New Stories in a Chaotic World…

Pierce the Veil (Investigation)

The Land is full of hidden secrets. Traps to snare the unwary; hidden treasures; booty; both pirate and otherwise. This Subskill will help you find that which others have concealed. You may use this Subskill in lieu of a Investigation check when when searching for hidden details, such as secret doors, hidden compartments, traps, and secret codes hidden in plain sight. At rank 2 or higher of this Subskill, your attention to detail also helps Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Perception

Perception represents a character’s ability to notice, detect, and interpret their surroundings with heightened awareness. This skill enables characters to spot hidden dangers, uncover subtle details, and stay vigilant in both familiar and unfamiliar environments. Whether scanning the horizon for an approaching enemy, noticing the faint glint of a trap trigger, or catching a whispered conversation in a crowded room, Perception ensures that no detail escapes the character’s attention. It is a vital skill for Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Jumping (Athletics)

Every being strives to achieve a higher place in life, but for some, it is a literal interpretation. A Jumping Subskill check can be substituted for a Athletics check while you are attempting to make a Jumping check. Additionally when making a Long Jump, you may add your ranks in Jumping to the number of feet you could normally jump, based on your Strength (see Jumping Rules for clarification). At Rank 2 of this Subskill Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Innuendo

Before your time in The Land, you spent your life learning to use phrases and mannerisms that are not understood as clearly by natives of The Land. Chaos Seeds have developed their own colloquialism, phrases unique to them that only other Chaos Seeds will understand. With this Subskill, you can speak to other Chaos Seeds in ways that natives of The Land will not understand. Make a Deception check with a bonus equal to your Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Hygiene

Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and a master of this skill has resistances similar to a deity. You may add a number equal to your Hygiene Ranks to your Armor Class and Saving Throws against Disease type attacks and effects. Also, when trying to overcome a Disease effect, you may add your Hygiene Rank as a bonus to the roll. At rank 2 of this Subskill, when you use the Aid action to help another Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Stealth

Stealth allows characters to move unseen and unheard, blending into shadows or avoiding detection in critical situations. Whether slipping past guards in a heavily fortified stronghold, evading pursuit in the wilderness, or preparing for a devastating surprise attack, Stealth is the art of remaining unnoticed. Characters skilled in Stealth excel at traversing environments quietly, concealing themselves in plain sight, or manipulating their surroundings to obscure their presence. This skill is invaluable for rogues, spies, and Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Herb Lore (Nature)

Herb Lore is an essential ability for adventurers who wish to harness the natural world to their advantage. This skill grants characters the knowledge to identify plants and understand their properties, from common herbs with practical uses to rare and magical flora with extraordinary effects. With Herb Lore, characters can distinguish between a harmless healing plant and a deadly toxin, making it invaluable for crafting potions, salves, antidotes, and other alchemical creations. Whether exploring lush Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Healing

Healing is a vital ability that allows characters to tend to injuries, treat ailments, and ensure the survival of their companions in even the harshest conditions. A skilled healer can stabilize the critically wounded, mend broken bones, and even craft salves and poultices from herbs and other natural ingredients found during their travels. Unlike magical healing, which can restore vitality in the blink of an eye, the Healing skill requires knowledge, preparation, and time, offering Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Gather Information

Gather Information is an essential tool for uncovering secrets, rumors, and hidden knowledge in community settings. By leveraging this skill, characters can subtly insert themselves into the social fabric of a town, guild hall, or bustling market, asking open-ended or non-specific questions to glean useful information about a subject of interest. Unlike direct interrogation, Gathering Information focuses on casting a wide net, piecing together hints, gossip, and observations to form a broader picture. Whether you’re Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Fishing

Fishing is more than just a way to relax by the water—it’s a versatile tool for survival, crafting, and combat. Adventurers skilled in Fishing can harvest an array of aquatic resources, from mundane fish and shellfish to rare, magical catches with unique properties. Beyond gathering food, the Fishing skill also provides characters with the expertise to craft specialized non-lethal tools, such as bolas, nets, and weighted lines, which can be used to ensnare, disarm, or Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Escape (Acrobatics)

This Subskill sometimes aids you in escaping your bonds, whether they are magic, tentacle or just someone trying to grab you. This Subskill gives you a bonus equal to you rank in this Subskill to Acrobatics checks when attempting to escape a bond, or to defeat a grapple check being made against you. When your rank in this Subskill reaches 3, you may attempt to break a grapple or restraint you are currently in as Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Fortitude

Fortitude represents a character’s inner resilience and physical endurance, enabling them to withstand debilitating effects and recover from dangerous conditions. This skill is crucial for overcoming challenges that test the body’s limits, such as resisting the effects of toxins, surviving environmental hazards, or enduring prolonged harm. Whether it’s a venomous bite from a deadly serpent, the lingering burn of ongoing damage, or the creeping effects of a supernatural affliction, Fortitude allows characters to fight through Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Driving (Animal Handling)

Riding a horse looks brave, but having it pull your chariot or carriage is both more comfortable and more civilized than saddle sores. This Subskill allows you to drive a cart or chariot with extreme proficiency, increasing its speed and accuracy when necessary. A Riding Subskill check can be substituted for an Animal Handling check when riding in a vehicle being pulled by a beast of burden; this includes checks to stay on the cart in Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Disguise

Your acts of deception can take on a physical manifestation. With this Subskill, you can fool others without even opening your mouth. The bonus from this Subskill applies to any attempt you make to play the part of another, whether you are being a totally different person, or just a different version of yourself. When your rank in this Subskill increases to 2, your ability effects those around you. You may make disguise checks on Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Cooking

Cooking is a versatile and rewarding crafting skill that allows characters to transform raw ingredients into extraordinary dishes imbued with magical properties. More than just a means of sustenance, Cooking offers adventurers a way to prepare powerful meals that can grant unique buffs, temporary abilities, or even provide protection against certain dangers. During Downtime, characters skilled in Cooking can use the rare and exotic ingredients they’ve gathered during their adventures—like dragon peppers, frostcap mushrooms, or Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Combat Medic (Medicine)

You have learned techniques that allow you to heal others without magical influences. A body is a machine, and it can often be fixed by applying the right knowledge in the right places. A Combat Medic Subskill check can be substituted for a Medicine check when you are attempting a battlefield heal, such as stabilizing a dying creature or remove a grant advantage to a Saving Throw for a negative condition. This Subskill has two Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Balance

Being able to stand on two feet is important, but being able to balance on a rope while fighting off multiple attackers is better. Balance is used when moving across the ledge of a roof; or trying to not fall in slime; or trying to fight monsters from a very difficult position.  Additional perks will be unlocked at higher levels of this skill, as players approach them.

By DM Jeremy, ago

Artistry (Performance)

You understand the essence of the soul, and can interpret this into multiple mediums of artwork. In addition to making money, this Subskill can be used to enhance magic at higher levels. Artistry can be used when hiding traps or Glyphs in plain sight; or to study a pattern or fresco on a wall, as you see the artistry used to compose it; or to copy documents, such as maps. When your bonus increases to Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Appraisal

You have a keen eye for determining the value of something. This skill is not limited to knowing the monetary value of an item; you can determine if something is an imposter, or can determine if a material is magic just by looking at it, and eventually, the weak spots in your adversary’s armor. You can use this skill when searching for a valuable object in a stack of objects; or determining the properties of Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Animal Empathy

Animal Empathy is a Common skill, and is modified by your Charisma. In tune with the instincts and emotions of animals, the Animal Empathy skill highlights your character’s exceptional ability to communicate and bond with creatures of the natural world. This skill is used for checks related to calming frightened animals, gaining their trust, and intuitively understanding their needs. Additionally, it grants a bonus when dealing with both ordinary Animals and dangerous Beasts, reflecting your Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Agriculture

Agriculture is a Common skill, and is modified by either your Strength or Wisdom. You understand what plants need and can transform a barren field into a lush breadbasket with sufficient time and resources. This expertise extends to all plant life, including potentially dangerous plant creatures, known as Flora. Use this skill to identify plant species, assess their health or potential threats, and manage growth in diverse environments. Agriculture can also serve as a Downtime Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

INTR01 “Awake in the Countryside”

The swirling mists of Chaos beckon you to leave your old life behind and recreate yourself with the magic of The Land. You are a Chaos Seed, and the power of change resides within you. Will you rule a village of refugees, destroy an ancient kingdom, or change the realm in ways unimagined? Your first step will be to survive. This is an introductory adventure available for those wishing to try The Red Venom Plains Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

The Secret of Felvegemoy

by William Simonitis The dim lights of Umbaroth twinkled in the distance, The high walls were not visible this early in the morning, but the torch-bearing scouts who patrolled its walls could be ever-so-faintly seen making their rounds. Ko’Lakha watched the faintly flickering lights, her Murkuta companion sleeping off its exertion after the long day’s ride. Under the ministrations of Ukrena-Ha, she had been trained over a decade ago in reading the signs and omens. Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Greysteel? in Umberoth?

by William Simonitis The warm autumn air hung heavily carrying the scent of heavily-perfumed bodies mixed with days’-old perspiration. A single fly, a black speck, lazily drifted onto Herdûm’s forearm as he stood waiting. He had been waiting near this intersection for almost an hour, with no sign that his one-time paramour would arrive anytime soon. Meanwhile, the only thing preventing him from choking on the cloying smell and dust was the mask across his Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago

Strange Words in a Strange World

“What is a… Wiki? And how did they escape?” Andovar was unhappy with news that his strange prisoners had just disappeared. “I don’t know, but that’s what they were talking about when I last checked on them – something about how none of this was in the Wiki, and how they were lost here forever. There was some panic and frustration in their heated conversation, and some spoke using words we did not understand. But Read more…

By DM Jeremy, ago