EMPYREAN

The Rune "Sha" Sha:  It is impossible to form an action without generating a reaction, equal to the force that was applied. Together the pair of action and reaction form the friction that generates the spark which sends the whole universe to turn like a primeval cog inside an invisible colossal machine. Because of the principle behind friction, the whole universe could be seen like a giant tempest, riddled with infinite smaller storms erupting in different speeds and time within its body. Sha is the concept of the Tempest and the Vortex, and this is the implication of eternal motion which can simply be said to be one thing: Energy. By itself, Sha enhances movement and delivers liberty. The vortex grants wings with which one can fly across the aetheric currents, or perhaps actual wings to traverse the more familiar winds of Arandor.     Aetheric Wings :  You gain the power to fly on a movement equal to your [Soulforce] + [Spell Power]. Typically your wing...

The Rune Da   Da :  The second among the Prime Runes, is the Rune of Formation, Structure and Order. The Prima Materia of the Empyrean's world is the prime crystallization of energy. This is the arch-matter that begets all matter. The substance that lies at the root of all of creation. Thus, while Aes is the Flame Eternal - the purest form of the essence of Aether that ultimately flows in all of creation, Da is the archetypal form of creation. The perfect specimen of structure and form is the potent Adamant, whose quality is both that of great endurance - unbreakable and untamed, but also the substance that cuts through all other matter. Likewise Da can be called upon to fortify defensive and protective qualities, but also to resolve an attack in its most basic form - the blade of a sword. Thus Da is a basic rune in many melee-based attack spells, but also in spells of powerful warding and defense. When used by itself, Da is great for enhancing physical items, endowing th...

The rune Aes Aes : The rune of Fire. But not just any fire. Aes is the rune of the Flame Eternal, the sacred fire that beats in the hearts of all Empyreans. In that regard, Aes is the most essential of all the Prime Runes. Aes is an essential rune to all Fire-based magic, but it is also used often to enhance other magic often adding a fiery effect. Aes is especially potent in restoration and purification magic, due to the holy properties of the Flame Eternal as a power of creation and a force that cleanses corruption. Using the rune Aes by itself allows the invoker to call upon the light of the holy flame, illuminating the space around them with the power of a well-lit torch. It is also possible to make variations in this, by manifesting the flame as an aura that surrounds the invoker, or even an unnatural glow in their eyes. Bearing a small portion of the power of the light of the flame causes some discomfort to creatures of darkness and evil. Spells :     Sacred...

Magic in Empyrean :  Empyreans are already highly spiritual creatures with very strong, phenomenal powers. The magic system is meant to enhance the diversity between different kinds of Empyreans, but is also meant to introduce an element that is already present with the most formidable of Empyrean Powers.  For this reason, the magic system is an optional extension of Empyrean that cannot easily coexist with the existing power system. With using the Magic System, Empyrean Powers become more subtle.  To reflect this, it is recommended that the following powers become increasingly difficult to acquire, or perhaps they are only available as spells. - Aetherean Edge - Bane - Celestial Panoply - Empyrean Wings - Eternal Flame - Shroud of Night - Soul Blade - Tempest Magic is meant to be the only means for the Empyrean to manifest spectacular effects. When magic is available, Empyreans are overall considered to have more subtle "psychic" pow...

Award each participating player 1 Development point for each completed story chapter. A story chapter is equivalent to a coherent story unit within the ongoing storyline. A storyline can consist of many stories, and each story can consist of many chapters. A single gaming session will rarely complete more than a couple or three chapters, and sometimes a single chapter is barely completed during a single session, and may need to span across two or three sessions. You can devise additional story milestones and achievements that award bonus Development points as necessary.  Avoid handing out Development points for feeling generous, because these tend to create a precedent of expectation, it must be clear why someone has gained a Development point. Avoid handing Development points to specific players. Players share their achievements, it is part of the benefits of group play, so the results of achievements are also shared between the players. If you do choose to award indi...

Empyreans can further refine their powers so that when they're already activated, they can pour even more of the force of Destiny to create a mighty burst of power, called a Surge. Following are some examples of what can be achieved using the Surge mechanic: Aetherean Whirlwind:  (Requires Aetherean Edge). Your melee attack for this round attacks all enemies within melee range. In addition you can disengage from melee and move up to your movement at no action cost. Dimension Edge:  (Requires Aetherean Edge). You can make a ranged attack with your melee weapon. You attack the air, tearing the space that divides you and your target in order to teleport your attack to them. The ranged attack receives supremacy, and you maintain all the benefits of Aetherean Edge. Winged Avenger:  (Requires Empyrean Wings). Your empyrean wings harden, doubling as weapons for the round, granting you Supremacy to melee attack rolls, allowing your melee combat roll result to be used as a...

The following talents are available exclusively to Empyrean characters. Empathic Soul : (Requires Insight Level 5, and Empyrean character). You are inherently attuned to your spirit, having subconsciously trained your Insight to adjust to the ebb and flow of the Spirit World. This has made you a natural Empath with an improved ability of Second Sight and Soul Speech. You can use Insight instead of Spirit when rolling for Second Sight or Soul Speech. You can also spend 1 Destiny to gain an exceptional vision from the near future. If you use this during combat, you gain a number of bonus dice equal to your successes as bonus dice to any rolls made in the next round. You can actually swap the successes between bonus dice or additional rounds of duration. Unrelenting Spirit : (Requires Resolve, Spirit Level 4 or Level 5, and Empyrean character) You fight without hesitation or fear, naturally channeling your Inner Fire into your attacks. You gain +1 dice in your melee combat roll...

Empyrean Powers are a natural extension of the "Surge of Inner Fire" / Empyrean Inspiration / Supremacy mechanic. They are meant to enrich this experience by making it more specific and more diverse, implying that different Empyreans will have access to different powers and not just invoke the benefits of Supremacy for a given type of rolls. Most Empyrean Powers work in a similar way. They are activated as a minor action by spending 1 Destiny, and they remain active for an entire scene. Their success, magnitude and power are also measured by a Spirit roll made when the Empyrean Power is first invoked. This spirit roll does not benefit from Supremacy. When using the Ability system, the Spirit roll is the Invocation power. A character can maintain 1 active Empyrean Power at a time, plus an additional Power if they have Spirit Level 4, or three powers at a time, if they have Spirit Level 5. Empyrean Powers can be further developed through the concept of surges (which i...

The Empyrean game is actually an extension on EMCore. The main reason for this is that EMCore can be used as a baseline to play human characters in any setting. Each new gaming experience and major concept introduces a new major extension. While it's fully possible to just play Empyreans using EMCore, and extending it via its built-in mechanics, the Empyrean extension is better suited in order to play Empyrean characters, and fully enjoy the experience. Following the modular design of the rest of the system, Empyrean has a baseline system and several extensions. We are going to elaborate on the baseline Empyrean system here, and handle the extensions in separate entries. Empyrean Characters The first thing that happens with Empyrean is that a new type of character, the Empyrean is now introduced. Empyreans are mortal embodiments of the ancient and immortal Aethons, with a growing recollection of their past immortal life, and a growing ascension into the pursuit of th...

Ydris the Strong is a legendary Arandorean hero and one of the first Empyreans of Arandor. Together with other Empyreans she rose defiantly against Akronas and the Hexad long ago. It is said that it was Ydris who destroyed one of the original overlords in a duel, and she and her allies nearly defeated Akronas before he could ascend into godhood. Sadly, it didn't come to pass. Tragedy befell the ancient heroes, and a terrible fate lay in store for those among them that were taken captive alive. Chained in torpor inside giant suspension tanks, the great heroes were used as batteries producing elixirs for the immortal gods of the hexad, and their chosen. Ydris was given as a gift to Nalatoth, the overlord of Anatheras, and through the hundreds of years that she remained imprisoned in the palace vaults, her memories sunk into oblivion. Then, one day, a sudden and unexpected power surge ripped through the palace vaults, destroying the suspension tanks. Some of the forsaken captives ...

Background Kaltos led a peaceful and relatively unassuming life, in the small subterranean settlement of Atias, deep in the bowels of the citadel of Anatheras.  He helped run the settlement's church, lending moral, psychological and physical support to those that needed it. Although he was hardy and strong-willed, he didn't have the violent spirit needed to practice in martial ways. When a gang tore his settlement apart in a brutal rampage, Kaltos was among those who fell first, but died last, after much pain and torture.  When Kaltos returned from death, he was still in agony, and had to pull himself out of the terrible torture that the gang had inflicted on him. He could not remember exactly what had happened. He gazed in disbelief at his healed wounds, and gasped at the new sensation of a godlike flame living inside his chest.  One would think that it was a sensation of pride and excess, but it was quite the contrary. A humbling and reverent sensation - ...

Empyrean Awakening So it's time to return focus on the primary subject: Empyreans. Following up on the preliminary post here , that paints a very loose, very general picture, we're not yet going to give any more concrete answers that could provide a clearer picture of what an Empyrean actually is. Instead we're going to remain vague for a little while longer, because being vague suspends the mystery that is necessary in the initial experience of being an Empyrean, and this is what we're mostly exploring here: The character's awakening to the life of the Empyrean character. Kaltos led a peaceful and relatively unassuming life, in the small subterranean settlement of Atias. He helped run the settlement's church, lending moral, psychological and physical support to those that needed it. Although he was hardy and strong-willed, he didn't have the violent spirit needed to practice in martial ways. When a gang tore his settlement apart in a brutal ra...