Additional Material for Sorcerous Pacts Thread

[Anonymous]

To save on emails arguing and debating over rules, I thought I’d post what we have here.

Cody’s Suggestions:

Adept of the Ancients
Throughout the history of the elorii people, their history has been turned by the actions of a number of celebrated heroes. From Salos the Mage who first taught the elorii people the secrets of Elder magic, to Relios the Captain who cleaved the head from the ssanu emperor himself, these ancient heroes defined the psyche of the elorii people, and have been the subject of veneration by their people ever since. Those of less storied souls seek to emulate these great heroes in hopes of enriching their own souls in subsequent reincarnations. This level of focus grants the elorii specific focuses, depending on the subject of their veneration and study.

Nationality: Elorii Nations
Minimum Age: 100
Attributes: Prowess, Resolve
Primary Skills: Knowledge (History), any one Combat or Arcanum Skill
Talents: Exceptional Memory, Heroes of the Past*
Starting Gear:
Starting Silver: 3d10 (Charisma)

Heroes of the Past [Limited]
You have for decades studied the exploits of the ancient heroes of your people, and have melded yourself to be more like them.
Benefit: Choose one of the Heroes listed below to gain the benefit associated with that ancient hero as well as a flaw ; each potential hero has certain qualities that they embodied as well as a series of services and commitments that it requires an adept to uphold.

Salos the Sage
Gift: Counter Spell (ta) and 1 rank in Knowledge (Arcanum)
Flaw: Code of Honor Flaw

Telas the Archmage
Gift: Metaphysical Understanding (ta) and 1 rank in Knowledge (The Planes)
Flaw: Contrarian Flaw

Relios the Warrior
Gift: Dedicated Defender (ta) and 1 rank in Battle
Flaw: Zealot Flaw

Auros the Avenger
Gift: Furious Rage (ta) and 1 rank in Mettle
Flaw: Heroic Flaw

Ferelas the Smith
Gift: Jack of All Trades (ta) and 1 rank in any Artisan Skill
Flaw: Oblivious Flaw

Special (Flaw): The Flaw granted by this talent does not grant a bonus Talent beyond the one stated in this Talent.

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Mendicants of the Aspects

Following the travels of Telas among the Elemental Planes, many elorii sought to connect themselves to a greater degree than they had previously. While some special elorii have the discipline to delve into the elemental mysteries of their breed by becoming a Dancer of the Tal Kanath, others feel that that that particular fighting style is too narrow in its focus to truly reflect the deeper nature of the souls and nature of their kind. After much discussion, a small group of elorii started meditating for days at a time and turning their eyes into themselves to find new ways to connect themselves to the heritage that they believed lost when the Elemental Lords were lost to them. Out of this group came the first Mendicants of the Aspects, who seek to recover their heritage from within than to search the lands from without.

Nationality: Elorii Nations

Initiate Mendicant
Requirements: Tier II, Any elorii Bloodline Talent (ta), Sword Saint (pa) of Belisarda
Trained Skills: Knowledge (Religion), Mettle
Benefit: To Burn the Soul*, Visions of Lives Past

Master Mendicant
Requirements: Initiate Aspect Warrior
Trained Skills: Empathy, Knowledge (The Planes)
Benefit: Elorii Bloodline (must coincide with the elorii’s heritage), Soul Aura*

Soul Aura [Limited]
You tap into the energies of your soul and are able to make a protective sheath around yourself.
Benefit: Once per day (Sp: 2, Range: Self, Duration: Scene) you become surrounded by energies appropriate to your elemental nature.
Ardakene: You are surrounded by a field of life energy, granting you the Regeneration trait.
Berokene: You are surrounded by an aura of water, granting you the Elemental Aura trait with water only.
Kelekene: You are surrounded by an aura of fire, granting you the Elemental Aura trait with fire only.
Marokene: You are surrounded by an aura of earth, granting you the Elemental Aura trait with earth only.
Osalikene: You are surrounded by an aura of air, granting you the Elemental Aura trait with air only.

To Burn the Soul [Limited]
Your self reflections have given you unprecedented levels of control over your spirit. In a way similar to the more powerful Kurenthe’ that Elder Elorii are able to invoke, you have gained the ability to tap into your own life force to empower yourself.
Benefit: Once per Scene you may sacrifice 5 points of Stamina to add a d4 to any single Action Skill Roll. For every additional 5 points of stamina sacrificed in this means, you may apply a Die Bump to the bonus die. If you sacrifice a Wound, you may automatically turn a single roll into a Critical Success.

[Anonymous]

Paul’s Suggestions:

Swim the Stream of Souls [Divine]
Requirements: Elorii, Lifewarden (Master), Divine Spell Casting V, Tier V
Benefit: The character may travel from any Elluwe’ pool to any other pool in a single hour. The Lifewarden may take one additional character equal to her passive Charisma.

Lessons of Former Lives
Requirements: Elorii, Insight 7
You are able to draw on instincts honed over previous millenia.
Benefit: Gaining skills comes more quickly to you than most as you draw upon experiences from past lives. Your passive Logic is considered one point higher for the purposes of determining skill points gained.

Flaw
Slave to Prophesy
You are utterly devoted to Ardelia and her prophesies, championing humans and vals you encounter as ones obviously meant to side with you in the eventual War of Vengeance. Your enthusiasm raises suspicion with those you seek to protect as well as concern with your own kind. You suffer a -2 to all Interaction rolls with all humans, val and Elorii. Any Malfaelen you encounter automatically considers you a traitor to the Nations.
Special: you may not take this Flaw if you take Soldier of Retribution or Veteran of the Altherian War.

[Anonymous]

Paul’s Suggestions:

Swim the Stream of Souls [Divine]
Requirements: Elorii, Lifewarden (Master), Divine Spell Casting V, Tier V
Benefit: The character may travel from any Elluwe’ pool to any other pool in a single hour. The Lifewarden may take one additional character equal to her passive Charisma.

I like it, but only really because it mechanically fits what we know of the Elorii. However, would this be better served in a Religion book? Additionally, since we haven’t come across an Elluwe’ Pool in canon aside from in Arkhosia (I believe), this could be considered a ‘useless’ talent.

Lessons of Former Lives
Requirements: Elorii, Insight 7
You are able to draw on instincts honed over previous millenia.
Benefit: Gaining skills comes more quickly to you than most as you draw upon experiences from past lives. Your passive Logic is considered one point higher for the purposes of determining skill points gained.

While I like this, I think this is way too powerful. This give players the potential to train TWO extra skills per tier, which is a lot (especially with Experts who can train ANY skills). Factor this into Arcanum and Combat Skills and this means that an Elorii will have a +10 ABOVE everyone else.

I’d rather see this talent made a Foundation Talent and the bonus skill ranks be granted only at character creation. Maybe:

Lessons of Former Lives [Foundation]
Requirements: Elorii, Insight 6
You are able to draw on instincts honed over previous millennia.
Benefit: After you have trained all your skills at Character Creation, you may increase one Trained Skill by an additional 1 Rank.

Flaw
Slave to Prophesy
You are utterly devoted to Ardelia and her prophesies, championing humans and vals you encounter as ones obviously meant to side with you in the eventual War of Vengeance. Your enthusiasm raises suspicion with those you seek to protect as well as concern with your own kind. You suffer a -2 to all Interaction rolls with all humans, val and Elorii. Any Malfaelen you encounter automatically considers you a traitor to the Nations.
Special: you may not take this Flaw if you take Soldier of Retribution or Veteran of the Altherian War.

I am generally fine with this talent, though I think it needs to be reformatted to keep in line with the rest of the Flaws in the game.

[Anonymous]

Just a nudge, but have any of the frequentors of this board had a chance to look over the Sorcerous Pacts stuff yet? It is shorter than the Ssethregore stuff and was first sent out some weeks ago. All that seems to be missing from it is Matt’s last few Elementals unless he wants me to take care of them if the rules are good, then they can go to layout methinks.

[Author]

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