--------8

_e'=--2
Space Gods '"

Greg Farshtey, Greg Gorden, Ed Stark, Jim Dambra Elmore, Crista Lambkin, Robert Quillen II, Dan
Design Sylvester, Russ Whiteman, Curtis Zeitz) James A.
Holden, Steve Lorenz (Stephen King, Dave Lemon, Bill
Dr. Michael Fortner, Martin Wixted Olmesdahl, 8rian S. Perry, Jesse VanValkenburg), Lou
Additional Material Prosperi (Gabe Cotto, Kevin Hudson, Gregory Rushton,
Mike Shannon, Mark Terilli, Sheri A. Testa. Lawrence
Greg Fanhtey, Greg Gorden Trained, Bill Smith. David Wdzel, Martin Wixted
Development and Editing Playtesting and Advice

John Paul Lona

Graphics

Dell Harris
Cover illustration Published by
Allen Nunis, John Paul Lana
Interior Illustrations ~"JlIIfT
t.JliAME5~
Eric Aldrich ijeffBrown. Garry Corbin, Mike Landsdaal,
Letha Owens, John White), Stephen Crane, Steve Crow RR3 Box2345
(Ralph Altmaier, Dan Chapman, Elyce Helford, Chris- Honesdale, PA 18431
topher Mortika, Matt Van Kirk), Dirk Dejong., Dr.
Michael Fortner, Alan Grimes (Sam Adams, Kevin First Printing: November. 1991

Publisher: Daniel Scott PAlter. Associate Publishtt Rid\ud H.lwnn. Editors: GftS FAnhWy. Bill Smith" Ed Stark. Art Director: Sllrphm enn"
Gnphic Artists: <Albl""n H1I.nl"r, John PI1I.1 Loml • muJtrator. Allen NlUli•• Production MaNger: Steve Porpon
Sales MaNger: Fitvoy 80nterre • Sales Assistant: Mlria Klmmeier-Kean • AdminislJ1ltive Assi5tant: Jdr Dennis
SpedAl Projeds Manager: Ron St'iden • Wa.rehouw Manager. Ed Hill • Treasl1Ttr: Jilnft Rkdo

AnSI' Uthorion, AysIe, &ruk K.at., ~ Earth, Coem. Cc.mvene, Cympapacy, DIIrlcnH1 Devke, Dr, MobiuI, C.unl Miln, Goepog. Hellrt of the Coyote, High Lord,
lnfinl_. KJ,nawa. Uvlng Land, Maelstrom, Maelstrom Bridge, Nile Empire, Nippon Tech,Om>rsh, Pelto Ardinay, POMibility Raid..." Poe$ibillty Storm, Pouibillty W.",
Ravllp\. StarSp~,Stormerw. Storm Knights. Torg.nd theTorg logo an! trademarb of Wet End Game$. It, "',.nd Cl1991 Wet End Games. AU Rights Retenoed.

*. TM and C 1991 West: End Games. All Rig.ht5 R~.

8------------3-··
To18: SpiCe Goda

Introduction
1111 he Aka,han
members Council
started as the
doors to their chamber
crazed monsters. You have heard the
voices of the people, crying out for the
council toad. How can we not explore
The High Lords are opposed all
over the globe by valiant Storm
Knights. Early in the struggle, a group
opened to admit a visi- every possible source of aid?" of Knights obtained an ancient artifact
tor. Monitor Zynn stood "And our people remember well known as "the Possibility Chalice" and
before them, barely able to gather the Those Who Wait on Earth," said Dala. used it to light a Signal Fire in a lost
breath to speak and looking as if he "We risk much if we abandon them to city of the Himalayas. The immediate
were flushed with fever. For a horrible their fate:' effect of this was to create hundreds of
instant, the elders wondered if the Sarila stood, shaking with rage. new Knights to aid in the fight - but
plague had taken a new turn. "Fools, all of you! You would risk the true purpose of the Signal Fire
But Zynn's excited condition had bringing the plague to Earth, the pos- remained a mystery.
been sparked by something quite dif· sible contamination of Akashan cul- Now the message sent that day has
ferent. With great effort, he mouthed ture, and break our people's most sa· reached the Akashans, aliens who vis-
the words that Akashans had both cred vow for the sake of Those Who ited Earth centuries ago and left the
longed for and dreaded for almost five Wait? Their day is done, and it is only Signal Firebehind. Armed with psionic
centuries: the revolutionaries who would see us powers, biotech, and non-invasive re-
''The Signal Fire has been lit!" intervene on other worlds once more! ality technology, they have returned
The chambererupted, halfthe coun- Akasha, the entire Star Sphere, are in to South America and discovered the
cil members cheering, the others sit· peril, and we cannot chance their de- horrors of the Possibility Wars.
ting with furrowed brows and dark struction on the basis of an archaic They have come to aid mankind,
expressions. signalling device!" with a reality technology unlike any-
"You are certain of this, Monitor?" Ulka glanced around the chamber, thing ever seen before, something
Rotan Ulka said, in a voice like thun- and saw some heads nodding in agree- which could spell final victory for the~
der. "You know the danger this could ment. He knew the decision he made Storm Knights. But they also bring
represent, do you not?" here would be a crucial one - never with them perhaps the greatest men-
The Monitor swallowed hard, but had there been a greater need for bal· ace of all ...
stood his ground. "I do, Rotan. I re- ance among the Akasha, and never
ceived the report from the lightship had there been a greater danger to that
myself, and twice queried the vessel's balance. Important!
master. The messages are confusing, The Rotan pondered for several
but clear. There has been no mistake moments. Then he lifted his head and This sourcebook is a companion
- Earth has called to us at last." said quietly, ''The Rotan speaks, let all volume to Torg: Roleplaying ti,e Possi-
Ulka sighed. ''Then leave us. The attend. The decision is made. bility Wars. It is possible to makeuseof
time has come for decision." ''The Signal Fire will be answered. the Space Gods setting with other
After Zynn had departed, Ulka The Akashans will return to Earth:' roleplaying games, but many of the
turned to his colleagues. "Centuries rules and concepts presented within
ago, we reached out to other galaxies, these pages are explained in greater
hoping to share our knowledge with The Possibility detail in t.he Torg boxed set.
them. We left Signal Fires for the na-
tive beings, to be used when they had Wars
reached a sufficient level of civiliza- The Sourcebook
tion and an understanding of them- Earth has been invaded. Powerful
selves. beings who call themselves "High This sourcebook provides all the
"But you aU know the results of our Lords" have come from different re- information and advice needed to de-
... tampering. I ask you, High Council alities to steal the energy of this cosm. sign exciting campaigns in the bizarre
members -dare weanswerthiscall?" Each High Lord has conquered a sec· and fascinating lands visited by the
Hakia spoke first. "How can we tion of Earth and reshaped its reality Space Gods and the Torg universe, as
not, Rotan Ulka?You know the plague to suit his wishes. That is the situation well as a psionics system, biotech
ravages our people, turning them from in the Near Now of Torg: Roleplaying equipment, and rules for the spread-
peaceful believers in balance to blood· the Possibility Wars. ing of non-invasive reality.

-"'4--------8
 ChaptefOne

Chapter One

The Cosm
II
he Akashans are resi- Apeiros' power was multiplied bil-
dents of a small galaxy lions of times. But the Nameless One
which they call the "Star emerged from the Void and consumed
Sphere." Roughly 750 the energy provided by Apeiros, and
parsecs across, the cosm then attempted to consume the Cre-
is home to over 500 races, and domi- ator himself.
nated by the Akashan High Council. Apeiros spread his wings and
Although much of their galaxy has soared from the Void. He entered the
been mapped and catalogued, there Sphere of Stars where galaxies spun
remain some areas that the Akashans from his wings. Whirling on their axes,
and their client races have yet to ex- the galaxies flickered and flared, and
plore. Following the failure of their novas blasted across the Star Sphere.
mission to Earth, the Akashans grew Where the Creator's wings touched,
increasingly isolationist, reluctant even worlds were imbued with possibili-
to study the planets and stars that ties and began to glow with power.
surrounded them. Slowly, the worlds began to revolve
The High Council has been forced around the stars. The stars warmed
to reconsider this policy, however, d ue the planets, causing oceans to boil.
to the effects of the Comaghaz plague Great winds blew, mountains arose
(see below) and the need to control its from the ground and volcanoes ex-
spread in the Star Sphere. Expedition- ploded, shooting fire into the sky. In
ary teams of Monitors have been dis- time, these worlds grew quiet, and the
patched to the furthest reaches of the seeds of Iile, planted by Apeiros, be-
galaxy to detennine the extent of the gan to bloom.
plague and hopefully discover a means Beings created in the image of
to combat it. Apeiros thrived. But theNarnelessOne
envied the Creator's accomplishment,
and sent his darkness to consume the
The Genesis of the civilizations of the Star Sphere. Hedid
not succeed, for the children of the
Star Sphere Light were strong.
The Nameless One is an entity of
Anexcerpt from theAkashic Records: limitless patience, and we must never
relax our Vigilance. Someday, he win
In the beginning. there was the y ..d. return and attempt to undo aU cre-
Then Eternity entered the Place; ation, and on that day, OUT courage
dreams and possibilities were un- and strength will be our only weal>
leashed and spread throughout the 005.
Void. The Maelstrom was born from
the meeting of these two great powers
of the rosmverse. The Akasha
The possibilities spewed forth from
the Maelstrom created galaxies and The civilization of the Akasha has
worldS, only tosee them consumed by existed as such for roughly ten
the Void. Eventually, only two possi- millenia. The prehistory of their race
bilities survived - Apeiros, the Cre- was marked by visits by the Mohani,
ator, and the Nameless One, the De- spacefaring beings from beyond the
stroyer. Star Sphere, who took it upon them-
Apeiros spang from the side of Eter- selves to shepherd the fledgling soci-
nity to send possibilities spinning ety. They taught theAkashanstheneed
throughout the Void. Life began, and for balance in all things, how to live in

n----------~5- ..
harmony with nature and how to har- both valued and scorned, considered must be earned through service to the
ness the energy of the world around extremely valuable for government or society. A Rotan's position is normally
them for their own benefit. diplomatic service but also suspected his for life, although a lax performance
The Mohani referred to themselves of spying on private conversations. of duty or a particularly impressive
as pultaak, a word which can be Telepaths whose jobs do not Specifi- contribution to the Akashan people by
roughly translated as "caretakers." cally require the use of that ability one of the other council members can
They explained to the Akashans that often keep their possession of it secret, lead to a change.
they believed having knowledge gave preferring to avoid societal prejudice. Thecurrent Rotan, Ulka, had gained
one a responsiblity to share it for the Akashans have a life expectancy of renown while a High Council mem-
good of all, and that they had visited roughly a century. When they reach ber for ending the Lorbaat riots
many races over the centuries. They the age of60, they are allowed to retire through diplomacy, rather than force.
told the Akashans of the stargates, from whatever occupation they have A student of history, he is well aware
great holes in the fabric of space pursued and devote themselves to in· of the dangers of intervention, but also
through which one can travel count- trospection and meditative pursuits. realizes the threat posed by keeping
less light years in the space of seconds. his peoples' innate yen for exploration
The Mohani often expressed the in check indefinitely.
hope that one day the Akashans could
Standard Akashan The Kyat is madeupol representa-
DEXTERITY 9
become the pultaak for other civiliza- Dodge 10, unarmed combat 10 tives sent from the client worlds of the
tions. They vowed to inform the STRENGTH 9 Star Sphere. Although they areallowed
Akashans when thetimecamethat the TOUGHNESS 9 a vote on various issues and are noted
mantle could be passed, but shortly PERCEPTION I. for their prolonged debates, they have
after that, the Mohani ceased to ap- Evidenceanalysis 12, find 11, intra-- in general no voice in major decisions.
pear. Why they vanished -whether spection 11, language II,scholarll The Kyat was created in large part to
their vessel was destroyed on the re- appease agitators both within and
MIND 10
turn trip to their planet, or their race without Akashan society, and a great
Test 11
was the victim of some natural disas- hueand cry rises from the client worlds
CHARISMA 9
ter - is the subject of much specula- whenever anyone has the temerity to
Charm 10, persuasion 10
tion in Akashan myth. suggest their representatives are sim-
SPlRlT9
The race had by this time learned Faith (Akashan) 10 ply going through the motions. Mosf
enough from the Mohani that they of those who have never seen the
Additional Skills: three at +1 adds
were able to thrive on their own. Some Possibility Potential: some (30) Akashan government at work firmly
began to believe that the Mohani's Psionic Potential: some (5) believe that the Kyat is a crucial part of
departure meant the Akashans had Alignment: varies the decision·making process.
been deemed ready to act as caretak- The primary unit of Akashan rur-
ers for other worlds. This view pre- reney is the cinra, which resembles a
vailed, and the Akashans began to Government and small scarlet gemstone. The Akashans
move out into space, spreading the are an extremely prosperous people,
philosophies taught them by the Economy collecting income through trade with
Mohani. other planets in the Star Sphere and
Akashansociety is governed by the the use of technologies acquired from
High Council and a lesser body called worlds beyond the stargates in the
Physiology the Kyat. The most powerful office is years prior to the withdrawal. This
that of Rotan, the chairperson of the wealth has allowed many Akashans
The Akashans area humanoid race, High Council who is charged with to focus on esoteric studies and lives of
averaging 1.75 meters in height, with balancing both sides of every argu- leisure., with client races assuming
facial features resembling those of the ment and then rendering a fair judg- much of the menial labor that needs to
Mayan Indians of Earth. Their skin is ment. bedone.
reddish-brown, their hair black, and The High Council is made up of This is not a situation that sits well
most have slim, well-proportioned representatives of the various states of with some younger Akashans. They
builds. There are no external physical the Akashan homeworld, with each believe that the isolationist tendencies
differences between Akashansand hu- member having an equal voice in de- of their race, combined with assured
mans. The only major biological dif- bate. There is no actual voting. but all wealth, have turned their elders into
ference is that their body temperature are allowed a substantial amount of naive, detached leaders incapable of
rarely exceeds 90 degrees Farenheit, time to state theircase before the Rotan handling a crisis. Many point to the
and their touch will feel cool to a hu- announces his decision. predominance of alien crews on
man. The Rotan himseU is not an elected Akashan vessels and alien laborers
Akashans have developed power- official, but is appointed from among perfonnmg essential services as signs
ful psionic abilities, although only a the High Council members. His posi- of a gradual erosion of their society.
relatively small percentage are tele- lion is moreakin to that of a judge than
pathic. Those who have that talent are a president, and it is a station which

_ •• ---------8
'::""""6
 ChilpterOne

--====~~~
~

••
7
Torg: Space Gocb

The Monitors PERCEPTION 9

Find 10, language 10, trick 10
R eligions in a Game The Monitors are the major mili-
tary/Iaw-enforcementbody in theStar
MINDS
Survival 9, test 9
This sourcebook describes a Sphere. Though each world has its CHARISMA 7
fictional religion as it exists in own security force, the Akashan Moni- Persuasion 8, taunt 8
the fictional setting created for tors have full authority wherever they SPIRIT 7
the Torg game. It is in no way go. Faith (Akashan) 8, intimidation 9
intended to portray a religion The Monitors started out purely as Additional Skills: three at +1 adds
operating in the real world. a defensive force. But when Akashans Possibility Potential: some (30)
began to travel among the stars, Moni- Psionic Potential: some (5)
tors went with them, serving as guards Alignment: varies, but largelyCoar
against galactic pirates and as a show Equipment: varies
Rotan Ulka of force to client worlds who wished to
DEXTERITY 9 foment discontent in the Star Sphere.
Biotech weapons 15, energy weap- Monitors were under the direct com- Philosophy and
ons 12, maneuver 11, melee weap-
ons 13, unarmed combat 13
mand of the Rotan, but their primary Religion
loyalty was to the laws of Akasha, a
STRENGTH 9 situation which served to prevent their The major belief system of the
TOUGHNESS 9 being used by a Rotan to establish a Akashan people is 2inott, which states
PERCEPTION 13 galaxy-wide dictatorship. that in all things, there must be a bal-
Evidence analysis 18, find 18, lan- Many of theearlycontacts with alien ance. For every creation, there is a
guage 20, psionic manipulation 21, races were made by the Monitors, and destruction, and every being has cre-
scholar (Akashan history) 19, space indeed, Those Who Wait on Earth are ative and destructive energies within
vehicles 14, trick 19 predominantly members of this orga- him. Akashansdo not believe that any
MlND12 nization. By the very nature of their tool (psionics, weaponry, etc.) is in-
Mindsense 17, psionicresistance20, occupation, most of the Monitors lean herently good or evil, but that its place
science (biotech) 19, test 18, will· toward the philosophy of the inter- in the order of things is determinedby
power 18 ventionists in Akashan society, but how it is used.
CHARISMA 13 are held in check by their respect for This belief in the existence of coex~
Charm 17, persuasion 19, taunt 19 the authority of the Rotan and the isting, but contradictory, forces has
SPIRIT 12 CounciL Still, more than a few hearts allowed the Akashans to accept both
Faith (Akashan) 18, intimidation 20, yeam for the days when exploring Apeiros and the Nameless One into
reality 20 other galaxies and guiding other races their religious pantheon. While the
Possibilities: 40 was the rule, rather than the excep- majority of Akashans prefer life to
Alignment: Zinatt tion. death and the Star Sphere to the Void,
Psionic Powers: Kinesis (contain- Among Akashans, Monitors are they understand and accept that there
ment, energy routing, psychic wind, tele- unique in that they are encouraged to must eventually bean end toaH things.
kinesis); Psionic Defense (diagnostic make use of strictly mechanical de- This passive attitude has led them to
probe, gel/eral resistal/ce (selp, psychic vices. This came about shortly after often ignore potential threats until it
aid, psychic screen, telepathic repulsion); the Fourth Industrial Revolution, when was too late, as was the case with the
Psychic Senses (awareness, farsigllt, lite it was discovered that some of the less Comaghaz.
sense, psi detection); Telepathy (beacon, civilized client races were using the While the Akashans have been will-
send thoughts); Zinatt Powers (acceler- equipment purchased from the ing to impose their sense of order on
ate healing, sense past, skill search) Akashans to threaten the peace. It was other client races, no attempt has been
Equipment: kinetic armor (armor decided that Monitors would need to made to forcibly convert other peoples
value TQU+10/30); gravitic ray (dam- carry both biotech and nonorganic to their beliefs. Akashans do not have
age value 30, range 3-150/350/500); weapons if they were to effectively the concept of an enemy mythos, and
hastur (PER+3); lomos (charm +3); carry out their duties. That is a ruling believe all deities have some basis in
biotech repair kit; MedKit; transtech which has stayed in effect to this day. reality. Most tend to favor more posi-
(biotech); commtrol (biotech) tive religions, such as the worship of
Standard Akashan Monitor the Gods of Honor in Aysle or Lanala
DEXTERlTY 10 in the Living Land, but on the whole,
Biotech weapons 11, dodge 11, en- no practicioner of any faith suffers any
ergy weapons 11, maneuver 11, adverse effect in the realm of the
melee weapons 11, unarmed com- Akashans or in the Star Sphere.
bat 12 While virtually all Akashans be-
STRENGTH 10 lieve in the basic tenets of Zinatt, vari-
TOUGHNESS 10

--'8--------8
 ChapierOne

ous factions differ on how best to they point to the disasters of earlier to support tl\e response to the Signal
achieve a balance. This has caused a times as proof that no good can come Fire, but insisted that Akites be in-
major split in all levels of society, one of such meddling. They dispute the cluded prominently in any force dis-
aggravated both by the Comaghaz fact that the Mohani bequeathed to the patched.
plague and the lighting of Earth's Sig- Akashans some sort of "manifest des- The antithesis of the Akites are the
nal Fire. tiny" that must be fulfilled, and have Machu Coar, who take their name
even gone so far as to question whether from the failed Akashan expedition
Akasha truly benefitted from the sent to Earth a millenium ago. "Coar"
Akites and the Mohani's influence. has since become the name given to
Machu Coar The more radical Akites have be·
come devout isolationists, branding
their ideology, which claims that the
Akashans have a duty to act as stew-
The two opposing ideologies in the client races as potentiaIallies of the ards for less developed races, and ex-
Akasha are represented by the Akites Comaghaz and calling for the destruc- plain away past mistakes as aberra-
and the Machu Coar. The groups split tion of any approaching vessel as a tions that pale in the shadow of what
from each other five centuries ago, way of halting the spread of the plague. was accomplished for countless plan-
and the Akites have largely dominated While such measures are dismissed as ets while acting in that capacity. They
society since then, with the Machu the excesses of fanatics, the Akites do have acted to keep alive the legend of
Coar dismissed as troublemakers with make up the majority of the High Those Who Wait the remnants of that
delusions of grandeur. Council and a large segment of the first Machu Coar team that still sur-
The Akites (short for "Akash· wealthier class of Akashans. Up to vive on Earth.
anites") are those who believe in the now, their influence has been suffi· Extremist elements within the
philosophy of Aka, which states that cient to prevent any efforts to act as Machu Coar had, at one time, advo-
their race has no inherent right or re- pultaak for other worlds, but the pub- cated the outright conquest of those
sponsibility to interfere with other lic outcry over the Comaghaz plague worlds that were destroying their en·
worlds beyond the Star Sphere. While has forced them to consider desperate vironments and retarding their own
they recognize that they have much to measures to stop the disease and re- development. The idea was that
contribute to struggling civilizations, store order. They assented reluctantly Akashans would manage the planet

8--------9- 10
Torg: Space Gods

until the native race had advanced only with great difficulty. Many things Ughtships are living biotech creations
sufficiently to be able to manage on in Akasha hinge on "whose side you're which possess fin-like appendages
their own and the imbalances they on" in the Aka-eoar war of philoso- resembling sails and metallic append·
had created had been corrected. This phies. ages/landing gear at the bottom. These
was tried with mixed success 1500 to For more on alignment, see Chap- are capable of collecting solar energy
2000 years ago, but was the first pro- ter Four. and converting it into the propulsive
gram to faU out of favor after the d isas- force necessary to move through space.
ter on Earth. Therearea numberof differentdasses
The Machu Coar and its ideas have Science and of lightship, ranging from the liner,
been steadily growing in popularity
over the past year. Leaders of the group
Technology used to transport cargo, to the cruiser,
a smaller vessel used for exploration
have portrayed the Akitesand the High In their primitive period, the and diplomatic missions. Unlike lin·
Councilasoutoftouch with the people, Akashans had an irra tional fear of tech- ers and warships, cruisers are capable
willing to sacrifice the cHent races to nology. TheircavNwelling ancestors of landing on planets - however, to
the Comaghaz, and too frightened of had fled in terror from the arrive of ensure that the secrets of their creation
their own shadows to risk looking Mohani ships, and the legends of fire-- remain intact, the fins break down
outside the Star Sphere for aid against breathing monsters with sitvery wings and dissolve shortly after landing
the plague. They have seized upon descending from the sky were used to while the rest of thecraft burrows into
both the epidemic and the lighting of frighten children for centuries. the ground. A bioengineer must ma-
the Signal Fire as reasons to resume Eventually, the Akashans ovemtrne nipulate the implants in the lightship
exploration and more direct involve-- this aversion and, with the guidance to cause the fin to grow again so the
ment with other cultures. of the Mohani, they proceeded to en· ship will be spaceworthy.
More and more of the younger joy the fruits of three Industrial Revo- Geomantic shuttles are found on
Akashans have begun to sympathize lutions. The final one of these intra-- the larger craft which are unable to
with the theories of the Machu Coar, duced the concept of space travel, us- make planetfall. These ships, which
although those in positions of respon- ing huge, fuel-burning vessels. These can carry up to six passengers, chan-
Sibility have found it wiser to keep were efficient, but it was not until the nel gravitic and geomantic energy
their beliefs to themselves, since their Mohani revealed the existence of through their drives and are only able
superiors are likely to be Akites.II was to function when within 10,000 kilO:
stargates that interstellar travel became
largely political pressure generated by practical. It was in such a ship that the meters of a planet or a lightship. They
foUowers of the Machu Coar that led Akashans first visited Earth. are commonly launched from orbiting
to Rotan Ulka'sdecision to respond to ships and descend toa world'ssurface
Still, the Akashans never fell truly
Earth's call. by controlling the pull of gravity on
comfortable with pure technology -
The government has long regarded cold steel and tangled wires, the other- the ship. When lifting off from a planet,
the Machu Coar as a relic of bygone n~s of mechanical devices, offended
reverse-gravitic drives redirect the
days, little more than a nuisance. But gravitational pullof the planet, thereby
their sense of harmony. Thus they be-
as the expansionist elementsgain more providing propulsion for the ship.
gan to move in another direction, and
adherents and grow more vocal in their Fourth Industrial Revolution pro- The other area in which the
their criticism of the authorities and Akashans excel is bioengineering. A
duced the concept of biotechnology.
Akites in general, some have actually From that point on, all tools used by natural outgrowth of their interest in
begun to fear an armed insurrection the Akashans would be composed of biotech, their scientists frequently ex·
against the High Council. Rotan Ulka perimented with gene splicing and
organic and nonorganic matter joined
has publicly dismissed such a notion together, and some would be sentient the creation of genetic mutations in
as fantastic, but it may have been a as well. For more information on bio- the years after the Mohani left. At first,
factor in his decision to proceed to organic tech, seeChapterTen, "Equip- members of the client races and even
Earth. some Earth humans were used as test
mento"
Those who follow neither of these One of the first major results of the subjects, a practice that was banned at
two philosophies are generally con- Fourth lndustrial Revolution was the the same time thepultaakconcept was
sidered to be followers of pure Zinatt, selling of most nonorganic tools and abandoned. Akashan bioengineers
and believers in harmony and balance weapons to the client worlds, which then began focusing their efforts on
above all. The Rotan, by definition, creatures from their planet and vari-
led to a surge in their ability to pro-
must bea foUowerof Zinatt - having ous other worlds, but it is believed
duce such equipment. The second sig-
a believer in Aka or Coar at the head of that there are still some unscrupulOUS
nificant event involved space travel,
the government could result in civil scientists using members of civilized
as the environmentally unsound ves-
war. races as proving grounds for their theo-
selsof the past were scrapped in favor
Alignment is a crucial factor in the of new, organically-based craft.
ries. It is known for a fact that some
day to day life of the Akashans. Where The Akashans now rely on two products of failed experiments arestill
one falls on the scale of belief systems forms of interstellar transport, extant on Akasha, with the Monitors
influences which psionic powers you frequently called in to put them down.
lightships and geomantic shuttles.
are able to use with ease and which

_0_- l""O-----------------l/l'l\
 Chapter One

Stargates worlds beyond the authority of the is they w ho must ensure that the queen
Akashans followed the lightships is provided with sufficient food and
Tales of astral pathways known as through the stargate and traveled to the hatchlings are cared for properly.
stargates had been passed. down to the the Milky Way themselves, landing in The most honored caste is that of
Akashans by their mentors, the or near South America. the warriors, the strongest, most vio-
Mohani. But until the Akashans ven- lent Lorbaat who makeup the planet's
tured into space themselves, they were army. The history of the race is filled
unaware of the true nature of the gates
The Lorbaat with tales of glorious deeds by the
or the use to which they could put warriors, and indeed, before the
them. The fiercest and most openly rebel- Moham led the Akashans to the se-
Stargates appear as vast, shimmer- lious of all the client races, the Lorbaat crets of advanced technology, the
ing funnel-shaped openings in space. resemble huge beetles. They average Lorbaat were well on their way to
Electrical discharges flicker and approximately two meters in height, conquering the Star Sphere. To this
sparkle around their edges as the sub- and possess six limbs and a pair of day, much of their resentment of the
stance of space flows through them, sharp mandibles. Akashans stems from the feeling that
but unlike black holes, stargates exert The Lorbaat are capable of walking the Mohani should have chosen the
no gravitic pull on other bodies. upright, using their hindmost legs to Lorbaat to be the caretakers of the
Stargates are visible only to those stand and their other four limbs as galaxy.
individuals with psionic abilities and hands. They are skilled craftsmen, ca- The final caste is that of the supervi-
the proper training in their detection. pable of manipulating specially-de- SOTS, who are responsible for directing
Each stargate is connected to another, signed tools with great agility. Their the warriors and workers in their ac-
and may be joined to as many as 10 or mandibles are used as weapons or for tivities. This caste includes the scien-
12 others. Most lead to sections of the tearing off pieces of their prey. tists, weaponsmiths, and spacecraft
Star Sphere, but there are some which Lorbaat are capable of secreting a pilots as well.
have been found to lead to other gal- glue-like substance known as baatase, Lorbaat live in huge nests of soil
axies. One such leads to the vicinity of which hasa Strength of 16. The Lorbaat that tower 40 meters or more above
Pluto in the Milky Way galaxy and smearbaataseon theirshellsand use it the ground. Around a nest, the land is
served as the Akashans' pathway to to hold their equipment. They also cultivated by the workers, and wa-
Earth. exude a substance known as trioacid, tered using complex irrigation canals
Stargates are not fixed in space, which can dissolve baatase instantly. devised and maintained by the techni-
some having been known to move as The secretions of both baatase and cians. On any Lorbaat world, there are
much as 20 million miles over the trioacid are simple actions, and nei- likely to be many hundreds of Lorbaat
course of a millenium. A vessel enter- theris used asa weapon by the Lorbaat. nests, each one home to tens of thou-
inga stargate is caught up in an energy They are, however, put to use by other sands of Lorbaat. Each nest has its
stream that spirals and twists all biotech weaponsmiths (see the baatase own queen, 'who owes allegiance to a
around it. The ability to navigate a rifle in Chapter Ten, "Equipment"). High Queen. The High Queen resides
ship safely through this flow is a skill Natives of the world Lorbaata, the in a large, central nest, with the other
highly prized in the Akashan fleet. Lorbaat would be believers in the doc~ nests surrounding it like spokes on a
Travel through a stargate normally trine that calls for "survival of the wheel.
takes a week, but a mistake while navi- fittest," if they were aware of its exist- The Lorbaat have colonized a num-
gating through the stream can result ence. Carnivores who relish the taste ber of worlds in their sector of the Star
in the journey lasting several months of blood, Lorbaat will fight with any- Sphere, but have suffered a great deal
or longer. one, including each other, for the sake from the outbreak of the Comaghaz
of the battle. They resent their domi- plague. Ten or more colony worlds
nation by the peaceful Akashans, and have broken offcontact with Lorbaata,
Races of the Star more than once the Monitors have had
to suppress mini-rebellions among the
and itis believed they have succumbed
completely to the plague. How many
Sphere insectoids. residents of those worlds were part of
The Lorbaat are a hive-dwelling the Akashan armada which traveled
The reaches of the known Star race, ruled by a small number of to Earth is unknown.
Sphere teem with life, and beyond queens. Theirsocietyconsistsof a rigid The Lorbaat blame the Akashans
them,nooneknowswhatstrangeraees caste system, and a Lorbaat is con- for the spread of the Comaghaz plague
may thrive. Natives of all the client signed to his strata for life with no (indeed, it was brought to their worlds
worlds live and work on Akasha, and hope for advancement. The largest by infected Monitors), and their High
many traveled to Earth when the group in Lorbaatan society is the work· Queen has ruled that anyone carrying
"Space Gods" returned in response to ers, those who are responsible for the the disease should be executed on
the Signal Fire. In addition, aliens from day-to-day maintenance of the hive. It sight. The plague has greatly wors-
ened relations between Lorbaata and
Akasha.

1~\----------11-··
Standard Lorbaat Warrior Description: Lorbaat warriors are heads, and two flexible antennae
DEXTERITY 9 a dark red color and appear black in sprout from either side of their heads.
Dodge 10, energy weapons 10, fire dim light. Their carapaces are bulkier These antennae grow to a length of
combat 10, heavy weapons 10,Iong than those of the other castes. War· nearly a meter and are deep red in
jumping 10, unarmed combat 12 riors are trained never to retreat from color. Gudasko use their antennae as
STRENGTH 10 combat unless ordered to by a super· feelers for both smell and touch.
Climbing l1,lifting 11 visor, and will fight until destroyed. Gudasko haveno noses, and their faces
TOUGHNESS 1219 Note: Lorbaat warriors are unaf· resemble flat skulls. They are inca-
PERCEPTION 7 feeted by the break result in the Drama pable of facial expression.
Find 8, language 8, trick 8 Deck. Treat all breilkresults as setbacks. The mouth of a Gudasko is filled
MIND 7 with sharp pointed teeth, giving the
Test 8 species an even more frightening ap-
CHARJSMA7 Gudasko pearance. Their slitted, cat-like eyes
Taunt 10 allow them to see in clearly in low-
SPlRJT7 Gudasko are humanoid creatures light conditions. Their hands and feet
Faith 8, intimidation 10 which average two meters in height. are equipped with sharp, retractable
Additional Skills: three at +1 adds They are covered with a smooth, tight claws which they use to good effect in
Possibility Potential: some (40) skin which ranges in color from the combat.
Psionic Potential: none purest white to pale violet. Their hair, Although intelligent, the Gudasko
Natural Tools: mandibles, damage which covers the sides of their heads are unable to grasp the idea of a central
valueSTR+4/21;claws,damagevalue and lightly coats the rest of their bod· govemment, and they exist in pack-
STR+3120;shell,annorvalueTOU+31 ies, is bristly and white. like clans. Leadership of the clans is
21; baatase, STR 16, TOU 13; trioacid, Gudasko have a bony ridge run· won in single combat, and a chieftain
damage value 14 ning down the center of their fore- must ever be prepared to go into battle

-.."":':12------------/~
to defend his title. The loser of such a Larendi Unfortunately, the constant
match is cast out of the clan and con- comings and goings of the Larendi
demned to wander the barren plains The L...arendiareanavianrace. They made it extremely easy for the
of their world, Kelneride. stand, on average, 1.5 meters tall and Comaghaz plague to spread among
The Gudasko are a primitive spe- have red, bat-like wings and thin, grey them, to the point where most of the
cies, not having moved much beyond humanoid bodies. Their plumage is known colonies and the homeworld
the hunting and gathering stage of red, with shipes of white along the have been infected.
evolution. They can be ferocious and chest and wing tips. Their heads are
violent or childlike and trusting, de-
Standard Larendi
tufted with bright yellow feathers, and DEXTERITY 9
pending on how they are treated. Their they have long, sharp fangs and small, Biotech weapons10, dodge 10, flight
keen senses allow them to serve as black eyes. 12, maneuver 10, stealth 11, un-
efficient trackers or guards, and many The Larendi areintelligentcreatures, armed combat 11
of the outcasts have found work with natives of the planet Salend. Theirworld STRENGTHS
other races. is predominately composed of water, TOUGHNESS 8
The Akashans have been extremely with large, volcanic islands rising from PERCEPTION 8
careful in their dealings with the the ocean floor. 1he Larend.i live on Evidence analysis 10, find 9, lan-
Gudasko. Unable to accept the idea these islands, mainly in caves and large, guage 9, scholar (alien races) 9
that anyone people could have au- desiduous trees. MIND 8
thority over the galaxy and loyal to Larendi society is flexible and migra- Science 9, survival 10
nothing beyond the clan, they could tory. The L>rend; commonly fly from CHARISMA 7
mount a determined and bitter chal- island to island, hunting in the forests Charm 8, persuasion 8
lenge to the Akashans if they were to and fishing in the oceans. Primarily SPIRIT 8
ever understand their place in the Star carnivores, the Larendi dodrink the sap Faith 9, focus 9, intimidation 9
Sphere. The Akashans expend every of certain trees and the juices of citrus Additional Skills: three at +1 adds
effort to make the Gudasko feel like fruits. Possibility Potential: some (35)
equals, but there arealready some clans Not surprisingly, the Larendi keep Psionic Potential: some (19)
who feel that they are treated like very few personal possessions. con- NaturaITools:daws,damagevalue
slikith (a Gudasko phrase meaning tent to forage for what they need when STR+4/12; wings, speed value 13
"dwellers in the dirt.") they need it. However, they are quick
Standard Gudasko to adapt, and are capable of under-
DEXTERITY 9 standing the functions of many differ- Draygakk
Dodge 10, maneuver 10, running ent devices.
10, unarmed combat 10 Larendi agree with the Akites on Draygakks are large (2-2.5 meters,
STRENGTH 9 the question of intervention with other on the average>- dragon-like human·
TOUGHNESS 9 races, and are pacifistic, save when it oids covered with dark brown scales.
PERCEPTION 8 comes to bringing down prey for a Their eyes are set beneath pronounced
Find 9, evidence analysis 10, track- meal. They have been known to indis- bony ridges. Theyhavelong,extended
ing 10 criminately attack visitors from other snouts which are filled with four sets
MIND 7 worlds on the pretext that they looked of parallel teeth. Unlike edeinos,
Survival 9, test 8 "good to eat," and the Akashans fre- Draygakks do not have tails. They
CHARISMA 7 quently have to explain to them that it have five fingers and an opposable
Taunt 9 is not dvilized behavior to do so. thumb on each hand.
SPIRIT 7 The Larendi have an overwhelm- Contrary to their fierce appearance,
Intimidation 8 ing hatred of any technology which Draygakks are generally placid, but
Additional Skills: three at +1 adds harms the environment. They resisted when injured orrrovoked, they can
Possibility Potential: some (35) any contact with the Akashans until erupt into fits 0 violence in which
Psionic Potential: none that race had perfected the use of they become frenzitd (for details about
Natunl Tools; teeth, damage value biotech. The urendi have never jrtnzy, see Chapter Five, '"Skills'").
STR+2/12; claws, damage value achieved spaceflight capability, but Draygakks are bred to hate and fear
STR+4/14 their migratory nature has made it these instances of uncontrollable
easy for them to adjust to new worlds bloodlust, and they spend most oftheir
when transported to them by the
Akashans.

1f)!----------::l~3 I.
Torg: Space Gods

lives working to control their terrible The Draygakks are the firmest al- Standard Draygakk
tempers. lies of the Akashans in the StarSphere, DEXTERITYS"
Draygakks began as carnivores on and believe strongly in the philoso- Dodge 9. energy weapons 9. ma·
the swamp world of Tes·K1ick·Aah phy of the Machu Coar, that advanced neuver 9, swimming 9, unarmed
(that is theAkashan pronundationand races have an obligation to aid those combat 9
spelling; Draygakks hiss, click their less fortunate. They have attempted to STRENGTH 10
inner jaws, and exhale to make the warn the Akashans that allowing the TOUGHNESS 11/8
"aah" noise). It is not known whether feud between the Akites and the Coar PERCEPTION 8
they gained their intelligence as a re- to create a schism in their society was Evidence analysis ]f), find 10, Ian·
sult ofevolution, or whether I hey were inviting disaster, but as yet they have guage 9, scholar (diplomacy) 11.
genetically manipulated by the not been heeded. trick 10
Mohani. Those who favor the Mohani The Draygakk have been relatively MIND8
manipulation theory point to the lack unaffected by the Comaghaz plague. Science (sociology) 9
of tails, and the development of the Used to keeping watch for any aber- CHARISMA 7
hands as evidence that Ora ygakks d id rant behavior, the infected were a~ Charm 9, persuasion 9, taunt 8
not evolve naturally. Draygakks them· prehended and quarantined before SPIRIT 7
selves believe they are what nature they could spread the disease to any Faith 8, frenzy 9, intimidation 9
intended them to be. great extent. In a colossal blunder, the Additional Skills: three at +1 adds
Many Draygakksha\'e ventured far Draygakk advised the Akashan High Possibility Potential: some (30)
from their home systems. They are Council to take its time and study the Psionic Potential: some (19)
very curious about other races and are Comaghaz problem before taking any Natural Tools: teeth,damagevalue
accomplished sociologists whose find· rash action, a suggestion which was STR+4/16; claws. damage value
ings are treated with respect through· accepted. In the wake of recent devel- STR+2/14; scales, armor value
out the Star Sphere. They have estab-- opments. the Draygaldcs have revised TOU+3/13
lished 15 scientific outposts in various their early estimate of the seriousness
parts of the galaxy. of the situation.

---------8
-··..,...,..-14
 Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The Comaghaz

II
antor paused in his work Deep inside his mind, something
and wiped the perspira- was screaming a warning, telling him
tion from his brow. He the voices were a product of the fever
could not recall its ever that raged within him. But he did not
being so warm on listen, indeed he could not. The voices
Akasha before - perhaps the climate insisted he join with them, and told
control devices in this structure need him once he belonged, he would be
repair, he said to himself.
He forced himself to concentrate on
his studies. The history of the Draygaak
....
able to share his experience with oth-

It all seemed so wonderful, he had

people was a fascinating one, and he no further thought of resisting. Crate-
found it particularly interesting how fully, totally, he surrendered himself
they had transcended their fearsome to the voices, and let them tell him
physical appearance and become such what he must do.
noted scholars. Granted, they had not He felt whole, even the fever had
yet approached. the level ofthe Akashan ceased to annoy him. As he passed'
intelligentsia, but given time ... through the hallway, the caretaker
A bead of sweat dropped into his bade him farewell.
eye, blinding him. He let out a gasp at As the voices sang in triumph, he
the burning sensation and dropped reached out to take the old man's hand
his infoscanner. He was going to com- and share the new sensation he'd dis-
plain to the caretaker of the building covered ...
when the room seemed to shift before
him suddenly, and he found himself
on the noar. Plague of Hatred
A waveoffearpassed through him.
He felt iII- something which should The microorganisms known as the
have been impossible, given his ge- Comaghaz fonn a sentient, psionic
netic makeup. He had spent over 1000 virus which has swept through Akasha
ciaras on having his immune system and numerous otherworlds in the Star
strengthened, and if that money had Sphere, and was carried by hosts to
been wasted., his bioengineer would Earth in the lightship annada. Highly
be sorry indeed. contagiousand virtuaUy incurable, the
Hestruggled to rise, fighting off the Comaghaz has infected thousands,
dizziness. Hewould go home and take linking them to a group mind under
a rest, perhaps he had been studying the control of the developer of the
too hard ... virus.
That was when he heard the voices. The plague has thrown the entire
They were all around him, soothing Star Sphere and Alcashan operations
him, encouraging him, a chorus led by on Earth into disarray. Initially believ-
the soft, silken voice of a woman. He ing the disease to simply be an out-
could almost see her face as she spoke break of madness, the Akashan High
to him of destiny and fate, and offered Council took no steps against it until
him a sense of belonging he had never was out of control, both on Akasha
known before. and the client worlds. The difficulty of

I'
15
Torg: Space God.

to conquer the Comaghaz - some-

thing that must be done before Earth,
too, falls before the plague.

The Creation of the

Comaghaz
The devastating virus known as the
Comaghaz has its roots in the dark
and ambitious mind of an Akashan
High Council member and renowned
bioengineer named Sarila. She first
gained fame for stopping a severe crop
blight on a Lorbaat colony world, but
no one knew her true method of doing
so. By tampering with the genetic
material of the plant disease, she
caused it to become dormant for a
short period, and then mutate into a
less severe form of itself. As a result,
instead of those eating infected plants
suffering instant death, the poisons
would now take up to a year to build
up in the body and result in complete
sterilization of the host.
She knew, of course, that the now
undetectable blight posed in somel
ways a greater threat than the one she
had been called upon to cure. But she
had succeeded in confirminghertheo-
ries regarding viral genetic mutations,
and the eventual collapse of the colony
~ was ascribed to some heretofore un-
known kind of cosmic radiation act-
l ing upon the inhabitants.
~ Her "victory" over the crop blight
.~ resulted in her receiving a number of
i grants to continue her research and
~ eventually the attainment of a posi-
tion on the High Council. But Sarila
wanted more - she coveted the posi-
tion of Rotan, but being a fanatic be-
liever in Aka, had very little chance of
attaining it. It was then that she hit
upon the plan that was to bring so
detecting the presence of the disease tity of the person dominating the much grief to Akasha in ways she
until it is firmly in control of its host Comaghaz remains a mystery to the never expected.
has led to countless incidents of sabo- Akashans.
tage by infected personnel in vital p0- What is known is that the virus has
sitions. In some areas, both in thecosm defeated all efforts to control it, and The Plot and the Peril
and the realm, rampaging mobs of the need for aid against it was a major
plague.-ridden beings have seized con- factor in the Akashans' decision to Sarila's plan seemed simplicity it-
trol of cities and towns and begun the come to Earth. Although humanity self for one of her talents -she would
systematic infection of the populace. 'did not prove to be as far advanced as bioengineer a virus, something seri-
Entire worlds have fallen under the first hoped, it is believed they may ous enough that it would attract atten-
sway of the group mind, but the iden- have the potential to discover a means tion without being unfailingly deadly.

-O-:"1~6--------/~
 ChapteTTwo

Then, when Akasha was perceived as faulty logiC, hers was a passive inter- Psionic Powers: Kinesis (magy
being threatened by it, she would ference in their society, rather than an routing, psychic wind, ttlekinesis.
"miraculously" produce the cure. active one - it was the Comaghaz telqxJrlJltion, teleporltltion (~lf); Psionic
Hailed as a heroine of her race, her who chose to accept her commands, Defense (gmeral rtsistana (~lf), psy-
ascension to the office of Rotan would she did not force them to do so. chic screen, telepathic repulsion); Psy-
be assured. Sarila convinced herself that, with chic Senses (awarmess, psi detection);
She set out to create an infectious the mutations it had undergone, the Telepathy (cloud mind, send thoughts,
disease that, after a relatively short virus would no longer be physically thought sam); Aka Powers (charisma
incubation period, would produce a harmful to its host (a comforting lie control, mind setll)
fever, dizziness and nausea in its host. she continues to believe to this day, Equipment: cloaking suit (stttdth
Left unchecked, the disease would despite the evidence of her senses). +5); psionic enhancer (psionit IfUJnipu-
eventually result in death, but Sari1a She had resisted the idea of travel- liztion +1); mindlance (damage value
felt certain she would be called upon ing to Earth, for fear that a race ad- 20, range 3-10/25/40); gravitic ray
to cure it long before any fatalities vanced enough to comprehend the (damage value 30, range 3-150/350/
resulted. Toensurethat she would not Signal Fire might uncover her com- 500); volent (damage value STR+5/
be affected, she injected herself with a plicity in the Comaghaz's creation. In 24); biotech repair kit; MedKit;
weakened strain of the virus and so an attempt to sabotage any such ef- transtech (biotech)
built up an immunity. Then she un- forts, she insisted on joining Rotan Description: Sarila is a young, ex-
leashed it upon her world. U1ka on the journey. But upon reach- tremely beautiful woman witha gifted
From the first, she knew she had ing South America and finding the mind and the ability to convince her-
created something greater than she people well below the technological self that all of her actions are justified
had ever intended. As more and more level of the Akashans, she relaxed. in the service of the greater good. Sarila
people be<ame infected, she began to Having seen firsthand that humans has strived to achieve perfection of
hear their voices in her head, looking are susceptible to the virus as well, both mind and body, and is currently
to her for direction. Then she began to Sarila now dreams of dominating two obsessed with keeping her connection
sense a presence within this bizarre galaxies, and perhaps one day a uni- to the Comaghaz a secret. Eventually,
chorus, and with a shudder, realized it verse. once her infected legiOns have gained
was her virus. Sarila herself was unaware that mastery of Akasha, she plans to pnr _
She had tampered overmuch with Earth is in a different cosm from daimherselfRotanandleadherpeople
the genetic material of the disease. The Akasha. But when the first Storm to greater glory.
microorganisms had achieved sen- Knight was infected bytheComaghaz,
tience, and their presence in a host knowledge of the Possibility Wars
linked him to a group mind. That was flooded her mind, and she may well The Comaghaz
the explanation for the voices she had expand her plans to encompass all
heard. Her own exposure and immu- realities. She has already set in motion Virus
nity to the virus had allowed her to tap a plot to begin infecting Delphi Coun-
into the group mind without being cil Spartans. The infectious disease created by
dominated by it. Sarila has two major effects on its host:
Panic-stricken, Sarila attempted to
Sarita a gradual physical breakdown, includ-
DEXTERITY 12 ing the virtual burning out of the brain
effect a cure. But when she tested her
Biotech weapons 14, dodge 13, en- in many cases, and the joining of the
vacdne, she discovered that the virus
ergy weapons 14, maneuver 13, host's mind to those of other infected,
had mutated again into a form which
melee weapons 13, stealth 13, un- to form a group mind.
resisted her curative agent. As a sen- armed combat 14
tient creature, its first concern was its The Comaghaz has a three-stage
STRENGTH 9 lifeeycle which ends with thedeath of
own survival, although it was willing TOUGHNESS 9
to serve her. She knew then that if she the host body. It is conceivably p0s-
PERCEYTlON 13 sible to kill the virus using medical
revealed to the other members of the Evidence analysis 17, find 16, lan-
High Council her knOWledge of the means, though without doubt this
guage 14, psionic manipulation 20, would be extremely difficult. It is also
disease (which she had dubbed trick 17
"Comaghaz," anAkashan word mean- possible for the host to destroy the
MIND 13 disease by force of will during the
ing "dominator"), they would grow Medicine 19, psionic resistance 19,
suspicious of where she had obtained second stage of the infection. Both of
science (biotech) 21, test 20, will- these methods will be detailed below.
it. She decided to keep silent. power 24
After a short while, she learned to TheComaghaz virus mountsa two-
CHARlsMA12 pronged attack on the host, inflicting
distinguish the separate voices that Charm 16, persuasion 19, taunt 14
made up the chorus. She reconciled damage on a systemic basis and most
SPIRIT 10 specifically to the neural synapses and
theeffects herdisease was having upon Intimidation 17, reality 19
other worlds with her belief in Aka by cerebral cortex of the brain. In its most
Possibilities: 30 severe form, the Comaghaz utterly
telling herself the group mind simply Alignment: Aka
drew people to follow her lead. By that destroys the willpower of the host,

1~---------17-"
Torg: Space God_

transforming him into little more than target's Toughness. If the roll is suc· tion is now highly contagious, and
a slave to the will of the group mind, cessful, the target is infected. lf the there is a standing command from the
which is in tum dominated by Sarila. Knight is unaware the person who group mind to pass the disease on to
touched him was a carrier, keep the anyone encountered.
Comaghaz Virus generation of the above total a secret, Immediately after the physical
Damage Value: 15
as the Knight would not be aware he symptoms manifest themselves, the
had the illness until the first symp- group mind will assault the host'scon·
The Contagion toms appeared. If, however, the Knight sciousness. Fordetailson this,see ''The
knows he has been attacked by a Group Mind" below. If the host is
The Comaghaz infection is passed Comaghaz host, he may attempt to unable to expel it at this point, he falls
via physical contact, when perspira· actively defend against the illness us- under the sway of Sarila as either a
tion passes from an afflicted host ing his Toughness (providing. ofcourse, Leader, Soldier, or Drone in the group
through the pores of a target. Short of he is willing to surrender his action for mind.
a direct injection of the virus (a method that round to do so). The virus is easier to detect at this
used only once, by Sarila on herself) Once the infection has been passed, point, but harder to treat, as it has
this is the sole means of spreading the the new host enters the first stage of taken firm hold of the host's body and
disease until the third stage is reached. the disease. mind. It is now more difficult to drive
The virus is not contagious in its from the system, and the patient is
first stage, so only hosts who have unlikely to be cooperative.
reached the second or third stages may
First Stage Second-stage hosts are extremely
infect others. To do so, the host must effective agents for Sarila. Under her
The first stage of the Comaghaz control, but not yet suffering from
touch the exposed flesh of his victim.
infection lasts for approximately three overly conspicuous physical symp-
This may be a simple action (such as
weeks. It begins immediately upon toms, most canstill perfonn theirstan-
shaking the hand of someone who
does not know he is dealing with a the host's infection, and lasts until the dard roles in society and be accepted.
carrier) or it may require a successful virus gains enough of a hold on his A tremendous amount ofsabotageand
ul1anned combat attack on the part of system that it can proceed to attack his spying has been done on her behaUby
the host. lf the latter is the case, com· mind. these agents prior to their exposure as
The disease is extremely difficult to Comaghaz hosts. ~
pute the damage of the unanned com-
bat attack as always, and then generate detect at this point, as it is not doing The second stage lasts for anywhere
the damage total for the virus as de-- any overt damage to the body as yet, from six months to two years (the more
and the host suffers no ill effects. (See mental faculties one retains as part of
tailed below.
the Comaghaz Detection(Treatment Chart the group mind, the longer one re-
The Comaghaz virus cannot live
below.) It is, however, at its weakest in mains in the second stage. This allows
outside of a host body for more thana
few seconds. Therefore, it is not pas. its new host, and thus easier to elimi- group mind Leaders to survive for a
sible to catch the illness by using an nate than in later stages. longer period of time.)
In many ways, this is the most in- During the second stage, physical
article handled by an infected person,
sidious stage of the disease. A attributes are increased as the hosts
wearing one of their gannents, etc.
character's best opportunity to be become less sensitive to pain and fa-
Nor is it possible to catch the plague
treated for the plague is offset by the tigue. Mental attributes decrease, but
from the corpse of a carrier.
fact that he may not know he has it. not among the Leaders. For more de--
The disease can be spread much
When the second stage arrives, the tails, see "The Group Mind," below.
more effectively if the host touches an
host will probably find himself un-
open wound on the person of the tar-
get. Comaghaz carriers have set up willing to take any steps to eliminate
twisted mockeries of hospitals where
the Comaghaz, for he will be one with The Third Stage
them.
incisions are made on victims and the
By the time the host body reaches
virus passed to them. People infected
the third stage, mental processes have
in this manner progress directly to the
second stage of the illness.
Second Stage begun to suffer as a result of the par.
tidpation ina group mind. Along with
Only beings capable of indepen- At this point, the first physical this come phYSical symptoms of a dra·
dent thought are susceptible to the symptoms appear and the Comaghaz
Comaghaz virus. Beings which oper- matic nature, which leave observers
group mind attempts to seize control no doubt that the disease rages uncon·
ate purely on instinct like most ani- of the host's consciousness.
mals, are not vulnerable to the infec· trolled through its victim.
The second stage is marked by an In the third. stage, some physical
tion. increased heart rate, fever, cold sweats, attributes are increased again, while
Once the virus has been passed, and dizziness (that last only until one mental attributes take a sharp drop,
generate a damage total for the virus joins with the group mind). The infec· even among Leaders. Drones are r~
against a difficulty number of the

--:;·'1~8--------/~
 Chapter Two

duced to almost vegetable level, while disease becomes well-near impossible cutty numbers.(using the medicine skill)
Soldiers are little more than zombies. to treat in the third stage, and the for the various stages of the illness-are
As an efficient fighting force, third probability of catching the contagion listed below on the ComJlgMz Odec-
stage Soldiers and Drones leave some- from a carrier at this point is extreme!y tion{fTtIltmmt CluJrt.
thing to be desired - however, they high. There is no known cure for the
are virtually impervious to pain and The third stage normally lasts no Comaghaz 'tirUS. There are, however,
no longer are hindered by fear, anger longer thansix months, at which point experim<ntaltreatmentsdeveloped by
or any other emotion. the host dies. The Comaghaz virus the Akashans which are believed to
Physically, the changes are more within that body will expire shortly render the virus dormant, effectively
grotesque. As the body's systems rebel thereafter (at least, that is the theory) returning the disease to its first stage.
against the infection, the host's epi- but it is still believed wise'to bum or in All attribute levels return to normal,
dermis begins to crack open, and a some other way destroy the corpse as and linkage with the group mind is
green fluid produced by the infection soon as possible. severed.
oozes out. (This fluid takes the place of However, these treatments are ex-
perspiration for purposes of spread- tremely complicated to perfOJlll., as
ing the infection at this stage). Soldiers Detection and precise knowledge of the extent of the
and Drones become little more than
engines of destruction, their move-
Treatment infection in the host is needed so that
dosage amounts can be set correctly.
ments more clumsy, their odor foul, In addition, it is possible that the dor-
While it is certainly possible to de-
their only concept of human interac- mant virus could mutateintoa form in
tect the presence of the Comaghaz vi-
tion, the shedding of blood. They area which the treatment would cease to
rus in someone with the naked eye in
legion of berserkers, used primarily work and it could become active once
the third stage. in theearlierperiodsof
for strikes against targets SO well-de- again.
infection, sophisticated tests are re-
fended that conquering them would For medicine difficulty numbers at
quired to confirm the presence of the
cost the lives of too many second- different stages of the illness, consult
diseaseand the systems it hasattacked.
stage hosts. Tests for the Comaghaz virus re- the Comaghaz Detection/Treatment
In Leaders, the physical changes quire a medical laboratory of Tech 23 elUlrt.
are less drastic, but still evident. The
or better to perform. Detection diffi-

1~--------19-'·
Tors: Space Cod.

Comaghaz and Miracles to a reality with a sufficiently high The Cells

Social axiom to support the group
Efforts have been made to perform mind, hewill become infected again to One of the first discoveries Sarila
CUrt disttlse miracles on those afflicted the same extent he was before. made in her probes of the Comaghaz
with the Comaghaz virus. These have Cells containing Living Land char- group mind was that the greater the
metwithsomesuccess,astheAkashan acters who have retained their own number of hosts in a cell, the greater
realm has no laws regarding Henemy reality commit a four-ease contradic- the potential power of that cell. This is
mythosH and non-Zinatt miracles do tion when using group mind powers knowledge she has used to her advan-
not cause a contradiction there. in Baruk Kaah's realm. tage as the cells have carried out her
The difficulty for a cure di~ase orders in the cosm and realm.
miracle is equal to that of curing the The group mimi value of a cell is a
disease medically in any given stage. Under the Influence measure of its power. This is equal to
A successful CUrt disetlse miracle will the Mind value of the cell's Leader
return the virus to its first-stage level When a Comaghaz host enters the plus a bonus based upon the total
and dormancy foran unknown period second stage of the disease, the virus number of hosts in the cell.
of time. attacks his consciousness, attempting To find the bonus, first find the
to link itto the others it has infected. It value of the total number of hosts in
is at this point that the host has the the cell on the Torg Value Chart. Then
opportunity to destroy the virus by locate this number in the result points
force of will, or assume the role of column of the Power Push Table and
C omaghaz Detection!
Leader, Soldier or Drone within a
group mind cell.
read across to learn the bonus pro-
vided.
Treatment Chart To learn the outcome of the virus'
Detection Treatment attack, the host generates a Mind total
and consults the table below. Possi- Example: A Comaghaz group
Stage ON ON mind all, ltd l7y an Akasium TUJmed
First 25 16 bilities and cards may be spent on this
roll. 2onn«, has seiud control of t~ viJ-
Seoond 15 23 lJJge of San R,,,,wn in Peru. 2onn«
ThUd 8 25 hils a Mimi wlue of]].
There are a total of 25() hosts in
2onrttc's all. 250 hils aTorg valueo!
12. On: t~ Pouxr Push Table, ]2
C omaghaz Resistance result points translat~ to at.:mus of
The Group Mind Table +5.
Therefore, t~group mind value of
Once linked by the presence of the Mind Tot.al Resull 2onn«'s cell is 16 (11+5).
Comaghazvirus,themindsofthehosts 25 or above Virus destroyed
form a group mind underthedomina- 20 Leader Thegroupmindvaluegovemsboth
tion of Sarila. She alone can tap into 12 Soldier the maximum range of the Leader's
this union without being ruled by it, 11 or below Drone control over the cell and the number
due to the presence of the virus in her and type of powers the cell can make
system but her immunity to its harm- use of.
ful effects. Example: TOlTUJki has been infected Group mind values should be re-
This group mind is broken up into l7y the Comaghaz virus and rttJched calculated once per week ofgame time,
small units called cells. Each cell has a the second stage of the disetJ~. The as hosts fall in battle and new ones are
single 1.LJJckr, and a virtually unlim- virus attadcs his mind, and Tomaki added. While it is certainly possible to
ited number of Soldin's and Drones. All generates a Mimi total 0!14. He will do calculations for the cell in use in
Leaders are under the command of be a Soldier in t~ group mind all to your campaign more often, once per
Sarila, and they in tum command the which ~ is now linked. week is less intrusive.
Soldiers and Drones. As stated above, cells are made up
The group mind requires a Socitll A player character taken over by of one Leader and a number of Sol-
axiom of 18 or higher to operate. Thus the group mind will become a diers and Drones. Each has different
it is possible to disconnect while using stren~ and wealcness, which are
gamemaster character until a cure is
group mind powers in certain areas. U effected which returns the virus to its detailed below. Note that Leaders,
this occurs, the Comaghaz virus will dormant stage. Soldiers and Drones are capable of
become inactive, but not revert to its having attributes which exceed the
first stage. Should the host reconnect cosm limit of 13 due to the effects of

•• 20
 Chapter Two

the disease, and will not cause a con- MINDlI parent cell, with the exception that the
tradiction by doing so in the realm. Survival 12, test 13, willpower 13 Soldier'sMind value is used in place of
This is because the axioms of the CHARISMA 9 the Leader's. The group mind value of
Akashan cosm support the actions of Charm 11, persuasion 11, taunt 10 the overall cell remains the same, as
the virus, which is responsible for the SPIRIT 8 the Leader is still in control of the
attribute increase. Intimidation 11 Soldier.
Additional Skills: four at +2 adds
The Leaders Possibility Potential: some (20)
Standard Soldier (Second Stage)
The existence of cell Leaders is cru- DEXTERITY 11
cial to the success of Sarila's plan to Second-StaRe Leader Dodge 13, energy weapons 13, fire
dominate the Star Sphere and Earth's DEXTERITY +1 combat 13, maneuver 12, melee
cosmo Without them, it would be vir- STRENGTH +1 weapons 12, stealth 12, unarmed
tually impossible for her to coordinate TOUGHNESS +1 combat 13
more than a few operations of the PERCEPTION +1 STRENGTH 11
group mind at once. For example, she MIND +1 TOUGHNESS 11
could send out orders to three cells to CHARISMA +/- 0 PERCEPTION 9
mount attacks on three different loca- SPIRIT +f"() Evidence analysis 10, find 10, track-
tions - but without a Leader present ing 11, trick 11
to react to the individuat circumstances MIND9
Third-Stage Leader
attendant to each operation, failure of DEXTERITY +2 Test 10, willpower 10
one or all would be quite likely. STRENGTH +2 CHARISMA 8
For this reason, the Comaghaz vi- TOUGHNESS +2 Persuasion 9
rus serves her purposes admirably by PERCEPTION -2 SPIRIT 8
being geared to make only those with MIND-2 Intimidation 10
the strongest minds (and often those CHARISMA-l Additional Skills: four at +2 adds
who are Possibility-rated) cell Lead- SPIRIT +f"{) Possibility Potential: some (50)
ers. These individuals, while domi-
nated by Sarila, retain their own per- Soldiers Second-Sta~e Soldier
sonalitiesandaccumulatedknowledge DEXTERITY +2
well into the third stage of the disease. Soldiers are the elite warriors of the STRENGTH +2
In addition, as noted above, Lead- group mind, not as powerful as Drones TOUGHNESS +2
ers have the ability to stave off the but possessed of a bit more cunning. PERCEPTION -1
coming ofthe third stage to allow them- In addition, Soldiers are capable of MIND -)
selves to be of greater use to Sarila. stepping in if a Leader is killed and CHARISMA-I
Along with their prime instruction to assuming control of the cell. SPIRIT +f...()
spread the virus as much as possible, Therearecommonly fewer Soldiers
Leaders are also charged with ensur- present in a cell than there are Drones.
ing their own survival, even at the cost While the Leader is alive, they are Third-Stage Soldier
of thousands of Drones. Leaders are under his complete control, but should DEXTERITY +3
the most valuable of all the Comaghaz he perish, the Soldier with the highest STRENGTH +3
hosts. Mind value will take over for him. At TOUGHNESS +3
The following are the standard sta- this point, the group mind value for PERCEPTION -2
tistics as well as second stage and third that cell must be recomputed. MIND -2
stage stat alterations for Leaders. Note Soldiers can also be directed by the CHARISMA-2
Leader to take over smaller units of SPIRIT +2·
that these changes affect both attributes
and attribute-based skills. the cell and split off from the main ·Applies only to intimidation skill.
body. Thisisoftendonewhenagroup All other Spirit-based skills remain
mind cell expands into a new geo- the same.
Standard Leader (Second Stage) graphic area. A Leader will send in a
DEXTERITY 9
few Soldiers, each controlling several
Drones
Dodge 11, energy weapons 10, fire
Drones, to attack,and then follow at a
combat 10, maneuverl0,stealth 10, Drones are the laborers, foot sol-
safe distance. Drones are considered
unarmed. combat 10 diers, and cannon fodder who make
to be expendable.
STRENGTH 9 up the bulk of any group mind cell. In
A mini-cell led by a Soldier has a
TOUGHNESS 9 general, they are the hosts who had
group mind value which is computed
PERCEPTION 11 the weakest minds at the time of their
in exactly the same way as that of the
Evidence analysis 13, find 13, trick infection.
14

1~----------:'21-'·
Torg: Sp.1~ God,

Drones are rarely Possibility·rated,

but their enhanced Strength and Tough-
range of a cell is equal to the measure
of the group mind value of that cell,
Group Mind
ness make them very efficient killing read on the Torg Value Clwrt as meters. Powers
machines. Their biggest drawback is
that it is more difficult for a Drone to Example: The cell in the village of In addition to the other advantages
continue to serve undetected in his San Ramon Iws agroup mind value of possessed by group minds, they have
pre-Comaghaz infection position, as 16. Themaximumdistanceoverwhich access to certain powers which allow
his attributes have changed so radi· the leader can maintain control of a them to better carry out the wishes of
cally. host is the measure of tlwt value, Sarila. Useofthesepowersdoescreate
which equals 1500 meters on the Torg a contradiction in realms with Social
Standard Drone (Second Stage) Value Chart. axioms of less than 18.
DEXTERITY 12 Any host in a cell can act as the
Dodge 15, energy weapons 14, fire Leaders have the option of sending initiator of a group mind power, but no
combat 14, maneuver 15, melee hosts outside the range of the group more than one power can be used by a
weapons 14, running 13,stealth 13, mind for special missions, if neces- cell at one time. Some powers have
unarmed combat 15 sary. This can be done in one of three restrictions as to which members of a
STRENGTH 12 ways: the Leader may use the extend cell may invoke them as well as the
TOUGHNESS 12 group mind power, if possible; he may minimum group mind value needed
Climbing 13, lifting 13 send a force of Soldiers and Drones to attempt them.
PERCEPTION 7 out, providing they have no morethan To use a group mind power, the
Find 9, trick 8 one major objective; or he may send a initiator generates a total using the
MIND 7 party of Drones out for a limited pe- group mind value of the cell as the
Test 9, willpower 8 riod of time, providing they are given base number against the difficulty
CHARISMA 7 very specific orders. number of the power. U the initiator is
Persuasion 9, taunt 8 To deal with the latter two options Possibility-rated, he may spend a Pos-
SPIRIT 8 <extend group mind is explained be- sibility on the roll.
Intimidation 11 low), a mini-eellied by a Soldier can
Additional Skills: fOUT at +1 adds function outside of the range of the
Possibility Potential: some (75) Leader for an unlimited amount of The Powers
time. They must, however, have their
goal outlined prior to their departure, The group mind powers are pre-
Second-Stage Drone and it must be a straightforward one, sented in the following manner:
DEXTERITY +3
i.e., "Capture the town." They cannot
STRENGTH +3 Sentinel
be given more than one goal per mis-
TOUGHNESS +3
sion.
PERCEPTION -2 Initiator. Leader or Soldier
In such a case, the mini-eell will
MIND -2 Group Mind Value: 10
operate using its own group mind
CHARISMA-2 Difficulty: 5
value. Once outside of the Leader's
SPIRIT +/- 0 Duration: concentration
range, the overall group mind valueof
the parent cell must be reduced based Effed: 10
on the number of hosts who accompa~ Bonus Number to: Perception, find
Third·Stage Drone
DEXTERITY +4 nied the Soldier. or evidence analysis
STRENGTH +4 When on their own, Drones cannot Description: allows Leaders and
TOUGHNESS +4 Soldiers to observe through their un~
continue to function outside of the
PERCEPTION -3 range of the Leader for more than 24 derlings
MIND-3 hours. When beyond the control of a
CHARISMA-3 Leader or a Soldier, they do not have Initiator. This is the member of the
SPIRIT +3· access togroupmind powers, and their group mind who may initiate the
·Applies to intimidation skill only. instructions must be simple and dearly power.
All other Spirit-based skills remain explained. If the Drones should be Group Mind Value: The minimum
unchanged. away for more than one day, they will group mind value required to attempt
become confused and be uncertain of the use of this power. Group mind
the direction they must travel to rejoin cells which don't have an adequate
Group Mind Range their cell. Often, they will link up with value may not invoke this power.
another cell in their new area. Difficulty. The difficulty number
The range of a group mind cell gov- As with Soldier~Drone parties, their the initiator of a power must beat with
erns the maximum distance a host can departure from the parent cell's ra~ her cell's group mind value in order to
travel from his Leader while still en- dius of effect deprives that cell of a use the power.
joying thebenefits ofthe Leader's guid- Effect: The value used to determine
portion of its overall group mind value.
ance and participation in the cell. The game effects of the power.

---:u 22==----------/l'l
 Chapter Two

Bonus Number to: The value to Description: sendsan alarm signal Bonus Number to: effect
which the bonus number is added. from a Drone to the nearest Soldier Description.: extends the range of
Drsaiption.: A brief description of the Group Mind·
the effect of the power. U instructed to use this power in the
AU group mind powers take one event of certain explained contingen- The result points of this power are
round to perform, during which time cies, a Dronecan alert a Soldier if those read on the Power Push Table, with
the initiator can take no other action. contingencies come to pass. The con- the value of the push added to the
tingencies must be very carefully ex· cell's group mind range. This ex·
Range plained to the Drone, or the alarm will panded range is in effect for all powers
not be triggered. for the duration of the power.
The maximum range of a group Example: A Soldier places Drones Example: Santor. the l...ellder of a
mind powerisequal to therangeofthe as guards on the perimeter of an group mind cell near Cuzco. wishes
cell Leader's control (see "Group Mind enazmpment. The mini-cell hils been loexlend therangeo[hiscell's power.
Range" above). pursued by PeruvUJn soldiers, and The current group mind lJQlue of the
1M Soldier instructs 1M Drones to cell is 21, and the current range of
Power Descriptions send an aIDnn ifomshould be sighted.
Whik 1M Drones will still react
thei,,,..,.. ~ 151cilomdm (15.000
meters).
with hostile action to any intruders Santor generates a bonus 0/ +10
Alarm in tM azmp. the lliorm will be sent on his roll,[ora sucussful total 0/31
only ifPeruvilln soldiers aresighted. and four result points. Read on the
Initiator: Drone Puwer Push Table,four result points
Group Mind Value: 15 Extend Group Mind provide a push of +2.
Difficulty: 4 This meJws +2 is added to the
Duration: perfonnance Initiator: Leader cummt range of the cell's power for
Effect: 0 Group Mind Value: 21 a new range of 23 (21+2 = 23). On
Bonus Number to: na Difficulty: 27 the Torg Value Chllrt, 23 is equal 10
Du.ration: 18 (1 hour) a measure of 4OJ1OO meters, or 40
Effect 25 kilometers.

1~--------23-'·
Torg: SpKe God.

Psychic Jammer Report Sentinel

Initiator. Leader or Soldier Initiator. Soldier or Drone Initiator: Leader or Soldier
Group Mind Value: 17 Group Mind Value: 14 Group Mind Value: 10
Difficultr- 12 Dilficultr- 8 Dilficultr- 5
Duration: performance Duration: 5 (to seconds) Duration: concentration
Effect 2Q Effect 0 Effect 10
Bonus Number 10: effect Bonus Number to: duration Bonus Number to: effect
Descriplion: projects a psionic Description: allows Soldiers and Description: allows Leaders and
dampening field around lheceU mem- Drones report to Iheir superiors Soldiers to observe through Iheir un-
be.. d...lings
When communication between the
Psychic jammer is used to protect ranks is needed, this power is used. A Leader or a Soldier can perceive
cell members from psionic attack. Drones may use it, if previously in- through the senses of an underling by
When initiated, it creates a psionic structed, to communicate with Sol- usinglhispower. Leaderscanobserve
dampening field in a three meter ra- diers, and Soldiers can communicate through theirSoldier'sorlheir Drone's
dius around the cell members. with other Soldiers within the cell or senses, while Soldiers can do so only
Compare the effect value of the psy- wilh Ihe Leader. It is, once initiated, with Drones. In any case, all partici-
chic jammer to the psionic manipulation two-way communication that lasts as pants of this power must belong to the
value of the character attempting to long as the superior wishes it to be or same group mind cell.
use mental powers within the radius. until the duration lapses (whichever is The initiator of this power must
Read the result on Ihe Power Push shorter). concentrate (doing nothing but simple
Table. Add the final result points to actions) while making use of it. There
the difficulty of using any psionic is no limit to Ihe number of underlings
power within Ihe radius of the jam- an initiator can affect wilh this power,
m.... but the difficulty number is adjusted
using the One-On-Many chart.
The ability to perceive through the
underling's senses is limited by the
effect value. U Ihe initiator's Perap--
lion, find, or mdrna arudysis is higher
Ihan the effect value, Ihen it is limited
to the lesser skill value when such
totals are required.

-.-.- :2=-:--4--------/~
 Chapter Three

Chapter Three

The Realm
II
outh America - a land perhaps could even be of help against
ofcontrasts, wherebeau- the Comaghaz plague.
tiful modem cities exist Needless to say, theAkashans were
side by side with rugged in for a surprise.
and dangerous jungle, The world they reached was one
and skyscrapers tower above the ru- tom by a war between realities. Its
ins of ancient civilizations. people were brutal, often barbaric,
To this exotic and perilous conti- more like a Star Sphere client race than
nent come the Akashans and their alien true children of the Akashans. Over-
allies, returning to the people to whom whelming evil in the fonn of Darkness
they once were as gods. They come in Devices and High Lords - the like of
response to the Signal Fire ignited by which these star-travelers had never
Storm Knights, little realizing that they before encountered. - held dominion
are stepping into the crossfire of the over large areas of the planet.
Possibility Wars. It did not take long before the
The Akashans bring with them the Akashans realized they had erred in
secrets of biotechnology and a non· returning. But before a decision could
invasive reality which holds the p0- be made to leave Earth once again, the
tential for Stonn Knight victory in the Coarmembersoftheexpeditionstated.
struggle with the High Lords. But the their case - the development of this
Akashan vessels bear carriers of the world was being interfered with by
Comaghaz plague as well, a threat extradimensional armies, which left
which may destroy them all before the Akashans with the right and the
they canshare their gifts with thedeni- duty to protect Earth's population and
zens of Earth. guide them to a better future.
Rotan Vlka turned. to Sarila, the
highest-ranking Akite among his
The Space Gods party, for a .counterargument - but
shemadenone.Shehadalreadysensed
Return that her Comaghaz could thrive here
as they had in the Star Sphere. And
The first lightships broke through while she did not yet understand this
the clouds above Bolivia and Peru talk of cosmverses, Possibilities, and
shortly after dawn in the final week of realities intermingled. ... she was more
November. At that hour, only a few than willing to learn.
fanners toiling in the foothills of the Now the Akashans extend their in·
Andes were awake to see the liVing fluence along the western coast of
vessels glide through the atmosphere South America, throughout what was
and come to rest beyond the peaks. once the domain of the mcans. Peru,
The first landings occurred at Chile, Argentina and western Bolivia
Machu Picchu, Tiahuanaco, and....le!se have been introduced toa realm where
Titicaca, the Akashans stepping out of men and women are discovering the
their ships to walk the soil their ances~ previously untapped powers of their
tors had last trod five centuries before. minds, biotech is is breaking scientific
Where once they had come as gods, barriers, and people can live without
now they believed they would be the fear of transformation they endure
among equals. A race advanced in other areas.
enough to comprehend and make use As the Akashans look to the abili·
of the Signal Fire was certainly be- ties of the Stonn Knights to help them
yond the need for a pultaak - and

.t
25
Tors: Spll~ Cod•

•• 26
 Chapter Three

defeat the Comaghaz, so too do the in space, they were tunnels to other Device) which caused the schism. but
Knights seek aid against the High realities. Arhes obtained permission it was most likely a combination of the
Lords. As the "SpaceGodsH aredrawn from the High Council to mount an two.
into the fury of the Possibility Wars,so expedition to Earth to discover if civi- Regardless, sometime during the
too are the Storm Knights becoming lizations existed which could benefit 11 th century B.C., the descendants of
an integral part of new conflicts - from Akashan guidance. Arhes and his party began to move
Akashanvs. client race, Akitevs. Coar, After a number ofad ventures while southward. They encountered a num-
and most frightening ofall, Comaghaz navigating thestargate, Arhesand his ber of nomadic tribes in Guatemala
army vs. those who oppose the will of men arrived in theeastem lowlands of and persuaded them to join together
their dark creator. Mexicocirca 1300B.C. Theretheyacted for protection against the increasingly
as pultaaJcs for the growing Olmec more violent Olmecs.
civilization, introducing them to the The people who emerged from this
The Akashans on concept of time-keeping and super· unioncalled. themselves the Maya,and
Earth vising the construction of their vast
temples.
the Akashans remained among them
for over two millennia. In that time,
The Akashans made a number of they guided the Mayans to unprec-
The story of 'Those Who Wait,"
other valuable contributions to Olmec edented achievements in mathemat-
considered by the Coar to be the first
society dUring their time with them, ics, astronomy, the development of
true Akashan martyrs, is the closing
but at some point over the next three chronology and hieroglyphics, art and
chapter in the history of the "Space
centuries, a split formed between the science.
Gods'" first sojourn on Earth.
pultaaksand theircharges.ltmay have [n 1200, the Akashans moved on to
The Akashans had made contact
been that the Akashans tried too hard Peru and Bolivia, leaving a small band
with most of the known Star Sphere
to push the Olmees along a particular behind with the Mayans (these Moni·
races before they turned their eyes
path, orit may have had something to tors would later be slaughtered by the
toward Earth. Discovery by a Monitor
named Arhes of ancient Mohani texts do with clandestine worship among Mayans on the directions oftheir "war
revealed to him the nature of the the Olmecs of a strange and powerful god," the exiled Dairogan Darkness
idol (actually a damaged Darkness Device).
stargates - rather than simply holes

T he Rolan's Reflections
An atrad from tN jounuJl of sealed for centuries. To most: of • After jl1\ untold number of
Rotan Ulb, rtrorded whileon board those on board this vessel, and months, we have reached our
the lightship Ruet:za1: thosewhichfollow, weare simply destination. The shipmaster in-
trnvelingtoanotherga!axywithin forms me there are many crude
• The astrogation crew reports the vast uniVeI5e. satellites in orbit about this
weareonlymomentsawayfrorn • Disaster. One of the astrogators world, and at least one space
entering the stargate. I do not revealed himself to be a station under construction of a
know whether to be heartened Comaghaz host, and has pur- fairly respectable technological
or chilled by this news. This posely led us astray within the level. He believes our presence
world, Earth, has represented stargate. He has since been slain. was detected by them, but they
bitter defeat to our people for No one knows how it long it will did not respond to our message
generations-canwereallyhope tabus to find our way to Earth's of friendship. Perhaps their com-
that seeing the advanced level of cosm now - months or years, munications equipment is
its current civilization will erase pe<haps. flawed.
aU our past sins? Sarila insists this is a sign from I have ordered lightships be
The crew is excited, but doing Apeiros, that we are fools if we sent to the sites where our ances-
their best to hold theirenthus;.srn do not turn back. She is wise, but tors hid the tablets, while others
in check. They would be m more I must heed the words of the will retrieve the golden stakes
anxious if they truly knew what Coar in this matter as well. That from the lnean lands. As for the
they were about to do: pass is the curse of the Rotan. RunZllI, we will land at Machu
through the gap between rosms 1dread the thought that there Picchu toWorm ThoseWho Wait
and v;s;. another reality. Only I. may be other carriers of the virus their patience has at last been
the ~ and the highest Moni- on board the armada, that we rewarded.
torsknowthissecret-therecords may be carrying that scourge to
01 ourdays as pultaaks have been Earth.

27
••
Torg: S~(li! Cod.

The Akashans now applied their of pultaak, all records of the Earth that would flow from the Fire.
energies to the development of the expedition would be sealed, and the But the Possibility Wars intervened,
lneancivilization, with extremely suc- stargate leading to that reality would forcing humans into a knowledge of
cessful results. It was during this pe- be forbidden to aU travelers. To pre- alternate realities and the nature of
riod that they began to send emissar- vent the riskof further contamination, Possibilities before they were truly
ies to other peoples around the globe. the decision was made, reluctantly, to ready for this knowledge. Unsure of
finding most too warlike and close- abandon Those Who Wait. exactly what they could expect to hap-
minded to be willing to accept their Six years after the Akashans de- pen, Storm Knights "heralded the
aid. cided to forsake the Ineans, that em- message of Earth" and unwittingly
In the 14th century, representatives pire began to crumble with the death invited the Akashans to return. In do-
of the Akashans visited the Aztec city of its last great emperor, Huayna ing so, they also began the revival
ofTenochtitian. Although rebuffed by Capac. In 1532, Pizarro and the Span- process of Those Who Wait.
the rulers of that budding empire, their ish arrived, and the end had truly be-
splendid golden raiment gave birth to gun for Inean civilization.
a legend among the people: their god, The Akashans would slumber for The Sleepers Awaken
Quetzacoatl, had come, and would five centuries, until the day a valiant
one day return. band of Storm Knights discovered the The Akashans who have been in
Thus were the seeds of disaster Forever City. Machu Picchu all these years consist
sown. of over 100 Monitors and bioengineers,
Virtually all of whom would be con~
The Signal Fire sidered radical Coar by the present
Those Who Wait Akashans. Their abandonment by the
lnaddition tothesusoni (suspended High Council has long been a CQU5t
In 1519, when Cortes and his Span- animation) chambers and their con- celebre in the Star Sphere, and they are
ish legions arrived, the Aztec leader tents, a number of other remnants of legends to a whole new generation of
Montezuma assumed it was the Akashans' last sojourn here re- Akashans who believe their race has a
Quetzacoatl returning and welcomed main extant. right to guide others.
the invaders with open arms. The The first three of these are the Des- Their revival produced a psychic
Spanish responded by slaughtering tiny Map, the Possibility Chalice and explosion in Peru, as their awakening
the Aztecs and putting the torch to the Signal Fire. During their travels minds began to probe for others of
their civilization. throughout the globe, the Akashans their kind. Latent psionic powers were
When news of this reached the scattered these objects: the map in triggered in a number of people who
Akashans, they realized that they were Tezpur, India; the chalice in an under- were unversed in how to use them,
indirectly responsible for the destruc- sea temple off the coast of Thailand; with the result that many were feUed
tion of the Aztecs. This was sufficient and the Signal Fire in a hidden city on by severe headaches or plagued by
to persuade them that they had erred a Himalayan plateau. (For more de- visionsof Akashansclad in Incangarb.
somehow in their approach to the situ- tails on these three objects, see the Meanwhile, the first to awaken pre-
ation on Earth, and the concept of the Relics of PowtT trilogy). pared the reality of Machu Picchu by
pultaak needed rethinking. While aU threewereeffectivelycon- planting the lone surviving reality tree.
Dispatchi.ng a messenger back to cealed, none was so carefully placed With the arrival of the lightship
the Star Sphere with a request for ad- as to avoid detection as the Signal Fire. armada, Those Who Wait found them-
vice and aid, the Akashans slowly be- Cast in the form of a stone brazier, the selves acclaimed as heroes and forced
gan to withdraw from the affairs of the signalling device was placed in the to the forefront of the Coar movement.
Ineans. When no answer came (the center of place the Akashans dubbed A number of them were also claimed
High Council, now split into Akite "the Forever City." Using biotech, the byComaghazhosts,astheywerecom-
and Coar, was unable to come to a aliens placed an artificial cloud bank pletely ignorant of the existence of the
decisi.on on the matter), the Akashan about the city of such a nature that disease and thus easy prey.
team decided that until the question of only equipment of Ttch 24 or higher Having seen some of the potential
how much interference was too much would be able to discover what it con- of humanity during their earlier ~
was settled, they would cease their cealed. journ, these Akashans are the most
contact with Earth's population. Igniting the Signal Fire would re- optimistic that, with the proper guid-
To do this, they placed themselves quire the useof the Possibility Chalice, ance, humanitycan become the equals
in suspended animation chambers and the Destiny Map was left behind of any race and a valuable ally.
within Machu Picchu. The mechanism as a due to the locations of both ~
wassoprogrammed that the Akashans jects. It was assumed that when man-
could be revived either by their own kind reached so advanced a level that The Golden Stakes
people, or by the lighting of the Signal they would be able to call to the
Fire. Unfortunately, the first Rotan, Akashans, they would have mastered One of the earliest discoveries of
Stith, had ruled in favor of the Akites: the use of possibility energy and know the Akashans was the method by
the Akashans would abandon the role what to do with the outpouring of it which the crystalline structures which

~"2~8--------/~
 Chapter Three

--

29
I.
Torg: Sp~e Gods

sion on Earth the recovery of those

stakes. One lightship put down near
Lake Titicaea and raised a stake from
its depths; Ullca himself led a party of
Monitors to to the Plaza de Armas in
Cuzoo, Peru to reclaim a second one.
The rest have yet to be recovered, and
it is possible that they may have been
unearthed at some point by treasure
hunters who were unaware of their
true nature. Ulka's Monitors and
Sari1a's Comaghaz legiOns are both
diligently searching for the four re-
maining stakes and the secrets they
contain.

Akashan Reality
The ma;or difference between the
Akashan realm on Earth and those of
the six High Lords - and the factor
which could spell a successful end to
the Possibility Wars for the Knights-
is that Akashan reality is non-invasive
and non-destructive.
Put simply, this means that when
Akashan reality is imposed on an area,
it does not spark transformations on
anywhere near the scale that the other
six realms have done. Only on the
borders, where extremely subdued
reality storms exist, is there any great
chance of a transformation occurring.
The only possibility, other than being
caught in a reality storm, which could
result in transformation would be los-
ing to an Akashan during an invoked
reality storm.
In addition, although Akashan axi-
oms are in place and it is possible to
disconnect in the realm (especially
when using magic), a consequence of
the realm's world laws is that all the
world laws of other realms can func-
tion within the borders of this reality.
It is possible for a character to accept
make up gold could be used for the One of the final acts of Those Who the Akashan world laws, and still re-
encoded storage of information. While Wait was to place the complete records tain the use of his own, and use of
on Earth, they often wore golden or- of their expedition, its results, and some outside world laws does not, in most
naments on their persons, which they of the secrets they had both imparted cases, create a contradiction.
used to record their logs. The races and learned from the Mayans and Theonlyexception to this would be
they visited - particularly the Mayans lneans, into a set of golden stakes. They world laws that are in direct opposi-
and the Ineans - soon picked up on then used their telekinetic abilities to tion to Akashan laws, in which case a
the practice of adorning themselves sink the stakes deep into the ground at contradiction check would be required.
with the precious metal, something various spots in South America, to be
E:nmple: Jaqu.es is from the
which attracted the Spanish to their recovered whentheirbrethren returned. CybuprJpacy, bu.t /WI a belia7rr in the
civilizations. Rotan Ulka defined as one of the
Cybnpo"._ H, ";she; to I"'fonn •
first priorities of the Alcashans' mis- miracleassociated with hisfaith, Prot·

---="3~O--------/~
 Chapter Three

tstantism, upon himself. Still under that the reality of that person will de- kilometers apart, so that their radii do
the "'lI~ of the CY""'Papal Uno of termine the reality the tree will impose not overlap.
ant True God, Jaques would nor- on its area. For example, a reality tree
mally face a +2 difficulty modifier to with an Akashan inside it would
attempts to Ust his miracle. project a zone of Akashan reality; a Reality Trees and
H""""", the AJalShon Uno of R.. reality tree with an Ayslish person Possibilities
ligious Compatibilitystates that there inside it would project a zone of noo-
is no sut:h thing as an tnmry mythos, transformational Ayslish reality.
During the period that the tree con-
andfollowm ofall rrligions may per- The effects of a reality tree do not
tains a being, an exchange takes place.
fonn thdr miracles without ptnIllty supercede existing stelae. Therefore, if
The being, be he Storm Knight or Ord,
in the Akashan rtlJlm. Altempting to you were to plant a tree with an
draws possibility energy from the tree
perform the miracle without a modi- Akashan inside it in an Orrorsh stelae
while the tree uses and eventually
fier is acontradiction, and requires a area, you would have an Orrorshanl learns skills from the being which it
check. Akashan mixed zone. The Orrorshan can use to defend itself.
Should Jaques fail the contradic· reality would not disappear until the The process works in this manner.
tion ch«k,hewill disconnect from. the stelae were puned up. Until the stelae an Ayslish mage is planted inside a
CY""'Papacy and be able to perform are removed, the High Lord can con- reality tree, possessing three adds in
the mirade without the difficulty tinue to receive possibility energy from alteration magic. During the period this
modifier. them. person is within it, the tree may use
AsSouth America wasa Core Earth alteration magic to defend itself from
For further information on the use dominant zone, the addition of reality
attack, by adding the mage's three
of world laws in the Akashan realm, trees with Akashans locked inside has
adds to its own base Perception at-
see the lAw of Acceptance in Chapter made the realm an A.kashan/Core tribute.
Four, "Axioms and World Rules." Earth mixed zone. The Law of Accep-
tance makes it impossible for an
A1cashan dominant zone to exist on Example: Alain,an Ayslish wiz4rd,
The Reality Trees Earth - even Akashan hardpoints has bmI pianttd in the reality tr«.
only create mixed zones. Alain has two adds in conjuration
Akashan reality is spread through It takes roughly nine months for a magit, askill hechoosts to shilrt with
the use of reality tretS (keep in mind reality tree to grow to its full height, at the trtf!.
that no Akashan has access to a Dark- which point it imposes its reality on The rtlJlity tree has a bast Pm:eption
ness Device or stelae technology). the area within a radius of 160 kilome- of 12, giving him the conjuration
These artifacts allow the Akashans to ters (a Torg value of 27). The axioms magit skill at 14. Mttn Alain de-
spread their reality without having to and world laws of that reality will p"rts, the. tree will retain its knuwl-
be concerned with maintaining trian- now be in effect. Once it is fully grown, t'd~ of the s!cill and have two adds in
gular patterns or a set distance be-- the person within is expelled by the it.
tween objects, as High Lords do. tree.
The procedure is a simple one: the The character inside the reality tree
Rotan will designate an area as a suit- Secondary Seeds is allowed to choose two of his skills to
able one for the planting of a primary share with it. These must be Percep-
seed (only that office-holder can make Once a primary seed has been tion-, Mind·, or Spirit-based skins. The
that decision in the Akashan realm, planted and growth has begun, sec- character does not lose any of his skills
and the seeds themselves are closely ondary seeds can be sown. These are or skill adds while in the tree, but the
guarded). Once in the ground, a cleric seeds planted on the fringes of the tree will possess the skill with an iden·
must perform the create reality tree radius of an existing reality tree. Al- tical number of adds when the charac-
miracle to imbue it with the Possibili- though the miracle must still be per- ter leaves. This allows the tree to con-
ties it will need to perform its function. formed and a being placed inside the tinue to protect itseU even after the
At this point, the process enters its tree, planting of secondary seeds is symbiotic connection with a human is
most critical stage. For an extremely easier than that of primary seeds. no more.
brief period (normally not more than This is because these seeds are be--
an hour) during the course of the
Reality Tree
ing placed within a pre-existing non- DEXTERITY 0
miracle, the outer surface of the tree invasive reality, which reduces the STRENGTH 0
will become fluid. When this occurs, a difficulty of performing create reality TOUGHNESS 50
living, cognizant and willing being trtf! to 20. PERCEPTION 12
must enter the tree by passing through Reality tree seeds do not need to be Trick (35)
its surface. Once inside, he will be-- placed in any particular geometric MlNDU
come a part of the plant, sustained by pattern, nor is there any set distance Test (35), willpower 20
it until it is fully grown.. that must be maintained between CHARISMA.
The reason the merging of a living them. However, Akashans usually Charm (40), persuasion (40), taunt
being with the tree is so important is make an effort to keep the seeds 320 (40)

8--------31- 10
 •
" '

,r

,,· ..
-l
, .

·,

•
•

..,
•
".

· ,,
,' SPACE GODS
REALM
ATLANTIC OCEAN

• REALITY TREES

...,.... L.._...J1 MIXED

~....
.:
,",
""
;.

~ ..
•• 32 I~,
 Chapter Three

SPIRIT 25 among the various extant civilizations root and begun to grow in an area
Intimidation (30), reality 40 as signs that they had visited and extending from Piura, Peru along the
Addition<t.l Skills; two, vary de- would one day return. Thetablets bear western coast to Santa Cruz, Argen-
pending on being within an engraving of men in a crude vessel tina. As each day goes by, more of the
Possibilities: 40 reaching their hands down to men interior of the realm is claimed by
Natur<t.l Tools: ability to impose standing on the surface of a world. Akashan reality, while it slowly
non-destructive reality akin to that of In the months since the Signal Fire spreads outward as well into Bolivia
being it is linked to during growth was lit, a number of these tablets were and western Brazil.
process. Maximum radius of effect per unearthed and many more remain hid- An interesting side effect of the
tree, 27 060 kilometers). den. These stones act as hardpoints of Akashan arrival has been the reactiva-
Akashan reality, with radii of effect of tion of the Nazca energy lines. Long a
2 (the area within 2.5 meters of the topic for speculation by New Agers,
The End of the War? tablet is overlaid with Akashan axi- these lines crisscross the western half
oms, creating mixed zones). of South America.
The non-destructive reality technol- 3327 and Malraux are bothawareof In addition, gene spores brought
ogy of the Akashans represents major the existence of these tablets from a for purposes of experimentation were
progress in the war against the High previous experience with one in En- released by Coar scientists shortly af-
Lords, as it may solve one of the great- gland. Having made the connection ter the armada landed, affecting an
est problems the Storm Knights face: between them and the Alcashans, they untold number of South American
how to successfully reclaim an area are certain to be searching for more. floraand fauna and transforming them
without immolating hundreds of the into bizarre versions of their former
transformed? selves. Ulka has ordered a halt to this
Prior to the Akashans' arrival, the The Akashan practice, but it continues to bedone by
only way to do this was to perform a the more unscrupulous bioengineers.
great deed about which tales could be Realm Throughout these lands, the people
spread, thus infusing the transformed are discovering the wonders that the
with new hope and Possibilities. When The Akashan landings on Earth Akashans have brought with them, as
stelae would then be removed, those raised fears of another invasion across well as encountering the insid ious evil
refilled with energy would be safe the planet, fears which were immedi- of the Comaghaz plague. Concerned'
from the consequences of twin trans- atelyexploited by both theCyberpope and frightened governments are un-
fonnations. and the Kanawa Corporation. The sure of whether to treat these aliens as
Reality trees provide a more reli- news media reported known landing saviors or invaders, and agents of the
able answer to the problem. For ex- sites in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ar- High Lords are flooding into South
ample, reality trees could be planted gentina, as well as sightings (and p0s- America to gather information for their
on the island of Hokkaido in japan sible landings) near Ceme Abbas, En· masters.
with ippon Tech characters within gland; Nepal; Thailand; Beijing,China;
them. When enough area wascovered Crete; and Morocco.
by what would now be non-destruc- In the coming days, when no new Peru
live Nippon reality, stelae could be army of destruction swept across any
ripped up. All of those on Hokkaido of those areas, media attention turned Site of the largest mass landing of
who had transformed to Nippon dur- back to the events in the Possibility Akashan vessels, Peru has been shaken
ing 3327's invasion would be safe, as Wars. But with confusing communi- to its foundations by the coming of the
they would still be living within a cations coming from field agents in "Space Gods." Lightships came down
Nippon reality. But 3327's Darkness South America, the Delphi Council near Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Piura, and
Device would no longer be receiving immediately dispatched operatives to Lima, in the latter case appearing dur·
poss;bility """'!!Y. that continent to investigate the situa· ing the "Our Lord of Mirades" festival
In this manner, the High Lords can tion. in that city. The sight of the solar-
eventually be defeated, but the alter- As their various scouting parties powered spacecraft sparked a panic
nate realities they brought with them returned, the Akashans began to col- among the thousands in the streets,
can remain. This, of course, depends late data about Earth and heard the and over 200 people died in the starn·
on the Akashans' willingness to share first shocking tales about bridges into pede that followed.
the technology, which many wish to space, bloody battles between men and Tourists at Machu Picchu were
beronditional upon receiving aid from monsters, and entire realities twisted startled toseea line of men and women
Storm Knights against theComaghaz. upon themselves. Well aware of the clad in Incan garb emerging from the
potential danger his people faced in Main Temple to greet the lightships.
this situation, Rotan Ulka immediately The nation's leading newspaper, £1
The Tablets of Power ordered the planting of primary real- Comercw, reported that invaderssport-
ity tree seeds around the perimeter of ing strange weapons had surrounded
During their previous visit to Earth, the South American landing sites. Peru's largest cities and were demand-
the Akashans scattered stone tablets The living hardpoints have taken ing surrender (an untruth, of course,

I.
33
To18: Space God.

sparked by reports from hysterical vil- nitive action could be taken by 3327, Earth archaeologists to many startling
lagers). the Akashans landed.) finds. There have been reports of more
The Akashans emerged from their Ulka immediately ordered reality secretive expeditions by the Akashans
vessels speaking Quechua, the lan- tree seeds be planted in and around to major archaeological sites such as
guage of the lncans which is still s~ the landing sites (a decision he kept Cajamarquilla and Pachacamac,some-
ken by many Peruvian Indians. Trans- from the Peruvian government, be- thing which has been denied by repre-
lators reported that the newcomers lieving their ignorance of, and preju- sentatives of the Monitors.
were asking about a Signal Fire and dice against, extraterrestrials, might Thus far, Comaghaz infection in
asking for assistance regarding a lead to bloodshed). This order was Peru is relatively rare, with most of the
plague. transmitted throughout the new problems focused on the Arequipa area
The Peruvian government re- Akashan realm, and implemented at in the southern section of the country.
sponded by ordering the Akashans once. AlthoughtheAkashansareconcemed.,
quarantined, and sendingout the army With a general truce in effect, the the Peruvian government is not yet
to accomplish this. Tensions ran high Akashans and the Peruvians began to willing to commit resources for what
between the soldiers and those Coar work together. Alreadyconsidered the they see as simply mass hysteria.
members of the Akashan landing par· "major gene pool of the world," Peru
ties, until Rotan Dlka ordered that his offered a vast bounty of research ma-
people comply until the situation was terial for Akashan bioengineers. As The Nazca Lines
fully understood. the Space Gods' reality has spread
Dlka found himself welcomed by throughout the country, the jungles The Nazca plateau is one of the
the president of Peru, a Japanese na- have grown lush again and the gov· most famous mystical sites in South
tive. It was from him, among others, emment has sponsored institutes to America. Covering 500 square kilo-
that the Akashans learned of the Pos- study the psionic abilities now being meters in Peru, midway between the
sibility Wars and the existence of the evidenced by many in the realm. Andes and the sea, the plateau is cov·
six realms(Nipponagents had recently In addition, the Akashans' exten- ered with beautiful lines depicting
attempted to buy the Peruvian gov- sive knowledge of the andent dviliza- humming birds with wingspans of
ernment,and been rejected. Beforepu- tions that thrived in Peru has led Core over 60 meters, enormous spiders. a

--

In] Space Gods: Diagram 1 ,

I----I'l-f------- f6l Nazca,L,ine / / '
I-----+If-~--------- This drawing of a Ricinulei spider is 45 meters long and is located ~
I- in the Nazca region of Peru. II was cre..ted under the !
supervision of the Space Gods.

- _ .3=-:-4 ---------8
fox, a killer whale, a monkey and other
animal forms. Alongside them are
more than 100 energy spirals; star-
shaped dusters of lines; elegant, ta·
pering triangles and over 13,000
straight lines.
There are numerous theories about
exactly what the lines represent, but
the truth is that they were constructed
under the supervision ofthe Alcashans
to be used as beacons of some sort for
approaching lightships. These linesa..
drawn atop naturally existing lines of
force in the Earth.
During the Incan era, roads were
constructed over the energy lines as
well. Extending for over 40,000 kilo-
meters and crossing numerous deep
chasms using suspension bridges, the
roads feature impressive stonework
and extensive paved sections. They
stretch from Quito, Ecuador all the
way to Santiago, Chile.
Since the arrival of the Alcashans,
those roads contained within the
realm's borders have begun to pulsate
with energy. The reason for this is as
yet unknown, but it may beconnected
with the surges in possibility energy
across the planet caused by the High
Lords' invasions.
asa base, while making their homes in Lima
the Incans' sacred valley, Urubamba.
Their choiceofCuzro as a seat of power Peru's capital has been less than
Cuzco was originally considered a snub by hospitable to the Akashans and their
the Peruvian government, but Ulka client races, and tensions between the
The former capital of the Incan pointed. out the violence which has groups have ~rupted more than once
empire, Cuzco is now the home of the erupted between the client races and into violence.
Akashan leaders. Unchanged in many the Akashans in Lima as the reasons Lima did not even exist when last
respects from the days of the Incans, for the choice. the Akashans visited Earth, and hav·
Cuzco and its people have welcomed The native Indian population, ing been planned and designed. by the
the Akashans with far more enthusi· though realizing that the Akashans Spanish, it was guaranteed to offend
asm than has been evidenced else- are not gods, do believe that they are the aliens' sense of balance.
where in the realm. the ones responsible for much of the FollOWing the riots that accompa-
Lying in a small and protected. val· glory and prosperity of their ances- nied their arrival, the Akashans were
ley 3.5 kilometers above sea level, tors. They have indicated a willing· confined to the area south of Avenue
Cuzco is considered by the Monitors ness to give the Akashans the benefit Bolivia while the government met to
to be defensible against assault by of the doubt, something those resi- decide how to handJe the situation.
ComagllazoranniesoftheHighLords. dents descended. from the Europeans Unfortunately, the Peruvian military
The Monitors have transformed the seem less inclined to do. was not up to the task of confining the
rebuilt Sacsayhuaman Fortress into powerful visitors, and a number of the
their military headquarters, and its Coar·aligned Akashans slipped into
store of biotech weapons is well-
Machu Picchu the city with the aim of "restoring the
guarded. There are also rumors that balance. Sightingsof them and mem.
H
One of the most famous of lncan bers of the client races (particularly
reality treeseeds are kept here, but it is
citadels, Machu Pichhu was the rest· Lorbaats) in what were supposed to
more likely that they are moved peri-
ing place of Those Who Wait and is be secure areas of the city led to more
OOically from one location to another
now a key Akashan base. riots, charges that thegovemmentwas
for safekeeping.
For further information on this area, in league with the alien invaders, and
Rotan Ulka and those High Council H
see Chapter Eight '1...ocations. an attempted. coup.
members who accompanied him to
Earth are using the Temple of the Sun Realizing that the situation was

1~----------3S-'·
Torg: Sp<IC~ Codl

RIORIMAC

•• 36
 Chapler Three

unlikely to improve, Ulka ordered his More seriously, Lorbaat warriors well. Theyrangefromveteran Knights
people out of the city proper while he have been reported in the ranks of the with good reasons to hate Malraux,
and Sarila met with Peruvian officials. Red Knights, South America's most Mobius, et. a1. to violent revolutionar-
Not everyone heeded this offer, and fanatical and violent terrorist group. It ies with their own grudges to settle.
L~a is now home to the dregs of the is ~igh1r doubtful the Lorbaat sympa-
client races, radical Coar activists, and thIZe WIth the group's cause - more
Comaghaz carriers who have started likely, they were simply bored and Standard Catequil Member
spreading the disease in the slums of DEXTERITY 9
wanted a chance to kill someone or
the city. Periodically, Monitors are dis· Dodge 10, biotech weapons 10, fire
something.
patched from bases outside the city to combat 12, melee weapons to, mis-
capture and discipline StarSphere resi· sile weapons 10, unanned combat
dents. The Human Factor 11
STRENGTHS
The area near Jiron Zepita has be-.
come a black market for Akashan . The Human Factor is a representa- TOUGHNESSS
equipment, much of it older, non-or- tlYe body made up of residents of the PERCEPTION S
gank gear that had been given to cli- countries touched by the realm. This Find 9, first aid 9, language
ent races, although some biotech gear group meets regularly with the Rotan (Quechua) 9, trick 9
has been confiscated. This entire sec- and the High Council to discuss prob- MINDS
tion of the city has grown increasingly lems in the realm and how best they Test 9, willpower 9
more violent as the cultures of the might be addressed. CHARISMA 7
aliens and the Peruvians have clashed, At present, Brazil and Argentina Persuasion 8, taunt 8
and no one with any sense wanders are not represented on the Human SPIRIT S
here after dark, even when armed and Factor. The fonner nation has never Intimidation 9
with friends. In the most recent inci- sent anyone to negotiate with the Additional Skills: three at +1 adds
dent, three police officers were tom to Akashans, and the latter's agent was Possibility Potential: some (25)
pieces by a pack of Gudasko, angered revealed to be infected with the Psionic Potential: some (30)
that they had been refused food by a Comaghaz virus and slain. Equipment: varies
street vendor. Much like the Kyat in the Star
Sphere, the Human Factor does not Colombia
have any actual power, but was cre-
ated as a courtesy to the natives of
Although not a part of the Akashan
Earth. Rotan Ulka has paid closeatten·
K ey to Map of Lima tion to many of the points they have
brought up, however, wishing wher-
realm as yet, one of Columbia's major
industries-drugs- has been threat-
1 • US Embassy ened by the coming of the Akashans.
ever possible to smooth relations be-.
2• National Museum of Art Various microorganisms bio-
tween Akashans and humans.
3• Plaza Grau engineered by the Akashans serveboth
The Human Factor is not a united,
to cleanse the human system of addic-
4• Museum of Italian Art homogeneous group, but a coalition
tive substances and provide a non-
5• Palacio de Justicia made up of members of various politi-
physically addictive sensation some-
6• Civic Center cal parties and economic classes. These
what resembling a ''high.'' Inexpen-
7• San Marcos Universidad range from wealthy Chilean landown-
sive and safe, this Akashan method
8• Akashan Black Marketplace ersand dirt-poor Bolivian peasants, as
has forced drug dealers largely out of
well as those native South American
9• Gudasko Ghetto the market in Peru and western B0-
Storm Knights who have had dealings
10· Municipal Theatre with the High Lords. livia, and put a dent in the incomes of
11 • Palacio de Gobierno the Medellin cartels.
12 • Plaza de Armas Calequil Fearing that the Akashans might
13 • Palacio Municipal export their "miracle cure" to the
The Human Factor has its own en- United States and Europe, the cartels
14· Palacio Arzobispal
forcement arm that has not been offi- have begun an active campaign of
15 • Cathedral
cially recognized by the High Council, harassment against the Akashans in
16 • Congreso Peru and Brazil. Armed. and financed
17 • Cyberpapal Nuncio but which exists nonetheless. Dubbed
"Catequil." after the Incan god ofthun- by Nippon interests, they have had
18 • Kanawa Enterprises some success against Akashan scout-
der and lightning, this organization is
19 • Nile Embass ing parties. The Monitors have yet to
made up of both Storm Knights and
20· Train Station Ords who are dedicated to learning all respond with force, but theCoar mem·
21 • Plaza San Martin they can from the Akashans. They in· hers of the High Council have been
•• Akashan Quarter tend to use that knowledge to strike at advocating a strike against what are
the High Lords, and some plan toover~ obviously the vermin of this society.
throw corrupt local governments as

I~--------··
37
Torg: Sp.(t God.

<
_.J

Standard Drug Smuggler Akashan axioms, but a great deal of Janeiro has branded them as agents of
DEXTERIn'9 attention has been focused on thisarea the Antichrist. The government has
DOOge 10, fire combat 12, maneu- due to the events which immediately appealed to the Delphi Council for
ver 10, melee weapons 10, stealth preceded the aliens' arrival. help, and intelligence operatives have
10, unarmed combat 10 The Brazilian government has, for been sent into the rain forest to gauge
STRENGTH 9 some time, been overseeing the sys- the strength of the Akashans.
TOUGHNESS 8 tematic destruction of the rain forest Expansion into Brazil has been a
PERCEPTION 9 to bolster its struggling lumber indus- topic of debate among High Council
Air vehicles 10, find 10, tracking 10, try, despite protests from other na- members, with the Aka unwilling to
trick 10, water vehicles 10 tions. The lighting of the Signal Fire tamper with a land as yet untouched
MIND 7 roused a remnant of the Akashans' by the High Lords,and theCoarpoint-
Survival 9, test 9 first visit to Earth, the rhadangea plant, ing to the rain forest devastation as
CHARISMA 7 a plant-animal hybrid which reacted proof that the Brazilians have turned
Persuasion 8, taunt 9 to efforts to dear it by strangling the away from Zinatt.
SPIRIT 7 lumberjacks.
Intimidation 9 The Brazilian government sent out
Additional Skills: three at +1 adds a call for Storm Knights, who eventu- Peace Through God
Possibility Potential: some (45) ally proved the rhadangea was not a Party
Psionic Potential: some (65) tool of any of the known High Lords.
Equipment: varies It was in Brazil that Akashans first
The Peace Through God Party is a
encountered Storm Knights, and it was
groupofdisillusionedchurdunenwho
also in this country that the first Storm
Brazil Knight was infected by theComaghaz
have seen many of the residents of
Peru and Bolivia tum away from Ca·
virus.
Only a relatively small section of tholicism and embrace the faith of the
Brazil officially regards the
the Amazon rain forest in western Bra- Akashans. The members of this group
Akashans as a threat to South America,
hope to reaffirm their own beliefs by

n
zil has fallen under the inf1uenceof the and the CyberpapaJ nuncio in Rio de
banding together to spread their reli-

--·"":":38------------
 Chapter Three

gion once again. Bolivia that people can only be shepherded so

Unfortunately for the churchmen, far, so fast. They are, however, work-
the Peace Through God Party is acto· Once considered one of South ing to cut the number of waste prod·
ally a recruiting ground for the America'smost stable nations, Bolivia udS created by the process. AU of this
Cyberpapacy. The disillusioned cler· has been thrown intoa state of turmoil has led to an upsurge in the economy
ics are taken to secret bases, indoctri· by the coming of the Akashans. The of western Bolivia, while the eastern
nated and brainwashed into the landing of lightships at Lake Titicaca half of the country suffers.
Cyberpapal faith (often transforming (and the subsequent, apparently The Akashans have found enthusi-
in the process), and fitted with Faith "magical" raising of a golden stake astic students for tutoring in theuseof
chips and Homers. They are then sent from its bottom), riveted the attention psionics throughout Bolivia, as well as
out to South American villages, both of Bolivians across the country. rich soil and animal We to be used for
inside and outside the Akashan realm, Roughly half of Bolivia's popula· experimentation. Someof the Andean
preaching the glory of Jean Malraux tion is descended from the pre· passes are now a bit more dangerous,
and readying thearea fora Cyberpa pal Columbian Aymara and Quechua cuJ· as Akashan test subjects occasionally
invasion. lures, and have in general been con· wander into the foothills.
These Cyberpapal agents have sidered an underclass, derisively re- The overall situation in Bolivia can
proven to be a nightmare for the ferred toas~mpesinos("peasants")by best bedescribed asconfused. Nippon
Catequil. The Human Factor's enforc· the European upper class. As the instigators spread wild tales of
ers are under strict orders to prevent Akashan realm spread across the west- Akashan atrocities and offer military
High Lord incursions into South ern half of the nation, with some trans- aid to the Bolivian government; Storm
America, but they are unsure of how formations occurring near Tarija and Knights are employed on both sides of
to deal with what seem to be innocent Monteagudo, the poorer classes be- the realm border as guards, spies, and
missionaries. Many of them are tom gan to look to the visitors as saviors. agents provocateurs; and Comaghazcar-
between their loyalty to their land and Some paint them as agents sent to riers have presented themselves as
the Factor and their religious beliefs. restore the ancient glories of the native rebels against the"Akashan tyranny"
Taking advantage of the doubt and Indians, othersas military leaders who who are wiUing to fight alongside B0-
indecision of theCatequil, the Peaceof will reclaim the tenitory Bolivia has livian troops in any conflict.
God members havebeen winning con· lost to its neighbors over the years.
verts to the Cyberpapacy throughout There is no way of telling which
South America,something which may view the Bolivian government holds, Sons of the Soil
prove a threat to the Akashans in the but they obViously regard the
future. Akashans as a threat. The capital has The "Sons of the Soil" organization
been moved to Santa Cruz, and the consists mainly of Bolivian landown·
military now guards the border of the ers and. industrialists who lost much
Standard Peace of God Member of their ea>nomic and political power
DEXTERITY 7 realm. Efforts have even been made to
hack down the reality trees, with the when the Akashans moved into the
Dodge 8, fire combat 8, stealth 8, western half of the country. As news
unarmed combat 8 result a loss of We among the soldiers
which the Akashans view as regret· of the realm's wonders has spread,
STRENGTH 7 many compesinos have been deserting
TOUGHNESS 7 table.
In the area dominated by Akashan Core Earth Bolivia for the Akashan
PERCEPTION 9 realm, forcing factories and mines to
Evidence analysis 10, language axioms, the population is voluntarily
restoring many of the old monuments close and farms to lie abandoned.
(Quechua) 10, trick 11 In the media (which they exert a
MIND 8 of the Quechua civilization. Some ha ve
requested that the Akashans based at significant amount of control over),
Test 10, willpower 10 the Sons of the Soil are represented as
CHARISMA 8 Lake Titicaca assume control of the
nation, something the Akite faction "freedom fighters" who wish to strike
Charm 9, persuasion 10, taunt 9 back at all invaders (including the
SPIRIT 10 vetoed immediately. The Coar
Akashans have agreed not to take hos- Akashans) in the name of Bolivian
FaHh (Cybe"",pacy) 13, focus 11, independence. They accuse the
intimidation 11 tile action against the Bolivian army
unless they are attacked, although Akashans and their "alien pets" of
Additional SkiUs: three at +1 adds destroying the economy of South
Possi.bility Potential: some (21) many membersoftheclient races have
ventured across the border to loot (of- American and of planning to usurp
Cyberware: chipholder 1, Faith governmental power.
chip, Homer ten disconnecting in the process).
The Akashans have not only intro- In reality, however, these "Sons"
Equipment: 9mm Beretta, damage have used their influence in the Boliv·
value 15, ammo 9, range 3-10/25/40 duced theirnew followers to advanced
technology, but have provided them ian government to effectively legalize
with accurate methods of detecting slavery. They have been awarded the
the presence ofoil in the ground. While right to track down and capture those
the Akashans do not approve of the who have left their jobs to seek their
use of fossil fuels, they understand fortunes in the new realm of Akasha.

I.
39
TOrg: Spue Gods

The Sons employ groupsof mercenar- likely to react negatively if they do SADT is working to take over the fi-
ies to raid the borden; of the Akashan find out. nancial institutions of Chile, Peru, Ec-
realm, searching for "deserten;" and The Alcashans have so far treaded uador and Brazil in preparation for a
"communists" much like slavers cen- softly in Chile, voicing concern only planned Nippon invasion.
turies ago prowled the African coasts about its economic reliance on for-
in search of victims. A few of these estry, something the Akashans see as
raiders have attempted to fell reality environmentally damaging. They have Argentina
trees, with unfortunate consequences encouraged other areas of the Chilean
for themselves. economy, providing biotech devices This country has been the scene of
The "Sons of the Soil" also control which weed out impurities in nitrates disaster since the arrival of the
paramilitary forces equipped with produced for fertilizer. Akashans, primarily because the
Core Earth weapons and small quan- The sole source of friction has been lightships which landed near La Rioja,
tities of Nippon Tech equipment. between the Monitors and the Chilean Neuquen, and Esquel carried a dis-
While Nippon, at present. only oper- military, who have ~n pointing to proportionately large number of
ates within their organization asa sup- the "Iax attitude" of the government Comaghaz hosts. The disease spread
plier, there are rumors that 3327 has as an excuse to oust the democratic rapidly throughout Argentina, inspir·
plans to use the Sons' activities for his leaders and reinstall a military dicta· ing Sarila to order her cells to take
own ends. torship. The Monitors have been au- bolder steps there than elsewhere in
thorized by the High Council to take the realm.
Standard "Sons of the Soil'" steps to prevent this from happening. Comaghaz cells have defeated
Member To a certain extent, the Akashans Argentinean army units in San Luis
DEXTERITY 8 let their guard down in Chile once and Cordoba, and the Argentinean
Dodge9, firecombat9, maneuver9, they were accepted, something which government has applied to Paraguay
stealth 10, unarmed combat 9 allowed the Comaghaz to make sig· seeking asylum. Akashan efforts to
STRENGTH 1 nificant inroads in the south, with cells aid in the fight against the Comaghaz
TOUGHNESS 8 now in virtual control of Puerto have been largely rejected, as all the
PERCEPTION 8 Natales. Chile is now rife with intrigue, visitors are now regarded as suspi-
Find 9, language 9, trick 10 as agents of other realms can move cious by the citizenry. This has left the
MIND9 freely among the Akashans and the fight to Stonn Knights, whose actions~
Test 11, willpower 11 client races here. One of the more in- have managed to fend off the cells
CHARISMA 9 teresting events was the capture of an from taking Buenos Aires.
Chann 11, persuasion 1L taunt 10 elf attempting to sabotage an Akashan The High Council, meeting in Peru,
SPIRIT 1 psionics institute in Vallemar. His has offered to dispatch Monitors to
Intimidation 10 motives were unknown. join the fight, and some are currently
Addition.d Skills: three at +1 adds working their way down through the
Possibility Potential: some (25) mountains in western Bolivia. There
The South American aresome fears that, if lheseunits should
be infected during the battles, they
Chile Development Trust would spread the disease into Peru,
Along with Peru, Chile has been the
(SADT) and it is possible they may be forced to
remain in Argentina under quaran-
most successful location for the tine.
Akashans thus far. Already accus- SADT is a front for the Kanawa
Corporation. It was set up at the be- Anti-Akashan, and indeed anti-for-
tomed to dealing with natives of other
ginning ofthe Possibility Wars in Chile, ~igner,se~timent is running very high
realities (Chile does a brisk business m Argentina at present. Ayslish mages
trading precious metals to Ayslish for ostensibly to provide aid and invest-
ment toSouth Americangovemments. havebeenstoned todeathin thestreets,
magical texts), the Chileans did not Nile heroes beaten and driven from
react with blind fear to the Akashans' It has since provided large cash sums
to the Peruvian, Bolivian and the country. It is an extremely danger·
landing. ous place to be a Storm Knight these
Chile does, however, have the most Ecuadoran governments, along with
weapons and equipment in exchange days, but it is perhaps where they are
to lose of any of the countries visited most needed.
by the Akashans, as they havea strong, for raw materials and "consider-
stable government and economy. ations." The SAOT has recently been
allowed to establish "offices" and "re-
Hedging their bets, the Chilean gov·
ernment is negotiating with both the search establishments" in areas within Languages
Akashans and representatives of the the realm of Akasha.
SADTmembers havesupplied vari- . The three predominant languages
Comaghaz cells active in the southern
ous countries with weapons and equip- to South America are Spanish,
section of the country. The Akashans
ment' and its advisers have directed Portugese and English, with a large
are not aware of the government's
the Argentinean defense against the segment of the population speaking
dealings with the Comaghaz, and are various Indian dialects. The Akashans
Comaghaz. In secret, however, the

•• 40
 Chapter l"hreoe

speak their own language (Akasha) ticularlyoil, lumber,and minerals,and On the positive side, Akashan bi~
among themselves, and primarily tourism. Tourism has, to a great ex- technology may lead to great strides
Quechua when speaking with Earth tent, been curtailed by the Possibility in standard technology and give these
people. But their tongues miracle has Wars, but the local populations are natio:tS a chance to compete with other
allowed them to learn a number of swelling with refugees from the United industrialized nations, particularly
languages since arriving, and they are States, Europe and Africa. with the US largely out of the world
willing to communicate in virtually All of this has had a devastating economic market. The Akashans are
any language. effect on many nations, as markets likely to keep a dose eye on just how
Thedient races, though versed in at disappear and the ranks of the poor industrialized these countries become,
least pidgin Akasha, prefer to speak grow larger every day. Some coun- however, in order to maintain the bal-
their own languages. Some, like the tries, like Chile, have weathered the ance with nature.
Lorbaat, have difficulty forming hu- storm better than others, and are now
man speech, while others, like the receiving aid from the Akashans. Oth-
Gudasko, are simply stubborn. The ers, like Brazil, are having more seri-
latter, in particular, often react angrily
when people make no effort to speak
ous problems, and are hostile to ef-
forts by the Akashans to halt their C urrency
their dialect, and have been known to lumber business in the Amazon rain Exchange Chart
attack for no better reason than that. forest. Name Currency Value
The other major industry on the Akasha dora .02 = $1
continent is drugs and drug smug-
Money and gling, and as stated above, the
Argentina austral
Bolivia bolivaro
1800 = $1
330 = $1
Akashans' presence has also had a
Economy damaging effect on that business. This
Brazil
Chile
cruzndo novo
peso
50= $1
300 = $1
has drawn a great deal of hostile atten- Peru inti
The South American economies 100 = $1
tion fromgovemmentsand drug Icing-
tend to revolve around two things: the pins alike, and can be expected to gar-
exploitation of natural resources, par- ner more in the future.

41
I.
TOrg: Spice Cod.

Coar-aligned Akashans and mem- tried involves introdUcing a microor- them. This was in part a tribute to
bers of the client races tend to rely on ganism into the brain of an offender, those civilizations which had gone
theciara asa unit ofcurrency on Earth. which would then erase all negative before, and which, in many ways, they
They tend not to be overly concerned tendencies. This has met with mixed regarded assaner than theone in w hich
with exchange rates, sometimes giv- success - in some people, it erases they now found themselves.
ing 10 tiaras where one would do, positive tendencies, making them The Akashans wear large quanti-
depending on their mood. Garas have worse than before; in others, it erases ties of gold and other precious metals
been valued at 50 US dollars by Core all tendencies, making them little bet- upon their persons, usually for rea-
Earth banking concerns. ter than vegetables. It has also proven sons more practical than mere orna-
Akites, on the other hand, are try- to be useless against Comaghaz-in- mentation. This does, however, make
ing very hard to learn about the exist- fected minds. them targets for those in this world
ing cultures and are adopting the cur- Comaghaz hosts are either cured (if who covet wealth.
rency of the country they are in. Coun- that is possible) or destroyed to help
tries, currencies and their value are halt the spread of the disease.
listed in the "Currency Exchange Client race and human criminals The Comaghaz on
Chart:' are turned over to their own people
The Akashans have beensomewhat for judgment, an Akite policy which Earth
puzzled by the human reaction to the has backfired at times because what
sight of gold. Although the Akashans an Akashan considers a crime and With the exception of Argentina,
value this substance for its informa- what a Lorbaat considers a crime are the spread of the Comaghaz in the
tion storage capacities, they do not use two very different things. realm has been quiet and gone gener-
it as a monetary standard as many Justice takes many forms among ally unnoticed by the general popula-
Core Earth countries do. The Akashans the Star Sphere races, with the tion. In a world ravaged by AIDS,
do not see anything strange about Akashans relying on trial by Zinatt cancer, and many other terminal dis-
maintaining a hoard of gold, nor do judge, the lorbaat and the Cudasko eases, an illness that seems to produce
they understand why some people- favoring trial by combat, and the no physical symptoms does not seem
such as Ayslish Storm Knights - Draygaak using a modified jury sys- something to be dreaded.
would be willing to risk life and limb tem. There is an endless variety of In addition, those who have diffi-
to obtain some. other legal processes used in thatcosm, culty grasping the concept of mental
Rolan Ulka has advised his people and many of them are now employed powers are at sea when it comes to the
to keep the amount of gold they p0s- in the realm. idea of group mind cells capable of
sess a secret, since it seems to bring out Chile and some sections of Peru instantaneous telepathic communica-
the worst in some people. But word have seen a decrease in their crime tion. Although professing to trust the
has already leaked out to certain High rate, particularly drug-related crime, veracity of the Akashans, many Core
Lords about the treasure trove the thanks largely to the Akashan pres- Earth government officials believe the
Akashans brought with them toSouth ence. Bolivia has grown worse, as the incidents in Argentina to be nothing
America. poorin the eastern half rob and kill the but standard rebellions, possibly
newly prosperous in the western half sparked by alien instigators.
of the country. Argentina is a disaster Sarila has been busily trying to as-
Law and Justice area, with looters and survivalists run- similate all the new information that
ning amok amidst theComaghaz cells, has flooded her brain since her arrival
Methods of law-enforcement differ Storm Knights, and Argentineanarmy on Earth. She has tried to keep
Widely in the realm, depending on units. The Buenos Aires government Comaghaz efforts in Peru and Bolivia
how much influence the Akashans has set up prison camps to which any- to a minimum, so as not to prompt
wield and how the populace has re- one even remotely suspected of being Rotan Ulka to makea sudden decision
acted to their presence. infected with the Comaghaz virus is to lead the Akashans from the planet.
Non-Comaghaz Akashan offend- sent. Though far from an expert on the Pos-
ers are normally imprisoned in living sibility Wars, she has learned enough
cells, which can absorb the kinetic en- to begin formulating plans to use the
ergy out of a missile in flight so that its Clothing chaos here for her own benefit.
eventual strike produces no harmful
effect. They are also equipped with The Akashans donned garb remi-
psionic dampeners to prevent niscent of their days as pultaalcs to the The Growth of
teleportation. However, the High
Council has discovered that these cells
Mayan and the Ineans lor their return
to Earth - the garb of native priests,
Psionics
are vulnerable to magic, and so warriors or rulers, depending upon
bioengineers are hard at work at de- their station in Akashan society. The appearance of apparent extra-
veloping another means of punish- Upon seeing that such clothes are terrestrials well-versed in the use of
ment/rehabilitation for the realm. no longer in fashion on Earth, the psionic powers hascaptured theimagi-
One experiment currently being Akashans chose to continue to wear nation of those in Core Earth fortunate

--------8
_ • • 4:":""""2
 Chapter Three

enough to have seen reports on the realm. Whether or not they are all ize they came from another reality,
matter. Already. many of those in legitimate is unknown. and not meieIy another part of the
South America who had been suffer· Not everyone is pleased about this universe. The Fossibility Wars were a
ing mental "growing pains" as a con· "psionic revolution," however. Arms terrible shock to the aliens. and many
sequence ofthe Akashaos' amval have dealers have expressed concern that Coar·aligned A1cashanssee the battles
learned the rudiments of using their mental might could replace guns and as an obscenity they have a duty to
powers and have delighted in experi· grenades and force them out of busi· expunge.
menting with them. ness. Fitnessgurus worry that reliance The High Lords have had mixed
Psychic researchers from around on the mind to lift ob;ects, etc. could reactions to the coming of the
the globe have listened with fascina· cause people to start neglecting their Akashans.
tion to the rumors of great feats per· bodies. DelphiCounciloperatives have
formed with the power of the mind, also reported fears of a new dictator·
and those brave enough to make the ship emerging from the ruins of the Living Land
trip during time of war have done so. POSSibility Wars, in which those with
Some people who had grown frus.. psionic powers would dominate those Information on the Akashans has
trated with attempting to learn magic not so blessed. been sketchy at best in the Living Land
in Aysle have traveled to South and the Core Earth US, due largely to
America to study psionics. A few Core efforts by the Delphi Council toclamp
Earth natives have had the happy sur· The Akashans and down on any reports (out of fear of a
prise ofleaming that they already had mass migration into South America).
some talent for psionics, and simply the High Lords While Baruk Kaah is unsure exactly
needed tutoring in the techniques for what psionic powers are (he sees them
its use. The Akashans were unaware of the as some new form of miracle), he is
Psionic training academies have existence of High Lords or Darkness intrigued by the idea of a race that uses
sprung up throughout South America, Devices until they arrived on Earth- liVing tools. In addition, the fact that
both inside and outside the Akashan indeed. many of them still do not real·

8-------------43- 10
Torg: SpUl!' God,

has expressed a willingness to give the

"Space Gods" the benefit of the doubt,
and has sent a message to Rotan Ulka
proposing an allianceagainst the forces
of Darkness.
The only things troubling Ardinay
are the inexplicable aversion on the
part of the elves to any dealings with
the Akashans, and the grumblings of
magisters that Core Earth students are
deserting their magic classes for les-
sons in psionics.
Uthorion has been consumed with
the battle in Scandinavia, and has only
recognized the Akashan landing iru;o.
far as to express sympathy with
Malraux, who is obViously annoyed
by it. Neither Ardinay nor Uthorion
are aware of the reality tree phenom-
enon as yet.
The Akashans have yet to respond
to Ardinay's note, unsure exactly who
is on the side of Light in this confusing
world. They areamused by theAyslish,
and fascinated. with their reliance on
magic, something the Akashans have
little experience with. It is possible
that some sort of cultural exchange
program may be in the future for the'
two realms.

Cyberpapacy
Along with 3327, Cyberpope Jean
Malraux is the most concerned. of the
High Lords regarding the Akashans'
sudden appearance. A race of obvious
heretics (all religions are equally cor-
rect, indeed!) with bizarre living weap-
ons, which are clearly works of the
Devil, threatening people he wished.
to add to his flock? An outrage!
And make no mistake, Malraux has
had designs on the largely Christian
countries of South America for some
time now. Along with the boost they
Lanala's miracles work in Akasha have edeinos' habit of attempting to im- would have provided. to his power
convinced him that perhaps there is pose their religion on others, they base, they would have put him in p0-
some connection between his goddess finnly believe that with the proper sition to eventually either squeeze
and these strange beings. It is a ques- guidance, the edeinos could one day Mobius on the northern and western
tion he intends to explore further, with approach the level of the Akashans. fronts, or aid Baruk Kaah in pushing
the hope of using what he learns Nippon out of CaWornia, or both.
against Nippon. Just as he was preparing to proceed
For their part, the Akashans con- Aysle with his plans, the Akashans landed,
sider Kaah and his edeinos the least their philosophy luring prospective
repugnant of the other realms, seeing lngeneral, Pella Ardinay and Angar converts away from the Cyberchwch.
the Saar's tribes as primitive versions Uthorion have been too busy with their Unwilling to relinquish the foothold
of themselves prior to the arrival of the private little war to worry overmuch he has gained in South America,
Mohani. While they dislike the about the Akashans' arrival. Ardinay Malraux has launched an intense reli-

_u-:-:-44 ---------/f'il
 Chapter Three

gious propaganda campaign against technology, and what seems a tremen- American Development Trust. His
the Akashans, through both the nun- douslyeffectivepulppower(psionics), goal is to drive a wedge between the
ciosand the PeaceThroughGod group. all in the hands of naive fools who Akashans and the governments of the
U this fails to have the desired effect, believe in welcoming those of strange region, effectively rendering it impos-
he is prepared to take more direct beliefs into their fold. sible for them to offer aid against the
action. Although Mobius has more than an other realms.
Malra we is aware of theexistence of inkling of what non-destructive real- He is also very much aware of the
the reality trees, and cognizant of the ity could do to his plans, he is enough reality tree technology, but is con-
danger they represent. He has made of an egomaniac to believe that the vinced that if he could learn its secret,
discovering their secret and/or de- Akashans will never pose a direct he could make some use of it himself.
stroying them a priority in his cam- threat to him. He has thus made His spies have been directed to obtain
paign. friendly overtures to them, all the while photographs, data and samples of any
Although tolerant of all religions, directing Nile agents in South America and all biotech devices they come
the Akashans are wise enough to be to obtain all the information they can, across.
extremely wary of the Cyberpope and even if it means kidnapping an The Akashans in general have not
his minions. Cybernetics, thoughastep Aka.han. paid a great deal of attention to
on the road to biotech, strikes them as The Akashans have been made Nippon's doings, except: insofaras they
unnatural, and the uses to which it is aware of Mobius' Iess-than-sterling threaten the local environment or take
put - repression, violence, mind con- reputation, but have not rejected his the form of overt sabotage. But Sarila
trol - deeply offend Akashan sensi- advances yet. This is partially because is aware of someof theorders given by
bilities. They are preparing for a p0s- they find the concept of "weird sci- the ippon High Lord through the
sible future conflict with the ence" fascinating, and partly because infection of a ninja by a Comaghaz
Cybe'P"pacy. the lands encompassed by the Nile carrier. She considers 3327 the greal-
Empire contain many artifacts left be- est threat to her plans.
hind by the Akashans five centuries
Orrorsh ago, and which they would like the
opportunity to reclaim. Adventuring in the
Although his agents have reported
the arrival of the Akashans and some Realm
details on the apparent power of the Nippon Tech
reality trees, Thratchen has paid little Campaigning in the realm of the
heed. His plans for expansion (once he South America offers a number of Akashans can be both exciting and
gained control of Heketon, of course) things tha.3327 finds appealin!\' abun- dangerous. The high axioms and the
revolved more around Asia than the dant natural resources; a booming Law of Acceptance allow Storm
Americas, and he is distracted by his drug business the Yakuza could easily Knights to do more things, but they
obsession with a possible return of assume control over; an unsettled will be encountering foes armed with
Tharkold. economy ripe for the kind of manipu- devastatingly powerful psionics and
Heketon was relieved to discover lation Kanawa Corp. excels at; and biotech weapons never seen before. In
that it was not the Dairogan Darkness unstablegovemments which purchase addition, the ever-present threat of
Device behind this new invasion, but large shipments of arms on a regular the Comaghaz, and the difficulty of
is extremely concerned about the p0- basis. Few places on the planet seemed detecting the virus' presence, may lead
tential threat the Akashans pose. It as ideal for a Nippon conquest, and to party members viewing each other
may take action against the aliens on 3327 was not in the least concerned with suspicion and fear after a brief
its own to safeguard its future plans. about Malraux's ambitions. time in the realm.
The Akashans have heard whis- The Akashans, however, have in-
pered rumors about Orrorsh and the curred his wrath with their interfer·
Power of Fear, but have yet to encoun- ence. Theirstrangetechnology hashurt Adventure Idea One:
ter an agent of the horror realm. It is a his arms sales, their pro-environment
"pleasure" they hope to postpone in- stance has delayed further exploita- All that Glitters ...
definitely, as a place SO rooted in the tion of the Amazon by Kanawa-affili'"
occult and the supernatural could ated corporations, and stalled his Background
prove difficult to handle. planned usurpation of governmental
power in Peru. In addition, he worries
The search for the golden stakes is
about the possibility of some sort of
Nile Empire alliance between Baruk Kaah and the considered extremely important by the
Akashans. Akashans. These artifacts contain the
The "weird scientist" heart of Dr. 3327 has responded on several records of the original expeditions to
Mobius is overjoyed at the coming of Earth, including a great deal of data
fronts, from outright sabotage and as·
the Akashans. Biotech, new reality which predates the births of Those
sassination by teams of ninja to ece>-
Who Wait.
nomic manipulation by the South

••
45
Torg; SPlct Cod.

Unfortunately, many of the stakes Suddenly, the Knightsareset upon to the High Council.
are missing from where they were from all sides. A group of corporate The road back is a dangerous one,
buried,and Rotan Ulka fears their fall- ninja, armed with the ancient weap- filled with highwaymen and other
ing into the hands of someone who ons on display in the museum, are perils. As they approach the ancient
might decipher their secrets. Now he detennined not to let the Knights leave city, the Knight bearing the stake ex-
has learned th.'lt one of the stakes ison alive. periences a psionic assault. A small
display in Lima's Gold Museum, but party of Akashans emerges from the
retrieving it may prove dangerous. Act Three treesand demands thestake be turned
That's where the Storm Knights over to them, asserting that the High
corne in ... Downing the ninja, the Knights get Council has been corrupted by the
the stake and make it out of the mu· Comaghaz. They threaten to destroy
Act One seum. Now they have only to make it the mind of the Knight with the stake
back to Machu Picchu and tum it over if it is not surrendered immediately.
The Stonn Knights are retained by
the High Council to obtain the golden
stake from the Gold Museum. The
Akashans had tried to obtain the stake
through proper channels, but the has·
tility of the Lim.'l city government and
its people to the Akashans made it
impossible. With great regret, the
Akashans determined they would
have to steal the stake, and they have
hired Knights to do so.
The Knights arrive in Lima. nar-
rowly surviving an assassination at·
tempt on a back street. At a local bar
filled with Peruvians and various
aliens, they learn that someone else
had been in recruiting muscle for a job
at the museum. The curators of the
gold and silver collection had asked
for and received additional security
around the building.
The Knights head to the museum to
retrieve the stake, only to be confronted
by a team of Lorbaat wearing badges
of the Lima police force! These appar·
ently are the new guards, and the
Knights will have to defeat them to
pass.

Act Two
The Knights reach the museum
building. discovering that the locks
have already been tampered with. In
the foyer, they discover the dead bod-
iesoflocal policemen,stripped of their
badges. The Lorbaat were not security
- they were partof the gang planning
to raid the museum, and the rest are
inside.
The Knights proceed cautiously to-
ward the collection display cases.
Along the way, they stumble upon a
Gudasko dropping "Peace Through
God" pamphlets as ifintending toleave
a clue to the perpetrators of the r0b-
bery and murders.

--'='"46 ---------/~
 Chapter Three

If the Knights give up the stake, the Act One Faking the symptoms is relatively
Akashans take it and vanish, and the easy, and the safest course seems to be
High Council will brand the Knights The Storm Knights must first 0b- gettingcaught dose to the Parana camp
as fools for giving their prize up to tain plans of the camp in question - so it will be convenient for the soldiers
thieves. they will have precious little time once to leave one there.
If they fight and defeat the inside to find the girl and get her out. The chosen Knight goes into his act,
Akashans, the Knights will discover The Knights travel into the seamy unaware that a true Comaghaz cell is
that they were part of a fanatic Coar underside of Buenos Aires to obtain marching on the town, planning an
group convinced that the information blueprints from a former Argentinean attack.
on the stakes would be used to bolster policemen who now makes his living
isolationist arguments. The High selling information on the black mar- Act Three
Council is weUand whole ... and Sarita, ket. Getting there is half the fun -
in particular, is interested in thisgolden xenophobia grips Argentina, and the The Knights are able to repulse the
slake. Knights are assaulted by a brick-hurl- attack. and their agent makes it into
ing mob before losing them in a maze the camp. Contact with the girl is not
of aUeyways. made easily, but is made. Plans for an
Adventure Idea Two: The policeman, Rafael Cuebas, escape are hatched.
drives a hard bargain. But he does The girl has not been infected, but
Penitenciaria providetheplans-planswhichprove informs the Knight that someone has
conclusively that it would be suicide attempted a mind scan on her, one she
to try and break into the camp. is not certain she prevented. Some of
Background He also provides something else: a the Comaghaz carriers may know of
gang of Buenos Aires street toughs the planned escape, and may be plan-
Fear of the Comaghaz virus has who covet the weaponry of the ning to come along.
prompted the Argentine government Knights, and will kill to get it. The Knights must get their own
to establish a series of camps to house and the girl out safely, without releas-
those suspected of being infected. Sur- Act Two ing a horde of Comaghaz upon the
rounded by extremely tight security, Parana area.
these camps have the reputation of If the Knights can't break in to get
being places from which death is the the gir!, their next best option is to get
only escape. someone inside and break her out.
Nowa Core Earth psychic possess- This is almostasdeadly - Argentinean
ing valuable information about the army units have no qualms about
nature of the viNS has been arrested shooting suspected Comaghaz carri-
and thrown into such a camp, with the ers, not to mention the fact that if one
Storm Knights her only chance of li~ is in a camp long enough. there is a
eration. tremendous risk of getting infected.

I.
47
Torg: Spilce Gods

Chapter Four

Axioms and
World Rules

II
he Akashan realm pos. to manipulate and of limited useful·
sesses high Social, Spir;· ness. Alteration magic is only avail-
fUilI and Technologicnl axi· able through rituals, and the effective-
oms that make the use of ness of psionics has limited the devel-
psionic powers possible, opment of divination magic.
and allow the concepts of Zinalt, Aka
and Coor to have a profound effect on
daily life. &unded by reality trees Social Axiom: 27
instead of stelae, the realm of Akasha
is a critical addition to the Near Now. The Akashans have a very high s0-
cial axiom (27) which supports their
form of government. The High
The Four Axioms Council's stated aim is to eventually
see representative governments estab-
The rules that govern the reality of lished on all the client worlds.
Akasha are called axioms. Like other Their history as pultaaks has mi·
cosms and realms, Akasha has four oreel the Akashan's policies toward
basic axioms that govern interaction other races. The Akashans live in har-
between the living and thenon·living. mony with one another, and believe
These axioms are Magical, Social, Spiri· that this harmony is the natural and
fUllI, and Tech. In Torg, each of these correct state of being. Akashans are
axioms is rated on a scale of zero to 33 occasionally heavy·handed when
(zero representing a low development; dealing with other races. The Coar
33 representing the highest develop"" Akashans believe they know what is
mentpossible). Whena character,crea· best for all the races in the Star Sphere,
ture or thing crosses the energy lines and that it is their duty to elevate the
surrounding the two realms, he, she or other races to the level the Akashans'
it is no longer subject to the axioms of enjoy. It is possible they are right, but
Core Earth. some other races would rather find
Below, each of Akasha'saxiomsare their own way than be put on the
described. In addition, see EverlQlUS "correct path to enlightenment" by
and Axioms, pages 91·102 of the Torg the Akashans.
Rulebook. Recent strife between the Akites and
the Coar, and the struggle with the
Comaghaz, have given the Akashans
Magical Axiom: 7 better insight into how a race might
not clearly see a way to social har·
The Akashans have little knowl· many. They have become a little less
edge of magic, even though their axiom patronizing to the other races in the
set supports a low level of magic use. Star Sphere - but just a little.
Within the Star Sphere, magic is prac· Within the Star Sphere, many races
ticed by few races; the relatively small operate on social levels far less struc·
Magic axiom has prevented sorcery tures than those of the Akasha. The
from becoming more than an esoteric Akashans hope thatone day these races
pastime. Magic is extremely difficult will achieve the total democracy that
they themselves enjoy.

~··4~8--------/~
 Chapter Four

Psionics to have a dramatic effect on the way Comaghaz hosts are far less scru·
skills, and psionic powers are used pulous about the type of equipment
Linked to the SociIlI axiom, psionics (see Alignment>. they use, caring only thatSarila'scom-
~a mainstay of the Akashan way of mands be carried out as quickly as
hfe. Over fifty percent ofall the species possible. Their gear often leaves be-
ofthe StarSphere possess psionic pow· Technological hind waste by·products and poUut·
e~, and, with these powers, many ~
cal problems have been avoided. Still Axiom: 30 ants, often causing direct harm to the
e.nvironment. ~ey have nocompunc-
psionics arenota perfect tool, nord~ t~o~ about making use of fossil fuels,
everyone have access to their use, but The technology of Akasha is mark-
edly different from that developed on fiSSIOn and explosive gases to drive
they do contribute to life within the their vehicles and vessels. Comaghaz
Star Sphere. Earth. The Akashans make use of the
science of biotechnology, which em- weaponry is designed to cause physi·
ploys latent possibility energy to cre- cal damage n~t only to its targets, but
also to the environment. Chemical and
Spiritual Axiom: 13 ate t~1s and equipment from living
biological wea pons are frequently used
?rgarusms. Nanotech and bioengineer-
Ing have combined to produce living by the Comaghaz.
The cosm of the Star Sphere has a The Star Sphere spans all levels of
high ~1!iritwd axiom that recognizes factori~ and tools which can modify
or reparr themselves. Equipment is technological development. As such,
all deities as facets of Apeiros or the all lower levels of technology are sup-
ameless One. As such, there is no powered by a being's internal energy
or vitamin/mineral packs. The ported by the Tes::hnologictJI axiom. Core
d~minant mythos - all religions can
Akashan's technology is "dean"; it Earth, Cyb<rrpapacy and Nippon Tech
exISt freely within the spirihlal axiom. eqwpment works perfectly well un·
Miracles are fairly plentiful, but causes no damage to the environment
and returns to its natural components der the Technological axiom of the
usually not as "miraculous" as those Akashan realm. Themany species rep-
fo':!nd in other cosms. The Spiritual when no longer needed. Even the
Akashans' lightships and geomantic resentatives brought to Earth by
aXiom also allows the Akashan beliefs the Akashans have their own levels of
in the concepts of Zinatt, Aka and Coor shuttles are constructed of living tech.
Torg: Spue God,

The Law of
L ink Difficulty Chart Acceptance
Akashans in Other Realms Characters in Akasha One of the most powerful laws in
Character is in: DN Character is from: DN Akasha and the Star Sphere is the lAw
Core Earth 11 Core Earth 3 ofAcceptance. Unlike most cultures, as
Living Land 25 Living Land 12 Akashan culture evolved, it did so on
Aysle 16 Aysle 13 the basis of first accepting the un-
Nippon Tech 10 Nippon Tech 3 known, and then coming to under-
Cybe<papaey 12 Cyberpapacy 7 stand it. Few cultures have been so
Orrorsh 13 Orrorsh 11 able to assimilate others' beliefs into
Nile Empire 12 Nile Empire 8 their own structure. This belief is tied
into the philosophy of Zinatt and is so
ingrained intoevery Akashans' psyche
that it has become a world law. Even
technological advancement and their The Link Difficulty Chart lists the Sarila, in her mad desire for conquest,
own varieties of equipment. reconnection totals needed for the accepts this world law. She accepts the
"Space God" realm. ways of others and then perverts them
Attitudes towards for her own ends.
Technology As a result, when in the realm of
The World Rules of Akasha, characters from other realms
Even though Akashans have access are not only subject to the world laws
to fantastic equipment and biotech Akasha of that realm, but to their own as well.
organisms, and even though this Example: The Silver Scarab is fry-
equipment does no harm to the envi- In addition to the four axioms, the illg to locate a missing person last
ronment, most Akashans tend to do Star Sphere cosm and the Akashan seen entering the realm of Akasha.
things by hand if they are able. They realm has a number of specialized Since the Scarab is from the Nile.
believe that working without much world rules which further differenti- Empire, he is usually subject to the
equipment brings them closer to the ate it from other realities. The basic l.Jlw of Action (among other Nile
environment and to Zinatt. axioms function as reality limits within world laws). Upon entering Akasha,
They are not fanatical about this the realms, while the world rules de- the Stann Knight abides by the world
belief and, as war grows in the realms, fine how the realms work within those laws of his home realm and those of
they are beginning to see this mode of limits. As with the basic axioms, any- Akasha.
living as a luxury. More and more, one who crosses into Akasha becomes
they are interested in devising new subject to the world rules immedi-
ately, unless she is possibility-rated The Law of Acceptanceallowschar-
and better biotechnologies to combat acters in Akasha to operate by their
the growing threat of the Comaghaz. and carries her reality with her.
own world laws (and the laws of
Among the Comaghaz, the attitude Akasha) without fear of creating a con-
is entirely different. Being a scientist, The Law of Religious tradiction. Their world laws do not
Sarila believes in the "right tool for the supersede the laws of the Akasha, nor
right job," even when that tool maybe Compatibility can they be used against a native of
more destructive than is necessary, another cosmo
and she has imparted that philosophy As the Akashans believe all reli-
to the group mind she controls. While gions are part of the cosmverse and Example: Tile Scarab finds the per-
somewhat shortsighted, this approach contain elements of Apeiros and the son he was looking for, a Core Earth
has been lethally effective against Nameless One within them, there is reporter named Tina Rey. The Scarab
many planets in the Star Sphere. no dominant mythos. Characters from believes that Tina has joined the Sons
Further details of Akashan biotech different religions may work together of the Soil and is spreading biased
and Comaghaz equipment can be toperformmiracles, and miracles may media stories about their activities in
found in the Equipment chapter. be successfully performed on mem- and arou.nd Akasha.
bers of other religions without a spiri- But he isn't sure. Tina says she is
Disconnection tual struggle occurring (see page 124 simply reporting the facts, and that
of the Torg Rulebook). the Scarabshould mind his own busi-
Although Akasha's reality is non- ness. The Scarab, however, has an
destructive, it is possible for those of Alertness card, and he wishes to
other realms to disconnect in Akasha, make an Inclination check to see if
as weD as vice versa. Tina is Good. or Evil. His player

--''''''-50 ---------/~
 Chapter Four

are aligned so far to one side or an·

other that they lose sight of their true
goal. Alignment is used to keeptrackof
how great a character's connection is
to the three major Akashan belief sys--
terns.
Aka
Aka-aligned characters are more
introspective, looking after their own
personal needs and "minding their
own business." They are very indi-
vidualistic and tend to refrain from
any kind of group action. They prefer
to find non-violent solutions, or not
take any action at all. AJcD emphasizes
meditation and introspection very
strongly.

Aka Principles
Inner
Introverted
Individual over All
Precise control of oneself
Creation for the Sake of Creation
and/ aT the Individual

Aka·aligned characters gain the fol·

lowing benefits from the Aka philosc:r
assnts that, because the lJIw of Ac- bottom of the mystery.
cept/mee makes the Silvu Scarab The Scarlet Mageagrees to throw phy'
subjtct to hisown world laws as well the spell, but she reminds the Scarab • They gain a +3 bonus modifier
as AJcDsha's world laws, he should be! that shecould disconnect while cast- when performing the following skills:
able to do this. ing it; the spell is axiom level 10 (it Dexterity
He'swrong. ~ScGt'llbstillftmc­ actuallyconjuresforth the lTIlthfrom Acrobatics
lions undtr hisown cosm's laws, but the subject) and the Akashan retllm Biotech weapons (only for active de-
only as it pertains to himself al1d has a Magic axiom of 7. Since the fense)
others ofhis cosm.lfTina lOOS aNile ability to cast magic stems from the Dodge
hero (or villain), the Scarab could axiom limits and not from Aysle's Energy weapons (only faT active de-
make the check. As she is from Core world laws, the Mage am cause a fense)
Earth, and has no inclination herself, contradiction. Flight
he's stuck. If, however, the Silver Scarab Melee Weapons (only for active de-
could come up with a weird science fense)
The l.JIw of Acceptance only affects gizmo that wouldact as a lie detector, Prestidigitation
world laws, not axioms. U something this would not pUlce him in peril of RUl1ning
is not governed by the axioms of disconnecting - the ability to use Swimming
Akasha, it can cause a contradiction, weird science is aworld law, not an UnQrmed Combat (only for active
just like in any other realm. axiom metlSurement. defense)
Example: Disappointed by his in- S....ngth
ability to ddtrmine TiM's Inclil1Jl- The Way of Zinatt Climbing
tion, the Silvu Scat'llb turns to his Ufting
friend, the Scarlet Mlge. TheMilgeis The way of Zinalt is more than just
an Ayslish Storm Knight who just Perception
happens to possess Azzerack's truth
a philosophy;it affectsall actions taken Disguise
within the realm and cosm of Akasha. lJInguage
tell, a spell that forces its victim to The concepts of Aka and Coor actively
answer a question truthfully. The Mathematics (Nile Empire skill)
govern how possibility energy may be Meditatio" (Nippon Tech skill)
Scarab figures that, ifthe Mlge throws harnessed and used. All Akashans
the spell on Tina, they am get to the Mind
strive for enlightenment through these Artist
forces, but therearealways those who

1~--------~51-'·
Torg: S~"' God,

Business (Nippon Tech skill) - They gain a +3 bonus modifier when existed for the last few centuries. All
Willpower performing the follOWing skills: holders of the office of Rotan must be
Charisma Dexterity followers of Zinatt.
elmnn Bellst Riding
Biotech weapons Zinatt Principles
Spirit Balance
Faith Energy Weapons
Fire Combat Unity
The +3 bonus modifier is lost if the Heavy Weapons Community for All
character is stymied or setback. Maneuver Vitality
Melee Weapons Harmony of Creation and Destruc-
- Aka-aligned characters may use a Missile Weapons tion for Enlightenment
Possibility to remove four packets of U'lanned Combat
damage rather than the usual three Zinatt-aligned characters gain the
(see page 18 of the Torg Rulebook). Perception follOWing benefits from the Zi1Ultt phi-
Find losophy:
Example: Tina is Aka-aligned. She Track
is ill the blast radius ofa grenade and - They gain a +3 bonus modifier when
suffersa 2Wnd KOS. She can remove Mind performing the following skills:
both wounds, the K-condition, and Test of Will
Perception
three shock points with a single Pos- Charisma Evidence Analysis
sibility. Taunt First Aid
Spirit Medicine
- Aka-aligned characters may not Intimidation Scholar
receive any cards from other players
as the result of leadership cards. They The +3 bonus modifier is lost if the Mind
may not give or receive the benefits of character is sfymied or setback. Mindsense
a supporter card. Suroival
-Coar-aligned characters may usea Charisma
Coar Possibility to remove only two pack- Persuasion
ets of damage rather than the usual
Characters who are aligned to Coar three (seepage180fthe Torg Rulebook). -Zinatt-aligned characters gain the
believe that aggressive assertion of Example: Scuzz is Coar-aligned. He ability to restore the balance. They may
one's own will is the way to true en- takes ahit and suffers a2 Wnd 04. He counter Coar-aligned characters per·
lightenment. They also believe in put- can remove two wounds, or a wound forming Coar actions by performing
ting the group before the individual as and three shock points. Aka-aligned actions. Zinatt-aligned
a societal norm, and are very much in characters may counter Aka-aligned
favor of the Akashans acting as -Coar-aligned characters may "buy" character who are performing Aka ac-
pultaaks for other worlds. This is the cards from other Coar-aligned charac- tions by performing Coar-aligned ac-
oldest philosophy on Akasha, and ters. The purchasing character spends tions.
dominated that world prior to the di- a Possibility, which is transferred to Actions which restore the balance re-
saster on Earth. After that, Akites split the "selling" character. The selling ceive a +3 bonus modifier. If the Zinatt
away from theCoar group, and Zinatt character must agree to the sale of the character's skill total is higher than the
was born as a compromise between card. If the action is in rounds, the skill total of the Aka or Coar character,
the two. cards purchased mustbeincard pools. the result points are read on the Taunt!
Many species of the Star Sphere, No more than three cards may be pur- Trick column of the Interaction Results
believe Coar to be the correct road not chased in this way in a single round, Table.
only to enlightenment, but power. and all cards purchased must imme-
diately be played in support of an Example: Atalpa is a Zinatt-aligned
action. character. A Coar-aligned character
Coar Principles
blazes away with an energy weapon.
Outer AtalfXl could dodge, which isan Aka-
Extroverted Zinatt aligned action, but his willpower
Group over All
valueismuchhigher. Thegamemaster
Action The ideal for most Akashans is to considers, and then agrees that using
Right of Superior to Guide Inferior achieve a state of Zinatt, in which all of willpower to suppress the fXlin of a
Destruction for the Sake of Destruc- a character's actions are perfonned to shot does count as an Aka action.
tion and! or the Group bring accord and harmony, and to The Coar-aligned character gen-
achieve communal ends which ben- erates a 14, which hits AtalfXl. AtalfXl
Coar-aligned characters gain the efit all members of a group equally. In generates a willpower total of24, for
following benefits from the Coar phi- the Star Sphere, this is a relatively 10 result points.
losophy' new, but popular, concept. It has only

-115---
2 --------/~
 Chapter Four

we encourage the gamemaster to

award those players Possibilities for
roleplaying their characters.

Aysle Characters
Characters with the honor skill (see
page 50 of the Aysk sourcebook) most
often choose ZiTUltt.
Characters with the corruption skill
(see page 51 of the Ays'e sourcebook,
page 51) most often choose Coo,.

Cyberpapacy Characters
Only those who subscribe to the
faith of the Cyberpope are affected.
They take the Coar alignment.

Living Land Characters

Characters who worship Lanala see
~ the world in terms of Aka. Gotaks are
Z aligned to Coa,.
~
Nile Empire Characters
Good-aligned characters are usu-
ally aligned toZinJltt; Evil-aligned ones
are usually aligned to Coor.
1M bolt of rnugy flares across is the answer; that the extremes lead Note: Sometimes, even good Nile
Atalpa. Atalpa never flinches from only to bad ends. heroes are prone to excessive violence
the damQgt he sulfrrs, continuing to As well as applying to Akashans, and destruction (the "Dark A venger,H
regard the Coar~ligned character ZiTUltt can also apply to a group of for example, can often be played that
calmly. Slack-jawed, Atalpa'5 attacker adventurers who are united in their way) or seU-interest.In that event, feel
is set back. commonaims.ln the Possibility Wars, free to align them with Coa,. Even
these common aims are often tied to fewer are aligned with Aka.
defeating the High Lords and bring-
The Philosophical ing possibility back to the people. A Nippon Tech Characters
Triad ZinJltt-aligned charaeterwho is part of
an adventuring group endeavors to Nippon Tech characters who ac-
The concepts of Aka, Coar and Zinatt secure the interests and well-being of tively support the Kanawa Corpora·
are by their nature vague and some- the group. tion are aligned to Aka. Martial artists
Players are advised to choose an who strive to attain balance are aligned
times difficult to define accurately.
Although they have some similarities alignment for their characters when to Zinall. Ninja, however, are always
to concepts such as good and evil or playing in the Akashan realm. Each aligned to Coa,.
law and chaos, Aka, Coar and ZiTUltf player keeps track of her character's
are more closely tied to the Akashan alignment on her character sheet, but Orrorsh Characters
notion of acceptance. All three phi- it is the gamemaster who has the final
losophies are very different but, com- say as to what alignment a character is Good characters in Orrorsh are
(see below). aligned to Aka, due to their reliance on
bined, make a powerful force. Cre-
ation without Destruction brings Stag- Characters native to cosms other their own power to resist corruption.
nation, and Ufe without Struggle is than Akasha lose the benefits of their Evil characters, or those who have
hollow and worthless. Most Akashans Aka, Coo', or ZinJlll alignment as SOO'n achieved some state of corruption
and the other races of the Star Sphere as they leave the realm of the Space (werewolf player characters, for ex-
that follow Akashan philosophy be- Gods. U players continue to act in ac- ample), are aligned to Coa,.
lieve that the way of ZinJltf, of Balance, cordance with their chosen alignment,

n--------~53-1O
Tors: Space Cods

Chapter Five

Skills
1111 hamden; fcom 'he 5'",
Sphere have access to
skills not included in the
perform no other actions without risk-
ing disruption of the trance.
At the end of the trance period, the
Torg Rulebook. These new character generatesa mindsense total and
skills aredescribed below. compares it to her Mind on the Power
Like all other skills, the new skills may PushTableCpage40oftheTorg Rulebook).
be learnt by any character in the usual The resulting value is the number of
way (see Improving Attributes and Skills mental wounds the character may ig-
on page 20 of the Torg Rulebook). nore.
However, if the character takes an
additional mental wound, she will im-
Dexterity-Related mediately suffer the effects of that
wound as well as those she had used
Skills mindsense to resist.
Milldsense cannot be used unskilled.
Biotech Weapons
This skill measures a character's abil- Psionic Resistance
ity to use biotech weapons, be they in
the nature of a firearm or a melee or This skill measures a character's abil- •
missile weapon. This skill applies only ity to withstand the strain of psionic
to weapons which areorganicallybased power use.
- used of a hand laser, etc. requires the For further information on this skill,
energy wetlpcms skill. see Chapter Six, "Psionics:'
Biotech weapo"scan be used unskilled..
Science (Biotech)
Perception-Related This skill measures a character's abil-
Skills ity to create, understand and maintain
biotechconstructs,includingweaponry,
Psionic Manipulation vehicles and physical enhancers. This
skill does not apply to reality trees.
This skill measures a character's abil- Science (bintech) provides knowledge
ity to focus her mental powers and put of the component parts and the prin-
them to effective use. ciples behind biotech constructs. See
For further information on this skill, page 56 for more information on the
see Chapter Six, "Psionics:' scierlce skill.
The science (biotech) skill cannol be
used unskilled.

Mind-Related Skills Spirit-Related Skills

Mindsense Frenzy
The mindsenseskill measures the abil-
ity of a character to withstand mental The frenzy skill allows Draygaak
damage. A character who has suffered warriors to enter a berserk rage. A fren-
such damage must enter a trance-like zied Draygaak has his Dexterity, Stmlgth,
state for 10 minutes per mental wound and Toughness temporarily increased
received.. During this period, she can based upon thesuccess level ofhis frenzy

-·'~54~-----------n
 Chapter Five

roll. At the same time, his Peraption and Draygaak may attempt to end it by gen-
Mind are reduced by a similar amount. erating another frenzy total. It success-
While frenzied, a Draygaak attacks aU
enemy characters or creatures; if there
ful, IUs frenzy ends. if not, he may at-
tempt to genernte another total each
F renZy Chart
are none, he attacks the character or tum until he is successful or the frenzy Wound Level Difficulty
creature closest to him. ends. None 22
To enter a frenzy, a Draygaakcharac- It he fails the check by 10 or more K,a, and/or shock 18
ter generates a total and compares it to points, hecan no longer attempt to con- Wound 15
his current wound level. The more trol hisfrenzy.1t must run its full course. Heavy Wound 13
wounded theDraygaakis, theeasieritis While trying to control a frenzy, a Mortal Wound 12
for him to become frenzied. Possibilities Draygaak can take no other action.
and cards may be spent on this ron. Frenzy skill cannot be used un-
Atbibute increases are as follows: skilled, and usually may only be learnt
Minimnl or Average success, +1; Good by Draygaaks. Non-Draygaaks who
success, +2; Suptrior success, +3; Sp«- wish to learn the frenzy skill must have
tlJCUlar success, +4. a Draygaak teacher with at least four
A Draygaak'sfrenzy lasts for a num- adds in the skill. The initial add for a
Ending Frenzy Chart
ber of rounds equal to the number of non-Draygaak charactercosts five Pos-- Wound Level Difficulty
result points generated, but a frenzied sibilities. None 13
K,a, and/or shock 15
Wouund 18
Heavy Wound 22
Mortal Wound 25

1~---------5-5"
Torg; Space Gods

Chapter Six

Psionics
sionic powers represent lowest needed for psionic powers to be
the mastery of an indi- accepted as non-contradictory, the
vidual ora group's mind Akashan's axiom level of 27 is where
• over matter, energy, and psionicsbecomethemasteffective. Pre-
other minds. These pow- sumably, if the Akashans ever increase
ers enable a character to perform ac- their Social axiom to 28, their psionic
tions that, while they are similar to abilities will increaseacrordingly.
magical spells and miracles, are pow·
ered by thought alone.
Spiritual 9
The Necessary While psionic powersarenot miracles
and do not invokea deity oreven relyon
Axioms For the belief in cosmic entities to function,
they do require a certain amount of
Psionics spiritual energy to function.
At a Spiritual axiom level of nine,
All tools, whether weapons and gen- the idea of a community working to-
eral equipment or magic spells and gether to produce a desired "miracu-
miracles, requirecertain axioms to func- lous" effect is first accepted as normal.
tion without causing a contradiction. The concept that belief and win can
Psionics are not an exception to this rule, producesomechangein physical laws
but they are different than other tools in is introduced. This Spiritual level al-
one way: psionics require high enough lows the individual to join with the
measures in three of the four axioms to group to work toward a focused, defi-
function without a contradiction. These nite effect.
required. axioms are Technological, Spin'-
lual, and Social.
Technological 15
Social 21 Psionics require a Technology level
of at least 15 in order to function with-
The most important of the three out causing a contradiction. While
axiom level requirements is the Social psionic power is a tool based solely on
21. At this level, largegrouporganiza- the use of the mind, it does require a
tions are the accepted norm in the minimum level of technological un-
cosmo Not only is the idea that the derstanding to function properly. At
individual must contribute meaning- Tech 15, abstract scientific processes
fully to the society for it to exist in have been accepted, and the basic
effect, but it is recognized that the mechanics of physics are understood.
society must work with the individual Even more imJX>rtantly, the atomic
for the benefit of all. While this level is nature of matter has been asserted by
nowhere near the Utopian concept of members of the scientific community
society, it doesn't have to be. Psionics and is being accepted.
are dependent upon group coopera- Tech 15 is the level at which beings
tion for the benefit of the society Qnd begin to understand universal laws
the individual. and concepts. Since these laws and
Because of this strong relationship concepts are integral to the develop-
between the Social axiom and psionic ment of psionics, this is the minimum
JX>wers, Akashan society has become technological level at which psionics
the ideal environment for psionic pow- can be accepted as part of reality.
ers. While the SocitJI axiom of 21 is the

..·..' -5-6----------------------- j"'~\

 Chapter Six

Beginning Characters character has in each skill. To use To determine the amount of psi
psionic powers, a character must have strain a character takes, read the result
Several of the characters in the back at least one add in each skill. points of the power's Final Difficulty
of this book have mastery over one or number against the character's psi re-
more psionic power groups. The Char- Psionic Manipulation sistance on the Combat Results Table.
acter Creation chapter explains how Unless the character is actively resist-
these psionic power groups are as- Psionic manipulation is the skill that ing psi strain (see below), no bonus
signed, and how the player and allows a psi character to focus the number is added to her psi resistance
gamemaster may customize the tem- power of her mind outside her body. value. The total psi strain value is
plates of characters from the Star Psionic manipulation is based. on Per- always equal to the Final Difficulty of
Sphere. ception and may not be used unskilled. the power, unless multi·actions are
being performed.
Leaming Psionics after a Psionic Resistance Example: Zonnec uses apower with
Character is in Play The skill of psionic resistance mea- a final difficulty of 17. The final
sures the resilience of a character's difficulty is not only the number he
Once an Akashan character has Mind against the stress of a psionic must beat with his psi manipula-
started play, it costs five Possibilities tion skill to successfully utilize the
attack and the effects of psi strain (see
for her to obtain one add in one of the power, but it is also the psi strain
"Psi Strain"). A character's psionic
two psionic skills, if a teacher is avail- value that will be compared to his psi
resistance protects him (and sometimes
able. It costs a character from Akasha resistance to detennine the strain he
his companions) from other psis who
10 Possibilities for each add if no undergoes.
mean him harm. It is seldom used to
teacher is available. Thecharactermust
also learn one powergroup (see below). focus the psi's power outside his body.
Psionic resistance is based. on the The Effects of Psi Strain and
Learning a power group costs as much Mental Damage
as learning a skill.
Mind attribute, and may not be used
unskilled. If an unskilled character is
Characters from other cosms - Using psionics, characters can re-
attacked psionically, his Mind resists
other than Core Earth (see below) - ceive mental damage oneof two ways:
the attack.
mllst be taught the skills and the power either they can be subject to psi strain
groups, and it costs them 10 Possibili- (as explained above), or they can be
Psionic powers are used like skills.
ties for each separate skill and each attacked and wounded psionically (as
When usinga psionic power the player:
individual power group. If no teacher described in the "Powers" section).
is available and willing, then charac- • Generates a psionic manipulation to- Damage is determined using the
ters from outside the Akashan cosm tal for his character. [f the total equals Combat Results Table. Compare the
cannot learn psionics. or exceeds the difficulty of the power, attacker's effect value to the psionic's
the power works as long as thecharac· psi resistance skill total or protective
Learning the Powers ter can withstand the psi strain. psionic power effect value, or the non-
[f the power fails, the player must still psionic's willpower or Mind.
After the character has spent her check for psi strain. The types of mental damage are:
possibilities (or skill adds if the char·
acter is being generated) to learn the • The player compares the final diffi- Shock damage: Shock damage caused
twoskillsand at ieastonepowergroup, culty of the psionic power to his by mental attacks or strain is identical
the character may select one psionic character's psion ic resistance value. Any to that inflicted by physical shock dam-
power from the group she knows. result points are read as mental damage. age and is cumulative with physical
Additional powers within that group • If the character succeeded at his shock damage. However, the
may be learned at a cost of one Possi- psionic manipulation, and is still con- character's Mind is used instead of his
bility per power. Additional power scious after taking psi strain, then the TOllghness to determine when he goes
groups are learned in the same man- character successfully invokes the unconscious. If the character sustains
ner as the first power group, costing power. shock damage from both physical and
either five or 10 Possibilities to learn. mental wounds, then the lower of the
Psi Strain two attributes governs when he goes
unconscious.
Using Psionic When a psi character uses a psionic Physical shock damage is recov·
power, she undergoes the effect ered before mental shock damage if
Powers known as psi strain. Psi strain is the both types have been sustained.
measure of mental fatigue and dam- K and 0 conditions: These conditions
Psionic powers require two skills, age a character does herself when she are identical to physical K and 0 ef·
psionic manipulation and psionic resis- overexerts using a psionic action. Like feets.
tance. Theyarebased on two attributes other damage, psi strain is measured
(Perceptioll and Mind) and improved Knockdown: If a character suffers a
in shock damage, Ks, Os, wounds, and
by increasing the number of adds the knockdown, her nervous system tern·
even death. Psi strain is mental damage.

1~---------57-'·
Torg: Space Cod,
 Chapter Six

porarily freezes. The target falls to the in the action sequence, Torinka psi strain of 12. There are no other
ground as though physically knocked teleports and then uses her telekine- modifiers to the action (as no one is
down. sis power. The range ofthe telekine- resisting the use ofhis power, there is
Metltal wounds: Mental wounds are sis is assessed from the point she no passive resistance, and Chakkata
treated the same as physical wounds, teleports to rather than from where is not actively resisting psi strain).
and have the same effects on the char- she teleported from (assuming the Tile Akashan rolls his bonus num-
acter. Mental wounds can be healed: teleport is successful). ber. He gets an 11,giving him a zero
modifier to his psi manipulation
• over time (using the Mind attribute Other Realms and Psionic total. Since the final difficulty of the
to make recovery rolls) power was 12, and Challata's total
Powers
• through use of psionic powers, was 13, he succeeds. Chakkata's psi
miracles or spells that spedficaUy heal There are significant modifiers for resistance skill of 14 (unmodified
mental damage using psionics for characters not na- because he did not choose to actively
• through use of the psychology skill. tive to the Star Sphere or the realm of resist the strain) is also sufficiently
Akasha. They are described fully un- high to keep him from taking any
der "Psionics Outside the Realms" mental damage.
Modifiers below.
Actively Resisting Psi Strain
Of course, it is not always thissimple Adjusting Power Factors
to invoke a psionic powers. There are When using a power, a character
other complexities involved. Some Perhaps the most often used modi- may choose to actively resist the ef-
powers have their own mechanics fiers for psionic powers are those re- fectsof psi strain by consciously draw-
listed in their descriptions, but there sulting from adjustments made to the ing upon her psi resistance skill. This is
are other modifiers that can beapplied poweritself. Using the psionic rules, it a multi-action, as the character is ac·
regardless of the power. is possible for a character to "custom- tively utilizing her skill instead of re-
ize" his power for each occasion. In sisting the strain passively. The base
Multi·Power Use most cases, the character can upwardly difficulty accrues ON penalties as read
adjust the effect value of the power, on the One-an-Many chart.
Most psionic powers may be used the rangeof the power, and,asa result, Toactively resist psi strain, thechll.r-
in conjunction with other powers. the difficulty of the power. acter must declare that she will do so
Unless stated otherwise in the indi~ To accomplish this, the character before rolling for a bonus number. The
vidual description, all powers may be simply adds a number of points to the gamemaster then informs her of the
used. at the same time as other powers. desired attribute of the power, and the ON modifiers involved and she then
To use two or more powers at the same number of points are added to proceeds to use her power.
same time, adjust the difficulty and the power's base difficulty. Resisting psi strain is much like an
psi strain values of each power using There is no way to decrease a power's active dodge attempt. Although nega--
the modifiers listed on the One-on- attributes. If a power has a stated base tive bonus numbers may be gener-
Many chart. The character must de- range, for example, the character can- ated, the minimum psi resistance b0-
clare which power is primary, which not choose to lower the range in ex- nus number is always +1. Note that
is secondary, tertiary etc. before gen- change for decreasing the base diffi- the ON for the multi-action may coun-
erating the bonus number. This has culty. That is why the attributes of the terbalance this bonus.
additional importance, as that is also powers are listed as "Base;" they are When the character declares she
the order the powers will be used in the lowest points at which the powers intends to actively resist psi strain, she
that round. This facet of psionic skill may function. adds the difficulty number modifiers
use differs from normal skill use in to her psionic power's difficulty num-
Example: Chakkata, an Akashan ber. She may declare either the use of
this way. psionic, hasa psi manipulation skill her power or her resistance to psi strain
Example: Torinkawishestoteleport of13and a psi resistance total of14. as her primary action - this reflects
and use telekinesis during the same He wishes to utilize the projected which action she is concentrating the
round. Since this is a multi-action, perception power to scali agroup of
most upon.
the gamemaster checks the One-on- buildings for enemies. Unfortunately,
MnllY chart and infonns her tlint lIer the comfJOulld he is looking across is Example: Karin is playing an
primary action has a DN+2 and lIer at least 1000 meters (value 15) long. Akashan psionic named Torinka, who
secondary action has a DN+4. This His psi manipulation skill value of utfwisely parked her flying transport
difficulty nllmber modification will 13 only lets him see 400 meters. it! aswamp. When shegot back, it had
be added to both difficulty lIumbers of So, Chakkata adds two points to sut!k into the mire. Since Torinka
her powers. the Base Range, similltaneously add- possesses the telekinesis power, she
Torinka declares that teleporting ing two to the Base Difficulty of the believes that she can lift the vehicle
is her primary action and usit!g tele- power. This gives file power a Final Ollt of the mud and onto dry land.
kinesis is her secondary actio/!. So, Diffiwlty of 12 and, consequently, a Unfortunately, Torinkaonlyhasa
psi manipulation fotal of 15 (which

8--------59-··
Torg: SP<ICt God.

means the Ba~ Effoct Value of the Karin rolls the die. She gets lucky Duration
power is 15), and the weight value of (again), by rolling a 10. She rolls
her transport is 24. In order to beable again and gets an 18. Right now, The duration of psionic powers is
to lift the transport, Torinhl needs to thnt's a total of 28 - and a bonus one round 00 seconds), unless other-
add +9 to the Base Effect Value. This number of +9. With her skill of 14, wise specified. Thisisbecause psionic
will alscadd +9 to the Base Difficulty that gives her a psi manipulation powers require the utmost concentra-
(14) and +9 to the corresponding psi total of 24. That's one point shy of tion to maintain. A psionic character
strain value. The adjusted difficulty wllat TorinkA needs to accomplish the cannot beone who is easily distracted.
and psi strain of the action is now 23. action. However. her psi resistance Many powers actually have longer
But she decides to try anyway. total is23, which is enough to kerpher durations than one round, effectively.
Wisely, TorinkA declares a multi-ac· from taking serious harm from the When using a power, a psionic charac-
lion: she opts to both use her psi action. ter must see if the bonus number is
manipulation skill to invoke the Karin decides that Torinka had applied to duration. If it is, then any
power,and her psi resistanceof14 to better spend a Possibility and, rolling bonus number generated by the char-
resist the effrcts of psi strain. While a 12e,sht increases her bonus to +11. acter becomes a time value, which ex-
this gives her a small" chanu of That gives her a total psi manipula- tends the duration of the power. The
sucass, it mam her more able to tionskill rollof26. Thisallowsherto bonus number is not added to the Torg
survi~ the experience. succeed and it docrttlSeS the psi strain value of the duration, as it is for spells.
TorinkA decides that lifting theship she'll take to two result po;'llS. Since This reflects the additional concentra-
out of the wat" will be her pril1Ulry TorinhJ currently has no CIlrds that tion of the psionic character at the
action, whilt resisting will be second- are appliCilble to her sit untion, she has time.
ary. Thus, the adjusted difficulty of to I~ it at that.
invoking the power is now 25, while Ofcourse,$M still has to dam all uR.mple: A psionic power has a b0-
the FinJIl Difficulty for resisting psi the mud out of the transport; she ft{t nus number added to duration. The
strain is 27. the windows down. charaet" rol/sand succeeds in invok-
ing the power. The bonus numbershe

-"'6-0 --------8
 ChaplerSix

generated lOOS +6, for an addition of strain (she involuntarily "turned off" card, and, since Torinka does not suf-
15 steonds to the standard 10 second the power). This is her setback for the fer a setback on the conflict line, she
duration. Th~ power lasts for 25 round. can attempt this action.
steonds, or two and aIUllf rounds (the The psi must maintain the power Since Torinka is maintaining her
Iwt! round is the first fjn~ of the Con- at its current levels of difficulty, psionic power, she only needs to btat
jI;et). range, effect,. etc. All of the variable the Power Push of the original diffi-
attributes of the power must be kept at culty of the action, plus the adjust-
Whilethisstill mayseem very short, their current ratings. The psi may not ments, to k«p it active.
many psionic powers do notneed long adjust them at aU. The reduad difficulty is nin~ (14-
durations to be effective. A poaption The psi must make her psi ma- 5). Adding the +7 Torinka added to
proj«tion power that allows a psi char· nipulation roU to maintain the power. th~ qject VQlu~ makes the mainte-
acter to hear everything in a room Because the power is already in use, nance difficulty 16. Not simpl~, but
works more effectively than normal the psi finds it much easier to maintain better tlUln doing it all over again.
hearing. The sound goes directly to the power than to invoke it again. The
her brain, not through her ears, and, basedifficu1ty of the power is reduced A psi character may maintain a
because of her psionic skills, she is by five. All additional factors are kept power as long as she continues to meet
able to process all that information the same (increased. range, effect, etc.) these crileria. Keep in mind that she
immediately. During that ten second and added to the reduced difficulty, will have to roll, in most cases, every
period, she may be able to perceive producing the maintenance difficulty 10 seconds to keep her power{s) ac-
more than someone who is actually in and psi strain. tive. It can be a tremendous drain on
the room. If the psi is acting on a liVing crea- an individual and requires a lot of
Of course, this doesn't help if she is ture and the creature is able (and will- concentration. Any non-simple action
trying to hear an extended conversa- ing) to resist, then that creature does performed by the character is auto-
tion - or use telekinesis to carry a get 10 actively or passively resist the maticallya multi-action, and the diffi-
backpack, or any number of other ac- use of the power. culty numbers are increased accord-
tivities. Does she have to re-invoke The psi must remain conscious ingly.
the power every round? after assessing psi strain. Again, the
No. The psi may, unless the power psi strain of maintaining the power is
description states otherwise, attempt reduced. The psi strain is calculated. Psionics in Akasha
to maintain her psionic poweroveran against the maintenance difficulty of
extended period of time. the power. It is up to Ihe psi whether Akashans, and manyotherstar-far-
she wants to use her psi resistance to ing species of the Star Sphere, have
Maintaining Psionic Powers actively resist psi strain or not. If she become quite accustomed to the pres-
does, it is part of a multi-action and enceand useof psionic powers. About
To maintain a psionic effect past its will suffer the appropriale modifiers. 80 percent of all Akashans have psionic
set duration is easier than re-invoking Example: Torinka is a Telekinetic powers, and nearly 30 percent of their
thai power. If the power description with a psi manipulation sleW of 14 client races have some sort of psionic
does not prohibit maintaining the anda psi resistance skill of14. She powers. As a result, psionic powers
power, there is a procedure each psi uKmts to use her telekinesis power to have become important parts of their
must go through in order to maintain /ift a vehicle off the ground. The societies.
the power. vehicle has aweight vallie of21, which While Storm Knights from the
The psi must declare that she will is not within the scope of her teleki- realm may choose whether or not to be
attempt to maintain the power before nesis effect value, so she mllst add psionic, the gamemaster can easily
the end of the round. After her action seven to the Base Difficulty of teleki- check randomly to see whether
segment. but before the gamemaster nesis of 14. The final difficulty is 21. gamemaster character Akashans, cli-
flips over the next conflict card to de- Generating an amazing total of 25, ent races, and transformed Core
termine initiative, the psi must declare she succeeds. Because her psi resis- Earthers are psionic. To do so, the
that she intends to keep her psi power tance was passivt, she takes sevtn gamemaster rolls a die, rolling again
going dUring the next round. This result points ofdamage, which equals on tens and twenties. If the character
means that she accepts the fact that she a Knockdown K2. She sprnds a to be checked for is a Akashan, then a
will need to devote one action (or part Possibility to n~gat~ th~ damage (or number of five or higher means the
ofa One-On-Many action) to the main- w'd IUlvt to spend the next round character is psionic. If the character is
taining of her power. getting up and would not be abl~ to a transformed Core Earther, then the
The psi's group must not have a operate her power), and she succ«ds number needed is 19 or higher (this
setback on the conflid line that round. in lifting the vthicl~ into the air. will increase as more peopleare taught
If, when the gamemaster flips over the Before the ffld of th~ dllration, psionicsbythe Alcashans). Client races
conflict card, the psi character's grou p Torinkadecwres tlUlt, next round,she have psionic check numbers listed in
has a setback on the conflict line, then will continue to hold thevthicle in the their descriptions.
the maintenance action automatically air. The gamemaster flips over the
fails, but the character takes no psi

I.
61
Tors: Spue God.

Psionics Outside
the Realms
Outside the realm of Akasha,
psionic beings are much more scarce.
Certain ile people have limited
psionic "powers," the Cyberpapacy is
approaching the concept of psionics
through cybernetics, and Core Earth
has had a few rare individuals gifted
with limited psionic powers.
It is known that other cosms, such
as Tharkold, possess some kind of
psionic abilities, but these have not yet
been introduced toCore Earth on any-
thing but the most limited scale. Out-
side of Akasha, psionic abilities are
the exception, not the rule.
Since psionics are a product of
Akashan society (and are truly more
tied into their evolved Social axiom
than even their high Technological
axiom), psionics area contradiction in
any other realm (save Core Earth).
Characters from other realms may
learn psionic powers from a Akashan
teacher, but psionicsare not natural to
them. To an Akashan, the nonexist-
ence of psioniC'S on a large scale seems the wherewithal to develop psionics. vidual can, over the course of many
unnatural. A teacher can be any other trained months or even years develop her
psionic (one with at least two adds in psionic powers. She may then de-
Psionic Powers and her psi skills). A resource is either an velop them normaUy (as per skill de-
Contradictory Realities institution set up to study the evolu- velopment explained above).
tion of psychic powers, or an environ- Unfortunately, such "break-
Though psionic powers were de- ment where psioniC'S are believed in throughs" are incredibly rare and al-
veloped by the Akashans, other spe- and developed. most prohibitively expensive. And,
des can benefit from the use of their One such environment might be a up until the PossibiHty Wars, there
discoveries. The Akashans have al- "psychic retreat," a place where people were almost negligible returns. How-
ways been willing teachers when those who are interested, and fervently be- ever, since the critical (and well-publi-
who need to learn have "the proper lieve, in psionic powers live and at- cized) success of Project Omen, the
attitudes." This usually means that tempt to develop psionics. These ar- Soviet Union's Psychic Institute,
the race or individual in question has eas range in variety from resort areas psionic facilities have begun to experi-
demonstrated a willingness to learn to certain ethnic neighborhoods. In ence an upsurge in both funding and
and a responsible social attitude. The these situations, it is important to keep applicants.
Akashans, for the most part. believe in the differences between psionics and Because psionic powers are rela-
aUowing races to evolve as they will as magic and miracles in mind when de- tively new to Core Earth, and foreign
long as they do not impinge upon the termining the whereabouts of such totheotherinvading realms, there are
rights of others. There are, of course, retreats. modifiers to the use of psionics in-
exceptions to the rule. A psionic institute founded in Core volving characters from rosms other
When a character from another re- Earth could also be a resource. This than the Star Sphere. These modifiers
ality wishes to learn psioniC'S,she needs would have to be a place where the apply to the difficulty number when-
the proper environment. This best minds in the field could meet, ever a psionic character from one of
environment's first requirement is a test, and experiment on and with indi- these cosms attempts to use an
place where psionics are possible un- viduals who possess the "aptitude" Akashan psionic power, no matter
der that cosm's axioms. Currently, for psionic powers. In reality, this where she is at the time. These modi-
only Core Earth and the Akashan realm aptitude is the belief factor necessary fiers. in the case of aU realms except
fit that requirement to make the breakthrough. Working Core Earth, are in addition to the pos-
Next, the character must either have with "psi scientists," a gifted indi- sibility of disconnection.
a teacher or a resource that provides

-.....,.,.62-----------/~
 Chapter Six

refer to weight, damage values, resis-- Bonus Number to: duration

tance additions, or any number of ef· Description: surrounds gases and
Psionic Modifiers fects governed by the power. Unless microbes in a telekinetic sphere
stated otherwise, the base effect value
Renm. of Difficulty can be increased by adding to the base The containment power creates a
Psionic Add difficulty number. See "Modifiers" sphereofforce centered around a point
Star Sphere o above. within the caster's range. The force
Core Earth +2 8onusNumberto: Thebonusnum· sphere contains gases, microbes, and
Nippon Tech +4 bercan beapplied tooneofthepower's other airborne particles with a Tough-
Nile Empire +5 attributes - range, effect, or duration. ness equal to its final effect value. U
Orrorsh +5 In the former two cases, the bonus num- damage is done to the sphere equal to
Cybe'P"pacy +7 ber is added to that value and used as a or greater than its Toughness, the power
Aysle +7 measurement. In the latter case, since fails.
Living Land +18 most power.; have durations of one The base radius of the sphere is one
round, the bonus number is thevalueof meter, but can be expanded. Todoso,
the time the power will last after the first the psionic must add two points to the
round. Also, in tN azst of duration only, base difficulty for every meter the ra·
the bonus number is always zero or dius is to be expanded. This power
The Psionic Powers greater. Since all powers have at least a can be mJlintained normally, although
duration of to seconds, negative bonus the sphere must be kept within the
The psionic powers are all given in numbers have no effect on a PJwer's psionic's range at all times.
a standard format. A psionic power is duration.
listed as follows: Desoiption: The description is a Energy Routing
short summary of the power's effects.
Farsighl All powers are described more fully Base Difficulty: 22
below. Base Range: skill value in meters
Base Difficulty: 10 Base Effect Value: 15
Base Range: skill value in meters Bonus Number to: effect
Base Effect Value: 14 The General Description: redirects energy from
Bonus Number to: range its normal flow direction
Description: allows psionic to see Powers
at great distances The energy routing power allows the
Base Diliiculty, The base dUficulty General Powers are available to all psionic to create an energy conduit
isthestandard difficulty required touse psionics of the Star Sphere and all using the power of her mind. The
the power successfully. Modifiers can those who can be taught psionics psionic visualizes a pattern of flow
beadded tothebasedifficulty (to allow within the realm of Akasha. The pow· equal to the range of her power from
for increased range or effect). ers are organized into groups by func- the energy to either its new destina·
Base Range: This is the standard tion. In order to learn a psionic PJwer, tion or direction.
distance within which a psionic power the character must obtain one add in Using this power, a psionic can fo-
may be used effectively. If the range is the relevant power group to which it cus the thermal or light energy pro--
given as a value, the range can be in· belongs. (See Chapter Eleven, "Char- duced by a fire, the fusion or fission
creased (unless specifically stated oth· acter Creation," for more information energy of an energy weapon, or any
erwise) by adding to the base difficulty on obtaining psionic abilities) number of kinetic energy types that
number of the PJwer. Psionics that she is aware of, and send it in a spec.i·
indicate "self' or "touch" as the range fled direction.
cannot have their ranges extended. Kinesis Ua character wishes to seize control
A range of "skill adds'" means to use of a pattern of energy, one produced
theskilladdsofpsionicmanipulationas The Power Group of Kinesis gov- by a laser pistol. for example, she must
a range value. A character with +4 in erns the movement of objects, per- beat the difficulty of the power first.
psionic manipulation has a skill adds sons, or energies using the power of Then, she compares the effect value of
range of six meters. the mind. Thispowerengagestheraw the power to the damage value of the
A range expressed as "skill value + strength and dexterity of the energy. U the effect value exceeds the
n" means add n to the skill value. the character's mind in a contest against damage value of the energy. then she
total value being the range value. A natural forces. successfully controls its direction. If
character with psionic manipulation 15 not, then the psionic character cannot
using a power with a range of "skill Containment reroute any of the energy.
value +3" has a rangevalueofl8,orfour If the character wishes to aim the
kilometers. Base Difficulty: 12 captured energy at a target, she must
Base Effect Value: The inherent Base Range: skill value in meters state her intention to do this before
"strength" of the psionic power. It can Base Effect Value: 5 seizing control of the energy, because

I~ --------------::63-··
Torg: SP,I(~t Gods

Originally developed by dry·dock

biotechnicians, this power was useful
for keeping objects secure outside
spacecraft. The psionic character fo-
cuses his mental energy on increasing
the gravitational pull on an object. It
was found, however, that while the
power was useful for its intended pur~
pose, it was much more effective within
a gravity well.
The effect value of the power is
added to the weight valueof the object
when a force attempts to move or lift
the object. The mental anchor, how-
ever, does not actually increase the
weight of the object (it would crush
many objects, not to mention what it
would do to a living being).
If the object of the spell is a living
being, the creature must generate a
Strength total equal to or greater than
the effect value in order to free itself
from the power of the psionic. The
power can be maintained if its hold is
not broken.

Psychic Wind
Base Difficulty: 10
Base Range: skill value in meters
Base Effect Value: 10
Bonus Number to: range
Description: produces a directed
telekinetic "wind"

Psychic wind projects a pattern of

telekinetic force outwards from the
caster. The wind is cone·shaped, and
expands at the end of its range to a
radius value equal tothe psionic'sskill
adds. The Strength and speed of the
wind is equal to the effect value.
Telekinesis
Base Difficulty: 14
Base Range: skill value in meters
this is a multi·action. If she success- directitata target. The power may not Base Effed Value: skill value in
fully seizes control of the energy (us- be maintained, but can be used. versus kilograms
ing the difficulty number modifica- many energy sources at once. Bonus Number to: range
tions on theOne--On·Many table), then Description: moves objects with
sheapplies her psi manipulation total to Mental Anchor the power of the psionic's mind
an attack versus the target's Dexterity
or dodge. The damage value of the Base Difficulty: 14 Used to lift objects by the power of
energy equals the amount of energy Base Range: skill value in meters the mind, telekinesis allows the psionic
the psionic was able to redirect. Base Effect Value: 16 to control objects over a range equal to
Energy rou ting in a comba t situation Bonus Number to: duration her psi manipulation skill value in
does not have to be a multi-action; the Description: anchors an object or meters. Likewise, the base effect value
character can send the energy off in a being against movement of the power is equal to the valueof the
dispersal pattern easier than she can psionic's skill.

~"64~-------/~
 Chapter Sill.

While the primary use of telekinesis Teleportalion (objeel) to beabletoseethedestination, though

is the lifting and moving of objects, the there is a +5 to the difficulty if he
character can also manipulate those Base Difficulty: 23 cannot.
objects with her mind. Forexample,a Base Range: skill value in meters A character will not teleport within
character could maneuver a set oflock Base Effect Value: 0 a solid object, and if there is no clear
picks into a lock and attempt to open a Bonus Number to: range area within two meters of the desired
door. This, of course, would be a One- Description: teleports an object to destination, the teleport automatically
On-Many action and would suffer or from the psionic fails. Otherwise, the teleporter arrives
from the nonnal difficulty modifiers. exactly where she specified, facing the
Also, characters can use the One- Teleportation (object) involves the same direction she did when she
On-Many table to control several ob- near-instantaneous apportation of an started.
jectsat once. AU objects must be within object from one place to another with-
range of the telekinesis power and out its having to pass through the in-
within sight of the psionic. tervening space. The power can either Psionic Defense
Finally, a character can use her tele- teleport an object from the psionic to
kinetic power to lift and hold other anywhere within her range, to the By using powers belonging to the
characters. However, unless the 0b- psionic from somewhere within that Psionic Defense Power Group, the
ject of the power is a willing partici- range, or from one point within her character is able to increase the de-
pant or unconscious, the psionic must range to another point within her fenses of her mind and, in some cases,
exceed thecharactersdodgeor Dutu- range. The object must be visible to the minds of others against intrusion
ity total with her psi mllnipulation total. the character. The total weight of the and control by outside influences. She
Also, if the character has an action object cannot exceed the effect value is also able to heal (toa limited extent)
during the round he is held (or if the of the power. Living beings may be those who have been injured by psionic
power is maintained after the first moved in this way, but the effect value attack.
round) the character may attempt to of the power must exceed their Tough-
use his maneuver or Dexterity to break 'less. If they wish to resist. they may Diagnostic Probe
free. To escape, he must beat the generate a bonus number and apply it
character's psi manipu/atioll skill total to their Toughness. Base Difficulty: 14
for that round. An object cannot be intentionally Base Range: touch
teleported within another solid object. Base Effect Value: 10
Telekinelic Flight Bonus Number to: effect
Example: Liztac wishes to teleport a
Description: assesses nature of
Lorbatlt over a pit of molten /twa.
Base Difficulty: 20 Both the I..orbaat and the pit are within damage to mentally injured character
Base Range: self Uztac's range. However, sina the
Base Effect Value: 10 While providing no actual healing,
Lorbaat has aToughnessof12, Uztac
Bonus Number to: duration has to incretJSe the effect value of the the diagnostic probe is helpful in assess-
Description: allows psionic to fly power. Healsoknows that theLorbaat ing the exact nature and extent of men·
will probably attempt to resist, so he tal damage a character has sustained.
One of the first telekinetic powers wants tocover that possibilityas well. This infonnation will help a psionic
developed by the Akashans was teleki- Hedecides toadd 14 to the effect value healer (or even a psychologist> to heal
netic flight. This power allowed them of uro, so his new difficulty number the injured character.
to move effortlessly (or nearly so) is 33. Liztac's psi manipulation When the character invokes the
through space with nothing but a pro- skill is 18. He needs abonus number power, he compares the effect valueof
tective suit. While not useful in the of at least+ 15 just to succeed. the power to the wound level the char·
least for extended space travel, this acter has sustained. The difficulty
power does make extravehicular ac- Teleportalion (self) numbers of the wounds are listed on
tivities much easier. the Medicine Chart on page 56 of the
However, when the Akashans tried Base Difficulty: 28 Torg Rulebook. If the character using
to apply this power inside the atmo- Base Range: skill value+3 in meters the diagnosis has a higher effect value
sphere of a planet, they found it much Base Effect Value: 12 than the difficulty number of the
moredifficult. Thepower lifts the char- Bonus Number to: range wound, she can successfully diagnose
acter of( of the ground, using an Description: teleports caster and the wound. Then, the result points of
unanchored, invisible force, and trans- belongings the diagnosis are added to a psychology
ports him at a speed equal to the result total or a healing power effect value
points of the power use. The total of Teleportatio" (self) allows a charac- (as long as the attempt at healing is
the weight and speed values of the ter to move her body and her belong- done within one hOUTOf the diagnosis).
character cannot exceed theeffectvalue ings (as long as the total weight value In addition, for every result above
of the power. does not exceed the effect value of the Average, the diagnostician can ask one
power) anywhere within the range of specific question of the gamemasler
the power. The psionic does not need about the mental wound. Forexample,

1~------------65-"
Torg: Space God.

a character with a SlIperior success course, invisible) strand of psychic whom are native to the Star Sphere or
could ask two questions: "What power energy connects each individual so Star Sphere transfonned (so there is
caused this wound?" and "How long protected. All protected characters no modifier to the difficulty number
ago was this wound caused?" would must stay within range of the psionic for nOtl-realm participation). He de-
be possible questions. Note that the character in order for the power to clares that hewifl "cover" all o/them.
answer must have something to do continue working. If one character Because he is using the power atl
with the wound itself. Whilethechar- steps out of range, then the power four people (himself included), his
acler could find out w/lnt psychic ceases working for that character only difficulty number is raised by +6 to
trauma caused it, he could probably and must be re-invoked if it is to affect 21. He decides not to perform the
not find out who caused the wound. that person. The power continues to multi-action of resisting psi strain.
work for the other subjects normally. Hector rolls a 10 a/ld then a 15,
General Resistance (group) The level of protection is equal to giving Ilim a bonlls /lumber of +8.
the Power Push of the effect value plus Addal to his skill of16, this gives him
Base Difficulty: 15 plus One-On- the target's psi resistance, M itld, or other It total of24, more tha/l enough for the
Many psionically attacked attribute. The power to take effect. All those within
Base Range: skill adds value in power only adds to the character's at- his range have a +6 (the Power Push
meters tributes when the character is defend- 0/ 15) to their resistance to psionic
Base Effect Value: 15 ing against psionic attacks. It does not attackfor SOseconds (the bonus num-
Bonus Number to: duration help a character to use other skills and ber of 8, plus the standard duration of
Description: provides the psionic's its power does not increase the one TDutld).
group protection from psionic powers character's resistance to psi strain. Since the difficulty number ex-
Example: Hector,a transfonnaiCore ceeds Hector's psi resistance value
The psionic. by using this power, Earth Stonn Knight with a psi ma- by seven, he takes seven result points
sets up a field of psionic energy lhat nipulation skill 0/16 atld a psi resis- of psi strain. Since he is possibility
prohibits the passage of psionic en- ratal, this metlns he is knocked-
tance 0/14, WQnts to protect his party
ergyeitherintoorout of the field. The down, has a K condition, and takes
from psionic attacks. There are three
field surrounds each individual like a two shock points.
other characters in his party, all 0/
second skin, but a narrow (and, of

-·,..."..,66-----------/~
 Chapter Six

If Hector wishes, the round before can reduce the effects of a mental dam- meters within which Telepathic pow·
thtdurtltion elapses, ht can maintain age on a character, and can actually ers are harder to use.
the general resistance (group) heal shock, K, and 0 conditions. U a The Power Push of the effect value
powuat its current lrotls and rtlnges character is mortally wounded, and at of the power is added to the difficulty
and thtdifficultynumberwill be 16). least one wound ismental, psychic aid number (and corresponding psi strain
Even if ont of tilt affrcted chRraders can prevent the character's death value) of all powers from the Ttltpathy
Imve5 tilt rangt of the pot«r, this through shock damage. power group if those powers extend
number remnins tiltsamt. Hector om, The psychic Qid effect value must into or through the radius of the
of cou~, allow tht duration to lapse exceed the difficulty numbers for repulsion's area of effect.
and re-invoke the pot«r. wounds listed in the Torg Rulebook on Note: Characters, unless they have
page 55. U a person has already re- some way of detecting the use of this
General Resistance (self) ceived psychic aid within the last 24 power, have no way of knowing when
hours, increase the difficulty of subse- or where this power is active. They
Base Difficulty: 14 quent psychic aid attempts by +3. should not be told until after they use
Base Range: self a power, and then only that "your
Base Effect Value: 16 Psychic Screen Telepathy was harder to use than nor·
Bonus Number to: duration mal" or "you don't know why you
Description: substitutes for psi re- Base Difficulty: 14 failed" orsomeotherhint. Theyshould
sistQnce (or applicable attribute) value Base Range: skill value in meters not know about the increase in the
versus outside psionic influences Base Effect Value: 16 difficulty number (and resulting psi
Bonus Number to: duration strain) until after they havetried to use
This power is similar to general re- Description: shields psionic and a Telepathy power.
sistanu (group) in that it provides pro- group from psychic probes
tection against aU direct psionic at-
tacks. Of course, like the group ver· Often necessary when travelling in Psychic Senses
sion of this power, it will not help a a hostile area, the psychic screen pow·
character get out of the way of an ers shield affected characters from Providing increases in the psionic
object thrown by telekinesis, but it will detection by all kinds of psychic probes character's existing senses and allow-
keep him from getting fried by a psi - from life sense to clairvoyQnce. The ing her access to senses normally ~
bolt. effect value of the power must be ex· yond her capability to utilize, the pow-
Ceneral resistance(seifJ is different in ceeded by the effect value of the search· ers in the Psychic Senses Power Group
one respect, however. Instead of in· ing power in order for any detection to are used forinformationgatheringand
creasing a character's existing resis- be made, and even then, only a Good or assessment.
tance to psionics, this power replaces better result will allow the searcher to
that resistance (if the effect valueof the know anything specific (number of Awareness
power is higher than the character's characters, etc.) about the screened
already existing resistance). While party. Base Difficulty: 14
psioniccharactersusually already have This power has no effect on powers Base Range: skill value in meters
high resistance to psionic powers,gen- that only enhance existing senses. Base Effect Value: 8
eral resistance (seifJ can be very useful While it will confound awareness, it Bonus Number to: duration
for confrontations. The character can does nothing to farsight, since fQrsight Description: gives a "sixth sense"
"tailor" the power by increasing the only makes a character able to see ability to character
Base Effect Value and the Base Diffi- farther than normal.
culty Number, and give herselfa short- This power warns a psionic charac·
term boost in the area of resistance. Telepathic Repulsion ter of imminent danger: a hidden
Unfortunately, this power, like its sniper, an ambush, a mec:hanical trap,
group counterpart, cannot be used to Base Difficulty: 12 or of an attacker behind the sensitive,
resist psi strain. Base Range: skill value in meters etc. Thecharacter feels a prickle at the
Base Effect Value: 13 back of the nec:k, or icy fingers running
Psychic Aid Bonus Number to: duration up and down his spine.
Description: repulses attempts at This power is different from other
Base Difficulty: 10 Ttltpathy against characters in range psionic powers in that it has an ex-
Base Range: touch tended duration. When the character
Base Effect Value: 10 Telepathic repulsion works to con- generates a psi manipulQtion total, she
Bonus Number to: effect found ttlepathic communications and automatically begins with a duration
Description: heals target of mental powers within a radius defined by the of9 (one minute). The bonus number
damage adds of the psionic character invoking is then added to the valueof nine for the
the power. A character with three total duration of the power; a bonus of
This power is similar to the first aid adds in psi manipulation, for example, +5 yields a duration of 14.
skill. Usingpsychichetlling,a character creates a sphere with a radius of four

I.
67
Torg: Space Gods

When the character is in danger, the character knows the direction the at- Torinkn and her companions - an
gamemaster generates an awareness tack will come from (within a five- ambush by a group of six Larhaats.
total based on the effect value of the degree arc). Ifthereisa Superior result, The insects are waiting around the
power. If this total beats the attacking the character will have a vague idea of bend to attack the party.
creature's stealth or other applicable the nature of the attack as well (fire Two rounds before the characters
attribute, the character becomes aware combat or energy weapons, melee, are to walk around the corner, the
that danger is imminent. psionics, etc.). On a Spectacular result, gamemaster rolls a secret awareness
the character actually gets a premoni- total for Torinka. He gets a bonus
tion of the attack, "seeing" it happen. number of 4, which makes Torinka's
Example: Torinkn chooses to use awareness Perception a 16. Since
S ample Difficulty awareness as she and a group of
Storm Knightsentera ruined temple.
tlrere are six Larhants, he reduces their
stealthof14 by -6 to an 8. This makes
Numbers Torinkn's auxlreness a Good success.
Since this is a stressful situation,
Sniper sniper's stealth Torinkn decides to up the Base E.ffect The gamemaster infimns Torinka that
plus range value Value by 4. E.ven though this will be there is danger uround tire next corner.
more difficult to use (she'll need an18
Surprise attackers' steattlr to sllccessfully invoke the power), her Farsight
Attack minus Many- awareness will have a value of 12.
On-One ON Torinkn generates a bonus num- Base Difficulty: 12
ber of +6 and successfully uses the Base Range: skill value in meters
Psionic attack Psionic's psi power. Since she starts with a hase Base Effect Value: 15
from afar manipulation skill duration of9, sire adds +6 for a total Bonus Number to: range
duration of15-100 rounds or about Description: allows psionic to see
17 minutes. After that, she'll have to al great distances
Depending on the level of success, make a maintenance roll.
the character gets additional informa- A few minutes later, the A character with the farsight power
tion. If a Good result is obtained, the gamemaster hasa surprise in store for can make Perception-based skill at-

-··....,.,..68------------8
 Chapter Six

tempts anywhere within the power's are living beings within range of the
range at no penalty for range. How- power.
ever, if the effect value of the power
does not equal orexceed the character's
Average: The number and direction
of each creature is revealed.
D etection Chart
Perception-based skill, then the effect Good: The relative sizesofeach crea- Type of Power Modifier
value replaces that skill. Thus, a char- ture is known to the character. General Power -2
acter with a find skill of 17 would only Superior: The sapience/non-sapi- Coar Power +1
be able to use a find of 15 when search- ence of each creature is revealed. Zinatt Power +3
ing within the range of the power. Spectacular: The alignment (or rela- Aka Power +5
tive alignment, if the creatures have
Implanted Perception none) of each creature is revealed.
At a Good or better result, the char-
Base Difficulty: 17 acter will also get impressions of This power allowsa psi character to
Base Range: skill value in meters undead or constructed creatures. detect the use of psionic powers within
Base Effect Value: 13 These creatures will seem "wrong" to range of the detection power. The base
Bonus umber to: duration the character, and she will be loathe to difficulty for detecting a power is 10,
Description: allows psychic to probe any deeper; in this case, the modified by what type of power has
"plant'" her awareness in an object maintenance difficulty is the same as been used:
the final difficulty.
A character can use this power to Obviously, a character must adjust
"implant'" her Perception within an Perception Projection the difficulty and the effect values for
object. The effect lasts for as long as the power to detect anything other
the duration, or as long as the charac- Base Difficulty: 20 than a General Power.
ter ca n successfully maintain the power. Base Range: skill value in meters A character who succeeds in detect·
8e<:ause the effect of the power is only Base Effect Value: 15 ing a power with a Good or better
13, only 13 points of Perception may be Bonus Number to: range result knows what power group the
allocated to the object. The only skill Description: psionic can see detected power belongs to. A Superior
that can be used while the character's through solid objects result reveals which power it is, and,
Perception is within the object is psi on a Spectacular result, the character
numipuiation for the maintenance of To see through solid, or near-solid, knows any adjustments that have been
this power only. objects, a character can use perceptioll made to the power's base values.
Initially, the character must be able projection. The character's Perception
to see the object she is casting her (or up to the effect value in attribute Psychic Infravision
Perception into. This may be with her points of it) are "projected'" through
own eyes, or through the use of a any solid object or concentration of Base Difficulty: 8
psionic power. Afterwards, however, near-solid objects. The effect value of Base Range: skill value in meters
the object may be moved out away the power must meet or exceed the Base Effect Value: 0
from her, as long as it remains within Toughness of the structure for the power Bonus Number to: duration
range of her power. to work, and there must be an open Description: psionic can see heal
space behind the structure (but within and cold patterns
Life Sense range of the power) for the effect to
work. Since it allows a character to see
Base Difficulty: 15 If the gamemaster does not know heat and cold patterns in fine detail,
Base Range: skill value in meters the Toughnessof a structure, hecan use psychic itlfravision is useful for tracking
Base Effect Value: 14 the Cover Value Chart as a guide. The newly-made prints and seeing where
Bonus Number to: range Toughnesswould be between the maxi- people's hands have recently been. It
Description: psionic can sense the mum value and -10 less than the maxi- also confers a certain amount of night
presence of living beings mum value. For example, a stone wall vision on thecharacter,aslongas there
has a Toughness of from 30 to 40, de- is variance in the heat patterns around
Uft sen~ reveals the presence of pending on its thickness. her.
living creatures within range of the When using psychic infrauision in
power. The effect value of the power Psi Detection conjunction with tracfdng or roidence
must exceed the Spirit of a creature for analysis, the character is allowed to
that creature to be detected. How Base Difficulty: 10 add the Power Push of the effect value
specific the power is depends on the Base Range: skill value in meters to his applicable skill.
success level of the psi manipulation Base Effect Value: 8 This is, of course, assuming there is
roll: Bonus Number to: duration something to see. Since heat patterns
Minimal: Thecharacter knows there Description: detects ongoing uses left by living creatures grow less obvi-
of psi powers ous over time, the gamemaster should

0\ --------------------6-9..'-·
Torg: Space Gods

take that into consideration. Forevery Compare the effect valueof thecloud not have any adds in that skill, she can
10 minutes the "trail" has grown cold, mind to the target's Mind. The cloud still use the skills at their pool adds.
add +3 to the difficulty number of mind power lowers the target's Mind Example: Torinka invokes a mind
tracking or evidence a'lalysis, unless the by the Power Push result points of t.he meld with Chakkataand aCore Earth
creature was extremely hot or cold, or power. Thus, if a character has a Mmd Storm Knight named Hector. Be-
the environment is extreme. of 10, and the effect value is left at its cause thereare two "additional" char-
When this power is used, the charac- base of 11, the target character's Mind acters in the meld (Torinka, as the
ter can only see in the infrared spec- would be reduced by -1 for the dura- psionic invoking the pawer, does not
trum; normal colors and patterns are tion of the power or until the psionic count towards the extra difficulty),
invisible to him. If something has the character stops maintaining it. the difficulty number is increased by
exact same temperature as its environ- 4 to 17. In addition, Hector is 1I0t
ment, then it is invisible to the character. Empathy native or transformed to the Star
Sphere. He adds an additional +2 to
Base Difficulty: 12 the difficulty because he is from Core
Telepathy Base Range: skill value in meters Earth, making thefilUl/ difficulty a 19
Base Effect Value: 10 (and, of course, the psi strain num-
One of the most popular Power Bonus Number to: effect ber).
Groups among members of the Star Description: senses the feelings of Nevertheless, Torinka succeeds in
Sphere, the Telepathy powers link the target her attempt, and tile three are joined.
characters together with a bond more
They can communicate instanta-
efficient than any other type of com· Empathy is the ability to sense what neously until the duration lapses (10
munication. another character is feeling. It allows secollds plus the bonus number) and
a telepath to determine whether the they can share certain skills.
Beacon target is angry, afraid, lying, happy, Torinka contributes her trick adds
sad, etc. The effect value of the power
Base Difficulty: 12 must exceed the Spirit of the target.
of three to the pool, Hector his D!edi~
Base Range: skill value+3 in meters cine add of one and Olllkkata hIS psi
On a Good or better success, the char-
Base Effect Value: 0 resistance of three. Since this adds up
acter can tell if the target lies in re- to 7, two aver the effect value, some·
Bonus Number to: duration sponse to questions, and on a Spec-
Description: a psychic "alarm" thing must go. Chakkata and Torinka
tacular result the character can tell - both declare they will "hold back" one
in very general terms - why the tar- add each of their skills. Now, they am
The beacon is a psionic appeal for get feels the emotions detected.
help. It is a "broadcast" of psychic all draw on olle add of medicine and
tuxJ adds each of psi resistance and
energy that can (and will) be picked Mind Meld trick, as long as these adds are not
up by any psionic character within
range of the power. The c~racter Base Difficulty: 13 plus One-On- higher than their existing skill levels.
using the beacon has no say In who Many
"hears" it and only telepathic repulsion Base Range: skill value in meters The mind meld remains in effect until
can shut it off or seal it in. Though no Base Effect Value: 5 the invoking character chooses not to
words are exchanged in the beacon, maintain it, or until the duration runs
Bonus Number to: duration
the power is generally recognized as a Description: links minds together out. If a character leaves the range of
signal of distress or need. the power, or is knocked unconscious,
A psionic character who "hears" the This power allows characters to link she leaves the meld and any pool skills
beacon automatically knows the direc- she contributed leave with her. The
their minds together, giving them in-
tion of the beacon and, by making a psi meld, however, is not broken, though
stantaneous communication and a
manipulation roll ofBor higher, can judge those skills may not be replaced.
sharing of gathered information. They
the distance within one Torg value (a It is possible to increase the effect
are also able to access certain of each
Goodorbettersuccessgetsitrighton). If other's Perception- or Mind-based skills. value ofthe power dramatically, "pool-
the attempt to judge range is made after ing" a considerable number of skills.
The character's participating in the
thebetJcon shuts off, then thedifficu1ty is It is important to remember that these
mind meld have the ability to set up a
increased by +1 for every 10 seconds characters are mentally joined to each
"skill pool" so that they can actually
alter the beacon has ceased. share Perception- or Mind-based skills other for the duration of the power.
Successful mental attacks versus one
with each other. The pool consists of a
Cloud Mind number of skill adds equal to or less character in the meld do no damage to
the other characters, but the unset-
than the effect value of the power.
Base Difficulty: 15 tling experience causes the other char·
Any character can draw upon any skill
Base Range: skill value in meters acters to act unskilled.
within the pool, but the pool adds are
Base Effect Value: 11 used instead of those that character
Bonus Number to: effect normally uses. If the character does
Description: lowers target's Mind

--'7-0 --------8
 Chapter Six

Perception Distraction thoughts. Theeffectvalueofthepower Description: resists attempts of

must beat the target character's Mind CharisrtUJ influences on character
Base Difficulty: 16 value in order to work and, unless a
Base lUnge: skill value in meters Good result or better is obtained, the A character who is under the influ-
Base Effect Value: 13 character being scanned knows some-- ence of this power hardens himself to
Bonus umber to: effect thing is wrong (if she is a psionic, then all skill attempts that involve the Cha-
Description: lowers the target's she knows she is being thought risrtUJ attribute (charm, persuade, taunt,
Ptreeption scanned; if she is not, then she be- etc.). The Power Push of the effect
comes aware of some form of danger value is added to the character's resis-
Working similarly to the cloud mind and may resist). tance skill or attribute, increasing an
power, perception distraction attacks the Certain powers block the use of opponent's difficulty number. In ad-
Perception attribute. Compare the ef- thought scan, but it may also beactively dition, any character affected by this
fect value of the perception distraction resisted. U a character knows he is power automatically starts at least as
to the target's Perception. The percep- being scanned, or if he feels "some-- Hostile to all Chann or persuade attempts
tion distraction power lowers the thing isn't right," he may resist by - whether the player likes it or not.
target's Perception by the Power Push rolling a bonus number (minimum of
result points of the power for thedura- +1) and adding it to his Mind or psi Clear Thought
tion of the power, or until the psionic rtsistance. Uhis total equals or exceeds
stops rtUJintaining it. the power total, he blocks out the Base Difficulty: 15
thought scon. Base Range: self
Send Thoughts The psionic using this power does Base Effect Value: 14
not have to see the character being Bonus umber to: effect
Base Difficulty: 8 plus One-On- scanned, but must know of her loca- Description: shakes off effects of
Many tion (just behind this door, directly in psionics on character
Base Range: skill value+3in meters front of me, etc.). If the psionic cannot
Base Effect Value: 0 see the target the d ifficulty is increased A character who is under the influ-
Bonus Number to: range by +5, unless the psionic has some ence of psychic cOlltrol, but still has some
Description: projects psionic's other way to precisely locate the tar- freedom of choice, may attempt to use
thoughts to others get such as a homing device. clear thought to free himself from the
effects of the psionic control. The effect
One of the most common Telepathic valueofthe power iscompared to the psi
powers, send thoughts isa basic form of The Aligned manipulation total ofthecontroUingchar-
one--waycommunication. Thecharac- acter and, if the effect is higher, the
ter sending the thoughts may speak Powers controlled character is free.
for as long as the duration lasts, or Note: This power is usually only
until he decides tostoprtUJintaining the The following are powers that are good against the most basic and subtle
power, but, unless the receiving intertwined with the Akashan philoso- psi control powers. Against some--
character(s} has/have the thought sam phy of Coar, Aka, and Zinatt. Only thing as sophisticated as domination,
power, they cannot telepathically re- characters who have chosen one of the for example, the character can't even
spond. The power is strictly for one-- three alignments are able to use any of think to clear his thoughts.
way communication. these powers.
It is possible, however, for a charac- Enhanced Adrenalin
ter to send images or abstract thoughts
to another character. If the sender Aka Powers Base Difficulty: 17
chooses, he can send what he sees or Base Range: self
imagines to the receiver instead of 10 Those characters aligned to Aka are Base Effect Value: 15
seconds of speech. Because the power most concerned with the control of Bonus Number to: duration
is so basic, he cannot do both. their bodies and their minds. They Description: increases the Tough-
believe that the way to enlightenment ness, Strength, or Datmtyof the psionic
Thought Scan lies inself-eontrol. Forthis reason,Aka character
powers reflect the mind beingdirected
Base Difficulty: 16 inword instead of outward. Compare the effect value of the
Base Range: skill value in meters power to the target's chosen attribute
Base Effect Value: 14 Charisma Control on the Power Push Table. The result
Bonus Number to: effect points of the push are then added to
Description: allows psychic to scan Base Difficulty: 9 that one attribute for the duration of
surface thoughts Base Range: self the power (or until the character stops
Base Effect Value: 6 maintaining it).
Thought scan allows a character to Bonus Number to: duration Using the One-On-Many difficulty
read another character's surface modifiers, an Aka character can in-

8-----------71- 10
Torg: Sput Cods

crease two or even three attributes at

the same time. In this case, the highest
attribute iscompared to the effect, and
the result points of that Power Push
are added to all three attributes. The
character must succeed totally in this
case, or the power fails. The psi strain
number is equal to the highest diffi-
culty number.

Mind Seal
Base Difficulty: 19
Base Range: self
Base Effect Value: 14
Bonus Number to: duration
Description: allows caster to seal
off her Mind for later resistance to
psychic attack

A devious power, the mind seal iso-

lates a part of the character's Mind
from surface access.
Invoked before a Mind-attacking
power, the effect value of the power
must be equal to or higher than the
psionic's Mind to take effect. If suc-
cessful, the character's Mind is red uced
to zero until the duration lapses. The
c?aracter cannot use, maintain, or re- Psychic Willpower
Stst any psionic powers, and he cannot just before he is about to infect her
use any Mind-related skills. with the plague,her Mind comes back
Qnd she gets to break free. Since she Base Difficulty: 14
The duration of the power has a Base Range: self
value equal to the initial Mind of the caught Zan nee by surprise, she
smashes th rough his domination and Base Effect Value: 10
character, and a bonus number is Bonus Number to: duration
added to this value to determine the is able to act on her own again.
Description: enhances or provides
final duration. Just before using this willpower for character
power, the character may statea maxi- A risky power, some of the most
mum duration he does not wish to proficient of the Aka-aligned Akashans
have been able to use it to great effect The Power Push of the effect value
exceed, no matter how large the bonus of this power must exceed the
number ends up being. against their enemies. They are
thought to be brain·damaged or con- character's willpower for this power to
When the duration ends, the be effective. If it does, then this value
character's Mind bursts forth, resist- trolled and, when their foes relax the
mind sealed character breaks free.' replaces the current willpower value
ing any attempts at control. For the for the duration of the power or until
first round after the Mind is unsealed, Note: Characters with Mind values
of zero are still able to act. However, the psionic chooses to cease maintain-
the character gains a +5 to all attempts ing it.
at resisting influence or control. If the simple actions now require rolls to
controlling power normally attacks acc.omplish..To accomplish a simple
achon (walking forward, loading a Spirit Enhancer
some other attribute. thenforthat round
only, the Mind attribute is used to break gun, etc.) the character must generate
a bonus number of -2 or higher. Base Difficulty: 17
free. Base Range: self
Complex actions, such as shooting
Example: Torinka has been captured a gun or performing acrobatics, have Base Effect Value: 14
by theenemy. She knows that Zonnec, an additional +10 to their difficulty Bonus Number to: effect
an Akashan Comaghaz host, is going numbers for the duration of the mind Description: Increases the effect of
toattempf to dominate her. SO,just seal. Mind-related skills may be used, the Spirit attribute
before he tries. she uses the mind seal but they are performed at the attribute
power. She succeeds. level of zero, plus the character's skill The amount by which the effect
Naturally, Zonnec also succeeds. adds, and with the +lOdifficulty modi- value of the power exceeds the
He maintains the power, leading fier. character's existing Spin'f is read on
Ton'nka into his stronghold. Then, the Power Push table. Theresultpoints

-:;·'7;:;-2 --------8
 Chapter Six

are added tothecharacter's Spirit until Base Effect Value: 16 Dr. Turner, so the unfortunate man
the character ceases to maintain the Bonus Number to: duration gets no active resistance.
power. Description: totally dominates the Generatiug a oorlUs number of 9,
target character ZOllnec compares the effect value of
Suspended Animation 18 (he didn't choose to increase it) to
Attacking the target's psi resistance Turner's three attributes. It is higher
Base Difficulty: 19 or Mind, Perception, and Spirit, domi- than his Mind+2,his Perception+4,
Base Range: touch nation is a power even most Coar- and even his Spirit +6. Dr. Turner is
Base Effect Value: 16 aligned characters hesitate to use. controlled by Zonnec for 10 seconds
Bonus Number to: duration Domination imposes the will of the plusthebonusnumherof9(1 minute),
Description: suspends the psionic totally over the target. or 70 seconds.
psychic's bodily functions for an ex· To use the power, the effect must Dr. Turner now ads according to
tended period of time exceed thetarget'spsi resistance or Mind Zom/ee's wishes. He will use his
by two points, the target's Perception Dexterity and Strength skills nor-
Unlike most powers, suspended by four points, and the target's Spirit mally, but, because his Mind is can·
animation has a base duration of more bysix points. These modifiers are based trolled, Zonnec cannot force him to
than 10 seconds. This power lasts for on the multi-action modifiers - domi· use his medical knowledge. Huwever,
a Torg value of 25 (one week), plus the nation is an action which must target ifZonnecwishes, Dr. Turnerca" use
bonus number generated. Also, u.n- the Mind, Perception and Spirit of the any of Zonnec's skills with +2 added
like most other powers, the character target, in that order. The target is only to all the difficulty numbers.
can control the bonus number. The able to resist if she knows the assault is
character can state, before generating coming - if the target is surprised, Ego Strike
the total, any duration from a week on then no active resistance is possible.
as the target duration. In order to begin the domination, the Base Difficulty: 13
The power keeps the character's psionic character must be within her Base Range: skill value in meters
physical and mental conditions from skill value of the target. After the Base Effect Value: 14
changing. If a character is wounded target has been successfully domi- Bonus Number to: effect
when she enters suspended animation, nated, the controlled character may be Description: performs a psionic
she is still wounded when she wakes sent up to the psionic's skill value+3 in taunt
up, no matter what has been done to meters from the psionic.
her. The target is completely and abso- The ego strike is a psionic taunt,
Unfortunately, if a character in sus- lutely controlled by the psionic. The attacking the target's psi resistance or
pended animation is injured further, that target, if ordered, will use her Strength Charisma. (but not the target's taunt
condition is added to whatever she had or Dexterity skills in the service of the value). Th~ result points of the effect
beforehand. Suspended characters do dominating character. However, all value are read on the Taunt/Trick
ignore shock, K, and 0 conditions, Perception, Mind, and Spirit skills must Chart. If the ego strike is successful, it
but, when they awake, they are treated be supplied by the controlling psionic, u.ndermines a target's self-assurance
as being knocked down for the next and their totals are reduced by two. and confidence. This power cannot be
round. The target cannot act independent maintairled.
Note: As in the case of Those Who of the psionic's orders, but can follow
Wait, certain tech and bio--tech devices complicated instructions. If the psionic Mind Probe
can regulate, extend, and shorten the performs any action other than a
sllspended animation power's duration simple one while the person he con- Base Difficulty: 20
and modify its effects. trols is performing a complex action, Base Range: skill value in meters
the psionic is at +2 to all difficulty Base Effect Value: 17
numbers and the controlled being isat Bonus Number to: effect
CoarPowers +4, in addition to all other difficulty Description: deepprobeoftarget's
modifiers. However, if the psionic Mind
While most associate Coor characters concentrates (performs no actions
with violence, they are also devoted to other than mentally controlling the A more powerful version of thought
the idea of extroversion. These charac- dominated individual), she can per- scan, the milld probe allows the charac-
tersseekoutsidethemselvesforanswers ceive through the target's senses and ter to ask specific questions of the probed
and power,and the psionic powers most act directly through the target. This character'sMind. If the effect value of
closely ascribed to them reflect this de- power can be maintained. the power is higher than the character's
sire for an outward focus. Mind or psi resistallce, then the probing
Example: ZOllnec tries to dominate character is given a totally truthful an-
Domination Dr. Kevin Turner, a Core Earth Ord. swer to one question for every level of
Dr. Tumerhasno psi resistance,but success attained per round the power is
Base Difficulty: 24 a Mind of13,a Perception ofll ,and in effect.
Base Range: see below a Spirit ofl0. Zonnec has surprised Therefore, a Good result allows the

1~--------73-"
Torg: Space God.

character operating the mind probe to - right in the middle of "Hostile. '" drama deck and add it to his hand.
ask two questions of the character Thus. in orderforChakkata tosuc- Trust and Uroe: The target character's
under examination every round the cml in getting thefanner to trust him attitude to the psionic is improved for
power is maintained. This power may enough to follOW his orders, the the duration of the emotion. All persllQ-
be resisted by rolling a bonus number Akashan needs to exceed herSpirit by sion or chann attempts are made as if the
(minimum of +1) and adding it to his 10 points. character were l.Dya1. While this isn't
Mind or psi resistance. If this total equals blind faith, it is helpful.
or exceeds the power total, the milld While any emotion can be simu- The effects of other emotions must
probe fails. Mind probe is automatically lated by this power, there are a few be defined by the gamemaster.
detected by the target. very popular choices: A character whose emotions are
Confusion: When used against a manipulated does not know some--
Project Emotion player character, confusion prevents a thing was WTong until after the dura-
character from using cards from his tion lapses. Then, if she is not still
Due Difficulty: 14 hand, or activating them from his pool. caught up in the consequences of her
Base Range: skill value in meters emotions, she can attempt to realize
The target may gain new cards and
Base Effect Value: 12 play them into his pool normally. that the emotions she felt were "un-
Bonus Number to: duration When used against a villain, confusion natural" to her. The former target then
Description: overlaysdesired.emo- prevents a villain from using the taunt, makes a Perception or evidence analysis
tions on target test of wills, trick and intimidate skills roll versus the effect valueofthepower.
whenever they appear on the confljct If it is successful, the character knows
A character with the project emo- line of the drama deck. that something was done to make her
tions power is able to ITansmit emo- Despair: Thetarget loses confidence feel the way she did. Psionic charac-
tions by overcoming the target's Spirit. in himself and is treated as though ters will probably be quick to figure
U successful, the target experiences stymied (see the Torg Rulebook, page out what.
the projected emotion. What emo- 61).
tions can be projected are dependent Fear: The target becomes afraid. If Psi Scrambler
upon the receiving character's state of the target is in combat, she breaks (us-
mind. The emotions are generally di- Base Difficulty: 24
ing the Torg rules). If she does not
rected at whoever the character is in- Base Range: skill value -3 in meters
break, all additional attacks made
teracting with at the time, though the against feared beings are at +4 to the Base Effect Value: 16
emotions can be undirected (blind Bonus Number to: duration
difficulty number. If the character is
rage, for example). not in combat, she will seek to flee Description: creates a sphere of
The effect value of the power is until she is out of the power's range. psionic interference
compared to the target's Spirit. The
Hatred: The target is made to hate
result is then read on the TorgCharm/ one other character who he is interact- Psi scrambler is used to interfere with
Persuade Table. The amount of suc- ing with at the time the power is used. psionic powers. The scrambler sets up
cess depends on how dose the target The "hated" character may be speci- a globe of psionic interference cen-
already is to the emotional state de- fied by the psionic, as long as the tar- tered on the psionic. The radius of the
scribed by the psionic. Remember, get isawareofhispresence. Thetarget sphere is equal to character's skill
circumstances do influence the diffi· of the emotion will immediately at- value-3 in meters.
culty. tack the hated character, unless it is The power interferes with all at·
Example: Chakkata is trying to C01l- impossible or suicidal. If so, the char- tempts at psionic use within the sphere.
vincea Core Earth farmer to leave the acter will taunt, test, or intimidate the Any power which is used within or
area becauseComaghaz-infrcted m i/i- character until the duration ends. through the sphere of the scrambler
ta'll units are invading. The farmer, The target becomes incensed and is must exceed thesoambler's effect value
htJWt'fXr, is adamant and rtfuses to up, gaining an additional roll for each in order to work. If it does not, then
lmw her land. Having failed i1l his round that the emotion lasts when the result points of psi scrambler are
persuasion attempts, ChakklJta de· attacking the hated character. The added to the psi strain taken by the
cides to Ust the project emotion target may not use any active defenses psionic attempting to penetrate the
power to make the farmer trust him while the hatred lasts, and will not power's area of effect. This power
implicitly. break from combat. may be maintained.
The gamemaster rilles that the Inspiration: The target becomes in- Example: Zonnec is being attacked
fanner already trusts Chakkata, which spired: all shock and KO damage are by a group of three Stonn Knights,
would normally be read as removed, and any further shock or KO 01le of whom is Torinka, a psionic.
"Friendly"or even "Loyal," but damage taken by the target are ig- Zonnec decides to interfere with her
since the Akashan is trying to get her nored while the effects of inspiration abilities by setting up a psi scram-
to do something totally against her last. Ii the target is a player character, bler.
naturr, the gamemaster moves the at the moment the inspiration takes Zonnec has a psi manipulation
{anno's attitude to 10 result points effect he may draw one card from the of17 and a psi resistance of 18. He

--'='"74 ---------/~
 ChaplerSix

decides to add 5 to the effect value Bonus Number to: effect ceeds. Otherwise, there is no change
(making it really hard for Torinka to Description: sends a concentrated and the power may not be tried again
operate), which adds +5 to his Base telekinetic force at a target until the following day on the same
Difficulty (now 29). wound.
Zonnec rolls. He gets insanely Derived from the General Power of This power benefits by use of the
lucky, roWng a 20, 10, 10 and then a telekinesis, telekinetic attack is definitely psychic diagnosis General Power. This
17 for a bonus number of 15. The a Coar-aligned power. The psionic power cannot be mailltained.
scrambler succeeds, and has a dura- concentrates on forming a small "fist"
tion offifteen minutes(plusa round). of telekinetic force and hurling it at the Alignment Discovery
Zonnec takes 11 points of psi strain. target. The psi manipulation total must
He takes a Wnd 04, which he spends exceed the target character's Dexterity Base Difficulty: 14
a possibility to cancel. or dodge. Thefistdoesdamageequal to Base Range: skill adds in meters
Torinka, unaware of Zonnec's ac- the effect value of the power. Base Effect Value: 8
tion, decides to set up a mind meld This power may not be maintained. Bonus Number to: effect
between herself and her two compa- Description: determines the align-
triots. Since she is tnilinly interested ment of the subject
in the instantaneous communiCiltion Zinatt Powers
provided by the power and the shar- To greater define the balance of all
ing of her psi resistance, Torinka Characters aligned to Zinatt strive things, it is necessary for a Zinatt-
does not increase the effect value. Her to maintain balance in all things. Good. aligned character to understand the
total difficulty (and psi strain) for the and Evil, Order and Chaos; Zinatt- motivationsofindividuals. This power
use is 17. aligned characters work to keep both helps.
She beats the difficulty number of extremes in check, so that the universe If the effect value of the power meets
the meld, but the gamemaster then can survive. For this reason, powers or exceeds the Spirit of an individual,
informs her that Zonnec had a psi specifically aligned to Zinatt are those then the alignment is revealed to the
scrambler in effect. Since the effect that allow characters to define the con- psionic. Otherwise, no information is
valueofthescrambler is 21, 16 more cept of "balance" and maintain it gathered. If the character has no align·
than the effect value of the meld, within their environments. ment, then no information is gath-
Torinka adds the 16 points to her psi ered.
strain valueof 17. Comparing this to Accelerate Healing Note: If a character is examined
her psi resistanceof14, she will take who has an "out-of cosm" alignment
19 result points of mental damage Base Difficulty: 13 (such as "hollor" in Aysle), then those
from the psi scrambler. Unless Base Range: touch adds are increased by five for the pur·
Torinka has some Possibilities to Base Effect Value: 8 poses of the check only. If the effect
spend, she's dead. Bonus Number to: effect exceeds the adds +5, or the Spirit,
Description: restores the balance whichever is greater, then the align-
Psychic Assault of the individual ment and the adds are revealed at
their correct levels.
Base Difficulty: 15 This power restores balance within
Base Range: skill value in meters an individual's mind orbody. Acceler· Clairvoyance
Base Effect Value: 10 ate healing helps to remove physical
Bonus Number to: effect and mental wounds that interfere with Base Difficulty: 22
Description: attacks the target's the character's personal balance. Base Range: self
Mind To use the power, the psionic Base Effect Value: 9
touches the wounded individual (or Bonus Number to: effect
This power is used to damage a herself) and wills the balance to be Description: looks into the prob-
target's Mind. The effect value of the restored. The effect value must then able future
poweriscompared to the target'sMind equal or exceed the difficulty of the
or psi resistance and the result points wound, as read on the MedicineChart, When faced with a difficult situa-
are read on the Combat Results Table page 56 in the Torg Rulebook. How- tion, a character with this power can
as mental damage. This power may ever, instead of assisting the character assess the possible effects of one course
not be maintained. to heal, the psionic forces that healing of action. He uses the power and then
upon the character's body or mind asks the gamemaster one specific ques-
Telekinetic Attack (this healing can be resisted by rolling tion regarding one particular course
a bonus number and adding it to the of action his character could take.
Base Difficulty: 18 difficulty number, a minimum bonus Depending upon the result of the
Base Range: skill adds in meters of +1). power, the character is informed about
Base Effect Value: 14 If the effect does exceed the diffi- information regarding the most likely
culty number, then the power suc-

75
••
Torg: SPilce Gods

consequences of his action. Since real- probably happen. or not that character is possibility·
ity is always changing. of course. the SptdQcular: The character gets a rated, what axioms she is governed by
effects are not always helpful. This very clear image of what will happen and. on a Superior or better success,
power may not be maintQined. as a result of his action. and is able to what her renlity adds are (if she has
Theamount of time theclQirvoyance visualize the entire time-line up to the any at all).
power can look forward along the end of the time range. Reality probe may also be used to
possible time-line is equal to the effect Note: Remember, clairvoyance only examine a tool from another cosm, to
value. Any consequences that begin reads possibilities. It is tied deeply determine what axioms it is governed
after the range is exceeded cannot be into the concept of alternate realities. by. The effect value must equal or
assessed. even if theaetion that caused Even though a character is able to exceed the highest axiom level of the
them was performed during the range "read" the most likely possibilities by tool to be effective.
of time covered by the power. using this power, the results are never On a MinimQI or Average success,
Example: Oprning Q door to an definite. Once the character acts, he the character learns the axiom levels of
abandoned building. Arthur debDtes may change the reality that supports the tool; some tools may require two
whether or 1I0t he should go in. He the future possibility he has just wit- or more axioms to work, such as a
uses thedairvoyance power to try to nessed. device which requires magic and tech-
decide. He says to tlregQmemQster "I nology.
want to know the conseqUellCe5 of Living Harmony On a Good success the character
entering the building." learns what the tool does. On a Supe-
Getting a Minimal re5111t (see be- Base Difficulty: 12 rior success the psionic learns how the
IOW)Qnda "time range" ofone minute. Base Range: self or touch tool is activated/ used; if the item can
the $QmemllSter informs Arthur that Base Effect Value: 16 be used unskilled, the psionic can use
he {eels neither good nor bad Qbout Bonus Number 10: duration it. On a Spec:tacularsuccess.the psionic
going into t~ building. Description: allows the character can use the item as if skilled. but only
This means that. for the next to survive in a hostile environment for the duration of the renlity probe.
minuteofgQmeplQy.going in will not This power may be maintain£d.
be good or bad for him. It does not To explore alien environments, the
cover the fact that, an hour after en· Akashans needed powers that would
ferillg fhe building, Arthur will find help them survive in hostile areas. Sense Past
10 gold bars or that. two hours later. While they could develop bio-tech
creatures toassist them (and they did), Base Difficulty: 21
he will be attacked by a group of
they decided to evolve a "fall-back" Base Range: touch
Lorbaat. Even though these events
occur becau~ Arthur entered the system for emergencies. Base Effect Value: 25
building. they happtn after the time Living harmony is that power. The Bonus umber to: effect
effect value of this power is compared Description: detect impressions of
range is ovn'.
to the target's Toughness on the Power beings and events surrounding an
How accurate the power is depends Push Table, and the result points are object
on the success of the psi mQnipulQtion added to the target's Toughness. This
skill total. allows characters to remain in uncom- Thisability allowsa psionic to touch
fortable environments longer, go with- an object and sense past events and
Minima/and Average: Thecharacter out air for limited periods of time and, creatures connected to the object. The
gets a "good/bad" impression about not coincidentally, resist damage from effect value of the power equals the
an action he wishes to take within the injuries. value of the time past a psionic can
power's time range. assuming one is The target, if she is not the psionic. sense.
possible. If not. the character does not must remain in contact with the psionic This power has a duration of 10
feel one way or the other about the for the power to remain in effect. The seconds and CQnnot be maintained.
action considered. power may be maintained. However, the character using the
Good: The character feels what sort power gets all the information about
of situation he will be placed in if he Reality Probe the object available at once. The
takes the considered action. "Danger- amount of information the character
ous," "safe," "interesting." and "in- Base Difficulty: 13 can assess depends on the level of
formative," are just a few examples. Base Range: skill value in meters success of his psi manipulation total.
The character does not know the whys Base Effect Value: 8
and wherefores. Minimal Success: Thecharactergets
Bonus Number to: effect general impressions only. Uthe object
Superior: The character gets a Description: reveals strength and has a purpose, he can sense what the
vague picture ofwhat exactly will hap- realm of possibility-rated characters
pen if he pursues the course of action object has been used for but not how it
he considers. Thispictureis,ofcourse, has been used, and he gets a general
If the effect valul this p'wer sense of the alignment and attitude of
subject to changes in reality, but por- equals or exceeds the Spmt or renlityof those who have used it or been near it
trays a reasonable idea of what wiU a character, the psionic can tell whether within the range of the power.

---------8
-··7.....,....6
 Chapter Six

Average: There is a clear impression This power helps a psionic assess Example: Arthur Perez, a trans~
of the most recent owner, or the most the abilities of a potential friend, en~ formed Core Earth character, is try-
recent person to touch the object, but emy, or even a passerby. When in~ ing to assess a possible recruit for a
this impression is non-visual. The voked, the power searches the target's mission. Her name is Kelfain
character knows the general personal- subconscious and reveals those skills Darkrobe. She says she is a skilled
ity of the person and their sex, if appli- the character has been trained to per- mage from Aysle, but he isn't sure.
cable. form. If the target knows she is being He uses the skill search power.
Good: All the people who have been searched, she can resist by generating a Kelfain's Spirit is 9 and she is
in contact with or near the object within Spirit or psi resistance total higher than unaware that she is being searched.
the power's time range are revealed. the effect value. Arthur's psi manipulation skill is
Vague visual impressions are also If invoked successfully, the 17. He rolls, generating a bonus
given, the most dear being the most gamemaster (or the player, if a player number of +4, giving him a skill total
recent. If the object has a purpose, the character is being searched), compares of21 (which succeeds) and an effect of
character knows what it was used for the effect value of the power to the 18. This easily beats Kelfain's Spirit,
and how. Spirit of the character to determine the and gives Arthur 9 result points.
effect. If it does havean effect, then the Since Kelfain isagamenwsterchar-
Superior and Spectacular: A very number of result points is the number acter, the gamemaster consults his
clear picture of all previous owners of of skill adds revealed to the searching notes for her statistics. Slle has
the object and those who have been character. apportation magic at 4 adds, divi-
near it (within the time range). Per- Starting with the skill with the high- nation magic 3, stealth3, fire com-
sonality, physical features and even est adds, the gamemaster or player bat 2, languages (Spanish) 2, and
some abilities are made dear to the reveals that skill to the searching char- first aid 2. That's a total of 16 adds.
psionic character. If the object was acter along with however many adds Tile gamemaster starts by reveal-
made within the time range, then the the character has in that skill. Then, if ing Kelfain's apportation magic of
character knows exactly how and by there are still result points left, the fOllr. That reduces the number of
whom. character reveals the next highest skill, Arthur's "search points" tofive. Then,
and so on. he tells Arthur that Kelfain has clivi·
Skill Search If, however, there are result points nation magic at three adds. Arthur
left, but not enough to "cover" the has two points left. Since that iSn't
Base Difficulty: 19 number of adds, then the character enough for the gamemaster to reveal
Base Range: skill adds in meters reveals only that she has the skill, but fhe total number of adds, he tells
Base Effect Value: 14 not how many adds she has in it. Arthur tlmt Kelfain "alsohas stealth. "
Bonus Number to: effect
Description: reveals the skills pos-
sessed by a character

o
o
o

8---------77-··
Tors: Space Gods

Chapter Seven

Miracles of Faith
1.1 he philosophy of align-
ment permeates all life
in the Star Sphere, and,
subsequently the realm
Range: sell
Duration: 5 (10 seconds)
Effed': allows character to travel
along Nazca lines
of Akasha on Earth, to
the extent that many characters can Success at this miracle allows a char-
perform miracles of faith. acter to travel along the ancient Nazca
lines. The character transforms into
energy and flows along the line, cov-
The Doctrine ering the distance in one round.
The rate at which a character trav-
Because of the law of Acceptance, els is based on the number of result
characters ha ve access to miracles from points, which are converted into
other rosms. As all rosms are part of meters per turn using the "Torg Value
creation, followers of the paths of Chart. There is no upper limit to how
H

Zinatt, Aka, or Coor may useany miracle fast a character may travel using this
from any other realm. To accomplish miracle. A line rider isawareof all that
this, the character must have at least he passes along the way, and may
one add in{aith (Akasha). He must also elect to travel at a slower rate and stop
have seen the miracle performed be- at any point during thejoumey. How-
fore attempting to invoke it (see the ever, the rider must declare where he
Torg Ru.lebook and individual supple- will stop before invoking the miracle.
ments for information on other A line rider does not suffer any ill
miracles available). effects from his passage, no matter
It is also possible for non-natives of how fast he travels. The invoked
the Akashan realm to perform the geomantic energy will even carry him
miracles of other faiths while in the over structures that straddle the line,
realm. To accomplish this, thecharac- instead of smashing him into them.
ter must have at least one faith add, If more than one character is riding
and will need to purchase an add in a road, then they do so in a linear
faith (Akasha). He must also receive fashion, one behind the other. Riders
three months of training in the travelling the lines in opposite direc-
Akashan philosophy from a follower tions do not block one another. A rider
of one of the three paths. Once that is simply passes through one travelling
completed, he will have the abi.Hty to in the other direction.
cast miracles of other faiths, providing Exgmple: Clwkkata stands on an
he has seen them performed. nltrgy line and performs the miracle.
Certain miracles can be performed Hegeneratesg total 0122 for 17 result
only by those of a particular align- points and travels 25 kilometers in
ment, and theseare listed below. Those 10 seconds.
immediately following can be per-
formed by anyone, regardless ofalign- Tongues
ment. Cha racters performing miracles
which match their alignment receive a Spiritual Rating: 11
+1 bonus to their focus totals. Community Rating: 9
Difficulty: 12
Ride Lines Range: voice
Duration: permanent
Spiritual Rating: 13 Effect: allows communication in
Community Rating: 8 any language
Difficulty: 13

--------/fY1
---:u7:::""""8
 Chapter Seven

With this miracle in effect, the char- stand and be understood by. He liefs (Le., from 'Zinatt to Coar), she
acter can understand the language of chooses the Brazilian. retains knowledge of the miracle but
anyone intelligent species or charac· Eikat invokes the miracle success- cannot cast it until she returns to her
ter within range, and can be under· fully, and so he can 110W speak and original alignment.
stood by any intelligent creature who ullderstand Portuguese. He can also
speaks that language. There is no guar· still speak his native language
antee that the creature or character (Akaslum) if he wishes to. Zinatt Miracles
will wish to speak to the caster. Efforts Eikat next decides tocommunicate
at persuasion may be necessary to get a with the American. Again, he suc·
conversation started. cessfully invokes the miracle, and Computer Empathy
The tongues miracle affects the per· IIOW can speak English. In addition,
son invoking the miracle only, and he finds out that the Nile hero speaks Spiritual Rating: 13
allows him to understand one lan- English, so now all three adventurers Community Rating: 12
guage per invocation. The tongues can communicnte. Difficulty: 12
miracle has no effect on written or Range: Touch
signed language. Duration: 9 (one minute)
Example: Eikat has been foU'ld by a Aligned Miracles Effect: increases a character's abil-
Brazilian resistance fighter, a Nile ity to use computers, cyberdecks, and
hero, and an American reporter. He Aligned miracles all require that artificial intelligences
can't speak any of tlleir languages the character be committed to one of
(Portuguese, Egyptian,and English), the three principal schools of Akashan With this miracle in effect, a charac-
and wishes to use the tongues miracle. thought to employ them successfully. ter can communicate with and under-
Since there are three different indi- If a character learns a miracle of one stand all varieties of computers, eyber-
viduals, he has to pick one to under- alignment and then changes her be- interfaces, including cyberdecks, and

8--------79- 10
Torg: Space God,

artificial intelligences, even if the char- and the area without, see Chapter
acter has no previous knowledge of Three, "The Realm."
them.
If the rite issuccessful, the character
E lectro-Damper
Spirit Shield
may substitute his faith skill for the Difficulty Chart
relevant 5<ienu skill when generating Spiritual Rating: 9
Tech Difficulty
a total for the duration of the miracle. Community Rating: 5
30 20 Difficulty: 5
Ease Frenzy 26 16 Range: self
24 14 Dwation: 1400 minutes)
Spiritual Rating: 12 23 11 Effect: increases a character's resis-
Community Rating: 10 20 10 tance to attacks against his Spirit
Difficulty: varies (see below)
Range: touch This miracle is a character's best
DurOItion: 25 (one day) If this miracle is successful, the tar- defense against spiritual attacks and
Effect: ends target's frenzy get device ceases to operate. As soon certain psionic powers. When this
as the cleric stops perfonning the rite, miracle is invoked, it surrounds the
This miracle is one of the two ways the device will become active again. character with a shimmering net of
an ongoing frenzy (see Chapter Four, This miracle will not affect biotech energy that extends for five centime--
"Skills") may be ended. The difficulty devices. ters in all directions. Although a spirit
number of the miracle is the DN-2 of shield glitters, it gives off no actual
ending the frenzy through strength of Create Reality Tree light, so a character with an active
will (see the "Ending Frenzy Chart" spirit shield does not glow in the dark.
on pageSS). Spiritual Rating: 13 When a spirit shield miracle is used,
This is a dangerous miracle, as the Community Rating: 16 the character generates a faith total.
cleric must be touching the target at Difficulty: 25 Result points generated are added to
the time he invokes it, always risky Range: touch the character's Spirit in the same way
with a frenzied creature. Ifsuccessful, Dwation: permanent that normal annor adds to a character's
the target's frenzy will be ended for Effect: createsa reality tree, a living Toughness. These result points protect •
one day, giving him time to recover hardpoint of reality the character from spiritual attacks
from wounds and making him less only: they do not increase his Spirit for
likely to lapse into frenzy again. At the This miracle is the way Akashans purposes of using skills, etc.
end of the duration, have the target can expand or anchor their realm on
generate a frenzy total to see if he re- Earth, and may also be used to create
lapses. other, non-destructive realities. Akite Miracles
The tree is a special biotech con-
Electro-Damper struct which spreads a given reality
across a set radius of effect. To achieve Introspection
Spiritual Rating: 12 this, a seed must first be planted and
Community Rating: 9 this miracle invoked. The rite itself Spiritual Rating: 12
Difficulty: varies (see below) takes 24 hours to perform. For the first Community Rating: 10
Range: 500 meters) half of this period, the seed is taking Difficulty: 10
Duration: performance root, and the person invoking the Range: 500 meters)
Effect: shuts down electrical de-- miracle must spend three Possibilities Duration: 9 (one minute)
vices to ensure success of that stage. Effect: Protects against harmful
At this point, a sapient being must miracles
This miracle allows a character to enter the reality tree (the surface will
tum offelectrical devicessuch as lights, become fluid to admit him). This be- The introspection miracle allows the
automobiles, computers, radios, cam- ing must beof the rea Ii ty the hard point caster to protect himself from the ef-
eras, alarms, batteries, generators, etc. is to represent, and the being must be fects of harmful miracles. The caster
The electrical item becomes inopera- willing to enter. withdraws into himself, using his Spirit
tive as though all power to it has been The tree closes immediately after to ward off harmful miracles. The
rut. this, and over the next 12 hours, the caster generates a faith total and reads
Thed ifficulty of the miracle is based being enters a form of suspended ani- the result points on the Power Push
upon the Ttchnologieol axiom of the mation and is joined with the tree. table. The result is added to the diffi-
item. When invoking this rite, consult For more infonnation of the effects culty numbers ofany hannful miracles
the "Electro-Damp'" Difficulty Chart.' ofreality trees, both on thebeing within used against him.

-··....".".80-----------/~
 Chapter Seven

Replay Reality Range: Self Push table, are then subtracted from
Duration: 10000 seconds) the target's Toughness. This miracle
Spiritual Rating: 13 Effect: increases the amount of works on base Toughness only, and
Community Rating: 12 damage unarmed combat attacks does not affect armor adds.
Difficulty: 15
Range: Self With this miracle, the caster is able Spirit Sword
Duration: 18 (one hour) to increase the amount of any damage
Effect: lets a character replay his he inflicts in an unarmed combat attack. Spiritual Rating: 13
last action The amount of additional damage Community Rating: 12
caused is equal to his faith adds. This Difficulty: 5
This miracle is performed asa ritual miracle cannot be used in conjunction Range: touch
and stays in effect fOTone hour or until with the spirit sword miracle. Duration: 1400 minutes)
the character makes use of it. At any Effect: creates a sword of spiritual
time prior to the end of the ritual's Reduce Toughness energy
duration, the character may immedi-
ately re-attempt any action that he has Spiritual Rating: 13 This miracle allows a character to
just failed at. For example, the charac- Community Rating: 12 create a sword made of spiritual en-
ter having just failed to actively dodge Difficulty: 10 ergy. The sword appears in the
an attack, could immediately attempt Range: 5 (lO meters) character's hand and has a spiritual
another active dodge roll. Duration: 9 (one minute) damage value equal to the character's
Effect: reduces the Toughness of an Spirit plus the result 'points of the
object miracle. A spirit sword can only be
Coar Miracles used with the melee weapons skill, as it
This miracle reduces the Toughness is not a biotech device.
of any person within range. The char-
Boost Damage acter generates a faith total after the
miracle is successfully cast and com-
Spiritual Rating: 13 pares it to the target's faith or Spirit.
Community Rating: 12 The result points, as read on the Power
Difficulty: 10

81
I.
Torg: SpUI! Gods

Chapter Eight

Locations

II
he Akashan realm is a mountain as their headquarters, and
strange place where man security checkpoints along the
countless aliens now re- access road. Bus and train trips into
side-somewithincred· the Urubamba Valley near the ruins
ible mental powers, oth- are carefully monitored, particularly
ers with hideous physical appearance, as the animosity of the other realms
still others with something of both. toward the Akashans has become
Surrounding them is a world which known.
mixes the modem and the ancient, a All of this means that one must get
place both beautiful and dangerous, authorization, sneak one's vehicle past
and one which offers many opportu- the guards, or climb the Inca Trail to
nities for the adventurous Storm reach the city. The latter is the safest, if
Kn;gh!. the most arduous, route, and even
when beginning near the city, it can
take several hours to a day to reach
Machu Picchu one's goal. People making this attempt
should keep in mind that the perim-
A haven for the Akashans during eter of the citadel is guarded by Moni-
their first sojourn on Earth, and a sub- tors, many of whom regard any in-
ject of human speculation ever since, truder as a possible Comaghaz host.
this ancient fortress has once again The easiest way to approach the
become a site of vital imjXlrtance to city is by climbing up the terraces,
the "'Space Gods." The Machu Coar most of which lie between the Hotel
members who made up Those Who de Turistas and the main entrance to
Wait havetTansfonned it intoacombi- the citadel. These require climbing tc:r
nation military/scientificcenter, while tats of 8 {lO, if done at night>, and are
never losing sight of its symbolic im- extremely steep. As the Knights reach
portance to the Akashan people. thesummit, have them generate Tough-
After the decision to abandon the ness totals - below a 9, they take hvo
Incans, Those Who Wait took steps to shock points as they fall victim to
isolate Machu Picchu from the rest of soroche, or altitude sickness.
the world, using an artificial cloud There are two means ofentering the
bank similar to that employed near city, passing through the main gate-
the Signal Fire. For centuries, only the way or taking the stairs to the upper
locallndians were aware of the exist- terraces and then climbing down into
ence of the city. the midst of the ruins. The latter is
In 191 t the machinery which con- extremely dangerous - many of the
cealed Machu Picchu broke down. and genmcmutations fostered by Akashan
an American explorer named Hiram bioengineers cluster in the mountains
Bingham chanced ujXln the ruins. In near Machu Picchu, and will gladly
the years that followed, archaeologists, feed on visitors.
historians and tourists used the site Most of the citadel consists of stone
for a playground, but never managed ruins, although in some areas the
to uncover the resting place of Those Akashans are working to rebuild. Im-
Who Wait. mediately upon entering, one sees the
Machu Picchu has been closed to circular tower, a lookout point for the
tourists by order of the Peruvian gov- Monitors, and the royal tomb, where
ernment since the arrival of the Incan rulers were laid to rest. The re-
Akashans, and security is tight. Mem· built tower has one entrance and a
bers of the Peruvian armed forces use steep staircase and stands 12 meters
the Hotel de Turistas at the base of the high.

':"2:----------------------------11\,
4 ......
8
 Chapter Eight

K ey to Mach u Piech u
1• Access Road
2• Entrance to Citadel
3• Stairs to Upper Terraces
4· Circular Tower and Royal Tomb
5• Springs
6 • Sacred Plaza and the Main Temple
7• The Initwatana, Sun Dial, and Moon Calendar
8• Huayana Picchu Peak

"
~:.
•
,
(l1\tl Space Gods: Map 2 I,;'~n,
~ Machu Picchu \\... :::R~

:.
..
'
~.;

I~ -------------83-··
Torg: Sp;ac:r Gods

['n] Space Gods: Diagram 2

~ Cocaine LabfWarehouse
°ooocJ°O:
0 0 0 Concealed
loading Bay

.:, '6d>0 I
0 0 0
Processing lab

°cib°·
o· • CJ:1) I D
0 0 0 0
II I I 0
Ie:::
q B
D- D
Warehouse

CJ
~
ITJO
Em Em
I~IDDD
Cuard Station
~ f
living Quarters
-

D b [g

t:=l Secondary
~ ~ ~

<0000 Entrance
0 00

~·"·""'84""--------------------------
I~"\
//Ul1
 Chapter Eight

The royal tomb is not guarded very Butupon m~ting the Akashansand from five to 10 heavily armed men.
heavily. It is being used as a biotech speaking with them, the Nipponese The guard station connects to liVing
lab, but only for the development of discovered. more than they bargained quarters for lab/warehouse person-
relatively harmless physical enhanc- for: Rotan Ulka had approved a ship- nel and the main warehouse.
ersand general gear. Weapons are not ment of reality tree seeds to Chile, and The warehouse is a huge room filled
constructed. in this part of the citadel. they were being held at Machu Picchu. with boxes. Most of these crates con-
In the center of the city is the Sacred Here was an opportunity to steal the tain cocaine in plastic bags, usually
Plaza and the main Temple, where seeds and discover their secret, possi- covered with toys, fabric, or other in-
Those Who Wait slumbered forcentu- bly even use them to destabilize the nocuous-looking goods to allow them
ries. This is the key part of the Akashan other realms. to pass cursory customs inspections.
base, and is heavily guarded by Moni- The Storm Knights have been hired In some cases, the cocaine is concealed
tors. Even members of the client races to guard the seeds, along with a crew inside other goods.
are forbidden to enter here. Dormant of Monitors, at least one of whom has In the rear of the warehouse is a
biotech weapons are strewn around been bribed by the Nipponese. Should concealed loading bay, through which
the perimeter of the plaza waiting for 3327'sagentssuccessfully raid thecita~ the drugs are loaded on to trucks. They
the presence of an intruder to spring del and get their hands on the seeds, it are then driven to small airstrips and
their traps. In the lower levels of the could mean an increase in the Nippon marinas for purposes of smuggling
main temple, one finds the cryogenic High Lord's power as well as a blow to into foreign countries.
equipment that housed Those Who the relationship between the Akashans Connected to the warehouse is the
Wait, as well asa large biotech facility and Storm Knights in general. processing lab, where the drug is ex-
devoted. to the production of weap- tracted from the coca leaves and "cut"
ons. to the various levels of purity required.
The site of the ancient sun dial and Cocaine Labl Pure cocaine is more powerful and
moon calendar is another crucial one. Warehouse more addictive, as well as being more
Puzzled over by archaeologists for expensive. Cocaine which has been
years, the dial and calendar can be diluted with other substances is
Storage facilities and laboratories
manipulated to reveal a subterranean cheaper, but often fatal to the user,
for illegal drugs abound throughout
chamber filled with artifacts collected South America, where a combination depending on what other element has
by the original Akashan visitors dur- been introduced to the drug.
of corrupt governments and police
ing their journey. Their worth is ines- Cocaine lab chemists are highly
forces and the proper climate to grow
timable. paid, but often get no chance to spend
coca leaves allow cartels to reap huge
Huayna Picchu Peak and the sur- profits in relative safety. their money. They are rarely allowed
rounding area was the landing site for In some nations, like Chile or Peru, to leave the facility, and once it is
Rotan Ulka and many of the lightships great pains are taken to conceal the determined .that they know too much
in his fleet. They have burrowed. them- about an operation, they are killed..
identity of cocaine labs from the au-
selves into the ground and are await- Periodically, efforts are made to
thorities. In others, such as Columbia,
ing the time when they will be able to root out the drug cartels with minimal
the smugglers are notoriously lax
soar again. success. A few labs are burned, a few
about such things, making efforts only
The capture of Machu Picchu is drug dealers shot, but the money and
when their government comes under
viewed by Sarila as a necessary step to the guns controlled by the gangsters
pressure from other countries to crack
break the will of the Akashans, butane are too great for the governments to
down on narcotics trafficking.
she will take only after much consid- control. The arrival of the Akashans
The standard cocaine lab/ware-
eration. An invasion of Peru by the has changed this, however - to the
house is located. either along the coast,
Comaghaz at this stage could force aliens, people who manufacture and
where it can be disguised as any other
Rotan Ulka to order his forces home. sell addictive drugs are no better than
storage building, ordeep in the jungle.
slavers. AnAkashansubstance known
Machu Picchu Adventure The main entrance is commonly large
wooden sliding doors, which open into as sanjee produces the same high as a
Hook narcotic without the addiction, and
a small antechamber. There is only
one door in this room, often made of cleanses the body of other addictions
Intrigued by the living equipment reinforced steel painted to look like at the same time.
of the Akashans, 3327 has dispatched wood (Toughness 16). There are no Put-upon law enforcement officials
a team of researchers to Peru to ac- windows in such a building. see this as a potential weapon to be
quire samples. Posing as Asian affili- Passing through the antechamber used against the cartels, and violence
ates of the South American Develop- door requires the use of a password, between drug smugglers and the
mentTrust, they have already wormed. which may be altered every day or Akasha ns increases daily. Mea nwhile,
their way into the confidence of the every week,depending on thearea the attempts by the Yakuza to infiltrate
government and undertaken a daring lab is located in. This door leads into a the cartels has the drug lords fighting
plan. guard station, staffed by anywhere a two-front war.

8 - - - - - - - - - 8 5 -..
Torg: spilc~ Gods

Cocaine LablWarehouse (Those found to be telepathic can have 7.62minigun(damagevalue27,ammo

Adventure Hook their records sealed, if they so wish, to 10, range 3-250/1k/2k). Two of these
allow them to keep their talents se- posts flank the main gate, the only
The Medellin drog cartel has begun cret.) entrance to the camp.
actively recruiting Lorbaat and Most psionics institutes are gov- Five buildings make up the entire
Gudasko to serve in their forces. Tell- erned by Akashans, although there facility. An administrator's office and
ing them that sanjee is a will-sapping area few operating under the auspices guard barracks are visible off to the
concoction designed to make them of Core Earth psychics. left as one enters, and a hospital (for
slavesof the Akashans, they have won treating guards injured in riots)stands
their loyalty. In addition, they have Psionics Institute Adventure to the right.
forced many of the aliens into cocaine Hook The largest building is the
addictions to ensure they will obey Comaghaz carrier cell block, where
orders. Membersofthe PeaceThroughGod those suspected of having the plague
These drug-erazed creatures have party have infiltrated a large psionics are kept until there is definite evi-
been used for suicide attacks on institute and are subtly indoctrinating dence one way or the other. All cells
Akashan facilities as well as govern- the students into theCyberpapal faith. aredesigned for solitary confinement,
ment offices. As the Akashans are re- Their aim is to turn the group into a as the Argentineans have yet to grasp
sponsible for the Lorbaat and Gudasko psychic strike force who can use their the concept of the group mind.
being here, they feel an obligation to mental powers to forcibly convert oth- Roughly 500 prisoners can be held in
deal with this problem. They are not, ers to Malraux's religion. the building at anyone time.
however, adverse to Storm Knight aid. With no more evidence than ru- Once a prisoner is determined to
The Storm Knights must find the mors to goon, the Storm Knights can- have the plague, he is transferred to
central lab where the aliens are being not make a direct attack on the insti- the "death house," where he is ex-
"processed" and smash theoperation, tute. However, if they can show suffi- ecuted and then vivisected by doctors
while the Akashans round up those cient interest in psionics (and seeking a c1uetothe plague. Occasion-
already addicted and cleansetheirsys- Cyberpapism?) and get admitted to aUy, a carTier will be kept alive but
terns. the institute, they might havea chance drugged as a subject for various ex·
to stop the Peace Through God plot. periments.
But if they wait too long, they will find One would think that those found
Psionics Institute the full mental fury of the students to be clean of the infection would be
directed at them. released, but that is not the case. Some
A number of psionics training cen- pretext is usually found todetain them,
ters have come into being in the with the real reason being fear that
Akashan realm in the wake of the in- Argentinean they will seD the plans of the facility to
vasion. As more and more people outsiders who would attempt a raid.
awaken to their latent mental powers, Comaghaz (This is a moot point - group mind
a need has arisen for qualified men- Penitenciaria cell members trapped in these camps
tors to teach them how to use these have usually broadcast details of their
abilities safely. The Comaghaz plague has struck surroundings to fellow carTiers on the
Psionics institutes advertiseopenly, particularly hard in Argentina, spur· outside within hours of their arrival.)
but often charge large fees for their ring the government to create a series The Argentinean government h<1s
services and will not accept just any- of prison/death camps known as refused requests by the Red Cross to
one as students. Applicants must prove Comaghaz Penitenciaria. Although visit the camps, and even the guardsare
that they have some aptitude for their stated purpose is to prevent the not allowed to walk freely. They go
psionics and vow that they do not spread of the plague, many from post to barracks, and most quietly
intend to use these powers for de- Argentineans claim they are being disappear just before their term of ser-
structive purposes. used to house political prisoners and vice is due to ron out (after all, they
Most psionicsstudentsareexpected other "undesirables." might somehow have been infected
to Jiveon the premises fortheduration The penitenciaria are justly feared during their tour and be prepared to
of their training. Living quarters are as prisons from which the only escape spread it throughout the nation).
provided in the rear of most schools. is death - either the gradual break· Supply trucks visit the facility once a
The other features of the institutes down caused by theComaghaz virus, week, but drivers are not allowed to
are an administrator's office, a series or a military firing squad as punish- disembark. All unloading is done by
ofclassrooms, psionics testing labs and ment for being a potential carrier. security personnel. Any driver or pas-
isolation booths. Labsareused largely All penitenciaria are essentially laid senger who does leave the vehicle with·
for telekinetic experiments, in which out the same: four concrete walls, four out permission risks arrest or execution.
subjects atterrpt to move large objects meters high, topped with barbed wire
with the power of their minds. The (damage value 13). Within the walls Argentinean Comaghaz
isolation booths are useful when test- are seven guard towers, each manned Penitenciaria Adventure Hook
ing students' telepathic abilities. by two guards, armed with a mounted

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Torg Space God$

~ Space Gods: Diagram 4

(8) Argentinean Comaghaz Penitenciaria
---_ _. -- --- .
·_ ---- --- -. --
··
··
···
··
·
Hospital

Death House

Carrier
Cell Blocks

Administrative
Offices

Guard Barracks

-··-=88------------/~
 Chapler Eight

[Jr!1 Space Gods: Diagram 5

~ Jiron Zepita Black Market Warehouse

gg 8;o-re<h Weapons g
ITD§ Bio-Tech Armor
gg arn=TIID([J]JJ]J 0
lIIl 0 lIIllID mem
olIIllIDlIIlrrnrn
Communications Gear

Non-Organic
Tech 24·30 Weapons

Office

Main Entrance
_ • • • • _ ::: Concealed Door

8\ ---------------------8-9.. .~
Torg: SP.llC~ God,

(1'1] Space Gods: Diagram 6

~ Bio-Tech Lab

....
~
Stairs .. -'.-. ' ...
. ,
...
::J .-·· ··
· ··
·•· Bio-Tech Test lab
·
.., ·. ·:
..·
Cold Storage
.., ·.....
". " .. ." .. ... ·
.., II I
0 ~ ~

:Of]
~
Q
0 0 0 0 t::j
Q
6
- 0
f=1 1 1 0 Bio-Tech lab 0
~
Bioengineering
Lab

kl I;=J Elevator

0 0 000 0
0 0 0
II
000
L-
Office
0 -
=
Bestiary

,
D
0
Monitor Quarters
~

- 0
01 S.cu,ily
Checkpoint
~
t::
~ ,J
0
O~
Elevator
b I II
.
Main Entrance

-·,on90-----------/~
 Chapter Eight

''Death house" inmates have rebelled Visitors are advised to be careful will find both a biotech repair lab and
against their captors and managed to about whom they bargain with. a bioengineering facility for modifica·
free some of the test subjects before Larendi and Core Earth nalives a re the tions and complete redesign of exist·
being herded oock to !herr ""lis by the most reasonable, while Lorbaat con· ing weapons and equipment.
guam.. Although not ;nkcted by the sider the idea of the "counter-offer'" to Also located in the center is a cold
Comaghaz plague, they arecanying an be an insult and will respond with storage room for cultures, a testing lab
experimental bacteriophage designed violence. Gudasko can rarely be found for biotech devices, and a "bestiary"
to combat the alien illness. at such places, except as servants to designed to hold the creations of the
Unfortunately, the rure failed, trans- other races. bioengineers as well as the raw ge-
forming five people into maddened netic material they can draw from.
monsters with incredible strength and Jiron Zepita Black Market Most biotech labs are official!y spon-
nascent mental powers. Fearinganother Warehouse Adventure Hook sored by the High Council, but a few
riot, penitenciaria authorities have re- have been created without the knowl-
fused to send security people after the The Storm Knights have begun an edge of Rotan Ulka and the Monitors.
escapees, leaving it to nearby Storm investigation of a series of mysterious They are usually guarded by merce-
Knights to challenge these creatures murders in the vicinity of a black mar- naries, and operated by renegade
which once were men before they grow ket warehouse in Lima. The victims bioengineers who knew they would
even more powerful. appear to have been savaged by some never get the permission of the au-
sort of wild animal, but their personal thorities to conduct their experiments.
possessions - wallets, watches, etc. Whenever possible, Monitors move to
Jiron Zepita - were not touched. close these labs down, but they are
Black Market In truth, the unfortunate victims well-hidden and well·protected,often
were killed by a Gudasko in the em- by the results of theiroccupants' games
Warehouse ploy of a Peruvian black marketeer. with nature.
They had all purchased expensive en·
Located in Lima, the Jiron Zepita ergy weapons from the Peruvian in Akashan Biotech Lab
black market boasts the largest collec· the Jiron Zepita warehouse. The Adventure Hook
tion of Star Sphere equipment (both Cudasko then murdered them and
biotech and energy weapons) in the took the devices back to his employer Having obtained financing from the
world. Little effort is made to conceal so they could be sold again. Kanawa Corporation, a renegade
the purpose of lhe warehouses that The Knights will have to make a Akashan bioengineer is hard at work
dot the area, although the presence of sucressfuJ purchase in the warehouse in a secret lab attempting to improve
biotech gear is hidden, lest the atten- to bait the Gudasko into another at· Nippongospog and mass~producethe
tion of the Akashans be drawn lhere. tack and trace him back to his master. seeds for same.
A sufficient amount of cash given Meanwhile, Kanawa has his scien-
to the guard at the door can gain one tists working on more deadly designs
admittance. A long corridor stretches Akashan Biotech Lab for the gospog armor which will tum
before the recent arrival, with open the creatures into unstoppable one-
doorson both sides. Threeof the rooms The arriva Iof the Akashans bearing being armies. An increasingly con-
in the warehouse have secret exits biotech equipment has necessitated the cerned 3327 plans to use them to launch
which lead to secondary storage clos- construction of lab facilities capable of a mass attack against Indonesia and
ets where biotech equipment is kept. repairing damage and making basic drive Thratchen from power. Once
Among the items on sale (at vastly modifications. These labs tend to be Orrorsh is leadlerless, 3327 will aban-
inflated prices) in the standard Jiron located in secluded spots, to prevent don Daikoku and ally himself with the
Zepita warehouse are non-organic the basics behind the technology fail- more powerful Heketon.
energy weapons, Core Earth firearms ing into the wrong hands. Many are The Storm Knights must stop the
and explosives, microorganic physi· subterranean science centers, while bioengineer from successfully carry-
cal enhancers, some communications othersarecamouIlaged by ramshackle ing out 3327s orders, fighting their
gear (usually pirate versionsofNippon exteriors. way through his army of mercenaries
or Cyberpapal equipment), and ar· Once past a security checkpoint and mutates to do so.
mor, both standard and biotech. (staffed by three Monitors), a visitor

91
••
Torg: Space Gods

Chapter Nine

Creatures
large number of strange
Dinsenda
creatures have made
DEXTERITY 14
their appearance on
Unarmed combat 17
Earth since the creation STRENGTH 18
•
of the Akashan realm. TOUGHNESS 16
Some of these were brought from the PERCEPTION 8
StarSphere by the lightship armada in Find 10, tracking 16, trick 9
a form of ark, others are the result of MIND?
the unleashing ofairborne gene spores Survival 10, test 11, willpower 10
in the realm by unethical bioengineers, CHARISMA?
which resulted in mutations of Earth Charm (20), persuasion 9, taunt 11
creatures. Finany, therearea few which SPIRIT?
went into dormancy at the same time Intimidation 18
as Those Who Wait and were roused Possibility Potential: none
when they were. Natural Tools: teeth,damagevalue
STR+6/24, scales, armor value
TOU+2/18
Dinsendas
Dinsendas are large, three-meter- Iemisch
tall carnivorous lizards from the world
of Jukatta. Originally animals which Iemisch are not new to Earth, hav-
operated on instinct alone, their genes ing been present during the original
were altered at some point in their expedition to50uth America,although
evolution and they now possess al- those specimens were hunted down
most human intelligence. The even- and slain by the Incans in 1521. lemisch
tual result of this was their conquest of are known in Mayan folklore as "wa-
their world, and their warlike ways ter tigers," being big cats with the
have discouraged their galactic neigh· swimming skills of the otter and the
bars from attempting to trade with ability to live in the jungle or in fresh
them. water.
Dinsendas are covered with blue lemisch kittens are often kept as
scales and their mouths are filled with pets by Akashans, who normally let
needle-sharp teeth. They emit a high- them go when they reach their full
pitched shriek when on the attack as a length of two meters. lemisch travel in
means of intimidating their prey. packs of up to 12, and havea particular
When pacified psionically, fondness for zebu flesh. Their pre-
dinsendas can be of great use as pack ferred method of hunting is to leap
animals or for hauling blocks during from a tree on to their prey and then
temple construction. When uncon- drag it to a nearby lake and drown it.
trolled, they are murderous beasts of They can then feast upon the animal at
frightening cunning. The Akashans their leisure.
brought a small number along with Iemisch have been known to attack
them to South America, confident they Akashans or humans when they feel
could keep them in hand. Dinsendas their territory has been encroached
are susceptible to the Comaghaz vi- upon.
rus, but none of those on Earth have
been infected at present.

-··-92----------/~
 Chapter Nine

Iemisch Lemekanns Chart (i.e., a lemekann with a Percep-

tio/l of 12 can detect psionic powers in
DEXTERITY 15
Dodge 18, long jumping 16, maneu- The lemekann, or "devil snake," is use up to 250 meters away). The
ver 16, running 16, stealth 17, swim- a South American anaconda mutated lemekann experiences pain asa result
ming 18, unarmed combat 17 by Akashan gene spores into a crea- of psionic power usage, taking dam-
STRENGTH 13 ture with a supersensitivity to local age value 17. The lemekann will im-
Climbing 14, lifting 15 psionic power usage. mediately seek out and destroy the
TOUGHNESS 11 The average lemekann is roughly power user.
PERCEPTION 12 eight meters in length, and makes its Lemekanns have little fear of hu-
Tracking 15, trick (20) home in trees. It attacks by dropping manoids, but rarely attack men except
MIN04 on its prey and coiling itself about when threatened or maddened with
Survival 12, test 12 them, squeezing until they are uncon- pain.
CHARISMA 4 scious. Against particularly large or
Charm (18), persuasion (8), taunt 8
Lemekann
fierce opponents, the lemekann makes DEXTERITY 10
SPIRIT 5 use of a stinger in its mouth which Dodge 12, maneuver 12, stealth 15,
Intimidation 14 injects prey with a paralyzing venom. unarmed combat 14
Possibility Potential: none The stinger takes five rounds to refill STRENGTH 16
Natural T0015: claws, da mage value with venom. Climbing 17
sTR+3/16; teeth, damage value The most unusual features about TOUGHNESS 16
STR+4/17 the lemekann are the translucency of PERCEPTION 12
its scales, which allow its internal or- Find 13, tracking 18, trick 13
gans to beseen, and its ability to detect MIND6
the use of psionic powers. Though not Survival 11, test 10
psionic itself. the lemekann can detect CHARISMA 4
such powers when they are used Charm (20), persuasion (20), taunt
within a distance equal to its Percep- (11)
tion read as meters on the Torg Value

••
93
Torg: Sp.U:f Codl

SPIRIT 4
Intimidation 16
Natural Tools: hide, armor value
TOU+2/21; claws, damage value
Piranhax
Additional Skills: three at +1 adds 5TR+2/22; tail, damage valueSTR+ 1/ Resulting from one of the more
Possibility Potential: some (75) 21 abominableexperiments conducted by
Natural Tools: coiling, damage Akashan bioengineers, piranhax are
value STR+2/18 per round; stinger,
damage value STR+2/18; paralyzing Munjabu amphibious cousins of the dreaded
piranha fish, with the limited ability to
venom, no damage. inflicts·5 penalty launch themselves from the water and
toall De.rttrity·related actions for three Known for their diet of refuse and glide a short distance.
rounds after injection. carrion, these creatures from the Piranhax average a meter in length,
Gudasko home world stand easily two with powerful jaws and razor-sharp
meters at the shoulder and from a
Megatheriums distance resemble huge porcupines in
triangular teeth. Their ventral fins
double as legs when onshore, while a
gait and overall appearance. Their set added by genetic engineering al·
This primitive ancestor of the tree black, oily-looking skin is actually low the piranhax to glide. To do so,
sloth has been spotted stalking the loose integument and continually they must build up speed while swim·
forests of South America again, as the sloughs off to reveal new skin under- ming before arcing out of the water. If
result of Akashan genetic regression neath. A Munjabu is attended by flies, they land on the shore, they must go
experiments. Also known as a which are attracted to the pus-likesub- back into the water before being able
mylodon, it is almost as large as an stance which oozes from its skin. to glide again, or else crawl on land
elephant. but only half as heavy. It has Munjabu rarely travel alone, pre- after their prey.
a shoulder height of three meters, with ferring packs of six toeight. They were Piranhax never attack alone, usu·
short legs, a slow, shambling gait. and brought to Earth by Akashan ally traveling in schools of up to SO.
huge, curved claws. It makes its home bioengineers, who theorize that some They have no fear of attacking hu·
in the trees, feeding on tender shoots substance in their pus might be con- mans or other large creatures, and can
and leaves. nected to the fluid given off by third- devour an average man in mere sec·
A huge and heavy tail helps it in its stage Comaghaz hosts. This has yet to onds. They are particularly feared by
deforesting maneuvers, and its thick be proven. those who travel the Amazon, where
hide and heavy fur protect it against The munjabu rely on their sharp they will swim and glide silently in a
most forms of physical attack. teeth and their quills for protection, boat's wake before savaging captain
Megatherium are solitary creatures, the latter of which they are quite pro- and crew. Piranhax attacks are com·
but a mother will carry her young on ficient at firing at creatures who monly resolved using the Many.Qn·
her back for the first few months after threaten one of their meals. One Table.
birth. Most Akashans prefer to stay well It was the creation of the piranhax
There have been some reports of away from munjabu, and even the which spurred Rotan Utka to ban bio-
attacks on humans and cattle by Gudaskoregard them largely as pests. engineering experiments on native
megatherium in the LakeTiticaca area. species of Earth.
Munjabu
The reason for this violent behavioron
DEXTERITY 12 Piranhax
the part of a normally gentle animal is
Dodge 13, maneuver 13. running DEXTERITY 13
unknown. 14, stealth 13, unarmed combat 15 Dodge 14. flight 14, maneuver 15,
Megatherium STRENGTH 13 running 14. stealth 14. swimming
I::fEXTERITY 7 TOUGHNESS 12 15, unarmed combat 16
Dodge 8, maneuver 8, unarmed PERCEPTION 9 STRENGTHS
combat II Tracking 10, trick 10 TOUGHNESS 6
STRENGTH 20 MINDS PERCEPTION 7
Climbing 21, lifting 21 Survival 9, test (9) Tracking 12, trick (0)
TOUGH ESS 19/21 CHARISMA 3 MlNDS
PERCEPTION 8 Charm (25), persuasion (20), taunt S~val 11, test (15)
Find 10, trick 9 (8)
CHARISMA 4
MI OS SPIRIT 3 ehann (40), persuasion (40), taunt
Survival 9, test (2) Intimidation 12 (30)
CHARISMAS Possibility Potential: none SPIRIT 4
ehann (5), persuasion (5), taunt Natural Tools: teeth, damage value Intimidation 15
(20) STR+2/15; quills, damage value Possibility Potential: none
SPIRIT S STR+3/16, range 3-10/40/100 Natur.tll Tools: fin gliders, speed
Intimidation 17 value 10; teeth, damage value STR+3/9
Possibility Potential: none

-··~94---------/~
 Chapter Nine

Rhadangea
The rhadangea, a plant-animal hy-
brid from the Star Sphere, were origi-
nally planted on Earth by the first
Akashan expedition. After the fall of
the Incas, the plants lapsed into a form
of hibernation until being awakened
by the lighting of the Signal Fire.
Rhadangea bushes grows toa height
of 1.5 meters, and are not mobile. They
- --
. .-=::

possess a multitude of vines with

which they can graband strangle prey,
and are meat-eaters.
The rhadangea awakened into a
world where the forest around them
was in the process of being laid low by
loggers. The plants responded by mw-
dering several of the workmen, spark·
ing concemon the partof the Brazilian
authorities and some Stonn Knights.
Efforts to kill or capture the plants met
with mixed success.
Rhadangea spores have been
spreading throughout the rain forest,
and an increase in the numberof thriv-
ing hybrids can be expected in the next
several months.
Rhadangea
DEXTERITY 10
Unanned combat 13
STRENGTH 13
Ufting 14
TOUGHNESS 10
PERCEPTION 10
Find 11, trick (14)
MIND7
Survival 10, test (15)
CHARISMA 5
Charm (20), persuasion (18), taunt
(20)
SPIRIT 4
Intimidation (20), reality 8
Possibilities: 2
atural Tools: vines. damage value
STR+2/1S
ote: Due to its complex root sys- ers. They are bred by the Larendi to mary sense. Although the birds have
tem, rhadangea cannot I1umeuver and serve as hunters and scouts, and were adequate eyesight, they do not rely on
suffers a -3 penalty when attempting brought to the realm for the same pur- it. The rangeofa full-grown Shalman's
to dodge. poses. sonar is two kilometers.
Shalmans are large birds with deep Shalmans are let loose by Larendi
blue plumage. Their distinct call is a to find the locations of prey animals.
Shalmans faint, high-pitched squeal which The Larendi then take to the skies
causes vibrations that are more felt behind their shalmans to bring down
These natives of the planet Salend than heard. This is a barely audible those detected. Shalmans fly (and at-
are similar in appearance to the Core sonar - the method by which the tack) in flocks of 10-20.
Earth vulture, but are not carrion eat- Shalmans navigate-and is their pri-

It"l, ----------------95-·--
Torg: Spilce God.

Shalman Zebus Zebu

DEXTERITY 12 DEXTERITY 7
Doclge 13, flight 16, maneuver 14, Zebus are large oxen·like creatures Doclge 8, running 10
unarmed combat 14 suitable for riding or plowing,. and STRENGTH 15
STRENGTH 6 their meat and milk are staples of the TOUGHNESS 12
TOUGHNESS 7 Akashan diet. Zebus are gentle and as PERCEPTION 7
PERCEPTION 15 easy to lead as horses, although far Trick (8)
Find 18, tracking 21, trick (16) slower. Zebus can carry a measure of MJND4
MIND 7 weight equal to their Strength without Test (0)
Survival 1L test (9) undue fatigue. CHARISMA 3
CHARISMA 5 Zebus are kept in small herds by Charm (n, persuasion (11), taunt
Charm (9), persuasion (8), taunt (8) some Akasharui, primarily those who (6)
SPIRIT 5 are in rebellion against the "industrial SPIRIT 3
Intimidation 7 farming" and synthetic food they re-- Intimidation 13
Possibili ~t-
Na
. none
d4~ ~~v u
gard a unnatural. Zebu are often the
prey of other animals, rticuc.-Ia~-
P0S5ibili~~~~~_-
Ii
a at
SfR+ da~ ~.~ iemisch. ST + I .
10; s;P('\[email protected]' ./--"' , STR 19

. ·. ·. ~96~-------------------/f.1,
 Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Equipment
[.1 wo distinct types of
equipment are employed
in the realm of Akasha
(and the Star Sphere as
primitive genetic manipulation. Rotan
Ulka has forbidden the export of more
sophisticated biotech development
materials until the situation in the
well). Akashans, with the realm has stabilized, although how
exception of Monitors, use biotech effective this prohibition will be is de-
devices exclusively; Monitors and batable.
Comaghaz hosts use both biotech and Most of the biotech scientists cur-
standard tech devices; and members rently in the realm are concerned with
of the client races rely on standard maintaining and repairing already
tech. existing devices, although Sarila does
Biotech weds carefully bred living have some of her hosts exploring the
creatures to small amounts of non- possibility of creating deadlier weap-
living substance to create a device ca- ons for use in her struggle.
pable of performing a specific func-
tion at the will of the user.
The major appeal of such equip- Powering Biotech
ment is that it produces no harmful Equipment
waste materials during manufacture
or while in use. Nor does it require
Methods of maintaining the func-
fossil fuels to power it, enabling the
tion of biotech devices are as varied as
Akashans to be virtually self-reliant.
the types of equipment. Generally,
Standard tech devices are normally
these devices fall into three categories:
powered by some type of fuel, and
generally produce effects harmful to 1. living: Biotech constructs which
the environment. Their use is frowned are "powered" by vitamin and min-
upon by the Akashans, although they eral supplement packs. These packets
have evidenced no reluctance to sell can be purchased on the open market
them to the client races. for a small fee, but feeding rates for
devices vary. The rate is included with
each individual entry, where appro-
Constructing Biotech priate. Failure to feed a biotech con-
struct for four feeding periods will
Devices result in its death.
The creation of a biotech device 2. Living/Inert: These constructs per-
requires an extensive amount of spe- form their function simply by exist-
cialized equipment, as well as the ing,and rarely experience higher brain
proper organic and non-organic mate- activity. They do need to be fed, but a
rials. The duration of construction can much longer period may pass between
range from one day to five years, de- each feeding without undue harm to
pending upon the nature of the device the organism.
and its intended purpose. 3, Symbiotic: These constructs draw
The biotech industry is a growing their nourishment from their user or
and prosperous one in theStarSphere, from some natural substance in their
but has not yet spread to any great surroundings, and thus do not require
extent to the realm. While there are mineral packs. Extremelyefficient, but
biotech labs extant in South America often present a problem to those races
at present, some sanctioned by the not psychologically prepared to have
High Council, others not, they are in their equipment feeding off them.
general capable only of relatively

••
97
Tors: S~ Cods

Disconnecting with Repairing a biotech device which not perfonn its task until it is repaired.
has been damaged due to disconnec· Though living, biotech constructs
Biotech tion requires a successful science are incapable of interaction, and can-
(biotech) total. Consult the table below: not be taunted, tested, tricked, intimi·
Biotech equipment requires the high doted, etc. Biotech devices are never
Techrwlogicol and Spiritual axioms of POSSibility-rated.
the Akashan realm to function prop-
erly. If a character disconnects in an·
other realm while using such equip- B iotech Repair Table Biotech Equipment
ment, he runs the risk of his device
dying as a result. Wound Level ON
Biotech equipment is available
The first round a character discon- Wounded 10 throughout the realm of Akasha, both
nects, hisdevice simply goes inert and Heuvy 13 in legitimate markets and in black
takes no damage. Each round after Mortal 16 markets such as that in Lima.
that, the device takes the equivalent of Biotech equipment ranges from ex·
a wound result until it dies. If the char· tremely inexpensive to very dear, de-
acter passes the piece of equipment to pending on its function, the time it
someone who can cause it to work. the A successful total will eliminate all
damage to that device. takes to manufacture, and who you
device will cease to take damage. are purchasing from. Buyers are ad·
A wounded device can still be used,
Exa.mple: Chakkata disconnects in but it will suffer a ·3 modifier to its vised that prices of certain items can
Nippon u>hile using a biotech device. effect value and any additional wound vary wildly from one site to the next.
He rolls to reconnect and fails. His will cause it to cease functioning. A
deviuhas now taken theequivolent of heavily or mortally wounded device can-
a wound.

-·'9"""-8 ---------8
 Chapter Ten

Protective Suits Kinetic Armor. Based upon the same oxygen for two hours of normal respi-
biotechnology used to construct ration, and is so bioengineered that it
Biotech protective suits are gener· Akashan prison cells, kinetic armor will not filter out gases its wearer needs
ally made from unicellular creatures protects the wearer by actually feed· to survive. As it shields the pores of
with microscopic control devices ing off the kinetic energy of any object the user, it has proven effective against
which allow the wearer to regulate striking it. This has the effect of pro- the spread of the Comaghaz virus.
their function. They enclose the wearer viding TOU+10 protection to the The protective suit does have d raw-
from head to toe in a thin, transparent wearer against physical attack. backs, however - it provides no ar·
membrane. and are almost undetect- Kineticarmor is symbiotic, and does morvalueagainst physical attack, and
able by visual means (Perception or find have a fatigue penalty. It cannot be can be tom by any combat action that
difficulty of 18 to spot on the wearer). worn with any other biotech suit save results in a wound result or higher to its
Most biotech suits tend to be sym- the temperature regulator (detailed user. Once rended, it requires three
biotic, drawing nutrients from the below). It is ineffective against psionic rounds to reseal itself.
waste products of the wearer's body. or magical attack.
Barring damage through disconnec· Temp Suit: A temp (temperature) suit
tion, the suit will remain functioning Plasma Armor: A biotech creation uti· keeps the wearer at a constant, com-
for as long as the wearer is alive. U the lizing a creature which thrives deep fortable temperature, even in extreme
wearer dies, the suit will expire one beneath the surface of Akasha. A sym· heat and cold. A temp suit will die if
hour later. If the wearer should dis- biotic suit, plasma armor feeds on the subjected to temperatures of less than
connect, the construct will become in- energy spewed forth by most energy -40 degrees Celsius or over 90 degrees
ert and cease to be effective until he weapons, providing TOU+15/35 pre>- Celsius. Otherwise, the character's
reconnects. tertian against such bolls. Plasma ar· body temperature remains constant.
The user may will the suit to re- mor is ineffective against magic and Temp suits must be specifically
move itself atany time, at which point psionic attack, and prOVides only bioengineered for a species to main·
the biotech construct will become dor- TOU+1 protection against non-energy tain the correct body temperature
mant until it is donned again. attacks. (Draygaaks, for example, tend to have
lower body temperatures than
Chameleon Suit: These constructs are Pressure Suit: This construct feeds on Akashans.)
capable of detecting light and color carbon dioxide and stores oxygen, Temp suits are not symbiotic, 1'lnd
and of matching their appearance to which it passes to its wearer while require vitamin pack feedings once
that of the background scenery. Their maintaining the user's internal body per week.
talent is sophisticated enough that they pressure, avoiding explosive decom·
can even blend in with moving or pression when in a vacuum. The suit
erratic patterns. contains enough oxygen for 24 hours. Physical Enhancers
Use of a chameleon suit adds +3 to This suit can also be used for under·
a character's stealth value. The con· water operations. Many Akashans practice an ad·
struct is attuned to its wearer's brain Unlike other biotech suits, this one vanced fonn of holistic medicine in
waves, so a Mind total of 8 is required is not form-fitting. There is an "air which microscopic biotech organisms
to activate its chameleon abilities. cushion" about one centimeter thick are introduced into the body to aid
in between the character and the suit. healing, fight disease, eradicate infec·
Cloaking Suit: This bio-.eonstruct has If the suit sustains a mortal wound, it tions and improve the keenness of the
the ability to bend light waves around is unable to reseal itself and protect the senses. They are symbiotic, and re-
itself, thus rendering itself (and its wearer. As with most biosuits, other main within the body until removed
wearer) invisibletothenakedeye. The biotech suits may not be worn under- (a medicine total of 8 is required to do
cloaking suit is activated by a Mind neath the suit as they interfere with its this successfully). Unfortunately, they
total of8,and cannot be worn with any symbiosis. have proven to be ineffective against
other suit. It provides a +5 bonus to the The presswe suit works immedi· the Comaghaz plague.
user's sttQlth value. ately upon donning. and does not re- It is extremely dangerous to have
quire a skill total. However, discon· more than three such biotech organ·
Flight Suit: A bicxonstruct that is necting while using another biotech isms in one's body (characters suffer a
donnant until activated by its wearer device will cause it to become inert. shock point per round in which four
(a Mind total of?). Once roused, glider The pressure suit also acts asTOU+5 or more such organisms are active in
wings drop from the anns of the suit armor, but reduces aU Dexterity-based their systems). Most Akashans p0s-
while the construct fonns an air blad- skills by -3 and has a fatigue penalty. sess a chemical agent in their immune
der at the chest. Thisallows the wearer systems which is triggered upon the
a limited ability to fly, using the wings Protective Suit: This suit protects the introduction ofa fourth organism, and
to steer. The flight or air vehicles skill is wearer against harmful gasand chemi· automatically eliminates all of the or·
required to use this suit. cal attacks, providing TOU+10 protec· ganisms.
The flight suit is not symbiotic, and tion against airborne spores or liq-
must be fed once per week. uids. It is capable of storing sufficient

I~ 99
••
-

Physical enhancers cannot be re- properties are similar to those of ing a kilith in one's system provides a
paired, and will die as a result of dis- adrenaline. It releases that substance +3 bonus to all lock picking and presti-
connection unless the user reconnects once per day, increasing Dexterity and digitation attempts which require acute
within two rounds. The organisms Strength-based skill totals by +2 for six tactile awareness.
themselves, however, cannot cause a rounds.
disconnection, as they perform their Linkage: This is the brand name of a
function simply by existing. Hastur: A microorganism which microorganism which is used to set up
thrives within the eyes of its host, the a direct mental connection between
Amninatral: This organism, which hastur improves vision by allowing two individuals. The organism splits
resembles a jellyfish, acts to combat users to see in the infrared spectrum. in two, with one half introduced into
infection and illness in the body. Any- Presence of a hastur provides a +3 one person and the other half in the
one attempting to use first aid or medi- bonus to all Perception-based skills second. The linkage has a range of five
cilleupon a person with an amninatral which require sight. kilometers, and allows for instant com-
in his body receives an automatic +2 munication provided one of the bear-
bonus. Herat: The largest of the physical en- ers generates a successfulMilld total of
hancers, the herat is a millimeter-long 7 to activate the organisms.
Dalen: A mutated version of a micro- centipede which makes its home in Linkage microbes cannot survive
organism found in the bloodstream of the inner ear of larger creatures. The for longer than one month in the hu-
the Gudasko, the dalen improves the herat improves balance and spatial man body. They are also killed in-
sense of smell. A dalen cannot survive awareness, providing a +3 bonus to stantly by the presence of the
in the high temperatures of the human usesof theacmbatics, beast riding,dodge, Comaghaz virus in its second stage.
body for morethan 24 hours, but while maneuver and running skills.
there, provides a +3 bonus to tracking Lomos: Another pre-existing organ-
skill rolls. Kilith: Appearing under the micro- ism mutated by the Akashans, lornos
scope as a gray mass of organic mate- is a pheromone synthesized by the
Gutadatl: Thisorganism produces and rial, the kilith is renowned for its abil- female Lorbaat to attract a mate. The
slores a substance whose chemical ity to sharpen the sense of touch. Hav- Akashans altered its properties to

------------/~
-·''''':'':10:':'''"0
 Chapter Ten

match their own physiologies and Melee Weapons mined by the wielder of the weapon,
added various scents to it prior to sale. who stimulates the creature's nervous
lomos adds +3 to ehonn attempts Bhelablade: A dagger whose blade is system via studs on the hilt.
when performing them against mem- a bhela from the planet Salend, its Tentacle swords must be fed once a
bers of the opposite sex. actions controlled by the non-organic week.
control device in the hilt. The bhela Tentacles (4)
Psionic Enhancer: A valued microor- resembles a piece ofstone, but when in DEXTERITY 10
ganism which increases the bearer's combat, spines spring from it which Dodge 1L unarmed combat 13
psionic manipulation skill by +1. Psionic are capable of secreting a deadly poi- STRENGTH 12
mistana is not affected by this cre- "'n. Lilting 13
ation, which must be introduced into Larendi who use these as weapons TOUGHNESS 11
the bloodstream. It takes 12rounds for commonly keep thespines withdrawn. PERCEPTION 4
the psionic enhancer to take effect, both for safety and to give the weapon Trick (45)
and it can survive in the body for no the element of surprise when fighting MIN04
more than 24 hours. an opponent unfamiliar with a bhela's Tes' (45)
talents. Once the dagger has been CHARISMA 4
Psionic Inhibitor: These are far more plunged into a foe (a successful biotech Charm (SO), persuasion (SO), taunt
tech-oriented devices, normally at- UJeQpons roll), the Larendi triggers the (SO)
tached externally and serving much spines and the poison. SPIRIT 4
the same function as the "white noise'" The bhela's poison does damage Intimidation (SO)
weapon listed below. The psionic in- value 14 per round after the successful Possibility Potential: none
hibitor sets up a jammingsignal which attack. A medicine total of 10 is re-
has the effect of lowering the psionic quired to neutralize the venom. Volent: A meter-long rod-shaped
manipu/ation and psionic resistance skills Bhelablades must be fed once every creature with a hard, chitinous outer
by-2.ltdoes not affect other Perception two weeks. shell, the volent's primary benefit asa
or Mind-based skills. A psionic ttumipu- weapon is that it can be hidden easily.
Mtion total of 16 will cause the psionic Calaki: Vaguely resembling a chain When dormant, the volent telescopes
inhibitor to bum out and cease to func- mace, the calaki is a creature from the in on itself, shrinking to only 25 centi-
tion. fiery depths of Akasha. It is serpen- meters in length. Thustheweaponcan
Without such an action, a psionic tine, with a large, angular head and a be carried inconspicuously until the
inhibitor will break down on its own long, thin body. At its tail end, it is user triggers thecontrol implants, caus-
in one week. Attempting to remove an joined toa non-organic hilt from which ing it to grow to full length and serve
active inhibitor from the person or the user can control its actions. as a mace.
thing to which it is grafted requires The calaki can do two separate types Volentsmusl be fed once every two
either a science (biotech) total of 18 or a of damage. When swung at an oppo- months.
Strength total of 14 (using the latter nent, it will do damage by striking
method will result in damage value 16 him. Once it has wrapped around the Whipfang: The whipfang is a har~­
being done to the person from whom target, thecalaki'sskin heats up, burn- shelled creature attached to a metallic
the inhibitor was removed). ing the victim. It will do damage value hilt, thus resembling a knife with a 20
18 per round until the target removes centimeter blade. When the user nicks
it, an action which requires a Strength the whipfang, it extends itself for up to
total of 8. two meters and is capable of stabbing
Weapons Calaki must be fed once a month. a foe allong range. Due to the joints in
its body, the whipfang can even be
Biotech weapons take advantage of Tentacle Sword: A bone sword with a lashed around a comer to slay an ap-
the talents of living creatures, either golden hilt, this weapon has a unique proaching opponent.
those which occur in nature or those feature by virtue of being biotech. Whipfangs must be fed once every
which have been specifically bred to Emerging from the hilt (via the crea- two weeks.
serve as weapons. Most have a non- ture housed within it) are four 1.75
organic controller or inhibiting device meter tentacles whose purpose is to
implanted in their nervous systems to fend offa ttacks or to grab an opponent Missile Weapons
allow a user to trigger its abilities. and draw him within range of the
Virtually all Akashans on Earth blade. CoarSpear: Developed by MachuCoar
carry some weapon, even if only cer- All fow tentacles may act individu- bioengineers for use against the
emonial, as that was considered a sign ally against four opponents, or may Comaghaz, the Coar spear has a lim·
of prestige in many Meso-American attack together using the Many-0n- ited ability to maneuverw!til~in flight
civilizations. One Table. Their actions are deter- in reaction to attempts by Its mtended

n --------------:1;0;;:;01-··
Torg: Sp<lce GOOt

.1
102
 ChapttrTen

target to dodge. Use of a Coar spear a skill roll to begin. Telesh will feast on bioengineered trigger assembly and
adds +4 to the user's biotech weapons a victim long after he is dead, and the barrel. The weapon does not produce
value. larendi are wise enough to know not its own ammunition, but uses baatase,
Coar spears must be fed once every to attempt to remove them from a the glue produced by the Lorbaat to
two weeks. body until they have had their fill. affix their equipment to their shells.
Telesh are virtually mindless, and The damage value of the weapon is
Jiros: This weapon welds a bizarre cannot be tricked, tested, taunted or in· equal to the Strength of the glue cover-
two-headed creature from the world timidated. ing the target. The victim must gener-
of the Gudasko to inhibitor implants Telesh need to feed on anopponent ate a Strmgth total higher than the
to create a subtle and effective snare. once per month to remain in optimum damage value to pull free, or else have
The two spheroid heads of the jiros condition. ac:ess to a vial of trioacid.
are joined by a long, flexible stalk. Its
highly-developed tracking ability Salend Sling: Another weapon fa- Cell Jammer: A biotech creation which
combined with its power of flight en- vored by the larendi, the Salend sling emits a signal capable of temporarily
able it to find virtually any target once is exactly what it sounds like: a form of disrupting the cell structure of the tar·
it has picked upa scent. Often, thejiros slingshot the bulk of which is made get. This weapon hastwosettings,one
will lie in wait along a path for its upofa small creature which iscapable which produces stun damage and one
target, then fly from the brush and of producing pellets filled with an which can be lethal. Altering the set·
wrap itseU around its victim. A jiros acidicsubstance when its pleasurecen- ting is a simple action, and can be
can seek only one specific target at a ter is stimulated through an implant. accomplished by manipulating the
time. The pellets themselves do only STR+1 non-organic implants.
Jiros must be fed once a month. damage when they strike, but the acid Cell jammers must be fed once per
which is released has a damage value month.
Jiro. of 23.
DEXTERITY 10 Salends must be fed once per month. Electronus: This weapon is one of the
Dodge 11, flight 14, maneuver 11, few which does not require that the
stealth 12, unarmed combat 12 Starshredders: One of the more dev- user place his hand inside to operate it.
STRENGTH 9 astating missile weapons used by the The electronus is a biotech creation
TOUGHNESS 8 Monitors, starshredders are rock-like which appears as a hollow tube coy·
PERCEPTION 11 creatures with sharp spines sticking ered with scales, roughly .5 meters
Find 12, tracking 15, trick 13 out of their flesh. They can be held in long. By activating its non-organic
MINDS the palm of the hand, and are thrown implants, it can be made to fire bolts of
Test (1 J) at targets, doing standard damage. electricity.
CHARISMA. If the attack produces a wound re- The electr:onus was originally
Charm (20), persuasion (20), taunt sult or better, the starshredder em· bioengineered toalJow the userto vary
(20) beds itself in the victim's flesh. A the strength of the bolts, but this idea
SPIRIT 4 Strength total of 9 is required to re- proved to be impractical. This weapon
Intimidation (21) move it. If it is not removed within one has been used to great effect by Moni-
Possibility Potential: none round of striking, it will rapidly swell tors when seeking toput down Lorbaat
Natural Tools: wings, speed value in size, doing one round of damage riots. The electronus can fire three
11 valUE> 23. blasts in succession before requiring a
Starshredders must be fed once ev· round to recharge.
urendi Bow: Favored by the avian ery two months. An electronus must be fed once
race of the Star Sphere, the Larendi every two weeks.
bow is a unique combination of the
living and unliving. The bow itself is Biotech Firearms Gravitic Ray: This weapon works on
made of wood, but the "arrows" are the same principles as the geomantic
living creatures known astdesh. These Akashan biotech firearms range shuttle, drawing on gravitic energy
beings are controlled by implants in from those designed simply to stop and converting it into a bolt of pure
their brains. without seriously harming to those force capable of felling a foe.
When fired from the bow, thetelesh intended to kiU. The type of weapon The gravitic ray is a standard side-
do standard impact damage (see the one will encounter in combat often arm for planetside Monitors, but is
EquipmentChart),and then, if a wound depends upon the philosophy of the largely useless when in space. It has
result or better has been achieved, Akashan wielding it, with Akites fa- the advantage that, when used near a
begin to chew through the flesh with voring non·lethal devices, and Coar source of gravitic energy, it will not
their razor-sharp teeth, doing damage whatever is needed to accomplish their run out of "ammunition."
value 11 per round. They will do this task.
until removed, which requires a suc- Mindlance: A long, rod·shaped crea·
cessful Strength total of 9. Telesh do Baatase Rifle: A more non-organic turewith a non-organic trigger assem·
thisautomaticaUy, and need not make based weapon, the baatase rifle is a bly (thus looking very much like a
mixture of a metallic stock and a
••
103
Torg: SP"t~ Cod.

E xtended Power Push Table

Result Result Result

Points Power Points Power Points Power
+7 +
1 +1 19 +7 37 +13

3 +2 21 +8 39 +14
+ I
5 +2 23 +8 41 +14
!ll 15
7 +3 25 +9 43 +15
9 +4 27 +10 45 +16
H
11 +4 29 +10 47 +16

13 +5 31 +11 49 +17
15 +6 33 +12 Every three points
above 48 yields
17 +6 35 +12 an additional +1

standard energy weapon), the As it comes doser, it increases in size, are covered with thoms, accounting
mind lance beams the mental energy so that it covers the target. for much of the weapon's damage
of itsuserat a target. The user does not The mitositer's substance is a ge- value. If the weapon does a wound
need to have psionic capabilities to latinous mass, porous so that the tar- result of better, the target is entangled
use this weapon. He generates a dam- get can breathe, but extremely diffi- and must generate a Strength total of
age total by rollingon his Mind, which cult to function within. Once trapped 14 to escape.
is then applied to the target as mental within the bubble, all Dexterity and
damage. This weapon is often used by Strength-related skills are reduced by- Shatterer. T~e most devastating hand
non-psionics against those with ad- 6. weapon in the Akashan arsenal, the
vanced mental abilities (this is one of The bubble has a Toughness of 15, shaUerer is feared even by those who
the few biotech weapons the Lorbaat but cannot contain magic or psionic wield it. This biotech creation acts to
have ever expressed interest inacquir- powers, and can be shattered by a break down all organic matter, but so
ing). Sale of a mind lance to a member sufficiently powerful physical attack. powerful is it that it does damage to its
of a client race is strictly forbidden by The mitositercan regenerate a portion wielder as well as its target.
Akashan law. . of its substance every two hours, en- Users of the shatterer generate a
Mindlances must be fed once every suring that it never runs out of "am- damage lotal, and check it againsl the
three months. munition" for very long. Extended Power Push Table to find
Mitositers must be fed once per the number of result points. Those
Mitositer. This firearm, which fits week. result points are then compared to the
neatly over the user's hand, is actually user's Toughn~s, and he takes that
a bioengineered unicellular organism Rhadan Mark V: A biotech pistol con- many points in damage, plus an auto-
whose size and rate of reproduction is structed by splicing the genes of three matic three shock.
governed by non-organic inhibitors. organisms together, including that of The shatterer has been banned in
When the weapon is triggered, a por- the rhadangea plant. The weapon fires some sections of Akasha, but Coar
tion of its substance splits off via mit~ tendrils. much like the vines of that activists have been known to hoard
sis and is launched toward the target. plant, whichensnarea target. The vines

•• 104
 Chapter Ten

the weapons and some have been seen

to be sold at the black market in Lima.

White Noise: Another hand-held

weapon which emits a screech that
interferes with the concentration of
everyone within a three-meter radius.
Users commonly wear some form of
earplug to screen out the noise, which
reduces all Perception and Mind·based
skills by ·5 for the duration of the
following round. Effects of the white
noise are not cumulative (shooting it
twice in a flurry round against the
samecharacterwill not reduce his skills
by -101.
White noise is commonly used
against those possessing psionic abili-
ties.
White noise weapons need to be fed
once per month.

Energy Weapons and

Slugthrowers
Most Akashans regard high-tech
energy weapons and slugthrowers as
crude and environmentally unsound,
which is why they favor biotech de- Bolter Rifles: Bolters fire bolts of su- damage at long range than at short
vices. However, Monitors and mem- per-heated fusion energy. These bolts range.
bers of most of the client races rely cause damage from intense heat and The gun fires pulses of plasma en-
heavily on these weapons, and there explosive energy released when they ergy which are modified SO that they
are many areasof the realm into which hit the target. In addition, the explo- can convert their own kinetic energy
it is unwise to venture without a blaster sion from a fusion bolt hits all charac- into power. Thus, the farther they
conspicuously placed on one's per- ters, creatures and objects within its travel, the stronger they become. When
son. blast area. they reach their range limit, they dissi-
Most energy weapons are available The Equipment Chart lists twodam- pate.
in the realm only in black market ar- age value for bolters: one for a direct When using a pulse cannon, add +2
eas, where prices may be 300-400 per- hit on a target; and the other used to to the damage value if the target is at
cent higher than those listed on the attack all those affected by the blast. medium range and +4 at long range.
Equipment Chart. It is, needless to The blast area has three ranges: short, Pulse cannons are powered by de-
say, highly illegal to purchase these medium and long. Attacks at short tachable energy packs capable of fir-
weapons from a black market trader. range use the full blast damage value. ing 25 shots.
For targetsat medium range, the dam-
Blasters: Energy blasters fire con- age value is reduced by -3, and -5 at Smash Guns: These are guns which
densed, focused beams of plasma en- long range. See page 81 of the Torg use electro-magnetism to propel high-
ergy. These beams cause damage by Rulebook for more information on ex- explosive, shaped-charges that are
intense heat and kinetic energy. Blast- plosives. capable of punching through armor
ers come in a variety of shapes and Bolter-rifles are ugly-looking weap- plate. The barrels of these guns are
sizes from pistols to large tripod- ons, and all require backpacks. These electro-magnetically charged. As the
mounted devices. Blasters usea power contain the fusion reaction that pow- bullet passes down the barrel it isspun
cell for energy. ers the weapon. Backpacks require rapidly. The bullet explodes on im-
Some models of blaster come with recharging after 50 shots by being at- pact, driving its head into the target's
laser sights, which increase the energy tached to a power supply. body. Both this and the splinter gun
weapons skills for purposes of hitting below are often modified for use by
by +2. Pu Ise Cannon: The bulkiest of the hand Lorbaat warriors.
weapons, the pulse cannon is unique
in that it is capable of causing more

n-----------~10~5- ..
Torg: Spa« Cod.

Splinter Gun: Slimmer than thesmash

gun, a splinter gun works on much the
Vehicles by a cilial curtain which acts to steer
the craft.
same principle, but fires a· needle-- In addition to their spacecraft, the Swifterscomein varying sizes, with
shaped bullet. The bullet explodes on Akashans possess both land and wa· the most common capable of carrying
contad, but instead ofthechargedriv- ter biotech vehicles, while client races four passengers. They are often armed
ing the needle's head into the target, it like the Lorbaat make use of more with gravitic rays.
shatters into thousands of tiny, razor- primitive methods of locomotion. The Swifters need not be fed, drawing
sharp splinters that embed themselves Lorbaat have not yet felt the need to sustenance from the earth they pass
in the victim. develop a water vehicle, as there is over.
very little water on their planet upon
Stun Gun: Favored by spies and sabo- which to sail. Skimmer. Much like the swifter, the
teurs, the stun gun can be concealed in skimmer is a biotech creation with
the palm of the hand and fired incon· Swifter. The major land vehicle in use metallic controls. The craft is capable
spicuously at targets nearby. The gun among the Akashans in the realm, the of floating. with two-meter long ten·
does stun damage only, but is usually swifter is a biotech device. Its controls tacles hanging from the bottom to
sufficient to render an opponent un- and gauges are metallic and act upon move it through the waters and steer.
conscious long enough to accomplish the implants in the creature's nervous A skimmer is capable of carrying as
one's task. system. The bottom of the craft is a many as three passengers.
largea ir bladder which allows thecraft Skimmers take nourishment from
to hover 50 centimeters above the water molecules, and so need not be
ground. Theair bladder issurrounded fed.

-··....,..,lO~6------------/~\
 Chapter Ten

Tormaak: A huge, metallic truck pow- Commtrol: A small communications Transtech: Another device produced
ered by a nuclearreaction, theTonnaak device with two radically different for both biotech-using races and those
is the predominant vehicle/war ma- designs, one for the client races and who favor non-organic devices. A
chine of the Lorbaat. The insectoids one for the Akashans. The dient races transtech is a translation device, either
are apparently unaware of the fact use standard tech commtrols with mechanical (the more bulky version)
that their vehicles produce "dirty" ra- ranges of up to five kilometers. or biotech, in which case it can be
diation which is slowly destroying Akashan commtrols have the same implanted under the skin and acti-
their environment. Tormaakscan carry metallic housing, but within isa biotech vated when need be. Transtech are
5-10 passengers, and are armed with creation which resembles a small hu- popular among those Akashans who
pulse cannons. They are regarded by man brain. Thiscreature is highly tele- have not learned the tongues miracle.
the Akashans as the worst symbol of pathic and capable of beaming the Organic transtechscan function for up
the irresponsibility and insanity of the message spoken to it, word for word, to six months in a human body.
client races. to the rest of its kind. This construct, Use ofa transtech (either form)adds
called a tian, is incapable of under- +2 to language totals. It is not consid-
standing the languages spoken to it. ered a physical enhancer and does not
Adventuring Gear Tians can be genetically altered so as count toward the limitation on those
to send only to certain other members organisms listed above.
Alan Torch: A biotech organism of its race. A biotech transtech is symbiotic and
which, when roused, glows with light Larger versions of the tian are cur- need not be fed.
sufficient to illuminate an area of 25 rently being used in the construction
meters. Since non-organic implants are of biotech satellites to beam telepathic Volent Rope: A mutated version of
required to activate an alan torch, use messages through space. the creature used as a melee weapon,
of it can create a contradiction. Biotechcommtrolsmust be fed once the volent ropeisa thin, fibrous biotech
Alan torches must be fed once per per month. creation which is three meters in length
month. in its dormant state. By manipulating
MedKit: A standard pack of medical implants, the user can cause the rope
Biotech Repair Kit: A must for supplies, MedKits are produced by to extend itself to up to 200 meters. A
bioengineers in the field, the biotech the Draygaak and are available for the volent rope can safely support up to
repair kit contains sophisticated de- physiologies of most of the known 270 kilograms. •
tection instruments, organic com- species. Possession of a MedKit adds A volent rope must be fed once
pounds, vitamin packages, and other +1 to first aid totals when used on the every two months.
equipment needed to heal wounded appropriate species.
biotech creations. Possession of a re-
pair kit adds +1 to science (biotech) to-
tals when being used to fix such de-
vices.

1~---------107-··
Torg: Space Cod,

EQUIPMENT
All prices are in doUars. Prices may be up to 300-400 percent higher at black market locations,

Effect Price
Tech Value (Value)
BIOTECH SUITS/ARMOR _

~C~loa~kin~·~S~U;il:::=======:;j3O:===;;st;
~ htSult
Kinetic Anno, 30
. .~lt~h;+;S;;:====
•
TOU+10/3O 20,000 (22)
-========::::1
~

Pressure Suit 30 TOU+S 5000 (19)

OlA!ctiv 30 +1W- 1 000
Temp Suit 30 " 2000 (17)
BWTECH PHYSICAL ENHANCERS _

Dalen 30 trlKkin +3 * 2600 (18)

+ 1
Hastur 30 PER+3 6000 (19)
"
Kilith'" e 30 Lock ickin +3
•
4000 (18)
,
Lomos 30 Chann.+3 7000 (20)
slomc 30 sinw
Psionic Inhibitor 30 Psi, skills-2 24,000 (22)

BIOTECH WEAPONS
RREARMS
Damage Range
Tech Value Ammo S M L Price (Value)

200 1
Cell Jammer 30 23/28.... 15 100 200 30,000 (23)
ectronus t is 40 24
Cravitic Ra 30
. 30 350
. 500 30,000
. (23)
.
Mitositer 30 " 10 3-40 100 150 2000 (17)

.
Shatterer 30 36
•
20 3-50 150 250 400.000 (28)

MELEE WEAPONS
Plus to Max.
Tech Damage Value Damage Value Price (Value)

•
30 +8" 25 7500 (20)

Volent 30 +5 24 3000 (18)

+ 2 1

••
108
•

IIY!
 <:m,pterTen

MISSILE WEAPONS
D~agel Range (meters)
Toch Max. Value S M L Price (Value)

iros 30
, 3-100 500 1k 2200(17)
3
Salend Sline> 30 +1/17/23' 3-5 10 15 2400 (17)
• 4

ENERGY WEAPONS AND SLUGTHROWERS

Damage Range
Te<h va~e Ammo S M L Price (V.uue)

l<>lter Rifle 27 30 25' SO 3-1SO 350

--
600 300 000 (28)
.,
!!mashS;~n 27 21 30 3-20 ISO 300
~tm25)
Stun Gun 27 20- 25 3-10 25 SO 15.000 (21) .
VEHICLES
Speed
Toch kmhImphivalue Pass. TOU Price (Value)

124
&,kimmer 30 125 80 13 3 14 SO 000 (24)
27

ADVENTURING GEAR
Tech Price (Value)

1
Biotech Repair Kit 30 1500 (16)

l'ledI:<:it
.~ {~
30
30
Volent Rope 30 45 (9)
.,

• See note in text

•• umbers before slash refer to stun setting; numbers after setting to lethal damage
••• Stun damage only

I.
109
Torg: Space Cod..

Chapter Eleven

Character Creation

II
n many ways, the realm When constructing a template, apiayer
of the Akashans is vastly should assign an alignment he feels is
different from any other appropriate for his character.
overlaying Earth. The The templates contained in this
importance of align- book list the character's alignment
ment, the ability to use psionics, and under "Skill Notes.'" You will notice
the presence ofa large number ofalien that the skills contained on the
races adds a number ofdifferent facets character's list tend toward those
to character creation. which can be used more effectively by
In the back of this book, there are a one of his alignment.
number of templates you can use, but For further information on align-
the rules that follow will allow you to ment and alignment bonus modifiers,
build your own characters. seeChapterFour, "'Axioms and World
Rules.'"

Attributes and
Skills
Psionics
Characters from the Star Sphere or
A character has 66 attribute points those ofCore Earth can begin thegame.
to assign, and that tolalof a character's with psionic abilities. Thetwo relevant
attributes cannot exceed 66. In addi- skills, psionic manipulDtion and psionic
tion, no attribute can exceed the resistana, can be purchased in the same
character's home cosm limits. The manner as regular skills. Remember
Akashan cosm limits are 13. that a character must have at least one
The only exceptions to the above add in both to beabletouse his psionic
rules are some of the alien races of the abilities effectively, and that psionics
StarSpherewhohavelandedonEarth. cannot be used unskilled.
These will be explained in detail be- After the two skills have been pur-
low. chased, the character must purchase
You begin with 16 skill points to at least one power group, at a cost of
add to the template. These should be one skill add or POSSibility per group.
assigned to those skills in the template He may also choose one psionic power
which you deem appropriate for your per group for his own at no cast. Addi-
character or which you believe your tional powers within that group may
character might have had access to. At be pwchased at a cost of one Possibil-
least one skill must be assigned three ity per power.
points (the tag skill) and no skill may Characters can learn additional
receive more than three. Everycharac- power groups during the game at a
ter must have at least one add in the cost of five Possibilities per group. For
reality skin. further information on developing
psionics during play, see Chapter Six,
"'Psionics."
Alignment
Although alignment is important Alien Races
in determining the skills to which spe-
cial bonus modifiers are assigned, cer· Many of the alien races of the Star
tain miracles which are available to a Sphere have, at some point in their
character, etc., it is not a skill which history, been the subjects of genetic
must be purchased by a character. experiments performed bytheMohani

-.. 1--,-10--------/~
 Chapter Eleven

or the Akashans. As a result, various Characters who choose to limit at- How does your character feel about
species are capable of attaining higher tributes must accept values of seven. the Lorbaat, theGudasko, and theather
attribute levels. Oient race characters limited attributes cannot be increased. alien races which abound in the
- non-Akashan aliens - must pur- Akashan realm? Does he have an in-
chaseadditionalattributepoints,called stinctive dislike of some, or is he will-
gmetic tnhancnnmt points at the start, Losing Genetic ing to accept them? Has knowledge of
but must pay an adventure cost. Enhancements the Comaghaz plague made him look
Genetic enhancement points are at everyone around him with suspi-
available in packages of four, and no cion?
There are two ways to lose the ben-
more than one package may be pur- efits provided by these enhancement If your character is an Akashan or
chased. Points may be added to any points, disconnecting or failing to pay an alien, why did he come to Earth?
attribute, as different traits were en- Was he ordered to, did he volunteer,
the adventure cost at the end of the
hanced through genetic manipulation adventure. In both cases, the or did he sneak aboard a lightship to
at different times within the same spe- find new adventure? Does he like the
character's attributes will immediately
cies. planet, or dislike it? How much does
drop to what they were prior to the
he know about the Possibility Wars at
addition of the extra points (these are
this point?
Purchasing Genetic the numbers in parentheses on the
templates). Next,considerpossibleconnections
Enhancement Points To reconnect, alien characters must between yourcharaoerand the others
in the party. How did they come to
make separate rolls for their enhance-
meet? Is there friction between your
There are two ways to add genetic ment package as well as themselves. A
enhancement points. One method is character who fails to reconnect his character and his comrades?
to pay an adventure cost of one Possi- Tum to Chapter Ten and begin to
package is still considered discon-
bility per package at the end of each nected, and his attributes will remain equip your character. Keep in mind
adventure, an action which can be at their original levels. that, with the exception of Monitors,
taken only by Possibility-rated crea- few Akashans carry energy weapons,
tures. The second method. is to place a and with theexceptionofLarendi, few
limitononeofthecharacter'sattributes Background clientracememberscarrybiotechgear.
If a player wishes to give the char-
in exchange for the package, and this
can be done by both POSSibility-rated Once you have determined your acter equipment not listed on the
characters and Ords. character's attribute and skill levels, it equipment chart, he must provide the
is time to create a background for him. gamemaster with about the item. This
E.rllmpl~:A Draygtwkcharacter adds allows a gamemaster to make up his
his gendic enhDncnnmt package to If the character is an alien, what planet
mind about whether the pieceof equip-
his Perception. Rductant to surren- did he come from? If the character is
from Core Earth, is he in South America ment in question will upset the bal-
der II Possibility at t~ end of an ance of the adventure or Simply be
advmturt, ~ accepts a limitation on purely because of the Akashans land-
ing, or for other reasons? Has he had unlikely for that character to have.
his Spirit attributt.
any experience in the other realms, or
is this his first encounter with another
reality?

1~--------111-'·
 tiii'M~- Archaeologist
8iJi4~
Player Name: Player Name:
Archaeologist

Cosm: Core Earth

Chancter
Name
I Home COil' Earth
Cosm
I Pa.,ibililies
10

f~
Background: You obtained your doc- A" Wound Level Shock Damage Magic Social

.~ ,~~
taTate from Columbia with a master- Woo"" 7 21
Height Hv)' Wound
ful treatise on ancient South Ameri- M ...., Spiritual T'd>
can civilizations, and you have oneaf Weight K D 9 23

~ f3'~'Y-
o..d
the largest collections of Mayan and
"'''111 \.1.1 \11
Incan artifacts outside of a museum.
Realit SPI
You were in Peru al a dig when the Dod , DE><
Living Land invaded North America. ~ ~ Fire Combat DE><
In a second, everything you had UJn Jum in DE><
known or loved was gone, and all you MeleeWea M DE><
had left was your work.
"~ Unarmed Combat DE><

~ L--i.~
You threw yourself into your re- Climbin STR
searches with a passion, and were at PER
Machu Picchu the day the lightship : Evidence Anal sis
Find PER
armada landed. At first. you hid hom
these visitors, thinking they were more 1":1 !=
First Aid

""". ,
Land Vehicles
PER
PER
PER
invaders. But when the Monitors ~
~,)
Tr~ckin PER
found you and took you to Rotan Ulka,
you found that they were a potential
treasure trove of information on the
L~ . ~
~~ J. Trick
Science (Archaeol
T~I
) 3
PER
MIN
MIN
I 14

past.
For you, the Akashan realm has
been the equivalent of being a kid in a
.
, ~<
C""=
P~uasion
Faith
CHA
CHA
SPI
candy store. You've learned more in
weeks than you had in all the years the missing Akashan golden stakes
you spent studying and digging. But and decipher the records left on them.
your happiness was marred by the Trick
realization that the High Lords had Equipment: Glock 17 (damage value T'"
15); magnifying glass; brush; tape Taunt
targeted the Akashans for extinction.
measure; Meerschaum pipe; pipe to- Intimidate
You are bound and determined not to
let so valuable a resource be expunged
from the planet.
bacco; 5000 intis.
Quote: "Yes, after being buried in the
sand for a thousand years, even you
Weapons
Glock 17 15 21 13-10 I 25 40 -
Runnin·
S wimminl
J"m
Personality: You have just enough Oimbin
money to be considered eccentric might be worth something."
Liftin:
rather than insane. While you under- Skill Notes: Your tag skill is scitmce
stand the need for violence, you hate (archaeology).
; to see potentially valuable artifacts
• destroyed. Your goal is to find some of 0;,
1
~
3 S 7 9 1 1 13 21 26 31 36 41 46
Ro" I 2 • 6 8 10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 21)25 30 35 40 45 50 +5
! Bonus -12 -10 .. ·S -2 -1 0 123456 7 • 9 10 11 12 13 +1
 ~~ Akile
~
Player Name: Akite Player Name:

Bioengineer Bioengineer
Charuter
Name
I Home Star Sphere
COlm
Poulbilitiel
Cosm: Star Sphere
10
A., Wound Level Shock Damage MIglc Social Background: You have never been
Height
W~"" 7 27 the bold, adventurous type - long
Hvy Wound
Spiritual TKh ago, you decided that there were
MoNJ
Weight K 0 13 30 enough wonders in the gene structure
""'" of the Akashansand the client race; to
satisfy you, without going out among
SP1 the stars to seek out new challenges.
DEX You became a follower of Aka, argu-
DEX
DEX
ing that the problems facing your
....R. "~ DEX people were too great to spend fe-
sources on explorati«;>n.

rI
DEX
UNrmed COmNl DEX This belief was reinforced by the
Oimbin STR emergenceoftheComaghaz,and your /,\1" 1
E~AnaI PER goal became the eradication of this

-
Fond PER disease. You were one of the few
Un , PER bioengineers who realized right away
r"'~ 1.
Psionic Mani ylion
Trick
Mindsense
Psionic Resistance
PER
PER
MIN
MIN
this was more than a simple virus.
When the Signal Fire was an-
swered, fs0u put aside yow isolation-
ist belie s in the hope that this new
·i
Scie~ (Biotech) 3 MIN 15
T~I MIN world might hold the answer to the
Will W~ plague. So far, it has not, but you are

~
MIN
Chann CHA intrigued by the vast number of ge-
Persuasion CHA netic types present on this planet. The
Faith ,PI c;...-o'" R thought that some of these might be transtech (biotech); vitamin/mineral
destroyed by the High Lords angers packs (5); 10 ciaras.
you, and you are wrestling with your-
self about how best to help without Quote: "Oh,dear, I'm sorry. Ithought
violating your philosophy. you said you wanted designergenes."
Personality: You are extremely intel- Skill Notes: Your tag skill is science
Iigent, but have been locked in a lab so (biotech). You are ali~ned to Aka «(or
---~ ISwImrnlng
III information on the e fects of that, see
We.lpona long that you lack some of the social
Gl1Ivitic Ray
RhalWl MMk V
30
17
30 3-150 3SO
30 3-40 100
SOO
2SO
Jume'"I
ClimblnJt I graces. Despite having a transtech,
you havedifficulty understanding the
Chapter Four, "Axioms and World
Rules"). Choosing psionics requires
meaning of some Earth terminology. purchasing an add in both of the rel-
evant skills, as well as the spending of
Equipment: gravitic ray (damage an add or a Possibility on a power
0;, ,, , value 30); Rhadan Mark V (damage group. .!
I
3 7 11 13 21 26 31 36 41 46 value 17, see note in text); amrunatral
~
•
•,, •,
Roll I 2 8 10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2S 30 3S 40 45 50 +5 (first aid +2); biotech repair kit;
Bon", -12 -10 -e -, -2 -, 0 1 2 3 7 10 11 12 13 +1 I
~i COM Council
- - Member
Player Name:
@!iDi.¥ ~:~~~runcil Player Name:

Cosm: Star Sphere

N __
Ovuter I Home Star Sphere
CMm
I Possibilities

Background: You were born into a

A._ Wound Level Shock Damage Magic Social
10
7 27

•
wealthy family, and your ancestors Woo""
d Height HvyWound
were among the pioneers of Akasha.
You grew up with a special love of
history, and en;oyed reading stories
. Weight
M..w
ON<! K 0
Spiritual
13
TO<h
30
of exploration and encounters with
strange races. You had medical train- Reali SPI
Biotech Wea M DE)(
ing before going into politics. DE)(
Dod
You have always believed the aban- Maneuver DE)(
donment of Earth was a blunder, and Unarmed Com~1 DE)(
have fought long and hard in the High Find PER
Council chamber for a restoration of Lan ua e PER
the right to act as pultaaks for other sionk Mani lation PER
worlds. Your voice was among the Trick PER
most strident calling for a response to Medicint' 3 MIN I 12
the Signal Fire, and you were the first Psionk Resistance MIN
council member to volunteer to ac- Tesl of Will MIN
company Rotan Ulka on the voyage. Will w" MIN
C"'= CHA
You areconvinced that an Akashan/ Persuasion CHA
human victory over the High Lords Taunt CHA
would prove that the Machu Coar had Faith SPI
been right all along, and bring back the Intimidation SPI
days ofadventure, You are toying with
the idea of establishing a High Council
to govern Earth after the war is over. aid +2); hastur(PER+3); vitamin/min·
Personality: Behind all the speeches eral packs (0); 50 ciaras.
and the slogans, you genuinely do care Quote: "Of course, we should be here.
about your people. You also care about Look around you: lizard men. dicta-
yourcareerand thefutureof theCoar as tors, religiOUS fanatics - we're here to
a whole, and that often dictates your bring sanity back to this world."
course of action. You accept the Zinatt
Skill Notes: Your tag skill is medicine, w..

I
M
as a necessary evil, but have no use for

~roo
You are aligned to Coar (for informa- Volent +S 13 30
Akites at all.
CeU amrni"T 2fJf1JJ 30 3-30 100 200
lion on the effects of that, see Chapter Uft:'
Equipment: protective suit (annor Four, "Axioms and World Rules).
value TOU+l0/18, gas and chemical Choosing psionics requires the pur-
attacks only); volent (damage value chase of an add in both relevant skills,
SfR+5/13);cell jammer (damage value
I I RoU
as well as spending an add or a Possi-
20/28, see note in text); amninatrallfirst bility for a power group, Di.
1 2
3
4
S
6
7
8
• 11 13
1012141516171819M~~~~~~~
21 26 31 36 41 46

""ow -12 ·10 --8 -S -2 -) 0 ) 2 3

• S 6 7 8
• 10 11 11 13 ...1
 ~~Draygaak

Character
. Scholar
I Home Star Sphere
Player N'1lll":

Pot,IbllltiH
II ~ Draygaak
Scholar
Player Name:

Name C~m Cosm: Star Sphere

10
AO' Wound Level Shock Dilmilgt Magic SocI.1 Background: You grew up on a world
Height
W~'" 7 27 where the people had once been great
Hvy Wound
Spiritual TKh warnors, but had submerged their vio-
M""'I
Weight
DNd K 0 13 30 lent impulses in favor of the pursuit of
knowledge. It was not a completely
successful effort, and you have seen
51'1 many ofyOW' friends claimed by frenzy
OEX

-
over the years.
w= OEX
Your ambition was to becomeoneof
........
Mifift WIN
OEX
OEX the leading scholars on yow planet, but
Unarmed CornNI DElI your displays of temper slowed your
DElI progress. Youfound youn;elfbeingsent
Evid~Anal 3 PER 111(14) to study on inhospitable worlds where
F'" , PER a Draygaak of learning must be able to
PER handle a blaster as well. Your career
"'"
Psionic Mani
....b,
1;0" PER
PER
stalled, and you found it moreand more
difficult to control your violent nature.
Trick PER Thus you jumped at the chance to
Psionic R~tance MIN
s,;,~ MIN
travel to Earth and writea treatiseon its
0..= CHA 6p1e. The discovery of High Lords
Persuasion CHA mother cosms on the planet served
Taunt to increase your fascination with this

~
ellA
Faith SPI new world, and you found the people
F~ 51'1 here truly valued someone who com-
Intimidation SPI o::t.....",... h 11 bined wisdom with razor-sharp claws. transtech (non-organic); commtrol
You have decided toexpand your work (non-organic);MedKit;joumaI;3daras.
toindudehowanativepopuIationdeals
with invasions by new realities, and if Quote: ''No, no, no, aim for his head.
gathering information means aiding the Think of the emotional impact it will
resistance forces, well, such is the lot of have on his mends when it lands in

.. a scholar. their laps."

li
w.. o Personality: You have worked hard to Skill Notes: Your ta~ skill is evidcra
OJ.>", 30 21 :!-IOO 3OJ) SOO al1J1/ysis. You havenoa 'gnrnent.Choos-
attain a reputation as a scholar, prima-

I I
T...... 16
rily to distract others from your terrible ing psionics requires spending one add
ClIws+2 14 on both relevant skills, as well as an add
II
temper. You have been known to rip
""" .1 enemies in two in battle, but usually feel ora Possibility on a power group. You
guilty afterward and try to cover up have four genetic enhancement points
,
0;,
Roll
Ilo..."
I
.12:
2
·to
3
4
-8
S

.,• .,
9 II J3

, ,•,
0 10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25 30 35 40 45 SO +5
·1 0 1 2 4 .
2J 26 31 36 41 46

9 10 11 12 13 +1 I
your action.
Equipment: blaster (damage value 3(1);
which have been added to your Percep--
lion, at an adventure cost of one.
Ii
 Player Name:
i~~
~~
II
Player Name:
Gaucho Gaucho

Cosm: Core Earth

Chuader
N~.
I Home Core Earth
CMm
I Possibilities
10

~
A•• Wound Level Shock Damage Magic Social
Background: You spent most of your
life working on the Argentinean pam- W~"" 7 21
Height HvyWound
pas, and made a respectable living. M~I
Spiritual TKh
You took little notice of the arrival of Weight K 0 9 23
the Akashansor the changes wrought """"
in your country as a result of it until
Reali SPI
the day yOUf family was arrested and Beast Ridin DEX
taken to a penitenciaria. It was said Dod • DEX
they had a disease, but you knew this FireCombal 3 DEX I 13
was not so. Maneuver DEX
As the situation in Argentina grew MeleeWea DEX
more and more out of hand, you real- Unarmed Comool DEX
ized that only the destruction of the Find PER
plague would save countless other First Aid PER
people from the fate of your loved
ones. You wished end the insanity,
but did not know how - yours had
been a simple life, and all of this
J~
land Vehicles
Trackin
Trick
Survival
Test of Will
PER
PER
PER
MIN
MIN

J
seemed so beyond you. Cho= CHA
Then you met some Storm Knights Persuasion CHA
who had escaped from a death camp. Taunt CHA
They were men and women no differ· Faith SPI
ent from you, and they were fighting Intimidation SPI
for what they believed in. You real·
ized that there was something you Akashans for bringing the Comaghaz
could do, and setoutto find a group to plague to Earth and causing the ere- P. km II Trick

I
ally yourself with. ation of the camps.
Many of the things you have seen
\""m
\.,It" 1",-1 , IC,., >.:'
I
Mind 9 T~.

since then have been strange and Equipment: .45 Colt (damage value
I 'I'''l''''' "I
" Charisma 9 Taunt

wondrous, but all you can think of is 16); Savage 7lE (damage value 18);
S9irit
• Intimidate

that one day you will find the camp in hemp rope; sleeping bag; flashlight;

. .
which your family is imprisoned, and 1.8 million australs. Weapons
you will free them.
Personality: You are scrupulously
honest and quite brave, and try not to
Quote: "Many more will die before
this fight is over. U I must be one of
them, I will go gladly, knowing I per·
I .45 Colt
Savage77E
I'
I'
2Q
22
3-10
3-15
15
60

express your awe at all that is going ish defending my land."

on around you. Although you have
f Skill Notes: Your tag skill is firecomoot.
•• worked with them, you dislike the

I
Di. 3 S 7 9 II 13 21 26 31 36 41 46

I
Roll
Jlon~
I 2 4
-12 -10 -8
6
-5
•
-2
1012141516171819~~~~~~~+5

-1 0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 • 9 10 11 12 13 +1
 ~NGudasko Player Name:
~iGudasko Player Name:
• . Hunter . . Hunter
ChaI1llctl!r
N~,
I Home Star Sphere
COlm
POlllbllltlu
Cosm: Star Sphere
10
Ag' Wound Level Shock Dlm.ge Magic Sod,I
Background: Your life on Kelneride
Height
Woo"" 7 27 had been a satisfying one-gathering
HvyWound
Splritull T«h roo!S and hunting for zebu by day,
"""'I
Weight K 0 13 30 standing watch by the fire at night.
""" You hoped one day to challenge the
chieftain of your clan in combat, and
. . . .N Sl'i"
dreamed of tasting his wann blood.
a..
hUn.~
MeleeWN
0£)(
0£)(
0£)(
and being proclaimed the leader of
all.
&.~L'h'
. 11 \
MissiIeWea DEX AU of that changed the day the
R. 0£)( Monitors came, the strange ones
SOul", DEX whose scent spoke of decay. They
Unarnwd. Comhit DEX slaughtered your clansmen, burnt
Fond
rll'Sl:Aid
T..run 3
I'1!R
I'1!R
I'1!R 16(12)
your simple huts, and spread their
dark plague to your world. At first, I /.. %Jt \,
I ,
~.l~ ,'
you did not believe that the Akashans
Trick I'1!R
had not gone to war with the Gudasko,
Survival MIN
Test of Will hUN
but your senses told you the killers of
Persuasion CHA your people were possessed by some-
Taunt CHA thing demonic.
Faith SPI With nothing left for you but a
Intimidation SPI 22!!iiil22L_ solitary life on the plains, you agreed
to travel to Akasha to work as a guard
for a rich leader. When he was sum·
moned to go to Earth, you came with owndawsand teeth. are cowards. You
him, and had the honorof slaying him have an instinctive dislike ofMonitors.
Trid<

I
when it was discovered the plague
root had claimed him. Equipment: spear (damage value
Taunl SfR+4/IB).
Now you run with a different pack,
Intimidate
one made up of strangers from other Quote: "1 smeU enemy ahead. 1nere
worlds. You are unsure how far to trust are eight of them with noisy sticks. Too
them, but know you need allies to com- lean to make a gcxxl meal."
bat the honor that savaged your clan.
~Il.m~",
15
15
Oimblnl
5 3-5 25 40 U(til'\Jt I III Personality: You are fiercely loyal to
those who treat you well, but are sensi·
Skill Notes: Your tag skill is tmdcing.
You havenoalignment. You have four
genetic enhancement points which
tive to any slight. You consider your
race the equal of any other, and pri·
have been added to lOur
an adventure cost 0 one.
Pmrplion, at

• .,,
vately think warriors who need to use

I
21 26 31 36 4t 46

n
Oio 3 S 7 9 11 13
complicated weapons, ratherthan their
•, ,
RoU I 2 g 10t2141516171819~a~~~0~~

Bon~ ·12 -10 -8 -2 -1 0 I 2 3 7 • 9 10 11 12 13 +1

 Cosm: Cyberpapacy
Knight
Templar
Player Name:

:=
~NKnight

Char.r.cter
N,me
Templar
I CMmHome CyberpapiCY
P1aYff Name:

I PONibiliti~
10
Background: You have always been a A., Wound Level Shock Damagt MaSic Social
W~"" 10 18
man of strong beliel'sand a willingness
to fight for them. Bul the coming of the
Cyberp.lpacy disillusioned you, as you
Height

Weish t
.....,
Hvy Wound

K 0
Spiritual
14
Tod>
26
tried in vain to convince people that
Jean Malraux I was an abomination
"""
only to see them return to blind war· Re.h SP1
ship of the Cyberpope.
While traveling in Provins, yOUT
,
Dod ,
WN 3
DEX
DEX I-IS
fighting prowess brought you to the
attention of the Knights Templar, a
...
FireComNI
~~
Melee We.
DEX
DEX
DEX
newly-revived version of the medieval Missl\eWN DEX
groupwho weredetennined tooppose Stealth OEX
Malraux and his machinations. You Unanned Combat DEX
rapidly ascended in theorder,and were Evidence Anal sil P'R
dispatched to South America with a Find "R
small band to hinder the spread of the Lan ua e PER
Cyberpapacy there. Trackln PER
Trio' !'ER
After the arrival of the Space Gods, Testo(Wili MIN
your comrades were slain defending Will ~ MIN
a village from Comaghaz hosts, and ~ion CHA
you were called back to France. But T.unt CHA
you believed that the Akashans might F.ith (Clthol.ic) 51"
hold the key to Malraux's ultimate Foad SP1
defeat, and resolved to stay and de- Intimid.tion ,PI
day's ousade.
fend them from their enemies, among
them the Peace Through God party. Equipment CWI Armor of Cod (ar·
You have had a number of skirmishes mor value TOU+8); CWI Godsfire
with that group since then, as well as (damage value 30); Godlight (damage
the Comaghaz, and you are deter· value 24); powersword (damage value
mined to avenge your friends' deaths SfR+8/18); electroprod (damage value
by slaying as many of the plague's 16); first aid kit; l00,(XX) cruzado novas;
Cyberwa..o NeuraCaI (5), j·jack (2),
w.. .,
511II1
hosts as possible.
Personality: You arestrong.willed and
Trigon Leaper Mk.n cyberlegs (6), CSI ,
GWI God5fire 30
18
26
25
HOO 311II um 'n'
Oimbin:
HotShot U(2); cyber value 15. GodIJ ht 24 26 3-10 25 40 .1 Lift;
filled with quiet confidence. With the Power Sword +8/18 24
Ternplars, you believe you have finally Quote: "My order has many secrets,
found your destiny, and have learned and someofthemarequite ... deadly."
i not to fear death, for yours is a holy ,,
I
Skill Notes: Your tag skill is energy 0;, 7
• ·s ., " ,
3 9 13 21 26 31 36 41 46
l struggle. You will be leaderorfoUower, Roll
•,
weapons. I 2 6 10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 2Q 25 30 35 40 45 50 +5
I whichever promises success for that
BonU5 -12 -10 -8 ·1 0 I 3 6 7 • 9 10 11 11 13 +1
 .
~~ Larendi
ChU1llctU
Chieftain
Player Name:

PONibiliti~.
~=:s
. ' .. .

Cosm: Star Sphere

Larendi
Chieftain
Player Name:

Name 10
Age Wound Level Social Background: It was with great sad-
Wound 27 ness that you saw Salend and the
Height HvyWound colony worlds ravaged by the
Mortol
Spiritual T«h
Comaghaz plague. No longer could
Weight
o..d K o 13 30 the Larendi soar into the skies to es-
cape their enemies, for the foe was
,PI among them. Manyof your own flock
DEX were changed by the curse, and as
DEX chieftain, it was your d uty to put them
3 DEX 18(1)
out of their misery.
DEX When you learned that some of the
Stealth DEX
Unarmed Combat DEX infected Larendi had boarded theves-
LiItin· STI< sels bound for Earth, you joined the
--'
Fm<! PER mission as well. You feel responsible
Language PER for any pain inflicted by your people,
P$ionk Manioulation PER and want only to stop them. Your
Tracldni PER only interest in Earth's Possibility
Trick PER Wars is that they have madeyourtask
Psionic Resistance MIN on this planet more difficult, but you
Survival MIN are determined that you will cleanse
Test of Will MIN
Ch>=
Persuasion
=
C HA
the Larendi of the last vestiges of the
Akashan disease.
You have joined reluctantly with
Taunt CHA
Intimidation SPI those called Storm Knights, and are
occasionally repelled by their narrow Equipmentbhelablade,damagevalue
view of the universe and their violent SfR+4/23"";larend.ibow,damagevaJue
~ natures. You have killed before and STR+8/27"", range3-10/100/250
T.. will do so again, but you take no plea-
Taunt sure in the act. You do what you must, Quote: "Howcanyoustand livingyour
Intimidate for the sake of Larendi yet unborn. entire life walking the cold earth? My
people would be lost if wecould not sail
Personality: Yau areessentially a peace- the winds at will.
WUpolU loving being, and refuse to let the chaos
Bhelablade :+4/131 30 that surrounds you distract you from Skill Notes; Your tag skill isflight. You

"'~ .
Larrnd.i Bow +8 17
13
I 30 13-10 I 100 I 250 your goal. You find yourself sympa-
thizingwiththeplightofEarth'speople,
whowereassaulted, just asyours were,
have no aligrunent. Choosing psionics
requires spending one add on ooth rel-
evant skills, as well as an add or a
Possibility on a power group.
by an enemy from beyond. You do not
understandhowanyracesurviveswith. ]
D;e 3 5 7 9 21 26 31 36 41 46
Roll
11 13
1 2 4 6 8 1 0 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25 30 3S 40 45 50 +5
out the advantages the Larendi enjoy. ~
Bon... -11 -10 -8 -S -1 -1 o 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 8 9 10 11 12 13 +1 :l.
 ~~ ~i'MJiliJ Monitor
PlayeT Name: Player Name:
Monitor
Character Home Star Sphere P05libiliti"
Cosm: Star Sphere Name C~m
10
Background: In your time as Moni- Shock Damage I Magic Social
tor, you have seen worlds awash in 7 27
Height
blood and worlds where war was Spiritual Torn
completely unknown. You havetrav- Weight K o 13 30
eled to many places and fought many
battles, but you have always felt
Reali SPI
trapped by the Akitedecrees that lim-
Biotech Weapons 3 DEl< I3
ited the actions you could take.
Dodge DEl<
The decision to respond to the Sig- y-=<, Energy Weapons DEl<
nal Fire was one you wholeheartedly ----../ Manuever DEl<
agreed with. A world filled with new Melee Weapons DEl<
challenges might bewhat was needed Stealth DEl<
to bring life back to the Akashan Unanned Combat DEl<
people and help them find ways to Evidence Analysis PER
deal with rebellious client races and Fmd PER
the threat of the Comaghaz. Psionic Manipulation PER
It is a struggle for you not to let Space Vehkll."li PER
your personal beliefs interfere with Trick PER
Psionk Rl."liistance MIN
your work. Although you feel a Test of Will MIN
greater concern about the Comaghaz Persuasion CHA
plague, you understand that the High Taunt CHA
Lords and their forces pose a threat to Intimidation SPI
the Akashans on Earth, and perhaps
in the Star Sphere as well. To you, an
enemy is an enemy, be he edeinos, gravitic ray (damage value 30); pulse
shock trooper, cyberpriest, or cannon (damage value 23, see note in
Comaghaz-infected comrade. Trick
text); gutadatl (DEX+2/sTR+2); T~I
Personality: You are unfazed by the volent rope; transtech (biotech); vita- Taunt
carnage of the Possibility Wars, and min/mineral packs (5); 5 ciaras. Intimidate
despite the lessons of history, still 19 I 30
Quote: '1t's just another war." Runnin
believe Akashan intervention on Earth
is for the good of all. You have a deep Skill Notes: Your tag skill is biotech Wupons Swimmin:
hatred of the Lorbaat. weapons. You are aligned to Coar (for Tentacle Sword +6 16 I 30 lumpin;
Starshredder +4 23 30 C1imbin:
information on the effects of that, see 14/ 1
Equipment: kinetic armor (armor Chapter Four, "Axioms and World Grnvitic Ra 30 30 l-lSOI 350 500 Liftinl
value TOU+I0/19); tentacle sword Pulse Cannon 23 27 HOO 500 IK
Rules.") Choosing psionics requires
(damage value STR+6/16, see note in spending one add on both relevant
~ text); starshredder (damage value skills and an add or a Possibility on a 0;, 2I 26 31 36 41 46
i STR+4/14/23, see note in text); power group. Roll 2
35791113
4 6 8 10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2S 30 35 40 45 50 +5
I Bo"~ -12 -10 -8 ·5 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 , , 10 11 12 13 +1
 ~~-Nippon"Economic
{i'M)ii~ ~t=r:'Economic
Player Name: Player Name:

. . Advisor'
Character Home Possibilities

I
Cosm: Nippon Tech Cosm Nippon Tech

I
Name
10
Background: You were an employee Age Wound Level Shock Dolmolge I Magic Social
of the South American Development Wound 2 22
Height Hvy Wound
Trust for over a year, enjoying the title Spiritual Ttth
Mortal
"economic advisor" when actually Weight K o 8 24
you were an enforcer. It was your job
to see to it that the local govemments
"""
did not stray too far from the Kanawa SPI
line, and deal with those officials who DEX
3 DEX 13
would respond only to pressuresother DEX
than economic. Martial Arts DEX
The hours were good, it paid well, Melee Weapons DEX
and you would still be there if a Rauru Missile Weapons DEX
Block agent hadn't informed you that Stealth DEX
your brother had been shot dead by Unarmed Combat DEX
Disguise -- PER
MarSee agents for losing a few million
of his firm's money. Vou decided to F"'"
Land Vehicles
PER
PER
quit SADT and become a free agent,
Trick PER
and when your supervisor objected
Business MIN
with a Beretta, you killed rum.
No longer welcome inNippon, you T'" MIN
C""= CHA
set yourself to under~ing the hun-
dredsoflittleplansKanawa has brew-
Persuasion
Taunt
=
O IA
ing in South America. You find the Intimidation SPI
cover identity of an economist a use-
ful one, and have managed to fall in business acumen you have picked up
with some Akashan parties and save while undercover.
them from being bilked by the locals.
Gaining the trust of the aliens has Equipment: LOV 9mm (damage
given you valuableallies in yourplans value 15); 3Smm microcamera; per-
to crush Kanawa operations all over sonal radar vest; Misaki XE laptop
South America. computer; 300,000 pesos.
Quote: "Yes, itwasa good shot. Amaz- Weapont
Personality: You are cocky and more
than a little cold-blooded, but you do ing the things you learn in business LOV9mm 15 I 23 13-2Q I 30 so 'um:
'Cii;;bi.nl
have a code of honor (one you pay school."
Liftin
attention to whenever it's convenient
Skill Notes: Your tag skill is fire com-
to do so). You combat Kanawa as
bat. Initial nwrtial arts add costs three
much for fun as for revenge, and are
f occasionally surprised at how much
skill points, and each additional add
costs one point. 1M 3 S 791113 2IU31~41%
~ Roll 2 , • 8 10 12 14 15 16 17 18192Q~~~~~~~

i, J Boo", ·12 ·10 -8 ·5 ~ ~ 0 1 234 5 6 1 8 9 10 11 12 13 +1

 ~~~::- 8'Jji4) ~::-
Player Name: Player Name;

Charader
N~, I~:s: Core Earth
Possibilities
10
Cosm: Core Earth
Ag' Wound Level Shock Damage Magic Social Background: You have felt aU your
Woo"" 7 21 life that there was more to this exist-
Hdght Hvywound
Spiritual TKh encethan the simple, mundane world
M"""
Weight
o..d K 0 9 23 that surrounded you. You have
searched for answers far years, trying
Ouija boards, Tarot, mystic crystals,
Reali ,PI astrology, etc., without success.
ACf"<lbatics DEX Although you were horrified by
Beast Ridin DEX
Dod , DEX the violence of the Possibility Wars,
Maneuver DEX you also viewed them as an opportu-
Melee Wea DEX nity to experience new worlds and
Runnin DEX attain higher levels of consciousness.
...."h DEX You rejected the intolerance of the
Unarmed Combat DEX Uving Land and traveled to Aysle to
Divine Ma . PER learn the ways of magic. Frustrated
Flod PER
"m , PER
with that, you went to Orrorsh, but
found the occult arts practiced there
Psionic Man; Jation PER far too dark for your tastes.
SchoIa:r (Oc:cult Lore) 3 PER I>
Trid< PER You were in Guatemala studying
Artm MIN reports of Mayan cult activity when
Psiortic Resistance MIN the "Space Gods" landed. in South
Will W~ MIN America. You immediately packed.
C"'=
Perwasion
CHA
CHA
your few belongings and headed. for
Peru to learn what you could from the
Taunt CHA aliens. pass; guidebook to South America;
Faith 'PI T ...",,,hness In the short time you have been in Ayslish climate cloak; Johnson lantern,
," Trick the Akashan realm, you have been carbide; 7500 cruzado novas.
taught the rudiments of how to use
your budding mental powers. Quote: "Your problem isn't that guy
shooting at you. Your problem is bad
Personality: You arecompletely open- karma from a past life."
minded and willing to put any New
~
wupons Swimmin Skill Notes: Your tag skill is scJwlar

I
Age theory to the test. Your willingness
Dagger +3 urn 'n (occult lore). Note that this is not the
to treat all strangers as friends has got-
Clirnbin
ten you into danger more than once, same as the Orrorshan occult skin.
Liflina
and you had to besaved fromasecond- Choosing psionics requires spending
stageComaghaz carrier by a Gudasko. an add on both relevant skills, as wen as
an add or a Possibility on a power

, , , ,,!
Equipment: dagger (damage value group.

I
0;, 3 7 11 13 21 26 31 36 41 46 STR+3/11); Tarot deck; crystals; New
1012141516171819~~~~~~~+5
Roll
So"~
1
-12 -10 -8
4
., ., -,
6 8
0 , , 3 4 , 6 7 8 , 10 11 11 13 +1
AgeHandbook;astrologica1chart;com-
i
 ~-Smuggler
~
Player Name: Player Name:
Smuggler

Cosm: Core Earth

Chuacter
N~. I ~:,r: Core Earth
I Pouibiliti~

Wound Level
10
Background: In your time, you have A•• Shock Damage Magic Social
run just about everything across bor- Hei&hl
w"'"'" 7 21
Hvy Wound
ders, dodging Coast Guard cutters Spiritual Tod>
and patrols and breaking out of more Weight Mom'
0 23
than a few prisons. You have a repu- Doo' K 9
tation as a dangerous but reliable
agent, one who keeps his word and Reali ,PI
makes his deliveries on time. Dod • 0El(
Fire Combat 3 DEl( I 1.
Your life changed when the Possi- Mal'luever DEX
bility Wars began. You realized that MeleeWea ~ DEl(
all your money was worthless if the Runnin DEl(
High Lords wrecked all the places Stealth DEl(
you could spend it, and that your Unarmed Combat DEl(
talents would beaf some use in fight- Air Vehicles PER
ing them. You changed businesses, Find PER
running food and medicine into the Land Vehicles PER
Living Land, the Nile Empire, and the Trick PER
Cyberpapacy and becoming a wanted Water Velticles PER
Test of Will MIN
man in those realms in the process.
You had returned to Brazil for some ""=
Persuasion
CHA
CHA
rest and recreation when the Akashans Taunt CHA
landed. You heard enough to know Intimidation 'PI
they might tip the war to Earth's side,
butyourunderworld contacts informed
you there were plans to get them out of than to turn your back on a stranger.
the way. Feeling they would need your
You respect the Akashans' abilities,
expertise in the rough and tumble kind
but aren't sure they' re tough enough to
ofbattles foughtinSouth America, you
do what has to be done.
offered your services and were ac-
cepled. Equipment: knife (damage value
Now you fight alongside peopleyou
never dreamed existed, and for the first
STR+3/14); Uzi SMG (damage value
17); binoculars; forged US passport; w.. ..
time in your life, you're fighting for a
cause other than yourseH. It's a feeling
you enjoy, and a war you intend to win.
map of South America; rope; chewing
gum; 50,000 cruzado novas.
Quote: "I've never met a guard I
I Knife +3
UziSMG
1.
17
7
22 13-151 40 I 100

Personality: You give the impression couldn't bribe or a cell I couldn't es-
of being a reckless adventurer, but ac· cape, and I do~' t plan to have my record
t ,
•c tually believe in planning things very spoiled now.

I
Oi• 3 7 9 11 13 21 26 31 36 41 46
carefully. You only work with people
• -,6
•,
Skill Notes: Your tagskill isfirecombat. Roll 1 2 8 101214151617181920B~~~45~+5
f you trust implidtly, and know better
Bonus -12 -10 -8 -2 -, 0 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 +1
 _ - Prie~tess
~
Player Name:
Priestess Player Name:
" ., of Zmatt of Zinatt
Chu,l.cter
N~.
I CMm
Home Star Sphere Possibilities
Cosm: Star Sphere
10
A•• Wound Level Shock Damage Magic Social Background: You inherited the mantle
Woo"" 7 27 of priestess from your mother, who
Height Hvy Woond
Morl.U
Spirituill TKh taught you the ways of Zinatt and the
Weight K 0 13 30 important role it plays in Akashan
ON'
society. Though you never attained
high political station, you have helped
SPI
mediate disputes on many of client
DEX
DEX worlds and even the Lorbaat grudg-
ingly concede that you are fair.
...~"
Unarmed Combat
DEX
DEX
DEX
The Comaghaz plague forced you
to confront true horror for the first
Evidence Anal sis PER time, and it was seeing maddened
Find PER Larendi kill their brethren which acted
FirstAid PER as your moment of crisis. You found
PER
Medicine
Psionic Mani
Scholar
"_ PER
PER
yourself wondering if Apeiros had
sent this scourge as a punishment for
the bitter division on your world over
Min...... MIN the last five centuries.
Plionic Resistance MIN
Survival MIN You see both the High Lords and
Test of Will MIN the Comaghaz as threats to the natu-
Will W~ MIN ral order of things on Earth, and so
have dedicated yourself to eliminat-
""=
Persuasion
CHA
CHA ing both. You will do whatever is nec·
Faith 3 SPI IS essary, within the bounds of your be-
rocu. SPI liefs, to win this fight. Quote: "Your violent behavior is
SPI Tn",,"ness
Personality: You disapprove of ex· wasted upon me, for I bring balance
,," Trick
to all things. And balance requires
T~' cess, particularly the use of equip-
Taunt ment which damages the environ- that, in every battle, there be a loser-
Intimidate ment. You are blissfully unaware of in this struggle, that is you."
the fact that your constant efforts to
w..
_M
M
Larendi Bow ...8 16
Z7
30
30
J.1O
J.IS
100
2S
250
40
I Swim.ming
Jumpmg
Climbinj1; I I II
restore balance annoy the Storm
Knights you work with.
Equipment: plasma armor (armor
Skill Notes: Yourtagskillisfaith. You
are aligned to 2inatt - for informa-
tion on the effects of that, see Chapter
Four, "Axioms and World Rules."
value TOU+15/23, effective against Choosing psionics requires spending
energy weapons only); Larendi bow one add on both relevant skills, as
(damage value STR+8/27, see note in well as an add or a Possibility on a
power group. ]
text); electronus (damage value 27);
,,
I
0;. 3 S 7 9 II 13 21 26 31 36 41 46 lornas (chann +3); MedKit; vitaminl
I
Roll
Bo"M
2
-12 -10 -8
4 6
., 8
·2 ·1 0 1 2 3 4 ,
10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 +5
6 7 8 , 10 11 12 13 +1
mineral packs (3); alan torch; 10ciaras.
:l.
 ~
Soviet Soviet
~
Player Name: Player Nlme:

Psychic Psychic
Chlncter Home Ccn &rth P_ibilitits

I
Cosm: ('ore Earth C..m
I
Name
10
Background: As a youngster in the Age Wound Level Shock Oolmolse I MoiSic Sodo'
Ukraine, you often found yourselfex- W~"" 7 21
periendng visions or moving objects
simply by thinking them. Your par·
Height
...,.,
Hvy Wwnd
SplrituoIl TKh
Weight K o 9 23
ents feared your powers. your mother
going 50 (ar as 10 say you were p0s-
"""
RHlil Sl'1
sessed by demons.
As you grew older, you began to
gain some control over yOUT powers,
"'"""""
Dod,.
Fin! Combrot
D£X
D£X
DEX
and even aided the police in a few of MinUl!Ytr DEX
their investigations. This drew the at- Stealth DEX
tention of the government in Mos· Unarmed Combrol DEX
cow, who recruited you for Project: Find PER
Omega, its psychic research group. Ptionic MinlDUlIlion 3 PER 14
You were mobilized along with Schollr PER
other psychics when the POS$ibility Tri<k PER
Pt!onlc Rtsl.",nce MIN
Wars began, but the authorities didn't
know what to do with you when the
Tello! Will MiN
WllIpowtr MiN
Tharkold invasion was repelled. When C",= CHA
the Akashans landed in South P~""" CHA
America, you were dispatched there Tlunt CHA
to assess their strengths and weak- F.ith SPl
nesses and the potential threat they
posed to the Motherland.
You are hoping that the Akashans hard. time making emotional connec-
will lead you to a better understanding tions with others.
of your powers, and you have gone
againstyourordersbyallyingwithlhem Equipment: dagger (damage value
against theComaghaz. Coming from a SfR+3/11); Walther r.ss (damage
land where the rights of the individual value 15); 2O,<XX> intis.
are a concept only recently experi- Quote: "You don't need tobea psychic
mented with. you feel a particular ha- to know things will grow far worse WeipoM
tred for a disease that creates group before they get better." D;tggtr +3 11 I 7 ~
minds. WaltherP.88 15 I 22 13-10 40 Olmbin:
Skill Notes: Your tag skill is psionic Uftl"
Personality: You are quiet and shy and manipulation. You must purchase an
vel)' intense. You have been treated as add in psionic resistance to use your
both a freak and national resource in mental powers, as well as spending an
your life, and have enjoyed little real
companionship. Asa result, you have a
add or a Possibility on a power group. Di.
Roll
I I 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 11 13 21 ,. 31 36 41 46
10 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25 30 35 40 4S 50 +5
Bonus IIiI -12 -10 -8 -5 -2 -1 0 1 1 3 • 5 6 7 • • 10 11 11 13 +1