Through the Veil: Intro and Astromancers

Roll the intro cutscene.

Twelve constellations hang in a ring around the earth. Each turning as a spoke in a wheel. Far below lies the earth and all that is in it. This fades to the physical forms of mighty gods butchering one of their own. The god is shattered, falling and falling. He crashes through one of the four bridges linking heaven and earth, destroying it utterly. The world above and below is plunged into darkness. The wheel no longer turns. The gods have returned to their constellations, a red star now lingers among each one.

Twelve gods hang in the firmament.

Cold twinkling eyes watch the drama unfold again and again,

Around the Great Pillar they spin.

Each revolution of the Wheel crushing the age before.

Each revolution of the Wheel birthing an age anew.

Outside, the looming darkness hungers.

Eleven, they gathered in the firmament,

Red, dripping hands rend the First again and again,

The ancient age dies languidly

The infant age does not come, yet the birth pangs shudder.

Outside, the looming darkness enters.

The drama of the stars ends. You lie flat on your back. You see only darkness.

Feel the ache of bones lying upon cold basalt,

Hear the voices without words like those in a dream,

Breathe. A sickly sweet voice intones,

Do'st thou not learn in thy living?

Four are the directions of the wind,

her huntresses seeking prey, its demise to find.

Six is the form that magic takes,

in the eyes of the divine.

Ten armies make the strength of men,

Yet greater strength is found in their kings

Seek these missing number, 

to bring the end of all things.

Cutscene ends. A dark veil slowly pulls away. Who are you?

A Temple Astromancer

A Huntress

A Kingson

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Temple Astromancer

Coveting a time now past. Longing for a distant lover. Bittersweet memories of adventure and joy culminate in a legendary tragedy. This is the lot of the astromancer.

Begin play with three earwax candles, a papyrus writing set with ink, a clay pot of dried fruit, and the accoutrement of your worship.

Lunar Astromancy

Accoutrement: 

• A memory not yours, (1- of the warmth of the sun reflected on a happy world at peace., 2 - of an age of romance with the Tides, 3 - of a cold and lonely night, far from the Sun.)

• White Acolyte’s Robes now fraying and dirty on the edges (+1 Faith), 

• Moon Rock Scepter (talisman for lunar astromancies, Small weapon), 

• trinket (1- a practical bronze astrolabe, depicts the orientation of the Wheel, 2- a kamal, a wooden card tied to a string. Hold string in teeth and gaze at the horizon to determine latitude, 3- a celatone, a helmet with telescoping eyepiece, provides 1 armor), 

• An apocryphal version of The Lore of the Lesser Astral Bodies. A scroll (1 slot) enumerating the deeds of the diune moon and her lover, the sun.  This scroll emphasizes the orbit, phases, and miracles accomplished by Jemanin, the Full Moon. Several anecdotes describe her gentleness, revelatory wisdom, and healing abilities. Roll twice on Lore checks related to this knowledge.

Spells, roll 1d6 twice for starting spells. Reroll duplicates.

1. Revealing Light, To eyes adjusted to darkness, it is the moon’s gentle light that shows the way…
   [dice] hidden objects in the immediate area are briefly revealed. Range and duration increase with MD and intent directs what is revealed.

2. Tidal Pull, By this the Gentle Moon lowered the bridge and her companions tread across on pure light…
   Range of [dice]x10m. Pull a target Faith + [sum] meters toward you.

3. Jemanin’s Pillar of Light, Through hill and valley they went, Viracocha hid under a basket to save fast their plot. It was Jemanin’s light that kept the darkness at bay…
   [sum] meter radius is illuminated with gentle blue light. All within are healed for [dice] hp per turn. 

4. Knock, Nothing remains hidden forever…
   [dice] closed objects open.

5. Shard of Jemanin, Struck, she fell! and Viracocha’s fury could not be contained. But alas, it would be the first of many scars on the face of the Moon.
   Moon rock falls from above and strikes a target for Faith + [sum] damage.

6. Twin’s Link, Jemanin and Janemim struggled hand in hand, creatures of the outer darkness held braying, but at bay.
   [dice] objects are locked in their relative positions. Test Faith to maintain under duress.

7. Light’s Passage, finally the chasm was far too wide and Viracocha’s legs were spent, but from her high vantage the Moon could see a way.
   You and [dice] others can step from one area of the moon’s illumination to another within sight.

8. Moon’s Rest, Safe, but only for a brief respite. Her head rested lightly on the rising and falling chest of her lover.
   [dice] targets heal for Faith hp. Dice spent on this spell are expended.

9. Jemanin’s Rapier, In the youthful days full of light, Viracocha laughed and spared with his most attractive pupil.
   Resplendent moonlight crystalizes in your hand. She is a Faith weapon but may strike first in the round, including the round she is summoned. Lasts for Faith rounds.

10. Argue with Bids, Jemanin honed her wit and wisdom against the mightiest of adversaries.
    receive correction on [dice] confident assertions.

11. Beacon Call, Stalwart companion to Jemanin and Janemim. Beacon has even edged out Viracocha in the number of times he saved his mistress.
    Summon Beacon, Beacon is a magnificent steed, and towers above all but the kingsons. He uses your Faith for all rolls in moonlight and Contempt for all others. Invest Stamina for a brief burst of flight.

12. Moon Crash, Terror and Beauty! Behold the mighty Gem of the Night!
    Summon the Aspect of Jemanin to smite foes and heal allies for [sum]+Faith. Must use all MD for this spell.

Eclipse Astromancy

Accoutrement: 

• A memory not yours, (1- of the spinning stars falling from their rightful place with murderous intent, 2- of a red world, terrfied of your power, 3- of petty men telling lies about you to control the masses.).

• Black Acolyte’s Robes, golden trim now fraying and falling away (+1 Contempt), 

• Flat Black Rock (talisman for eclipse astromancies, necklace), 

• trinket (1- a gnomon. The part of a sundial which casts a shadow. (small weapon) 2- an equatorial ring. A bronze hoop mounted at an angle in a stand used to determine the equinoxes. 3- armillary sphere. A brass model of objects in the sky. Extremely delicate. 

• An apocryphal version of The Lore of the Lesser Astral Bodies. A scroll (1 slot) enumerating the deeds of the diune moon and her lover, the sun. This scroll emphasizes the accursed deeds of the fallen gods and their starmad Watchers. Roll twice on Lore checks related to this knowledge.

Spells, roll 1d6 twice for starting spells. Reroll duplicates.

1. Listen, All alone, the quiet was her closest heart companion. The silence is always full of friends.
   The silence of an airless desert prevails. The sound of mortals and material are quenched. In the true quiet the spirits speak. They will answer [Lore] questions. Never ask them more. With more dice come more spirits, or more arcane depending on the nature of the principality.

2. Argue with Mirrors, Reflection and the moon are synonymous. The light of the sun brings her warmth and peace, but there are other lights she may reflect.

Your own shadowy reflection appears to provide council. Receive correction on [dice] confident assertions. 

3. Shadow World, Janemim ran a long finger down to the tip of her Cinquedea. If the gods would not behave, she mused, then neither would she.

Descend into the moonlit realm. Shadows climb walls and long dead spirits are seen passing through the air. In darkness you are invisible and in light you are a black void. Replace all your rolls with Contempt rolls for [sum] rounds. 

4. Dark Mirror, Disoriented, the Watcher cried out helplessly. Wattle in ribbons, his death-darting eye rolled lazily toward the feet of his assassin.

The target’s next [dice] stat tests are rolled using their opposite stat. Useable as a maneuver. Creates a person-sized oval mirror.

5. Mirror Walk, Viracocha and Jemanin slept soundly in each other’s arms. Awaking, a wrought iron oval mirror stood by, squeaking in the wind.

For [sum] rounds, you may step intoand out of deep shadows or mirrors within line of sight. More may be possible.

6. Diune, Four were the guardians of the gods, each bearing the names of their makers. They were given all the might of the gods, but not their omnicience.

Create a shadow of yourself for [sum] rounds. The shadow is a duplicate of yourself, but cannot cast spells and has 1hp.

7. Darkness Cold Touch, Smell their heat, taste their lips… hear their scream. Why should Jemanin have all the fun?

Deal [sum] damage to a target you’re touching. + Contempt if you are whispering beautiful secrets into their ear.

8. Eclipse Whip, In Viracocha’s fierce passion, he left his flame unattended. Janemim had plenty of time to put it to good use.

A thin bead of fire stretched in a circle around the moon. Pull it down and bring it to hand. This flaming whip is a Contempt weapon and lasts as many rounds. May use a maneuver to grab and ignite a target for [dice] damage ongoing.

9. Omen, The spirits and the gods all had plenty to say, if you knew how to listen.

The moon shines a fel red light as you warn of dooms and dangers. Camel and horses bray. Hyena, crow, and cockroaches are attracted. Mooks with [dice] HD or less flee and monsters fall into despair.

10. Curse, The Astromancers at Kiss hold that to lie under the reflective moon is to lie to yourself. In such a manner no soul has escaped their own judgement. Not in an age.

Define a course of action and a consequence in Contempt + [sum] words. Your target may chose which to abide by. This cannot kill the target if they have more HD than [dice].

11. Light’s Broken Fractals, The holy power of deity bludgeoned back the brave Viracocha in their direest hour, his flame finding no purchase. It is under the threat of such loss that some rise and some shatter. Shatter she did.

Create Contempt shadows of yourself for [sum] rounds. The shadows are a duplicate of yourself and have 1hp. 

12. Abyssal Feline, The darkness behind is quiet, but not empty.

Cats of the mirror realm slink in from reflective surfaces of your choice or from shadows of their own. Esoteric knowledge is theirs in full, but charity they have for no man. If cast with [dice]:

1- Liter of mundane sized cats with [sum] HP arrive. Each has a scroll or item in their tail.

2- Two dog sized tigers with [sum] hp split among them pounce on the weakest prey. If fed in blood they may grant a mortal a wish within their power.

3- Marshmoff, the Skinned now serves in this place. He once lost a game of riddles with the previous inhabitant. He was once knowledgeable about art of kastromancy and of beast husbandry.

4- One of the Sphinx who watches the arc of time has always been here. She knoweth your name.