We’re going to switch things up a bit for this week and show you the introduction vignette for the Cyberpapacy Sourcebook:
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Bien Flores and Unique Soparie
Today we’re going to take a look at new options for Storm Knights who choose to fight the Cyberpapacy from within the Church itself.
In addition to the history and tenets of the CyberChurch, those who follow the religion of the CyberChurch but believe that it has been corrupted right to the top have additional miracles they can invoke. Here’s the updated list of miracles for the CyberChurch:
and one of those miracles:
Some members of the Church take a more martial stance to their faith. These warriors, and members of the Knights Templar can become a Champion of God, courtesy of a new Perk:
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Bien Flores and Unique Soparie
Cyberpapacy Preview #4 – Malraux and EbenuscruxToday we’re going to take a look at the High Lord of the Cyberpapacy and his Darkness Device.
Jean Malraux was born a bastard, one who reported his own mother to the Inquisition as a heretic. He joined the Inquistion himself, but after his master, who had become a father figure to him, was killed by a demon accidentally summoned by a witch, he made it his life’s mission to eradicate witches from Magna Verita.
Realizing that remaining an Inquisitor prevented him from bringing his vision to the Church, he joined the clergy, but despite his success his parentage blocked him from becoming a Cardinal. He travelled to Mount Sinai and prayed for a sign that his mission was right. 6 days later those prayers were answered.
Ebenuscrux came down from Heaven and claimed to be an archangel sent by God to teach Malraux a new skill: politics. Within a couple of years Malraux was elected Pope to the shock of the Cardinals who had prevented his rising even to their ranks. Malraux quickly dispatched his enemies and took solid control over the Church.
Soon after he introduced the Malraux Bible, subplanting the Julian Bible which had been the Church’s holy book for centuries. After leading his people on the first Great Crusade, bringing the Word to a whole new world, he became the first Cyberpope, and instituted the One True Way, which in a single day defeated the forces of the Pagans.
Malraux is nearly the opposite of Doctor Mobius. He leads on the Holy Vids, but he does not get his hands dirty. He is moody and violent, charming yet manipulative. He truly believes that he is doing the right thing for his people, even if he has to control them with an iron fist to get them to realize it.
The truth, however, is that Malraux isn’t in control.
Ebenuscrux is a heretic. Unlike the other Darkness Devices, Ebenuscrux creates. Even though the Cyberpope claims (and actually believes) that he created the GodNet, the truth is that the Darkness Device did it. Furthermore, since Malraux became Cyberpope there hasn’t been a single divinely inspired technological innovation granted to anyone in the Cyberpapacy. Instead, the Darkness Device has been the one providing new ideas to Malarux.
Furthermore, Ebenuscrux doesn’t just have the goal of being the Darkness Device that aids its High Lord to become Torg. It wants to become Torg itself. How exactly it plans to do this it is uncertain, but it realizes that if it wants to attain that power for itself, it needs a High Lord that it can manipulate, and Jean Malraux is very certainly that High Lord. Much of the High Lord’s influence and political power was largely the result of Ebenuscrux’s prodding and knowledge, and the Darkness Device knows where the skeletons are hidden in Malraux’s closet. Furthermore, Malraux doesn’t realize that he’s being manipulated and he honestly believes in his soul that Ebenuscrux was sent from God to serve him and aid him in bringing his Word to other cosms.
Malraux has been increasing the defenses of his stelae in response to the Delphi Council’s attempts to free zones in other realms. Here’s an example:
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Today we’re going to take a look at new options for Storm Knight spellcasters and the history of the centuries long war between the Church and witches.
The Church’s battle against the Pagans began centuries ago after the Church was victorious in the Crusades. However, while the Pagans were essentially wiped out in northern Europe, they held out on the British Isles due to their mastery of magic.
The two sides were at a stalemate, ebbing and flowing with the advancement of technology (for the Church) and spellcraft (for the Pagans). Spiritually they were equals until the Day of Silence and Malraux becoming the High Lord of the cosm.
The Pagans had to evolve, or die. Those who were skilled at witchcraft developed three traditions, the lone wolf cyberwitches who use the Church’s technology against them as well as ally with technological spirits, the white witches who strengthened their alliance with the spirits of nature and the land, and the Children of the Fallen (aka the Foresworn, or warlocks) who believe the ends justify the means and cavort with demons, even intentionally summoning them.
Cyberwitches gain access to a new Perk: Lone Wolf, which enhances their skill tests in Dramatic Skill Resolutions if they attempt a Step alone, but at the cost of reducing the effectiveness of any allies should they choose to assist her.
Here’s a look at one of their new spells:
White magic focuses on defense, enhancement and protection, rarely for direct attack, at least against living beings (they make exceptions for technological constructs). This arcane tradition’s sole offensive spell relies on a living being to attack first, and then have their harm reflected back upon them. White witches ally with spirits which have a number of origins: the elements, nature, the human psyche, and more.
White witches also do well when coordinating with others to cast spells, even those who aren’t skilled in a magic skill at all–the entire Storm Knight group can be their coven.
Here’s a look at their spell list:
The Foresworn are Threats in the Cyberpapacy…the Delphi Council has a policy not to cavort with demon summoners. Here’s a look at the Foresworn, one of the Threats included in the sourcebook.
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Bien Flores and Unique Soparie
Surprise! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition to do another preview this fast! Today we take a look at the epitome of the Cyberpapacy’s technology: cyberware!
Please remember that editing and playtesting may result in changes to any previews.
Due to the Law of Sanction, natives of the Cyberpapacy may install as much cyberware as desired and not have any negative impacts. At least, not to their body. They must accept that the Church may monitor their surroundings: see through their cybereyes, hear through their cyberears, and even have their cyberware taken over through the GodNet.
Although sanctioned cyberware is essentially available “without cost” from the Church, but the Delphi Council strictly forbids its agents to install such cyberware (or remove it ASAP should it be installed against their will). Those who wish to use cyberware and fight the Church must get it hacked by skilled cyberleggers. The purchase of such hacked cyberware is through Perks. We clarify in the text that a player doesn’t have to spend their entire allotment immediately and can use the remainder to acquire expensive cyberware with the next Perk.
Although Storm Knights from the Cyberpapacy have been able to spend Perks on Cyberware, now non-natives can too:
Pretty much all of the cyberware that was listed in the Original Torg Cyberpapacy Sourcebook is detailed in the new version, but we have some additions as well, including cyberarm upgrades (such as a power fist), drone controllers, and hardlight drones (which act in a similar fashion as animal companions in other realms:
Another new addition to Torg Eternity is the concept of cyberware packages. These packages can be purchased outright, or piecemeal, and one a package has been acquired, grants the abilities (or an approximation of those abilities) that the individual installs provide, plus a bonus (or at a discount).
Cyberware packages also make the GM’s job easier by not requiring looking up every little bonus or detail from each install, and it simplifies the creation of nonplayer characters and other Threats too. Packages currently include: SnapShot, Combat, Cyborg, Infiltration, Sensory, and Drone Jockey. Here’s an example of the Cyborg Package:
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Talon Dunning
It’s time to begin previewing the next Kickstarter for Torg Eternity, the Cyberpapacy! As usual, please remember that much of what will be previewed is still in development and the final result may differ. So without further ado…
The State of the Possibility Wars on D+365
The Torg Eternity core book describes the world as it stands at the end of the third month of the war. Each of the cosm sourcebooks will detail what happens over the following nine months. The High Lords have been busy, but the Delphi Council is trying to push back.
With the Cyberpapacy, Earth is losing, and it’s not really even a contest.
The Cyberpapacy is an experiment in what it’d be like if a theocratic autocracy also had advanced technology, a mashup of the Spanish Inquisition and Neuromancer. It’s a reality of miracles melded with technology that reigns supreme. A realm where your piety is recorded and monitored. Where people’s needs are entirely met, as long as you don’t need freedom.
While in Original Torg the Cyberpapacy was very slow in growing, that isn’t the case in Torg Eternity (and there’s a reason I won’t go into just yet). But in addition to quickly taking over France, Spain, and Portugal, the Cyberpope Malraux expanded his realm into South America, taking over most of the population of Brazil, as well as recently invading Uruguay and taking Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Cyberpapacy’s Axioms
Out of the invading cosms, the Cyberpapacy has the highest technology. In addition to the GodNet, a virtual reality that you literally upload your soul to, cyberware is ubiquitous, and holograms and limited force field technology allow artificial intelligences to extend into the Flesh. Jacking out doesn’t mean you’ve escaped.
The Cyberpapacy’s Spirit Axioms is also moderately high, and the evidence of higher being is evident. Although perhaps not to the same power as Aysle, the Nile, or especially the Living Land, the spiritual power expressed by the Church is not insignificant, and has a definite technological flavor.
The realm also has a moderate Magic Axiom, enough to support permanent magic items and conjuration (although the primary source of magic items is Aysle). However, the Magic Axiom remains high enough to support the enemies of the Church. From the shadows of the sprawls and the woods of the Wilds come the witches. The cyberwitches were introduced in the Torg Eternity corebook, but they’re joined now with their sister Pagans, the white witches who ally with spirits of the land to take the fight directly to technology.
Finally, the Cyberpapacy’s Social Axiom is moderately high…high enough to support the central planning of economy, which allows the Church to control and dictate production of goods, weapons, and cyberware by the Guilds–monoastic orders that often produce one type of product. However, that’s about the extent of their advancement socially…in other aspects the Cyberpapacy acts as if it’s stuck in a medieval mindset.
Cyberpapacy World Laws
The Cyberpapacy’s Law of the One True Way, the Law of Heretical Magic, and the Law of Suspicion are in the Torg Eternity Corebook. However, just like the other realities, the Cyberpapacy has some minor World Laws as well.
Law of Stagnation: Although the Cyberpapacy has a relatively high Social Axiom, and a very high Tech Axiom, this minor Law, associated with the Law of the One True Way, means that the denizens of the reality cannot enjoy all the fruits of those axioms. The scientific method is heresy and technological advancement is only through divine inspiration. The God in the machine isn’t just metaphorical. As well, the Law of Stagnation is the reason that Cyberpapal society feels trapped in the Dark Ages, unable to advance beyond a medieval mindset.
Law of Ordeal: Also associated with the Law of the One True Way, the Law of Ordeal supports the Trials by Ordeal, which determine the guilt or innocence of those accused of crimes. The very reality will aid or hinder the accused in proving their innocence (and this very much is not an innocent-before-proven guilty realm).
Law of Sanction: A common trope in cyberpunk is the idea that cyberware can be dehumanizing. However, the Law of the One True way encourages the installation and even the proud display of cyberware. This is made possible by the Law of Sanction which removes all possibility of cyberpsychosis…for those who accept their gifts from the Church.
Coming Soon!
Over the next several weeks we’ll be highlighting different parts of the upcoming products for the Cyberpapacy including the Godnet, cyberware, magic, miracles, and Threats!
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this preview, head on over to our forms!
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art by: Bien Flores and Unique Spoarie
Even though the Aysle Kickstarter is going strong doesn’t mean that we can’t do more previews!
Previously we told you about general properties of magic items and what they’re all about. Today we’re going to look at some examples of new magic items.
Even at this point, we are still doing playtesting and editing, so these items may still change before the final version is done.
Consumables
Consumables don’t count against any limits to wearing or carrying magic or arcane items. Most consumables are considered Enchanted items, but more powerful items, especially if they’re based on higher axiom spells are considered Arcane items.
First up we have an example of a potion:
Nearly all scrolls are based on magic spells:
Magic Armor
Finally for today, here’s an example of magic “armor”. Enchanted cloth provides a +1 Armor bonus that covers the torso and limbs, but does not have a Max Dex.
We have a ton of magic items in the Aysle Sourcebook, so there’s more to preview later!
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Talon Dunning
The Aysle Kickstarter launches tomorrow at 10 am Eastern Daylight Time!
In earlier posts we talked about the different basic pledge levels, as well as the Limited tiers.
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Maurizio Giorgio
The Aysle Kickstarter launches July 2, at 10am Eastern Daylight Time.
Previously we discussed the basic pledge levels, as well as some of the changes to the Aysle Kickstarter from earlier ones.
Today we detail the Limited tiers for this campaign.
These tiers often go VERY FAST! So if you want one of these, make sure you’re there at the launch time of 10am Eastern Daylight Time. Also, remember that the Kickstarter itself will be in Euros, but we will display approximate values in US Dollars as well.
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Maurizio Giorgio
The Aysle Kickstarter launches July 2, at 10am Eastern Daylight Time.
One of the core products of the Aysle Kickstarter is When Cosms Collide:
When Cosms Collide! Original Torg co-creator Greg Gorden returns with a new mega-adventure! The Cyberpapacy, technodemons, Mobius’ shocktroopers, and others all seem to have business in the realm of Aysle—and the Storm Knights caught in the middle. Join the action and uncover the mystery of what has so many High Lords moving through Uthorion’s kingdom, and what he intends to do about it!
So what does that all mean?
Tharkold mercenaries training Uthorion scouts in modern firearms for their forays against Core Earth, enchanted wolves hunting down Cyberpapal Techqisitioners, Nile archeological teams striking “enemies of our enemies” deals with heroes, what’s left of Core Earth Copenhagen offering citizenship to trolls… to the dismay of the Elven settlers, and a self-appointed Russian Baroness setting up an independent polity in the middle of the mess.
That Baroness is Nochnaya Svech, a Russian Core Earther who transcended…but she is not a Stormer, nor is she a Storm Knight but something…else. The Tharkoldu call her a ‘soul isotope’.
Instead of her fundamental abilities being able to Soak Damage and Boost Action, Baroness Svecha has the abilities of Cosm Chameleon (spend a Possibility to make a reality test to transform people, objects, or places to another reality for a scene) and Disconnection (spend a Possibility and make a reality test to disconnect a target from their reality).
If you have any questions, head on over to our forums!
Art: Bien Flores and Unique Sopaire
