Q&A

This page is an unofficial compilation of questions asked of the event team, and their answers.

Rules

Be the Change & Mass transmutation spells

• Can I use Be the Change I wish to see with Mass transmutation spells?

Event Team (Siskey): The "Be The Change" Feat is intended to be used with single target spells only, while "Inclusive Casting" produces the same outcome for mass spells. We will clarify this in a future rules update.

Protection/Cure/Immunity

• Protection spells prevent further versions of that affect from taking effect, they don't stop current effects? So if I cast protection charm on someone under the effect of a charm they don't stop being charmed?

Event Team (John): Protection only prevents new instances of the effect.

Cure removes existing effects.

Immunity both removes current instances and protects against future applications.

How do things that generate two effects on use interact with the 1 second rule?

• For items that generate two effects on use - such as the 'Bracing brew' and 'Flesh and Steel' (Both Page 104)- how do these interact with the 1 second rule (p26 - "Characters may only generate one Effect per second regardless of the source.")?
• Do the chain feats break the 1 second rule or should someone casting them be with a 1 second pause during their vocal?

Event Team (John) The effects are generated sequentially, one second apart. The vocals must be announced clearly and intelligibly so in the vast majority of cases it's not possible to get out two effects in one second. Pause between declaring the effects if necessary.

Requirements for Research

• How do you do that research? Do you need a particular feat, or do you just put in that you want to look into them?

Event Team (Siskey): As there have been questions about Research downtime actions, here's the relevant bit from the rulebook (p.43):

Research (Requires Scholar Feats)

To select this action, your character needs to have a Scholar Feat. This action allows your character to seek the answer to a question about the world of the game relating to their Scholar Feat. The answer to your character’s question may not be available in their Location, or at all, in which case the response will either point your character to another Location where the answer could be, or make it clear that the answer is not something they can discover using the Research action.

The relevant Scholar Feats are Alchemy Lore, Five Realms Lore, Magic Lore, Religion Lore and Smithing Lore (pp.80-81).

On the downtime sheet the Research action is listed as "Ask a question" and then you are prompted to respond to "What do you want to know?"

So to make it clear, if you don't have a Scholar Feat you can't use the Research action, and you will need to have a relevant Feat to what you are asking. We have also been doing info sheets for different Scholar Feats at the start of games, and would plan to do so for Season of Renewal.

What can I do when being repaired?

Event Team: While being repaired, both players have to stay still. This means that the player being repaired cannot make strikes or parry weapon blows as that involves movement, but can keep a shield up and can cast a spell so long as they do not gesture or point.

Lore

Inheritance of titles

• I hadn't realised Ridings couldn't be inherited.

Event Team (John): Ridings can be inherited but are not by default. Someone who had done something particularly deserving might be granted a riding for N generations. Otherwise it’s a lifetime appointment only. Iarlas work the same way, the title is also not inherited by default.

• Even the Réig isn't a hereditary title, right?

Event Team (John):The Réig title is not inherited but as you say, family can significantly stack the deck. The title most often passes to the appointed successor of the previous Réig, which is almost always a member of their family. To be acknowledged as Réig you must have a high level of both martial and political skill to keep enemies and competitors at bay, though a lack of aptitude in one field can be compensated for by a surplus in the other.

An aspiring Réig needs the approval of those they will rule over but in practice certain elements have far more sway than others. The major families of Tirneach, the high society of Corroch, the Iarlas, and powerful Thanes will want to have their say.

Another key player is the Council of Prelates, the six heads of the five orders of Cinnire, who will wish to ensure that any potential Réig is paragon of the Shapers virtues with whom they can have a good working relationship.

And finally, there's House Roaring thunder, the Drakeblooded house sworn to the service and protection of the Réig. The head of house Roaring Thunder is responsible for presiding over the coronation of the Réig and in the past this has been used a blocking factor. Following a run of weak Réigs and the turmoil they produced, Duarcan the Grim, former head of house Roaring Thunder, refused to crown a new Réig until he was personally convinced a suitable candidate had been found. He ruled Tirneach as regent for six years.

Iarla vs Rider

• Can someone remind me the difference between/roles of an iarla and a rider?

Event Team (John) The difference between Iarla and Rider is one of rank, many Riders are under the authority of each Iarla - They’re roughly equivalent to counts (riders) and dukes (iarlas).

What do the Gwyllt tend to look like?

Event Team (John): There are indeed wide variations in form and appearance between different types of Gwyllt. Their key shared features are their hostility towards mortal life and their increased activity during daytime and summer compared to nighttime and winter.

You can find descriptions of some common types of Gwyllt here.

Amber Hall and the Weeping

• What is the connection between the Amber Hall and the rewrite of the weeping?

Event Team (John): There are many superstitious and legendary explanations for the origin of the weeping, a handful mention the Amber Hall in some way but none of them are particularly popular theories. Some Lowlanders blame the terrible magic done by the King and Queen of the Amber Hall to preserve themselves for sending a curse echoing across Tirneach and down through the ages. Some Highlanders blame the betrayal of the Amber Hall and the rejection of the King and Queen by oathbreakers, in particular lowlanders, for causing the disturbances that have created the Weeping. Most educated folk however will point out that the Amber Hall fell long before the first weeping appeared.

In general, in-character snippets referencing the weeping species that were provided before the weeping redesign can be assumed to no longer be accurate representations of the setting. We aim to provide new material in the future.

Benefits of noble birth

• Question about titles usually being 'lifetime appointment only' and how that interacts with "The children of Five Realms nobility are always allowed to join [the Galloglaigh]" in the rulebook. Can the child of a now dead Rider / Iarla that was granted the standard 'lifetime appointment' version join? Does your parent need to have the title already when you're born, or if you get a title when you already have a bunch of grown up kids, are they suddenly eligible?

Event Team (John): Any person with a parent (dead or alive) who was at any time a Iarla or a Rider is eligible. So yes, adults can suddenly become eligible if one of their parents is granted a title.

Somewhat relatedly, are there other perks to being born the child of a noble?

Event Team (John): The chief perks of being born to a Rider or Iarla are the wealth, connections, and opportunities that are available to the child of someone who has managed to secure such a title. From birth, their home is regularly host to all the most influential figures in their locale and the grandees of the realm, or even of all Tirneach, just an introduction or two away. Whether their ambitions are political, economic, or martial; they begin their life’s works with a head start.

The conventions surrounding the children of nobility vary from realm to realm. All agree however that there are rights and responsibilities conferred on them by their parentage beyond eligibility for joining the Galloglaigh

One of the most commonly visible traditions regarding the children of nobles in Siabhal is that they be granted the choicest portion of any food before them. If more than one child of the nobility is present, they are expected to be able to discern between themselves, with the utmost tact and discretion, who is highest ranked and thus entitled to the honour. It is also expected that the children of nobles be formally introduced to Siabhal society once they come of age, so that their peers may take the measure of them.

The lowland families in Baol have come to adopt some of the traditions of Siabhal, though they consider wealth to be the most appropriate tie-breaker, rather than heritage. The Highlands scoff and mock any with such lofty notions even though it is rare to see the child of a rider not be amongst the first served at a table in the Highlands. In both regions it is expected that the child of a nobility will make a contribution to their family’s success shortly after coming of age, in the Lowlands this may be securing a valuable contract while in the Highlands this often means leading a successful raid.

The people of Bruid aren’t big on perks and those born to nobility chiefly receive an expectation that they prove they’re worthy of their status. A child of nobility in Bruid may not deny a challenge, unless physically or magically unable, or if it would endanger the community. Each child of nobility is also expected to lead a hunt into the forest as soon after their coming of age as is possible.

In the interests of furthering their pursuit of knowledge, a child of nobility in Draíod is permitted by tradition to read any scroll, tome, or document they come across not individually stored in a locked container. In addition, every child of nobility is eligible to enrol in the Arcane College of Crag Oscionn regardless of their brand (except Linebreakers, obviously).

In Uasa, each child of the nobility is to be granted safe and free travel across any body of water within the realm. Every child of nobility is also entitled to a personal meeting with the Réig as soon after their coming of age as is reasonable to personally swear their loyalty.

Are the Gwyllt used as a boogeyman figure for kids?

• Incredibly minor question - are the Gwyllt used as a boogeyman figure for kids? Like "eat your dinner or the Gwyllt might getcha"

Event Team (Siskey): 1000000%

Is there a connection between the Gwyllt and the undead?

Event Team (John): The two are generally considered to be separate phenomena however some examples, such as the Sluagh, have lead scholars to investigate the possibility of a connection. This is primarily a Find Out In Play situation.

How does Adoption work?

• I've a question (or rambling musings seeking clarification) on family structure and heredity - Siabhal in particular seems to care greatly about lineage and, given its prevalence in their colour scheme, bloodline. How does adoption fit into that picture? Is there a formalised way of achieving it? Are there any issues that arise around it in society or inheritance (both in terms of material goods and social standing — like, is being descended from one of those great heroes more about cultural descent)? Does having the parent(s) and child be of different species impact any of this? I'd imagine it can't be too uncommon. Inter-species relationships must occur and there'd be no other way for most of them to have kids without issues (assuming we're using species in the biological sense, anyway). Really just trying to poke at how society and "society" might see our unorthodox family units.

Event Team (John): Adoption is a common practice in Tirneach as there have always been many title or property holding individuals and couples who cannot produce heirs unaided. To have an adoption formally recognised the adoptee (who could be a child or an adult) and the adopter (who must be an adult) are required to go before their Iarla and make solemn declarations. The adoptee must renounce any and all claims to the property and titles of their birth family and the adopter must accept the responsibility of a parent for the conduct of their new child. Following this there is no legal or social distinction between a child born into or adopted into a family.

Amongst those who place a high value on lineage, such as the Ruby Families of Siabhal, insinuating that there ought be a distinction made, or that adopted children are not truly of the family is socially disastrous. All of the Ruby Families have at one time or another relied on adoption to continue their legacies and an attack on the legitimacy of a single adopted heir is considered an attack on all.

Many families without inheritance to worry about practice informal adoption as an audience with the Iarla may be more trouble than it is worth to them. It is considered an attack tantamount to the theft of the child to adopt someone who has been given as a hostage to your family. Finally, it is a contentious but not unheard of practice for the head of a household to adopt an heir more pleasing to them if they are completely unsatisfied with the ones nature has provided to them.

Do Weeping keep titles?

• What happens if an Iarla get killed and returns as a weeping, do they still hold the title? Also what if they have a multi-generation title, do the kids then have to wait for the weeping to die again?

Event Team (John): Titles are lost upon death, reverting to higher authorities or passing heirs as appropriate. Returning as a Weeping does not change this.

Where do bad people go when they die?

• The reward for a life well lived is a place in the afterlife, where the dead are reunited with their departed family and friends, and live on in oneness with the Shaper. So what happens if you don't live well?

Event Team: It is an article of faith that very few are outside of the Shaper's forgiveness if they earnestly atone for their misdeeds. For those that are, or do not atone before their death, there is no unified consensus as to what happens, though there are many competing theories within the church.

Some hold that those outside the shapers forgiveness are destroyed utterly, some say that they persist but are exiled to some lonely place outside of Their presence between the lands of the living and the Shaper's Hall, and some say that their evil prevents them from moving on and dooms them to haunt the living as an undead.

Others maintain that, lacking the Shaper's protection, these souls are claimed by the Gwyllt to be consumed, toyed with, or used to hunt mortals for all eternity.

This is not an exhaustive list, and many Cinnirí have their own pet theories but none are universally accepted as truth