Ancestry

A character's ancestry primarily refers to their actual, biological nature. In most cases, a character's cultural aspects are instead determined from their background. Characters from any ancestry can find a home in virtually any culture.

Choosing an Ancestry

During the character creation process, you'll choose an ancestry for your character. A character's ancestry represents their biological roots and heritage. Your choice of ancestry grants you traits and statistical improvements, as well as an Origin ability.

Select an ancestry and gain its provided features. The ancestries provided in these rules are Dwarf, Elf, Human, and Orc. To create a character with two different ancestries (for example, a character with both human and elven parentage), choose the Dual Ancestry ability when you gain an Origin ability from your chosen ancestry.

Dwarf

Dwarves are short of stature but stout of heart. Most dwarves have a strong desire to create impressive works of beauty or function. As a result, many dwarven settlements are carved out of mountains or mesas, or located in other unlikely locations such as vast caverns or adrift in the middle of the ocean.

Traits. You gain the Person and Dwarf ancestry traits.
Stat Bonuses. You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Stamina and Vitality.
Dwarf Ability. You gain one Dwarf ancestry ability of your choice.
Origin Ability. You gain one Origin ancestry ability of your choice.

Elf

Elves are a graceful folk, best-known for their longevity that easily outpaces most other ancestries. Elves reach maturity at the same rate as humans, but can live for centuries. Because of this, elves tend to mark their age in centuries rather than years. Many elves choose to reinvent themselves with the turning of centuries.

Traits. You gain the Person and Elf ancestry traits.
Stat Bonuses. You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Fortune and Speed.
Elf Ability. You gain one Elf ancestry ability of your choice.
Origin Ability. You gain one Origin ancestry ability of your choice.

Human

Humans are a curious people. They tend to congregate in much larger communities than other ancestries do. This affords them incredible levels of cooperation and achievement, though it also allows injustice and corruption to run rampant in their cities.

Traits. You gain the Person and Human ancestry traits.
Stat Bonuses. You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Fortune and Stamina.
Human Ability. You gain one Human ancestry ability of your choice.
Origin Ability. You gain one Origin ancestry ability of your choice.

Orc

Orcs are proud and strong. While some cultures dismiss them as brutish, orcs have an incredibly rich cultural history. What others mistake for aggression is usually a strong passion for self-expression. Some orcs accomplish this through wrestling and martial arts, but many others do so with painting and oration.

Traits. You gain the Person and Orc ancestry traits.
Stat Bonuses. You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Speed and Vitality.
Orc Ability. You gain one Orc ancestry ability of your choice.
Origin Ability. You gain one Origin ancestry ability of your choice.

Ancestry Abilities

Whenever a PC would gain an ancestry ability, they must choose an ability that includes an ancestry trait they have and that has a level number equal to or less than their character level. Ancestry abilities without a level number may not be selected in this way.

For example, when a Dwarf character reaches level 2, they gain an ancestry ability. For this selection, they may choose any ability with the Dwarf trait that is marked as "Ancestry 1" or "Ancestry 2".

Orc Elf

You gain 4 skill boosts to a trade skill relating to art or self-expression such as Dance, Painting, Poetry, Sculpture, Singing, Theatre, etc.

Human

When you attempt to assist another character with a modifying roll, your effectiveness is one step better than normal.

Dwarf Human

You gain 4 skill boosts to a trade skill relating to a specific craft such as Carpentry, Gemcutting, Masonry, Painting, Smithing, Weaving, etc.

Orc

When you take 2 or more Damage from a single source, you can take 1 Fatigue to reduce the Damage by 1.

Elf Dwarf

You can see in dim light just as well as in bright light.

Elf

When you Rally, you may move 1 additional space.

Dwarf

You can carry 2 additional Burden before you become encumbered, and your maximum Burden is increased by 4.

Human

You can spend 1 Luck immediately before making a roll. If you do, add 2 to the roll's result instead of 1.

Dwarf

You gain +1 edge on Resist rolls you make against Toxins. If the Toxin also has the Alcohol trait, increase this bonus to +3 edge.

Orc

You gain +1 edge on Discipline rolls made to perceive, identify, and locate sounds and scents.

Elf

You gain 3 free skill boosts to any combination of culture or trade skills.

Human Orc

You gain +2 edge on Might rolls made to Hustle or Double Time while using the ⧗ Travel activity.

Origin Abilities

Origin (trait). A player character cannot gain an Origin ability except during character creation, and only when provided by their chosen ancestry.

Origin

Choose a second ancestry. You gain that ancestry's traits, allowing you to select Ancestry abilities from either ancestry at the appropriate levels.

You also gain a permanent +1 bonus to one stat of your choice (Vitality, Stamina, Speed, or Fortune).

Origin

You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Fortune.

Before making a roll, you can spend 1 Luck. If you do, make the roll with +1 edge. You still add 1 to the roll's result, as normal for spending Luck.

Origin

You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Speed.

You can move up to one space whenever you use an action that doesn't have the Move trait. You can use this movement immediately before, during, or after the action. The action gains the Move trait when you do so.

Origin

You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Stamina.

Whenever you would take 2 or more Stress from a single effect, reduce the Stress you take by 1.

Origin

You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Vitality.

Whenever you finish a ⧗ Rest, you may remove 1 additional Damage.

Origin Bloodline

You gain the Fiend ancestry trait and a permanent +1 bonus to your Vitality. You also gain a Fiend Bloodline ancestry ability of your choice.

Origin Bloodline

You gain the Celestial ancestry trait and a permanent +1 bonus to your Fortune. You also gain a Celestial Bloodline ancestry ability of your choice.

Origin Bloodline

You gain the Dragon ancestry trait and a permanent +1 bonus to your Stamina. You also gain a Dragon Bloodline ancestry ability of your choice.

Origin Bloodline

You gain the Fey ancestry trait and a permanent +1 bonus to your Speed. You also gain a Fey Bloodline ancestry ability of your choice.

Origin

You gain a permanent +1 bonus to your Stamina.

When you gain the breathless status effect, you can hold your breath a number of rounds up to five times your maximum Stamina instead of two times. You then make Might rolls as normal.

Variant Ancestry (optional rule)

If your GM allows, you may forgo selecting an ancestry from those provided, and instead gain any three Origin abilities (except Dual Ancestry). If you do so, you gain the Person trait. Using this optional rule allows a player to essentially create their own ancestry, or to create a character that is a blend of multiple Bloodlines. It may also be used to represent a character's mysterious origins; perhaps not even they know what they are or where they came from.

Bloodline Abilities

Bloodline (trait). Ancestry abilities with the Bloodline trait can only be acquired by a character who already has one of the ability's ancestry traits. These abilities can be obtained by taking one of the Origin Bloodline abilities during character creation, or by taking the Latent Bloodline general ability.