WE BEGIN

AT THE END
 CREDITS

WRITER/DESIGNER Monte Cook

MANAGING EDITOR Shanna Germain
EDITOR/PROOFREADER Tammie Webb Ryan
ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Bear Weiter

ARTISTS
Samuel Araya, Eric Lofgren, Roberto Pitturru, Matt Stawicki

© 2018 Monte Cook Games, LLC. INVISIBLE SUN and its logo are trademarks of Monte Cook
Games, LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries.
All Monte Cook Games characters and character names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof, are
trademarks of Monte Cook Games, LLC.

2
 We Begin at the End

WE BEGIN AT THE END

The clock resets. The moth crawls back into its cocoon.
But the renewal promised by the Gold Sun is not always
welcome. Sometimes things should just end. Can you
stop the rebirth of the Illustrated Messiah who just
wants to remain dead?
SETUP
Each player needs a character (one page for information,
one page for background), a pools sheet, and the cards
for their spells and ephemera.
The following characters get the following cards:
Eduare: Discarded Candles in the Dark (Incantation),
Blink Thrice Before Dying (Incantation), Vanishing
Powder (Ephemera Object)
Ute: Infinity (Weaver Aggregate Card), Challenge
(Weaver Aggregate Card), A Glimmer Hides in the
Shadows (Incantation), Her Lips Awoke the Sleeping
City (Incantation), Fingertips of Light (Ephemera
Object)
Ellian: Chromatic Strike (Spell), That Which Crawls on
the Inside (Incantation), The Children Who Love
Zero (Incantation), The Waiting Watcher (Ephemera
Object)
Nimuian: Emotional Inversion (Spell), object of power
The Silent Expectations of Motherless Children
(Incantation), the Red Potion (Ephemera Object),
Rescission (Ephemera Object), Thunder Bullet
(Ephemera Object)
Iver: 1 spells, Escutcheon (Spell), Fingersnakes (Spell),
Orientation Adjustment (Spell), Psychokinetic
Hand (Spell), The Grasp for Something More than
Power (Incantation), Draining the Essence of a Soul
(Incantation), Statue’s Gift (Ephemera Object)
Although built according to the rules, a few of
the characters are slightly more advanced than the
others, but no one will notice. For simplicities’ sake,
no characters have secrets or long-form magic. The
characters, as presented, skip over most of their
connections and do not have Hidden Knowledge. We’ll
skip that for this session.
Put out the Path of Suns board, the Testament of
Suns, the Sooth Deck, and the dice. Also the bene and
vex should be readied for each character’s pool sheet.
Ready your notes and whatever handouts you need
(the Effects by Level table is a good choice). You
won’t need the Guiding Hand, the cloth maps, the
pregenerated characters, the props, the rest of the cards,
or anything else. Feel free to show these off at the end of
the session if there’s time.
Make sure you’ve got a good command of the rules of
the game, how each PC’s order and forte abilities work.
Have at least a passing familiarity of what happens
when a vislae dies (because it could happen in the
scenario!).

Eduare the Vance also should have their Vance

diagram and the following two Vance spells prepared:
Eyes of the Overworld and Mordiv’s Egregious Etiquette.
They also have Norham’s Sea of Words, Orrod’s
Impossible Flood, Uriale’s Vecordious Action, and
Formidable Fist of Fury on hand. (They probably won’t
have time to re-prepare spells, but just in case…)
3
 RULES INTRODUCTION
You’re going to want to offer the following information
to the players at the outset, even before you get into
the introduction of the story or the specifics of the
characters. These are the points you’ll want to cover.
EVERYONE USES MAGIC!
All the PCs are vislae, which means they all use magic,
but they use it in very different ways (explained with the
character introductions to come).
CHALLENGES AND VENTURES
The GM sets the challenge for any significant action.
Usually this is on a scale of 1 to 10, although challenges
can go higher. When a player attempts an action, they
add together all their modifiers to create a venture. The
GM subtracts the venture from the challenge. If the
total is above 0, the player rolls a die. If it is 0 or below,
no roll is needed.
Modifications come from skills, connections, bene
(see below), and the level of a tool, weapon, or ability
(like a spell).
ROLLING DICE
Players roll a ten-sided die to attempt an action, giving
them a number between 0 and 9. They are trying to get
the number determined by the GM or higher. 0 almost
always implies failure (assuming a roll is needed at
all). Characters can also use the bene in their Sortilege
pool (which we’re about to get to) in order to roll an
additional die, giving a greater chance of success,
because now the player just needs the target number or
higher on just one of the two dice. Sometimes a magical
ability (like a spell) will offer a free bonus die.
There are, however, actions where two successes will
be required, so then both dice must show a success, and
obviously, just rolling one die has no chance of success.
These are all situations where the action is resisted by
magic.
STAT POOLS (BENE AND VEX)
Characters have eight stat pools, four physical (called
Certes pools) and four mental/spiritual (called Qualia
pools). Each pool has a certain number of “points” in it
represented by tokens called bene. Players spend bene
to improve their chances at an action or to activate an
ability. Vex are like negative bene. They represent some
hindrance. While bene are spent at a player’s discretion,
if a character has a vex in their pool, it’s spent at the
GM’s discretion. A player can choose to spend a bene to
negate the effects of a vex.
Pools can be refreshed, back up to their normal totals
written in each circle.
4
SPELLS, EPHEMERA, AND
OTHER ABILITIES
Spells and other abilities cost Sorcery bene to activate.
Players always add the level of the ability to the venture.
Ephemera, whether they are Ephemera Objects or
Incantations, can only be used once and then they’re
gone, but they require no Sorcery to use.
THINGS WE’LL GET TO LATER
Don’t worry about the following until they actually come
up in the game.
✦✦ The Sooth Deck
✦✦ Suffering Damage
✦✦ Flux
✦✦ GM Shifts
✦✦ Joy, Despair, and Acumen
LONG INTRODUCTION
Hey GM. You’re going to do a much longer intro to
this event than you’re used to. This is because Invisible
Sun is about character and story and we’ve got to
get the players to not only understand the rules but
to get attached to their characters right away. You’re
going to read the introduction below to the players
(or paraphrase it, but keep all the salient points). At
various points, you’re going to pause to allow a player
to contribute information about their character. Their
character sheets have the appropriate responses (which
you also have, below). Normal Invisible Sun starts with
a whole session devoted to fleshing out the characters.
You’re going to accomplish a taste of it in just a few
minutes.
Keep in mind that these characters have been working
together for a while, so they know each other and have
accomplished quite a few impressive tasks already
(remember, this is called We Begin at the End for a
reason—well, many reasons, really). Lastly, note also
that some characters might not have their entire suite
of abilities or possibilities presented here. That’s to keep
things simple. You won’t be dealing with Development
Mode, vislae houses, Hidden Knowledge, or character
foundations, and souls and connections will all but be
ignored. The idea here is to give the players a taste of
the game.

READ THIS TO THE PLAYERS
GM: You stand in a city square within the city of
Satyrine, a place where surreal magic is common, but
never routine. Long ago, you were trapped in what
you call Shadow—which is our world of 21st Century
nonsense—but you eventually escaped into the real
world, called the Actuality. You are vislae, meaning that
you wield magic in various ways, each according to the
Order of magic to which you belong.
Gesture to each character in turn, and have them read
the following section from the background info on their
character sheet.
Eduare: My order of the Vance thinks of spells as
living things that they keep stored in their mind until
they are ready to be cast and let loose.
Ute: As a Weaver, I weave magic like threads to create
any number of wonders.
Ellian: Like all those of the Goetic Order, I summon
spiritual entities to provide protection and aid.
Nimuian: I am a Maker and use my magic to craft
items of mystic power.
Iver: I reject magical orders and forge my own path
into the world of magic. I am an Apostate.
GM: Each character as a few different aspects to them
that makes them unique. Each of you, for example, has
a heart of a different flavor.
Galants are quick witted and extemporaneous.
Stoics are contemplative and careful.
Empaths are in touch with the emotions of others.
Ardents are full of passion and prone to impulsiveness.
GM: Further, each of you has a unique magical talent
called a forte.
Ute: I breathe magical runes into the air. I can make a
protective rune that helps me when I am next attacked.
Iver: I call upon an entity known as the Serpent and
can make them appear to attack a foe.
Eduare: I converse with everything, and thus I can touch
an object and learn about it, and speak with animals.
Nimuian: I host a legion. I am possessed by many
spirits and they make me stronger.
Ellian: I shepherd minds. I can know the thoughts of
a close person and I can speak telepathically.
GM: You are close companions, and each of you is
particularly bonded to at least one other character.
Eduare and Iver: We are friendly rivals, and we gain
motivation when the other does well, afraid to be shown
We Begin at the End
up. We gain +1 to our action immediately following
when the other succeeds at an action.
Ute and Nimuian: We share a mystical bond we
cannot explain. If we are close, our magic is 1 level
higher. If one of us suffers damage, we both suffer that
damage.
Ellian: I rent a room in Eduare’s house.
GM: The being known as the Illustrated Messiah is
an immortal entity covered in elaborate magical tattoos.
She longs for a respite from her neverending life so that
she can enter the realm of death, called the Pale Sun.
You each have your own personal reasons to aid her in
her goal.
Eduare: I owe her a life debt that I swore to repay with
death.
Ute: I know her as a true friend.
Ellian: I seek a secret she knows, and she can only
provide it once she’s among the dead.
Nimuian: My order has instructed me to help the
messiah at all costs, and in return I will advance in their
ranks.
Iver: I want to help the messiah because Ute does.
GM: Death in the Actuality is a very straightforward
thing. A transition, really (and as vislae, one some
can even reverse with the right secrets and spells).
Dead spirits pass on to the Pale where they have a very
different—but not necessarily unpleasant—existence.
The Illustrated Messiah cannot kill herself, however,
due to her nature, and doing so yourselves is not only
distasteful but risky. As a messianic figure, killing her
results in a powerful wasting, delirium-inducing curse
upon the murderer.
Four months ago, you all worked together to arrange
for her to be crushed in the collapse of an aging
building. But you failed in preventing her rebirth, and
just a few weeks ago, you encountered her again, more
distraught than ever. So you devised an even more
elaborate plan. You tricked a powerful demon named
Choronicoles (Cor-on-ick-oh-lees) into attacking and
slaying the Illustrated Messiah, because it has a gem in
its forehead that stores the souls of those it slays. Surely
once cursed, the demon would not be able to resist your
efforts to wrest the gem from it. You were sure that,
gem in hand, you could perform a ritual that would
send your friend to the Pale properly.
But upon slaying the Illustrated Messiah,
Choronicoles immediately disappeared. And now, as
you stand over her body, there in the middle of a square
in the city, surrounded by onlookers, her many tattoos
begin to pull away as if they have a life of their own.
5
 GM INFO
Choronicoles was summoned by a powerful Goetic
named Sanne just after it killed the Illustrated Messiah.
She’s sent it on a mission, but because it is cursed with
maladies both physical and mental, it does not return
on time. The PCs may have to trace the demon back to
Sanne, and then go find where she sent it.
The tattoos are what bring the Illustrated Messiah
back when she dies by storing her soul and repairing
her body. With no soul to store, they act erratically,
taking on a semblance of life, looking for their lost
beloved, and causing all manner of havoc.

DEALING WITH THE TATTOOS

The tattoos that are leaving the messiah’s body and
flitting about form little groupings and swarms like
insects. Words and shapes flutter through the air and
alight on people or objects—and then suddenly react
with surprising power and violence. The tattoos are
looking for the messiah’s soul, and of course not finding
it. This makes them angry.
The first order of business for the PCs is to decide
what to do about the tattoos. The answer to that
question might be “ignore them and find the demon,”
but even so, the vislae will have to at least cope with
the tattoo grouping that wafts in their direction, wispy
appendages (wings? arms?) outstretched.
Setup, rules overview, and the introduction of
characters should not have taken more than an hour. At
this point, you should have three hours left.

TATTOOS AND THE PCs

Play the first Sooth card and explain briefly what it
means regarding magical effects due to color and the
effect it has on character hearts.
Each PC must make a Dodge defense roll to avoid the
many “arms” of the living tattoo swarm.

ANIMATE TATTOO SWARM STATS

Level: 3
Injuries:
Wounds:
Anguish:
Defenses: Magic (two successes); +2 Dodge
Emit angry waves of destruction: One creature or object
suffers 3 points of damage.
Traits: Confused, angry, single-minded

Remember that to affect or resist an animate tattoo

swarm, two successes are needed. Explain how damage
works when a PC first suffers it. Explain how Armor
can reduce damage, and how three Injuries become a
6

Wound. Each Wound puts a scourge on all Certes pools,
basically causing the PC to suffer a −1 on all physical
actions. Three Wounds means the character is dead.
Characters will likely deal damage to the tattoo swarm
in various ways, or use magic to otherwise do away with
them. Or they might just run away (which works, as the
tattoo swarm just flitters off to menace someone else).
Remember to play a new card each round.
BYSTANDERS AND GENERAL HAVOC
The PCs are not the only ones menaced by the tattoos,
of course. There are a dozen different tattoos or tattoo
groupings moving about the square. People run quickly
away from the wild tattoos, but by the time the PCs deal
with their own problems, three bystanders are snatched
by the tattoos (freeing them is a Physicality-based action
that requires two successes if a PC wants to help). Plus,
one tattoo has latched onto a wooden vendor’s stall
and its shaking is bringing it down toward the poor
vendor behind it (getting him safely out of the way is a
Movement action, but only one success is needed).
If altruistic PCs take time to help others, rescued
victims are grateful, but have nothing special to offer
beyond their thanks.
THE THAH
Regardless of what the PCs do, after a bit (probably
about 3–4 rounds or so, but do what seems to work best)
the Thah arrive.
The Thah work as self-appointed official public
enforcers. They have gold skin and white hair, and they
wear red coats, tall black boots, and nothing else. They
inflict pain or pleasure with a touch, and many ride
inanimate but floating stone horses. The Thah subdue,
destroy, or chase off all the remaining tattoos quickly.
The Thah are powerful and keep the peace, but they are
not friendly. They do not engage in idle chitchat, and they
do not investigate crimes. They just stop disruptive events
and actions and move on as mysteriously as they arrived.
LOOKING FOR CHORONICOLES
The PCs probably need to find where the demon went.
Give the players the following options/suggestions:
1. Go speak to a well-known expert on demons,
Fedona
2. Go directly to the Goetic Hall of Records
3. Follow some of the tattoos clearly looking for the
Illustrated Messiah
4. Ute the Weaver could attempt to trace Choronicoles
using Understanding (from the Challenge
aggregate) and Movement (from the Infinity
aggregate) as a 6th level weaving
We Begin at the End
FEDONA
Fedona is the person who gave them the information
on Choronicoles to begin with. She’s an old woman who
lives in a comfortable house in a sedate neighborhood.
Fedona dresses sharply and still has a spring in her step
despite her years. She once was a potent member of
the Order Goetica, but she’s now retired. Fedona’s one
of many renowned experts on demons from the order.
Her home is pleasant, and smells of lavender, but here
and there on the walls the PCs see disturbing artwork:
a painting depicting a hideous demon with a skull-like
face and a hundred pincer-like arms, a small sculpture
on a shelf of a monstrosity with multiple bat-like wings
and multiple hungry mouths.
Despite her deep interest in demonkind and the
realm of the Red Sun, Fedona is kind and pleasant.
She does, however, believe that mortals just don’t truly
understand demonkind, and that demons don’t deserve
their reputation as the sum of all evil. (This goes against
everything that the PCs, including Ellian the Goetic,
believes).
Fedona is level 8, should the PCs try to influence her
or affect her with magic.
If the PCs come to her, she will say that it sounds like
Choronicoles’ sudden disappearance was the result of
its being summoned by a Goetic. She only knows of
one other Goetic that is familiar with Choronicoles—a
woman named Sanne. Fedona doesn’t know much
about her other than she can be difficult to deal with.
The older woman also knows Sanne’s address and will
give it to the PCs if they persuade her (an Interaction-
based action, but the challenge is only 4).
She won’t accompany the PCs or offer them any other
useful aid, but she’ll make them cinnamon tea and offer
them some ginger biscuits.
GOETIC HALL OF RECORDS
Ellian the Goetic can get the PCs into the headquarters
of their order. The Goetic Hall of Records is a
foreboding, gothic structure with five towers (one of
them is a clock tower), each decorated with carvings
and statuary of leering demons, noble angels, and
other spiritual beings. Once inside, they can attempt to
persuade (challenge 5) a level 5 clerk named Giedona
to help them look up information on Choronicoles.
Giedona’s never heard of it herself, but she knows how
to best find information among the records, and has
access to most of the record rooms where the order keep
extensive records on every demon, angel, and other
entity that they have dealt with.
Together, they learn that Choronicoles is a level 7
demon and, typical of its kind, it delights in bloodshed,
pain, and combat. It has a gem in its forehead that
7
 stores the souls of those it slays. But they likely already
knew all of that.
Most importantly, they can learn this information was
all cataloged by a single Goetic just a few years ago. Her
name is Sanne, and her address is easily obtained in the
Hall of Records as well.
FOLLOW THE TATTOOS
Unlike the other choices, this is not a good strategy. The
tattoos have no idea how to find the vanished demon,
despite the fact that they want to find the messiah’s
soul. They flitter about and cause trouble, but they are
aimless, and this should become evident after following
them for just a half hour or so.
WEAVING A TRACE
If Ute the Weaver uses a woven spell to trace
Choronicoles, they’ll have to make it a level 6 effect. The
challenge will be 9, but the spell will add at least 6 to the
venture, so they’re likely to succeed. The spell will lead
them to Sanne’s house. But by the time the PCs arrive,
the demon will be gone.
SANNE’S HOUSE
There should be at least an hour and a half left when
the PCs make it to Sanne’s house.
Sanne lives in a strangely crooked house, with two
stories. The windows on the upper level almost look like
eyes, and if they were eyes, the house is looking at you
and finding you wanting.
The PCs probably have two courses of action.
1. Knock on the door and try to talk it through.
2. Try to get in through stealth or force.
KNOCK KNOCK
A broad-shouldered thoughtform butler answers the
door. His name is Randolf and he wears a white shirt
and a black vest of perfect tailoring. The PCs will need
to persuade him that they should see Sanne (challenge
6), or lie and try to fool him (challenge 8).
RANDOLF
Level: 6
Injuries:
Wounds:
Anguish:
Defenses: +3 Withstand, +2 Resist, +2 Dodge
Modifications: +2 perception, +2 resist deception
Fisticuffs: Inflicts 6 points of damage
Traits: Loyal, dedicated, watchful
8
THE DIRECT APPROACH
Sanne’s house is enchanted, so if anyone tries to force
open a door or window, the perpetrator must resist
(challenge 8, two successes required) or they appear
stripped down to their underthings in the middle of
the street in front of the house with a level 1 demon
hovering above them on tiny wings, blowing a trumpet
for three rounds. All the would-be intruder’s belongings
appear in a box inside the house.
Randolf comes out to deal with the threat after the
three rounds, assuming the PCs are still around. If the
PCs actually start fighting Randolf, Sanne herself will
get involved a few rounds after. Obviously, this is all very
bad for the PCs’ chances at success in (or for that matter,
surviving) the scenario. In this case, a GM shift (awarding
Joy) might allow Sanne to be magnanimous and demand
to know why the PCs have intruded upon her home. And
she still might tell them what they need to know, but the
price would be all of their magic and money.
SANNE
Level: 8
Injuries:
Wounds:
Anguish:
Defenses: Magic (two successes); +3 Resist
Painful spell: Inflicts 8 points of damage upon a faraway
target
Aggression spell: Make one nearby target attack another
for a round
Paralysis spell: Target cannot move (1 rest)
Invisibility spell: Disappear from sight
Traits: Self-serving, devious, temperamental
TALKING TO SANNE
Sanne is a Goetic that walks the Nightside Path. She is
amoral, devious, and vengeful. Standing well over six feet
tall, she is imposing with her elaborate headdress and
gown that makes her appear to be wreathed in red and
black flames (to complement, her long hair is streaked
red and black and incorporated into the ensemble).
It’s going to be next to impossible (challenge 9) to get
any information out of Sanne without a bribe of some
potent magic (an ephemera object, for example), but
such an inducement reduces any persuasion attempt to
challenge 4.
Sanne summoned Choronicoles to spy upon her
rival, a vislae named Shadov. However, the demon has
not returned, and Sanne has no idea why. She says that
she believes Shadov is meeting an important contact
at a cafe called Garver’s, and in fact it was that meeting
that she wanted Choronicoles to spy upon, invisibly as a
spirit. She knows the location of the cafe.

THE DELIRIOUS DEMON
Choronicoles stands on the street in front of Garver’s,
visible. It’s shouting at people nearby as well as beings
that don’t appear to be there. It’s also striking out at
other unseen foes. It’s delirious and weakened thanks to
the curse upon it for slaying the Illustrated Messiah.
An eight-foot tall humanoid with bright red skin
covered in animate faces showing torment, the demon
is hunched and visibly enervated. The eyes in its
mannish face bulge like it’s mad, seeing terrifying
things that only it is privy to. The gem still glistens with
power in its forehead.
Garver is a self-aware tree that owns and runs
this cafe, and physically makes up at least half of it.
Garver identifies as female and is chatty, welcoming,
and pleasant. With animate branches, she cooks and
serves at the same time. Garver and all her clientele are
watching the spectacle of Choronicoles. (Shadov is no
longer there, if he ever was.)
The players might recognize that, like with the
animate tattoos, the Thah might just show up to
deal with the demon (although it doesn’t appear that
Choronicoles has actually attacked anyone who isn’t
a hallucination yet). But if anyone brings that up, you
We Begin at the End
might have them make an Intellect-based action (if they
don’t come to this conclusion on their own) to recognize
that the Thah will likely drive Choronicoles away or
slay it, and either way, they won’t get the gem with the
messiah’s soul in it. So the real truth is, the PCs need to
deal with it before the Thah arrive. They’ve probably only
got five or six rounds.
You might present these options to the players:
1. Slay the demon outright. This will only help them
if they have a plan to keep the gem safe—and you
should warn them of that, because Fedona would
have told them that (and she wouldn’t have matched
them up with Choronicoles if she thought they
would just kill it).
2. Get the gem somehow. Some kind of telekinesis?
Snatching it in combat?
3. Using magic to incapacitate the demon and take the
gem.
4. Somehow compel the demon to give up the gem.
Choronicoles rambles on with nonsense until someone
attempts to affect it with magic or touch it physically.
Then, it reacts with violence, shouting paranoid,
delusional things like “The host of the Demon Duke
9
 assails me!” or “My foe, the Queen of Languor has sent
you to take my eyes!”
At some point in the encounter, use a GM shift
(awarding Despair) to have something complicate the
PCs’ actions. Perhaps Choronicoles becomes lucid for a
moment and uses a power chosen by you, not described
in its stats.
Without the gem, Choronicoles (still cursed) will
remember that it can return to its purely spiritual form
and flee the city magically, returning to its home in the
realm of the Red Sun.

CHORONICOLES (CURSED)
Level: 6
Injuries:
Wounds: X
Anguish: X
Defenses: Magic (two successes); +3 Resist
Claw attack: Inflicts 4 points of damage
Terrifying Roar: Inflicts 1 Anguish on all close beings
and makes them freeze in shock and horror for a
round
Traits: Delusional, delirious, weakened

THE RITUAL OF SAFE PASSAGE

This can be handled as a sort of denouement. No die
rolls needed, just narration. It’s a day or two later, and
the PCs have recovered and gathered at one of their
houses.

Working together, utilizing the monograph you had

previously secured that describes the Ritual of Safe Passage,
you call upon powerful magic to send the messiah’s soul
out of the gem and into the Pale. They will never again
be reborn, but they will transition into an entirely new
existence in the Deadlands, and it was that experience they
craved.

CHARACTER SUMMARIES
Just like at the end of a regular Invisible Sun session, go
around the table and have each player describe how the
events of the game affected their character. Award each
character 2 Acumen and a Joy, telling them that they
each succeeded in the climax of their character’s arc
(that’s of course what each character’s “personal reason”
to help the messiah was). Of course, if they didn’t
succeed, then they get a Despair instead of a Joy.

10
EDUARE THE EREMETIC STOIC OF THE VANCIAN
ORDER WHO CONVERSES WITH EVERYTHING
Stoic Heart: Tied to the Mysteries family of the Sooth Deck.

Vancian Spells: I think of spells as intelligent entities that live in my

mind. I have a diagram that shows how many spells I can store in my
mind at once (2 alpha spells or 1 beta spell). The spell is eager to be
cast, so casting it requires no energy or effort. Just an action. However,
if I want to retain the ability to cast that spell again without going
through the hour-long preparation phase, I must pay Sorcery equal to
the spell’s level—basically, I’m casting it, but metaphorically hanging
on tight so I don’t lose it when I do.

Psychometry (Level 1): When I touch a creature or object, I get a sense of something about its nature or
past.

The Language of Animals: I can speak to and understand any animal (this ability has no effect on people
or understanding their languages). This ability does not grant me any particular influence over animals,
nor does it compel them to speak.

Skills and Connections: I have 1 level of each of the following skills:

Understanding conventional magic
Seeing Through Deception
Withstand
Connection with the Order of the Vance

Possessions on hand:
Nice clothing, including a tophat
Knife hidden in coat sleeve (level 2, inflicts 2 points Health
of damage)
Satchel Injuries:
Binoculars
Notebook and pen
Breath mints
110 crystal orbs Wounds: 1 SC 2 SC
5 glass orbs
1 magecoin
Anguish: 1 SQ 2 SQ
Stats [Refer to your stat pools sheet and make sure
you have this many bene in your stat pools.]
Accuracy 1
Movement 3
Perception 3
Physicality 2
Interaction 1
Sorcery 8
Intellect 3
Sortilege 3
BACKGROUND INFO
FOR YOU
This information is for you:
Some people think me aloof, and it’s true that I don’t have close connections to many people or
organizations. I have a large house with a well-stocked library where I keep to myself most of the time.
I can be contemplative and careful, even slow to act sometimes. My friend Iver and I are friendly rivals,
always trying to one-up each other when we’re together.
As a Vance, I’m scholarly and think of magic as a complex but understandable science. I’m not much
of a talker, but I can “talk” to objects by touching them and learning facts about them, and I can speak to
and understand most animals—it’s just a magical trait I’ve had for as long as I can remember.
A few years ago, a mysterious and powerful entity named the Illustrated Messiah saved my life as I lay
dying from a magical disease I caught while practicing spells that were beyond me. Now, she needs my
help.

FOR THE GROUP

This information is to be read aloud when the GM indicates it at the beginning:

Order: My Order of the Vance thinks of spells as living things that they keep stored in their mind until
they are ready to be cast and let loose.

Forte: I converse with everything, and thus I can touch an object and learn about it, and speak with
animals.

Character Bond (said at the same time as the other player): We are friendly rivals, and we gain motivation
when the other does well, afraid to be shown up. We gain +1 to our action immediately following when
the other succeeds at an action.

Character Arc: I owe the messiah a life debt that I swore to repay with death.
UTE THE ESTABLISHED GALANT OF THE ORDER
OF WEAVERS WHO BREATHES RUNES
Galant Heart: Tied to the Secrets family of the Sooth Deck.

Weaving Spells: I can take two qualities from my Weaver aggregates and
produce an effect I can imagine that fits both, like weaving two threads
together. The GM determines the level, and the level determines the cost in
Sorcery, just like with any spell.

Breathing a Protective Rune (Level 1): I breathe a rune that hovers near my
head. When I am next attacked, the rune grants me +1 to my defenses and
then fades away.

Breathing an Assisting Rune (Level 1): I name an action and breathe a rune that hovers near my head.
When I next take that action, the rune grants +1 to my action and then fades away.

Skills and Connections: I have 1 level of each of the following skills:

Understanding nonconventional magic
Climbing
Searching

Possessions on hand:
Simple clothing
Eye gloves (eyes woven into the backs of the hands)—2 bene Perception, 1 vex Interaction, already
figured in
Walking cane (if used as a weapon, level 1, inflicts 4 damage)
40 crystal orbs
9 glass orbs
Health

Stats [Refer to your stat pools sheet and make sure Injuries:
you have this many bene in your stat pools.]
Accuracy 1
Movement 4
Perception 5 Wounds: 1 SC 2 SC
Physicality 2
Interaction 3 (+1 vex)
Sorcery 6
Anguish: 1 SQ 2 SQ
Intellect 2
Sortilege 2
BACKGROUND INFO
FOR YOU
This information is for you:
I have a large, comfortable home with nice things. In many ways, I feel like years of study and hard
work have really paid off and I can relax a bit now. Still, I am sure to help my friends when they are in
need. I’m quick thinking and rarely hesitate (but I’m not rash). My friend Nimuian and I found each
other by chance when we were young and discovered we share some kind of mystic connection. We’ve
been close ever since.
As a Weaver, I think of magic as more art than science, and appreciate its beauty. In addition to
weaving spells, I’ve learned to exhale magical energy that I can shape into hovering runes that grant me
aid.
A few years ago, a mysterious and powerful entity named the Illustrated Messiah saved the life of my
friend Eduare. Ever since then, I’ve considered her a friend and she’s never let me down. Now, she needs
my help.

FOR THE GROUP

This information is to be read aloud when the GM indicates it at the beginning:

Order: As a Weaver, I weave magic like threads to create any number of wonders.

Forte: I breathe magical runes into the air. I can make a protective rune that helps me when I am next
attacked.

Character Bond (said at the same time as the other player): We share a mystical bond we cannot explain.
If we are close, our magic is 1 level higher. If one of us suffers damage, we both suffer that damage.

Character Arc: I know the messiah as a true friend.

ELLIAN THE ITINERANT EMPATH OF THE ORDER
GOETICA WHO SHEPHERDS MINDS
Empath Heart: Tied to the Visions family of the Sooth Deck.

Summoning Entities: I can summon a demon, angel, dead spirit, or conceptual spirit
up to level 3. I must then go through an involved process of negotiation with them,
but if successful I can ask them for advice, I can have them aid me on a nonviolent
task, I can have them guard me, or I can have them go off and spy on a target within
a mile. The task can take no more than an hour. The Sorcery cost is equal to the level
of the entity.

Know Mind (Level 2): I read the thoughts of someone within close range.

Mental Speech (Level 4): I can speak telepathically with someone within close range for as long as I
concentrate and do nothing else. If I spend 5 Sorcery, the range becomes long, and if I spend 6 Sorcery,
the range is unlimited.

Speak With Spirits: We can speak, read, and write the language of any but the most obscure spiritual
entities.

Create a Protective Circle: We inscribe a protective barrier that offers +2 defense against spiritual entities
of the realm we choose when we create the circle. The circle is large enough to accommodate one person.
Creating a circle requires ten minutes of work.

Skills and Connections: I have 1 level of each of the following skills:

Connection to the Order Goetica
Resist Defense
Persuasion
Health
Possessions on hand:
Slightly old and worn but elegant clothing Injuries:
Fashionable eyeglasses
35 crystal orbs
12 glass orbs
2 magecoins Wounds: 1 SC 2 SC

Stats [Refer to your stat pools sheet and make sure

you have this many bene in your stat pools.]
Anguish: 1 SQ 2 SQ
Accuracy 1
Movement 2
Perception 3
Physicality 2
Interaction 4
Sorcery 7
Intellect 2
Sortilege 2
BACKGROUND INFO
FOR YOU
This information is for you:
I rent a room in my friend Eduare’s large house, and sometimes secretly raid his library. I’m not much
interested in material possessions, though. I’m more interested in people and beings like angels and
demons. I’m so in tune with others than I can read minds and speak telepathically with others.
Eduare had a party at his house not long ago and there I met a fascinating being called the Illustrated
Messiah. I learned that she knows a secret that could help me conjure even more powerful entities, and
she’s agreed to teach me if I help her in her current endeavor.

FOR THE GROUP

This information is to be read aloud when the GM indicates it at the beginning:

Order: Like all those of the Goetic Order, I summon spiritual entities to provide protection and aid.

Forte: I shepherd minds. I can know the thoughts of a close person and I can speak telepathically.

Character Bond: I rent a room in Eduare’s house.

Character Arc: I seek a secret the messiah knows, and she can only provide it once she’s among the dead.
 NIMUIAN THE STALWART ARDENT OF THE
ORDER OF MAKERS WHO HOSTS A LEGION
Ardent Heart: Tied to the Notions family of the Sooth Deck.

Signature Object: Magical pistol that shoots fiery bullets. This is a level 4 pistol
with very long range that inflicts 5 points of damage, 1 point of which is fire
damage.

Skills and Connections: I have the following skills:

Connection to the Order of Makers 4
Understanding or assessing materials 1
Gunsmith 1
Metalworking 1
Climbing 1
Breaking objects 1

Armor: 1

Possessions on hand:
Practical, but high-quality clothing
Brawler’s jacket (+1 Armor)
Signature pistol (see above) and 12 extra rounds
A bag with a variety of tools
35 crystal orbs
6 glass orbs

Stats [Refer to your stat pools sheet and make sure you have this many bene in your stat pools.]
Accuracy 4
Movement 5 Health
Perception 3
Physicality 5 Injuries:
Interaction 1
Sorcery 5
Intellect 1
Sortilege 2 Wounds: 1 SC 2 SC

Anguish: 1 SQ 2 SQ
BACKGROUND INFO
FOR YOU
This information is for you:
Most of my friends are quite scholarly, but I am more physical. My magic mostly manifests as the
capacity to make things, and I’m not the kind to just make things and then not use them. I’m fearless—
some might even say reckless—and always quick to help my friends or those in my order.
Not all of my friends, however, are those that you can see or touch. Since I was a child, I have had my
“companions” within me. You might call them demons, but I call them friends. They imbue me with
physical strength and power.
I live not far from my friends Eduare and Ellian and visit them regularly. When I was a child, I met
a special person named Ute, and we learned quickly that we shared a mystical bond that neither of us
completely understands.
I am very focused on my order and one day hope to rise in the ranks and become one of the fabled
Master Makers (but their existence isn’t something I talk about with non-Makers). The order has
instructed me to help an entity known as the Illustrated Messiah, and so I will.

FOR THE GROUP

This information is to be read aloud when the GM indicates it at the beginning:

Order: I am a Maker and use my magic to craft items of mystic power.

Forte: I host a legion. I am possessed by many spirits and they make me stronger.

Character Bond (said at the same time as the other player): We share a mystical bond we cannot explain.
If we are close to each other, our magic is 1 level higher. If one of us suffers damage, we both suffer that
damage.

Character Arc: My order has instructed me to help the messiah at all costs, and in return I will advance
in their ranks.
 IVER THE ICONOCLASTIC GALANT APOSTATE
WHO CALLS UPON THE SERPENT
Galant Heart: Tied to the Secrets family of the Sooth Deck.

Counterspell: As an action, I can cast a counterspell that unravels and

dispels one active, ongoing spell or magical effect that is level 1 or level 2.
The cost for the counterspell is the same as the cost for the original spell
(almost always 1 Sorcery per level).

Bite of the Serpent (Level 2 (+1 die)): I call upon the Serpent and its
snake-like head appears and attacks a close creature, inflicting 2 points of
damage and injecting venom that hinders the victim’s next action.
Color: Red

Skills and Connections: I have 1 level of each of the following skills:

Magical Lore
Dodge Defense
Stealth

Possessions on hand:
Fashionable clothing
Jeweled ring
Satchel
Pocketknife
First aid kit
2 notebooks and a variety of pens
150 crystal orbs
9 glass orbs
Health
Stats [Refer to your stat pools sheet and make sure
you have this many bene in your stat pools.] Injuries:
Accuracy 1
Movement 4
Perception 3
Physicality 1 Wounds: 1 SC 2 SC
Interaction 2
Sorcery 11
Intellect 2
Anguish: 1 SQ 2 SQ
Sortilege 2
BACKGROUND INFO
FOR YOU
This information is for you:
I don’t want to have anything to do with an organization of any kind. My small circle of friends are all the
connections I need, thank you.
Take my friend Eduare the Vance. Sure, we like to one-up each other all the time, but we’re good friends. And
Ute—I’d do anything to help them, and I understand that they are assisting someone called the Illustrated Messiah,
and so I am too. I don’t hesitate to help those who deserve it.
I think well on my feet, and enjoy action. And yet, I always find myself with my nose in a book all day. These
magic spells won’t learn themselves. But it’s worth it. Magic’s always come easy to me, and maybe that’s thanks to
the Serpent.
When I was very young, a manifestation of living magic itself spoke to me. In the quiet hours when no one is
around, I can hear it talking and it can hear me. Called the Serpent, I can ask it for help and it will come. For now, it
will strike down my enemies, but maybe someday it can help me with my magic.

FOR THE GROUP

This information is to be read aloud when the GM indicates it at the beginning:

Order: I reject magical orders and forge my own path into the world of magic. I am an Apostate.

Forte: I call upon an entity known as the Serpent and can make them appear in order to attack a foe.

Character Bond (said at the same time as the other player): We are friendly rivals, and we gain motivation
when the other does well, afraid to be shown up. We gain +1 to our action immediately after the other
succeeds at an action.

Character Arc: I want to help the messiah because Ute does.