Relics +
Pick a relic category this relic fits into. This does not have a mechanical effect on the relic.
- Classic: Classic Relics are original artifacts from myth and legend, ones the Gods themselves or their previous Scions used or owned that are already known for those associations.
- Archetypal: An archetypal Relic is one made to resemble an original artifact and call upon its legend directly. It might be a replica or an homage. Archetypal Relics more or less keep the forms of their predecessors.
- Modernized: A modernized Relic is one that indirectly calls upon the legend of an original artifact but greatly alters form and function to fit in with the modern World. It might contain an actual piece of the original, might have been reforged from it, or might simply inherit its power through Fate and association. Example: iGjallar.
- General or Mass-Produced: one of a series of identical or similar Relics, either copied from a unique and more powerful artifact or designed to be generic. They might allow an army or cult access to the pantheon’s power in a small way, or they might allow Scions of the same God or pantheon to each have a piece of a larger pie.
Rating
Each Relic is rated from 1-5 dots. Its rating informs how powerful and/or versatile it is.
- Does the relic help you with or make you better at a specific task, like a lightning-fast car? That’s an Enhancement, or an ignored Complication.
- Is it a tool with unusual properties, like a burning spear? Try adding a new tag or Stunt.
- Does it offer broad expressions of mythic power, influence, or authority, like a starforged gauntlet? That’s probably best represented as a Purview.
- Does it have a specific, isolated power that can’t be executed through a challenge or Stunt, like slippers of flight? Look to a new Knack or a standalone Boon, especially if one already exists that does basically what you want.
Purview(s)
The Purview or Purviews this Relic allows a Scion to channel for marvels and learn Boons in. A Scion can’t gain access to a Pantheon’s Signature Purview through a Relic. If a Scion already has innate access to a Purview a Relic would provide, or gains it over the course of play, then using the Relic to access that Purview grants the ability to eliminate one point of relevant Complication per dot of the Relic’s rating.
Motif
A short phrase that determines the scope of the marvels that a Scion can — and thus, can’t — perform through the Relic. For instance, Eric Donner’s Giantsbane has a motif of “the flash and fury of the thunderstorm.” It can perform Sky marvels that are forceful and flashy, but couldn’t call up a gentle breeze or cause the sun to shine. A Relic’s motif describes the concept of its Legend, like a Legendary Title does for a Scion.
- If the Relic grants at least one Purview, it also gains a motif
- Like the Scion who wields it, a relic isn’t just a collection of powers. Players should determine how each Enhancement, Knack, or Flaw actually works — its flavor in the world of the story — using the relic’s motif as a guide.
- If a relic encounters unusual milestones or picks up interesting Flaws during the crafting process, don’t be afraid to tweak its final design to accommodate the changing story of its creation
Enhancement
The rating of the equipment Enhancement that the character enjoys when he uses the Relic for its intended purpose, including for rolls to activate Boons in its Purviews.
- General Enhancements can’t exceed +3, and situational ones can’t exceed +4
Ignore Complication
Reduces a narrow Complication by 2 ranks, or a broad set of Complications by 1 rank
Knack
A Relic may provide access to a unique Knack. The Scion can access a Relic Knack anytime she has the item on hand. Depending on the Knack, she may need to actually use the Relic, or it may be enough just to have it on her person.
- Note that if a relic knack grants a numerical advantage, this benefit has a dot cost of at least the numerical amount granted by the relic.
- Custom Knack effects add a number of dots to a Relic’s rating based on how powerful or broad the effect is. Generally speaking, an effect that’s broad enough to apply any time the Relic is used should add one dot more than one that only applies in certain situations.
Flaw
A Relic may have a Flaw that allows for more powerful effects at a price.
- Adding a Flaw to a Relic decreases its dot rating based on the severity of the Flaw, so that its benefits can exceed five dots’ worth of effects and tags. See the chart below for sample Flaws.
Weapons and Armor
Start with the standard tags for a mundane weapon or piece of armor of the type you want. Each additional point of tags adds one dot to the Relic’s ratin
If granting weapon tags to a non-weapon base item, add the tags Concealable, Worn, or innocuous for free as applicable.
- When adding tags to an item beyond the initial point an item gets (or for an item that does not normally grant these tags)
Building a Relic
The following Relic powers cost no dots, but must be included in the description to be applicable:
- Gains infinite ammunition
- Carries some harmless, unusual sensory effect (e.g. glows, talks, is scented, hums paeans)
- Can function without fuel, electricity or some other basic requirement
- The relic only functions if a user inputs or speaks a particular phrase. This does not take an action.
- Can grant access to new Boons tied to the Relic’s powers
ENHANCEMENTS AND TRAITS
| • | Enhancement 1 that only applies in one narrow circumstance (note that because weapons and tools grant enhancement, this would make the total +2) |
|---|---|
| • | Reduces a narrow Complication by 2 ranks, or a broad set of Complications by 1 rank |
| • | Weapons/Armor Only: Gains one additional point of tags, replaces one tag with another up to 1 point cost, or loses one negative point of tags (such as Loud or Slow) |
| • | Non-Weapons/Non-Armor: Gains two point of weapon tags, plus a single tag reflecting its new weapon type (Melee, thrown, etc). Automatically gains the tags Concealable, Worn or Innocuous for free as applicable. You can purchase additional tags as normal for weapons. |
| •• | Enhancement 1 that applies to a broad set of actions (note that because weapons and tools grant enhancment, this would make the total +2) |
| •• | Total relic Enhancement is halved and converted into an appropriate Scale rank (rounded down); point value is separate from value of adding Enhancement |
| •••• | Imbue 1 Legend to increase the relic’s appropriate Scale rank by one for the scene |
PURVIEWS, BOONS, & MARVELS
| • | The Scion may learn one Boon from a Purview the relic doesn’t grant as a Boon of a Purview it does grant instead, appropriate to the relic’s motif; this doesn’t increase the Scion’s usual Boon maximum |
|---|---|
| •• | Grants access to one Purview, up to two |
| •• | Modifies Duration, Subject, or Range of one Boon the Scion already knows, appropriate to relic’s Motif; the Boon’s Cost, Action, or whether it requires a Clash may need adjustment when used through the relic, subject to Storyguide’s discretion |
| ••• | Grants access to a third Purview; a relic can’t grant more than three Purviews |
| ••• | Can store up to (relic dot rating/2) imbued Legend points for later use, rounded down. Imbued points count as spent for purposes of replenishing spent points, but draw obvious attention to the relic |
| ••• | The Scion’s Awareness is treated as one higher while posessing this object. |
| ••• | The Scion may imbue a legend into the relic. While this legend is imbued, the Scion may activate a certain specific type of Marvel as a Rank 4 stunt. |
| ••••• | Grants one Legend point that can be imbued or spent on the relic’s Purviews or appropriate Knacks, and returns after one full session once spen |
KNACKS
| • | Enables one new Stunt not normally available for an item of its type |
|---|---|
| • | Grants one Heroic Knack; both Knack and Calling must be appropriate to its motif |
| • | Can function in a strange place or situation (Such as a gun being usable underwater) |
| • | As a stunt with cost (1s), you can impose a condition with Difficulty 2 |
| • | Can be conjured and dismissed, each as a simple action |
| • | Has an alternate physical form with the same motif, but its own tags and Enhancements (those from relic effects are chosen separately for each form); swapping between forms is a simple action |
| • | This relic allows you to have one additional Fatebinding beyond your dots in Legend. |
| • | Reduce the difficulty of a type of complication (such as terrain complications) by one. |
| •• | Grants one Immortal Knack; both Knack and Calling must be appropriate to its motif |
| •• | Indestructible except through divine intervention |
| •• | The relic grants you a new mode of movement. Possibly letting you ignore terrain complications. |
| •• | Total relic Enhancement is halved and converted into an appropriate Scale rank (rounded down); point value is separate from value of adding Enhancement |
| •• | You can gain very specific information about a person or place. |
| •• | The Scion may imbue a legend point. While the legend point remains imbued, reduce the scope of a specific action. |
| ••• | This relic can allow you to imbue a legend rather than spending it to invoke their Legendary Title as a Feat of Scale on a roll to carry out a specific action |
| ••• or ••••• | This relic can place a Rank 3 field complication over an area. The 5-dot version does not impose this complication on your allies. |
| •••• | Has a consciousness and personality, and can be Fatebound using mortal character Conditions. In addition to the usual resolution options, the relic’s Condition could result in losing it somehow; this is not necessarily permanent, but if the Scion reclaims it, the Strength of the Fatebinding resets to zero. |
| •••• | This relic ignores a specific type of complication that could be applied to this relic otherwise. |
| varies | Has a consciousness and personality, and is also a follower with dots equal to relic dots added; create the follower as normal (Scion: Hero, p. 203) when the Scion obtains the relic. Scion can spend a Momentum to allow relic to act independently, with its own spot in the initiative roster, for the scene; its actions no longer take up her turn. |
| Varies | This relic gains tags it cannot normally have. With a simple action, the relic can change shape and make use of these tags. The cost of this Knack is equal to the cost of these alternate tags (with a minimum of •) |
FLAW
| • | Relic takes an action to prepare or activate at the beginning of a scene to use. This can be speaking a magic phrase, loading, or any other significant action. |
|---|---|
| • | The knack or knacks on this item are unreliable. In order to use them, complete a complex task roll of the appropriate skill. If you fail, the knack cannot be used or you suffer some other consequence. |
| • | At the beginning of a scene, the scion must state some sort of oath or promise out loud for all to hear. |
| •• | You give enemies +2 enhancement to performing a specific negative action against you. |
| •• | Relic must be reloaded, refueled, or recharged after each use, which takes an action. |
| •• | One function or tag’s numerical value is randomized and works differently each time Relic is used, subject to a dice roll or Storyguide’s discretion |
| •• | All Difficulties to use Relic increase by 1 for the scene if it’s exposed to a particular weakness, e.g. submerged in water, used to take a life, etc. |
| •• | Reduce one tag’s numerical value by one or remove one effect at the end of each scene in which Relic was used as intended without its user fulfilling a Virtue; restore to full functionality as soon as user fulfills a Virtue while using it. |
| •• | Once per arc, Relic’s divine patron requires a favor; gain the Paying Tribute Condition (p. 204) |
| •• | This relic can only be used during an auspicious or inauspicious time or place (to be decided when this flaw is taken) |
| •• | Some of this relic’s abilities require a scion to be in a specific virtuous condition to use. Alternately, if they are not virtuous, they suffer a consequence. |
| ••• | Each time Relic is used, roll a die with target number 4 to determine whether it functions or not |
| ••• | Relic is volatile and causes an attack of some kind on everyone within short range if destroyed or pushed beyond its normal limits, or if user rolls a botch for its use |
| ••• | Relic is jinxed; each time it’s used, the Storyguide adds one point to the Tension Pool. |
| ••• | Reduce one tag’s numerical value by one or remove one effect at the end of each scene in which Relic was used as intended without its user fulfilling a specific type of Virtue; restore to full functionality as soon as user fulfills a Virtue while using it. |
| •••• | Relic is cursed; each time it’s used, it takes an influence action against her using her own traits to urge a certain behavior or change her Attitude about someone. If the character succumbs to the urge, she earns a point of Momentum. |
| ••••• | Relic is unstable or has an unstable power source; each time it’s used, it makes an attack against its user with either its normal traits or traits determined by the Storyguide |
| ••••• | Relic is inextricably Fatebound to its user somehow and requires 2 Momentum to use each time; if Relic is stolen or harmed, Scion suffers consequences determined by player and Storyguide when Flaw is chosen, e.g. fatigue penalties, hallucinations, a geis, etc. |
| ••••• | Scion must imbue Relic with a dot of Legend; access this dot as normal while in possession of Relic, but without it lose access to that dot and all its benefits |
| varies | Weapon or armor gains a tag with a negative point value equal to this Flaw’s dot rating, such as Loud, Two-Handed, or Weighty. |
| Varies | Relic has a built-in Complication with a rank equal to this Flaw’s dot rating, e.g. “Heavy,” “Complex,” “Flashy,” etc. |
| Varies | Relic is strongly tied to Fate; in each scene it’s used, the Scion must resolve a Fatebinding of the player’s choice with Strength equal to this Flaw’s dot rating |
| Varies | This Relic can only be used once per scene. After use, it requires an off-screen task roll to prepare again. The difficulty of the roll is equal to the dots of this flaw. |
Gaining a New Relic
When building a Relic, the player chooses one of his character’s Deeds — personal or band — with which to associate it. If he begins the game with it, it’s associated with the character’s Visitation instead. They may gain the Relic at the beginning of this Deed, or this Relic may be acquired in the process of completing this Deed.
Whenever the Scion uses or flaunts the Relic while interacting with someone who knows about that Deed, he gains a social Enhancement based on his Tier: +1 for Hero, +2 for Demigod, +3 for God. This stacks with the Relic’s usual Enhancement where applicable, to a maximum of +3. Using a borrowed Relic this way grants an Enhancement based on the original owner’s Legend.
Relics as Fatebinding
Compel
Gain 1 Legend, this relic becomes temporarily lost or destroyed. Although it is unavailable to the Scion, it’s power still exists in the World and it can be found or rebuilt, sometimes better then ever. The Scion gains a new Failure Deed to regain or rebuild their Relic.
Resolve
• A non-sentient item becomes sapient, taking on any positive Fatebinding role as though it were a person with a strength equal to the current Fatebinding.
• The Demigod passes the item onto someone else. If it is a gift to an equal, gain a BOON COMPANION with a Fatebinding equal to this Fatebinding’s strength. If it is handed off to a student, gain an APPRENTICE of equal Fatebinding strength.
• The Relic becomes completely destroyed. It remains only in the form of legends and deeds, lost forever. Your dots in this Birthright are returned to you after the end of the current arc. You can invest these in a new Birthright
TIER 3 RELICS
Relics for Demigods have the following effects
- Deed
- Perks of Power
- Elevating the Mundane
- Borrowed Treasures
Renowned Deed
Demigods enjoy Enhancement 2 whenever they use or flaunt the relic while interacting with someone who knows about its associated Deed. If the relic is a Legendary one, this Enhancement stacks with the relic’s usual Enhancement up to a maximum of +5 instead of +3.
Perks of Power
A Demigod’s Relic gains Bonus Dots worth of abilities equal to the birthright’s rating divided by two (rounded up). Each Bonus Dot grants an additional Ability, tag, or other birthright ability
Elevating the Mundane
A Demigod who uses a mundane object to perform a great Deed or miracle may choose to Fatebind it (p. 146) in an attempt to turn it into a relic. Doing so is a specific, special type of resolution that she may only do once the bond’s Strength reaches 5. Upon resolution, the item becomes a 1-dot relic; see Scion: Hero, p. 212 for designing new relics, and Mysteries of The World, p. 99 for increasing an existing relic’s rating.
Borrowed Treasures
A Demigod who has an active Fatebinding for a Hero’s relic adds additional dots’ worth of effects to it as above while he wields it, and if he has one for another Demigod’s relic, he keeps the additional effects the original owner unlocked. Borrowing a God’s relic doesn’t allow access to its additional God-level effects unless the borrower is another God.
New Relic Knacks:
| •• | This Relic stabilizes a Scion’s power. They may ignore a single Calamity Rolled on their Divine Dice. |
|---|---|
| ••• | If you roll more than a single Calamity, you may decrease the total Calamity level by 2 to a minimum of 1. |
New Relic Flaws
| • | The relic’s effects are untamed and catastrophic. While using this relic, if any of your Divinity Dice would result in a Calamity, your Calamity level is increased by 1. |
|---|---|
| ••• | the relic is tied to dire Fates that punish hubris. While you possess this relic, if your Divinity Dice would result in a Calamity, your Calamity level is increased by 1. |
| •••• | This relic dooms all who would use it. While using this relic, you are always treated as having rolled at least one Calamity. |
LEGENDARY RELICS
A Scion might possess a full panoply of relics, but one or two can become so essential to her Legend that one can hardly be spoken of without the other. Thor and Mjolnir, Shàngó and his oshe, Māui and his fishhook — these are not just storied relics wielded by heroes, but relics that cemented their unshakeable place as part of those heroes’ very Mantles.
Further Perks of Power
Instead of Bonus Dots as listed above, you gain one Bonus Dot worth of ability for each Dot in this Birthright
Building the Legend
Any enhancement granted by by Relic Birthright dots count for double. Up to a maximum of +5.
Legendary Motif
if the relic has a motif (and thus, grants at least one Purview), that motif acts like a Calling keyword for purposes of invoking it to increase Scale on an action not covered by one of her Legendary Titles. If the relic is destroyed, count its destruction as a Failure Deed (Scion: Hero, p. 191) for the Calling with which it was most strongly associated.
Inherited Legends
If a Demigod comes into possession of a Relic that was Legendary for a past bearer of the Mantle he’s inherited, he automatically gains a Fatebinding for it with a Strength equal to the number of previous wielders for whom it was Legendary. This doesn’t count against his maximum number of simultaneous Fatebindings.
Borrowed Treasures Redux
A Demigod’s Legendary relic is harder for others to steal or borrow. In addition to the usual Momentum cost, using a Legendary relic that isn’t the Scion’s own requires a special prerequisite that differs for each relic, based on the Demigod’s Legendary Title, pantheon Virtues, and the relic’s own motif if it has one. For example, a Legendary sword belonging to a Demigod of the Tuatha Dé Danann with the Legendary Title “The Heartsworn Warrior” might only allow one who has never betrayed a lover’s trust to wield it.
Fatebinding a Legend
If another character wants to Fatebind a Demigod’s Legendary relic to make it his own (Scion: Hero, p. 210), he must increase the Strength of its bond to an effective rating equal to (relic’s dot rating + 3), and all invocations that contribute to increasing its Strength beyond the relic’s dot rating must align with his Legendary Title. Effective Strength beyond the relic’s rating doesn’t contribute to any Fatebinding rolls or other mechanical effects that take Strength into account.
New Legendary Relic Knack
| ••• | One of the Purviews of this Relic becomes a Dominion Purview as long as this Purview is channeled through your Relic’s Motif |
|---|