INTRODUCTION

THE GAME

Thaeborn is a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) playable by two or more people using this guide, a set of fantasy TTRPG polyhedral dice, and either pencil and paper or a virtual table-top (VTT) to keep track of the characters in your story.

One person will be the Game MasterGame MasterThe person who prepares the setting, environment, and non-player characters. They also moderate outcomes using the game's guidelines and the group's agreed-upon modifications. (GMGame MasterThe person who prepares the setting, environment, and non-player characters. They also moderate outcomes using the game's guidelines and the group's agreed-upon modifications.). It is their responsibility to prepare the setting and all of the characters not played by the other players - called Non-Player CharactersNon-Player CharacterA character portrayed by the Game Master rather than by one of the other players. (NPCsNon-Player CharacterA character portrayed by the Game Master rather than by one of the other players.) - and to do their best to moderate and adjudicate what happens in the game using these guidelines and any modifications that they and their players agree to.

The rest of the players will create and play their own characters - called Player CharactersPlayer CharacterA character created and played by a player other than the Game Master. (PCsPlayer CharacterA character created and played by a player other than the Game Master.). They simply say what they want to do in the setting described to them by the GMGame MasterThe person who prepares the setting, environment, and non-player characters. They also moderate outcomes using the game's guidelines and the group's agreed-upon modifications., and together they work out how it can be accomplished and what happens as a result, using the material in this guide to help.

Core Rules

All of the rules provided in the main body of this guide are considered to be foundational to the feel and experience of Thaeborn. While not presented as optional, of course, you are free to take, leave, and change anything you’d like for the enjoyment of your group.

Optional Rules

There are many optional rules found in the appendices that we believe some players and GMGame MasterThe person who prepares the setting, environment, and non-player characters. They also moderate outcomes using the game's guidelines and the group's agreed-upon modifications.’s will find entertaining and immersive - particularly if you desire your gaming experience to feel more real-to-life. Some of the optional rules are not necessarily simulative, but are essentially mini-games for handling various situations, such as influencing others, crafting, and even alternative ways to create characters.

THE SETTING

One Possible Setting

One possible setting is presented in this guide as a quick-start. Each GMGame MasterThe person who prepares the setting, environment, and non-player characters. They also moderate outcomes using the game's guidelines and the group's agreed-upon modifications. and group are welcome to create or acquire completely different settings in which to use the guidelines found in this resource and those found in other supplements.

The Player Characters

Player CharactersPlayer CharacterA character created and played by a player other than the Game Master. are considered Seekers or Adventurers by run-of-the-mill citizens. They are people who have demonstrated extraordinary desire, drive, or aptitudes, or have experienced tragedy or circumstances that have moved them from living an ordinary life and into the life of a risk-taking explorer.

The Known Lands

The setting presented here happens on an extremely large continent-like landmass named The Known Lands. It is surrounded by a violently chaotic sea that none, at least that anyone believes, have ever made it off of and returned to tell their tale. It is on a planet called Oatharyn (oath - erin, or oa - therin), though no one really knows what a planet is.

Only a few generations ago, a celestial body named Aevryn (EH - vrin) engulfed all of Oatharyn. Those who study the skies could see it coming for decades, appearing like a colorful nebula-like cloud of shifting and writhing vivid aurora-like bands of light. Once it swallowed Oatharyn, the sun was obscured by a fog-like haze during the day; nights are filled with brilliant chromatic colors that wash over everything on the planet’s surface in undulating hues. Now, the days are never fully lit and the nights are rarely fully dark on Oatharyn.

Magic & Miracles

As Aevryn approached, signs and wonders began to occur with heightened frequency and credibility. Those who practiced various forms of magic and other esoteric arts began experiencing verifiable success in their workingsWorkingA spell-like effect achieved by working the Thae. A starting Working's Difficulty Tier cannot exceed your Willpower Proficiency.. What was faith and myth in the months prior, were now real. While each practitioner and adherent credits the source of their choosing for this magic and these miracles, scholars have named this magic-like power The ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places..

The Thaeborn & Thae-touched

Not only did the rituals, spells, and prayers of dedicated practitioners become empowered - artifacts, relics, holy sites, haunted and desecrate places were jolted to life when Aevryn made planetfall. It is said that where The ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places. is the strongest – even dreams, nightmares, fairy tales, and folk-loreLoreSignificant knowledge acquired and recorded on your character sheet like a possession. are given physical form and come to life. Because of this – kings, political leaders, warlords, and institutions are scrambling to acquire anything and everything touched, created, learned-about, or awakened by The ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places.. And they are paying quite handsomely and often acting quite deviously.

THE CORE LOOP

Thaeborn is a game of your character’s personal growth, change, risk-vs-reward, and learning how to lean into both their strengths and weaknesses.

Risk > Experience > Learn > Change > Grow | Repeat

Risk, Experience & Learn

You engage in the story as a character and as a player to earn the in-game currencies used to improve your character’s capabilities: Development PointsDevelopment PointA currency used to develop Disciplines. Increasing a Discipline by one costs its new value; Story Points can be converted into Development Points.. They are not earned by killing enemies or collecting loot - but my experiencing difficult circumstances and finding a way through. They are also earned by contributing to the group, staying engaged in the game, and doing your best to create memories.

Additionally, at the end of every session, it is recommended that the GMGame MasterThe person who prepares the setting, environment, and non-player characters. They also moderate outcomes using the game's guidelines and the group's agreed-upon modifications. award all players two Story PointsStory PointAn award for engaging play, memorable contributions, or entertaining outcomes. Story Points can be converted into Development Points or Portents. - one for their own character and one to give away to another player’s character, along with praise or encouragement about why they’re awarding them this point. Good roleplaying, selflessness, engagement, good ideas, and entertaining moments are great reasons.

Story PointsStory PointAn award for engaging play, memorable contributions, or entertaining outcomes. Story Points can be converted into Development Points or Portents. can be converted to Development PointsDevelopment PointA currency used to develop Disciplines. Increasing a Discipline by one costs its new value; Story Points can be converted into Development Points. or to a meta-currency called PortentsPortentA resource used to change a cast-lots outcome through Blot-out or Re-tell. It costs one for your own roll, two for another player's, or three for the GM's. that you can use to warp and tilt the game at critical moments.

Change

Along the way, you will encounter intense currents of The ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places.. Sometimes just in an area, and sometimes within another character or object. You may or may not have the skill and awareness to recognize its presence - which means you may or may not get to make a conscious choice whether to risk being altered by it. But, you will be altered - surely.

Grow

Characters can improve their core Aptitudes (Body, Mind, Soul) and their DisciplinesDisciplineA broad skillset representing training and experience. The six Disciplines are Willpower, Prowess, Survival, Subterfuge, Intuition, and Ingenuity. (Warfare, Coordination, SurvivalSurvivalThe Discipline of navigating and understanding the natural world through observation, fieldcraft, and practical experience., IntuitionIntuitionThe Discipline of instinctively reading people, danger, hidden tension, and situations that are not what they seem., IngenuityIngenuityThe Discipline of working with tools, mechanisms, construction, repair, and practical hands-on problem-solving., LoreLoreSignificant knowledge acquired and recorded on your character sheet like a possession., SubterfugeSubterfugeThe Discipline of secrecy, concealment, misdirection, infiltration, espionage, and theft.) by spending Development PointsDevelopment PointA currency used to develop Disciplines. Increasing a Discipline by one costs its new value; Story Points can be converted into Development Points. at any time - even mid-session. Alternatively, they may seek out Qualified Trainers (which can include other PCsPlayer CharacterA character created and played by a player other than the Game Master.) during periods of downtime to lower the Development PointDevelopment PointA currency used to develop Disciplines. Increasing a Discipline by one costs its new value; Story Points can be converted into Development Points. cost.

They can also use their new skills to develop and learn new spell-like WorkingsWorkingA spell-like effect achieved by working the Thae. A starting Working's Difficulty Tier cannot exceed your Willpower Proficiency. of the ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places., experiment and create new Alchemical ConcoctionsAlchemical ConcoctionA preparation made through knowledge of an Alchemical Formula., craft items from special materials they collect, or bind ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places. to objects to enchant and empower them.

THE EXPERIENCE

A TYPICAL SESSION

While combat is a foregone conclusion in the life or nearly everyone these days, and thus requires a significant chunk of rules, a typical game session of Thaeborn is not intended to revolve predominantly around battles.

That being said, we didn’t find it necessary to include many mechanics around exploration, travel, or social interactions in the core rules. And, you’ll quickly notice that there is not character attributeAttributeA character value used for a Check, such as a Discipline or Stat. Compare the relevant Attribute with the task's Difficulty. dealing with their social skills or presence. Not because those aren’t valued, but because they are inherently more narrative than mechanical.

However, we did create special mechanics and mini-games for a lotLotA special cast-lots result: CRIT, WEAL, WASTE, WOE, or FUMBLE. of different encounter types. We placed them in the appendices – since we don’t consider them to be a requirement for establishing the Thaeborn experience.

Characters in Thaeborn can learn and create brutal combat maneuvers, spell-like WorkingsWorkingA spell-like effect achieved by working the Thae. A starting Working's Difficulty Tier cannot exceed your Willpower Proficiency. of ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places., and powerful Alchemical ConcoctionsAlchemical ConcoctionA preparation made through knowledge of an Alchemical Formula.. They can gain the skills and find the materials to craft extraordinary items. They can bind ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places. to objects and places. They can harvest and use herbs for healing, hurting, and special effects. They can be altered by exposure to The ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places. in ways that either benefit them (“GiftsGiftAn Alterance with a beneficial or beautiful effect.”), hinder them (“AberrationsAberrationAn Alterance with a detrimental or horrible effect.”), or a little of both (“ParitiesParityAn Alterance that provides both a benefit and a drawback.”). These mutations were named AlterancesAlteranceA mutation caused by exposure to the Thae. It may be beneficial (a Gift), harmful (an Aberration), or a mixture of both (a Parity)..

None of these options exists behind a gate that is locked by a class, profession, level, or domain - only by their own development, exposure to The ThaeThe ThaeThe magic-like power that came with Aevryn. It empowers workings and miracles and can transform people, objects, and places., and destiny.

Armor matters. MobilityMobilityYour ability to move and react after accounting for encumbrance. Mobility equals Prowess minus Hindrance. matters. Active defenseDefenseA defender's Prowess plus applicable modifiers, including relevant shields, special armor, and circumstances. matters. Paying attention to the fast-paced combat matters. Every strike can take someone out, and sometimes characters persevere for far longer than anyone thought possible. There are no hit points or anything like them.