardly,
and you take more care to defend yourself than
others. However, this caution renders you
susceptible to fear effects.
Benefit
You gain an additional +1 dodge bonus to
Armor Class whenever you use the Dodge or
Evade Combat Maneuver, or when fighting
defensively (see p. 4).
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on saving throws made to
resist fear effects.
Special
You cannot select this trait if you have immunity
to fear or fear effects. If you later gain immunity
to fear, you lose the benefit of this trait. This is
an exception to the rule regarding the use of XP
to buy off traits (p. 1).
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might consistently urge
talking rather than fighting, or they might do
little to encourage that their companions avoid
combat and simply remain as far away from foes
as possible, using ranged weapons or spells.
59

+
You maintain a distance from events that keeps
you grounded but limits your reaction speed.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Wisdom checks.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Dexterity checks.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait are likely to be quiet
and restrained, but they might be vocal when
others falter in their beliefs.
You are naturally deceitful and insincere with
others. You have a talent for lying, but have
difficulty convincing others when you do speak
truthfully.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Charisma checks to
bluff another.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on Charisma checks to be
diplomatic.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be portrayed as
crafty liars, or lying might simply be second
nature to them, making actually telling the truth
a difficult chore.
+%
You have some distinctive physical feature such
as a scar, a prominent nose, a limp, or some
similar characteristic that is hard to disguise or
conceal.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Reputation checks. For
information on Reputation, see page 4-5.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Disguise checks.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be sensitive
about it, or they might play up its presence to
gather attention, sympathy, or notoriety.
5
You are naturally friendly and trusting. Others
feel comfortable around you, but this trait also
makes it more difficult for you to be pushy or
suspicious.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Charisma checks to be
friendly, diplomatic, or gain information.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Charisma checks to
Intimidate another, and on Wisdom checks to
detect falsehoods, lies, or ulterior motives.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be more easily
manipulated in interactions with NPCs, or they
might simply prefer not to argue and instead use
their natural talent to learn more about the world
around them.
!
You have difficulty focusing on nearby objects,
but your distance vision is more keen than
normal.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Wisdom checks related
to spotting things in the distance, or on the fly.
This bonus stacks with class or racial abilities to
notice secret compartments, unusual stonework,
or anything hidden.
Drawback
You have a -2 penalty on Wisdom checks to
search areas up close. This penalty also affects
to class or racial abilities to search for traps,
secret compartments, or anything hidden.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be sensitive
about it, or they might simply be oblivious to its
presence, having never known any different way
of experiencing the world.
!+3
You can keep your attention on a task despite
many distractions; however, events in the
background pass you by.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Attribute checks
involving concentration. Situations where this
applies are at the CK’s discretion.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Wisdom checks to spot
something hidden or out of place, or to hear
unusual sounds unless you are concentrating on
the task of listening or searching a specific area.
60

Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait often seem singleminded
or even obsessive in their focus on a
specific task.
You have a slight hearing impairment, and to
compensate, you have become more in tune with
your other senses.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Attribute checks
involving sight.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on Attribute checks
involving hearing.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be sensitive
about it, or they might simply be oblivious to its
presence, having never known any different way
of experiencing the world.
You are made of tougher stuff than the average
person, but you're not quite as quick to react to
dangerous effects.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Constitution-based
saves.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Dexterity-based saves.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might see their physical
prowess as normal and look down on less hardy
individuals, or they might see it as their duty to
play the role of protector and help those less able
to endure physical hardship.
You are naturally straightforward and sincere.
This quality helps you persuade people to your
viewpoint, but you have difficulty telling lies
and seeing deception in others.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Charisma checks to be
diplomatic or make the truth work to your
advantage.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Wisdom checks to be
dishonest or to sense dishonesty in others.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be naive and too
unsophisticated to lie, or they might be aware of
worldly matters and simply choose to take a
higher ground.
You cannot read, but you have devoted yourself
to learning other skills.
Benefit
Choose any one attribute that is designated
Prime for your character. You gain a +1 bonus
on checks using that Attribute.
Drawback
You are illiterate.
Special
Unlike with the barbarian, you cannot become
literate by taking a level in any class other than
barbarian.
You can't select this trait if your character is
already illiterate because of race, class, or any
other reason.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be sensitive
about not being able to read, or they might not
value "book learnin'."
%
You are alert and skilled at finishing simple
tasks quickly, but you have a difficult time
dealing with longer, more complex tasks.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Wisdom checks to spot
something hidden or out of place, or to hear
unusual sounds unless the listening or searching
requires patience and concentration. You also
gain a +1 bonus to all Attribute checks involving
tasks that can be completed quickly (excluding
combat).
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Attribute checks
involving concentration or focus for more than a
few moments, or on ongoing tasks. Situations
where this applies are at the CK’s discretion.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might flit from subject
to subject in conversation, or they might seem
typical in most situations but leave most of their
long-term projects perpetually unfinished.
61

- 3+3
You are good at almost everything that requires
strength, but less adept than most at tasks that
require coordination.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Strength-based
Attribute checks.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on Dexterity-based
Attribute checks.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait are likely to solve
problems with physical strength rather than
through trickery or finesse.
6
You have difficulty focusing on distant objects,
but your eye for detail is more keen than normal.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Wisdom checks to
search areas up close. This bonus stacks with
class or racial abilities to search for traps, secret
compartments, or anything hidden.
Drawback
You have a -2 penalty on Wisdom checks
related to spotting things in the distance, or on
the fly. This penalty also applies to class or
racial abilities to notice secret compartments,
unusual stonework, or anything hidden.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be sensitive
about it, or they might simply be oblivious to its
presence, having never known any different way
of experiencing the world.
6
Your eyes are particularly well suited to using
some form of night vision, but they are less well
adapted to what others consider normal light.
Benefit
Increase your night vision by one level. If you
don’t normally have it, you gain Duskvision.
Duskvision, in turn, becomes Twilightvision.
Twilightvision becomes Darkvision, and
Darkvision becomes Deepvision.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on all Attribute checks and
combat rolls when in areas of bright light.
Roleplaying Ideas
This trait might not affect a character's
personality at all, but it might make the character
prefer going on underground or nighttime
adventures.
"
You are made of tougher stuff than the average
person, but you are highly suggestible.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Constitution-based
saves.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Wisdom-based saves.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be gruff and
place extreme value on overcoming physical
obstacles, or conversely, their weakness against
magical enchantments might leave them
fascinated and fearful of such things.
"3+C
You have a strength of will not reflected in your
limited physical gifts.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Wisdom-based saves.
62

Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Constitution-based
saves.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be annoyingly
positive-minded, or they might only show their
mental resilience in times of dire need.
"
You are courteous and well spoken.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Charisma checks made
to be diplomatic.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on Charisma checks when
attempting to intimidate another.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be honestly
polite and kind, or they might simply be adept at
mimicking social conventions to get what they
want.
:3+C
You are fast, but less sturdy than average
members of your race.
Benefit
Your base movement rate increases by 10 feet,
and you gain +1 to initiative.
Drawback
Subtract 1 from your hit points gained at each
level, including 1st (a result of 0 is possible).
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait typically try to stay
away from physical combat, but a rare few
might relish it, striving to see if their superior
speed is enough to best hardier warriors.
*+C
You naturally sacrifice accuracy to put more
power behind your blows.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on damage rolls after
successful melee attacks.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on melee attack rolls.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be loudly
passionate about entering combat and
overcoming foes through strength of arms, or
they might be quiet and so desperate to avoid
confrontation that they put extra effort into every
blow in an attempt to end the encounter more
quickly.
*
You don't know the meaning of the word "tired."
You go all out until you simply can't continue.
Benefit
You gain a +2 bonus on Constitution checks and
similar checks made to continue tiring activities
or to resist fatigue. In cases of Level Drain, you
are entitled to a separate Constitution check to
avoid becoming fatigued from the level drain.
The CL of this check is equal to the HD of the
creature inflicting the level drain.
Drawback
Any effect or condition that would normally
cause you to become fatigued instead causes you
to become exhausted. See p. 4 for information
regarding Fatigue and Exhaustion.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait may see others as soft
or weak, especially anyone who complains about
being tired or fatigued. They might openly scoff
at others'weaknesses or might quietly encourage
them to "tough it out."
You are a natural in the saddle, but you have
little patience for handling animals when not
riding them.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Dexterity checks to ride
animals, including animals not normally thought
of as mounts.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Attribute checks to
handle, train, or otherwise care for animals. See
pp. 2-3 for rules for handling animals.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait rarely bother to
consider animals as good for anything other than
mounts, but they are extremely confident about
their riding abilities.
C
You are very slender for your race.
63

Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Attribute checks made
to escape from bonds such as rope or shackles.
You also use your Dexterity rather than your
Strength to attempt to escape from bonds. This
trait stacks with appropriate class abilities.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on Strength checks to
avoid overbearing.
Roleplaying Ideas
Skinny characters tend to be pushed around by
tougher types, so those with this trait might be
shy, or they might be very defensive when faced
with such situations.
You are less adept at grappling and wrestling
than others of your size and strength, but you are
adept at slipping out of another's hold.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on checks to escape a
grapple or avoid being grappled.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty to attempt to grapple
another.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might fear close
combat, knowing they are less adept grapplers
than most opponents. On the other hand, good
escape artists with this trait might enjoy baiting
larger foes into grappling them, knowing they
can easily slip out of the grasp of most foes.
7
You are slow, but sturdier than average
members of your race.
Benefit
Add +2 to your hit points gained at each level.
Drawback
Your base movement is halved (round down to
the nearest 5-foot interval).
Special
You must have a base land speed of at least 20
feet to select this trait.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait tend to be relatively
immobile in combat. They typically prefer to
wear strong armor (or other protective devices),
since it's hard for them to flee a fight.
+8
You have a knack for one kind of work or study,
but other tasks are harder for you to accomplish.
Benefit
Choose one specific Background or Secondary
Skill. You gain a +2 bonus on checks using the
specified Background or skill.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on checks using all other
Backgrounds or Secondary Skills.
Special
This Trait is only available in campaigns using
Backgrounds or Secondary Skills.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait often see themselves as
elite artists or experts rather than mere
professionals, and they might regard their
chosen vocation or study as more useful or
interesting than other tasks.
You have a gift for casting spells of certain type.
Although your spells in this area are more potent
than those of other casters, you are not as
effective at casting spells from other schools.
Benefit
Choose a type of magic from the following list:
Conjuring/Summoning, Defensive, Divination,
Elemental (choose an element),
Enchantments/Charms,
Illusion,
Necromancy/Healing, Offensive (spells that
cause direct damage), Transmutation/Alteration.
Add 1 to your caster level when casting spells of
this type. Some spells may be at the CK’s
discretion for the category under which they fall.
Drawback
Reduce your caster level by 1 whenever you cast
a spell that is not from your chosen school.
Special
Not all spells on the Illusionist’s spell list are
considered Illusion spells. Color Spray, for
example, is an Offensive spell, Fog Cloud could
be Defensive or Conjuring/Summoning, and
Light could be Enchant, Transmutation, or
Conjuring, at the CK’s discretion. The CK
always has final ruling on what school a spell
falls under.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait might be loudly vocal
about the merits of the school of magic that they
understand most readily, or they might feel
64

awkward and out of place around "normal"
spellcasters as a result of their unusual aptitude.
3
You are heavy for your race.
Benefit
You gain a +2 bonus on Strength checks to
avoid being bull rushed or overrun.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Escape Artist checks.
Roleplaying Ideas
Overweight characters are often bullied, so those
with this trait might be shy, or they might be
very defensive when faced with such situations.
Some turn to humor to defuse such situations,
while others become bitter.
3+3
You are naturally suspicious of everyone and
everything. While this trait makes you hard to
fool, it makes others slightly less likely to agree
with you or find you threatening.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Wisdom checks to
detect lies, falsehoods, or ulterior motives in
others.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Charisma checks to be
diplomatic or intimidate others.
Roleplaying Ideas
This trait might express itself as comic levels of
paranoia, or it might make the character quietly
cautious about others.
You are sluggish and slow to react to danger, but
also resistant to others'commands.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on saves against
enchantment (compulsion) effects.
Drawback
You take a -2 penalty on initiative checks.
Roleplaying Ideas
Torpid characters may be seen as lazy, or as
methodical and measured in their actions.
$+%8
You relate better to animals than you do to
people.
Benefit
You gain a +1 bonus on Charisma checks to
handle animals. See pp. 2-3 for rules for animal
handling.
Drawback
You take a -1 penalty on Charisma checks to
bluff, gather information, or be diplomatic.
Roleplaying Ideas
Characters with this trait are likely to feel
awkward in many social situations; that might be
expressed as shyness and quiet behavior, or it
might be expressed through an overly exuberant
need to participate in conversations.
3+
Fate Points are a mechanic that provides characters
with the means to affect game play in small, but
significant ways. They represent the actions of
cinematic heroes, who always seem to make those
dramatic comebacks, have sudden flashes of insight
just in time, or call upon inner reserves of strength to
fell the villain just when things look grim.
$!"
A character always has a limited amount of Fate
Points, and while the character replenishes this
!"
65
supply with every new level he or she attains, the
rate of attrition can far outstrip the rate of gain. As
such, players must use them wisely. A character can
spend Fate Points to do any of these things:
• Fortune’s Favor: alter a single d20 roll used
to make an attack, attribute check, level
check, or a saving throw.
• Mighty Blow: make a single, earth-shattering
attack which also stands a chance of
smashing the character’s weapon.
• Sound the Charge!: Double the character’s
movement for the round.

• Down But Not Out: avoid death when
reduced to below -10 Hit Points
• Providence Smiles: gain a Plot Break
Fortune’s Favor: When a character spends 1 Fate
Point to improve a d20 roll, add 1d8 to the d20 roll
to help meet or exceed the target number. A
character can declare the use of 1 Fate Point to alter
a d20 roll after the roll is made—but only before the
GM reveals the result of that roll (whether the attack
or check or saving throw succeeded or failed).
Mighty Blow: When a character spends 1 Fate Point
to make a single, earth-shattering attack, the attack is
treated as though the player rolled a Natural 20 on
his attack roll; it automatically hits the opponent.
Also, the attack does double the maximum possible
damage for the attack. However, the character must
then make a second, unmodified d20 roll; a result of
1-10 on the d20 means that the weapon shatters as a
result of the mighty blow. Magic weapons gain a
bonus to this roll equal to +1 per point of the
weapon’s bonus (so a +3 sword gains a +3 to this
roll) plus an additional +1 for each special ability the
weapon possesses. This ability is useful only in
melee combat, and extra damage from special
attacks such as sneak attacks does not double. A Fate
Point can be used to achieve this effect only once per
game session.
Sound the Charge!: A character can spend a Fate
Point to double their allotted movement for a single
round. This includes the ability to move full
movement and still attack, rather than half, as in the
Castles and Crusades Player’s Handbook, page 115.
Unlike a normal Charge maneuver, characters
spending a Fate Point can move up to their full base
movement and attack, but do not gain a bonus to
damage or penalty to Armor Class. However,
spending a Fate Point to Sound the Charge
effectively doubles the distance a character can
cover to take a charge maneuver in order to gain this
bonus and suffer this penalty (see Charge, C&C
PHB p. 116). In effect, this maneuver allows a
character to move up to their full base movement
and make a normal attack, or to double the distance
up to which they may make a charge maneuver.
Down But Not Out: When a character falls to at
least -10 Hit Points or below, he is normally
considered dead. Not so, if he has Fate Points to
spend. Down But Not Out costs three Fate Points,
and results in the character being reduced to exactly
-10 Hit Points, and stabilized. The character must
have three Fate Points to spend to use this ability,
and may only call upon it once per character level,
and if he doesn’t use it, it doesn’t carry over. So a
character who never has to use Down But Not Out at
second level doesn’t have two uses of it waiting
when he gets to third.
Providence Smiles: By spending a Fate Point, a
character can gain a small plot break that helps him
in some minor way. He gains an important clue that
he overlooked, just happens to be talking to the right
person to get the information he needs, or has the
cavalry come over the hill while he’s in a hopeless
situation. The player must describe exactly what the
plot break is that his character gains, and the CK
always has the right to overrule this use if he deems
it improper, or if he has a good reason for the
character to be in such a tight spot. If the plot break
is overruled, the Fate Point is not spent. Characters
can spend a point for Providence Smiles once per
game session.
A character can only spend Fate Points once per
round. If a character spends a point to strike a
mighty blow, he or she can’t spend another one in
the same round to improve a die roll, and vice versa.
66

Depending on the hero’s character level (see the
table below), the die type increases when spending 1
Fate Point to add to a roll. If the character does so,
apply the highest result and disregard the other rolls.
0!"
!"
The number of Fate Points granted to characters is
deliberately kept low, as the use of Fate Points
creates an extremely heroic (bordering on legendary
and mythic) game, and too many can result in very
over-the-top play, rather than the cinematic bennies
that they are intended to represent. Characters begin
the game with 1-5 Fate Points (d4+1). Each level
thereafter, the character gains one new Fate Point. In
addition, at levels 5, 10, 15, and 20, the character
Character Level Fate Point Dice Rolled
1st–10th
1d8
10th–14th
1d10
15th–20th
1d12
gains a bonus of 1d4 Fate Points in addition to the
normal one per level.
'%+( %+('%
As characters advance past level 12, they gain
new class abilities and/or old class abilities
continue to improve. In most cases, such
abilities or improvements are gained at levels
15, 18, and 20, though there are exceptions.
These abilities are automatically gained, just like
all other class abilities for characters, and
nothing special need be done to gain the
abilities, outside of normal training for level
increase. Note that these rules assume the
classes from the Castles and Crusades Player’s
Handbook.
!
Note that a Fighter’s Combat Dominance
continues to advance after 12 th level, granting an
additional attack at levels 16 and 20 against
creatures with a single hit die of d6 or smaller.
Weapon Specialization: A Fighter’s Weapon
Specialization bonus increases to +3 at level 15,
and to +4 at level 20.
Whirlwind Attack: At level 15, a Fighter gains
the ability to tear through many foes in combat.
When fighting with a melee weapon, the fighter
may immediately make a single attack at his
highest BtH against every enemy within reach.
This must be his only attack that round.
*
Note that the Ranger’s Combat Marauder ability
continues to advance with each level beyond 12.
Favored Enemy: At level 15, the Ranger gains
a second Favored Enemy. At level 18, the bonus
for the Ranger’s original Favored Enemy
increases to +3. At level 20, the ranger may
choose to increase the bonus for the first
Favored Enemy to +4, to increase the bonus for
the second Favored Enemy to +3, or to gain a
third Favored Enemy.
Improved Survival and Tracking: At levels
15, 18, and 20, the Ranger gains an additional,
cumulative +1 to Wisdom checks made to use
his Survival and Tracking class abilities. This
bonus stacks with normal Wisdom and level
bonuses.
Spell Casting (Wisdom): Beginning at level 15,
the Ranger becomes attuned to the natural world
enough that she gains the ability to cast spells as
though she were a druid. This spell casting
ability begins as though the Ranger were a first
level druid, and increases with each level
appropriately. Thus, a 15 th level Ranger casts as
a first level druid, and a 20 th level ranger casts as
a sixth-level druid. The Challenge Level of
saving throws against spells cast by rangers is
determined by adding the spell’s level to the
ranger’s Wisdom modifier.
*3
Improved Stealth and Awareness: At levels
15, 18, and 20, the Rogue gains an additional,
cumulative +1 to Attribute checks to use all
Rogue class abilities except her Sneak Attack
ability.
Improved Sneak Attack: At level 15, the
Rogue’s damage bonus for a Sneak Attack
increases from +4 to +6. At level 20, the Sneak
Attack damage triples instead of doubling as per
a normal Back Attack.
67

Use Magical Device (Wisdom): At level 15, the
Rogue gains the ability to use magical devices
that are meant for other classes. Where Decipher
Script allows a rogue to read a scroll to
determine what spell it contains, this ability
allows the rogue to cast the spell contained on
the scroll. With a successful Wisdom check, the
Rogue can freely use a magical item she
normally wouldn’t be able to, such as a wand or
scroll. The Challenge Level of this check is
equal to the level of the spell being emulated for
scrolls, and double this for wands or other
multiple use items. Thus, activating a wand
containing the fireball spell and intended for
wizards would be a Challenge Level 6 check,
since fireball is a third-level spell. If the spell
were being used from a scroll, however, the
Challenge Level would be 3, since a scroll is a
single-use item.
(
Improved Death Attack: At level 15, the
Assassin need only study her victim for 2 rounds
in order to perform this class ability. At level 18,
she need only spend a single round studying her
victim, and at level 20 her knowledge of tactics
and anatomy is so complete that she can
instantly perform a Death Attack, without the
need for studying her opponent. However, in this
case the opponent gains +4 to his Constitution
save against the assault. The Assassin can still
spend a single round at level 20 to study her
opponent and negate this +4 bonus.
making a Wisdom check. The CL for this check
is equal to the number of rounds the Barbarian
has already been enraged (the longer he
continues to rage, the harder it is to snap out of
it). At 18 th level, the Barbarian may use Primal
Fury three times per day, and at 20 th level, the
Barbarian gains a +4 to his check to prematurely
end a Primal Fury.
Primal Might: At 18 th level, the Barbarian may
make a Constitution check to remain conscious
upon reaching -7 hp. This check suffers a
penalty equal to the number of hit points below
zero the Barbarian is. If he succeeds at this
Constitution check, he may remain conscious
and continue to act normally, making a new
Constitution check every time he suffers
damage. Failing any Constitution check after the
Barbarian reaches a number of hit points equal
to negative his Constitution score or -10
(whichever is greater), he immediately dies.
Primal Will: At 15 th level, damage reduction
from this ability rises to 2 points, at 18 th to 3
points, and at 20 th level to 4 points.
Improved Competence: At levels 15, 18, and
20, the Assassin gains an additional cumulative
+1 to any checks made for the purpose of using
any class abilities except Sneak Attack and
Death Attack.
Improved Sneak Attack: At level 15, the
Assassin’s damage bonus for a Sneak Attack
increases from +4 to +6. At level 20, the Sneak
Attack damage triples instead of doubling as per
a normal Back Attack.
Primal Force: The Barbarian’s Primal Force
ability increases to +5 at 15 th level, +6 at 18 th
level, and +7 at 20 th level.
Primal Fury: At 15 th level, the Barbarian may
attempt to prematurely end a Primal Fury by
Smite Mage: At 20 th level, the barbarian’s
distrust of arcane magic users is so focused that
he can call upon his primal rage once per day to
attempt to smite an arcane magic user. In all
68

espects, this functions exactly like the Paladin’s
Smite Evil ability, but adds the barbarian’s
Wisdom modifier (if positive) instead of
Charisma.
- C
Mind Over Body: The Monk’s saving throw
bonuses for Mind Over Body increase by +1 at
levels 15, 18, and 20, becoming +5, +6, and +7
respectively.
Ki Strike: The Monk’s Ki Strike ability
improves to +5 at 15 th level, +6 at 18 th , and +7 at
20 th level.
Fast Healing: At level 15, the Monk’s Fast
Healing ability increases to 1d6+1 hit points
healed per level per day.
Catch Missiles: At level 15, when using the
Deflect Missiles ability, the monk may choose to
catch the weapon instead of just deflecting it.
Such weapons can be thrown back at the original
attacker or kept for later use. The monk must
have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to
use this ability. At level 18, the Monk can
immediately hurl caught weapons back at the
original attacker, even if it is not his turn. This
attack does not count against the Monk’s normal
actions for a turn.
Eschew Components Path: At level 15, a wizard
can cast any spell she knows without needing to
use material components, so long as the material
component of the spell is under 100 gp in value.
At level 18, the wizard can cast any spell she
knows without needing to use somatic
components. This requires the wizard to prepare
the spell as though it were one level higher than
the actual spell’s level. Thus, if a wizard wishes
to have magic missile prepared without needing
gestures, she prepares it in her daily study as
though it were a second level spell, rather than a
first. Finally, at level 20, the wizard gains the
ability to eschew verbal components by
preparing the spell as though it were of a higher
level than it actually is. If eschewing either
verbal or somatic components, or two spell
levels higher if eschewing both. Thus, if she
chooses to cast a spell without needing any
components whatsoever, the spell counts as
though it were two levels higher. Spells that
don’t require components must be prepared in
advance as higher level spells, just as though
they were normally of that level.
Martial Arts Weapons: At level 15, the monk
may use lightweight, martial-arts-style weapons
such as chains, flails, short swords, staves, and
spears, and gains an off-hand attack with such
weapons at no penalty. Even when using twohanded
weapons such as spears and staves, the
monk gains this second attack, though it is with
the same weapon (the monk may not attack, say,
with a spear and a sword).
Unarmored Defense: This ability continues to
increase as the monk goes up in level. At level
15, the Unarmored AC becomes 16; at level 18,
it becomes 17; and at level 20 it becomes 18.
8
Increased Spell Proficiency: As Wizards gain
levels above 12, they gain the ability to affect
their spells in specific ways. The wizard must
choose the Eschew Components path, or the
Enhance Spell path.
Enhance Spell Path: At level 15, the wizard
following this path gains the ability to extend the
duration of her spells. Any spell that has
duration longer than instant sees this duration
69

increased by one half. This requires her to
prepare the spell as though it were one level
higher than its actual level. At level 18, the
wizard gains the ability to increase the damage
dealt by her spells. Any spell that deals damage
sees that damage increased by one half. This
requires her to prepare the spell as though it
were two levels higher than its actual level. It
can stack with extended duration if appropriate,
but this requires preparing the spell as though it
were three levels higher than actual. Finally, at
level 20, the wizard can maximize the effect of
any spell she casts, causing the spell to last for
its maximum duration and deal maximum
damage automatically. This requires preparing
the spell as though it were three levels higher
than its actual level.
Spell-Like Ability: At level 20, the wizard may
choose any one first-level spell in her spellbook.
She becomes so familiar with that spell that she
can cast it 4 times per day without needing to
prepare it as a standard spell, exactly as though
it were a spell-like ability.
3
Sharp Senses: The illusionist’s sharp senses
ability increases to +5 at 15 th level, and +6 at
20 th level.
Detect Illusion: At level 18, the Illusionist gains
the ability Detect Illusion at will. This is similar
to the 0-level spell, but unlike the spell, she can
use the ability only upon herself (cannot grant
others the ability to detect illusions in this
manner.)
Enhanced Illusions: At level 15, the Illusionist
gains the ability to impose a -2 penalty to any
checks to resist or disbelieve her illusions. In
addition the duration of her illusions is increased
by one half. At level 18, this imposed penalty
increases to -3, and at level 20 to -4. In addition,
at level 20, any illusion of fifth level or lower
automatically lasts for its maximum duration.
Shapeshifting: At level 15, the Illusionist gains
the ability to use Prestidigitation as a spell-like
ability a number of times per day equal to her
Intelligence modifier. At level 18, she gains the
ability to use Change Self as a spell-like ability,
once per day. At level 20, she gains the ability to
use Alter Self as a spell-like ability, once per
day.
+
Communion (Wisdom): At level 18, with a
successful Wisdom check, unmodified by the
Cleric’s level, the Cleric can enter a deep
meditation once per month and commune
directly with an avatar of her deity. During this
meditation, she may directly ask the deity any
question or request any favor she desires. The
deity is by no means required to grant this
request, and if a cleric is too arrogant in her
dealings with the deity, she may find herself
well chastised. The CK will play the deity as he
sees fit.
Divine Blessing: At level 15, the Cleric gains
the ability to cast Bless once per day as a spelllike
ability. At level 18, she can use the ability
twice per day, and at level 20, she can use this
power three times per day.
Celestial Fire: At level 20, the Cleric’s
attunement to the divine realms is so powerful
that she gains the ability to wield celestial fire.
This can manifest in one of two ways (Cleric’s
choice per each use). First, she can emit a ray of
fire that deals 1d6 damage per two levels of the
Cleric to all who are of opposed alignments
(Good clerics affect evil, evil clerics affect good,
and neutral clerics affect law or chaos, as
appropriate. True neutral clerics must choose
good, evil, law, or chaos to affect). Using this
ray requires a ranged attack roll, with the cleric’s
full ranged attack bonuses. Second, the cleric
can choose to manifest a sword of fire which
deals 4d6 damage, plus the cleric’s Wisdom
bonus, and lasts for 2d4 rounds. The Cleric
wields this weapon just as though it were a
normal sword, but is always considered
proficient with it, and does not suffer damage
from touching the flame. Celestial fire can be
called upon once per day. Damage dealt by
celestial fire is ½ divine and ½ fire.
3
Improved Resist Elements: At level 15, the
Druid’s Resist Elements ability doubles to +4.
At level 18 it increases to +5, and at level 20
becomes +6.
70

Improved Totem Shape: At level 15, the Druid
gains a new totem shape, just as at levels 7 and
8; however, if she so chooses, this totem shape
may be of a large size animal. At level 18, she
may use her Totem Shape ability twice per day,
and at level 20 she may use her Totem Shape
ability three times per day.
Totem Casting: At level 20, the druid gains the
incredible ability to use her spells while in
animal shape. She can cast any spell she knows
while in her animal form, at no penalty.
9
Defensive Horsemanship (Dexterity): At level
15, whenever the knight’s mount is hit in
combat, he may attempt a Dexterity check (as a
reaction) to negate the hit. The hit is negated if
the knight’s Dexterity check result is greater
than the opponent’s attack roll. (Essentially, the
check result becomes the mount’s Armor Class
if it’s higher than the mount’s regular AC.) This
ability stacks with the bonuses provided through
the use of the knight’s standard Deflect ability.
Embolden: At level 15, the knight’s embolden
ability provides a +2 bonus to strength,
constitution, dexterity, and intelligence saving
throws, and +3 to wisdom and charisma saving
throws, for all allies within 30 feet. At level 18,
this ability can be used twice per day, and at
level 20, the ability is continuously in effect so
long as allies remain within 30 feet of the
knight. This continuous effect does not affect the
knight’s ability to use Inspire or Demoralize.
Inspire: At level 15, the knight can use Inspire
twice per day, and at level 18, can use Inspire up
to three times per day.
"
Divine Horsemanship (Dexterity): At level 15,
the Paladin gains all of the Horsemanship
abilities possessed by a first level Knight. She
may only use these abilities, however, while on
her own divine mount; the Paladin’s
horsemanship is unusable on any normal animal.
Cure Disease: At level 15, the Paladin may use
Cure Disease four times per week. At level 18,
she may use Cure Disease five times per week.
At level 20 the Paladin may use Cure Disease
once per day.
Lay on Hands: At level 15, the Paladin may use
Lay On Hands twice per day, and may divide the
healing up amongst multiple targets. At level 18,
the ability is usable three times per day, and at
level 20 the paladin may use this power four
times per day.
Smite Evil: At level 18, the Paladin may attempt
to Smite Evil twice per day. At level 20, she
may use this ability three times per day.
Legend Lore: At level 15, the bard can attempt
to divine the properties of a non-artifact magic
item through calling upon her vast worldly
knowledge of myth and lore. This check is
always performed at a CL equal to the total
plusses on the item, plus two per special ability
the item possesses.
Demoralize: At level 18, the knight can use
Demoralize twice per day, and at level 20, up to
three times per day.
Song of Passion (Charisma): At 15th level the
bard can use music or poetics to create an effect
equivalent to the Emotion spell (caster level
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equals the character's bard level). Using this
ability requires 1 minute of uninterrupted
concentration and music, and it functions on a
single target within 30 feet. A bard can't use
song of passion on himself.
Inspire Heroics (Charisma): At 18th level the
bard can use music or poetics to inspire
tremendous heroism in himself or a single
willing ally within 30 feet. For every three bard
levels the character attains beyond 15th, he can
inspire heroics in one additional creature. To
inspire heroics, a bard must sing and an ally
must hear the bard sing for a full round. A
creature so inspired gains a +4 bonus to all to hit
rolls, a +4 morale bonus on saving throws and a
+4 bonus to AC. The effect lasts for as long as
the ally hears the bard sing and for up to 5
rounds
Spell Casting (Charisma): Starting at level 15,
the bard may cast spells as though she were a
first-level illusionist. This spell casting ability
increases as the bard increases in level. Thus, the
15 th level bard casts as a first level illusionist,
while a 20 th level bard casts as a sixth-level
illusionist. Bards need not keep or maintain a
spell book; their spells come to them naturally,
but always have musical or poetic verbal
components and performance-related (dance,
tumbling, or musical instrument playing)
somatic components. The Challenge Level of
saving throws against spells cast by Bards is
determined by adding the spell’s level to the
Bard’s Charisma modifier.
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