Rule­book

Classes

Classes are not a single-track ability outline, but a jumping-off point for all characters to start with. Classes represent how you were raised and what tools and jobs you were trusted with. Think of it as who you were before the story starts. A class provides starting proficiencies, equipment, bonds (if any), and 1-2 core abilities that can only be learned by taking that class. Classes can be found under their Culture's page, or in the Google Doc.

Leveling

Instead of class-based leveling, everyone has access to a global ability catalog organized by how various abilities are unlocked. Abilities are gated by level, conduits, and prerequisites, and fall into 5 categories: Battle Techniques, Magic Techniques, Beast Bond Abilities, Survival Abilities, and Social Abilities. Each time you level up, you may choose an ability to learn, or may choose to increase one of your current ability scores by 1. Two characters of the same class can end up wildly different despite starting identical. A full ability catalog can be found on the Google Doc.

Health

We will be playing this game with no HP pool. Every creature, whether that be a PC, an NPC, or a beast, has a body diagram divided into vital zones. Damage is not a numbers game, but about where you’re hit. Each vital zone has a different target difficulty; it is easier to shoot someone in the chest than to take out a hand. On the chart below, the numbers in parentheses represent the base, unarmored, difficulty to hit the target (a head requires a roll of 18 or greater to hit, an abdomen requires a roll of 10 or greater).

Vital Zones

In the humanoid baseline, there are ten zones, shown in the table below. Each of these has a different difficulty to target, and causes a different effect. Before you attack, you must declare your intent, choosing which zone you wish to target. Then, you will roll to hit. If you are over the threshold by 1-5, you hit a glancing blow, which incurs a wounded effect. Anywhere between 6 and 10 grants a standard blow, which incurs an impaired effect. If you hit by greater than 10, you hit a direct shot, which incurs a destroyed effect. If you miss by only 1, you do not incur any effects, but you do increase bleed by a single step (to a maximum of Failing). If you miss by greater than 5, you miss completely and overextend, granting opponents the ability to make a reaction attack against you.

While this system uses natural 20s or critical successes for non-attack actions, attack rolls can not critical succeed by default. When making an attack, a roll of 20 on the die is treated as a result of 20 before modifiers, not an automatic critical hit or instant kill. All modifiers are applied normally, and the final total is counted as a glancing blow, regular hit, or direct shot. For example, if you wish to shoot an unarmored head, you must roll between a 19-23 in order to hit a glancing blow. In order to hit a direct shot to the head, you must roll higher than a 30. If you roll a 20 on the die, you will need to add your modifiers to that 20 to get your roll above a 30 in order to achieve a direct shot, otherwise a natural 20 will be treated as a glancing blow. At the GM’s discretion, a roll of 20 may still result in an instant kill for narrative or situational reasons, but this should never be assumed.

Each zone can be in one of four states: Uninjured, Wounded, Impaired, and Destroyed. Uninjured is the baseline state of the zone. Wounded occurs when an area is glanced, and does not cause major effect. Impaired occurs when a target is regularly hit, and can cause little to great effect depending on the zone. Destroyed occurs when an area is directly hit, and usually has dire consequences. Effects do not stack, so if you hit two glancing blows, you only force the wounded effect once, but you do advance the bleeding clock by 1 for each additional injury you deliver. Once a zone is destroyed, it cannot be targeted again.

When a zone is impaired or destroyed, it will cause the impaired or destroyed effect, but it will also cause any lesser effects to occur. For example, if a creature takes a glancing blow to the primary arm, they become wounded and suffer disadvantage on attacks using that arm. Then, if they suffer a destroyed effect to the same arm, it will apply the destroyed effect (pulverizing or severing the arm), and will also apply the impaired effects on the arm as well (dropping the held item and inflicting standard bleed). Likewise, if a regular attack lands on the heart, it will apply rapid bleed as an impaired effect, while also inflicting disadvantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws (the wounded effect). If an area is already wounded and you inflict an impaired or destroyed effect on it, it does not increase the bleeding clock; this can only be done in place of an effect.

Bleed

Each creature has two possible bleed states: standard bleed and rapid bleed. They never stack; rapid bleed will always override standard bleed and wipe the effect. Standard bleed is triggered by wounded effects to the abdomen and impaired effects to the leg, both arms, and spine. Rapid bleed is only triggered with destruction to the abdomen, or impaired effects to the neck and heart.

Each creature has a Bleed Track, outlined below. The standard bleed track advances 1 step every 2 turns, and the rapid one 2 steps every 1 turn. At unconscious, the creature enters shock, and at dead, they are gone.

Stable → Hurting → Fading → Failing → Unconscious → Dead

At the start of their turn, a bleeding creature may, if they wish to, roll a Constitution saving throw. If they succeed, they delay the clock advancement by 1 round. If they fail, the clock advances as normal. If they roll a critical failure, the clock advances an extra step. Multiple bleed wounds do not increase your bleed from standard to rapid, but for each additional area inflicted by bleed, you gain disadvantage on the Constitution saving throw. For example, if you take a glancing blow to the abdomen, you will have standard bleed and roll 1d20 for your saving throw. If, next turn, you also take impaired effects to your spine and primary arm, you will roll 3d20 and take the worst result.

You can stop bleeding by using the stabilize action on yourself or an injured party member. This requires a free hand (so you cannot perform the action if your hands have been wounded or impaired), and a tourniquet, or an improvised equivalent. You must make a Medicine check to stop it, with a higher DC for rapid bleeding than for standard.

Poison

When struck by a poisoned weapon or ingested, these toxins inebriate but do not directly damage. They begin at the start of the victim’s next turn, regardless of when they were applied, and require the victim to make a Constitution saving throw at the start of each turn they remain poisoned to resist its effects. Poison always targets the Abdomen and cannot be prevented or resisted due to AR. On a failed Constitution save, the poison applies an effect based on its severity, which will last until the victim succeeds on a save or the poison is treated.

After Combat: Infection and Recovery

Once combat ends, all injured creatures enter stabilization, then recovery. In the minutes after combat ends, any creatures with bleeding injuries, destroyed zones, or in shock/unconscious must be stabilized, or they will die. To stabilize them, you must use medical supplies or magic. The former requires a Medicine check, the latter depends on the spell being used. Failing the roll does not waste the medical supplies, but does further damage the zone.

Once stable, effects turn into injuries. These must be treated before the character can benefit from a rest. Each injured zone requires individual treatment. Wounds can be treated in a single long rest, with basic medical supplies. They leave no lasting effects. Impaired injuries require 1d6 + 2 long rests minimum to heal, and require a limit in activity and proper treatment. If you attempt to act normally during this time, you could worsen your injury to destroyed. While recovering, you may have disadvantage on relevant actions or reduced speed based on the zone injured. Destroyed injuries can take weeks to months, and may never fully heal. Usually, destroyed injuries require prosthetics or magic in order to restore function to the zone, and often leave the injured with permanent disadvantage for certain abilities.

Any untreated or poorly treated injury risks infection. For each day that an injury goes untreated, you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, you gain a mark on the Infection Track, drawn below. Antibiotics, herbal remedies, or magic can halt or reverse progression.

Human Vital Zones

Combat

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Initiative

In this campaign, initiative is malleable depending on circumstance. Instead of one static roll at the start that holds the entire time, initiative is rolled at the start, then will be rerolled if a creature is wounded, is knocked prone, restrained, or dismounted, or has their cover destroyed. In these instances, only the affected creatures reroll, and reinsert into the initiative order immediately, sometimes gaining additional turns and sometimes losing turns. Additionally, at the start of combat, the GM will decide which individuals (if any) have an edge to their initiative. Instances in which you might gain edge include an ambush, higher ground, or already drawn weapons. If you are granted edge, you may roll initiative twice and decide which roll you wish to take. You also gain priority reactions (see below). Edge is lost immediately if you are wounded or your attack misses by +5.

Beasts in Initiative

Bonded beasts will have two separate character sheets: one for when they are mounted, and one for when they are unmounted. While mounted, you may use their base speed as your own, but they can only take reactions (though they have a separate reaction from their rider). As a reaction, they can choose to brace, attack, defend, or disengage. Bracing can be used when an enemy declares an attack against either rider or mount, and sets your movement speed to 0 until the end of your next turn, but grants both beast and rider immunity from being dismounted or knocked prone. Attacking can be used when an enemy enters melee range, and allows your beast to make a single attack action. This is only available if your beast has attack actions they may take. Defending can only occur if the rider has been dismounted, and allows the beast to interpose between rider and attacker, forcing anyone targeting the rider to target the beast until the end of the rider’s turn. Disengaging can be done during the rider’s turn, allowing repositioning without provoking reactions, but it requires both the rider and the mount to take the action together (thus consuming the rider’s action and the mount’s reaction).

When dismounted, both you and your bonded beasts move on separate initiatives and can both take actions and reactions, though your beast might not always know the optimal way to play the game. Keep in mind that, unless you have an exceptional bond, it is unlikely that an unmounted beast will be able to conceive the same kind of strategy their rider is capable of, and will likely act on animalistic urges.

If you wish to mount your beast in the heat of battle, you must spend either your reaction (if your beast is a mount beast), or an action (if your beast is an apex or greater beast).

Armor Class and Shields

Armor does not provide a flat AC bonus. Instead, it covers specific zones and can mitigate certain injury severity. Each armor piece lists the zones it covers (head, neck/throat, heart, spine, abdomen, primary arm, offhand arm, hand, leg, foot). Armor almost never covers everything.

Each type of armor has an armor rating (AR) from 0-3. At 0, the zone is unarmored. A 1 provides light armor (+2 to hit difficulty), a 2 provides medium armor (+5 to hit difficulty), and a 3 provides heavy armor (+8 to hit difficulty). This stacks on top of the zone’s base difficulty.

Certain armor types, such as chain mail or plate armor, will also mitigate types of injuries. Against certain weapons, these armors will negate glancing blows.

Shields also do not add AC, but allow the wielder to cover a certain number of zones per round, providing additional AR to those zones. See Equipment for more information.

Bonded Beasts and Armor

Bonded beasts may also be fitted with armor, though such equipment is never mass produced; it is always custom made for the individual. These items can only be crafted by specialized artisans or classes, and can be found rarely at shops that cater to riders and warbands. Because improperly fitted armor can endanger both beast and rider, all beast armor is designed with GM input. The GM will determine availability, cost, zones covered, AR, and any special drawbacks or benefits. Beast armor follows the same zone-based and AR rules as humanoid armor, but may carry additional constraints such as extra heat, mobility penalties, or bond strain depending on the creature and materials used.

Interruptions and Reactions

Unlike 5e, we will not be playing with bonus actions, so a turn should consist of movement, an action, and any free actions that may be possible. Additionally, at the top of each round, everyone gets 1 reaction. Reactions can be spent to parry, dive for cover or intercept a blow meant for an adjacent creature. Parrying will negate a melee hit to a limb, turning it into a glancing blow, diving for cover forces your attacker to reroll their ranged attack, and intercepting a blow means you take the injury for an adjacent individual (the attacker must check their attack against your AR).

When an enemy misses an attack on you by 5 or more, you may use your reaction to make one attack against them. This attack must be within the effective range of your currently equipped weapon, and you must be proficient with your currently equipped weapon.

A creature with edge may spend their reaction to interrupt the movement of a higher-initiative creature and make a single attack, shove, or grapple action.

Opportunistic Zones

If a target is prone, restrained or otherwise incapacitated, then certain zones become easier to target. These zones have their difficulty reduced by one level so long as the target is unmoving. Unless an ability specifies particular zones, the DM determines which zones are opportunistic based on circumstance and/or a random roll.

Cover

Cover comes in two forms: partial and full, and blocks lines of attack. It is directional and applies only against attacks originating from the protected side, forcing attackers to forgo targeting you or to reposition. Partial cover, such as low walls, barricades, trees, or a mount’s body, increase the AR of all covered zones by +2 (to exceed 3). Additionally, covered zones cannot suffer destroyed effects from ranged attacks. While behind partial cover, a creature gains advantage on any reaction attacks they may take.

Full cover includes walls, fortifications, greater or apex beasts, or any kind of terrain that completely blocks line of sight. Covered zones cannot be targeted directly, instead the attacker declares they wish to shoot the cover, and the GM will roll to determine what (if any) zones end up affected. Attacks made from behind full cover cannot provoke reactions from enemies, and attacks made against full cover are automatically taken at disadvantage.

Whenever cover is destroyed, the covered creature must reroll initiative.

Unarmed Attacks and Improvised Weapons

When without weapons, you can resort to using bare fists or whatever is around you. Unarmed strikes include punches, kicks, elbows, headbutts, and whatever you are capable of, and can only be used against unarmed zones. When striking an unarmored zone, upon a hit, you inflict a wounded effect. You cannot cause bleed, and cannot inflict impaired or destroyed effects, regardless of roll. If you attempt to attack an armored zone, you will incur a wounded effect to whatever hand you are using if you hit.

Improvised weapons are another option when available, and are treated as the closest real weapon category (a chair leg may be compared to a club, a bottle may be compared to a knife). Improvised weapons deal injuries as though one step weaker (a destroyed effect is treated as impaired, an impaired as wounded, and wounded as uninjured). Fragile objects (bottles, pottery, bones, etc) break after 2 successful hits and cannot be used again. Sturdy objects (shovels, metal tools, etc) do not run out of durability.

Special Rule: Grapples

Grappling is used as an attack action, as in 5e. The target of your grapple must likewise be no more than one size larger than you and within your reach. Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check: an Athletics check contested by the target’s Athletics or Acrobatics. If you succeed, you grapple the target. A grappled creature can use its action to escape by succeeding on an Athletics or Acrobatics check contested by your Athletics.

Additionally, while grappling an armored creature, you may use any subsequent turns you take while the creature is grappled to remove armor from their body, one piece of armor per turn.

Special Rule: Duels

A duel occurs when two melee combatants decide to participate in honorable one-on-one combat. In this case, initiative is rolled in secret. Instead of full turns, duelists act in exchanges. Both duelists declare their intent: if they wish to attack, parry, or dodge. If they are attacking, they must also declare which zone they will target. Then, both actions will occur back-to-back, with the higher initiative acting first. Once a duelist is wounded, they may reroll their initiative. During duels, you cannot suffer from bleed effects; though if you are hit in an area that incurs bleed, you will begin to bleed once the duel is called.

Special Rule: Draws

A draw occurs when two ranged combatants decide to participate in honorable one-on-one combat. In this case, both participants roll 1d20 + either Sleight of Hand or Perception. Then, they must decide if they wish to shoot to kill or injure (and which zone they wish to target). This can be done privately or declared aloud. Whoever rolls higher Sleight of Hand or Perception fires first. If they hit, the duel is over. If they miss, the second combatant rolls to hit. If both miss, then they continue to fire until one is injured. During draws, you cannot suffer from bleed effects; though if you are hit in an area that incurs bleed, you will begin to bleed once the draw is called.

Nets

The heavy net is a large net with weighted ends, perfect for immobilizing creatures. This is typically wielded by the Thalassomachos of the Minyra and the En’tharak of the Nokáru. Much like 5e, nets can be thrown, with a range of 5/15, and will restrain any humanoid, lesser, or mounted beast when hit. A creature hit must use its action to free itself, or must break the net by dealing any form of slashing damage to it.

On greater or apex beasts, nets can be thrown, but they cannot enwrap the entire creature. If you wish to target a specific zone on a greater or apex beast, that can be done, but should be done with the GM’s discretion as to what effects it would apply.

Lassos

A rope capable of constricting around limbs, the lasso is used by Morradan Lazadores, Ravelo Enredadores, and Hallowick Ropewardens. The lasso is thrown with a range of 5/15, and can target humanoids, lesser, mounted, greater, or apex beasts, though, unlike the heavy net, lassos can only affect a zone on a creature, not the whole. When you use an action or reaction to make an attack with a lasso, you choose a zone to target, ignoring AR if you are targeting the legs or feet. A lassoed creature is grappled until it is freed and must make an Athletics or Acrobatics check to escape, contested by the lassoer’s Athletics. Dealing slashing damage to the lasso will also free it, destroying the lasso in the process. While grappling a human, lesser, or mount beast with a lasso, you must keep using one hand to hold the lasso or the target is freed.

Greater or apex beasts can only be lassoed successfully if the lassoer is mounted on a greater or apex beast themself or braced to a fixed anchor. If not, you will be immediately knocked prone and the lasso will be released.

Bolas

Used exclusively by the Ravelo Enredador, the bola is a tripping weapon consisting of stones connected by chords that entangles the limbs of smaller animals. The bola is thrown with a range of 30/60, and is only useful against humans or bipedal beasts of the lesser or mount variety. When using your action or reaction to throw a bola, you must choose a zone to target, ignoring AR on the legs or feet. If successful, the affected creature must make a DC 15 Athletics or Acrobatics check or be knocked prone.

Survival

As Outlaws, you operate outside settled infrastructure, and thus must make your way entirely independently. You will manage a posse of PCs, NPCs, and beasts, balancing resources and hazards in order to keep your people safe.

Your group will maintain a Posse Sheet that tracks four different objectives: supplies, water, medical stock, and beast condition. Each of these operate on a 0-6 scale, with 6 being plentiful and 0 critical. When objectives reach 0, you lose morale. It is important to note that the numbers here are not literal inventory; a posse may carry any amount of supplies or water. The 0-6 scale reflects how sustainable those reserves are for the size of the posse. The posse sheet can be found on the main menu.

Posse Size

There are different general sizes of posses, as seen below, and each size consumes a different amount of supplies on the daily.

Food and Water

Each day in the Wastes consumes an amount of water and supplies relative to your posse size. If your posse chooses to not spend these, you lose 1 beast condition. If your posse does not have enough supplies or water, you lose 1 beast condition and 1 morale.

You can stockpile supplies beyond 6, at which point each number of water and supplies beyond six is called an overflow. Overflow does not raise the track above six, but can be consumed before the 6 tracked. For example, if you have 10 water total, you have 6 water on your track, and +4 overflow water. When consumption would reduce the water below 6, you instead reduce the overflow. Once overflow is gone, the track begins to drop normally.

Carrying Supplies

Posses are limited by the amount of supplies they can carry with them. Each adult individual in a posse is capable of loading 1 supplies onto their person alongside their general inventory. Individuals with a 15 or higher in Strength can carry 2 supplies alongside their inventory, though they will gain a stack of exhaustion for each day they must do this.

Beasts are a far more reliable way to transport supplies; information on carrying loads can be found in the aptly named section.

Medical Supplies

Medical stock is not necessary, and can hit 0 without causing consequence. However, it is good to have medical supplies on hand in case of injury.

Morale

Your posse has 5 morale to start off, on a scale between 0 and 10. Morale is affected by successful raids, deaths, and starvation or thirst. Low morale (< 3) causes increased conflict, and at 0 morale, your posse will fracture and any NPCs will abandon you.

Weather and Exposure

At the start of each day in the Wastes, the GM will roll to select the weather for that day. If you must travel during a scorching day or sleep during a cold night without proper protection, you will lose 1 beast condition.

Carrying Loads

Each type of beast has a Load Capacity, which determines how many people and/or supply units they can carry, and how much strain they can endure. Lesser Beasts, such as Dicynodonts, Thylacoicines, and Pachycephalosaurs, can not carry any riders, and can only carry 1 supply unit or an individual’s inventory (given it is modest). Overloading a lesser beast will immediately scar your bond and cause you to lose 1 Beast Condition.

Mount Beasts, such as Dryosaurs, Ceratopsians, and Phorusrhacians, are best used as mounts, and can carry either 1 rider and 1 supply unit or 2 supply units. While carrying 2 supply units, they cannot be ridden until the supplies are cut loose. They cannot carry more than 2 riders, with the sole exception being children, who may ride alongside an adult without penalty.

Greater Beasts, such as Stegosaurs, Deinotheriums, and Sauropods, can carry up to 2 riders and up to 8 supply units, in the following arrangements:

- 2 riders, 2 supply units

- 1 rider, 4 supply units

- 0 riders, 8 supply units

If necessary, they can carry up to 4 riders and 10 supply units, though each day they spend doing so they will lose 1 Beast Condition.

Apex Beasts, such as Tyrannosaurs, Spinosaurs, and Mosasaurs, are not beasts of burden. They can carry up to 6 riders and up to 4 supply units, in the following arrangements:

- 6 riders, 0 supply units

- 4 riders, 2 supply units

- 2 riders, 4 supply units

They cannot be forced to carry more supply units than their maximum, though can carry up to 10 riders if absolutely necessary, though this could scar your bond.

NPCs

NPCs and followers are added to your posse automatically. Each NPC has a role (Artisan, Handler, Healer, Porter, Traveler, Warrior), a quality (0-5), a loyalty (0-3), and a harm track (fine, injured, Impaired). Quality affects their abilities and rolls they make and can be changed given exceptional circumstances. Loyalty is unchangeable and affects how quick to desert they are if morale dips. Injured NPCs roll at disadvantage, and impaired NPCs can no longer contribute to the posse unless they are treated.

NPC Roles

Artisan. The most lucrative NPC, the artisan maintains armor and weapons and can restore or improve equipment given time and materials.

Healer. These NPCs treat injuries during downtime or travel. Higher quality reduces recovery time or prevents injuries from worsening.

Handler. The handler manages animals and allows posses to keep track of non-bonded beasts within their midsts.

Porter. These individuals increase carrying capacity. High quality porters reduce resource loss during travel as well.

Warrior. Hired guns, these NPCs reduce the chance of ambushes and can hold positions, guard camp, or fight in initiative.

Traveler. A non-combatant client who hires the posse to be escorted from point A to point B. Travelers do not contribute to rolls and must be protected from threats. Delivering them safely grants money, repute, or other rewards.

NPC Quality

CQuality is the training of an NPC, on a scale of 0 to 5. At 0, they are dead weight and may create complications. At 1-2, they are inexperienced but functional and roll with +3 to abilities. At 3, they are professionals and roll with +5 to abilities. At 4, they are veterans and roll with +7 to abilities, and at 5 they are exceptional and roll with +10 to abilities.

Beasts and Mount Management

Your beasts are family, not assets or vehicles. They must be loved and cared for, or else their beast condition will dip. Beast condition will drop if they are forced to endure dangerous weather, not provided food and water, or not given rests. At low condition, you risk scarring the bond between beast and rider. Your bonded beasts will never abandon you, but non-bonded beasts might if conditions reach 0.

Pushing It

At any time, players may choose to push the posse. This is done when in critical situations, to save lives or reach locations before consequences occur. When pushing it, you may ignore weather, skip consumption, and travel at night. Each push will cost the posse 1 morale.

Settled Areas

Settled folk don’t take too kindly to Outlaws coming into their cities. To them, Outlaws are criminals and murderers, dangerous vagabonds who bring chaos with them wherever they go. Most cities will allow all to enter, though almost all of them will certainly not allow all to stay.

Wearing Out Your Welcome

Every settled location has a welcome clock that tracks how long the party can remain before social gravity will turn against you. The length of this clock is dependent on the cultural and potential political climate of the city, and will change with each region you enter. They will usually be between 4 and 8 segments, however.

The clock will advance 1 segment for every day spent in town. When the party breaks cultural norms or is caught acting suspiciously, it will advance another segment. You can buy time by bribing officials or taking local work, but these are temporary options that can only be performed once or twice before the locals start refusing you.

Resetting the Clock

A welcome clock can be reset in certain cases, such as when heroic actions are performed or if local rulers decree you are allowed. Even so, the clock will still continue filling for each day you stay in town.

Repute

Your posse’s repute is how widely known you are in the Wastes (and settled lands). It is tracked on a 0-10 scale and can be found on the Posse Sheet.

When dealing with NPCs who are aware of your posse, your repute decides how they interact with you. At 0-3, they are dismissive, and charge full price for items. At 4-6, they show respect or caution around you, and you gain advantage on checks to haggle. At 7, they defer unless they are desperate, and at 10, all shopkeeps permanently discount prices by 50%.

You gain repute at the GM’s discretion when you do something that would make you notorious or renowned. Likewise, you may lose repute at the GM’s discretion when you suffer a humiliation. You cannot lose more than 1 repute from a single event unless the posse collapses entirely.

Once per session, you may invoke your repute to alter the outcome of a roleplay encounter, at the GM’s discretion.

Special Rule: Breath Deprivation

Though drowning is a fantasy among the Wastes, the people of the coast spend their lives within the water and thus drowning poses a fairly certain risk. A creature can hold their breath for a number of rounds equal to their Constitution modifier (to a minimum of 1). Creatures wearing heavy armor treat their Constitution modifier as 1 lower for the purpose of breath holding.

At the end of the final safe round, the creature must make a Constitution saving throw to avoid unconsciousness. On a success, they remain conscious for the round, though they must repeat the save at the end of each subsequent round they remain submerged. Each repeat save is made at disadvantage.

While unconscious due to breath deprivation, the creature will survive for two additional rounds. At the end of the second round, the creature dies. If they are pulled into breathable air before death, they are immediately stabilized, and regain consciousness after 1d4 rounds.

Magic

The magic within Kaelara is powerful but structured. It is sometimes called “the Breath” or “the Current” by different cultures, and follows two standard laws.

Magic Laws

1. All Living Things Carry Magic
Every person, every beast, every plant and fungal bloom and reef generates a low, constant magical field. Most of it is unusable, though some unique individuals are capable of channeling and casting magic.
2. Magic Cannot Act Without a Conduit
No one can cast magic barehanded, talented as they may be. It must be housed and released through conduits. These are commonly weapons, totems, or living beasts, though more creative minds find ways to channel magic into armor, saddles, or even tattoos. A sorcerer cannot simply throw lightning, they must load it into something that can throw for them. When you learn a new spell, you must spend a long rest treating your conduit (such as inscribing it with new runes) in order to be able to cast.

Learning Spells

Magic is not bound by class or culture; anyone can learn any spell from the spellbook. When magic users level up, they may choose to learn a spell, which can be done over a long rest.

Beast Bonds

The first magic of Kaelara was not fire or lightning, but trust; a magical bond that aligns a rider’s Breath or Current with a beast. A bond, sometimes called a Joining, is a reciprocal resonance lock between two living magic fields. It allows rider and beast to share instinct, emotion, and pain. Once bonded, neither party is ever truly alone again. Some cultures allow people to bond to multiple beasts at one time, others insist on monogamy.

In most cultures, bonding does not occur until both beast and rider reach adulthood. For humans, this occurs during mid-adolescence, after a female’s first period or a male’s first spermarche. Some cultures allow youth to choose their beast, others assign it for the child. Regardless, youths in certain castes are expected to bond with beasts, and failed bond attempts are not uncommon, but can be deeply shameful.

The act of bonding itself can vary depending on the type of beast, but always requires a conduit (usually a harness or bridle), sustained contact between the rider and beast, sometimes extending for hours to days, and a moment of alignment, which can be forced or mutual consent. Once the bond forms, it cannot be broken unless one party is killed.

Bonded beasts do not age normally. The Breath or Current of their rider anchors the beast’s metabolic decay, allowing them to resist senescence for decades past their wild lifespans. Unbonded offspring of bonded beasts age normally, however.

Bond Mechanics

Your character can bond to multiple beasts; any they find in the bestiary can be bonded to! In order to bond, you must have a beast-specific conduit prepared. These vary from harnesses, to bridles, to collars. Lesser Beasts require cheaper conduits, with Apex Beasts as costly to bond with as they are valuable on the battlefield.

A beast bond is formed during one uninterrupted long rest (8 hours). The rest is consumed entirely by the ritual; no other benefits may be taken if it fails. During the lost rest, you must complete three stages, each one requiring a role. You cannot retry the ritual with the same beast if it fails.

Stage 1: The Claim

This stage is all about wrestling for control. You must get the beast to the point of exhaustion and submission. This can be done by overpowering it, outlasting it, or outmaneuvering it, and magic is encouraged to be used during this section. If you succeed, you physically overpower the beast. If not, you are either injured or thrown clear, and the ritual fails immediately.

Stage 2: The Awakening

Once the beast is subdued, you must begin the bonding process. This is through either an Animal Handling or Insight roll. Your performance in Stage I affects your roll here; if you were greatly successful or barely passing, you will either have advantage or disadvantage on your roll here. If you are successful, the beast allows you to bond. On a failure, it will panic and send you back to Stage I.

Stage 3: The Joining

This is where the magic occurs. The conduit will activate, and you must seal the bond by making an Arcana or Intimidation check. You also will be able to choose how the bond forms: either mutual, asserted, or forced. Mutual bonds have the highest DC, then asserted bonds, then forced bonds, but there is less likelihood of a scar. If you roll a high success, the bond forms cleanly. If you roll a mixed success, it forms with a scar, and if you fail, then you are sent back to Stage I.

Bond Scars

A bond scar is a semi-permanent asymmetry in the resonance between rider and beast. When a scar is gained, you choose the category, or roll on the table below. Each scar has a passive effect and a stress trigger. Scars may intensify or appear if the bond between beast and rider is abused, and, conversely, a scar may soften or vanish through long-term care and cultural rites.

Equipment

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Weapons

Weapons focus less on dealing damage, but instead on how well they handle. Each weapon has a hands (1, 2, or Versatile), a damage type, any traits, and a special ability. Hands shows how many hands are required to wield the weapon; Versatile weapons must be wielded two-handed in order to use their special ability. Damage type is useful only in determining resistances or vulnerabilities, and traits are similar to 5e in showing what makes the weapon special. If you are proficient with the weapon, you also gain access to the special ability while wielding the weapon, which is detailed in the corresponding column. Ranged weapons also have a range, with the first number representing the comfortable range of the weapon, and the second number the farthest it can possibly fire, though rolls within that range are made at disadvantage. All weapons and shields standardly require an action to draw or stow, with some weapons requiring less time.

Weapon Properties

Ammunition. These weapons require ammunition to function. You may make an attack only if you have the ammunition to fire from the weapon.
Concealable. These weapons may be comfortably hidden on the body.
Emplaced. These weapons are too large to be held and must instead be mounted atop a beast or stand.
Finesse. These weapons may use either Dexterity or Strength for attack rolls.
Light. These weapons can be swapped to without consuming an action.
Loud. These weapons make a far-carrying noise when fired.
Off-Hand. These weapons can be held alongside another one-handed weapon. When you miss an attack with your main-hand weapon, you may make a free attack with your off-hand.
Reach. These weapons add 5 ft. to your reach when you attack with it, as well as determining your reach for opportunity attacks with it.
Silent. These weapons make no noise when used.
Slow. These weapons have a long reload time. You must take an action to reload it.
Thrown. These weapons may be used to make a ranged attack. Its range is listed in parentheses next to the property.

Light Blades

Medium Blades

Heavy Blades

Polearms and Lances

Armor

Armor is grouped into Light, Medium, and Heavy armor, primarily for the purposes of determining how much it slows one down and how it behaves when hit. Proficiency allows players to avoid disadvantage on ability checks and cast spells, but the heavier one is armored, the slower they are, regardless of proficiency.

Unlike 5e, armor can be mixed and matched by zone. Each piece of armor covers specific regions of the body and adds AR to individual zones, meaning protection can be fully customizable. A character might wear heavy armor over the chest, lighter protection on the limbs, and leave other areas unarmored entirely. This makes armor a matter of prioritization; protecting every zone is possible, but doing so comes at a severe cost to mobility.

Each class has a starting armor. This is what armor you begin play proficient with, and, depending on backstory, what armor you enter play wearing. You do not need to wear all the armor of a set, and are encouraged to only wear what suits the situation, though you cannot dawn or doth armor in the heat of battle.

Encumbrance and Heat Penalties

Encumbrance is unavoidable, but can be mitigated. Each worn armor piece contributes to a calculation of encumbrance (though weapons, inventory, and unworn armor is not factored into this calculation). If your total encumbrance is 0-2, you suffer no speed penalty. At 2-4, you suffer -5 ft. to your movement, 4-6 removes 10 ft., 6-8 removes 15 ft., and 8+ removes 20 ft.

Additionally, when in the Wastes, you must keep your body temperature from overheating. Each armor piece also has a heat stat, which determines exhaustion risk and other heat penalties. A heat stat between 0-2 is comfortable, 2-4 gives disadvantage on checks to resist exhaustion, 4-6 forces you to make Constitution saving throws each hour of travel you are wearing it, and anything above a 6 leads to heatstroke.

Armor Degradation

Armor won’t last forever. When a zone with armor suffers a direct hit, reduce that piece’s AR by 1. When AR reaches 0, the piece is destroyed. Some abilities can restore AR to it, but more often than not, it needs replacing.

Light Armor

Medium Armor

Heavy Armor

Shields

As mentioned in the core mechanics, Shields do not add general AR, but instead allow the wielder to cover a selection of zones per round, providing 3 AR to those zones (to exceed 3). Different shields offer resistances from different attacks, as well. Shields add to armor encumbrance, but do not add to heat. All shields can be drawn and stowed using an action, with the single exception of the Dhal, which can be done as a free action.

Items

Most items found in 5e can also be found in Kaelara, with exceptions given to certain magic items, gamesets, and instruments. A full list of all 5e items possible to find in Kaelara is below, as well as their weight, cost, and attributes (if any). In addition to those items, there are Kaelara-specific items that will be in a separate table for convenience. While most items can be used without proficiency, kits and tools sometimes require proficiency to use (this is noted in the attributes).

Money

Most Settled areas trade in gold, silver, and copper pieces, as is similar in 5e. 1 Gold Piece (GP) is worth 10 Silver Pieces (SP), which in turn is worth 10 Copper Pieces (CP). However, in the Wastes, a second form of currency is also used: Salt. Salt is measured in bricks, usually the size of soap bars, and does not have a consistent value. Instead, prices using salt are negotiated based on how desperate both parties are for the items bartered.

Items

Base 5e - Adventuring Items

Base 5e - Gemstones

Kaelara Exclusive - Adventuring Items

Ammunition

Beast Bond Conduits

Instruments and Gamesets

Regular Crafting Materials

Legendary Crafting Materials